In a landmark UK study, scientists from the universities of Oxford and Edinburgh investigated the NHS records of 32 million adults in England, in order to assess any rare adverse events linked to Covid vaccines. They examined a rare condition called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) known to be associated with certain infectious diseases and linked to some other vaccines.
Across industries, the pandemic has enabled rapid adoption of technology and accelerated digital transformation. Companies are increasingly utilizing disruptive technology to generate value whether through increasing efficiency or improving customer experience. Which of the current digitalization trends will likely gain traction in the next few years?
The German company BioNTech signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the first mRNA-based vaccine site in Rwanda. The agreement will help bring end-to-end manufacturing to Africa, and as many as several hundred million doses of vaccines per year.
Sweden has extended the pause of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax for people aged 30 and younger due to rare heart-related side effects; myocarditis and pericarditis. The pause would be extended beyond the original deadline of Dec. 1 and those who had taken a first dose of the Moderna vaccine would be offered the Comirnaty vaccine from Pfizer/Biontech instead.
Russia has denied allegations that it stole the blueprints for AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine to make its own jab, Sputnik V, and that these allegations were part of a “smear campaign” against Sputnik V by competitors, who dislike Russia and are threatened by the success of its Covid-19 vaccine.
According to the WHO, 77 million people in Africa have been fully vaccinated, representing only 6% of the continent’s population. A lack of available Covid doses and syringes to administer them could hamper the African countries’ efforts to help meet their goal of vaccinating 40% of their populations by the end of the year.
Four leading pharmaceutical companies; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer,Merck, and Teva Pharmaceuticals partnered with Amazon Web Services and Israel Biotech Fund to launch AION Labs, an innovative space that will allow drug developers to harness artificial intelligence technologies and computational science to solve therapeutic challenges.
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has started using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse scans and data to help with diagnostics and treatment plans for stroke patients. Anonymised patient data will be processed by the AI Centre’s AIDE (AI Deployment Engine) technology, which delivers finer details to support the decision-making over treatments. It is also expected to reduce the time taken to use AI models and directly increase the delivery of early interventions and treatment.
Consumer genetics company 23andMe has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the telehealth and online prescription platform Lemonaid Health for $400 million. The integration between Lemonaid Health’s telemedicine platform and 23andMe consumer business aims at transforming the traditional primary care experience, promoting preventive and personalized healthcare.
The Nightingale Health Plc (“Nightingale”) and Yliopiston Apteekki partnership will foster the distribution and promotion of Nightingale’s at-home testing solution through Yliopiston Apteekki’s gross sales channels in Finland. The testing solution brings a brand new method for people to monitor their well being at home.
The Egyptian Armed Forces and the Spanish leading producer of plasma-derived medicines Grifols inaugurated the first integrated plasma collection center in Africa and the Middle East in the 6th of October city, Giza, Egypt. The center is an integrated complex that includes a plasma donation center, a laboratory for testing plasma samples, and a training center affiliated with the Grifols training academy.
Acino and Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries have signed an agreement for Acino to acquire six South African prescription medicines for over €105 million (R1.8 billion). The transaction includes the Trustan®, Altosec®, Zuvamor®, Ciavor®, Grantryl® and Aspen Granisetron® brands.
GE Healthcare and the Iraqi Ministry of Health (MOH) announce a complete and comprehensive agreement to establish 22 Newborn Intensive Care Units (NICU) across the country with three in the capital of Baghdad, in order to reduce infant mortality rates and improve the quality of care. GE Healthcare will provide full technology, including incubators, warmers, ultrasound machines, mobile x-ray units, baby ventilators, and monitors customized to NICU requirements.
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