Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Drugs For Multiple Sclerosis And OCD Studied As Possible COVID Treatments
An inhaled form of interferon — a drug commonly used to treat multiple sclerosis by injection — may help protect hospitalized Covid-19 patients from getting worse, according to a British drugmaker. Results were first released in July, but were published Thursday as a peer-reviewed study in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. (Edwards, 11/12)
A pill ordinarily prescribed to treat obsessive compulsive or anxiety disorder prevented symptoms of nonhospitalized Covid-19 patients from worsening compared to placebo, a small randomized controlled trial concludes, suggesting the drug’s immune-modulating effects could be further explored as a treatment for the disease. (Cooney and Herper, 11/12)
In vaccine news —
The federal government has reached agreements with pharmacies across the country to distribute a coronavirus vaccine for free when one becomes available. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the program will reach 60 percent of the pharmacies in every state and U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, including major chains and independent pharmacies to reach traditionally underserved areas. (Weixel, 11/12)
Should patients who volunteer to be in Covid-19 vaccine studies, but who are assigned to get placebo, be offered the vaccine? As companies and regulators raced to start clinical trials in the summer, that question was left open. But for Pfizer and partner BioNTech, the answer now is not if but when. (Herper, 11/12)
A key ingredient in the accelerating race to develop vaccines for the new coronavirus is Cincinnati. Nearly 10,000 local residents have already signed up to participate in clinical testing of at least eight potential candidate vaccines through hospital systems and private companies. Of those volunteers, at least 678 have so far gotten one of three possible vaccines, including 500 enrolled through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to test the candidate from the drug company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. (Saker, 11/12)
Early data revealed Monday that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine candidate could be up to 90% effective. The company still needs to submit its soon-to-be-completed late-stage data to the Food and Drug Administration for final authorization, but U.S. officials say they are prepared to begin distributing the vaccine as soon as they are given the green light. (Ordonez, 11/13)
