> But GovCorp control power pharma and $$$ says Molnupiravir, Dexamethasone, Ivermectin
Pay us while we rape you in backalley using Govt as our lookout... https://theintercept.com/2021/10/05/covid-pill-drug-pricing-merck-ridgeback/ https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/melissabarber/files/estimated_cost-based_generic_prices_for_molnupiravir_for_the_treatment_of_covid-19_infection.pdf https://www.keionline.org/36648 https://twitter.com/doddtra/status/1444015735748104200 https://qz.com/2068247/merck-could-make-up-to-7-billion-from-its-covid-19-drugs-in-2021/ https://www.keionline.org/36698 https://www.dropbox.com/s/66zoen3itw1z5m7/CNBC%20-%20Ridgeback%20Interview.mp4?dl=0 https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/uttar-pradesh-government-says-ivermectin-helped-to-keep-deaths-low-7311786/ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0247163 https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.05.21249310v1 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/03000605211013550 https://poseidon01.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=541021002118114122091103085016081089109025032011016032119087102076096096025065092106001060102005041111018117099069094085119127042034007076000101066091084118012028030084017057102119113099099121007081069085089119026020010091094005103012001080000087113094&EXT=pdf&INDEX=TRUE https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7816625/ https://ejmo.org/pdf/A%20Comparative%20Study%20on%20IvermectinDoxycycline%20and%20HydroxychloroquineAzithromycin%20Therapy%20on%20COVID19%20Patients-16263.pdf https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(20)32506-6/fulltext https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=ivermectin&cond=covid%2C+covid19%2C+covid+19&Search=Apply&age_v=&gndr=&type=&rslt= https://ivmmeta.com/ Merck Charging US 40 Times What It Costs To Make Govt-Financed COVID Pill Merck's new 'not Ivermectin' Covid-19 treatment, molnupiravir, costs $17.74 to produce - yet the company is charging the US government $712 for the treatment - a 40x markup, according to The Intercept, citing a report issued last week by the Harvard School of Public Health and King’s College Hospital in London. Molnupiravir pill from Merck. Photo: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. The pill, originally developed using US government funds as a possible treatment for Venezuelan equine encephalitis, cut the risk of hospitalization and death in half in a randomized trial of 775 adults with mild/moderate Covid who were considered at high risk for disease due to comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The trial was stopped early so the company could apply for and emergency use authorization (EUA). The drug did not benefit patients who were already hospitalized with severe disease. News of the oral 'wonder drug' sent shares of Merck higher last week, as the company says it can deliver 10MM doses by the end of the year. Clearly, the pill could bring in massive profits to Merck and its partner on the drug, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics - which licensed the drug from Emory University in 2020 and then sold the worldwide rights to the drug to Merck for a sum which has not been disclosed. Meanwhile, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, a division of the Department of Defense, funded development of the drug by Emory University to the tune of $10 million between 2013 and 2015, according to nonprofit group Knowledge Ecology International discovered. DTRA-JSTO, under the CBDP, invested in a broad-spectrum #antiviral, leading to the discovery of molnupiravir through collaborative research with @Merck, @EmoryUniversity, #RidgebackBio, & @NIH. This drug has applications against encephalitic alphaviruses, flu, SARS-CoV2, & more. pic.twitter.com/Z9gztSreC2 — Defense Threat Reduction Agency (@doddtra) October 1, 2021 Yet, as Quartz points out, only Merck and Ridgeback will profit from the new antiviral - which they say "could be one of the most lucrative drugs ever," bringing in as much as $7 billion by the end of this year alone. Despite its initial investment, the U.S. government seems to be facing a steep markup in prices. In June, the government signed a $1.2 billion contract with Merck to supply 1.7 million courses of the medication at the $712 price. The transaction is due to take place as soon as molnupiravir receives emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Good government advocates are pointing out that because federal agencies spent at least $29 million on the drug’s development, the government has the obligation to ensure that the medicine is affordable. “The public funded this drug, and therefore the public has some rights, including the rights you have it available under reasonable terms,” said Luis Gil Abinader, senior researcher at Knowledge Ecology International. -The Intercept Pushing back Ridgeback co-founder Wendy Holman told CNBC in an interview last week that they asked for, but "never got government funding" for the manufacture of molnupiravir. The company also claimed in a press release touting the study that "since licensed by Ridgeback, all funds used for the development of molnupiravir have been provided by Merck and by Wayne and Wendy Holman of Ridgeback." Critics, meanwhile, say the $700+ price point is absurd - with health advocates concerned