Category: Pharmaceuticals
Fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose authorised for Americans over 50
The Head of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Peter Marks, has encouraged getting a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for increased protection for high-risk persons. The […]
Pfizer, UNICEF to supply Paxlovid COVID-19 oral treatment for low-, middle-income countries
Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer) has announced an agreement with UNICEF to supply nearly 4 million treatment courses of its COVID-19 oral treatment to 95 low- and middle-income countries. The COVID-19 oral treatment, Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets), will be given […]
Experimental mRNA-based HIV vaccines enter human trials
Biotechnology company Moderna Inc. (Moderna) has commenced a Phase 1 human trial testing three different mRNA vaccines that targets HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). The success of the “safe and highly effective” COVID-19 vaccines enabled this opportunity, run in association with […]
Neuroscientists identify new drug target to reduce anxiety
A team from the University of Bristol’s School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, UK, have discovered a key pathway in the brain which leads to anxious and fearful behaviour such as “freezing.” Anxiety and certain psychological disorders, which affect an […]
GeoVax experimental vaccine advances in clinical trials
A vaccine is currently in development that packs a double punch against the coronavirus. GeoVax Labs Inc.’s (GeoVax) experimental vaccine, GEO-CM04S1, which induces immune responses specific to the spike protein on the surface of the virus and the “nucleocapsid,” or […]
New, unanticipated side effect to blood pressure medications
Drugs used to treat blood pressure have been found to increase the effect of opioids (morphine-like effects) in the brain, and may even counteract the addictive properties of commercial opiates like fentanyl, which are traditionally used to treat pain. Dr. […]
Sputnik Light in mix-and-match approach with Chinese COVID vaccines
Chinese regulatory authorities have approved the mixing of its Sinovac and Sinopharm COVID-19 (COVID) vaccines with a different booster shot in the hopes of creating stronger and more durable immunity, including against Omicron. With the new approval, the Russian one-shot […]
New compound improves insulin secretion and lowers blood sugar in treated mice
An experimental drug developed by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis was reported to improve key aspects of metabolic syndrome, which includes diseases such as type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. In preclinical studies, the drug […]
Paracetamol use exacerbates stroke risk in people with hypertension
Studies by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, reveal people who take paracetamol on prescription could be at increased risk of heart attacks and stroke especially if they have hypertension or high blood pressure. Paracetamol is widely prescribed as […]
