Member Info for LiveLongnProsper

Does seem that the Europeans are a little more cautious ( I hesitate to say more thorough as MHRA have good reputation).
Don't really know this news source or the veracity of the article, but if any truth in content would be concerned ...
https://2020news.de/en/dr-wodarg-and-dr-yeadon-request-a-stop-of-all-corona-vaccination-studies-and-call-for-co-signing-the-petition/
Not an 'anti-vaxxer' by the way.
GLA

I assumed that the 02036570059 call I received just after 2:00pm was a double glazing company as they left a silent 20 second voice mail, so I blocked it.
GLA

@Pigster, a most interesting question.
With apologies to all for being so off topic (it is Sunday afternoon after all though) ...
https://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/explore/
Seems even the latest NASA solar observation mission hasn't yet found the answer.
Anyway, back 'on message', looking forward to some real news in the next few days after last weeks rather woolly 'holding' RNS.
GLA

Just love happy endings.
We know the ‘story’ so far, i.e. the ‘beginning’.
Al and co-authors (BBI, govt., et al) have nearly finished writing the ‘middle’ bit.
Confident I’m reading the same book as @PL75, and it’s not a fairy story.
GLA

This was an XOFF/TNCP trade, so likely a VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) price for the transactions filling the order. Judging by the day range, more likely a buy I suspect. But please DYOR.
GLA

This is a very good question that should be raised. And, if seems likely, the response is (weasel) words to the effect - 'no UK test ready yet', then the follow-up must be about the UK Government's own responsibility in supporting, prioritising and expediting the validation and approval process through the likes of CONDOR etc.
GLA

Indeed a ‘cautionary tale’.
Those of you who listened to the famous June webinar with David (Avacta), Klaus (Cytiva), Brendan (DCN) and Darren (Sona) might remember Darren being the least confident and expressing some concern about sensitivity.
Checking my notes I think Sona released initial Sens/Spec of 96%/96% from lab tests, but then later reduced this to 84.6% / 90.0%. Both study results were on very limited numbers of samples.
On the (slightly) positive side they withdrew the ‘Interim Order’ authorisation request for their test “in order to obtain more clinical data to augment its submission”. So expect to resubmit asap.
“In addition to continuing to pursue approval of the Company’s rapid COVID-19 antigen test, which uses a nasal pharyngeal swab, the Company continues to validate its saliva sample-based version of the test. The Company intends to seek a large-scale trial specifically for its saliva-based test”. So, I'd guess we're ahead of them, but ...
Just goes to sure the importance of being thorough and working ‘hand-in-glove’ with the regulators.
We just need to get it right, on all fronts – ELISA, BAMS, LFD (saliva and swab).
GLA

Anyone up on Mass Spec / UPLC equipment?
Looks like the kit to the rhs of the lady with her back to us in the picture on post 15/15 is Waters Acquity?
Any significance?
GLA

https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4347/rapid-responses
Worth reading the response to the BMJ paper regarding the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine published on 9th November. The response of 16th November from an NHS Consultant recognizes “the understandable socioeconomic rush to mass vaccination without longer-term safety testing”, but then says “that an essential stage in any vaccine licensing process should involve careful analysis of the human proteome against vaccine peptide sequences. This should minimize the risks both of autoimmune reactions to inoculation and future autoimmune pathology”.
I read that as more, very detailed (testing protein expressions, etc.), work to follow up trial participants over time to ensure safety. Bit like what you’d do for a new drug? Let’s see how the FDA / MHRA process progresses, no doubt they will be appropriately thorough and rigorous.
GLA

John Deeks on BBC R4 Inside Science re Innova test.
58% cases detected (compared to PCR), as low as 50%. Use of trained Nurses achieved 73%. Specificity OK. Saying that a negative test should be considered as (only) a lower risk for Covid. Deeks did mention PCR as current ‘gold standard’ test.
Deeks notes Innova specifically, BBC insist on generalising about (implied) all LFT’s.
Followed by Dr Angela Raffle who wants all the Moonshot money spent on vaccine preparations!
Need a decent test out there quickly, over to Wetherby crew.
GLA

@Entangled, thanks for geography correction. Just need to head up north for the Anglesey ferry! Anyway, we've got Wales and Scotland covered with BBI sites and Abingdon in York.
GLA

Drilldown from the headline below map!

In the Merthyr news detail the BBC are still a bit 'unconvinced' about LFT's ...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/54878280
Clearly a need for one with excellent (or even 'exquisite') S&S, we're all waiting Sir Al.
Pressure building ...
Wales getting mass testing, NI wants mass testing, football fans want mass testing, just need those ('sovereign') tests.
GLA

Interesting.
Earlier question from Karl McCartney (Con Lincoln) asking for testing to be introduced to get football fans back at matches.
As noted by @Milcait, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (DUP) suggests that the 1.8m population of Norther Ireland in 11 local govt. districts should be the next target for large-scale Covid testing.
I think BBI are in Crumlin NI, would be handy for distribution?
GLA

Really difficult to get any kind of rational, scientifically based, ‘sense’ out of this morning’s Andrew Marr interview with Ugur Sahin (Chief Executive of BioNTech) and then we have the https://mobile.twitter.com/Arkancideisreal tweet. Hmmmm?
BioNTech guy …
Side effects – pain in injection site and (maybe) fever for a few days.
Safety – have data for a ‘proportion’ of ‘subjects’ for 2 months, need to collect for 2 years, so far ‘benign’.
Immunity – don’t know how long this lasts, still collecting info. May need immunizing every 1, 2 or 5 years?
Older people – can’t say how effective, need another 10 days to 3 weeks for data.
Virus spread – don’t know if stops virus spread, waiting for data, ‘maybe 50%’.
Impact – no big impact this winter, bigger impact by summer.
So, overall, waiting for more data to understand overall efficacy, etc.
Marr finished by describing Ugur Sahin as ‘the man who saved the world’, hmmmm (again)! Anyway, no doubt he will soon be berating the UK Govt. for not having a large fleet of -80degC vaccine distribution containers.
As for the tweet, maybe the guy really is an Illuminati?
GLA

This is the other one ...
https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2020/W46/738590726#top
Thing is, it's now today, yesterday it was tomorrow!
GLA

Yep, looks like 2 tenders to me? Same kit, £912m in both, but up to for 2nd. Otherwise different dates, buyers and references.
Ref: OJEU 536544-2020, Published: 09 Nov, Deadline 13 Nov, Delivery: 08 Dec, Value: £912m, Buyers: Dept. of Health & Social Care, Indicators: Bids should cover the whole contract, Options are not available, Renewals are not available, Financial restrictions apply, Professional qualifications are sought.
Ref: CF-0047400D0O000000rwimUAA1, Published: 10 Nov, Deadline 25 Nov, Delivery: 16 Dec, Value: £0-912m, Buyers: Health Family, Indicators: Contract is suitable for SMEs.
Are we going for both?
GLA

Students to go home early for Xmas. Will need to be tested on the way home, multiple times while at home, and again to enable return to Uni in Jan 2021. 1m+ students on the move, many test needed, and these should be UK made tests. If not done properly – massive ‘super spreader’ event!
GLA

Yes it is ...
Positive waves Moriarty (Avacta).
https://twitter.com/avacta/status/1326130767198609408
GLA

https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/pfizer-faces-doj-sec-foreign-bribery-probes-for-china-russia-operations
Taken from SNG board a few minutes ago.
Make of it what you will!
GLA