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CNN —President-elect Donald Trump on Friday announced his picks for critical remaining public health roles in his incoming administration. He or she also serves as vice admiral of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, overseeing this group of uniformed officers who seek to promote the nation’s health. “And if you remember, under the President Trump administration’s leadership, you’ll recall that we had incredible public health policies, President Trump’s unparalled creation of Operation Warp Speed was one like we’ve never seen before. Chan School of Public Health. “The superiority of natural immunity over vaccinated immunity is clear.”CDC directorThe director of the CDC leads the nation’s foremost public health agency, which deals with disease prevention and control and environmental health.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Janette Nesheiwat, Marty Makary, Dave Weldon, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Trump’s, Kennedy, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, “ We’re, ” Nesheiwat, you’ll, we’ve, Johns Hopkins, Makary, ”, Weldon, “, Terri Schiavo, Brian Stelter, Meg Tirrell Organizations: CNN, Friday, Food and Drug Administration, US Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health, Human Services, Senate, CDC, US Public Health Service, Corps, Fox News, American Board of Family Medicine, American University of, University of Arkansas, Medical Sciences, FDA, Johns Hopkins University, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Harvard, of Public Health, National Academy of Medicine, World Health Organization, Street, Journal, Agency, Toxic Substances, SUNY, Army, Letterman Army Medical Center, Army Reserve, American Board of Internal Medicine, Assurance, Agency for Vaccine, HHS, Disease Control Locations: Florida, Caribbean, St, Maarten, New York, Chan, Buffalo

☆ When Covid-19 finally got me, here’s what I did next
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Katia Hetter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Story highlights Getting a Covid-19 vaccination reduces risk of hospitalization or death All should have a plan in the event of infection, our medical expert advises There are treatments available for patients not eligible for PaxlovidCNN —Covid-19 finally got me. There are more key points I want to emphasize: The Covid-19 vaccine is not going to protect you 100% from contracting the virus. That’s because the viral load may not be high enough initially to trigger a positive test. You should also consider getting tested for the flu, as antiviral treatments are available for influenza, too. Wen: Individuals who test positive should stay home for at least five days and isolate from others, according to CDC guidance.

Persons: Paxlovid CNN —, I’ve, “ Hamilton, Leana Wen, Wen, it’s, It’s, Joe Raedle, Covid Organizations: Paxlovid CNN, CNN Health, World Health, WHO, George Washington University, CNN, Covid, US Centers for Disease Control, Paxlovid Locations: naps, Covid

☆ Merck quarterly profit tops expectations on COVID pill surprise
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Merck logo is seen at a gate to the Merck & Co campus in Rahway, New Jersey, U.S., July 12, 2018. Merck raised Lagevrio full-year sales forecast to $1.3 billion. Third-quarter sales of Merck's top-selling cancer immunotherapy, Keytruda, stood at $6.34 billion, surpassing analysts' average estimate of $6.22 billion. Gardasil, its vaccine to prevent cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), generated sales of $2.59 billion, rising 13% but missing analysts' average estimate of $2.69 billion. The company posted sales of $15.96 billion in the reported quarter, compared to the average analyst estimate of $15.3 billion.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Molnupiravir, Merck, Wells, Mohit Bansal, drugmaker, Michael Erman, Leroy Leo, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Merck, Co, REUTERS, Merck & Co, Pfizer's, Thomson Locations: Rahway , New Jersey, U.S, Japan, United States, EU

☆ US plans shift of Merck COVID treatment to commercial market
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A COVID-19 treatment pill, called molnupiravir developed by Merck & Co and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP is seen in this undated handout photo released by Merck & Co Inc and obtained by Reuters May 17, 2021. Merck & Co Inc/Handout via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. government will stop distributing free doses of Merck & Co's (MRK.N) COVID-19 antiviral treatment molnupiravir by the middle of next month and expects it to be sold on the commercial market instead. Molnupiravir was initially hailed as a potential breakthrough when few treatment options were available but was soon eclipsed by Pfizer's (PFE.N) rival treatment Paxlovid, which had more impressive data. Merck said the study was limited and that it is confident in the clinical profile of the drug. Merck said it would have a patient assistance program for people who cannot afford the drug.

