A NEW blockbuster vaccine has boosted sales and profits at drug giant GSK.

Last May, Arexvy became the world's first approved vaccine for elderly patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

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More than a fifth of adults over 60 in the US have since received a vaccine from British drugmaker GSK or US rival Pfizer – although GSK is the first to pass £1 billion in sales.

It has sold £1.2bn worth of drugs, increasing turnover by five per cent to £30.3bn in 2023 and increasing profits by 14 per cent to £6.1bn.

RSV is a common cold illness that can lead to hospitalization in severe cases. GSK now hopes the US will approve Arexvy for people aged 50 to 59.

It is a boost after being beaten by rivals with a Covid jab.

Elsewhere, shingles vaccine Shingrix is ​​popular in Europe, with sales of £3.4 billion last year.

Bosses are in a positive mood and expect total sales to rise between five and seven percent this year. They predict £38 billion by 2031.

GSK has 71 products in clinical development, 18 of which are in the final stages of regulatory approval.

Boss Emma Walmsley said: “We are now planning at least twelve major launches from 2025, with new vaccines and specialty medicines for infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory and oncology.”

Richard Hunter of Interactive Investor said: “GSK remains a serious player on the global stage.” The shares rose more than two percent.

NEW No.1 ​​AT H&M

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RETAIL giant H&M has hired a new boss to boost its fortunes after profits fell below expectations.

Daniel Erver, 42, who has worked at the Swedish chain for 18 years, will replace Helena Helmersson. Under her leadership, H&M lost its status as the world's largest fashion retailer after selling to Inditex, Zara's owner.

Profit for the year was £660 million, while net sales grew six percent to £17.9 billion.

But shares fell 12 percent news of the change at the top and the disappointing profit figures.

I have more changes in store

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THE new boss of Morrisons says he is developing plans to revive, refresh and strengthen the debt-laden supermarket chain.

Rami Baitieh, who took over in November, promised to invite shoppers to board meetings and hold monthly customer roundtables in stores as part of the strategy to “start a new chapter”.

He added: “I've only been with Morrisons for a few months but it's already clear we have talented colleagues, well-located stores, high-quality food production and a real point of difference.”

The Bradford-based chain has struggled since being taken over by a US private equity firm in a £7 billion deal two years ago – seeing rival Aldi overtake it as Britain's fourth largest supermarket chain.

It raised £2.5 billion on Tuesday by selling its forecourts to rival MFG, which is owned by the same US private equity firm that owns Morrisons.

The trail of pubs strikes fear

THIS month's train strikes costs bars and restaurants up to £350 million.

The disruptions are ongoing and Kate Nicholls, head of UKHospitality, warned: “January and February are already two of the quieter months, this will make it even more painful.”

Michael Kill of the Night Time Industries Association said: “Our industry is on the brink of collapse.”

Emma McClarkin, boss of the British Beer and Pub Association, called the strikes “a serious blow to pubs”.

The strikes will also hit retailers, with data from MRI Software showing that store footfall is already a fifth lower in January than in December, amid the post-Christmas slump.

But with Easter on the horizon, MRI director Jenni Matthews predicts a rebound for retail in the first quarter of 2024.

Smallpox has plagued humans for millennia, with even Egyptian mummies being found with signs of a smallpox rash.

But the world was declared free of smallpox in 1980 – so how was that milestone achieved, and who do we have to thank?

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Who discovered the smallpox vaccine?

Edward Jenner was the first to create and promote the smallpox vaccine, bringing together ideas from medicine and agricultural culture.

Doctors had known for some time that a little bit of smallpox made people less sick and fewer people died.

They scratched material from smallpox ulcers into the skin of uninfected people, or had them sniff it up their noses, using a technique called variolation.

Edward Jenner used the same idea, but with cowpox, which was not fatal to humans, instead of smallpox, in his vaccine, first used in 1796.

Cowpox made people feel a little unwell with a few spots or blisters on their hands – but smallpox killed three in ten people who contracted the disease, and left scars in those it didn't kill.

About four million Aztecs are believed to have died when Europeans carried smallpox to the Americas during their explorations in the early 16th century.

And smallpox killed more than three million people worldwide in the 20th century – even though a vaccine was available.

Jenner's cowpox variolation was successful and based on this work he developed the smallpox vaccine.

This was followed by a massive effort to vaccinate against smallpox, and in the 1950s and 1960s there were two intensive World Health Organization (WHO) programs to eradicate smallpox.

