Annalisa Merelli

Rich countries are all set to hoard bird flu vaccines that don't even exist yet

Here we go again? A subtype of bird flu (H5N1) that has been circulating in Europe, the Americas, and Asia has shown the ability to spread among mammals such as minks, seals, and sea lions. And although experts think there is no reason to fear yet…

More American women over 40 are having babies. Their risk of dying from it keeps rising too

Giving birth in the US has long been a dangerous affair. In 2021, on average, 32.8 women died of pregnancy-related causes for every 100,000 live births, according to newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That…

These are the countries with the biggest gender wage gaps

The Covid-19 pandemic set back decades of progress towards gender equality, according to a report by the International Labour Organization. On average, the report says, women are currently paid 20% less than men globally. Significant gender wage gap…

Pfizer is buying a cancer biotech in one of the biggest pharma deals in history

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is buying Seagen, a biotech company making a novel type of cancer treatment. Pfizer has agreed to pay $43 billion in cash, or $229 per share, making the transaction one of the largest pharma deals in history. The price…

A more equitable covid vaccine rollout could have saved a life every 24 seconds in 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared covid-19 a pandemic three years ago, on Mar. 11, 2020. The declaration has not lapsed, and though most cases are mild, more than 20 million people are currently ill with covid. Since vaccines were rolled…

Rich governments are not interested in funding preparations for the next pandemic

As soon as the pandemic took hold in the spring of 2020, one thing became abundantly clear: The world was woefully unprepared to withstand it. From the lack of personal protective equipment to deadly delays in mandating lockdowns, the first months of…

The US has too many prisoners and not enough community health workers. Here's an idea to solve both problems

Could employing formerly incarcerated people as community health workers improve community health and end mass incarceration? Photo: John Moore (Getty Images) The US is the prison capital of the rich world: With 2 million incarcerated people, and 5…

Eli Lilly's insulin copay cap doesn't replace the need for government regulation

A few months after congress failed to pass an insulin copay cap of $35 for all insured patients, and a few weeks after President Joe Biden once again raised the issue in his State of the Union address, the US’s largest insulin maker Eli Lilly…

The full genome sequencing of Cambodia's bird flu strain took less than a day

Avian flu — or H5N1 — is a deadly disease, although not one that typically affects humans. It’s been going around globally for decades, but there have been no cases of human-to-human transmission. Human cases instead typically result from…

Giving birth in the US is becoming a deadlier affair

That the US is a deadly country for new mothers, particularly Black mothers, has become a well-known fact. In the past few years, the issue has been addressed by a series of policy proposals, campaign statements, and even a dedicated Black Maternal…

The cholera vaccine shortage could increase the toll of the earthquake in Syria and Turkey

A lack of financial incentive for pharma companies means many will die from a preventable disease The death toll of the earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey on Feb. 6 has topped 35,000, making it one of the most devastating catastrophes in recent…

Homes for Americans: a worsening problem

“Right here in America, if you own your own home, you’re realizing the American dream.” Former President George W. Bush said in a 2002 speech. Indeed, is there a better embodiment of the American lifestyle than a single home with a picket fence…

What happens when the covid emergency declaration ends?

Covid is almost over—or so says the US presidential administration. On Jan 31, the White House announced its intention to end the covid public health emergency declaration on May 11. The declaration, which was first put in place on Jan 31, 2020, was…

Pfizer is expecting its covid windfall to end in 2023

Before 2020, vaccines would hardly bring riches to their makers. Then covid happened, and for the pharmaceutical companies that came up with vaccines against it, in particular Pfizer and Moderna, it was a bonanza. Billions of people globally needed…

WHO approves generic Paxlovid drug for covid treatment in low-income countries

Nirmacom, a combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, will be available for prescription in 95 low- and middle-income countries The generic version of Paxlovid, the Pfizer-made antiviral drug that is the best treatment choice for patients at risk of…

BioNtech is set to ship its first modular mRNA vaccine factory to Rwanda

The first BioNTainer, which will start producing mRNA vaccines in 2024, is ready to go to Kigali BioNTech, the German biotechnology company that partnered with Pfizer to develop its covid vaccine, is set to ship its first modular mRNA vaccine factory…

The US may make anti-overdose drug naloxone available over the counter in 2024

The FDA fast-tracked approval for the lifesaving drug Naloxone, a drug that is used to reverse overdoses caused by opioid use, might soon be available without a prescription in the US. Harm Reduction Therapeutics, a nonprofit pharmaceutical company,…

The end of zero-covid pushed China's biggest funeral services stock up by 80%

Covid is soaring across China, and it's a windfall for Fu Shou Yuan International Group Ltd A lot is unknown about the current state of the covid emergency in China. After the end of its draconian zero-covid policy, which put entire cities into…

The US is about to make opioid addiction treatment much easier

The omnibus bill for 2023 and proposed amendment to HHS regulations could make buprenorphine and morphine treatment more easily accessible Overdose deaths this year eased off the all-time record in 2021, but remain at historic highs. The Centers for…

Health insurance rates will rise faster in 2023 in these US states

The US average increase will be 3.5%, but depending on the state, the price tag might go up by significantly more Inflation may have slowed down, but the price hikes of 2022 will be felt in next year’s insurance premiums, according to the latest…