MisterNiceKitty
MisterNiceKitty's JournalSaNOtize's Anti-Viral Treatment Made Available in Israeli Pharmacie
From BusinessWire: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005228/en/SaNOtize%E2%80%99s-Anti-Viral-Treatment-Made-Available-in-Israeli-Pharmacies
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SaNOtize Research and Development Corporation (“SaNOtize” or “the Company”) today announced that Enovid, SaNOtize’s Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (NONS) that protects from viruses and was shown to reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load in a Phase II trial, is now available in pharmacies throughout Israel.
Enovid was granted an emergency use authorization as a medical device by Israel’s Ministry of Health earlier this year. Enovid provides a physical and chemical barrier to protect from viruses. Enovid releases a small dose of nitric oxide (NO), a natural nanomolecule with proven anti-microbial properties including against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
“We are thrilled to have Enovid available in pharmacies in Israel and we are moving as quickly and diligently as possible through regulatory approval processes elsewhere in the world to make NONS available to the wider public,” said Dr. Chris Miller, SaNOtize Co-founder and Chief Science Officer. “NONS was shown to reduce viral load, which decreases a person’s viral transmission, regardless of variant.”
More info: SaNOtize Research & Development Corp. is a biotech company based in Vancouver, BC working to commercialize the multi-faceted antimicrobial properties of a liquid producing nitric oxide. The company has developed and patented a Nitric Oxide Releasing Solution platform technology (NORSTM) to treat and prevent microbial infections.
Why Teladoc Stock Could Soar If Moderna's Scary Prediction Comes True
The virtual-care leader's fortunes could be linked to what happens next with COVID-19 -- at least, for now
From the Motley Fool: https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/08/13/why-teladoc-stock-could-soar-if-modernas-scary-pre/
Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) and Teladoc Health (NYSE:TDOC) might not seem to share much in common. One develops messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines and therapies, while the other ranks as a leader in virtual care. However, in some ways, the fortunes of these two companies are intertwined.
Both Moderna and Teladoc really hit their stride last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moderna, of course, became a favorite for investors as it achieved amazing progress on developing a COVID-19 vaccine. Teladoc became a big beneficiary of the pandemic as millions turned to virtual healthcare visits.
**********************************************************************************************************
Moderna's scary scenario
I'm not trying to be an alarmist by using the word "scary" to describe the potential scenario that Moderna president Stephen Hoge discussed in the company's Q2 call. I'm using Hoge's own description.
Hoge was asked by an analyst during the call about how the coronavirus might mutate and evolve. He responded:
If you think about how this might play forward, it seems logical to us that those three mutations present in the beta, gamma line, and those two mutations present in the delta might find some way to combine in new and potentially scary ways. And if that came with the increased transmissibility, force of infection that delta can achieve, that might be a significant threat.
A surefire catalyst
How does Teladoc fit into the potentially scary future that Hoge described? My view is that anything close to the scenario that the Moderna president laid out would provide a surefire catalyst for Teladoc's shares.
Hoge talked about the potential for "a significant threat" resulting from the current coronavirus-variant mutations combining to become more contagious. If this threat materializes, it's likely that many people would choose to limit their going out -- even if governments didn't reinstate lockdowns. I suspect that would especially apply to doctors' visits since there could be a greater chance of being infected in the scenario Hoge discussed.
Related thread: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215729381
Following Jazz Fest Cancellation, More COVID Measures Could Be on the Way for New Orleans
https://nola.eater.com/2021/8/11/22619067/jazz-fest-cancellation-more-covid-measures-new-orleansWith Jazz Fest called off and additional restrictions looming in New Orleans, the fate of remaining fall festivals and events is up in the air
"For the second year in a row, organizers behind the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival have canceled the world-renowned music, food, and cultural event at the Fairgrounds, citing the “exponential growth of new COVID cases in New Orleans and the region.” Jazz Fest announced that the festival would no longer take place this October as scheduled on Sunday, August 8, about a week after tickets for the Rolling Stones’s October 13 performance went on sale.