Rahima Banu, aged three, was the last to be infected with the naturally occurring, more deadly smallpox variant Virola Major in 1975, and she survived.

Ali Maow Maalin naturally acquired, and survived, Virola Minor in 1977.

And Janet Parker was the last person to die from smallpox, at the age of 40, after contracting the disease from a laboratory in 1978.

Who was Edward Jenner?

Edward Jenner was an English physician who was born in Gloucestershire in 1749 and lived to be 74 years old – an impressive age for his time – before dying in 1823.

Jenner had been vaccinated against smallpox using the variolation method, and he got the idea to use cowpox from farm workers.

Many farm workers believed that people, especially women, who contracted cowpox during milking did not contract smallpox.

Jenner made his first attempt in 1796 and it was successful.

After many more experiments, Jenner published his work in 1801.

He promoted his new method, but sometimes the cowpox samples he sent became contaminated with smallpox in hospitals, so some people did not trust his vaccine.

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Others were simply resistant to change, and some people considered it dangerous or irreligious for people to be 'infected' with material derived from cows.

A major step came when variolation was banned by parliament in 1840 and smallpox vaccination was made mandatory in 1853.

Jenner received numerous honorary awards and many monuments honoring his work on the vaccine.

And the cow is also celebrated for its role – because the word 'vaccine' comes from the Latin 'vaca', meaning cow.

Who was the first person to receive the smallpox vaccine?

James Phipps, the nine-year-old son of Edward Jenner's gardener, was the first person to receive the smallpox vaccine on May 14, 1796.

The cowpox rubbed into the scratches on James' arm came from an ulcer on the hand of Sarah Nelmes, who had contracted the disease from a cow named Blossom.

Jenner exposed James to smallpox several times a few months later, but it did not make James sick.

The Virola virus, which causes smallpox, still exists in two research centers: one in the US and the other in Russia.

Having smallpox was quite an unpleasant experience with headaches, vomiting and fever, followed by spots, blisters and sores, and then lots of pus and scabs.

If you were lucky enough to survive, you usually bore the scars.

MEET the experts…

We recently spoke to Dr Sophie Newton (GP, mother of three), Dr Amir Khan (NHS doctor from Yorkshire), Dr Jen Jardine (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) and

Dr. Farzana Hussain (East London GP), to answer all your questions about Covid-19 boosters.

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I'I have already had two vaccines. Why do I also need a booster?

Omicron, the latest variant of Covid-19, is highly contagious and spreads quickly. Boosters give you the best possible protection against the virus and significantly reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalization. It is therefore more important than ever that you get vaccinated.

The effectiveness of the vaccine decreases over time, but if you receive a booster injection your protection against symptomatic Covid-19 will again be over 88 percent.

“The latest data shows that the booster jab reduces your risk of infection with Covid-19, including the Omicron variant,” says GP Dr Sophie Newton. “It also provides much greater protection against Covid-19 than just two doses of the vaccine.”

I'm worried about the side effects. Is the booster shot actually safe?

Millions of people have had the vaccine and if they report side effects, they are generally very mild and do not last more than 24 hours. When you compare this to the possible consequences of contracting Covid-19, which could require you to take time off work to self-isolate and recover, it's an easy choice.

“The common side effects are a slightly sore arm, perhaps a bit of fever for which you can take paracetamol, and you may feel a bit achy and flu-like,” says GP Dr Farzana Hussain. “It may not bother you at all, but we expect these minor side effects with most vaccines.”

I just recently had my second vaccine. When am I eligible for one? third dose?

You can get a booster vaccine against Covid-19 three months after you get your second dose, and in certain circumstances – for example if you are immunosuppressed – you may be eligible for a booster shot even earlier.

If you were unable to get your booster dose because you had Covid-19, you should book your jab 28 days after you no longer have the virus.

I'I'm not fragile, so why bother with a booster?

Unvaccinated people are eight times more likely to be hospitalized than those who have had both the vaccine doses and a booster.

You may be healthy, but if you catch Covid-19 there's a chance you could develop Long Covid, which can have serious, lasting effects on your ability to exercise, work and enjoy relationships.

“Even healthy, fit people can suffer a range of short- and long-term effects if they become infected with Covid-19, and they can pass the virus on to people who are more vulnerable,” says Dr Sophie. “So it's definitely worth getting the booster.”

I'I've already had Covid. why should I get the booster shot?

