John Parkinson

2020 forced clinicians and people with HIV (PWH) to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. While initially it had an immediate impact on patient care, new solutions and strategies were created to ensure health care was delivered to those who needed it.

Biopharmaceutical company, NeuroRx, reported positive data from its phase 2/3 trial for its therapy, aviptadil acetate (Zyesami), in patients with severe COVID-19.

A manufacturing plant that was set to produce the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine mixed up the ingredients of 2 vaccines.

The joint World Health Organization (WHO)-China Report looked at various scenarios and its theory of an animal to animal to human transmission.

The country’s federal health agency decided upon this action based on the small number of vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT) incidents in Europe, which are being investigated.

The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are highly effective and transmission is unlikely.

The companies announced they are expanding their study in children ages 6 months to 11 years old.

The president updated his goal during his press conference this afternoon.

Overnight, the company restated it had a 76% efficacy against symptomatic disease and is looking to file an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Long-acting injectables for latent and active tuberculous (TB) might be a treatment option in the future and could open up the door to possibly bundling HIV and TB care together.

Filmmaker Bill Mudge has released his new documentary, Beating Superbugs: Can We Win? It looks at emerging technologies designed to develop new therapies to combat antibiotic resistance (ABR).

COVID-19 vaccine development demanded an adults-first approach. A year in, children are being invited to participate in trials in hopes of getting the pediatric population vaccinated later this year.

A 2-dose vaccination regimen did not show protection against mild-to-moderate disease due to the B.1.351 variant.

Melinta Therapeutics’ oritavancin therapy is indicated for treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) in adult patients.

A bamlanivimab study showed a 72% reduction in the incidence of COVID-19 and an 80% reduction of progression in the virus in residents in assisted living facilities and nursing staff.

This Emergency Use Listing (EUL) of this single-shot vaccine opens up the door to much of the developing world to gain access to it.

The investigational candidate has shown to be 55% and 86.3% effective respectively.

While at the earliest stages of potential development, long-acting/extended release (LA/ER) formulations for treatment and prevention of TB could be something to be studied in the future.

Dapivrine (DPV) was studied in 1-month and 3-month durations.

During the pandemic, reduced HIV testing led to concerns about getting people diagnosed and on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and achieving viral suppression (VS).

ViiV Healthcare’s investigational therapy, GSK’254, demonstrated antiviral activity, safety, and tolerability in its phase 2a proof-of-concept findings.

With the highest HIV incidence rate in this part of the country, the need to get people from diagnosis to timely antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains an urgent need.

Merck has developed its investigational islatravir subdermal implant for prevention of HIV infection, and it is going to be studied for a long-term delivery of up to 1 year.

Merck’s islatravir subdermal implant demonstrated it achieved active drug concentrations above the pre-specified pharmacokinetics (pk) threshold at 12 weeks across three doses.

While the world’s focus remains on COVID-19, beyond this ongoing crisis lingers another that requires leadership, innovation, and collaboration from policy makers, the health care community, and the private sector.

Windtree Therapeutics is in a phase 2 clinical trial for its investigational therapy, Lucinactant, which produces a synthetic surfactant being studied for acute lung injury in patients with COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Cue Health's test is over the counter (OTC) and can be utilized at home.

The Luminex test will be able to detect influenza and COVID-19.

Investigators have discovered active substances that can block the replication of coronavirus and may create a pathway for new therapies.

A review of emergency room records showed a very small percentage of patients had acute ischemic strokes, but for those who did, there was an increased risk of requiring long-term care after hospital discharge.