Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
Given that the Parliament Post of 2 weeks ago, listed only 4 companies of government interest and only one of them is developing a saliva test then if it is not Avacta's then who is it?
Testing technologies of Government interest
The Government is supporting innovation for improved testing technologies, both laboratory-based and more recently for tests that can be carried out at scale and at the point-of-care. The Government is also exploring whether other samples can be used, such as saliva rather than nose and throat swabs. Several companies mentioned in a recent Government statement are working on this:
Avacta: a laboratory test using mass spectrometry on nose and throat swabs and on saliva samples. The company is also developing an antigen saliva test.
Chronomics: a laboratory PCR test that can be carried out on saliva samples.
MAP Science: a laboratory test using mass spectrometry on saliva samples.
Oxford Nanoimaging: is developing a portable technology that uses microscopy to detect whole virus in samples including saliva.
Interesting that over 90% of the recent posts are emotionally driven and some examples of knee jerk sales. So just a reminder that the facts have not changed. I still think that the house purchase is a smokescreen and Al needs the majority of the proceeds of his sale to buy his options.
If I had 5 million share options at a fixed price and was wondering how to pay for them in the future, I may sell some of my current holdings in order to raise the capital and might even say that it is to part fund a new home - well a couple of grand maybe.
As a fat oldie, I will be vaccinated and know that my chances of catching the virus is reduced as will be the hospital queues. However I will not be going into crowded, badly ventilated environments with loud conversation/shouting/singing and will only be making my family visits to Australia with an airline that uses high sensitive tests like Avacta's.
From the Telegraph:
Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases at the University of Oxford and co-chief investigator of the UK's flagship Recovery trial, which is now testing the ****tail, said it is going to be made available to dozens of UK hospitals in the next seven days.
"We started over last weekend - it's currently available in about three hospitals in the North, and we'll be rolling it out next week to another 30 or 40 hospitals," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"It's antiviral so will work in patients in which the virus is still replicating, but could be used at any stage of the disease and for any age group.
"It's an artificial antibody and a ****tail of two antibodies. It's designed so it binds strongly to a protein on the surface of the virus. It helps prevent the virus from attaching to the cells, entering the cells and replicating. It also helps our own immune system to attack and kill the virus.
"The class of drugs, these artificial antibodies, have been around for quite a while now and are extensively used in inflammatory conditions and cancers. They're pretty safe and well understood. This particular drug has probably been given to 400 or 500 mild or severe patients in different trials and so far there's been no worrying safety signals.
"It's very promising, it's very potent. In the laboratory in cell cultures it has a very strong effect against the virus and there have been some studies of artificially infected animals in which it showed benefit. Of the drugs available, it's one of the most promising."
Prof Horby said response to vaccines can be poorer as you get older, but this class of drugs have a long life, so one treatment can provide protection for up to six weeks - making them "attractive for the older population".
Mr Trump leaving the White House to travel to hospital
Mr Trump leaving the White House to travel to hospital CREDIT: Drew Angerer /Getty Images North America
Remdesivir, which Mr Trump is taking alongside the antibody ****tail, was the first drug approved to treat Covid-19 in both the UK and US.
Matt Han****, the Health Secretary, earlier this year described it as “probably the biggest step forward in the treatment of coronavirus since the crisis begun”. The antiviral was developed by biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences to tackle Ebola and is administered intravenously. It works by disrupting the virus's replication process.
A global clinical trial in May found that it cut the length of time people suffered symptoms from 15 days to 11. The Trump administration bought more than 500,000 doses in June.
In addition to remdesivir and REGN-COV2, Mr Trump's doctor has confirmed he is also taking vitamin D and mineral zinc, both of which are important to the immune system and taken by some as immune system boosters. He is also having a daily aspirin, which can help avoid heart attacks and reduce fever.
From NY Times;
"For months, the White House’s strategy for keeping President Trump and his inner circle safe has been to screen all White House visitors with a rapid test.
But one product they use, Abbott’s ID Now, was never intended for that purpose and is known to deliver incorrect results. In issuing an emergency use authorization, the Food and Drug Administration said the test was only to be used by a health care provider “within the first seven days of symptoms.”"
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/us/elections/the-white-house-relied-on-a-rapid-test-but-used-it-in-a-way-it-was-not-intended.html