Good News Thread - part 2

[KitKatastrophe]

Thank you to those who have contributed to the good news thread over the past few weeks. We are at 40 pages so here is a new one to continue sharing good news stories :)

I think Pfizer carries out an interim unblinding when they hit 32 positive cases whereas Oxford are waiting until they hit 75? So it might be possible that Pfizer are in a position to release data earlier but are still a little bit behind Oxford in terms of trial progress if that makes sense.

Either way I think both are probably on the brink now of reaching the point where we will get some actual data which will be amazing. I think actual vaccinations by Christmas is probably optimistic (although not impossible) but I'm increasing confident that we will have the trial data released for at least one vaccine, possibly two or three, by Christmas which will be fantastic.

Vaccines are not the real way out o this - fast testing and treatments are, especially treatments that keep people out of hospital. So this is massive news - a treatment that works best on those most likely
to get seriously ill. investor.regeneron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/regenerons-covid-19-outpatient-trial-prospectively-demonstrates

Each day brings us closer to a vaccine, which won’t see the end of covid 19, but anything that helps with lessoning the effects of the virus for the vulnerable and key workers will be a bonus.

@Sunshinegirl82

I think Pfizer carries out an interim unblinding when they hit 32 positive cases whereas Oxford are waiting until they hit 75? So it might be possible that Pfizer are in a position to release data earlier but are still a little bit behind Oxford in terms of trial progress if that makes sense.

Either way I think both are probably on the brink now of reaching the point where we will get some actual data which will be amazing. I think actual vaccinations by Christmas is probably optimistic (although not impossible) but I'm increasing confident that we will have the trial data released for at least one vaccine, possibly two or three, by Christmas which will be fantastic.

I just read this blog on the protocols for the vaccines, which is interesting.

blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2020/09/21/the-vaccine-protocols

As you said, Pfizer have got two interims before the Oxford one, so interesting to see the data but probably difficult to get significant results on that number. I'm hoping that the more confident murmurings about Oxford mean that they're getting nearer too.

Wow the regoneron drug looks really promising

More on Pfizer in the Times today

The government believes that a German vaccine backed by Pfizer could be ready to distribute before Christmas, with the first doses earmarked for the elderly and vulnerable.

Albert Bourla, the chief executive of Pfizer, said that the vaccine was in the “last mile” and that the pharmaceutical company expected results within a matter of weeks.

Britain has already bought enough doses for 20 million people and is anticipating that some will be available for use immediately if the drug is shown to be successful.

I was having a slump yesterday after hearing about the antibody thing, so these further links and info have been a tonic!
I’m in West Yorks and likely to be in Tier 3 soon, but I feel as if there is starting to be some light at the end of the tunnel which is great. I reckon, come the New Year, things will start to feel different

@whenwillthemadnessend

Wow the regoneron drug looks really promising

It does indeed. I drove right past Regeneron headquarters this week and gave them a thumbs-up as I passed.

I think it's as close to a magic bullet therapeutic as we're going to get any time soon. The issue will be making and distributing enough of it. The US government hasn't funded at risk manufacturing for it as they have with vaccines but the Gates Foundation has.

Do we know when regeneron may be available for widespread use?

@Chickenandrice

Do we know when regeneron may be available for widespread use?

I was in error in my previous post. I saw an interview with Bill Gates about a month ago in which he stated that his foundation was funding antibody production because the US government hadn't. According to this

www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/provocative-results-boost-hopes-antibody-treatment-covid-19

Regeneron has since received $450 million from the government for 300,000 doses by year end.

And from here

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/09/30/monoclonal-antibodies-to-treat-covid-19/

To prepare for making the drug at scale, Regeneron transferred its other products to its facility in Ireland. It recently struck a deal with a competitor, Roche, to rapidly increase production.

“This is quite unusual, because we’re giving a competitor a lot of our know-how, our technology,” said Schleifer, the Regeneron CEO. “They’re going to get to drive our cars, so to speak.”

With the partnership, the companies can manufacture between 650,000 and 2 million treatment doses in a year, or 4 million to 8 million prevention doses. The United States has placed an order for $450 million worth of medicine — enough for 70,000 to 300,000 treatments, depending on how much of the drug is in each dose. But with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecasting 1,500 to 5,000 hospitalized patients a day by late October, that supply could be rapidly consumed.

So it's going to be in short supply for quite a while. Eli Lilly's antibody cocktail will probably have similar benefits and it's being produced separately, so that will give more supply.

[quote alreadytaken]Vaccines are not the real way out o this - fast testing and treatments are, especially treatments that keep people out of hospital. So this is massive news - a treatment that works best on those most likely
to get seriously ill. investor.regeneron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/regenerons-covid-19-outpatient-trial-prospectively-demonstrates[/quote]

Yes I think a group of things are going to make a difference/end the pandemic. Vaccines and treatments combined; a bit like we already have for seasonal flu.

Regeneron is the front runner, it wont be the only company working along these lines.

There is a tough winter ahead but in time this will be something like flu (although if we kept up hand washing and masks flu would be a lot less of a problem too).

I think people will be desperate to get rid of masks but hand washing? Why not?

Digression but I've always thought it would be good if it was customary for people going to eat out washed their hands first before eating. But appreciate that might just be my quirk! 😁

Just wanted to add my thanks to everyone that collates info and posts on this thread. It's where I come when I'm feeling low with it all and it helps enormously.

I agree Tobee about the handwashing - it seems common sense, hopefully that's one thing that will remain from this

Has anyone heard of a tv reporter Christian Martin? A Spanish reporter working for Fox News and a Spanish TV channel.
Apparently has really good contacts within Oxford and AstraZeneca. He is saying approval by mid Nov with a rollout to vulnerable by December and 50% of population vaccinated by April. I have no idea whether any of this is correct but it gave me a little boost.

I have seen him get retweeted a few times @chri55ie. And he has a blue tick I really hope he’s right...

Me too!

That would be brilliant if that's the case, it doesn't sound too unlikely either. Ooooh, might have a casual look at flights (again), it can't help to be optimistic!

I think that timeline accords a bit with what the scientists seem to be hinting about, so would 50 percent be vulnerable nhs and over 65s? I really think teachers should be offered it as priority too.

Then everyone else by the autumn? Perhaps starting with over 45s and all key workers and retail / hospitality staff ?

But restrictions may need to continue into and including next winter until the rates are down- by which i mean masks, but social contact can start to be expanded as per last summer ?

This is what I’m working out in my head anyway, could be balderdash !

I really think teachers should be offered it as priority too.

me too, but they won't be. The govt thinks that all teachers are should be? 26 year old women who don't need a vaccine??

My only hope is that Schools will be allowed to put forward a "vulnerable staff" list for priority. That could work I suppose.

I agree that your timeline looks reasonable. I think once a vaccine has started to be rolled out, we'll all start to feel a bit more optimistic!

Definitely teachers should be prioritised. I’d also say uni students, given the swift spread in September

I’m non vulnerable, under 40, in a job where I can SD, so I’m pretty well bottom of the priority list, which is fine. But the more we vaccinate, the more normal life can become.

I need to read all of these thanks guys x

@TheKeatingFive

Definitely teachers should be prioritised. I’d also say uni students, given the swift spread in September

I’m non vulnerable, under 40, in a job where I can SD, so I’m pretty well bottom of the priority list, which is fine. But the more we vaccinate, the more normal life can become.

I think uni staff and older or more vulnerable students should be for sure, but young, fit and healthy students are low risk.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/30/its-possible-the-race-to-approve-a-covid-vaccine-by-christmas