Long time, no see.... #Coronavirus likely to be with us some time

For those of us hoping for a swift end to lockdown and social distancing restrictions, it has been stated, by the World Health Organization’s Ranieri Guerra no less, that it is unlikely the novel coronavirus will diminish any time soon. It’s “much more like the influenza virus, and has infected millions and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths,” he said, speaking in an interview with Quotidiano Sanità, adding that this risk underscores the importance of finding a vaccine, writes European Alliance for Personalised Medicine (EAPM) Executive Director Denis Horgan.

Age and the presence of co-existing health conditions are the most likely contributing factor to the difference in mortality rates in different countries, Guerra added, rather than there being ‘different strains’ of the novel coronavirus.

UK ready to fast-track treatments

With UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s face officially ‘degrumping’ at the good news of the birth of his sixth child, the UK has also set up a new fast-track clinical trial initiative for potential COVID-19 treatments, namely a platform called ‘Accelerating COVID-19 Research and Development (ACCORD)’, which may ease the pressure on Johnson’s return to work, under fire as he is about the UK’s testing policy.

The trial is set to begin with six different potential treatments and, in an announcement on Wednesday (29 April), the UK government said that the platform would enable clinical trials to begin in “weeks rather than months”, in a much-needed move away from the customary years that are normally required to produce a vaccine. Solutions, not problems, let’s hope that’s the way forward!

Keeping tabs on Paris hospital study

In a surprising development for those of us (most of us) who would not normally attach any health-giving properties to nicotine, French scientists have announced that they’ll proceed with a clinical study of the drug as a potential preventive treatment for COVID-19.

Apparently, it would seem that smokers are under-represented among those hospitalized with coronavirus infections, according to a Paris hospital’s study. However, some experts have tried to stub out the study’s findings, arguing that they do not necessarily demonstrate what they purport to show. Health authorities are finding their situation increasingly complex, as they attempt to maintain balance while trying to reach the public, who are desperate for cures. #

EMA puts cell therapies in the dock

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) has this week warned the public this week to avoid unregulated cell therapies. Unspecified “individuals, companies and hospitals” promoting unproven cell therapies for a range of illnesses, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, autism and cerebral palsy are being heavily criticized, with the agency warning that untested advanced therapies have caused serious side effects and have even occasionally resulted in death. In a warning tone: “The CAT emphasises that for patients to benefit from the promise of cell-based therapies, well designed clinical trials on the safety and benefits of cell-based therapies are essential,” it said.

Kids’ complaint laid at coronavirus door

To add to the health woes encircling the globe, countries around Europe are reporting cases of children with inflammatory conditions arriving at the hospital. France, Britain, Spain and Italy have reported numerous cases of children showing up in emergency rooms with rare inflammatory conditions that could be linked to the coronavirus. In an effort, perhaps, to console put-upon parents, the WHO has quickly pointed out that it’s a “rare complication” while the “vast majority” of infected kids recover quickly. “One should always be watchful in children,” reporters were told, “but I think it’s important that parents out there are reassured.”

Germany – coronavirus immunity pass and a backtrack on mass testing

Germany’s Cabinet on Wednesday passed its second draft bill for the “protection of the population” during “an epidemic situation of national importance”. All patients who have recovered from the coronavirus can now receive get official immunity documentation, a measure that also requires labs to report negative test results to health authorities. It comes as Germany is aiming to step up testing capacity up to one million tests per week. However, the German cabinet has adopted a draft law that appears to be a step away from the idea of mass coronavirus testing, Welt has written, with details expected from Health Minister Jens Spahn. An earlier version envisioned up to 4.5 million additional tests per week, for which insurers would have to spend up to an additional €1.5 billion, but the new version sees about one million tests per week, which would cost insurers €60 million.

In your right mind over coronavirus?

Mental health concerns have come to the forefront as the pandemic continues, particularly for health care workers on the frontline. On Sunday (26 April), a top emergency doctor at a Manhattan hospital committed suicide. Her father told the New York Times that she described devastating scenes at her hospital. “She tried to do her job, and it killed her,” he said. In Europe on Tuesday (28 April), the Netherlands launched a campaign urging people to talk about how the pandemic is making them feel. “Sad or stressed due to the coronavirus? Talk about it,” the government has urged on radio and social media.

Money, money, money

The European Innovation Council should get a “minimum” of €10 billion from the 2021-2027 EU budget, according to the governing board set up to advise on how it is run, arguing it will need at least that much to support the bloc’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis. The EIC (to be funded under the EU’s Horizon Europe program) is set to give venture capital to innovators, startups and spin offs. Research and Innovation Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said: “This clearly demonstrates how important it is to support high-impact innovation during the coronavirus recovery period and beyond.”

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