Pharma hunts for a cure for long Covid

And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is rather modest. We plan to check in on the Pharmalot ancestors, catch up on our reading, and promenade with the official mascot. Remember, folks, a dog walk a day keeps the cardiologist away (no intense offended, as Archie Bunker liked to say, to you cardiologists out there). And what about you? Spring has sprung, so this is a time to enjoy the great outdoors or, if you are feeling ambitious, you could start tidying up around your castle. Maybe even prepare for a yard sale, if you have a yard. You could also stock up on sundry items before prices rise still further. Or simply plan the rest of your life. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …

After producing vaccines and treatments for acute Covid-19 in record time, researchers and drugmakers are turning to finding a cure for long Covid, a more elusive target marked by hundreds of different symptoms afflicting millions of people, Reuters explains. Long Covid, with some 200 reported afflictions that include fatigue, chest pain, and brain fog, is defined by symptoms that last longer than three months. It sidelines people who have had both mild and severe Covid-19, including children. In the United States, it is estimated to have affected one in seven working-age adults. There are fewer than 20 clinical trials underway testing drugs, a handful of which have moved beyond early stages.