Monthly Archives: March 2020

The North Carolina General Assembly isnt scheduled to go back to work until late April. Many legislators want to start up sooner than that, but there are logistical challenges. (Port City Daily photo/Courtesy NCGA)

RALEIGH The North Carolina General Assembly has a lot of work to do, including dispersing and supplementing the federal aid package and addressing the states limited unemployment benefits. There are two problems though the assembly isnt due to convene for another month and legislators still arent sure how to convene with tight restrictions on public gatherings in place.

With the passage of over $2 trillion in recovery and stimulus funding at the federal level, state representatives will need to map out how to disperse that money; in some cases, that will also involve matching state-level money with federal funds.

Theres also the issue of North Carolina unemployment system which, in short, is designed as a stopgap between jobs, not a support system for hundreds of thousands of workers who lost their jobs as a direct result of Governor Roy Coopers executive orders aimed at halting the spread of Covid-19. While Cooper included measures to relax some of the restrictions on the system, the Governors office cant increase the weekly maximums or the length of time over which benefits are paid.

State legislators can do that but they arent set to return to the General Assemblys short session until late April, a month after Cooper put the entire state on lockdown and a month and a half after his orders shuttered many restaurants and bars.

According to State Senator Harper Peterson and Representative Deb Butler, the assembly will need to meet sooner than that but so far, its not clear when. Or how.

Theres a lot of priorities for front-line healthcare workers we need testing, thats crucial, and we need equipment, PPEs and other resources. We also need small business relief. And of course we have to tackle enhancements for unemployment. In terms of the [federal] relief package, we need to get that money into local hands. Its all important, nobody gets put in the back seat but we cant wait, I cant imagine we wait until the end of April, Peterson said.

Butler also noted the importance of addressing the states disgraceful benefits level, among the lowest in the nation. Still, Butler noted its going to be some time yet before the General Assembly gets to work on the problem.

The main issue: by law, legislators are required to vote in person. Does this present a Catch-22, where legislators would need to vote to change the laws on how the vote, but would be unable to do so because they cant currently convene a sufficient number of representatives to vote on anything?

Peterson said he wasnt sure, but that its a daily conversation. He noted that on Wednesday, the House held its first-ever online committee meeting.

According to Business Insiders Colin Campbell, the Houses coronavirus committee meeting began with the squelch of microphone feedback and was occasionally interrupted by bad connections the run-of-the-mill issues that almost everyone shifting to a remote-working routine is dealing with right now.

While getting the hang of online committee work is a good start, theres still the issue of voting. House Speaker Tim Moore suggested earlier this week that votes could be held open for a longer period of time; Butler also said that votes taken in a staggered fashion was a good possibility.

Send comments and tips to Benjamin Schachtman at ben@localvoicemedia.com, @pcdben on Twitter, and (910) 538-2001

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Legislating in the age of Covid-19: Progress, slowly, in Raleigh [Free read] - Port City Daily

The social and developmental changes that have occurred over the past 70 years are nothing less than remarkable. Almost every metric of human development from the percentage of people living in abject poverty and life expectancy, to the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and infant mortality rates has seen a significant improvement during this period even as the global population surged. A major factor in realising these developmental gains should undeniably be attributed to international development cooperation, ranging from scientific exchange to creating better conditions for foreign investment.

Bearing in mind the complex politics surrounding development, the power and wealth differential that often exists between providers (donors) and partners (recipients), and the various interests behind development cooperation, the fact that governments, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), private donors, and development agencies can come together to enact meaningful change should rightly be considered a feat of human ingenuity and collaboration. Added to this is the fact that international development is such a relatively new endeavour. While the act of helping the poor is hardly a modern concept, doing so in such a systematic way civilly (if not contentiously) while involving so many actors and impacting so many peoples across the globe stands as a testament to the power and vibrancy of international development cooperation.