Though Jazz Fest organizers made the decision to cancel the festival independently, as event producers and city officials both noted, the major move comes less than a month after New Orleans officials sounded the alarm regarding fall festivals amid a concerning uptick in COVID-19 cases in July, locally and statewide. On Monday, organizers canceled Red Dress Run, an annual charity run and day-drinking party in the French Quarter scheduled for this weekend, and last week, the downtown block party that accompanies White Linen Night was called off days before it was set to take place."
Some NYC Restaurants Pushing Back Against Vaccine Mandate:
‘I Just Don’t Think That We’re Gonna Be The Vaccination Police’
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/08/12/nyc-restaurants-against-vaccine-mandate/
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Starting next week, proof of vaccination will be required in New York City for some indoor activities, including going out to eat, but not all restaurants are on board.
“Whether you’re vaccinated or not, you are welcome,” said Mary Josephine Generoso, manager at Pasticceria Rocco’s of Bay Ridge.
There’s a sign of protest in the window of the restaurant, defiant against Mayor Bill de Blasio’s upcoming vaccine mandate.
It reads, “We do not discriminate against ANY customer based on sex, gender, race, creed, age, vaccinate or unvaccinated. All customers who wish to patronize are welcome in our establishment.”
“I just do not feel that we’re gonna be able to sit there and ask customers to show if they’ve been vaccinated or not,” Generoso told CBS2’s Ali Bauman."
Incoming Gov. Kathy Hochul Says She Supports School Mask Mandate
NYC Steams Ahead With In-Person Learning Plan
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/08/12/kathy-hochul-school-masks-bill-de-blasio-new-york-city-public-schools/
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Kathy Hochul, the incoming governor of New York, said Thursday getting students back into the classroom full time is a priority and, if up to her, masks will be required.
“My view is that people — children and everyone in the school environment — will be wearing masks,” Hochul said in an interview. “But also, we need to be talking with the school districts, as well. That hasn’t happened in the past as the way I think it should. We need to be finding out what their anxiety is, why there’s any objection to this.”
“With the end of the state disaster emergency on June 25, 2021, school districts are re-established as the controlling entity for schools. Schools and school districts should develop plans to open in-person in the fall as safely as possible, and I recommend following guidance from the CDC and local health departments,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said in a statement last week."
Like what I'm seeing so far
As delta variant surges, vaccine-makers rethink their strategy
Source: https://www.salon.com/2021/08/12/vaccine-makers-future-strategy-delta/
"Boosters, or a new vaccine entirely? Here's what researchers and pharma are planning
When America shut down in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a pervading sense that the situation was probably — or hopefully — temporary. After all, efforts were already underway to develop a vaccine. It was just a matter of time until normalcy would return.
But 17 months later, a return to "normal" is nowhere in sight. Frightening new mutant strains like the delta variant and the lambda variant have emerged, more infectious and possibly more dangerous than their antecedents. Early evidence indicates that, while existing vaccines stop patients from getting severely ill if infected, they do not prevent the infected from transmitting the disease. At the very least, it is theoretically possible that mutant variants could create problems for people who want their inoculations to be effective.
In other words, the vaccines weren't enough. Humanity anxiously awaited development of the first COVID-19 vaccines throughout 2020; now that those vaccines aren't enough to permanently halt COVID-19, it would appear that vaccine manufacturers are pivoting their strategy.
But as to what they have planned, pharmaceutical companies aren't being entirely transparent — or perhaps they aren't sure."
Why Only 28 Percent of Young Black New Yorkers Are Vaccinated
Per NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/nyregion/covid-vaccine-black-young-new-yorkers.html
"As the Delta variant courses through New York City, many young Black New Yorkers remain distrustful of the vaccine.
A construction site safety manager in Queens said that as a Black man, he was more worried about the prospect of being stopped by the police than he was about getting Covid-19.
A graduate student in the Bronx who had not gotten vaccinated said her worst fears seemed confirmed when a vaccine that the government was directing to Black and poorer neighborhoods was briefly suspended over a small number of dangerous blood clots.
And a civil rights activist in the Bronx said he grew suspicious when he heard last year that politicians were prioritizing minority neighborhoods for coronavirus vaccinations.
“Since when does America give anything good to Black people first?” said the activist, Hawk Newsome, a 44-year-old Black Lives Matter leader who is unvaccinated.
