COVID-19 Update, Tuesday, September 15th

Misleading headlines, Pzifer, and improvements.

1. A news story is making its way around with a headline about Pittsburgh scientists discovering a way to “neutralize” the COVID-19 virus. The headline is hype. A study was published in the journal Cell in which scientists from Pittsburgh did indeed identify a very small particle that has neutralized the virus in mice and hamsters in the lab. And if it proves effective in humans it will be great. But the headlines imply we have the solution and it is ready to roll. As much as I wish that were true, it is not. However, the study is a good step towards both treatment and prevention and builds on existing medications which is wonderful. It will most likely move into the next stage of research working its way toward a clinical trial to validate that it works in humans and is safe. While I do not regularly cover all the research on treatments that are happening, please do be assured there is a lot of research that is ongoing to find effective treatments and preventions and lots of it is working from stuff we already have, in fact, there is currently a phase III trial on a similar antibody. Scientists are working diligently to find existing things that will work and be safe. This may become one of those things, but it is not ready for the masses just yet. Promising but not a miracle cure as implied in the headlines.

2. Pfizer announced plans to expand its phase 3 clinical trial to include more diversity. They currently have 30k participants in their trial and have seen enough success to expand the study to include more minorities, more diversity of age, and people with other viral infections such as hepatitis and HIV. As you can imagine, including vulnerable populations in a research study is not something taken lightly and can be quite dangerous, so for them to make this request is a good indicator that their trial is going well. The FDA will review the request and decide. Pfizer also announced they may have their vaccine ready as early as the end of October.

3. The number of new cases in the US has dropped for 8 consecutive weeks, deaths have fallen for 4 consecutive weeks.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As fires rage, protests continue and storms brew, it is nice to have a little good news, declining case numbers and deaths may be just that news. Stay strong a little bit longer. Get out there and make today count. Your simple act of kindness may be the desperately needed miracle in someone else’s life today.