STAT: Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine study paused due to unexplained illness in participant
“The study of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine has been paused due to an unexplained illness in a study participant. A document sent to outside researchers running the 60,000-patient clinical trial states that a ‘pausing rule’ has been met, that the online system used to enroll patients in the study has been closed, and that the data and safety monitoring board — an independent committee that watches over the safety of patients in the clinical trial — would be convened. The document was obtained by STAT. Contacted by STAT, J&J confirmed the study pause, saying it was due to ‘an unexplained illness in a study participant.’ The company declined to provide further details…” (Herper, 10/12).

Additional coverage of the study’s temporary pause is available from CNN, The Hill, and POLITICO.

Axios: Vaccine initiative now covers almost entire world, but not U.S. or Russia (Lawler, 10/12).

Becker’s Hospital Review: Operation Warp Speed czar: Vaccine approval likely to be sought around Thanksgiving (Adams, 10/23).

The Hill: Abbott gets emergency authorization for new COVID antibody test (Weixel, 10/12).

New York Times: The Race for a Super-Antibody Against the Coronavirus (Mandavilli, 10/12).

New York Times: First, a Vaccine Approval. Then ‘Chaos and Confusion’ (Zimmer, 10/12).

New York Times: Heidi Larson Knows How to Build Trust in Vaccines (Anderson, 10/13).

Reuters: WHO says 180-plus countries including China committed to vaccine effort (Miller, 10/12).