Upon a closer, more critical inspection of how international development cooperation has changed over time, it is necessary to separate the overall gains and achievements such cooperation has produced from how it manifests within development agencies and among delegates in conference rooms. Conducting an independent examination of process (i.e., international development cooperation) and outcomes (e.g., poverty alleviation, disease control, etc.) yields conflicting results, even as international development cooperation has arguably advanced significantly since its inception in the late 1940s and 1950s. The very paradigm(s) behind international development cooperation have also been refined in the ensuing decades, often in a way that is more equitable and inclusive towards partner countries. International development cooperation no longer adheres to the simplistic divides of North-South cooperation, especially when considering the growth of South-South cooperation partnerships, triangular cooperation schemes, and public-private partnerships that leverage globalised economic frameworks and internationally respected norms, rules, laws, and regulations.

As the 2002 Monterrey Consensus and the Four High Level Forums on Aid Effectiveness demonstrate, it is clear that partner countries are increasingly taking a more proactive and self-empowered approach to how they engage in international development cooperation. Furthermore, the 2015 Paris Climate Accords as well as the formulation and adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the subsequent Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underscore just how much international development cooperation has advanced, particularly by becoming more multi-stakeholder as well as juggling myriad interests and ultimately creating a framework that almost every institution is willing to support either in practice or lip service.

Without such advancement, landmark achievements such as but certainly not limited to banning fluorocarbons to protect the ozone layer, halting acid rain, eradicating smallpox, drastically reducing violent interstate conflict, protecting the Arctic and Antarctic, enacting controls on nuclear weapons testing and proliferation, and developing rules and norms that govern cross-border and international activities ranging from air travel to the use of space would simply not have been possible. In this sense, it seems evident that international development cooperation as a process is advancing in a gradual but constructive and inclusive way.

What I am not convinced of, however, is the sustainability and holistic nature the efforts and outcomes of international development cooperation produce in the long-term. For a key example, look no further than the insidious spectre of climate change. The 2015 Paris Agreement was a landmark outcome for international development cooperation, one that elevated climate change back to the top of the global political agenda. Yet, when examining the outcomes, the Paris Agreement is nowhere near as effective as it needs to be, and current climate pledges will not be enough to stop severe warming particularly when most governments refuse to meaningfully curb fossil fuel production.

Even though reaching net-zero emissions by mid-century is technically possible and some countries are meeting their targets, the world as a whole is not on track to meet the goals set out as emissions continue to rise. Moreover, extreme weather patterns, which climate change is intensifying, are raising the risk of a global food crisis where multiple breadbaskets could fail at the same time. Added to this is the likelihood that climate change will drive one of the largest refugee crisis in history a phenomenon whose effects are already being felt across communities in Oceania, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and South Asia, which will, according to Brookings, test the limits of national and global governance as well as international cooperation.

Thus, while it is encouraging to see that global development mechanisms and processes seem to be evolving to meet ever growing needs and competing interests, the outcomes produced and the pace of change are simply not enough. Climate change, as a global and interconnected existential risk, is one of the most daunting challenges in particular, one that developed economies (mainly in the Global North) have and continue to exacerbate more than developing ones particularly in places with the highest development levels and per-capita income, such as Scandinavia.

Not only has the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, warned that climate change threatens the future of human rights, and risks undoing the last 50 years of progress in development, global health, and poverty reduction, but it is entirely possible that the gains we have made as a species no doubt due to international development cooperation may only be relevant and beneficial to one, two, or potentially three generations. This goes well beyond hypothetical forecasting; the efforts to alleviate global poverty provide a case study in why the lack of sustainable outcomes is so problematic for international development cooperation and the very notion of positive social progress itself.

Ending poverty around the world underpinned the genesis of international development cooperation in the post-World War II era. Today, many of the major international development aid agencies such as the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) uphold the endeavour to eradicate poverty as a central pillar of their respective missions. Poverty is a relative term that manifests differently from country-to-country and from context-to-context, such as between urban and rural areas or between genders. What is also apparent is that even after more than 70 years of international development cooperation, and billions spent on eradicating poverty, major inequalities persist or continue to worsen especially as it relates to hunger, one of the most poignant indicators of poverty. For example, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), More than 820 million people did not have enough to eat in 2018. Almost all those hungry people live in developing regions. Hunger has [also] been increasing in many countries, in particular in middle-income countries, where economic growth is lagging. For decades, the number of hungry people was in decline, but this is no longer the case.

