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Scientists can''t explain the origin of the omicron variant but all of their theories are troubling
12:53am, Wednesday, 22'nd Dec 2021 AlterNet
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , the omicron variant is now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States. Nearly three out of four new infections are from this mutant virus an increase by sixfold from where omicron infections stood last week, and an even more startling figure considering the first reported case of omicron in the United States was less than a month ago . Scientists have made remarkable strides in understanding the origin and spread of COVID-19, which is part of what makes the omicron variant so shocking: its origins are perplexing, as it didn''t stem from other recent prominent strains like the delta variant. The confusion around its origins creates added hurdles in terms of treating it. Besides its incredible virulence, here''s why the omicron variant is so scary: Omicron has 30 mutations located near its spike protein, which are the thorn-like protrusions on the SARS-CoV-2 virus'' central sphere. Because the existing mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are designed to train the immune system to recognize those spines as intruders, mutations on the spike proteins may help the virus evade the body''s attempts to defend itself, and perhaps partially evade existing vaccine-based immunity.
FDA to Authorize Pfizer, Mercks COVID-19 Pills
11:02pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 Sada ElBalad English
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will authorize two COVID-19 treatmenT Pills from two Pfizer and Merck on Wednesday, Reuters cited Blomberg. Both treatments showed promising results, and they helped in preventing severe COVID-19 symptoms, and deaths. The clinical trials also expressed that Merck succeeded in reducing the risk of Coronavirus symptoms, and related []
Bill Gates: Omicron Will Be The "Worst Surge We Have Seen So Far"
11:00pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 Zero Hedge
Bill Gates: Omicron Will Be The "Worst Surge We Have Seen So Far" Following this morning''s rant from the COVID-positive (and triple-vaxxed) Jim Cramer, and Tuesday afternoon''s public address from President Joe Biden begging unvaccinated Americans to please just go and get their jabs already, Microsoft billionaire (and self-appointed unofficial global vaccination czar) Bill Gates has just issued a few tweets changing his projections for how long the pandemic might actually last. After saying a few months ago that he finally expected the ''acute phase'' of the pandemic to end next year, Gates has apparently once again changed his mind about the pandemic''s longevity, proving once again that armchair experts (and even many of the real scientists) see their expectations shift with whatever the current case count is. According to Gates, just when the world was finally feeling that life might soon return to normal, the surge in new cases over the past month (which has been partly driven by the rise of the omicron variant, which is now responsible for most new cases in the US, per the CDC) means the world might actually be entering "the worst part of the pandemic" instead. "Omicron will hit home for all of us," Gates said (despite claims that it actually causes more mild cases than the delta strain), adding that "close friends of mine now have it" and that he had cancelled his holiday plans and urged others to do the same because of it.
Why Pfizer stock is making higher highs
10:56pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 The Dog of Wall Street
Compared to its peers like Johnson and Johnson, and Merck, who are also vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer is a better bet and gives higher expected returns.
With Authorization On Horizon, Pfizer And Merck Pills Viewed As Potential Game Changers In COVID-19 Pandemic Fight
10:36pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 CBS New York
But as CBS2''s Dr. Max Gomez reported Tuesday, the pills will not replace vaccines as the best weapon against the virus.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) Shares Acquired by Valeo Financial Advisors LLC
10:12pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 Transcript Daily
Valeo Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 15.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 80,074 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 10,734 shares during the period. []
FDA to authorize the use of antiviral Covid pills developed by Pfizer and Merck later this week
07:46pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 Daily Mail Online
Both molnupiravir and paxlovid are expected to receive authorization from the FDA at some point this week. The antiviral pills are believed to become important tools in the fight against Covid.
COVID pill may get OKd this week
07:28pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 Bay Observer
With the Omicron variant causing serious concern that the health care systems in North America could be overwhelmed US health regulators may get the green light for the first COVID treatment pills, possibly this week. Bloomberg News is reporting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will give the go-ahead for Pfizer and Merck to launch The post COVID pill may get OKd this week first appeared on The Bay Observer .
Watch Live: President Biden Explains Why Vaxx''d Breakthroughs Are All The Unvaxx''d Fault
07:25pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 Zero Hedge
Watch Live: President Biden Explains Why Vaxx''d Breakthroughs Are All The Unvaxx''d Fault With cases surging and his agenda collapsing , it''s time for President Biden to face the public. Of coourse, the president and his team have already leaked all the important details of what he''s prepared to say this afternoon to the press, and we reported on them this morning. As we said, the administration is preparing to roll out a new federal plan to swiftly get 500M tests into the hands of Americans, and place army-trained medical personnel into vulnerable hospitals across the country, among other measures. But what''s been especially notable about recent developments (especially for anybody who saw the tripled-vaxxed Jim Cramer''s rant on CNBC Tuesday morning) is that the White House appears to finally be backing away from its strategy of blaming all the nation''s troubles on the unvaccinated, and instead acknowledging that everybody will likely get sick in the end anyway - but we have plenty of vaccines and drugs that can be taken to try and deal with that, for those who are at risk.
Wisconsin Capital Management LLC Raises Stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)
06:46pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 Dakota Financial News
Wisconsin Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) by 1,162.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 59,559 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 54,841 shares during the []
Pfizer Stock Falls As FDA Reportedly Nears Covid Pill Decision
05:44pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 Bitcoin Ethereum News
The post Pfizer Stock Falls As FDA Reportedly Nears Covid Pill Decision appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com . The Food and Drug Administration could authorize Covid pills from Pfizer (PFE) and Merck (MRK) this week, according to a Tuesday report. But Pfizer stock toppled while Merck shares also
FDA Prepared To Authorize Merck, Pfizer Pills Imminently
05:40pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 Zero Hedge
FDA Prepared To Authorize Merck, Pfizer Pills Imminently Just in time for President Biden to make his big speech Tuesday evening, the FDA has just confirmed that it plans to authorize the Merck and Pfizer pills, which have proven reasonably successful at suppressing serious COVID symptoms in potentially high-risk patients. They could be authorized before Wednesday, meaning the approval will likely come with days to spare before the Christmas holiday. Three senior administration officials leaked the news to Bloomberg, which called it a "milestone" in the fight against the pandemic . It comes in combination with the rollout of the president''s new COVID-fighting agenda , which is centered on distributing 500M rapid COVID tests. Shares in Pfizer and Merck traded lower on the day despite the news, though they have bounced off their lows for the trading day. Pfizer''s pill, Paxlovid, and Merck''s molnupiravir are intended for higher-risk people who test positive for COVID. The course of treatment involves a series of pills at home over several days.
FDA set to give both Pfizer and Merck Covid pills the green light this week
05:34pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 City AM
The US Food and Drug Administration is poised to authorise two pills developed by Pfizer and Merck for the treatment of Covid as early as Wednesday this The US Food and Drug Administration is poised to authorise two pills developed by Pfizer and Merck for the treatment of Covid as early as Wednesday this week.
FDA set to authorize Pfizer, Merck COVID-19 pills this week - Bloomberg News
04:17pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 The Jerusalem PostUS FDA expected to authorize Pfizer and Merck Covid pills this week
04:11pm, Tuesday, 21'st Dec 2021 Livemint
Pfizers pill, Paxlovid, and Mercks molnupiravir are intended for higher-risk people who test positive for Covid
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