Category: Pharmaceuticals
Duke-NUS scientists to start testing COVID-19 vaccine this year; other vaccine developments
As the search for a vaccine for the new coronavirus progresses, scientists from the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore are planning for testing to begin as soon as this year – Duke-NUS has teamed up with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and other international partners to plan a clinical trial. Other countries are […]
New, additional substance seen to alleviate side effects of strong antidepressants
The antidepressants used today block the return transport of serotonin and thereby also the removal of active serotonin, a chemical that plays a major role in regulating our levels of happiness. Such a blockage would require large doses of the antidepressant, which can consequently bring risks of their own such as weight problems, drowsiness, dry […]
Alleged antibody against coronavirus found amidst potential therapeutic agents, vaccines
At least 7,500 people across the globe have died from a new coronavirus outbreak while some 188,790 others have been infected by the coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, as of March 17. The virus primarily attacks the lower respiratory system to cause viral pneumonia and may also affect the heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, and central nervous […]
German study finds potential drug to fight SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19
A team of scientists led by infection biologists from the German Primate Centre in Goettingen have isolated a commercially-available protease inhibitor that could protect against COVID-19. The protease inhibitor could also be a potential target for therapeutic intervention. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a new type of coronavirus that was transmitted from animals […]
New vaccine delivery system eases transport to remote areas
Transporting vaccines to remote or developing regions comes with a host of problems, with solutions including keeping them in sugary gels, freeze-drying them so they can be stored at room temperature and putting them in a state of suspended animation. A new delivery method from scientists at University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), US, […]
Drug repurposing could be a solution to the novel coronavirus, says Norwegian professor
There are about 89,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and at least 3,000 people have died from the illness, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus following an outbreak in the central city of Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Lately, infection has been rampant in other countries like South Korea, Italy, Iran, and France; however, physicians and health […]
Canadian researches show how experimental drug works in COVID-19 patients
A new study delves into how exactly an investigational antiviral drug, remdesivir, is being used as a treatment for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus similar to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus. The study was led by a team of academic and industry […]
Newly-discovered immune treatment can kill most cancer cells; leaves healthy cells alone
There is an “unconventional method” in which the immune system can rid the body of cancer cells – scientists have found a specific immune cell receptor that can be harnessed to assess/eliminate a wide range of cancerous threats, such as those that lead to lung, breast, or skin cancer, among others. Professor Andrew Sewell of […]
Universal flu vaccine that protects against 6 influenza viruses tested in mice
There is promise for a universal influenza vaccine as scientists from the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, US, have developed a breakthrough nanoparticle vaccine that has proven effective against at least six different strains of the influenza virus in mice. Influenza is a respiratory illness commonly spread through infection. The unique, double-layered […]
Roche’s Tecentriq-chemotherapy combo against lung cancer wins FDA approval
Swiss drugmaker Roche’s new immunotherapy solution, Tecentriq, has received the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval for use along with Celgene’s Abraxane and carboplatin chemotherapy to treat metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK mutations. A recent study on Tecentriq showed the immuno-chemotherapy combo could extend patients’ lives by […]
