Korean researchers have screened 48 FDA-approved drugs against SARS-CoV-2, and found that two, that are already FDA-approved for other illnesses, seem promising. The FDA approval for other uses would greatly reduce the time needed to gain FDA approval of use in COVID-19. The research is published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of theContinue reading “Two drugs show promise against COVID-19”
Category Archives: Pharmaceutical Sciences
Low levels of vitamin D may be linked to severe COVID-19
A new observational study from the United States indicates that vitamin D insufficiency may play a significant role in the progression of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The research titled ‘Vitamin D Insufficiency is Prevalent in Severe COVID-19’ is available on the preprint server medRxiv. A highly transmittable viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirusContinue reading “Low levels of vitamin D may be linked to severe COVID-19”
FDA Issues New Guidance for REMS Testing During COVID-19 Pandemic
“The FDA recognizes that during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the completion of some REMS-required laboratory testing or imaging studies may be difficult because patients suspected of having COVID-19 may be self-isolating and/or subject to quarantine,” said Amy Abernethy, MD, PhD, principal deputy commissioner of the FDA, in a press release. “Under these circumstances, undergoingContinue reading “FDA Issues New Guidance for REMS Testing During COVID-19 Pandemic”
Drug that keeps surface receptors on cancer cells makes them more visible to immune cells
A drug that is already clinically available for the treatment of nausea and psychosis, called prochlorperazine (PCZ), inhibits the internalization of receptors on the surface of tumor cells, thereby increasing the ability of anticancer antibodies to bind to the receptors and mount more effective immune responses. PCZ enhanced the ability of anticancer antibodies to reduceContinue reading “Drug that keeps surface receptors on cancer cells makes them more visible to immune cells”
Potential superbug-killing compound
Researchers in Simon Fraser University’s Brinkman Laboratory are collaborating with U.S. researchers to test a new drug that can kill a wide range of superbugs — including some bacteria now resistant to all common antibiotics. Known as AB569, the drug contains ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (commonly referred to as EDTA) and acidified nitrite, two inexpensive chemicals thatContinue reading “Potential superbug-killing compound”
Drug meant for Ebola may also work against coronaviruses
“Even if you know a drug works, it can be a red flag if you don’t know how it works,” said virologist Matthias Götte. “It is reassuring if you know exactly how it works against the target. “We know the drug works against different coronaviruses, like MERS and SARS, and we know the novel coronavirusContinue reading “Drug meant for Ebola may also work against coronaviruses”
Artificial intelligence yields new antibiotic
The computer model, which can screen more than a hundred million chemical compounds in a matter of days, is designed to pick out potential antibiotics that kill bacteria using different mechanisms than those of existing drugs. “We wanted to develop a platform that would allow us to harness the power of artificial intelligence to usherContinue reading “Artificial intelligence yields new antibiotic”
Antibiotics discovered that kill bacteria in a new way
The newly-found corbomycin and the lesser-known complestatin have a never-before-seen way to kill bacteria, which is achieved by blocking the function of the bacterial cell wall. The discovery comes from a family of antibiotics called glycopeptides that are produced by soil bacteria. The researchers also demonstrated in mice that these new antibiotics can block infectionsContinue reading “Antibiotics discovered that kill bacteria in a new way”
CDC diagnostic coronavirus test gets FDA emergency approval
In the light of the ongoing novel coronavirus epidemic in China, the US Food and Drug Administration has granted approval of a diagnostic test for use in emergency situations (emergency use authorization or EUA). The viral infection has spread to many different and distant parts of the world, involving over 25,000 people and causing nearlyContinue reading “CDC diagnostic coronavirus test gets FDA emergency approval”
Modeling study estimates spread of 2019 novel coronavirus
Senior author Professor Gabriel Leung from the University of Hong Kong highlights: “Not everyone who is infected with 2019-nCoV would require or seek medical attention. During the urgent demands of a rapidly expanding epidemic of a completely new virus, especially when system capacity is getting overwhelmed, some of those infected may be undercounted in theContinue reading “Modeling study estimates spread of 2019 novel coronavirus”
Webinar on Pharmaceutical Chemistry 