All three situations reflect a trend that has become a major concern to public health experts: Young Black New Yorkers are especially reluctant to get vaccinated, even as the Delta variant is rapidly spreading among their ranks. City data shows that only 28 percent of Black New Yorkers ages 18 to 44 years are fully vaccinated, compared with 48 percent of Latino residents and 52 percent of white residents in that age group."
NY Severe COVID Cases Quadruple in Month; 77% of US Counties Now High Transmission Zones
Nearly 1,450 New Yorkers are hospitalized with COVID as of Thursday, the highest total since mid-May, marking a 70% increase since Aug. 1 and more than quadrupling over the course of the last month as the nation battles the delta surge.
The state reported a double-digit death toll for the fifth straight day after a lengthy stretch in the low single digits, while the daily case count rose to its highest total (4,701) since late April.
COVID patients in intensive care have also tripled in the last month and now stand at 289, more than 3.5 times what they were this time in July -- concerning numbers reflective of a national trend that has officials invigorating vaccination pushes with a fervency not seen for months.
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/ny-covid-patients-in-icus-triple-77-of-us-counties-now-high-transmission-zones/3217246/
With school year approaching, at least one more NYC official appeals for remote option
per AM New York: https://www.amny.com/news/as-the-start-of-school-inches-closer-at-least-one-more-elected-as-voiced-support-for-a-remote-option/
"As the coronavirus’ delta variant continues to spread across the state, some families are growing increasingly worried about sending their children back into public school classrooms and have some calling for a remote option to be offered this fall.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter have pledged to fully reopen schools without remote learning.
Although the Department of Education is considering offering a remote option for students with immunocompromised family members, the New York Post reported, some families and now some elected officials are urging City officials to expand that option. Here is a list of which elected officials so far support offering a remote option for students this upcoming school year:"
******************************************************************************************************
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer
The outgoing borough president sent a letter to Chancellor Porter requesting that she reconsider the City’s decision to do away with remote learning this year. The letter was also sent to all of Brewer’s fellow borough presidents and the city’s executive superintendents.
“The option may be needed for the entire school year. However, having an option in place for at least the first half of the year is a prudent response to family and community requests,” Brewer wrote.” In addition, we are in a different place in the battle against COVID-19 than we were when it was first announced that there would be no remote option for the upcoming school year.”
Brooklyn City Councilmember Mark Treyger
"The option should be run centrally, in contrast to last year when every school was responsible for designing and rolling out their own remote option for students."
Congressmember Ritchie Torres
“No one cares more about the health and safety of children more than parents do and if you conclude the best model for your child is remote learning rather than in-person instruction then the DOE and the mayor should respect that decision,” Torres said. ” Please consider me a partner in advocating for a flexible hybrid model.”
EU looking into new possible side-effects of mRNA COVID-19 shots
Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/eu-drugs-regulator-looking-new-possible-side-effects-mrna-vaccines-2021-08-11/
Three new conditions reported by a small number of people after vaccination with COVID-19 shots from Pfizer (PFE.N) and Moderna (MRNA.O) are being studied to assess if they may be possible side-effects, Europe's drugs regulator said on Wednesday.
Erythema multiforme, a form of allergic skin reaction; glomerulonephritis or kidney inflammation; and nephrotic syndrome, a renal disorder characterised by heavy urinary protein losses, are being studied by the safety committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), according to the regulator.
Pfizer, by far the biggest supplier of COVID-19 vaccines to the European Union, and Moderna did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
********************************************************************************************************
"The watchdog did not give details on Wednesday on how many cases of the new conditions were recorded, but said it had requested more data from the companies. The EMA did not recommend changes to the labelling of the vaccines.
It disclosed the new assessments as part of routine updates to the safety section of all authorised vaccines' database and added menstrual disorders as a condition it was studying for vaccines, including those from AstraZeneca (AZN.L) and J&J (JNJ.N), after the EMA's update last week.
Moderna's shares, which have climbed more than 75% to Tuesday's close since mid-July when it joined the S&P 500 index (.SPX), fell about 16% to $384 on Wednesday.
BioNTech's U.S.-listed shares were down 14.4% and Pfizer nearly 4%."
News is news whether we like or not.
Profile Information
Member since: Sun May 31, 2020, 10:55 AMNumber of posts: 422