As with vaccination, after you have the virus, your body's immunity wanes over time – and you can still carry it and pass it on to others who may be more vulnerable.

“It's a common myth: 'Oh, I've had Omicron, I don't need the booster,'” says Dr. Farzana. “So many of us have had Omicron, and it would be wrong to say it doesn't give you any immunity, but the booster will replenish it for you.”

I'am pregnant – Should I be concerned about the booster vaccine?

About one in five pregnant women hospitalized with the virus require a premature delivery to help them recover. That is why it is important to get a booster shot during pregnancy.

“We can be completely confident that vaccinations against Covid-19 provide the best protection for you and your unborn child,” said Dr Jen Jardine of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, who is seven months pregnant.

“I would urge any pregnant women who have not yet had the vaccine to speak to your GP or midwife. If you have any questions, book your shot immediately.”

Is the booster shot effective against Omicron?

Every adult in the country must receive a booster vaccine against Covid-19 as two doses do not provide sufficient protection against Omicron.

“The booster has been shown to be very effective against Omicron, while the first two shots alone do not work very well,” says Dr. Farzana. “People say Omicron is mild, but we have a high chance of getting infected, and some will get very sick. By taking it you protect others and yourself against infections and Long Covid.

“If you don't get the shot for yourself, get it for your family: your grandmother, your grandfather, your great aunt or uncle.”

How am I supposed to find the time to get the shot?

Thanks to the vaccine rollout and walk-in vaccination sites across the country, getting your booster is faster and easier than ever.

“People are juggling busy lives, which is why the NHS makes it as easy as possible for you to get your booster,” says GP Dr Amir Khan.

“New vaccination locations have been set up nationally and existing locations have extended their opening hours so that as many people as possible can receive the jab as quickly as possible.”

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Get a boost

For more information visit nhs.uk/covidvaccination

Scotland: nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine

Wales: gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination

Northern Ireland: covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated

OMICRON continues to spread across the country, but some people are still reluctant to get the Covid booster jab; others have yet to receive their first two doses.

Here, three people who were hesitant to get the vaccine share why they decided to roll up their sleeves and do their part.

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Kate Featherstone-Coombes, 29, from Winchester, was unsure about getting vaccinated while pregnant with her now six-month-old baby.

“In February 2021, I was pregnant and the vaccine rollout began. Even as a student midwife, I was worried about my first injection. I was really torn and it was scary.

“In the hospital we saw more and more poorly pregnant women coming in with Covid, and I didn't want that to be the case.

“My partner Joss, 31, was in favor of vaccination – no wonder when we had spent so long protecting him because he had Crohn's disease. But it was a volunteer at the vaccination center where I helped who waved it for me.

“She pointed out that people had the same concerns about the flu shot when it arrived. I get vaccinated against the flu every year, so why should this be any different?

“After twenty weeks I received my first dose of Pfizer. As more studies confirmed the vaccine was safe, there was no discussion about getting my second shot in May. I had to protect myself, the people around me and my baby.

“All the pregnant women I spoke to felt the same way. Pandora was born full-term and healthy in July, weighing just over 10 pounds – a sister to her brother Oswald, three.

“I am now on maternity leave and running Parent Kind, my parent coaching business.

“When a pregnant woman asks me if she wants to be vaccinated, I tell her: it is their choice, but they and their baby are much safer with the vaccine than without.”

'I was worried about my immune system'

The possible side effects of having a Covid-19 vaccine were nagging at the mind of Daniel Chowdhury, 38, a communications specialist in south-east London.

In a nasty accident during the first lockdown, in May 2020, Daniel fell off his bike.

Stuck indoors with a broken ankle, Daniel says: “I only really left my flat for medical appointments, so I'd gotten quite used to lockdown life.”

Then the Covid vaccines arrived. “The dilemma arose when I became eligible for my vaccine because I was going to get a steroid injection in my ankle. So I didn't want the shot because of possible side effects on my immune system.”

But as the weeks passed, he began to feel more comfortable getting the vaccination, as many of his friends and family members had received theirs with only mild side effects. He was a convert.

“Getting the booster jab increases antibody levels, giving you the best possible chance of successfully fighting the infection if you come into contact with the virus,” says Daniel.

“It is very important that we can all return to our daily way of life more quickly. Making sure you are fully vaccinated is as safe as it can be.”

'I thought it was only for older people'

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Callum Tokody, 18, is a student in West London. As far as he was concerned, younger people did not need the shot. Then he got sick.

