A rheumatoid arthritis drug developed by Genentech proved to be effective in benefitting patients who have Covid-19-associated pneumonia, according to new late-stage clinical trial data.

Adult obesity is rising in the United States – with a greater impact on racial and ethnic minorities – a U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report showed, at a time when the health condition is seen causing heightened risk for severe Covid-19.

A roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for Covid-19, the illness caused by the virus.

Moderna

Moderna Inc. said an analysis of the early-stage data of the company’s experimental Covid-19 vaccine showed mRNA-1273 induced immune responses in older adults that were similar to younger participants.

Med Ad News spoke with James Talerico and Nadine Leonard, co-presidents of Heartbeat, and Michelle Edwards, the agency’s VP of human resources, about why the agency wrote its letter about improving diversity and inclusivity, where Heartbeat will be in the next few years in its D&I goals, and how Edwards has worked to make an already-welcoming workplace even better.

As the United States continues to grapple with race issues in the wake of the death of George Floyd, the leaders of Heartbeat issued their own call for more diversity and inclusion within the healthcare advertising industry, and within Heartbeat in particular.

A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that the racial and ethnic minority groups most negatively impacted by Covid-19 are also the least represented in these clinical studies to develop vaccines and therapeutics aimed at the disease.

Outcome Health and seven leading organizations in healthcare marketing, media, content creation and advocacy will #ShareTheScope in a one-day campaign on July 22 by turning over their social media channels to eight organizations and influencers focused on health issues and disparities facing the Black community.

Numerous studies have found that in the U.S., minorities such as African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans are often underrepresented in clinical trials. Regulatory agencies and various organizations are making an effort to address this issue.

Bay Area-based Genentech launched a new study assessing the company’s rheumatoid arthritis drug Actemra as a potential treatment for COVID-19 with an eye toward increasing diversity and inclusion among patients treated.