Over half of parents skeptical of safety, efficacy of COVID vaccines for children: poll

 

• The Washington Post-ABC News poll found 46 percent of parents believe the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for children age 5 to 17.
• Fifty-two percent said they are “not at all” or “not so” confident in the safety or efficacy of the vaccine in children.
• The survey comes less than two weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) signed off on COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 5.

A new poll suggests just over half of parents in the U.S. are skeptical about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for children as eligibility recently opened to kids 5 to 11. 

The Washington Post-ABC News survey found that just under half, 46 percent, of parents with a child under 18 said they were either very or somewhat confident that the coronavirus vaccines are safe for children ages 5 to 17, while 47 percent said they were confident the vaccines are effective at preventing serious illness and death for the age group. 

Meanwhile, 52 percent of parents polled were not so sure. The poll found 41 percent of respondents said they are “not at all” confident that the vaccines are safe for children in that age group, and 11 percent saying they are “not so” confident. Fifty two percent also said they were “not at all” or “not so” confident of the vaccine's efficacy. 

The poll was conducted Nov. 7-10 among 1,001 adults, including 240 parents with children under 18. 

The survey comes less than two weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) signed off on Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 5. The White House last week announced at least 900,000 children between the ages of 5 and 11 are estimated to have received their first COVID-19 shot within the first week of eligibility. 

A similar poll taken prior to the authorization found a large share of parents aren’t planning to get their kids vaccinated right away. 

The Kaiser Family Foundation found that just less than 3 in 10 parents, 27 percent, said they plan to vaccinate their young children immediately once a vaccine is authorized.

The Kaiser survey found 76 percent of parents said they are either “very” or “somewhat” concerned that there’s not enough known about the long term effects of the vaccine in children, while 71 percent said they’re concerned their child might experience serious side effects. 

https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/581559-over-half-of-parents-are-skeptical-about-the

Texas doc's privileges suspended for 'spreading dangerous misinformation' on COVID

 A Houston, Texas-based doctor has had her privileges suspended from her job for “spreading dangerous misinformation” about COVID-19. 

Houston Methodist Hospital spokesperson Patti Muck confirmed to The Washington Post on Monday that Mary Bowden had had her privileges suspended.

Bowden, an ear and throat doctor at the hospital, has tweeted multiple times on her personal account that “Vaccine mandates are wrong.”

“The physician’s privileges at Houston Methodist have been suspended,” Muck said in an email to the Post. 

Bowden also used her account to promote the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment. 

“Ivermectin might not be as deadly as everyone said it was,  Bowden wrote in a tweet on Nov.10. “Speak up!” 

Neither the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  have recommended Ivermectin, a drug used to kill parasites in animals and humans, as an actual COVID treatment. 

Muck also said the hospital granted Bowden her doctor privileges last year, according to the Post. 

She's just the latest medical professional to be suspended for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and Ivermectin, a drug that former President Trump and celebrity podcaster Joe Rogan have both highlighted. 

Bowden attorney Steve Mitby said in an email to the Post that his client has treated more than 2,000 COVID patients, reassuring them that she isn’t “anti-vaccine.”

“Like many Americans, Dr. Bowden believes that people should have a choice and believes that all people, regardless of vaccine status, should have access to the same high quality health care,” Mitby said. 

The Hill has reached out to Houston Methodist Hospital for comment and information.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/581563-texas-doctors-privileges-suspended-for-spreading

Rigel to exit early stage R&D

 Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:RIGL) today announced plans to exit early-stage research and focus resources on its mid to late-stage development programs and its commercial efforts. The strategy will strengthen Rigel's ability to build value for shareholders by executing on the company's near-term value drivers: growing ITP sales, expanding the addressable market for TAVALISSE® (fostamatinib) with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA) and COVID-19, advancing its wholly-owned IRAK1/4 program in hematology and immunology, and exploring other opportunities that will complement Rigel's hematology/oncology-focused commercial offerings.

"I want to thank the Rigel research team who discovered the pipeline of novel molecules, which includes TAVALISSE, the first and only SYK inhibitor approved for ITP and now in Phase 3 development for patients suffering from warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia and COVID-19, as well as molecules targeting IRAK1/4 and RIP1 for heme-onc and immune diseases," said Raul Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of Rigel. "We look forward to advancing these programs through the clinic and delivering these medicines to patients and the physicians who treat them."

