FDA Commissioner Grants EUA to Pfizer Vaccine Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has been granted emergency use authorization (EUA) by the US FDA. The New York Times, referring to an anonymous authoritative source, reports that FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn was under immense pressure from President Trump to allow EUA for the …

After US manufacturer Pfizer’s 90% effectiveness claim of its COVID-19 vaccine, and Russia’s Sputnik V’s claim of 92% effectiveness, now, US company Moderna is saying that its vaccine is 94.5% effective against the virus that has turned the world upside down. Wonder who’s going to be the first to claim …

Roche’s SARS-CoV-2 antibody test included in Moderna vaccine trials After receiving US FDA emergency use authorization for its Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody test on November 25, 2020, Roche has partnered with Moderna to utilize the test in the latter’s mRNA-1273 vaccine research trials. The antibody test measures the quantity of antibodies …

  According to The New York Times’ “Corona Vaccine Tracker”, till Nov 17, 2020, there are 54 vaccines in clinical trials on humans, and at least 87 preclinical vaccines that are under active investigation in animals. Till date, 38 potential vaccines for COVID-19 are undergoing Phase 1 trials (safety and …

In the case of a viral infection, the body’s first protective action is a non-specific innate response, where macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells slow the progress of the pathogen and may even prevent any symptoms from occurring. The next protective action is an adaptive response (cellular immunity), with the body …

Artificial organs Initially considered to be a ground-breaking technology for its ability to regenerate skin cells for skin draughts for burn victims, bio-printing is an emerging medical technology that is now giving way to even more exciting possibilities. Bio-printing can be used to create blood vessels and synthetic ovaries (perhaps even …

Based on early data from the first-ever clinical trial in humans in the US, genetically editing a cancer patient’s immune cells using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and infusing them back into the patient seems to be safe and feasible. Three participants in the trial (two with multiple myeloma and one with sarcoma) …

In ongoing lawsuits in the USA, claims have been made that Zantac and ranitidine contain unacceptable levels of the cancer-causing chemical N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA. Lawyers have charged that NDMA contamination causes stomach, liver, and bladder cancer. In September 2019, an online pharmacy had alerted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration …

Once upon a time, getting a blood transfusion was a highly a risky affair, because some people receiving donated blood were apt to get chronic hepatitis (liver inflammation) from an unknown, mysterious disease. And, although the Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B viruses were discovered by the mid-1960s, in 1972, Prof. …

Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for emergency use in the United Kingdom, which has ordered 40 million doses, enough for 20 million people, since two doses are required for each individual. The government expects to receive 10 million doses before the end of the year. The developers …