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© Thomson Reuters 2020.Japan aims to fast-track review of anti-viral drug remdesivir
By Kiyoshi Takenaka TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
59 Comments
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i@n
What a waste. All of what you've read and you failed to grasp the simple basic significance of masks.
i@n
You may be well read but you're not well informed. That takes understanding of what you read =)
Paul Laimal-Convoy
@finto
As far as I've read, noone here has stated that masks are not useful. However, as has been stated (or quoted) numerous times, with links (containing videos, diagrams and scientific facts), it depends on the mask/correct use/situation.
Masks are also the "topping" on a much bigger "cake" of preventative measures, which take priority over mask use.
Please take the time to read the quotes/ visit the links given to you above/in other articles' posts before continuing to make such erroneous statements.
Why are "super-spreaders" more important than any other spreaders? They are irrelevant, as any preventative measures (including mask use) are designed to prevent infection by anyone, super-spreaders included.
@i@n
As has been stated, factual evidence has been provided to the contrary and I'm sure that both of your opinions would be as refuted anywhere that people are as well-read/informed upon the subject as here.
@AgentX
Incorrect.
Japan has been criticised, not only due to a lack of lockdown/strict social distancing, but also due to a lack of testing. Whereas some countries have excelled in one or the other (with mixed results), Japan has excelled in neither.
South Korea, for example, has avoided lockdown, but enacted strict social-distancing measures and thoroughly tested for Covid-19 and shared information with the population:
~
(Source: - https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-03-south-korea-success-coronavirus-due.html )
~
(Source: - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/17/south-koreas-coronavirus-success-story-underscores-how-us-initially-failed/ )
As has been posted here, with sources, numerous times, Japan has been criticised for failing to:
test extensively for Covid-19 - enforce strict social-distancing measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19
enforce a lockdown (in conjunction with testing) to limit the spread and/or identify high risk areas for resource management to treat Covid-19
share (testing/infection/death-rate/etc) information with the press or public effectively about Covid-19.All of these factors, combined, has caused both domestic and international concern/criticism of Japan, regarding Covid-19.
For more information, you could start with the link below: - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_responses_to_the_2019–20_coronavirus_pandemic#Japanese_government
i@n
It will probably be used only in cases where avigan is not recommended
Braze
Strange how big Pharma is now pushing this new drug when Japan already had this drug called avigan that everyone seemed so hopeful about in Japan. Then in Europe and America they were trying this drug called hydroxychloroquine applied with a little zinc or something and many doctors said they were having an over 90% success rate with it, seems to be swept under the table now for the new improved Big Pharma push that you just know in your heart will cost way more than the other drugs combined. According to many doctors who tried it on their patients, the previous drugs were proven to be reliable with no big side effects, and you just know Big Pharmas poison will have all kinds of side effect that probably fill a page just to read them all, oh and did I mention cost. Everything comes down to money.
FizzBit
wow, the more I read about this drug, the dumber the governments are looking.
And the MSM’s sunny boy
invalid CSRF
invalid CSRF
i@n
Yeah hard to believe anything can be fast tracked here. Even the virus which spread explosively in other countries was slow to spread here.
FizzBit
Don’t waste your time and ¥ Abe listening to Big pharma lobbyists.
Crashpilot
Fast-track review of Remdesivir!!!
Why? Is this science or desperation?
i@n
Thats dangerous. Treatment with hydroxychloroquine has been associated with significantly higher death rates than without.
Jonathan Prin
Hydroxychloroquin with antibiotic, under control in hospital, is best standard treatment.
Tocilizumab (Roche) and Avdoralimab (Innate pharma) if you want your lives to be saved againdt the cytokine storm that kills at any age.
Biotechnology is helpful in all cases.
AgentX
No. It's this fear-based logic that is slowly becoming outdated in light of the damage these closures are causing. The closures will not stop the spread, so it's time for the popular narrative to evolve.
i@n
Great posts @finto.
It's doubtful if you'll be able to convince the people you're in discussion with but the discussion itself would be invaluable to many others.
Kobe White Bar Owner
Fast track and drug in the same sentence, I’ll pass thanks or at least for a while.
drlucifer
Could you please provide us with data on the overall number of deaths in Japan for Febuary to April period. ?