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'The Experiment of Development': the source of our progress has become the source of our downfall - Open Democracy

R&D revenue came in at nearly $1.7 million, a 29% increase year-over-year from $1.3 million in 2018

()reported its 2019 full-year results after the bell Monday, revealing that the company saw a jump in research and development revenue and doubled its cash on hand.

R&D revenue came in at nearly $1.7 million, a 29% increase year-over-year from $1.3 million in 2018. Cash on hand, meanwhile, doubled to $4.8 million from $2.4 million, and the carrying value of itsinvestment-grade securities, including interest, dipped to $31.2 million from $39.1 million.

The company's net loss incresased 45% to $8.3 million, $0.31 per share, from $5.7 million, $0.21 per share, a year earlier. The dip was due in large partto increases in its general and administrative expenses by $1 million and R&D expenses by$600,000, in addition to an income tax benefit of $1 million last year.

"I am pleased to report that 2019 was another successful year for Dyadic as we achieved several important scientific and business milestones and expanded our global presence, CEO Mark Emalfarb said in a statement. While still early in 2020, we are seeing continued momentum.

On the scientific front, Dyadic entered into six new proof of concept research collaborations in 2019, utilizing its proprietary C1 gene expression platform to express different types of biologic vaccines and drugs for human and animal health, the company said, in addition to two new research licenses.

The companys collaborators include the Serum Institute of India, two leading animal health companies, and three top tier human health companies, as well as an expanded collaboration with the Eu-sponsored initiative, ZAPI.

In addition, the company extended its research and development contract through June 2022 with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. The data gathered through this collaboration exceeded initial expectations and produced record levels of productivity for several different types of proteins, the company said.

"Supporting our growth strategy is our robust scientific data, solid financial position with approximately $36 million in cash and investment-grade securities and ongoing R&D collaborations funded by our partners, Emalfarb said. Our visibility in the investment community has significantly increased as well. In 2019, our shares were up-listed to the Nasdaq, and we joined the Russell Microcap Index further reinforcing the continued growth of our company.

That growth has continued in 2020, Emalfarb said.

Dyadic's pipeline of opportunities is getting larger and more diverse, Emalfarb said. Last week, we entered into a nonexclusive research license with WuXi Biologics, a leading global Contract Development Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and another fully funded feasibility study with a leading animal health company. We are now working with three of the top four animal health companies."

Now, the company has turned its C1 platform toward the coronavirus.

"To assist in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working with the Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ufovax, a spin-off vaccine company of Scripps Research, as well as a group of coronavirus experts from Erasmus Medical Center, Utrecht University, and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, along with a clinical contract research organization, CR20, Emalfarb said.We expect to use C1 to express a growing number of potential coronavirus vaccine and antibody candidates for a number of different parties.

"Our involvement in these COVID-19 initiatives further highlights the broad application potential of our C1 technology by helping to immediately address the coronavirus outbreak, be better prepared for future infectious diseases, pandemic and epidemic outbreaks, and advance biopharmaceutical manufacturing to help speed up development, lower the cost and improve the performance of biologic vaccines and drugs to make healthcare more accessible and affordable to patients globally."

Contact Andrew Kessel at [emailprotected]

Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel

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Dyadic shows off R&D revenue growth, scientific progress in 2019 full-year results - Proactive Investors USA & Canada

Dragon Fli Empire's new single "Overtime" is a smooth, boom-bap, drum-driven record that cements the duo's longstanding contributions to Canadian hip-hop. With 20 years worth of material behind them, the duo of emcee Teekay andDJ Cosmstill feel they have a lot to accomplish and definitely not trying to live off past glories.

