The United Kingdom has downgraded its COVID-19 alert level from 4 to 3 as the NHS vaccination programme and social distancing measures take effect in bringing down transmission rates. The change in the level means the epidemic is in general circulation but transmission of the virus is no longer deemed to be high or rising exponentially. This decision was made by all four UK nations’ Chief Medical Officers, along with the NHS England Medical Director Stephen Powis. A statement from Chief Me...

BIVDA commentary on proposed validation of COVID Antigen tests for sale in the private sector7th May 2021 After careful consideration, BIVDA believes that setting up a separate validation process sets both an unwarranted precedent for the industry and undermines the regulatory system. Our position is that changes to the existing regulatory regime could achieve what the validation policy is trying to do, more effectively and without creating a two-layer system – a view in which we are ...

United States agrees to vaccine patent waiverThe United States has agreed to back a waiver by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on vaccine patents to boost supply as virus cases soar worldwide. The waiver was first proposed by India and South Africa, who were joined by over 60 countries in agreement. Over the last six months, this cohort of countries have been petitioning for the waiver to be accepted which would allow for greater supplies of vaccine stocks for nations struggling to cope with i...

Life sciences companies unlock £11 billion in corporate investment A new report regarding British life sciences corporate investment has found that companies were involved with £11 billion of corporate investment over the first quarter of 2021. The new figures reveal the UK was fourth highest globally with life science companies completing £20 billion of corporate investment.  The report is titled ‘Life Sciences Innovation: Building the Fourth Industrial Revolution&r...

Researchers in Switzerland have developed a COVID-19 antibody test that can analyse hundreds of samples at the same time, using minute quantities of reagents and single drops of blood. The platform, which can analyse up to 1024 samples at once, consists of a complex network of tiny tubes carved into a plastic chip that is about the size of a USB stick. Antibody tests are also a powerful tool to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in clinical trials, when scientists look at the rise in antibodies ...

Chief Executive of NHS England Sir Simon Stevens is to step down from his role in July, he has confirmed in a message to staff this afternoon. Sir Steven has held the important role for seven years, first starting on 1st April 2014, and has overseen the NHS’s management through various challenges. These included Government austerity measures which affected the service’s spending, and the current hurdles faced by COVID-19 and the treatment backlog. Key milestones in Sir Simon’s ...

Medical aid and equipment being sent to India from the United Kingdom has arrived today as the country struggles to cope with a huge second wave of COVID-19 infections and deaths. India recorded 320,000 new infections on Tuesday, and deaths are now close to 200,000 in total. Hospitals are being consistently overwhelmed and funeral pyres have been seen burning across Indian cities as the death toll mounts even further. Many deaths have not been reported according to experts, and one source told B...

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is making progress on trade links with both Australia and Indonesia. As the UK Government seeks to protect pre-Brexit trade links and build deeper connections with new markets through trade agreements, economic programmes and trade committees. Two new developments have been announced by DIT regarding Asian and Australian markets. Firstly, a new Joint Economic and Trade Committee has been announced between the United Kingdom and Indonesia. Indonesia is...

FluoretiQ Ltd. today announced the appointment of Mr Kasra Saeb-Parsy Consultant Urologist with Cambridge (UK) University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as their Chief Medical Officer. Mr. Saeb-Parsy will oversee and lead all clinical development, regulatory and medical affairs strategies and activities of the Company."I am delighted to welcome Kasra as our Chief Medical Officer at this key stage of our company growth as we approach clinical studies and regulatory approval in the UK and USA...

Six healthcare organisations have united to pen a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office regarding urgent investment to tackle the issue of chronic NHS understaffing. Among those involved are: the NHS Confederation, NHS Providers, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing, the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges, and Unison. They warn the Prime Minister in the letter of NHS staff leaving the system and issues resulting from difficulties from this as the NHS is st...