Main focus - on the topic Coronavirus
BEITRÄGE ZU DIESEM DOSSIER
Covid Vaccines – From Race to Chase
Covid vaccine distribution has begun in much of the developed world. Politicians, commentators and citizens criticize the slow start to immunizations. But like the Tour de France: What counts is not who wears the yellow jersey during the first stage, but who crosses the finish line first at the end. Three factors are crucial to that: vaccine supply, vaccine distribution and, most importantly, vaccination acceptance.
COVID-19 Update: Moderna reports preliminary results from phase 3 vaccine trial
U.S. biotech company Moderna reported positive results from the first interim analysis of its Covid mRNA vaccine candidate. The IA found that of the 95 identified Covid cases in the study population 90 occurred in the placebo group, thus yielding a vaccine efficacy of 94,4%.
Covid Vaccine: Pfizer, BioNTech and the beginning of the end?
In a press release on November 9, Pfizer gave a first taste of the results of the Phase 3 study of the Covid vaccine, which was jointly developed with German biotech company BioNTech. With an estimated efficacy of 90% and the start of the vaccination campaign possibly as early as January 2021, there is light at the end of the tunnel. But some hurdles still remain.
A Black Mink Event – COVID-20
In the USA the fight for the White House is still raging. Meanwhile, in Copenhagen, 9,000 kilometers away, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declared that all minks in the country would be killed to contain the spread of a new SARS CoV-2 variant. What is a Black Min Event?
COVID-19 Update from the Investment Division: Russia to the Rescue?
Researchers from Moscow-based Gamaleya institute, an offshoot of the Russian Ministry of Health, published detailed phase 1/2 results of their COVID-19 vaccine in the Lancet. If true (remember that we are talking about Russia), these results imply that their vaccine is both effective and has a tolerable safety profile which would make it a strong contender in the international race to defeat COVID-19.
SARS-CoV-2 is mutating. Barely.
Since the start of the current pandemic researchers and policymakers have worried about possible mutations of SARS-CoV-2. A recent paper based on over 18 500 virus genome samples collected thus far concludes that these worries are unfounded.
The scary R-word: Should we worry about reinfection?
Recently, the first documented case of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 has apparently surfaced in Hong Kong. A day later, Belgium and the Netherlands also reported a reinfection each. Is it time to worry about acquired immunity and vaccine efficacy? There are three scenarios how this might turn out.
COVID19 Update: Sputnik V – the vaccine that came in from the cold
When Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his “Mission Accomplished” moment on August 11th with the announcement of Sputnik V, the world’s first SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, the global scientific community reacted with a mix of skepticism and condemnation. Is this warranted or a result of russophobia?
Race for Corona vaccine: 25 vaccine candidates in clinical trials
The pharmaceutical companies and universities racing to develop a corona vaccine are making strides: according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 25 candidates are currently undergoing clinical trials.
Update Covid19 – Potential vaccine is a logistical challenge
Covid19 vaccine: The companies Biontech and Pfizer developed effective antibodies in initial tests. The hope for a vaccine remains. Will it be logistically possible to distribute everything quickly?