that people some countries will not be able to afford the new drug. "Offering someone a $700 treatment when they don’t yet feel that ill is going to mean that a lot of people are not going to take it," said King's College Hospital physician Dzintars Gotham, co-author of the report - which suggests that Merck would still reap a 10% profit margin if they priced molnupiravir at $19.99. "If you can’t afford medicine because it’s 1,000 times more than you can afford, or because it’s 100 times more than you can afford, it doesn’t matter," said Melissa Barber, a doctoral candidate at the Harvard School of Public Health and co-author of the report on molnupiravir, adding "those are both bad." Barber and Gotham acknowledge that the $17.74 cost of producing a five-day course of the antiviral pills is an estimate but said that the algorithm they used, and have employed to estimate the production costs for hundreds of drugs, tends to result in overestimates in the long run. Meanwhile, the prices that private companies charge for drugs tend to go up rather than down. “For all these deals that have happened for therapeutics or vaccines, the price has only increased as uncertainty has decreased,” she said. “One price is given and then, for the next sale, the price goes up. The price went up for other drugs and vaccines, so I would be very surprised if this price didn’t go up, too.” -The Intercept If only there were another option for mild-moderate Covid-19 cases that was inexpensive and used around the world for decades with an extremely positive drug safety profile. We're just going to leave this here (as we noted last month): Widely prescribed anti-parasitic Ivermectin (also made by Merck) has shown massive efficacy worldwide in the treatment of mild and moderate cases of Covid-19, plus as a prophylactic. India's Uttar Pradesh province, with a population of over 200 million, says that widespread early use of Ivermectin 'helped keep positivity [and] deaths low.' (source, May 12th) Separately, there have been several studies funded by the Indian government, primarily conducted through their largest govt. public medical university (AIIMS). Role of ivermectin in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in India: A matched case-control study (source) Conclusion: Two-dose ivermectin prophylaxis at a dose of 300 μg/kg with a gap of 72 hours was associated with a 73% reduction of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers for the following month. Ivermectin as a potential treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19 – A double blind randomized placebo-controlled trial (source) Conclusion: There was no difference in the primary outcome i.e. negative RT-PCR status on day 6 of admission with the use of ivermectin. However, a significantly higher proportion of patients were discharged alive from the hospital when they received ivermectin. Clinical Research Report Ivermectin in combination with doxycycline for treating COVID-19 symptoms: a randomized trial (source, double-blind randomized, peer-reviewed) Discussion: In the present study, patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 infection treated with ivermectin in combination with doxycycline generally recovered 2 days earlier than those treated with placebo. The proportion of patients responding within 7 days of treatment was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the placebo group. The proportions of patients who remained symptomatic after 12 days of illness and who experienced disease progression were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the placebo group. Here are more human studies from other countries on the 'horse dewormer': Peru: Sharp Reductions in COVID-19 Case Fatalities and Excess Deaths in Peru in Close Time Conjunction, State-By-State, with Ivermectin Treatments (source, peer-reviewed, University of Toronto, Universidad EAFIT) For the 24 states with early IVM treatment (and Lima), excess deaths dropped 59% (25%) at +30 days and 75% (25%) at +45 days after day of peak deaths. Case fatalities likewise dropped sharply in all states but Lima Spain: The effect of early treatment with ivermectin on viral load, symptoms and humoral response in patients with non-severe COVID-19: A pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (source, University of Barcelona, peer-reviewed) Findings: Patients in the ivermectin group recovered earlier from hyposmia/anosmia (76 vs 158 patient-days; p < 0.001). Bengladesh: A Comparative Study on Ivermectin-Doxycycline and Hydroxychloroquine-Azithromycin Therapy on COVID-19 Patients (source - peer reviewed, though not govt funded) Conclusion: According to our study, the Ivermectin-Doxycycline combination therapy has better symptomatic relief, shortened recovery duration, fewer adverse effects, and superior patient compliance compared to the Hydroxychloroquine-Azithromycin combination. Based on this study's outcomes, the Ivermectin-Doxycycline combination is a superior choice for treating patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 disease. A five-day course of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 may reduce the duration of illness (source, peer-reviewed double blind randomized, though small sample size) Discussion: A 5-day course of ivermectin resulted in an earlier clearance of the virus compared to placebo (p = 0.005), thus indicating that early