With a hectic schedule of school, social life and extracurricular activities, Callum felt like he had more important things to do than get his Covid jab.

He says: “I didn't think I needed the vaccine because only a few of my friends had been vaccinated, and I initially thought the coronavirus only affected older people.”

He added: “I heard stories on social media of people reacting terribly to the vaccine, so at first I didn't want to get it.” That was until he caught Covid himself.

Then he started thinking about the shot again. After all, his mother had been vaccinated without any significant side effects. It was time to talk to herself.

Callum said: “When I became unwell it was a sign that I should get the vaccine. Once I recovered, it didn't take long to get an appointment and I felt great afterwards.

“I have had all my vaccinations since then. My friends have that too. People need to get a boost because it protects you and everyone else too.

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Go to nhs.uk/covid-vaccination to make an appointment or find a local walk-in vaccination center

Scotland nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine

Wales gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination

Northern Ireland covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated

By Brett Lackey for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 8:03 PM EST, January 23, 2024 | Updated: 9:39 PM EST, January 23, 2024

Based on the findings, the team initiated a human clinical trial of stapled lipopeptide – made by chemically stabilizing a key coronavirus peptide.

New York: Scientists have identified compounds that hinder the ‘landing gear’ of a range of harmful viruses and could successfully protect against infection by the virus that causes Covid-19. If the compound, called a stapled lipopeptide, proves effective as a nasal spray in the trial, it could be the basis for a new drug modality to prevent or treat Covid-19, said the team from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the US .

Based on the findings, the team initiated a human clinical trial of stapled lipopeptide – made by chemically stabilizing a key coronavirus peptide

Because such compounds thwart a mechanism that many viruses use to enter and infect cells, stapled lipopeptides could also be effective against dangerous and potentially fatal viruses such as RSV, Ebola and Nipah, the team wrote in the paper published in the journal Nature Communications.

“While vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and small molecule drugs have played a critical role in protecting people from life-threatening Covid-19 infections, a critical gap remains in the treatment arsenal,” said Loren Walensky, physician and principal investigator at Dana. -Farber/Boston Center for Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders.

“The continued evolution of the virus and the emergence of new variants have significantly reduced the effectiveness of immune-based approaches, requiring periodic reformulation of vaccines. What has been missing are fast-acting, easy-to-administer, and resistance-resistant drugs that can be used before or after exposure to the virus to prevent infection or immediately reduce symptoms. Our study is an encouraging indication that stapled lipopeptides offer that potential,” Walensky added.

Unlike mRNA vaccines, which are a form of immune-based therapy that provides delayed protection and also requires periodic administration due to viral mutation and/or waning immunity, the stapled lipopeptides developed by Walensky’s laboratory act directly on SARS-CoV -2, the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19, disrupting its ability to infect healthy cells.

Because this approach does not use the immune system as an intermediary, it is especially promising for people with weakened immune systems, either as a result of their disease or from treatment with immunosuppressants such as chemotherapy.

Walensky’s laboratory has been a pioneer in the development and application of stapled peptides for almost twenty years. These unique agents consist of natural peptides – a series of amino acids in a specific order – whose bioactive structure is chemically stabilized by an installed ‘stacking component’ and, in this case, further linked to a lipid, which is believed to help the concentrate staple fibers. peptide at the site of viral infection – the membrane surface of the otherwise healthy cell.

The new study shows that stapled lipopeptides are exceptionally stable and can withstand extreme temperatures and chemical conditions, an important characteristic for persistence both inside and outside the body.

The design strategy not only prevents the breakdown of peptides in the body after administration, but also addresses previous shipping and storage issues, such as the cold chain requirement for Covid-19 vaccines.

The number of Covid cases is rising rapidly in India with the new JN.1 variant. Given the increase in cases, do we need an additional vaccine dose for this? This is what Dr. NK Arora, Covid Panel Chief, has to say about it.

New Delhi: Covid19 is back with another variant, JN.1, and the cases of this sub-variant have been found in several states, especially in Kerala. People in India are keeping track of the symptoms and precautions they need to know to protect themselves from the virus and its new variant. An important question in people’s minds is whether the JN.1 Variant requires an additional vaccine dose or not. Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in India and the detection of a subvariant JN.1, the head of the India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), Dr NK Arora, said there are currently no additional dose of vaccine is needed against the subvariant.