Thanks
finto
And anyone who will tell me masks has no part to play in slowing down the spread of this virus still has a lot to learn about the virus, Masks will help us all protect each other and also prevent super spreaders out there, it’s more important than unnecessary testing
finto
Sunfunbun, your argument is invalid, the main goal of any measure during a pandemic will be to get the number of people dying from it to the barest minimum as possible, so far Japan has done well with regards to that, that’s my argument, that means they are doing something right as compared to USA or UK, considering the fact that the virus arrived in Japan early enough, we are not seeing 500+ deaths a day as many on here were anticipating based on Japan’s approach, this is my argument, Japan is testing too but with a different approach which to me makes sense, Japan is Japan and they don’t have to copy what other countries do especially when results there is a disaster, nobody is underplaying the impact of this virus but Japan has navigated their ship so well so far in this storm, same goes to Korea ,China Australia, New Zealand etc
Paul Laimal-Convoy
@finto
You wrote (and edited for legibility) : -
If you've "been reading here", you might have read links or quotes, that have repeatedly challenged your notions, such as these ones, below:
(Source: - https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-GLOBAL-TESTING/0100B5LC45H/ )
(Source: - https://inews.co.uk/news/coronavirus-japan-deaths-cases-covid-19-lockdown-measures-why-measures-2521139 )
(Source: - https://www.businessinsider.com/why-japan-cases-of-coronavirus-are-so-low-2020-3?op=1 )
You wrote (and edited for legibility) : -
I would say exactly the same thing that I, and others have stated; that different types of masks offer some protection, but are a secondary or tertiary measure, and sod be used alongside proper hand-washing, social distancing and/or other preventative measures, as stipulated by the WHO and/or other official medical/governmental organisations.
Masks can cause infection or spread by incorrect use/disposal and/or, with some masks, priority should be given to essential/emergency workers and/or those in close proximity to those most at risk. Furthermore, basic cotton masks offer little or no protection to "aerosol" based viruses, including Covid 19, but offer some protection from viruses in water droplets.
For more information, check out these links: - https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
https://www.businessinsider.com/types-of-masks-used-for-coronavirus-outbreak-n95-surgical-2020-3?op=1
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/health-51881555/coronavirus-do-face-masks-actually-work
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P27HRClMf2U&feature=youtu.be#n1k1
With an exception to @Kumagaijin and @Ashley Shiba
I think many people here are missing the point behind the fast review. no ?
Imagine you are sick and dying for second. I am sure it will make lot more sense to why we need less bureaucracy now.
Would you rather your doctor recomend a medicine he doesn't know it works 100% (like there is such a thing) , and there maybe side effects, but the theory is good and of course there are chances it may save your life or not. It is that simple. To have an option or not. No one can and no one will force you to do anything I am sure.
i@n
Incredible
i@n
smh
sunfunbun
Data by testing is talking numbers and facts. That a virus can transform must be made fun of to the ignorant, but yes, it is a quite distinctive possibility to happen in the future. Ignorance is bliss.
tokyodepth
Remdesivir is a DISASTER. Did you read : it creates deterioration of kidney function, in a quarter of people treated. We're not talking about 1% but about 25% of people. The study of The New England Journal of Medicine recently published was made on ONLY 53 PEOPLE. How can you even call it a "study". Before any drug could be put on the market, it should be tested on thousands of people, not on 53 people. It's a gigantic joke (but unfortunately it's not funny as it will lead to people's death and permanent health damages). This study in the New England Journal of Medicine is just the result of the U.S. biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences Inc. lobbying. Let's remind everyone that Remdesivir was a total failure for Ebola. And to add that this drug (with completely unproven results except on ONLY 53 people selected by Gilead) is pretty expensive compare to other treatments currently tested. It's terrible that Japan who didn't do anything to prevent the spread of virus for weeks (trying to keep the Olympics) is now ready to pretend to act for Japanese people's health facing Covid 19 by approving so quickly this Remdesivir. The currently only way to cure efficiently the Covid 19 is to treat it from the first symptoms showing up. With just hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin IF PUT TOGETHER AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE INFECTION, we reach only 0,5% death on studies of a thousand people. This treatment is very cheap and effective. Don't let "big pharma" brainwash people and share this widely.
AgentX
Woah there! Slow down. I thought we were talking numbers and facts.