Deeply entrenched in the essence of the vintage 90s sound, "Overtime" explores how they bridge the past with the present while looking towards the future. DJ Cosm cooks up a nice nostalgia-inducing beat rife with lush strings, head-nodding drums and ethereal horns reminiscent of Pete Rock while Teekay takes the listener down memory lane and back with his laid back flow and witty lyrics. He sums the tandem affair with his producer with lines like, "...Same chemistry, DJ to Emcee / Another level, Johnny Mnemonic type telepathy..." which helps frame the duo's stance in the mind of the listener. The title does have a couple of meanings with the obvious one showcasing their workhorse nature as they push beyond overtime. The other deals with self-awareness in the duo's mindset as they embrace being classified as old school, but to them, that boom-bap sound is timeless. "Overtime" is the lead track taken from Dragon Fli Empire's comeback project since its first album since 2013.

Connect withDragon Fli Empire:Soundcloud|Facebook|Twitter|Website|Instagram

Connect withIll Adrenaline Records:Soundcloud|Facebook|Twitter|Instagram

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Dragon Fli Empire look beyond their continued progress of existence on the reflective "Overtime" - EARMILK

The Social Butterfly is not sheepish about feeding little lambs from Dinwiddie County during their stay at Maymont

NOTE: All of The Progress-Indexs coverage of coronavirus is being provided for free to our readers. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to The Progress-Index at progress-index.com/subscribe now.

Amidst all this crazy, earth-shattering uncertainty, we must continue to discover special silver linings of life.

When all hell breaks loose, each of us handles it differently. Some rise to the occasion and become leaders while others wither, worry and wonder as to how the story will end.

Then, you have those in the middle. Yes, Id say...I fall somewhere in the middle.

I always say, "You want me on your Survivor team." Common sense is necessary to excel, but one must be a chameleon to weather challenges as they present themselves.

An obstacle I am faced with is...the Social Butterfly must be anti-social to an extent. I as well as the nation need to proceed with extreme caution to help slow down the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus, if there is any hope to return to normalcy.

At the time Im writing this, at least in Virginia, the public has been encouraged to enjoy a walk, bike ride, or take part in some other activity where one can safely maintain a 6-foot splash zone.

Lucky for me, I discovered an event which allowed me to get some much-needed exercise, take in Gods beautiful spring artwork, cuddle a lamb for the first time, and meet Matthew McConaughey.

On Sunday, March 15, I had an experience I just know "ewe" will love! I visited Maymont Farm where I bottle-fed a baby Gulf Coast sheep a critically endangered breed developed in the Southeastern United States.

I had a delightful encounter with four-week-old twin lambkins that were born in Dinwiddie County.

"Were excited that people from our community are going to be able to visit Maymont and enjoy animals from our county," stated Mardelian Farm owner Cindy Hall. "Their mom who resides at Pamplin Historical Park was not able to nurse them due to her advanced age. Im happy to report she has improved and is doing well.

"Weve switched off chickens in the past, but this is the first animal loan with Maymont. And, we hope to do more with them in the future," added Hall. "I didnt even know they were still open with all this going on."

According to Hall, the lambs should return to their farm in July or so and will be joining their herd of sheep or will be adopted out to another farm; Hall sells skincare products made using sheep, cow and goat milk.

While interviewing senior manager of zoology Joseph "Joe" Neel of Chesterfield County, the adorable twins continuously bleated.

"Im responsible for all living things except for plants and humans," Neel stated. "The Gulf Coast sheep population is not stable, yet, however, farmers located in the Southeastern United States continue efforts to maintain the breed.

"Its an amazing breed, and we appreciate the Hall family sharing them with us," shared Neel. "Our goal and function here is to bring people and animals together because were right smack dab in a very urban setting."

Neel explained to me that farmers really want animals that will produce what it is theyre selling, and Gulf Coast sheep are the least productive out of the breed which lends partly as to why they are endangered now.

"The story of these guys is, their mom is 11 years old which is kind of up there in age for sheep," Neel stated. "She was really struggling nursing both of them, and thats why we need to bottle-feed them.

"Its a rare opportunity that we are able to bring lamb encounters to Maymont Farm," added Neel. "Typically, if we were to bring in babies, they would come in with their moms."

