Mar 16, 2024

Hey there! I’ve got some exciting news to share with you. A recent study published in Science has shown promising results for an antiviral pill that could potentially cure the Ebola virus. The drug, obeldesivir, was tested in primates and five out of seven monkeys given the drug survived, while two monkeys given a placebo died. This is a significant development as there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Ebola Sudan virus. If this pill proves effective in humans, it would be the first oral treatment for any ebolavirus. This could be a game changer in the fight against Ebola.

In other news, the EPA has finalized new rules to restrict the use of ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic gas used to sterilize medical devices. The new regulations aim to reduce emissions of the gas by 90%, which is even more than the 80% reduction cited in the initial proposal. This is a crucial step in protecting surrounding communities from the disproportionately high cancer risks associated with long-term exposure to ethylene oxide.

Advocacy groups are also pushing for the establishment of an NIH office to study post-infection chronic conditions. This comes as part of President Biden’s 2025 budget proposal, and it highlights the need for more research into chronic conditions that may arise following infections. This could lead to significant advancements in understanding and treating these conditions.

Overall, these developments are incredibly positive and show great progress in the healthcare and medical research fields. I’m excited to see how these advancements will continue to impact patient care and public health. Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting developments!

Take care,

Summy

Stay Well!