Rigel will reduce its workforce by 16%, resulting in the elimination of 31 positions, primarily in the research organization. As a result of the workforce reduction, Rigel expects that it will recognize in the fourth quarter of 2021 a one-time severance-related charge, which will consist of cash severance and non-cash expense related to option modifications. Rigel estimates that the cash-related charge will be approximately $3.3 million. Rigel also plans to modify certain equity grants to the affected employees, the cost of which is still being determined. This measure is expected to provide reduced operating expenses ranging from $11-$15 million annually starting in 2022, inclusive of potential future facility cost savings.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rigel-sharpens-focus-advanced-portfolio-133000789.html

Medtronic home endoscopy OKd

 Latest approval for PillCam™ further enables patients to receive gastrointestinal care in the comfort of their own home

Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), a global leader in healthcare technology, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance for its PillCam™ Small Bowel 3 system for remote endoscopy procedures. The PillCam™ SB3 @HOME program combines Medtronic's PillCam technology with Amazon logistics, a combination intended to ensure both timely and accurate results for patients from the comfort of their homes.

PillCam SB3 @HOME provides a telehealth option for direct visualization and monitoring of the small bowel, to help better detect lesions not detected by upper and lower endoscopy that may: 1) indicate Crohn's disease, 2) locate obscure bleeding, or 3) identify sources of iron deficiency anemia (IDA).

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/medtronic-announces-510-k-clearance-160000431.html

Celltrion Rallies As EU Approves Marketing of Covid-19 Treatment

 Celltrion Inc.'s shares rallied Monday after the European Commission granted the South Korean biotech firm approval to market its Covid-19 antibody treatment.

The European approval of Regdanvimab, marketed by Celltrion as Regkirona in South Korea, drop up the company's stock price as much as 18% to 251,000 Korean won ($212.72) after the news was disclosed early Monday.

Shares were last 10% higher at KRW235,000 with in early afternoon trade, compared with the benchmark Kospi's 1.0% increase.

The E.C.'s official nod to Regdanvimab may boost Celltrion's earnings prospects, which had been dimmed by the Covid-19 pills developed by Merck & Co. Inc., said Samsung Securities analyst Seo Keun-hee.

New contract wins following Regdanvimab's approval in Europe will be crucial to removing the uncertainty over Celltrion's earnings and sustaining its stock price, Mr. Seo said.

Celltrion said Monday negotiations with about 30 countries are underway to supply Regdanvimab, which already has marketing approval in South Korea and conditional approval for emergency use in Indonesia and Brazil.

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/CELLTRION-INC-40742914/news/Celltrion-Inc-Shares-Rally-After-EU-Approves-Marketing-of-Its-Covid-19-Treatment-37023147/

Landmark opioid trial of 3 major pharmacy chains nears its end

 

A lawyer for two Ohio counties urged a federal jury on Monday to hold three major pharmacy chains responsible for fueling an opioid epidemic in their communities as the first trial the companies have faced over the drug crisis neared its end.

Mark Lanier, a lawyer for Lake and Trumbull counties, told a federal jury in Cleveland that a verdict in the case against CVS Health Corp, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc and Walmart Inc would have ramifications all across the country.

"You get to decide what will be the most seminal case in pharmacy history," Lanier said in his closing arguments.

The counties accused the companies of creating a public nuisance in the form of the epidemic by failing to prevent excessive amounts of addictive pain pills from flooding their communities or identify "red flags" of misuse.

"A pharmacy is not a gum ball machine," Lanier said. "They have more responsibility than simply taking your money and getting you your pills."

The trial is the first the pharmacy chains have faced in thousands of lawsuits by states and local governments seeking to hold them liable for an epidemic that U.S. health officials say has led to nearly 500,000 opioid overdose deaths over two decades.

Should the jurors find the pharmacies created a public nuisance, U.S. District Judge Dan Pollster would decide how much they owe to abate, or address, it. The counties' lawyers have said the costs are potentially $1 billion for each county.

The companies have denied wrongdoing and have said the blame falls on others, including doctors and government regulators. Their lawyers are expected to deliver closing arguments later on Monday.

The Ohio trial follows recent setbacks for plaintiffs pursuing some of the 3,300 opioid cases filed against drug manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies.

Oklahoma's top court last Tuesday overturned a $465 million judgment against drugmaker Johnson & Johnson, and a California judge this month ruled in favor of four drugmakers in a case brought by several large counties.

Those lawsuits also accused the companies of creating a public nuisance. A similar lawsuit by Washington state against three drug distributors also heads to trial on Monday.

https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/Landmark-opioid-trial-of-3-major-pharmacy-chains-nears-its-end--37022505/

23andMe cut to Neutral from Buy by Citi

 Target to $13 from $12

https://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=ME