Persons: Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, Molnupiravir, Merck, Michael Erman, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Merck & Co, Merck & Co Inc, Reuters, Merck, Co Inc, REUTERS, U.S, Co's, Administration, Strategic Preparedness, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Pfizer's, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States

☆ Is it cold, the flu or Covid-19? A doctor helps sort it out
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Katia Hetter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN: What should people do if they develop cold-like symptoms? Those individuals should take antiviral treatment if they test positive to reduce their risk of hospitalization and death. Most do not allow kids to return to school if they have a fever or severe viral symptoms such as vomiting. Wen: Most people will not need to see their health care provider for cold-like viral illnesses. Those vulnerable should have a plan in advance about accessing antiviral treatment to both Covid-19 and influenza.

Persons: Leana Wen, Wen, It’s, Luis Alvarez, — Organizations: CNN, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health Locations: Covid

A study published this week linked the COVID-19 antiviral molnupiravir to new coronavirus mutations, raising questions about whether the drug could lead to the evolution of potentially concerning strains in the future. The drug works by causing mutations in the genetic information of the virus. Researchers looked at 15 million coronavirus genomes to analyze the timing and type of mutations. Study authors said the findings are important for regulators who assess the drug. “The authors assume these mutations were associated with viral spread from molnupiravir-treated patients without documented evidence of that transmission.

Persons: molnupiravir, ” Theo Sanderson, Francis Crick, Merck Organizations: Nature, Francis, Francis Crick Institute Locations: London, molnupiravir

☆ Merck Covid drug linked to virus mutations that can spread between people, new study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A new study released Monday said Merck 's widely used antiviral Covid pill can cause mutations in the virus that occasionally spread to other people, raising questions about whether the drug has the potential to accelerate Covid's evolution. Molnupiravir works by causing mutations in Covid's genetic information, which weakens or destroys the virus and reduces the amount of Covid in the body. Researchers in the U.S. and U.K. specifically analyzed 15 million Covid genomes to see which mutations had occurred and when. Based on data at the time, a spokesperson for Merck said it didn't believe molnupiravir was likely to contribute to Covid mutations. The new study comes as Covid once again gains a stronger foothold in the U.S., primarily driven by newer strains of the virus.

Persons: Merck, molnupiravir, Theo Sanderson, Francis Crick, Covid, Merck's molnupiravir, Molnupiravir Organizations: Francis, Francis Crick Institute, Twitter, Merck, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, FDA Locations: U.S, London

☆ Merck revenue falls after dramatic drop in sales of Covid antiviral treatment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Merck on Thursday reported first-quarter revenue that fell 9% from the same period a year ago largely due to a steep drop in sales of its Covid antiviral treatment molnupiravir. Sales of molnupiravir plunged to $392 million during the period, down 88% from the $3.2 billion reported in the first quarter of 2022. Merck said the decrease is primarily the result of lower sales in the U.S., U.K., Japan and Australia. The company reported total revenue of $14.5 billion during the quarter, down nearly $1.5 billion from the same period a year ago. But Merck's pharmaceutical unit saw higher sales of the blockbuster antibody treatment Keytruda, which increased 20% to $5.8 billion during the quarter.

☆ Merck earnings better-than-expected on Keytruda, Gardasil strength
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 27 (Reuters) - Drugmaker Merck & Co on Thursday posted better-than-expected first-quarter results on the strength of its blockbuster cancer immunotherapy Keytruda and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil. Sales of Keytruda rose 20% to $5.8 billion in the quarter, topping the average analyst forecast of $5.6 billion. Gardasil sales rose 35% to $2 billion, beating analyst estimates of $1.7 billion. It forecast 2023 sales of $57.7 billion to $58.9 billion, up from its previous forecast of $57.2 billion to $58.7 billion. The company reported nearly $21 billion in Keytruda sales last year.

