>>> WELCOME BACK TO OUR SPECIAL
>>> WELCOME BACK TO OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE.
COVERAGE. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT SEVERAL
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE ONGOING
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE ONGOING HEALTH CRISIS IN THE UNITED
HEALTH CRISIS IN THE UNITED STATES.
STATES. NOW WE TURN TO ANOTHER PART.
NOW WE TURN TO ANOTHER PART. WE JUST HEARD IN A NEWS WORTHY
WE JUST HEARD IN A NEWS WORTHY WAY FROM THE VERY FIRST PERSON
WAY FROM THE VERY FIRST PERSON TO EVER TEST A VACCINE FOR
TO EVER TEST A VACCINE FOR CORONAVIRUS, JENNIFER HOWELLER
CORONAVIRUS, JENNIFER HOWELLER IN WASHINGTON STATE, NOW WE LOOK
IN WASHINGTON STATE, NOW WE LOOK FOR THE SEARCH FOR AN OUTRIGHT
FOR THE SEARCH FOR AN OUTRIGHT CURE.
CURE. ONE OF THE PREEMINENT RESEARCH
ONE OF THE PREEMINENT RESEARCH LABS IS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF
LABS IS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
NORTH CAROLINA. THEY HAVE A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS
THEY HAVE A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS PROTECTED HEAD TO TOBY BODY
PROTECTED HEAD TO TOBY BODY SUITS WITH BATTERY POWERED
SUITS WITH BATTERY POWERED RESPIRATORS.
RESPIRATORS. THEY WORK IN A WINDOWLESS AIR
THEY WORK IN A WINDOWLESS AIR TIGHT LABORATORY IN A SECRET
TIGHT LABORATORY IN A SECRET LOCATION AND THEY ARE SEARCHING,
LOCATION AND THEY ARE SEARCHING, QUITE SIMILE, FOR THE CURE.
QUITE SIMILE, FOR THE CURE. THAT IS ACCORDING TO BLOOMBERG
THAT IS ACCORDING TO BLOOMBERG REPORTING.
REPORTING. SOMEONE DUBBED A CORONAVIRUS
SOMEONE DUBBED A CORONAVIRUS HUNTER OF SORTS, PROFESSOR RALPH
HUNTER OF SORTS, PROFESSOR RALPH BARAK.
BARAK. AND ANN RAMOIN.
AND ANN RAMOIN. THE TWO KNOW EACH OTHER.
THE TWO KNOW EACH OTHER. EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW ARE YOU
EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW ARE YOU CLOSER TO A CURE.
CLOSER TO A CURE. >> IT’S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE ON
>> IT’S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE ON YOUR SHOW, ARI, AND A SPECIAL
YOUR SHOW, ARI, AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO JENNIFER FOR HER
SHOUT OUT TO JENNIFER FOR HER COURAGEOUS EFFORTS AND
COURAGEOUS EFFORTS AND LEADERSHIP IN TAKING THE
LEADERSHIP IN TAKING THE VACCINE.
VACCINE. >> SHOUT OUT TO JENNIFER.
>> SHOUT OUT TO JENNIFER. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. OUR GROUP HAS BEEN STUDYING
OUR GROUP HAS BEEN STUDYING CORONAVIRUSES FOR 35 YEARS AND
CORONAVIRUSES FOR 35 YEARS AND WE’VE BEEN FOCUSED ON
WE’VE BEEN FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING SMALL MOLECULE
IDENTIFYING SMALL MOLECULE INHIBITORS THE LAST FIVE YEARS
INHIBITORS THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT BLOCK CORONAVIRUS
THAT BLOCK CORONAVIRUS REPLICATION AND PATHOGENESIS.
REPLICATION AND PATHOGENESIS. ONE OF THOSE DRUGS RAMBISOVIR,
ONE OF THOSE DRUGS RAMBISOVIR, WE DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION,
WE DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION, AND VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY.
AND VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY. A SECOND DRUG CALLED NHC, WE’VE
A SECOND DRUG CALLED NHC, WE’VE ALSO BEEN STUDYING THAT WORKS
ALSO BEEN STUDYING THAT WORKS WELL AGAINST ALL EMERGING
WELL AGAINST ALL EMERGING CORONAVIRUSES, INCLUDING SARS,
CORONAVIRUSES, INCLUDING SARS, TOO.