Apart from some isolated cases, has this virus done that yet?
Lets not put the cart before the horse...
smithinjapan
Japan fast-tracking more unproven drugs again? And because the US has? wow.
Xeno Man
The world is betting lives on an unproven drug, just to save the global economy!
sunfunbun
A virus can genetically change and evolve into a different form, which could well effect not just the elderly or pre-existing conditions, but everyone. It's one of the reasons why testing and finding all that is possible about the coronavirus is important.. It amazes how short sighted the non scientific are toward the idea of preventative action by understanding the data of the coronavirus, and simply making statements of ridicule.
AgentX
Wow! Now the virus will kill us all?
Exactly who here is ignoring the data? It's widely documented that COVID19 morbidity rates are far higher, by many fold, for the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. Many people show few or no symptoms at all.
This is why your fear-based arguments or invalid.
sunfunbun
Uh...no. very exaggerated comment. Killing in a few weeks. No. It could happen to the unfortunate one's. Maybe in a couple of years, killing all, if ignoring testing continues on.
Not sure who you guys refers to, but the highest cases is definitely a worry.
Still not sure who you guys are. But I say they probably aren't useless. They may not be as useful as some(you guys?) think.
Testing and self isolation are being focused on preventing the spread. That is a preventative measure from being sent to our graves. You're saying less testing is OK, so it doesn't overwhelm hospitals with the sick? I don't believe less testing is the answer. It's more just putting one's head in the sand.
They are not testing enough, nor rapidly as they should. It's not smart at all to not make a concerted effort to test more.
Well, I just flat out disagree with this statement. Knowing who is infected would give definitive numbers as data to the degree of crisis, and give researchers both the element of knowledge of the virus spread and give a better timetable of the effect of the virus, so, ie, no rushed cure is forced onto people.
All these arguments pumping the tires of the Japanese government's fight toward the virus is an opinion of yours that dismisses finding the reality of numbers and getting to the root data of the virus. The Japanese government knows this a fight, and are trying, belatedly, to do something. But their bottom line problem is they play wait and see, before doing things, and it's just scrambling to make up for a lack of early preventative action.
sunfunbun
GW: WFH only occurs when it is possible. Many work in retail, people services, on site necessities, etc. that require presence of people. It's either go to work or not. The best thing would be to have us all not go to work and get the government help to survive. The companies won't likely help out with loans or payment.
Blacklabel
I dont know why every potential treatment has to be USA based and agreed upon by only one guy, Fauci.
Well, I do know why....patents and money and stock prices.
Costa Rica has been working directly with China.
https://qcostarica.com/hydroxychloroquine-the-drug-costa-rica-uses-successfully-to-fight-covid-19/
Blacklabel
"Government researchers changed metric to measure coronavirus drug remdesivir during clinical trial!
Death rate was eliminated as a primary outcome measure, replaced with the time it took patients to recover
www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/01/government-researchers-changed-metric-measure-coronavirus-drug-remdesivir-during-clinical-trial/
Instead of counting how many people taking the drug were kept alive on ventilators or died, among other measures, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said it would judge the drug primarily on a different outcome: how long it took surviving patients to recover.
Death and other negative outcomes were moved to secondary measure status: They would still be tracked, but they would no longer be the key measure of remdesivir’s performance.
......The newly adopted criteria were a central feature of this week’s declaration by Fauci, NIAID’s director, that remdesivir reduced the time to recovery for surviving patients from 15 days to 11 days, a 31 percent improvement.
The difference in death rate, one of the original primary measures, was not statistically significant, Fauci said, showing only a marginal reduction from 11 percent in patients given a placebo to 8 percent in patients given remdesivir.
“I think that they thought they weren’t going to win, and they wanted to change it to something they could win on,'' said Steven Nissen, a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist and expert clinical investigator who has led numerous drug trials. “I prefer the original outcome. It’s harder. It’s a more meaningful endpoint.
Raw Beer
Yeah, the study showed a shortening in treatment time, but it did conclude that there was no significant improvement in survival rate. Considering the side effects, I would rather avoid the drug and stay in the hospital an extra couple of days....
