World / Science & Health Jul 26, 2021

How the delta variant upends assumptions about the coronavirus

The delta variant is the fastest, fittest and most formidable version of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 the world has encountered.

World / Science & Health | FOCUS Jul 21, 2021

Global quest underway to speed up COVID-19 vaccine trials

Researchers are trying to determine just what level of antibodies a vaccine must produce to provide protection against the illness.

World | ANALYSIS Jul 13, 2021

Pfizer bid for booster vaccines premature, experts say, with more data needed

The drugmaker's push for health regulators to authorize a third dose of its COVID-19 shot is not yet backed by evidence, despite the fast-spreading delta variant, vaccine experts said.

World / Science & Health | ANALYSIS Jun 11, 2021

U.S. FDA faces mounting criticism over Alzheimer's drug approval

The drug was authorized based on evidence that it can reduce brain plaques, a likely contributor to Alzheimer's, rather than proof that it slows progression of the disease.

World | ANALYSIS Apr 1, 2021

In mutant variants, has the coronavirus already revealed its hand?

Emergence of the same few mutations simultaneously in different parts of the world gives scientists cautious optimism that there may be limits on the pandemic's endurance.

World | FOCUS Mar 4, 2021

'When will it end?': How a changing virus is reshaping scientists’ views on COVID-19

Vaccine breakthroughs had initially sparked hope that the virus could be largely contained, but data on new variants has undercut that optimism.

World | FOCUS Jan 31, 2021

Pandemic spurs quest to enroll more Black Americans in vaccine trials

The efforts rely on grassroots partners such as churches and health centers, and aim to topple long-standing barriers that keep minorities from participating in trials.

World | FOCUS Jan 29, 2021

Racing the virus: Why tweaking vaccines to fight variants won't be simple

After developing and rolling out COVID-19 vaccines at record speed, drugmakers are already facing variants of the rapidly-evolving coronavirus that may render them ineffective.

World / Science & Health | FOCUS Nov 18, 2020

How Pfizer and BioNTech sprinted ahead in extraordinary race for a COVID-19 vaccine

Researchers were asked to tackle something that had never been done before: design a vaccine to stop a pandemic in its tracks in less than a year.

World / Science & Health | FOCUS Aug 31, 2020

Scientists see downsides to top COVID-19 vaccines from Russia and China

High-profile COVID-19 vaccines developed in Russia and China share a potential shortcoming: They are based on a common cold virus that many people have been exposed to, potentially limiting their effectiveness, some experts say. CanSino Biologics' vaccine, approved for military use in China, is a ...