The latest Investing Matters Podcast with Jean Roche, Co-Manager of Schroder UK Mid Cap Investment Trust has just been released. Listen here.
I believe RM's main focus is on Stockpiling for future variants and future pandemics. From all I have read SNG are currently the 'best in class' in terms of therapeutics. If so there is no reason why any Governments all over the world would not want to stockpile this, even if it is to just fill the gap until a new vaccine for the next possible pandemic.
As RM alluded to in a previous interview, if AZN had proceeded with trials of SNG years ago, SNG would've have saved millions of lives... it's a great pity that they didn't.
Of course, it would be great if it was put to use this summer too.... but that is a little out of RM's hands.... I'm sure he's jumping through hoops as quickly as he can.
Chris Whitty warns UK will be vulnerable to Covid for another TWO YEARS and selective travel bans to virus hotspots could be needed for months - but claims shutting Britain's borders completely WON'T keep new strains out.
"He warned it was 'absolutely certain' a Covid strain will eventually emerge that will be able to infect vaccinated people, and could lead to a fresh surge in the virus if it is allowed to spread without restriction. He said this could send Britain 'back to square one'."
A depressing read.
Petralva1.... yes, as far as I can work out it states the following are now recruiting:
Colombia - Bogota
France - Paris
Germany - Berlin
India - New Delhi
Israel - Jerusalem
Italy - Rome
Servia - Belgrade
Spain - Madrid
USA - Washington
UK - London
But we know there are many more in UK, so maybe just one listed per country? But I'm no computer genius, so someone else may have a better answer?
SHA222.. I 'm not sure that's the case. RM mentioned in an interview that he would like to trial SNG on ICU patients. Also the french trial first treated INF 1b on 4 ICU patients, and they all recovered.
Like so many things at the moment, this is a new pandemic/virus.... and there are still so many unknowns.
Sparky, I assume you have some in your isa and the other £60k is in your Share and Fund account..... from a CGT perspective, you are better using up your allowance for this year, £12k ish I think, so sell enough shares that the profit on them is £12k. Then put £20k in your ISA, then you still have your £12k CGT limit you can use again for the next tax year on the remainder in your Share and Fund account.
Personally I feel it is a little risky being out of this for a few days, as news could literally drop on Thursday or Tuesday, before you get your ISA sorted.
Geovanni.... synairgen have patent for inhaled interferon Beta, that covers 1a & 1b, the french one. The french aren't doing anything illegal at the moment, as they are not, yet, trying to commercialise it.
If a French doctor is trying to save people by using the drugs at his disposal, then I doubt anyone would want to stop that. But I have no doubt that RM is keeping a close eye on them.
Tatty.... I think it's great that he's so excited about anti-virals in general, and that there is a real need for them, not just for this, but for all viruses....... and that end of year isn't missing the boat for Covid, as so many here have concerns that it is.
But yes, it is odd he hasn't mentioned SNG again after being so excited about it..... just as it was odd the way Han**** dismissed it when he was asked in the house about it directly.... just saying 'Southampton are doing very well'.... I just don't think they want to spend the money, IMO. Great that we're on the US radar instead.
Thanks for posting Tatty... I know Dr Campbell isn't that popular with some on here, but I actually find him quite interesting.
However, I was quite encouraged that he was so excited about an anti-viral that was about to start a Phase I, and wouldn't be ready until November, and that Nov. was a v v ambitious date in his opinion... so probably more like 2022.... so probably 6 months after Synairgen's Phase 3 end. As we all know, getting from Phase 1 to Phase 3 is a long journey!
I don't know what he was referring to when he said that the governments should be trialling other licensed antivirals, that are out of copyright, but it can't be Synairgen as it is still a novel drug, and sadly not licensed and definitely not out of copyright.
K-mac.... quite right. The week before Manic Monday was brutal, I remember buying at 32p the Thursday before.... then it rising to 36p on Friday... then 400% on the Monday. Fingers crossed for the next few Monday's!
Matterhorn, I think at 2K it will be too expensive for NHS as a prophylactic. US is another market entirely. I have no doubt though that costs will come down both over time and with mass production, as well as being licensed to countries like India, who will produce it much more cheaply.
Will wealthy people pay for it on private prescription, to have in their fridge.... absolutely they will.
Speaking to a friend this morning in a small town in Switzerland, who said they had zero cases a month ago, then two weeks ago they found just one.... today 50, and many more suspected, people reluctant to get tested as they are then forced to isolate, to avoid that the asymptomatic teenagers and young are crossing the boarder to Austria..... seems inevitable that another wave is about to rip through Europe.
Doc... it could be from the moisture after exercising, same happens to my daughter, as long as she has a hot bath/shower and dries herself really well she's ok. If it gets too bad anti histamine does it. I think it's from being damp (she also has asthma and allergies).
Mact4..... I think that revaccination will happen in the over 50's.
But, on another point, I think it depends on how much bad press comes out about illnesses/deaths caused by the vaccine. I actually know of someone, a 42 year old woman who had the Pfizer vaccine, felt unwell, and was found dead in the morning..... I am sure that this is a one off, and she did have other medical problems, and I personally will be having the vaccine when I am offered it, I am 50, so I think it's worth it for me, and for my family.... I am not at all anti.
However, if many of these stories come out I think the young (under 40's) will question whether the risk is worth it with even the first vaccine, let alone the second... after all, from a selfish point of view, it is EXTREMELY unlikely this virus will kill any of them.... so why take even the tiniest risk of making yourself ill with a vaccine?
A lot of my daughter's friends (18-22) are absolutely adamant they won't be having it.... if travel restrictions are brought in though for those that haven't, I am sure they will change their mind, but if they can get away with not having the 2nd, then they definitely will.
So many variables, very hard for any of us to predict.
One thing I am sure of though, is Covid-19 is endemic, and we will need treatments.
For the sake of knocking this argument on the head, finally.... highest cases per capita in USA are:
1. North Dakota
2. South Dakota
3. Rhode Island
4. Utah
5. Iowa
6. Tennessee
7. Arizona
8. Oklahoma
9. Arkansas
10. Nebraska
11. Kansas
12. Alabama
Considering how densely populated NY is compared to North & South Dakota (400-1), it is incredible that New York is actually way down, 31 on the list.