"Being from the South, we thought wed give them southern boy names." lead animal keeper Lauren Revercomb of Richmond commented. "We went with Jasper and Bo since theyll be southern gentlemen in Dinwiddie County."

How do they distinguish between Bo and Jasper?

According to Revercomb, Bo has a black nose and white lips and is usually the more shy and snugglier one of the two, and Jasper has a white nose and black lips as well as a black spot on his abdomen.

"Out of the siblings, Jasper is more outgoing, bold, and usually tries to eat first," stated Revercomb.

"I know whoever tries to get on my lap when I go in there...its Jasper," shared Neel with a smile.

This is one interview I will not soon forget!

The Maymont Farm team was busily returning animals to the barn while I interviewed Neel.

A variety of animals passed by us continuously; some stopped by to say hello to their buddy Joe. It was quite delightful and funtastic!

I noticed a goat wearing attire.

"Stellas getting up there in age," explained Neel. "Just like us, when we get older, we have joints that just cant handle the cold as well, so when we noticed Stella shivering, we put a jacket on her.

"We go above and beyond for our animals," boasted Neel. "The stalls are equipped with fans for hot days and heaters for cold.

"We have farm animals...yes," explained Neel. "While they are farm animals, we are not a farm; so we have different standards that we abide by for animal husbandry.

"Non-hobby farms grow their animals to a certain age, and if its for meat or milk, theyre not overly concerned about taking care of them for the rest of their lives," added Neel. "Here...were not a farm, were a family. And, basically we go by USDA standards and as a zoological facility, we follow industry standards set by the AZA [Association of Zoos & Aquariums]."

The big moment arrived!

"We started off feeding Bo and Jasper four bottles a day, but right now because of their age, theyve been cut down to three a day," explained Neel. "When they start taking on hay a little more, were going to take it down to two feedings per day."

I was offered to feed both of them at once or just one; I opted for the latter since it was my first time.

Simple rules were provided: do not let the legs hang down and hold the bottle up.

"A natural position for these guys would be looking up at their mom," explained Neel. "They position themselves almost entirely upside down...so we want their heads up looking at the bottle."

Neel invited me to take a seat on the bale of hay. Then, he carefully placed Bo on my lap. It was beyond e-x-c-i-t-i-n-g!

If you dont have access to watch the video of me bottle feeding Bo, the following is my giddy reaction laced with giggles from beginning to end.

"Aw...so sweet...aw," I said while the lamb rambunctiously drank his meal. "Hes getting very excited!

Bo continued to gulp down his meal like it was his last!

"Aw...this is fun," exclaimed my inner child. "Aw...this is sweet...I feel like kissing it!"

Bo felt like the super-soft, cozy fleece blankets you open at Christmas time.

At first, I thought feeding one was probably the best idea since it was my first time, but once I realized how fun and simple it was... I thought...why not...I could double the thrill. So, I offered to double up. However, Jasper was going at it very strongly while Joe was feeding him so he opted not to interrupt his rigorous excitement.

Before my lamb encounters of the first kind, I strolled through the park interviewing peeps along the way at a six-foot distance.

My first stop was to the farm where I met animal keeper Amanda Bristow of Henrico. She informed me that they named their hens and ducks after Downton Abbey characters.

Augustus "Gus" the KuneKune pig was quite dashing, and according to Revercomb, he loves belly rubs.

In Maymont Parks Japanese Garden, I met Monica Weeks and her daughter Megan.

"Upon the college administrations recommendation, I opted to return home and take online classes for the next three weeks," stated University of Mary Washington student Megan. "Its going pretty well.

"I think it was the right thing to do," said Megan. "It will be a tough transition conducting classes online when youre used to meeting in class."

"From a parents perspective, its a necessary thing to do for all," stated Monica. "But, were paying for an apartment and food which is not happening.

"Its also disappointing because the college experience is different from what one would expect," added Monica. "Its changing during this unfortunate time."

In the Japanese Garden, I overheard a little boy exclaim pescado while standing on a footbridge overlooking the pond.

