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NEWS:
Statement from NIH and BARDA on the FDA Emergency Use Authorization of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the Janssen Pharmaceuticals Companies of Johnson & Johnson for its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine, called Ad.26.COV2S or JNJ-78436725. The Janssen vaccine is a recombinant vector vaccine that uses a human adenovirus to express the spike protein found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that cause infections in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts; the adenovirus vector used in the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has been modified so it no longer can replicate in humans and cause illness. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the As
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Study Shows Opioid Use among U.S. Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis Costs 14 Billion Dollars in Societal Costs
Although guidelines do not recommend use of opioids to manage pain for individuals with knee osteoarthritis, a recent study published early online in Arthritis Care & Research, an official journal of the American College of Rheumatology and the Association of Rheumatology Professionals, estimates that 858,000 Americans use opioids such as tramadol and oxycodone for their knee pain, equating to $14 billion in lifetime opioid-related societal costs, or nearly $0.5 billion annually.
A team led by Elena Losina, PhD, Robert W. Lovett Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, used a computer simulation to estimate the annual and lifetime contribution of opioids to knee osteoarthritis–related costs. The researchers show the direct medical cost of knee osteoarthritis treatment including opioids totals $7.45 billion or 53 percent of the total lifetime costs. The remaini
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St. Jude Recognizes Women In Science And Medicine By Showcasing Contributions To Childhood Cancer Research
For United Nation’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science in February, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital announced a series on women in science and medicine at St. Jude.
The online feature highlights women scientists, doctors and experts whose contributions to the field are leading to advancements in cures and prevention strategies for catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Launched in advance of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the series aims to tell the stories of these extraordinary women and inspire girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and medicine.
“The contributions by women to the field of science and medicine is immeasurable,” said Martine Roussel, Ph.D., a molecular oncologist at St. Jude who has devoted nearly 50 years to scientific exploration. “The extraordinary women who work tirelessly at St. Jude, so
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St. Jude/Who Virologist Says Vaccines Are Effective Protection Against The Covid Virus, With Some Providing Good Protection Against Variants
As COVID vaccines continue to rollout across America, there is widespread concern about their effectiveness against the variants currently circulating. Today, an interview from an online forum featuring Richard Webby, Ph.D, a faculty member in the Infectious Diseases Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the World Health Organization’s Influenza Vaccine Composition Advisory Team, was released on the St. Jude Progress Blog. Dr. Webby discusses the COVID vaccines during the interview.
“The good news is that some of the current vaccines’ effectiveness appears to meet the FDA criteria for approval, even against these variants. While the data is still coming in, we believe the vaccines will provide us some protection against the variants – those that are currently spreading and others we identify over time,” Dr. Webby said.
Dr. Webby is a leading, expert voice on th
