Author: Brett Johnson

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced last week that its experimental two-antibody cocktail reduced viral levels and improved symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The treatment, REGN-COV2, is also being studied for use in hospitalized patients, and for prevention of infection in people who have been exposed to COVID-19.  The FDA can authorize emergency use of a drug before completing its review for a formal approval. Analysts believe that the Regeneron cocktail could work in a hospital setting where the patient is already severely ill and has a high viral load. Trial results for the first 275 patients showed the biggest effect in…

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FasterCures, a center of the Milken Institute, is currently tracking the development of treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 (coronavirus). This tracker contains an aggregation of publicly-available information from validated sources. According to Milken there are:  316 Treatments in 7 categories are being developed now.  212 Vaccines in development in 9 categories.  34 of which are now in testing.  The leading vaccine candidates as of mid September 2020 are listed here. 

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Global Overview of COVID-19 Testing. The Development of a Core Curriculum. The Virus Project commissioned a research report by BALSA a consulting enterprise operating from the Washington University in St. Louis. The report provides an overview of the scientific, regulatory and market issues for the COVID-19 testing in the United States. It is an exceptional resource for understanding the COVID testing marketplace. The report provides an over view of this new market that largely did not exist in January 2020 but could reach $20 billion in revenues in 2021. It would be the fastest market growth for a dead start…

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For its full members The Virus Project provides these two reports. A $750 Value. Foundational knowledge of COVID. US Report. Provides an overview of the scientific, regulatory and market issues for the COVID-19 testing market in the US and Europe. This market did not exist in January 2020 but could reach $20 billion in revenues in 2021. Growth Model on the potential size of the market and the various market segments.  It includes an analysis of the impact on public stocks by COVID-19 during spring of 2020. Summary of core testing technologies. Molecular (PCR) tests and Serology  IgM, IgA, IgG…

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If businesses are not open and kids not in school, we are losing the war against COVID. A war we could and should be winning.  Science and technology can defeat this invader that is destroying the global economy and taking and shattering millions of lives. But we need to unleash the power of innovation and information. Instead we are holding it back.  Winning is not complex and it is NOT just a vaccine.  To rely primarily on vaccines is simply foolish and could be a big mistake. Vaccines should be pursued full force, but there is no certainty any will be effective…

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DRAFT Addressing COVID-19 is the most significant work being done in the world today. Scientists and entrepreneurs are developing projects to help return the world to some level of normalcy. For impact investors this represents a terrific opportunity. The Virus Project is uniquely positioned to find and vet these opportunities. We have already made tremendous progress in the critical area of testing and strongly believe the development of a network of investors can begin to look at direct investments in bringing these critical technologies to the marketplace. The Altru Impact Investment Club  –  A group of accredited Investors who want to…

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Mesa Biotech designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes next-generation molecular diagnostic tests, bringing the superior diagnostic performance of nucleic acid PCR amplification to the point-of-care. Mesa’s proprietary OSCAR technology is key to the patented and patent-pending diagnostic solutions. The  technology offers the simplicity, convenience and procedural familiarity of traditional POC rapid immunoassays while providing the superior sensitivity and specificity of laboratory-based molecular testing. Mesa Biotech has developed a qualitative, visually read test utilizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.  Using throat and nasal swabs, results are available in 30 minutes, based on the principles…

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