The Morning Dispatch: Much Ado About Monoclonal Antibodies

Plus: Unnerving developments in Yemen's civil war.

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Happy Wednesday! Some much-needed good news on this dreary winter day: MLB players and owners appear to be inching  closer to an agreement on a new labor agreement that would end the lockout.

If all goes well, pitchers and catchers could report to spring training in less than three weeks.

Quick Hits: Today’s Top Stories

  • One day after Defense Department officials said they had placed about 8,500 U.S. military personnel on “a heightened preparedness to deploy” to Eastern Europe, President Joe Biden told reporters there will not be “any American forces moving into Ukraine.” Biden added that the United States could personally sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin if he follows through with an invasion of Ukraine.

  • A senior Biden administration official—briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity yesterday—said the White House has been working with global oil and gas suppliers to boost production in case Russia decides to further limit, or halt, natural gas shipments to Europe over Ukraine tensions. “To ensure Europe is able to make it through the winter and spring, we expect to be prepared to ensure alternative supplies covering a significant majority of the potential shortfall,” the official said.

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  1. Kurt Von Fuchs

    WTF.... Not one mention not one that Ron DeSantis is a lying. Yes there is evidence that the drug does not work so again WTFWTFWtf

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  2. Richard Palzer

    Given that "both drugmakers publicly backed the FDA's decision...," the right call was made. The problem is messaging, the apparent lack of explanation about the drugs' ineffectiveness against the Omicron variant, which is responsible for "over 99 percent of COVID cases in the U.S." Include the statement from Regeneron's representative--that its drug isn't effective for this variant, supporting the appropriateness of FDA's decision--and the reason is not only clear but clearly substantiated. How and when this information was available and sufficiently promoted is the only concern of substance.
    I could see an issue if patients experienced complications after taking those drugs because of FDA approval. I don't know the liability, but I'd rather not run the risk of finding out.
    As for FLA Gov. DeSantis' criticism of the decision, including his continued promotion of the drug therapies in question, it's just political. Nothing new here.

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  3. Melanie G

    To answer the question about the monoclonal antibodies: I'm all for personal choice, but vote "NO" to using my tax dollars to provide a therapeutic PROVEN to be ineffective. You want to buy it with your own money, go for it. But do not expect me to endorse underwriting something that the manufacturers of which (despite motivation to sell more of this) strongly state does not work for its intended purposes. Spend government money to develop therapeutics that have a broader application? Yes, by all means. But can we quit the political posturing designed simply to get Gov. DeathSentence elected President? This Florida resident would like to know...:+)

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      SandyG

      Really well put!

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  4. Raincheck

    One of the signs of the times. It used to be that a politician with Presidential ambitions would out trying to demonstrate statesmanship. Now are they are out trying to demonstrate anger and craziness. DiSantis has chosen that route on clonal antibodies.

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      SandyG

      Hmmm, with which presidential candidates did that begin??

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  5. Mary Stine

    Ya'll have been drinkin' moonshine since the Buffalo Bills lost to the Magical Mr. Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs?? Because that would be the only reason I can think of for continuing to allow a medication on the market that is proven no longer effective for its stated purpose. No, don't give me that "off-label" BS. As a taxpayer, I don't want to foot bills for the lawsuits against the government or the drug companies, not to mention not wanting people to die because they kept trying something ineffective instead of using an effective medication.
    Also, why isn't TD covering the brave Irish fisherman defending the waters around Ireland against the Russian war games??

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  6. Jason Odegaard

    FDA made an appropriate decision.
    I'm glad there are still some effective treatment options.

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  7. Mike

    Thanks always enjoy dispatch reporting!

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    Ken Peabody

    If the treatments are ineffective, don't give them. Almost all the hospitalizations are unvaccinated. Why waste money giving them ineffective treatments when they have rejected effective preventative medications? Ron DeSantis can put his stupid complaints where his head is: up his a**hole.

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      SandyG

      No disagreement there!

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    Mike B

    Where I live Omicron has actually had a more drastic effect on day-to-day life from the disease itself than the previous waves. For instance, schools here shut down in the spring of 2020, but reopened in the fall and have stayed open ever since. But now they are shut, not as a precaution but because so many teachers and students are ill at the same time. At work in previous waves there were several cases but rarely more than one or two at a time; with Omicron we're scrambling to cover critical shifts with half a dozen out all at once.

    The good news is that it looks to be pretty short-lived, almost over in fact. Most of the people still out have recovered and anticipate returning to work in the next few days, and I believe the high school resumes classes this Monday.

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  10. Diane Hansen

    I think I am going to lump in with Bill Mahr and Bari Weiss....I am done with freaking out over this virus.....learn to live with it!!!!! It has become so politicized, is it a mystery why people are so distrustful? We still have teacher's unions and school boards....we taxpayers pay for.... milking this virus with rules on top of rules; meanwhile, our kids are falling farther and farther behind. My poor little grandchild is a first grader, he's never spent a day in school without a mask. He has no idea what his friends or teacher's look like, and my grandson has had Covid...it lasted 10 minutes. In Fauci's confused world, we would be saddled with a permanent mask for life, and the economy would still be shut down. I don't know if DeSantis is right or wrong.....the CDC hasn't been exactly honest, or accurate. What I do know is that the gov mandating a drug be injected into our bodies that some people are wary of....whether it's because of possible allergic reactions, or some other reason is a dangerous concept....that's seriously opening a door I don't think too many have really thought about. I am a proponent of the vaccine for myself....I have had all three shots, so I don't want comments that I am anti-vax. I just think this whole thing is way out of control and has put people in armed camps. It's time to knock it off and get back to normal....it's a virus not a political football....

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