No additional vaccine doses required: INSACOG chief

Speaking to ANI about the current situation in the country, Dr Arora said, “I would say prevention is necessary for anyone who is 60 years or above, who is likely to have co-morbidities and for those who are taking drugs that suppress our immunity. , such as cancer patients. If they have not taken precautions so far, they are advised to take precautions; otherwise, no additional doses are needed.” The head of INSACOG claimed that several sub-variants of Omicron have been reported, but none have increased its severity.

#WATCH | On the new Jn.1 variant of Covid-19, Dr NK Arora, Chairman, INSACOG said, “Within India…from October last week and then till now in the last 8 weeks we have seen 22 cases…there is no evidence that it spreads. very fast…Jn.1 is less than 1% of all isolates to date.… pic.twitter.com/fPyLgoPJrQ

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2023

“Every week you hear something new emerging in different places, and then it spreads all over India. We have identified a large number of subvariants, over 400 subvariants or mutations of this virus, and fortunately none of these Omicron variants have really been associated with more severe illness or hospitalization,” he said. He explained the main symptoms of JN.1 and emphasized that they are similar to those of other subvariants.

AIIMS is advising people after the emergence of Covid cases

Following a surge in cases of the new COVID subvariant JN.1, doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have advised people not to panic but remain alert and vigilant. “People are getting infected with the new sub-variant of COVID-JN.1 in many states of the country. The patients’ symptoms are mild. Therefore, there is no need to panic, but remain alert,” said doctor Neeraj Nischal. India witnessed a multi-fold increase in the number of new COVID cases in the last 24 hours, with Kerala accounting for the majority of it. The total number of active cases of Covid-19 in the country was recorded at 3,420.

JN.1 Covid variant symptoms

According to Dr. Ujjwal Prakash, Senior Consultant in Chest Medicine, Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, JN.1 Subvariant is a mild variant and causes upper respiratory tract symptoms. Reported symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, fever, sore throat, headache and sometimes gastrointestinal complaints. These symptoms are said to improve within four to five days. Dr. Prakash further said, “The first way forward is to test this new variant of COVID, if possible, and then we have to see if they have COVID or any other viral infection. Symptoms are almost very common with other viral infections. They can be slightly more serious. Some patients may have some symptoms more severe than others, but the infection is more or less the same as any other viral infection.”

(Input from ANI)

A new vaccine may help lower LDL levels, according to a recent study. Read on to learn more about the study’s findings.

Researchers have developed a new vaccine that could be a gamechanger as it offers a cheap method of lowering ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol, which causes dangerous plaques that can block blood vessels. High cholesterol contributes to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 18 million lives worldwide every year.

The new vaccines, described in an article published in the journal npj Vaccines, lowered LDL cholesterol almost as effectively as an expensive class of drugs known as PCSK9 inhibitors.

“We’re interested in developing a different approach that would be less expensive and more broadly applicable, not just in the US, but also in places that don’t have the resources to afford these very, very expensive therapies,” said Bryce Chackerian . , Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico (UNM).

The monoclonal PCSK9 shot targets the PCSK9 protein. In short, the more PCSK9 the body produces, the higher the LDL cholesterol will be.

Cardiologist Abinash Achrekar, vice chairman and professor in UNM’s Department of Internal Medicine, said the bimonthly injections to block that protein lower his bad cholesterol by about 60 percent, but they are expensive and require prior approval from a primary care physician or cardiologist require. .

To make it more affordable, the team created a new vaccine that specifically targets PCSK9.

“The vaccine is based on a non-infectious virus particle,” Chackerian explains. “It’s just the shell of a virus, and it turns out we can use that shell of a virus to develop vaccines against all kinds of different things.”

In this case, Chackerian said he stuck small pieces of the PCSK9 protein onto the surface of these virus particles.

“So your immune system makes a very strong antibody response against this protein that is involved in controlling cholesterol levels,” he said.

“In the animals we have vaccinated, we see a sharp drop in cholesterol levels – up to 30 percent – ​​and that will be correlated with a reduced risk of heart disease.”

Over the past ten years, the vaccine has been tested on mice and monkeys with promising results. Chackerian said the next step is finding funding for vaccine production and human clinical trials. That process may take years and several million dollars, but it is worth it to develop a vaccine that is pure, safe and affordable.

He estimates that his vaccine could be cheaper than $100 per dose because it is made with a simple and relatively cheap bacteria.

“We are thinking tens of dollars per dose,” he said, and each dose would remain effective for almost a year.

“We hope to have a vaccine in humans within the next 10 years,” he said.