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This gives hope: Pharmaceutical companies around the world are working intensely and on special shifts of funds in the fight against the coronavirus. At the forefront: the Swiss pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical company Roche, for example, is developing a new test for the detection of corona antibodies and plans to launch it in May.
Roche said this test should now help detect the corresponding antibodies in those who had the coronavirus. The goal is to have the antibody test available in early May in countries that accept the CE marking of the European Union. At the same time, Roche is working with the US drug agency FDA for emergency approval.
Important step towards normality
Antibody tests play a key role in accurately identifying those people who may have been infected with the virus but have shown no symptoms, as the statement says.
In addition, a test is said to support priority screening for high-risk groups. This includes, for example, health or food supply workers who may have developed some level of immunity and may continue to work or return to work.
Antibody testing is an important next step in fighting the crown pandemic. The Roche antibody test can be produced quickly in large quantities.
Ebola medication helps with severe symptoms.
A drug from the US pharmaceutical company Gilead Science shows, according to a media report, the success in treating patients with the coronavirus. In a study conducted by the Chicago University Clinic, Remdesivir, which was originally developed against Ebola, led to a rapid reduction in fever and a reduction in symptoms of lung disease.
As a result, nearly all patients were discharged in less than a week, according to a report released Thursday by online medical news platform Stat. The company’s shares rose 16 percent after the US market closed.
Gilead dampens expectations
Gilead said the data had yet to be analyzed to draw conclusions. The university clinic indicated in an email that partial data from an ongoing study should not be used to obtain results. Information from an internal forum for scientists was published without permission.
The pharmaceutical company expects to be able to announce the first results of the ongoing phase 3 study by the end of the month. The Chicago University Clinic is one of 152 hospitals participating in the Gilead study of seriously ill patients. According to the Stat news platform, 113 people were treated in Chicago as part of the study. (SDA / koh)
