Apple's MagSafe Chargers Could Interfere With Cardiac Implants: American Heart Association

 Apple Inc’s 

AAPL MagSafe devices could interfere with pacemakers if they are held very close to the implant or held over the skin, according to American Heart Association, Appleinsider reported Thursday.

What Happened: The findings were reportedly published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, which agreed with a report by Heart Rhythm Journal, which in turn claimed that when the iPhone 12 is brought in close contact with certain implantable cardiac devices they are affected.

“Our study demonstrates that magnet reversion mode may be triggered when the iPhone 12 Pro Max is placed directly on the skin over an implantable cardiac device and thus has the potential to inhibit [life-saving] therapies, “ the Association’s report noted, as per Appleinsider.

The Association was reported to have used an iPhone 12 Max phone for its tests against a series of 11 different pacemakers and defibrillators.

The medical devices were both “in vivo” — meaning they were implanted in patients or “ex vivo” — meaning they were newly unboxed or not yet implanted devices, as per the Association.

Why It Matters: The “iPhone 12 Pro Max was able to trigger magnetic reversion mode at a distance up to 1.5cm [0.6 inches],” said the report, as per AppleInsider.

"Our study suggests otherwise as magnet response was demonstrated in 3/3 cases in vivo."

The Association noted that people often put their smartphones in breast pockets over a device that can be in close proximity to cardiac implantable electronic devices, which “can lead to asynchronous pacing or disabling of antitachycardic therapies.”

An Apple advisory on MagSafe states, “To avoid any potential interactions with these devices, keep your iPhone and MagSafe accessories a safe distance away from your  device (more than 6 inches / 15 cm apart or more than 12 inches / 30 cm apart if wirelessly charging).”

Apple launched the iPhone 12 lineup in October last year. The phones are 5G capable and come with features like a Lidar scanner along with MagSafe charging and accessories such as wallets.

https://www.benzinga.com/news/21/06/21423782/apples-magsafe-chargers-could-interfere-with-cardiac-implants-warns-american-heart-association

Asco 2021 – Keytruda’s adjuvant kidney win is the real deal

 Those fretting about the magnitude of Keytruda’s disease-free survival win in Keynote-564, the first positive phase 3 trial of an adjuvant immunotherapy in renal cancer, need not have worried. The study’s just unveiled Asco late-breaker has shown a 32% reduction in risk of disease progression versus placebo (p=0.0010), the likely approvable primary endpoint. Just as important is the secondary endpoint of overall survival, which is showing a 46% reduction in risk of death. True, at p=0.0164 this was not statistically significant – but this was a result of a high bar set at this early interim analysis, corresponding to a December 14, 2020 cutoff. In reality, the strong hint is that Keytruda really is helping renal cancer patients live longer when given as adjuvant for a year within 12 weeks of surgery. The results further underscore the Merck & Co drug’s widening lead against its kidney cancer rivals, in particular Opdivo, though it should be stressed that competitor phase 3 adjuvant studies are under way and start reading out next year.

Source: Dr Toni Choueiri & Asco.

https://www.evaluate.com/vantage/articles/news/snippets/asco-2021-keytrudas-adjuvant-kidney-win-real-deal

Malaysia grants conditional approval for Thai-made AstraZeneca vax

Malaysian health authorities said on Friday conditional approval had been granted for AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Siam Bioscience Co in Thailand.

Health Ministry director-general, Noor Hisham Abdullah, said in a statement the vaccine supply received from Thailand is expected to speed up implementation of Malaysia's national vaccination programme.

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/ASTRAZENECA-PLC-4000930/news/AstraZeneca-nbsp-Malaysia-grants-conditional-approval-for-Thai-made-AstraZeneca-vaccine-35516221/

Novartis Reports Encouraging Results From Study of Cancer Treatment Lutathera

 Novartis AG said the final analysis of a study of its Lutathera radioligand therapy for the treatment of cancer showed clinically relevant improvement in median overall survival data.

A secondary objective of the Phase 3 study of treatment using Lutathera in patients with midgut neuroendocrine tumors showed prolongation in median overall survival of 11.7 months, the Swiss drugmaker said late Thursday.

This analysis, however, didn't reach statistical significance, Novartis said. The analyses of overall survival may have been affected by multiple factors, the company said. No new safety concerns emerged in the study analysis, it said.

The study's previously reported primary analysis showed statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival, the company said.

Radioligand therapy combines a targeting compound that binds to receptors expressed by tumors and a radioactive isotope, causing DNA damage that inhibits tumor growth and replication and may lead to cell death, the company said.

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/NOVARTIS-AG-9364983/news/Novartis-Reports-Encouraging-Results-From-Study-of-Cancer-Treatment-Lutathera-35516356/

Fauci calls on China to release medical records of Wuhan lab workers

 Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has called on China to release the medical records of nine people whose ailments might provide vital clues into whether COVID-19 first emerged as the result of a lab leak, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

"I would like to see the medical records of the three people who are reported to have got sick in 2019. Did they really get sick, and if so, what did they get sick with?" the report https://on.ft.com/3igFTgU quoted Fauci as saying.

The origin of the virus is hotly contested, with U.S. intelligence agencies still examining reports that researchers at a Chinese virology laboratory in Wuhan were seriously ill in 2019 a month before the first COVID-19 cases were reported.

However, Chinese scientists and officials have consistently rejected the lab leak hypothesis, saying the virus could have been circulating in other regions before it hit Wuhan and might have even entered China through imported frozen food shipments or wildlife trading.

Financial Times reported that Fauci continues to believe the virus was first transmitted to humans through animals, pointing out that even if the lab researchers did have COVID-19, they could have contracted the disease from the wider population.

https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/Fauci-calls-on-China-to-release-medical-records-of-Wuhan-lab-workers-FT--35516264/

Johnson & Johnson talking to Taiwan about providing COVID-19 vaccine

 

Johnson & Johnson said on Friday that it has been in talks with Taiwan about providing its COVID-19 vaccine to the island since last year.

"Johnson & Johnson has been in confidential discussions with the Taiwan Government regarding supply of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine since last year," it said in an emailed statement to Reuters, without giving details.

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/index/MSCI-TAIWAN-STRD-107361484/news/Johnson-Johnson-talking-to-Taiwan-about-providing-COVID-19-vaccine-35516287/

Goldman May Payrolls Preview

 A few brief excerpts from a note by Goldman Sachs economist Spencer Hill:

We estimate nonfarm payrolls rose 750k in May (mom sa) ... Following the surprisingly weak April report, we believe the further easing of business restrictions more than offset a moderate drag from labor supply factors and seasonality. ... We estimate a three-tenths drop in the unemployment rate to 5.8% (consensus 5.9%), reflecting a strong household employment gain but a further rise in the participation rate.
emphasis added

CR Note: The consensus is for 650 thousand jobs added, and for the unemployment rate to decrease to 5.9%.

https://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2021/06/goldman-may-payrolls-preview.html