Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) announced today that it submitted for emergency use listing (EUL) to the World Health Organization (WHO) for its COVID-19 vaccine. New Brunswick, N.J.-based J&J’s Janssen subsidiary’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine candidate was submitted for EUL with a data package including interim efficacy and safety results from the Phase 3 Ensemble clinical trial, which […]
World Health Organization
Hahn apologizes for convalescent plasma claim
Under intense criticism for his statement that convalescent plasma donated by former coronavirus patients could reduce COVID-19 deaths by 35%, FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn apologized on Twitter late Monday. The agency announced on Sunday that it had granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) for plasma donated by coronavirus survivors as a treatment for new patients. President Trump, […]
Feds’ convalescent plasma claim questioned
Scientists are questioning the Trump administration’s claim for the effectiveness of convalescent plasma in preventing deaths from COVID-19, according to published reports. President Trump and the heads of the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services all said on Sunday that plasma donated by former coronavirus patients has reduced deaths by 35%. Their […]
Apple announces medical studies using new Research app
Apple (NSDQ:AAPL) said yesterday that it is launching medical studies into women’s health, hearing, and heart function and movement with its new Research app. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company said the app will show how medical research is conducted and allow participants to contribute to potential medical discoveries. The Research app will be available as a free […]
Study: Heat-stable drug formulation offers new option to prevent postpartum bleeding
Data from a collaboration between Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Merck (NYSE:MRK) and the World Health Organization showed that a heat-stable formulation of carbetocin is as effective as oxytocin for the prevention of excessive bleeding following vaginal birth. Millions of women are affected by postpartum hemorrhage every year, according to Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Traditionally, women are given oxytocin to prevent the deadly condition. But […]
Antibacterial coated suture wins WHO recommendation
Ethicon said today that its triclosan-coated suture was included in the new “Global Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections (SSI)” by the World Health Organization. The guidelines are the 1st global guidelines for preventing surgical site infections. “The panel suggests the use of triclosan-coated sutures for the purpose of reducing the risk of […]
PharmaJet inks pact with World Health Organization for polio vaccine
By Sarah Faulkner PharmaJet said yesterday that it inked a multi-year partnership as part of the World Health Organization’s effort to eradicate polio, using the Colorado-based company’s needle-free technology. Their Tropis device administers medication through the skin, without the use of needles. Although polio has been eradicated from the Americas, Europe, South East Asia and the Western […]
WHO: Few countries ready for ‘superbug’ fight
World Health Assembly strengthens regulatory standards

By: Margaret Hamburg, M.D.
The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), attended every year by the leading government health officials from its 194 member nations. Recently, I was pleased to participate as a member of the U.S. delegation in the 67th meeting of this important group in Geneva, Switzerland.
WHO bids Swine Flu adieu

In a jargon-laced statement August 10, World Health Organization director-general Dr. Margaret Chan declared an end to the Swine Flu pandemic.
The United Nations’ health organization head proclaimed that the "world is no longer in phase 6 of influenza pandemic alert" and that the H1N1 influenza virus had entered into a "post-pandemic period."