intervention with this agent may limit viral replication within the host. In the 5-day ivermectin group, there was a significant drop in CRP and LDH by day 7, which are indicators of disease severity. Meanwhile, There are currently 76 ongoing or completed clinical trials on Ivermectin around the world. Below are the results of 32 which have been completed. One can visit ivermeta.com and dig down on any of these / read the entire study. The site recommends Ivermectin in conjunction with vaccines to confer the best protection against Covid-19, however we'll leave that to you and your doctor to discuss. Screenshot, http://ivermeta.com/ Perhaps those who can't pony up $700 will seek other options. "It Really Is THAT Good" - Wall Street Reacts To Merck's "Big Deal" Drug As we reported earlier this morning, Merck has released what experts say are "extremely positive" test results for a COVID anti-viral that cuts risk of hospitalization in half, while also dramatically reducing the risk of death. The data were so profoundly positive that an oversight board ended the trial, claiming that withholding the drug from patients in the placebo group would be "unethical". Merck says it can deliver 10MM doses of the new drug, called Molnupiravir, by the end of the year, by which it should be approved by the FDA and possibly foreign regulators as well (the wheels of bureaucracy are reportedly turning as quickly as they can). Merck is submitting an emergency application for authorization of the drug, and we may see it in use during the next two weeks. The regiment is 2 pills a day for 5 days, and it's most helpful within 5 days of infection. The news has sent US stocks into the green for the day, while shares of Merck briefly soared as much as 12%. Meanwhile, shares of Moderna are really taking it on the chin, and have fallen by more than 10%. After failing to foresee the potential "game-changing" impact of the new drug, Wall Street analysts are scrambling to interpret what Molnupiravir will mean for markets and the economy. In a roundup of commentary from Bloomberg, most agreed that the drug would be a "game-changer" for the pandemic, and that it will likely receive emergency use authorization before the end of the year. Evercore ISI analyst Umer Raffat referred to the pill as a game changer for Covid-19, writing that the data “really is THAT good". Expects oral pills to be a "big deal" in combating Covid with the ease of use and scale of manufacturing being a game changer From MRK stock perspective, pipeline should finally start to get real credit – starting with this readout today" Barclays analyst Carter Gould expects a straightforward regulatory decision for the pill to receive emergency use authorization from the FDA with the data representing a needed win for Merck in combating Covid-19. Highlights that the Street had estimated near-zero value for the drug prior to today’s news with Merck set up well to book a $1.2 billion contract later this year. Cantor analyst Louise Chen highlighted that the data showed consistent efficacy across Gamma, Delta, and Mu variants and said the pill could "change the treatment paradigm" "Positive data could clear path to take a slice of an untapped pie in the COVID treatment landscape (multi-blockbuster opportunity in the U.S. alone)" SVB Leerink analyst Daina Graybosch wrote that the drug could unlock more than $10b in near-term orders and also “represent the best option for bringing the pandemic under control worldwide". Expects approval in the U.S. before year-end with additional supply contracts in the coming weeks Morgan Stanley’s Matthew Harrison wrote that the data are a significant positive for patients and the broader public’s risk perception as it relates to COVID Never Say Neigh: FDA Lists 'Horse Drug' As Approved COVID Treatment While the media has spent more than a year ridiculing the widely-prescribed drug Ivermectin to treat Covid-19 - branding it a 'horse dewormer for idiots,' they've kept oddly silent about another widely prescribed drug that's also used in horses, which is being pushed by official bodies worldwide to treat the disease. The NIH, CDC, WHO and FDA have all recommended dexamethasone - a corticosteroid which has shown efficacy in the treatment of severe covid. It's also a commonly used drug to treat allergies in horses. The difference? One can be used to treat billions of mild-moderate cases - or as a prophylactic, while the other has a much more narrow use - those suffering from severe Covid. As Twitter user @DoRtChristians notes: "The FDA recently told the public not to take life-saving Ivermectin because "you're not a horse"" Screenshot via FDA.gov Screenshot via who.int Screenshot via covid19treatmentguide.nih.gov Yet; Screenshot via chewy.com Per Google (via Wedgewood pharmacy): "Dexamethasone commonly is used in horses to treat allergic reactions such as respiratory allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (heaves), hives, itching and inflammatory diseases including arthritis." But, but... You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y'all. Stop it. https://t.co/TWb75xYEY4 — U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) August 21, 2021 We can only assume that because official bodies are recommending dexamethasone - and because it's used in severe covid - a much smaller fraction of those looking at ivermectin as a prophylactic and early-stage