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 WHO study casts doubt on remdesivir's benefits
Gilead Sciences has questioned the findings of a World Health
Organization (WHO) study which concluded that its COVID-19 drug
remdesivir does not help patients who have been admitted to
hospital.
The American company told Reuters the data appeared inconsistent,
the findings were premature and that other studies had validated the
drug's benefits.
In a blow to one of the few drugs being used to treat people with
COVID-19, the WHO said its "Solidarity" trial had concluded that
remdesivir appeared to have little or no effect on 28-day mortality
or length of hospital stays among patients with the respiratory
disease.
U.S. cases surpass 8 million
U.S. coronavirus cases crossed 8 million on Thursday, rising by 1
million in less than a month, as another surge hits the nation hard
at the onset of cooler weather.
The United States reported 60,000 new infections on Wednesday, the
highest daily increase since Aug. 14, with rising cases in every
region, especially the Midwest.
According to a Reuters analysis, 25 states have so far set records
for increases in new cases in October.
UK moves closer to vaccine trials that infect volunteers
"Human challenge" trials of potential COVID-19 vaccines, where
volunteers are deliberately infected with the disease, could become
a reality after a British biotech firm said it was in advanced talks
with the government to create and provide strains of the virus.
Preliminary work for the trials, which aim to speed up the process
of determining the efficacy of a vaccine candidate, is being carried
out by hVIVO, a unit of pharmaceutical services company Open Orphan.
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If agreed, this would involve creating a human challenge study model that could
be used should such trials gain ethical and safety approval from regulators.
First 'no-quarantine' flights arrive in Australia
Hundreds of New Zealand plane passengers started arriving in Sydney on Friday as
part of a new trans-Tasman travel bubble set up amid a rapidly falling growth
rate in cases at the epicentre of Australia's coronavirus outbreak.
In a tentative reopening to international tourism, travellers on the approved
flights won't be required to quarantine in Sydney.
The arrangements, however, are not yet reciprocal, with New Zealand requiring
arrivals to be quarantined for two weeks under supervision at the cost of
NZ$3,100 ($2,045) for the first person and more for additional family members.
Japan to test anti-virus measures at stadium
Yokohama Stadium will hold three baseball games at around 80% capacity later
this month as Japan looks to test its COVID-19 countermeasures at big events
ahead of the rearranged Tokyo Olympics next year.
Professional sports stadiums in Japan have been limited to 50% capacity, with
the vast majority of games going ahead without issue.
Economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who heads Japan's COVID-19
fight, told reporters late on Thursday that if the "experiment" was a success,
all professional stadiums would be allowed to boost capacity.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
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