ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has slowed the growth of, the global economy, which has certain practical significance. Consequently, this study seeks to analyze the investment opportunities in the medical sector before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. In this study, the Markowitz mean–variance (MV) model, capital asset pricing model (CAPM), and correlation models are constructed based on the principle of Markowitz MV and correlation analysis. Simultaneously, statistical analysis is used to verify the analysis, and the MATLAB statistical tool is used to build the model. The results show that the actual expected yield of China's medical sector is significantly higher than that calculated by the CAPM before and after the pandemic, and that the investment value of the medical sector is undervalued by the market. From the perspective of risk, China's medical sector has a stable systemic risk premium. Based on the above analysis, when building investment portfolios in the post-pandemic era, investors should appropriately allocate stocks in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors to improve the portfolio income and diversify the investment risk. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
ABSTRACT
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still rampant all over the world, causing incalculable losses to the world. Major pharmaceutical organizations around the globe are focusing on vaccine research and drug development to prevent further damage caused by the pandemic. The messenger RNA (mRNA) technology has got ample of attention after the success of the two very effective mRNA vaccines during the recent pandemic of COVID-19. mRNA vaccine has been promoted to the core stage of pharmaceutical industry, and the rapid development of mRNA technology has exceeded expectations. Beyond COVID-19, the mRNA vaccine has been tested for various infectious diseases and undergoing clinical trials. Due to the ability of constant mutation, the viral infections demand abrupt responses and immediate production, and therefore mRNA-based technology offers best answers to sudden outbreaks. The need for mRNA-based vaccine became more obvious due to the recent emergence of new Omicron variant. In this review, we summarized the unique properties of mRNA-based vaccines for infectious diseases, delivery technologies, discussed current challenges, and highlighted the prospects of this promising technology in the future. We also discussed various clinical studies as well preclinical studies conducted on mRNA therapeutics for diverse infectious diseases. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2022, Tsinghua University Press.
ABSTRACT
The importance of studying civilization diseases manifests itself in the impact of changing lifestyles, on the number of deaths and causes of death. Technology transfer plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Through this, it is possible to transfer new treatments and diagnostics to clinics and hospitals more quickly and effectively, which leads to better healthcare for patients. Technology transfer can also aid in the development of new drugs and therapies that can be effective in the treatment of civilization diseases. The paper aims to evaluate the technology transfer process in the field of civilization diseases, using COVID-19 as an example of a pandemic that requires quick development and transfer of technology. To achieve the assumed goal, we propose a multivariate synthetic ratio in the field of civilization diseases (SMTT-Synthetic Measure of Technology Transfer) to analyze data from the Global Data database. We used sub-measures like SMTT_value (Synthetic Measure of Technology Transfer_value) and SMTT_quantity (Synthetic Measure of Technology Transfer_quantity) to measure technology transfer and put the data into a graph. Our analysis focuses on 14 diseases over a period of 10 years (2012-2021) and includes nine forms of technology transfer, allowing us to create a tool for analysing the process in multiple dimensions. Our results show that COVID-19 is similar in terms of technology transfer to diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and breast cancer, even though data for COVID-19 is available for only 2 years.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Technology Transfer , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , Causality , Life Style , CivilizationABSTRACT
El objetivo del estudio fue explorar los conocimientos y actitudes de los estudiantes de medicina españoles sobre las vacunas, sus fuentes de información, la formación recibida durante sus estudios y sus expectativas sobre futuras actividades formativas de postgrado. Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo transversal en tres universidades españolas entre el 1 febrero al 31 mayo de 2019, mediante una encuesta autoadministrada de 55 preguntas: cuestionario sociodemográfico basal, conocimientos sobre vacunación, vacunas necesarias en personal sanitario, fuentes de información y opinión sobre la docencia recibida en vacunología. La escala tuvo un nivel alfa de Cronbach de 0,767. Se obtuvo un 67,2% (1821/2709) de tasa de contacto, 52,2% (951/1821) de respuesta y una elegibilidad del 93,2% (887/951). La edad media fue de 21,7 ± 3,6 años, de ellos 67,9% (646/1821) mujeres. La puntuación media para el conocimiento fue 44,6 (DE 4,3), con buena proporción de respuestas correctas y con diferencias significativas entre estudiantes de primer y segundo ciclo, además de diferencias por género en dos afirmaciones: las vacunas son efectivas y la vacunación debe ser obligatoria para lograr una cobertura universal. Un 34.98% (332/949) no conocía el calendario vacunal. La puntuación media de actitudes fue 36,7 (DE 4,1). Las principales fuentes de información sobre vacunas provenían del entorno académico y la familia/Internet y 87,7% (828/951) declararon solo ≤3 cursos relacionados con la vacunación. El 80,1% (461/951) opinaba que los médicos debían ser los profesionales mejor formados en vacunación. Un 51,2% creía que las universidades deben ser la institución central para formar en vacunas durante el postgrado, frente a 25,2% colegios profesionales, 16,4% las sociedades científicas y sólo un 5,4% la industria farmacéutica. La deficitaria formación en vacunología de los estudiantes de medicina españoles debe mejorarse desde las instituciones académicas y los colegios profesionales, tanto en pregrado como en postgrado.Alternate : The objective of the study was to explore the knowledge and attitudes of Spanish medical students about vaccines, their sources of information, the training received during their studies and their future expectations about postgraduate training activities. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in three Spanish universities between February 1 and May 31, 2019, through a self-administered survey of 55 questions: baseline sociodemographic questionnaire, knowledge about vaccination, necessary vaccines in health personnel, sources of information and opinion on the teaching received in vaccinology. The scale had a Cronbach's alpha level of 0.767. There was a 67.2% (1821/2709) contact rate, a 52.2% (951/1821) response rate, and an eligibility of 93.2% (887/951). The mean age was 21.7 ± 3.6 years, of which 67.9% (646/1821) were women. The mean score for knowledge was 44.6 (SD 4.3), with a good proportion of correct answers and with significant differences between first and second cycle students, in addition to differences by gender in two statements: vaccines are effective and vaccination must be mandatory to achieve universal coverage. 34.98% (332/949) did not know the vaccination schedule. The mean attitude score was 36.7 (SD 4.1). The main sources of information on vaccines came from the academic environment and the family / internet and 87.7% (828/951) declared only ≤3 courses related to vaccination. 80.1% (461/951) believed that doctors should be the best trained professionals in vaccination. 51.2% believed that universities should be the central institution for training in vaccines during postgraduate studies, compared to 25.2% professional associations, 16.4% scientific societies and only 5.4% the pharmaceutical industry. The deficient training in vaccinology of Spanish medical students must be improved from academic institutions and professional associations, both undergraduate and graduate.
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PurposeDespite the importance of pharmaceutical products in everyday life, particularly after the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020, only a few studies have attempted to analyse consumer behaviour with regard to halal pharmaceutical products. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing purchase intention for halal pharmaceutical products among Indonesian Muslims.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a theory of planned behaviour approach, in which religiosity and knowledge of halal product variables are added to attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control variables. Primary data were collected from 225 Indonesian Muslims in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia and analysed using structural equation modelling.FindingsThe study found that the intention to purchase halal pharmaceutical products is positively affected by attitude, religiosity, knowledge of halal products and perceived behavioural control. However, the influence of the subjective norm variable was found to be insignificant in this study.Research limitations/implicationsIt is possible to improve the empirical model by including more explanatory variables and investigating the mediating effect of the variables. The study could also be scaled up to reach more respondents in different regions and countries. These additional aspects would provide better insights into the behaviour of consumers when considering halal pharmaceutical products.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest the importance of designing and implementing appropriate strategies and campaigns to enhance knowledge of halal products, of positive attitudes and of better resources/opportunities to consume halal pharmaceutical products. The industry needs to highlight its products' halal and tayyib aspects through proper branding and promotion strategies. The government and other stakeholders could also implement education campaigns to increase halal products and halal literacy knowledge. These are ultimately expected to enhance the effectiveness of halal regulations and meet Muslim consumer expectations in the country.Originality/valueDespite the importance of halal pharmaceutical products, this area has received limited attention in the academic literature. Thus, this study attempts to elaborate on consumer behaviour in this niche area.
ABSTRACT
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of health technologies to mitigate against the spread of the disease and improve care, dominantly including life-saving vaccines. But the pandemic has also highlighted that the current biopharmaceutical business model, based on the enclosure of these technologies and on the immense accumulation of capital it enables, leads to vast inequalities in healthcare particularly in low and middle-income countries. We believe that the pharmaceutical industry has a moral duty to enable and enact global solidarity through tech sharing instead of tech hoarding, but judging by current technology transfer practices we question their willingness to assume their role in organizing healthcare markets through solidaristic principles. In the absence of a voluntary adoption of solidaristic principles and practices by biopharmaceutical firms, the institutionalization of global solidarity as a fundamental organizing principle for healthcare markets is necessary to strengthen resilience and know-how globally. With this call, we add to existing conceptualizations of solidarity by (a) introducing a global level of solidarity and (b) thinking through the concept not as an humanistic stance but as a concrete organizing principle for global healthcare markets. © The Author(s) 2023.
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Brazil produces only 5% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients needed to the manufacture of medicines. Recent changes on regulations and the COVID-19 pandemic could open the Brazilian market to a new window of opportunity where continuous manufacturing can play an important role to secure pharmaceutical supply chain. © 2022 TeknoScienze. All rights reserved.