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Since the start of the pandemic, biomedical research has made unprecedented efforts to improve patient health and halt the progression of SARS-CoV-2. The incredible levels of incidence of COVID-19 has facilitated the carrying out of enormous numbers of clinical trials to try and evaluate the effectiveness of new molecules and old (repositioning). However, few of […]

Independent clinical trials have shown that the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines give 94-95% protection against symptomatic forms of COVID-19. But immunocompromised patients, who in general develop a less robust immune response, were not included in these trials. However, amongst this group there are patients with cancer who are treated with chemotherapy and whose care […]

Seventeen months after SARS-CoV-2 was identified, 6 vaccines against COVID-19 were already available. These vaccines give effective protection against serious illness and death. They reduce asymptomatic infection and limit the spread of the virus. However, supply of vaccines is still limited despite huge production efforts. It is therefore important that other vaccines be made available. […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has refuelled the debate on health financing, which has been, and continues to be, very expensive. Governments have had to introduce public health measures such as the wearing of masks, lockdowns, diagnostic testing, contact tracing, various drug therapies, and vaccination. The economic global recession, with an estimated 3,3% worldwide slump in 2020, […]

There is a male/female disparity in mortality due to COVID- 19: men are at greater risk than women of developing a serious form of the illness and dying. They account for about 60% of deaths: while the scientific community agrees on this figure, there is less agreement concerning the reasons why. Researchers differ in their opinions. […]

Several neutralising antibodies that target SARS-CoV-2 have been developed and are undergoing clinical testing. Two anti-COVID-19 antibody cocktails are already on the market and reduce the risk of hospitalisation by 80%. However, these antibodies need to be administered in high doses, and their effectiveness remains limited. Researchers at the Universities of Rockefeller in New York […]

In certain countries, the deployment of safe and effective vaccines has enabled a reduction in numbers of cases, hospitalisations and deaths due to COVID-19. The possible need for a third dose, to compensate for a potential weakening of immunity or to increase protection against certain variants, has encouraged “vaccine nationalism”, that is, where countries stock-pile […]

Infection by SARS-CoV-2 and vaccination are 2 ways of acquiring protective immunity. After infection, an immune-memory response remains active for at least 8 months, deploying antibodies along with CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, mRNA vaccines have proved very effective in preventing serious cases of COVID-19. In clinical trials of Moderna, 2 doses […]

The various epidemics of Sarbecoviruses, coronaviruses originating from bats (SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) suggest that we are not safe from future outbreaks.  In addition, SARS-CoV-2 variants such as the Alpha (UK), Beta (South African) and Delta (Indian) variants are able to partially evade the antibodies activated by vaccination. It is in this context that American […]