treatment, the transitive properties of media outrage over people taking a 'horse medication' don't apply. Ivermectin This widely prescribed anti-parasitic which is also used in horses has shown massive efficacy worldwide in the treatment of mild and moderate cases of Covid-19, plus as a prophylactic. India's Uttar Pradesh province, with a population of over 200 million, says that widespread early use of Ivermectin 'helped keep positivity [and] deaths low.' (source, May 12th) Separately, there have been several studies funded by the Indian government, primarily conducted through their largest govt. public medical university (AIIMS). Role of ivermectin in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in India: A matched case-control study (source) Conclusion: Two-dose ivermectin prophylaxis at a dose of 300 μg/kg with a gap of 72 hours was associated with a 73% reduction of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers for the following month. Ivermectin as a potential treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19 – A double blind randomized placebo-controlled trial (source) Conclusion: There was no difference in the primary outcome i.e. negative RT-PCR status on day 6 of admission with the use of ivermectin. However, a significantly higher proportion of patients were discharged alive from the hospital when they received ivermectin. Clinical Research Report Ivermectin in combination with doxycycline for treating COVID-19 symptoms: a randomized trial (source, double-blind randomized, peer-reviewed) Discussion: In the present study, patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 infection treated with ivermectin in combination with doxycycline generally recovered 2 days earlier than those treated with placebo. The proportion of patients responding within 7 days of treatment was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the placebo group. The proportions of patients who remained symptomatic after 12 days of illness and who experienced disease progression were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the placebo group. Here are more human studies from other countries on the 'horse dewormer': Peru: Sharp Reductions in COVID-19 Case Fatalities and Excess Deaths in Peru in Close Time Conjunction, State-By-State, with Ivermectin Treatments (source, peer-reviewed, University of Toronto, Universidad EAFIT) For the 24 states with early IVM treatment (and Lima), excess deaths dropped 59% (25%) at +30 days and 75% (25%) at +45 days after day of peak deaths. Case fatalities likewise dropped sharply in all states but Lima Spain: The effect of early treatment with ivermectin on viral load, symptoms and humoral response in patients with non-severe COVID-19: A pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (source, University of Barcelona, peer-reviewed) Findings: Patients in the ivermectin group recovered earlier from hyposmia/anosmia (76 vs 158 patient-days; p < 0.001). Bengladesh: A Comparative Study on Ivermectin-Doxycycline and Hydroxychloroquine-Azithromycin Therapy on COVID-19 Patients (source - peer reviewed, though not govt funded) Conclusion: According to our study, the Ivermectin-Doxycycline combination therapy has better symptomatic relief, shortened recovery duration, fewer adverse effects, and superior patient compliance compared to the Hydroxychloroquine-Azithromycin combination. Based on this study's outcomes, the Ivermectin-Doxycycline combination is a superior choice for treating patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 disease. A five-day course of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 may reduce the duration of illness (source, peer-reviewed double blind randomized, though small sample size) Discussion: A 5-day course of ivermectin resulted in an earlier clearance of the virus compared to placebo (p = 0.005), thus indicating that early intervention with this agent may limit viral replication within the host. In the 5-day ivermectin group, there was a significant drop in CRP and LDH by day 7, which are indicators of disease severity. Meanwhile, There are currently 76 ongoing or completed clinical trials on Ivermectin around the world. Below are the results of 32 which have been completed. One can visit ivermeta.com and dig down on any of these / read the entire study. The site recommends Ivermectin in conjunction with vaccines to confer the best protection against Covid-19, however we'll leave that to you and your doctor to discuss. Screenshot, http://ivermeta.com/ Why does Ivermectin, a 'horse dewormer' work? For starters, it's a protease inhibitor. Interestingly, Pfizer's 2x/day Covid-19 prophylactic they're trialing right now is also a protease inhibitor. Yet doctors who advocate for Ivermectin are ridiculed by the media (more here and here and here). The MSM swarmed over 'horse paste overdoses' for weeks after a handful cases nationwide (and no deaths) - including an outright lie amplified by Rolling Stone which they were forced to correct after the hospital in question denied the claim. Meanwhile, the likes of Maddow, Don Lemon and Chris Hayes jumped right on the propaganda bandwagon - with Maddow promoting the debunked ER story in a tweet she refuses to delete - and Twitter refuses to censor for misinformation. Why would any doctor put their career on the line to publicly advocate for ivermectin when this is the result?