I introduced myself to the Heflin family who were also actively seeking out koi.

"If Im at home, I dont get paid," stated Anthony Burns Elementary School substitute teacher Kat Heflin of Stafford County. "I think it will be kind of difficult for some families, and it will be kind of hard for some kids to do their work at home."

"Our oldest Kendal has assigned homework," shared Kats husband Jay. "And, elementary school students will be reading books."

While in the cool, shaded and intimate Japanese Garden, I met Matthew McConaughey! He was handsome, muscular, outgoing, extremely friendly and furry!

"He needed a proper name since he has such a great personality," stated Kambria Lannetti who introduced me to her Olde English Bulldogge.

I mentioned to Lannetti that Ive read over the years that McConaughey doesnt wear deodorant.

"Well, he doesnt either," Lannetti wittingly stated.

As I was leaving the garden, I met VCU students senior Tara Spitzer and junior Catherine Frost who were making the best of their unexpected extended spring break due to COVID-19.

"Im so sad about it," shared Spitzer. "We dont get to go back to our classes, teachers, and friends.

"Having an extra long break is fine, if you have something to do," added Spitzer. "I was planning on going to the Smithsonian, but its closed."

"Im not looking forward to taking courses online," stated Frost. "Its very isolated.

Frost explained how students who are graduating are disappointed the ceremony has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The hill leading up to the Dooley Mansion was a doozy, and goose poo landmines were everywhere!

While recovering from the climb and short of breath, I met the Nagle family.

"Im happy to spend time with my children," stated Dinwiddie Elementary School teacher Maria Nagle. "But, Im concerned about my students and whether they have what they need for two weeks."

In Maymonts Italian Garden, I met the Sims family who were hiking with walking sticks.

How did the siblings mom Laine Sims of Richmond feel about schools being cancelled due to COVID-19?

"It sounds like the wise thing to do," stated Sims.

"Were having virtual school using Zoom and Google Classroom," shared Ellie [13]. "We were sent home with assignments."

"Its cool we get to stay home with our family," shared Mary [10]. "But, the sad part is Ill miss my friends, and I wish it wasnt because of COVID-19."

With a positive attitude, Ellie stated, "I will get a lot of time to work on my art projects."

During the unprecedented virus crisis, Asher Thorton and Mac Ward played frisbee.

"Im student teaching at the Title 1 school Miles Jones Elementary," stated Thorton who is a VCU graduate student in the Master of Teaching program, "They cancelled schools due to the virus.

"We sent home homework packets," added Thorton. "And, students are still being fed through food programs."

"Its scary," stated mural artist Ward who graduated from VCU. "Were not going to be bar-hopping...thats for sure!"

While waiting for my lamb encounter, I chatted with Maria Winkler who is a Post Baccalaureate Research Assistant in the Biology Department. Winkler understood classes being cancelled, but expressed concern that the university remained open.

"This is a problem because many of the hourly workers dont get sick leave," explained Winkler. "Some employees take the bus to work which is a huge contamination risk.

"The number of confirmed cases has more than quadrupled since Wednesday," added Winkler. "Its a safety risk, and I dont think its worth it to wait until theres a case in Richmond."

If youre feeling cooped up and need to stretch your legs, Maymont Park located at 1000 Westover Road in Richmond is a beautiful destination to do so.

Maymonts 100 acres of parkland are open as an oasis for relaxation, fresh air, open spaces and natural beauty. However, the Maymont Mansion is not open to the public at this time.

There is plenty of room to find a peaceful spot for solitude and reflection, but please check their website at maymont.org regularly for the most current information.

According to Neel, lambs are always hungry, so grab a bottle and help support Maymont Farm by feeding Bo and Jasper.

Lamb Encounters are first-come, first-served and are offered daily from 11-11:30 a.m. and Monday-Friday from 3:30-4 p.m. through April 30.

Kristi K. Higgins, aka The Social Butterfly, can be reached at khiggins@progress-index.com or @KristiHigginsPI.