...and Fauci has a history of corruption...
finto
Keep reading on hear how ignoring testing everyone will kill us all in the coming weeks for the past two months but we are still here and we all see and can compare data on deaths in various countries, considering Japan had the highest cases after China in early February, does this mean anything to you guys? Back in February most of you guys were quoting CDC guidelines on mask wearing, saying they were useless, now what can you say about them? Instead of focusing resources on measures that prevent the spread, and keeping the health system from being overwhelmed you guys have been pushing for policies that will send most of us to our graves, Japanese authorities aren’t that stupid like most of you think, they are still contact tracing and testing those that are necessary, the hotel use as a make shift hospital is a very smart move considering these hotels are out of business too, these are more important that getting millions of people out there lining up to be tested, and those negative having a false sense of safety with the health system being strained too, remember there are numerous diseases out there to be treated too
Kumagaijin
So many of these drug companies are trying to market their products, but these drugs are mostly last resort meds that you'd give someone who is already on a respirator and has a small chance of survival. I don't see what all the fuss is about. I think it would be better for everyone's health to focus on making the immune system stronger. Fresh air, sunshine, healthy eating, exercise, and meditation for example. Avoid excess sugar, smoking, tobacco and stress. I think promoting a healthier lifestyle would save more lives than touting controversial pharmaceuticals.
popselle
japan is doing great!
finto
This drug will only be administered to the critically ill who may die, Avigan will be the main drug, and those complaining about testing, u need to remember the strain on the health staff that it will create, u can test today and be infected today, I still supports Japan’s sensible testing approach, at least it hasn’t killed us all, look at the figures, we must focus on what’s important, not overwhelming the health system and creating unnecessary deaths, over testing can create a false sense of safety too, many out here type as if the authorities here are fools, they are making decisions based on the reality of the situation at their disposal and not just follow what some other countries do, too much bashing out here but the figures don’t deserve them
GW
Sunbunfun
Why doesn't your company just TELL people who come down with a fever flu like symptoms that they MUST work from home for 3wks, then re-evaluate...…..
Luddite
No proper trials, no proof of effectiveness, horrible side effects. Who has shares in Gilead then?
Blacklabel
so lets put politics to the side and hope this medicine works. It has a failed trial and one trial that Dr Fauci says shortens the treatment time but was very vague on any significant effect on the death rate.
I wouldnt be declaring at this time that this drug and only this drug is the "standard of care" like Fauci is, but he will have to live with those comments if he is wrong.
Its good that Japan will get a chance to do their own testing and research here, as what is said in the USA by 1 medical expert isnt (and shouldnt be) the only voice on this.
Blacklabel
Because I wasnt talking about 6 months before, it was part of your narrative, not mine.
The issue is specifically the time period between the WHO failed test, the new miracle "it does work" test 6 days later that Fauci enthusiastically endorsed, and the investors meeting results, then the stock drop again.
Stock crashed on failure, recovered on the supposed good news, investors meeting held, stock down again. just as I said.
I was right on a stock price every single day for over a week along with all the associated meetings and actions. Thats just fact, not a conspiracy theory.
Jsapc
And I looked at the stock for the past six months and asked you several times about its fluctuations, particularly in February when it lost 15% and then shot back up again, but you didn't provide any answers at all. Because you ignore everything that doesn't fit in your conspiracy theory.
No, I shouldn't. Nobody should.
OK, so Fauci is a bad guy now I guess? Right. Tell me again, how does he stand to profit from this conspiracy? How does the WHO stand to profit from it? And China?
Blacklabel
not conspiracy theory. I told you the stock went up on the news of the new "miracle" study, would go up one more day (despite overall market down), then go down right after the investors meeting had a positive.
Exactly what I said would happen- happened. You should listen a little more and conspiracy theory/kiss rear end of Fauci a little less.
Fishtacos
From Lancet:
Remdesivir use was not associated with a difference in time to clinical improvement (hazard ratio 1·23 [95% CI 0·87–1·75]). Although not statistically significant, patients receiving remdesivir had a numerically faster time to clinical improvement than those receiving placebo among patients with symptom duration of 10 days or less (hazard ratio 1·52 [0·95–2·43]). Adverse events were reported in 102 (66%) of 155 remdesivir recipients versus 50 (64%) of 78 placebo recipients. Remdesivir was stopped early because of adverse events in 18 (12%) patients versus four (5%) patients who stopped placebo early.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31022-9/fulltext
N.M.
