R&D

Glucocorticoids are harmful in treating viral respiratory infections

Glucocorticoids are widely used in treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) despite there being no indisputable scientific evidence of their effectiveness. The main reason seems to be that there is no effective treatment for ARDS patients on ventilators. The death rate of these patients differs between 30-40 percent depending on the data.

Peer-reviewed data shows remdesivir for COVID-19 improves time to recovery

The investigational antiviral remdesivir is superior to the standard of care for the treatment of COVID-19, according to a report published today in The New England Journal of Medicine. The preliminary analysis is based on data from the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT), sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Preventing 'cytokine storm' may ease severe COVID-19 symptoms

For some COVID-19 patients, the body's immune response may be as destructive as the virus that causes the disease. The persistent high fevers, severe respiratory distress, and lung damage seen in some critically ill patients are all signs of an immune system in overdrive.

Official COVID-19 deaths underestimate the full impact of the pandemic

According to a study by Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the northern Italian city of Nembro recorded more deaths during March 2020 than between January and December 2019. However, only approximately half of all deaths recorded this spring were classified as confirmed COVID-19 deaths. The study shows that the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic may go far beyond official COVID-19 death counts.

Local climate unlikely to drive the early COVID-19 pandemic

Local variations in climate are not likely to dominate the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Princeton University study published May 18 in the journal Science.

The researchers found that the vast number of people still vulnerable to the strain of coronavirus causing the pandemic - SARS-CoV-2 - and the speed at which the pathogen spreads means that climate conditions are only likely to make a dent in the current rate of infection.

Antibody neutralizes SARS and COVID-19 coronaviruses

An antibody first identified in a blood sample from a patient who recovered from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003 inhibits related coronaviruses, including the cause of COVID-19.

The antibody, called S309, is now on a fast-track development and testing path at Vir Biotechnology in the next step toward possible clinical trials.

Arthritis drug may improve respiratory function in some patients with severe COVID-19

A small study in Greece found that the clinically approved anti-inflammatory drug anakinra, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, improved respiratory function in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The eight patients also had a condition called secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH), which is characterized by overactivation of the immune system and organ failure.

Research & Development

Glucocorticoids are harmful in treating viral respiratory infections

Peer-reviewed data shows remdesivir for COVID-19 improves time to recovery

Preventing 'cytokine storm' may ease severe COVID-19 symptoms

Official COVID-19 deaths underestimate the full impact of the pandemic

Local climate unlikely to drive the early COVID-19 pandemic

Antibody neutralizes SARS and COVID-19 coronaviruses

Arthritis drug may improve respiratory function in some patients with severe COVID-19

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