TOO. THAT WAS DONE IN COLLABORATION
THAT WAS DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH GROUPS AT EMORY UNIVERSITY
WITH GROUPS AT EMORY UNIVERSITY AND IS MOVING THROUGH THE FDA
AND IS MOVING THROUGH THE FDA PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
PROCESS RIGHT NOW. >> SO, WHEN YOU WALK US THROUGH
>> SO, WHEN YOU WALK US THROUGH THAT -- WE’RE ON A LITTLE BIT OF
THAT -- WE’RE ON A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY FROM SKYPE.
A DELAY FROM SKYPE. IF IT’S ALL RIGHT, I WANT TO ASK
IF IT’S ALL RIGHT, I WANT TO ASK YOU A FOLLOW-UP.
YOU A FOLLOW-UP. WHEN YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR
WHEN YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR OPENING THERE, TO PUT IT IN
OPENING THERE, TO PUT IT IN PLAIN ENGLISH, THIS IS A BIG
PLAIN ENGLISH, THIS IS A BIG AREA OF RESEARCH THAT’S BEEN
AREA OF RESEARCH THAT’S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND PEOPLE
GOING ON FOR YEARS AND PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP MORE TO YOUR WORK
ARE WAKING UP MORE TO YOUR WORK NOW BECAUSE OF THIS PUBLIC
NOW BECAUSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, IS THAT RIGHT?
HEALTH CRISIS, IS THAT RIGHT? >> WE’VE BEEN WORKING ON
>> WE’VE BEEN WORKING ON DEVELOPING THESE TWO PARTICULAR
DEVELOPING THESE TWO PARTICULAR DRUGS FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.
DRUGS FOR OVER FIVE YEARS. RAMBISOVIR, WE BEGAN
RAMBISOVIR, WE BEGAN COLLABORATION WITH GILLEAD,
COLLABORATION WITH GILLEAD, REALLY DESIGNED TO DEVELOP DRUGS
REALLY DESIGNED TO DEVELOP DRUGS AGAINST NEW EMERGING PATHOGENS,
AGAINST NEW EMERGING PATHOGENS, AND WE FOCUSED ON CORONAVIRUSES,
AND WE FOCUSED ON CORONAVIRUSES, PARTICULARLY NOT ONLY THE
PARTICULARLY NOT ONLY THE EMERGING CORONAVIRUSES LIKE SARS
EMERGING CORONAVIRUSES LIKE SARS CORONAVIRUS, MERS CORONAVIRUS
CORONAVIRUS, MERS CORONAVIRUS AND SARS 2, IT WORKS AGAINST ALL
AND SARS 2, IT WORKS AGAINST ALL OF THEM SO IT’S QUITE
OF THEM SO IT’S QUITE IMPRESSIVE.
IMPRESSIVE. IN VITRO, IN ANIMALS, AND NOW IN
IN VITRO, IN ANIMALS, AND NOW IN HUMAN TESTING.
HUMAN TESTING. >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THIS
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THIS TAKES, IS THERE BASICALLY FULL
TAKES, IS THERE BASICALLY FULL SUPPORT FOR EVERYTHING YOU’RE
SUPPORT FOR EVERYTHING YOU’RE DOING?
DOING? WE MENTIONED SOME OF THE
WE MENTIONED SOME OF THE REPORTING JUST ABOUT OBVIOUSLY
REPORTING JUST ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THE SAFETY MEASURES AND THE
THE SAFETY MEASURES AND THE FUNDING AND ALL THAT.
FUNDING AND ALL THAT. OR IS THERE MORE THAT THE U.S.
OR IS THERE MORE THAT THE U.S. OR OTHER GOVERNMENTS COULD DO TO
OR OTHER GOVERNMENTS COULD DO TO HELP AND EXPEDITE YOUR WORK?
HELP AND EXPEDITE YOUR WORK? >> WELL, WE’VE BEEN WELL FUNDED
>> WELL, WE’VE BEEN WELL FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW
HEALTH FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR
WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.
PROBLEM. WE’VE ALSO BEEN ENGAGED IN SOME
WE’VE ALSO BEEN ENGAGED IN SOME OF THE EARLY VACCINE WORK WITH
OF THE EARLY VACCINE WORK WITH THE N.I.H. AND THE N.I.H.
THE N.I.H. AND THE N.I.H. VACCINE RESEARCH CENTER TO
VACCINE RESEARCH CENTER TO DEVELOPING AND TESTING NOT ONLY
DEVELOPING AND TESTING NOT ONLY THE RNA-BASED VACCINE,S, BUT THE
THE RNA-BASED VACCINE,S, BUT THE RECOMBINANT BASED VACCINES.