@Objective
Michael Levitt is a biophysicist, he is not an epidemiologist. Just because he has a Nobel Prize doesn't mean he knows everything about anything. He has downplayed the virus outbreak pretending that "I will be very surprised if more than 10 people will die in Israel." (there are more than 200 deaths as of today).
Stop believing in people just because of their past credentials (he is retired and has a Nobel Prize in Chemistry which has nothing to do with viruses). It is very dangerous to do so. Listen to actual experts and reject the rest as noise.
Jsapc
But you will of course only listen to the data that confirms your conspiracy theory and ignore everything else.
FizzBit
This is interesting
https://theconversation.com/we-found-and-tested-47-old-drugs-that-might-treat-the-coronavirus-results-show-promising-leads-and-a-whole-new-way-to-fight-covid-19-136789
Blacklabel
this drug failed a study in China, WHO “accidentally” posted on website that it doesn’t work. more people died taking drug then placebo. Sturdy stopped due to not enough participants.
Stock price of Gilead crashed. Investors meeting in 1 weeks, doesn’t look good. New study by its own company only 6 days later miraculously says it shortens the treatment time of corona and it does work. the death rate compared to placebo was statistically insignificant.
dr Fauci immediately praised the drug, strange because he is very cautious in praising anything. 2 days before Q1 earnings meeting for Gilead. Stock rises significantly above previous crash level, positive investors meeting is held, stock goes back down the next day.
drug has patents, money to be made. So I am skeptical and want to see the data.
https://qz.com/1849113/scientists-demand-data-to-show-remdesivir-works-for-covid-19/
sunfunbun
Well, it's obvious to most that finding a real cure is paramount to the fight against COVID-19, and we hope this is a drug that works, but the first fight that is more important is doing the damn testing. It's ridiculous how the Japanese don't understand this.
I am still working, and one of the staff came down with some flu like symptoms. Feverish and missed a couple of days of work, while I was off. I go into work, yesterday, and find out about his fever. Today he is due back at work because he 'feels better'. We all know carriers may be low symptom or even asymptomatic. I asked if he had gone to a hospital and tested and the answer was negative. I live a bit away from Tokyo, this person lives in Tokyo, and likely has partaken in multiple gathering spots beyond work, like eateries and drinking establishments. The work is out where I live, an hour train ride outside Tokyo. I, on the other hand, haven't gone out to eat once in 2 months. No coffee places. Just home and the only time I go out is for groceries and I have a need to get my prescription filled every other week.
My workplace 'leaves it up to the workers' on whether to work or not. That just doesn't go all that well because we need the work, and now I find more so, when someone comes down with a fever, there isn't a required test by the company. A worker comes back and could be a carrier. I just don't get the flippant behavior. Any company should require testing when someone gets sick. Simple, but not executed.
When I read of speeding up the 'cure' with what looks like iffy testing on the drug, I think they push this to make people who are ignoring the fact testing and isolation are much more important, feel better, believing if they get the virus, they will be OK. Alleviating the cause is the root fight. Then curing those affected. Both are important, but the reasoning by the Japanese and the order of priority is off.
kurisupisu
@Yubaru
You know the answers to the questions you are posing so why not tell us all, eh?
Yubaru
It's ONLY unwise IF and only IF the government tests anyone and everyone who needs it! If you have information where the virus has been infecting people, then it's a no-brainer that people will avoid those areas and what not!
BUT since there is far from adequate testing being done, staying home is the only answer!
I suppose you think the "herd" mentality is the way to go, but tell that to the thousands or maybe millions who WILL die to get to that point! I just hope you arent one of them!
Yubaru
So, now who is going to play "god" here and decide who gets this or not!
Objective
I am sure most of the public supports this decision since for the majority of the seriously ill don't have many options. Good for Japan to act so quickly.
Lock-down is not an option in Japan because it can't be enforced (thank goodness.) It also is sounding to be an unwise strategy.
Listen to Nobel prize winning scientist Prof Michael Levitt: Lockdown is a “huge mistake”
It was just uploaded today... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl-sZdfLcEk
gogogo
No testing? This isn't a good idea, listen to your experts Japan!!
sf2k
what were the clinical trial results? There aren't any listed. The side effects aren't that great either.
From Wikipedia