Why is Merck (vaccine failure in early stage from a late entry which is common in vaccine development) and Moderna (excellent news from an amazing vaccine, plus they say already planning for future) a "one-two punch"? It's tiny bad news (Merck not big player) plus GREAT news.
-
-
Replying to @zeynep @BiellaColeman
I like your interpretation and hope you are right. Right now I am seeing overwhelmed doctors talking about an incoming tsunami, a vaccine that is resistant to a new and more contagious strain, AND no evidence that the government(s) have a mass vaccination plan to implement.
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
I suppose "grim" is a matter of perspective, but I do think the Merck news is pretty bad - they have an extraordinary record of developing vaccines, and at least one of their Covid-19 vaccines was based on an established platform, which has significant advantages.
1 reply 0 retweets 3 likes -
Replying to @joshnathankazis @lisang and
And on the Moderna news - of course it's reassuring that they still expect the vaccine to protect against the S.A. strain. But they were worried enough make a new booster! My sense, in interviews two weeks ago, was that Pfizer, at least, didn't expect to be at this point so soon.
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @joshnathankazis @lisang and
I don't mean to downplay the successes so far at all. And I respect your work a lot, and appreciate the pushback. But in the context of all the rollout troubles so far, those two updates yesterday morning seemed quite negative to me.
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
zeynep tufekci Retweeted Eric Topol
The Merck news is a disappointment for sure, but a minor hiccup since they are a late entry (though of course, would have been better) but the Moderna news was *excellent*. This is what the last day looked like to me, a lot of good news:https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1354129134134288384 …
zeynep tufekci added,
Eric TopolVerified account @EricTopolSummary of good pandemic news
1. Pivotal trial of early monoclonal antibodies reduces death & hospitalization (big, this is a 1st)
2. Vaccination & mitigation works to contain B.1.1.7 (as shown by Israel)
3. The other 501Y.V2/3 variants are unlikely to reduce vaccine efficacy2 replies 0 retweets 6 likes -
Replying to @zeynep @joshnathankazis and
It was one of the least grim news days in a while! Now if J&J crashes and burns, I'll be very, very disappointed. But having excellent vaccines shown to continue to be effective, Merck already looking ahead... I find it positive and not at all grim. That was my objection.
1 reply 0 retweets 5 likes -
Replying to @zeynep @joshnathankazis and
(Sorry Moderna looking ahead not Merck. Moderna looking ahead with a booster is, in my view, *excellent* news. Nobody expect viruses to remain stagnant & this one clearly not. So the booster prep is excellent news since we already *knew* this one is showing adaptive evolution!)
1 reply 0 retweets 4 likes -
I suppose. But I don't think we should understate the news, which is that, a) Moderna will now try a third dose six to 12 months after the first, to protect against emerging strains, and b) they'll also test a new booster specific to the S.A. strain.
1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes -
Replying to @joshnathankazis @zeynep and
Which is good! But they're doing it because of something they're already seeing begin to happen in the lab. And it was that - the sixfold reduction in neutralizing titers - that seemed like not great news, to me.
2 replies 0 retweets 1 like
OK. It’s actually great news. That sixfold reduction does not *at all* correspond to a drop in vaccine efficacy. Vaccines aren’t drugs. To simplify, the news was that the vaccine clearing a bar comfortably! I realize it sounds confusing. That’s why I responded.
-
-
Replying to @zeynep @joshnathankazis and
Similarly, given that we already know adaptive evolution is happening, I found the preparation for a booster to be really positive too. It would be bad news if they weren’t—but it is abundance of caution. We’re still looking great with the existing vaccines—just we need more now.
1 reply 0 retweets 3 likes -
Yeah, I understand that they still expect the vaccine to work as well. But I also understand, from other reporting, that as recently as two weeks ago, the need to develop strain-specific boosters felt much farther off. Anyway, appreciate the response.
0 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.