☆ Merck's COVID pill fails to prevent infection among household members
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The results were similar to data from rival Pfizer Inc (PFE.N), whose COVID pill Paxlovid also failed to prevent infections among household contacts. Merck's late-stage trial enrolled over 1,500 participants, who were household contacts exposed to an individual with at least one symptom and had recently tested positive for COVID-19. Its Lagevrio pill, also known as molnupiravir, was given every 12 hours for five days and was compared with a placebo group. Participants treated with the pill were 23.6% less likely to develop COVID than those given a placebo through day 14, failing to meet the main goal of the trial, Merck said. Pfizer's Paxlovid and Merck's Lagevrio pills were given emergency use authorization in Dec. 2021 for patients with mild-to-moderate COVID that tested positive for the virus, and who were at risk of progressing to severe COVID.

☆ Merck fourth quarter tops expectations on strong COVID pill sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 2 (Reuters) - Merck & Co (MRK.N) on Thursday reported higher-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings on strong sales of its COVID-19 antiviral pill molnupiravir in Asia. The U.S. drugmaker said its sales in the quarter were $13.83 billion, up from $13.52 billion a year earlier. Analysts had previously forecast around $825 million for 2023 molnupiravir sales. Pfizer (PFE.N) reported sales of around $18.9 billion for its antiviral treatment Paxlovid in 2022 and forecast 2023 sales of around $8 billion. The drugmaker forecast adjusted 2023 earnings of $6.80 to $6.95 a share on sales of $57.2 billion to $58.7 billion.

☆ The end of the Covid health emergency won't slow FDA clearance of shots and treatments
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday said its emergency authorizations of Covid vaccines, tests and treatments will not be impacted by the end of the public health emergency this spring. President Joe Biden is planning to terminate in May the public health and national emergencies declared in response to the Covid pandemic three years ago, the White House said Monday. The public health emergency gave U.S. health regulators expanded powers to respond faster to the pandemic. The FDA's emergency powers, however, aren't directly tied to public health declaration, according to the agency. This allows the agency to respond more swiftly to public health crises.

☆ CDC urges people with weak immune systems to take extra precautions after Covid subvariants knock out Evusheld
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday urged people with weak immune systems to take extra precautions to avoid Covid after the dominant omicron subvariants knocked out a key antibody treatment. The guidance comes after the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday pulled its authorization of Evusheld, a combination antibody injection that people with weak immune systems took as an additional layer of protection to prevent Covid infection. The FDA pulled Evusheld because it is not effective against 95% of the omicron subvariants circulating in the U.S. People with weak immune systems include cancer patients who are on chemotherapy, organ transplant patients who are taking medication for their transplant, people with advanced HIV infection, and those born with immune deficiencies. Some 7 million adults in the U.S. have a condition, like cancer, that compromises their immune system, according to the CDC.

China said last Saturday that nearly 60,000 people with COVID died in hospitals between Dec. 8 and Jan. 12 - a roughly ten-fold increase from previous disclosures. However, that number excludes those who die at home, and some doctors in China have said they are discouraged from putting COVID on death certificates. China's chaotic exit from a regime of mass lockdowns, travel restrictions and frequent COVID testing, has also prompted a run on drugs as people fend for themselves against the disease. To meet soaring demand, drugmakers in China are ramping up operations to triple their capacity to make key fever and cough medicines, the state-run China Daily reported on Thursday. Medical facilities are relatively weak in rural areas, thus prevention is difficult and the task is arduous," Xi said, adding that the elderly were a top priority.

☆ China’s Shortage of Antivirals Puts Vulnerable People at Risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Raffaele Huang | Clarence Leong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SINGAPORE—China is struggling with shortages of lifesaving antivirals more than a month after its government made an abrupt U-turn on its zero-Covid policies, leaving hospitals and drugmakers unprepared for the rapid rise in cases. Many people in China are hunting for antiviral treatments such as Pfizer Inc.’s Paxlovid and Merck & Co.’s Lagevrio, also known as molnupiravir, which have been shown to suppress the ability of the virus to reproduce when taken soon after a patient gets infected.

Around 67% of people who took the experimental pill, called VV116, reported side effects, compared to to 77% who took Paxlovid. In the trial of VV116, more than 380 people took the experimental drug, while a similarly sized group took Paxlovid. The median time to recovery — defined as no Covid symptoms for two consecutive days — was four days for VV116 recipients and five days for those who took Paxlovid. Three-quarters of the trial participants were vaccinated, though the study found consistent results regardless of vaccine status. The National Institutes of Health recommends Paxlovid, with molnupiravir as an alternative in situations when neither Paxlovid nor remdesivir is available or appropriate.

