The Central Epidemic Command Center’s (CECC) plan to procure the oral antiviral drug molnupiravir remains unchanged, even though a final analysis of clinical tests showed that the drug was less effective against COVID-19 than hoped for, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the CECC, said on Saturday.
Molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization and death among high-risk cases by 30 percent, Chen said, citing drugmaker Merck’s final analysis of data from 1,433 trial participants.
Initial data released last month showed an efficacy of about 50 percent.
The CECC has a ordered the drug from the US company and does
Taipei, Nov. 27 (CNA) Virologist Ho Mei-shang (何美鄉) has called for vaccinations to be increased in Taiwan in light of a new COVID-19 variant that the World Health Organization (WHO) has described as "concerning."
Taipei, Nov. 27 (CNA) Taiwan's plan to procure the oral antiviral drug, molnupiravir, remains unchanged, Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said Saturday, although the drug has been shown to be less effective in reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in its final analysis.
A saliva-based COVID-19 test kit produced by iCare Diagnostics International has been granted emergency use authorization (EUA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Saturday.
The test kit, under the brand iCare DX, uses a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in saliva samples, the agency said.
In September, the technology was used to confirm that a Hon Hai Precision Industry engineer had become infected, it added.
The kit manufacturer, which was founded by Hon Hai founder Terry Gou (郭台銘), had provided free test kits to the chipmaker’s employees, and the product corroborated a positive
China Develops Booster Shots For Less Effective Sinopharm, Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccines
KEY POINTS
The booster vaccine has been reviewed by Chinese drug regulators
Talks about the booster shot came after studies found that China-manufactured vaccines produced lower antibody levels
China may be developing a booster shot for people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with the arguably less effective jabs of Sinopharm and Sinovac.
China’s Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Fosun Pharma) has partnered with BioNTech to develop an mRNA booster vaccine. The shot is now in the administrative review stage following an expert panel review conducted by Chinese drug regulators, Caixin Global reported.