Four-week-old Gulf Coast sheep Jasper being bottle-fed by senior manager of zoology Joseph "Joe" Neel at Maymont Farm in Richmond on March 15. [Contributed Photo]

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At the baa-baa shop - Progress Index

In a recent turn of events, twocoronavirus (COVID-19)patients located inNew York Cityhave just been treated with a new drug that was 'fast-tracked' for HIV as well as breast cancer.

(Photo : REUTERS/Stephane Mahe)A nasal ventilator is pictured as a patient suffering from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is treated in a pulmonology unit at the hospital in Vannes, France, March 20, 2020.

The results have been based on a small initial trial, but a biotech firm called CytoDyn strongly believes in the potential of their drug calledleronlimabto be used in potential treatment.

Due to the recent results, biotech firm CytoDyn believed that its drugleronlimabhas an ability to cure patients with coronavirus. The said drug has been tested to only seven critically patients. Fortunately, and two of them are now ventilator-free while two others are showing progress from the inflammation sending their lungs into potential organ failure. With that, the biotech firm is optimistic about the ability of its drug that it can defeat the 'cytokine storm,' a deluge of immune cells that can even be as harmful as the infection itself

Currently, there are no approved treatments for the pandemic, but CytoDyn's very own drug has been considered one of the latest potential solutions. The growing number of infected in America has reached the six-digit mark with 100,000 victims, and if the drug is able to show data successfully, an FDA approval could be on its way in only a matter of at least six weeks.

Read Also:COVID-19 Victims Could Be Positive Even Without Experiencing Fever-Study

Being able to develop a drug that specifically targets the coronavirus itself involves time and money, which are both on the short end of the supply when it comes to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Scientists among universities, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), are all racing towards testing existing drugs as well as developing new drugs that could successfully counter the coronavirus, which has already killed even more than 1,500 Americans.

Recent trials have shownleronlimab's success in treating HIV, but scientists from CytoDyn believe that the drug could be beneficial for coronavirus patients aside from an antiviral one.

In anarticle by Dailymail,it was stated that "What's killing coronavirus patients is a complication of the virus: pneumonia." It only shows a deeper look into the cause of death instead of just the virus as a whole.

Scientists have narrowed down that the virus finds its way to lung cells resulting in the immune system putting up a fight even though the necessary antibodies specific for this coronavirus have not yet been ready.

Read Also:Coronavirus Cure Update: 4,000 Health Care Workers Volunteers to Receive Tuberculosis Vaccine Shots to See Its Effects

The effects of the Cytokines are to tell the body's immune system to send a swarm of chemicals from the white blood cells to fight the infection, which causes inflammation.

Once the inflammation starts to get out of control, and the body fluids start to fill the alveoli inside the lungs, the patient then starts to develop pneumonia.

When inflammation gets out of control, and fluid starts to fill the alveoli in the lungs, a patient develops pneumonia.

2018 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

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COVID-19 Patients Show Sign of Progress After Taking In Development HIV and Breast Cancer Drug, Now Free From - Tech Times

The market is eagerly waiting for a deal from Congress.

Topline: The stock market rallied on Tuesday morning, opening higher amid renewed optimism that Congress can finally reach an agreement on a $2 trillion fiscal stimulus bill to cushion the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

Key background: The market is having its worst month since 1931, falling up to 35% over the last four weeks. That decline, in such a short period of time, is the steepest drop since the Great Depression, according to Bespoke Investment Group. During trading on Monday, stocks slumped after Congress again failed to pass the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package. Both the Dow and S&P 500 hit their lowest levels since December 2016.

What to watch for: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday introduced a separate, $2.5 trillion economic response bill to deal with the coronavirussince the one currently being negotiated initially excluded Democrats. This version of the stimulus bill aims to send $1,500 to individual Americans and provides additional funds for measures like unemployment insurance. Pelosi said it takes responsibility for the health, wages and well-being of Americas workers.

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Stocks Rally 9% As Wall Street Hopes For Progress On Coronavirus Stimulus Bill - Forbes