There are no proven treatments for long Covid. No one knows exactly what causes the range of lingering issues associated with long Covid. Stanford's study aims to enroll 200 adults who have had long Covid symptoms for at least three months, without a recent diagnosis of the disease. "We really feel that with long Covid, you shouldn't wait until you already have all of these problems to address them. He's been struggling with the effects of long Covid for a year and a half.

☆ Britain's NICE recommends against NHS use of 5 COVID treatments as not cost-effective
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Maggie Fick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The review, conducted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and published on Wednesday, is its first involving COVID-19 treatments as the pandemic enters a new phase. The recommendations are a draft, NICE said, and until final guidance is published, access to COVID-19 medicines will continue as is. NICE acknowledged that there is evidence that Merck's molnupiravir and Gilead Sciences Inc's (GILD.O) hospital-administered antiviral remdesivir are effective at treating COVID-19. It also recommended against three other COVID treatments, including GSK (GSK.L) and partner Vir Biotechnology's (VIR.O) sotrovimab, an antibody therapy that the World Health Organization recommended against in September. One expert said that some of the COVID treatments NICE recommended against are an important part of the British government's current strategy.

☆ Merck third-quarter earnings climb, lifts full-year outlook
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 27 (Reuters) - Merck & Co (MRK.N) on Thursday posted better-than-expected third-quarter sales and earnings on a strong performance by its blockbuster cancer immunotherapy drug Keytruda and human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil. The drugmaker also raised its full-year sales and earnings forecasts despite headwinds created by the weak euro and pound. Third-quarter sales climbed 14% to $15.0 billion, ahead of a Refinitiv consensus estimate of $14.1 billion. Merck now expects full-year sales between $58.5 billion and $59 billion, up from its previous range of $57.5 billion to $58.5 billion. It exects full-year profit in the range of $7.32 to $7.37 per share.

☆ Omicron subvariants pose a new threat to people with immune deficiencies
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Benjamin Ryan | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Troubling recent reports reveal the emergence of new omicron subvariants that not only evade AstraZeneca’s Evusheld, the antibody drug authorized to prevent Covid infection, but also the sole antibody drug that has retained effectiveness as treatment for Covid, Eli Lilly’s bebtelovimab. Doctors have cautioned that should Laura get Covid, this could aggravate her autoimmune disease and lead to catastrophic kidney damage. Evusheld is a long-acting antibody injection given every six months that studies have suggested provides a robust buffer to the immunosuppressed. For now, immunocompromised people are anxiously watching the pandemic forecast to see if the subvariants that research indicates evade monoclonal antibodies will become predominant. “If fewer people are prescribed Evusheld,” she said, “there’s less incentive for drug companies to start developing newer therapeutics.

☆ Quick and stealthy new Covid-19 variants are poised to drive a winter surge
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —A flurry of new Covid-19 variants appears to be gaining traction globally, raising fears of a winter surge. As the US moves into the fall, Covid-19 cases are dropping. But virus experts fear that the downward trend may soon reverse itself, thanks to this gaggle of new variants. Lumped together, the variants accounted for almost 1 in 3 new Covid-19 infections nationwide last week, according to the latest estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The updated bivalent booster vaccines and antiviral drugs like Paxlovid are expected to continue to be protective against severe outcomes from Covid-19 infections caused by the new variants.

☆ Merck agrees to allow Sinopharm to sell molnupiravir COVID drug in China
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Drugmaker Merck & Co (MRK.N) said on Wednesday that it agreed to allow China's Sinopharm (1099.HK) to distribute and import its COVID-19 antiviral molnupiravir in China if the drug is approved for use there. The drugmaker said in a statement that it reached a cooperation framework agreement with Sinopharm that grants the Chinese company distribution and exclusive import rights of the medicine in the China mainland market. Merck also said it will allow China National Biotec Group, an affiliate of Sinopharm, to make the drug in China and has agreed to transfer technology to help with that production. Molnupiravir is sold under the brand name Lagevrio in the U.S. Merck developed the pill - and shares the profits equally - with partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Michael Erman; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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