RECOMBINANT BASED VACCINES. PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE
PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE DEVELOPED THE FIRST ANIMAL
DEVELOPED THE FIRST ANIMAL MODELS FOR MANY OF THESE
MODELS FOR MANY OF THESE EMERGING CORONAVIRUSES AND SO WE
EMERGING CORONAVIRUSES AND SO WE WERE WELL POSITIONED TO
WERE WELL POSITIONED TO CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL EFFORTS.
CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL EFFORTS. >> I WANT TO GIVE ANN A CHANCE
>> I WANT TO GIVE ANN A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN AS WELL.
TO WEIGH IN AS WELL. >> I THINK THAT WHAT RALPH BARAK
>> I THINK THAT WHAT RALPH BARAK IS SAYING WHO IS ONE OF THE
IS SAYING WHO IS ONE OF THE LEADERS IN CORONAVIRUS RESEARCH
LEADERS IN CORONAVIRUS RESEARCH HERE IN THE WORLD IS KEY.
HERE IN THE WORLD IS KEY. HIS LAB HAS BEEN FUNDED TO BE
HIS LAB HAS BEEN FUNDED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS WORK.
ABLE TO DO THIS WORK. AND IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE
AND IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE N.I.H. AND OTHER FUNDING TO BE
N.I.H. AND OTHER FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS KIND OF SCIENCE
ABLE TO DO THIS KIND OF SCIENCE SO THAT WHEN THERE IS AN
SO THAT WHEN THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, THAT THIS CAN RAMP UP
EMERGENCY, THAT THIS CAN RAMP UP QUICKLY AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
QUICKLY AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD. YOU KNOW, IN GENERAL, FUNDING
YOU KNOW, IN GENERAL, FUNDING HAS NOT BEEN ROBUST FOR SCIENCE
HAS NOT BEEN ROBUST FOR SCIENCE IN GENERAL IN THE PAST SEVERAL
IN GENERAL IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND SO WE’RE SEEING THE
YEARS, AND SO WE’RE SEEING THE RESULTS OF THAT.
RESULTS OF THAT. WE’RE JUST VERY LUCKY THAT
WE’RE JUST VERY LUCKY THAT DR. BARAK HAS HAD SO MUCH
DR. BARAK HAS HAD SO MUCH ABILITY, SO MUCH FUNDING AND SO
ABILITY, SO MUCH FUNDING AND SO MUCH WORK ON THIS FOR SO LONG
MUCH WORK ON THIS FOR SO LONG THAT HE CAN MOVE AS QUICKLY AS
THAT HE CAN MOVE AS QUICKLY AS HE CAN.
HE CAN. I’VE KNOWN HIM FOR A WHILE, AND
I’VE KNOWN HIM FOR A WHILE, AND I, I AM VERY, VERY GLAD TO SEE
I, I AM VERY, VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT HE IS FRONT AND CENTER
THAT HE IS FRONT AND CENTER GETTING THIS WORK DONE.
GETTING THIS WORK DONE. >> YOU MENTIONED THE FEDERAL
>> YOU MENTIONED THE FEDERAL FUNDING FROM N.I.H.
FUNDING FROM N.I.H. BOTH OF YOU EDUCATING US ALL
BOTH OF YOU EDUCATING US ALL ABOUT HOW THIS WORKS.
ABOUT HOW THIS WORKS. AND IT’S A REALLY IMPORTANT
AND IT’S A REALLY IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR THE PUBLIC AS WE
REMINDER FOR THE PUBLIC AS WE THINK ABOUT THE TRADE-OFFS, WE
THINK ABOUT THE TRADE-OFFS, WE THINK ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH
THINK ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING, NEW BILLS HEADING TO
FUNDING, NEW BILLS HEADING TO CONGRESS.
CONGRESS. IF YOU HAVE A CASE OF EMERGENCY,
IF YOU HAVE A CASE OF EMERGENCY, YOU NEED TO HAVE THE FIRE
YOU NEED TO HAVE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO ALREADY BE IN
EXTINGUISHER TO ALREADY BE IN THERE.
THERE. YOU DON’T WANT TO BREAK GLASS
YOU DON’T WANT TO BREAK GLASS AND HAVE AN I.E.U. NOTE SOMEONE
AND HAVE AN I.E.U. NOTE SOMEONE IS GOING TO FUND THE PRODUCTION
