Two candidate vaccines for COVID-19 have entered the first phase of human clinical trials and another 60 candidate vaccines are in pre-clinical studies, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed. The first vaccine candidate is jointly developed by CanSino Biological Inc and Beijing Institute of Biotechnology. The other vaccine that has entered the first phase of trials is from the US-based biotech firm Moderna and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) combine.
A Call for Blood Donations Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
The ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused massive cancellations in almost every aspect of life, including much-needed blood donation drives. If you are healthy and a potential blood donor, Northwell Health encourages donations at this time. Red blood cells are crucial to helping people and are in low supply due to the cancelation of blood donation drives. If you would like to learn more, please click in the link below.
Novartis, Incyte Set to Roll JAK Inhibitor Jakafi Into COVID-19 Clinical Trial
Drugmakers across the board are rolling already approved drugs into late-stage clinical trials in an effort to find a speedy therapy for COVID-19. Now, two more are joining the party, with Swiss drugmaker Novartis and partner Incyte set to test their blockbuster JAK inhibitor.Novartis and Incyte will initiate a phase 3 clinical trial for Jakafi––marketed as Jakavi abroad––to test it as a treatment for cytokine storm, an immune overreaction that causes respiratory complications in severe COVID-19 patients, the Swiss drugmaker said in a release.