Rolling updates on the latest developments and headlines from around the world on the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Gina Lee
(9:41 PM ET) Novavax starts clinical trial for novel COVID-19 vaccine
U.S. biotechnology company Novavax (NASDAQ:NVAX) started clinical trials for its novel COVID-19 vaccine, and targets preliminary results by July. Phase 2 of the trial, expected to take place in several countries including the U.S., will start once phase one is successfully completed.
“Administering our vaccine in the first participants of this clinical trial is a significant achievement, bringing us one step closer toward addressing the fundamental need for a vaccine in the fight against the global COVID‑19 pandemic. We look forward to sharing the clinical results in July and, if promising, quickly initiating the Phase 2 portion of the trial.” Novavax's CEO Stanely C. Erck said in a statement.
(9:39 PM ET) WHO official warns of possible “immediate second peak”
A World Health Organization official warned that countries with declining numbers of COVID-19 cases could still see an “immediate second peak”.
“When we speak about a second wave classically what we often mean is there will be a first wave of the disease by itself, and then it recurs months later. And that may be a reality for many countries in a number of months’ time,” WHO emergencies head Dr Mike Ryan said.
“But we need also to be cognizant of the fact that the disease can jump up at any time. We cannot make assumptions that just because the disease is on the way down now it is going to keep going down and we are get a number of months to get ready for a second wave. We may get a second peak in this wave.”
(9:34 PM ET) Trump no longer taking hydroxychloroquine
U.S. President Donald Trump said that he had discontinued taking anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine after he announced earlier in May that he was taking it as a preventative measure against COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said that it would temporarily halt its hydroxycholoroquine trial due to safety concerns.
There is no evidence that the drug is a proven treatment or deterrent for COVID-19.
(9:29 PM ET) Lufthansa announces $9.8 billion stabilization package
Lufthansa announced that it will receive a $9.8 billion “stabilization package” to tide the carrier through the economic impact of COVID-19.
The European Commission is yet to approve the package. But if approved, the package gives a 20% stake in Lufthansa, as well as two seats in the board of directors, to the government fund financing the package.
(9:26 PM ET) Brazil overtakes U.S. in COVID-19 death toll
Brazil’s Health Ministry announced that virus fatalities over the last 24 hours have surpassed those in the United States over the same time period.
807 deaths were registered in Brazil, compared to 620 in the United States.