MPR Weekly Dose

On this week's pod: The Moderna vaccine and what we know about its effectiveness against emerging variants; Merck ends it's development of two vaccines; Two separate treatment combos show promise in reducing hospitalizations and preventing COVID, respectivel; And the FDA approve a new treatment for lupus nephritis. 

On this week's MPR pod we take a look at the current status of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine candidate; Considerations in assessing blood donors during the pandemic; A newly approved drug to treat heart failure; Promising results for a potential Alzheimer treatment; And changes declared for vinca alkaloid labeling.

This week we have news of the neutralizing response of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to the new COVID-19 variant; A trial investigated ravulizumab in adults with severe COVID is halted; A rapid blood test for concussions gets the all clear; A novel treatment for chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes; and the drug manufacturer Fresenius Kabi announces a voluntary recall of one lot o...

On the first MPR pod of 2021 we cover the latest COVID-19 news including admin. scheduling and production news; A diagnostics test that is giving false negative results; Bristol Myers Squibb withdraw an indication for Opdivo; And experts vote on the best diets for 2021.

Its been a long year, but the monumental efforts to achieve a COVID-19 vaccine are bearing some fruits, we about that, and also a fully at home diagnostic COVID test, as well as new findings related to glucosamine supplements and a novel treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis.

This week we cover new findings for the diabetes drug sitagliptin in pediatrics; An obesity treatment has approval expanded; The FDA issue a Complete Response Letter for an outpatient alternative treatment; And news of availability for a transdermal contraceptive patch.

This week we cover a back and forth between the FDA and the WHO over remdesivir efficacy; Recommendations for who should get a COVID vaccine first; Xolair and Hetlioz have approval expansions; And a novel neuroblastoma treatment gets accelerated approval. Moreover, there's movie trivia!

The latest on vaccine news from Moderna, and BioNTech and Pfizer as they release more trial data; A at-home diagnostic test is approved; Keytruda gains expanded approval; and all the rest of the drug news from this past week.

Major developments in COVID-19 vaccine and antibody treatments: Are we close to having a vaccine gain Emergency Use Authorization? The antibody bamlanivimab is given Emergency Use Authorization; An NIH study concluded that hydroxychloroquine has no clinical benefit; And unrelated to COVID, but still big news, the Advisory Committee have voted on what would-be the first Alzheimer disease treatment...

This week we cover a new treatment submission to the FDA for the prevention of diabetes; The launch of a bupivacaine implant to treat post op pain; The DEA schedules a newly approved opioid; The FDA classifies over 200 drugs as essential and wants manufacturers to ramp up production; And more news on drugs that are in the pipeline.

This week: The study that identified factors associated with strong antibody responses to COVID; How convalescent plasmas benefits may be limited; A nasal spray to treat diabetic gastroparesis; Recommendations for colorectal cancer screening; And a new treatment approved for dry eye disease.  

This week on the pod: Results from the survey assessing willingness to receive a COVID vaccine; Dr. Fauci shares that he is 'cautiously optimistic' a vaccine could arrive before year's end; A short course of treatment for tuberculosis shows promise; Phase 3 results for a novel pneumococcal vaccine; The FDA rejects a patch intended to treat migraines; And the breaking news that remdesivir (Veklury)...

This week: News of another vaccine trial being put on hold; A trial assessing hyperimmue globulin beings; An NDA for IV tramadol is rejected; FDA Committees vote on novel schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder therapy; And a first approval for Ebola. 

This week on the pod; the latest COVID news, including encouraging news on antibody therapies; Updated on Emergency Use Authorization guidelines for vaccines; Remdesivir distribution; A HIV drug fails to have an impact; And why the FDA want a preterm birth treatment withdrawn from the market.

New Moderna vaccine results; Boxed Warning for benzodiazepines; Point-of-care COVID-19 antibody test; Diphenhydramine overdoses linked to TikTok 'Challenge'; And FDA grants Nucala new approval. Also we look at this week's developments in drugs in the pipeline.

This week we cover AstraZeneca and the swift decision to restart their COVID-19 vaccine candidate trial; Pfizer and BioNTech want to expand enrollment for their   candidate vaccine trial; There's the janus kinase inhibitor that could help reduce recovery time; An investigative antiviral may ease strain on hospitalizations; Aortic aneurysm, dissection assessed with fluoroquinolones; and a retrospec...

We cover AstraZeneca's decision to pause their COVID-19 vaccine trial; New studies indicate benefits for steroid therapy in COVID patients; Higher doses of diabetes treatment gain approval; The first non-hormonal contraceptive is launched; The FDA issues a letter regarding spinal cord stimulators; And we  wrap up the latest news on drugs in the pipeline.

The ACIP release guidelines for the 2020-2021 vaccination recommendations; In COVID, there's developments in convalescent plasma authorization; A 15 minute test; And ethnobotanist's give a stark warning concerning a plant that some are touting as a cure; In other news an intrauterine device gains expanded approval; Label update for hydrochlorothiazide.

Treatment shows promise for patients who had pneumonia associated with COVID-19; A COVID-19 test that may have given inaccurate results; Neck gaiters as face masks may actually spread the virus; Drug applications are halted by the FDA; And Narcan has it's shelf life extended. Also, we recap drug pipeline news from the past week.

Remdesivir is submitted; New opioid approved by FDA; A new Spinal Muscular Atrophy treatment;  A sublingual epinephrine treatment; and the latest on Biogen's investigational Alzheimer disease treatment.

This week there's more COVID vaccine developments; A first-of-its-kind trial assessing a drug for preventing COVID in long term care facilities; A cannabidiol treatment gains another indication; Depression treatment gains indication for major depressive disorders with acute suicidal ideation or behavior; And the FDA requests more information for their review of the peanut allergy treatment, Viaski...

It's been an important week with big developments in potential COVID-19 vaccines; News on how steroid therapy may help some COVID patients; There's results from the Actemra trial in COVID pneumonia patients; News that sputum samples may be just as effective as nasopharyngeal samples for detecting sars-cov-2; And  researchers have linked vaccination to reduced risks of Alzheimer disease.

This week: The government makes a $1.95 billion deal for a COVID-19 vaccine; Promising data from the Oxford vaccine trial; The CDC retakes control of COVID-19 data; Novel calcineurin inhibitor for lupus nephritis gets priority review; And there's new treatment for narcolepsy.

This week; Significant moves in COVID-19 vaccine development; Research finds a link between PPI use and increased risk of COVID-19; We look at remdesivir's efficacy in severe COVID-19 cases; And several Company's recall their metformin extended release tablets.

The discontinuation of a trial investigating a potential COVID-19 treatment; A safety alert for toxic hand sanitizers; Vaccine guidance in the time of the pandemic; And new treatments in HIV and myelodysplastic syndromes.