15
Dec
2021
The Long War
I think I have seen enough. We cannot fight an exponential rise with linear thinking and processes. And yet, this is what we keep doing. On that optimistic note, some background for those of you who are new to my cranky musings. As many of you know, I wrote here on Nov. 26 about the emergence of Omicron as an... Read More
26
Nov
2021
Omicron Variant: the Latest Twist in the Pandemic
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My Thursday started with me waking up in anticipation of a delightful meal with family (I love apple pie with gelato), at least partially reunited for a holiday meal together after so many months of caution and precautions. I was really looking forward to not having to do much else but drink... Read More
19
Jul
2021
From Delta…to Omega?
I hope you are all enjoying your summer break with (finally) being able to see friends and family (and fine food NOT from a delivery service). You are? Great! Now let me spoil some of that for you. This pandemic is not over I understand the inclination to consider the pandemic behind us. In large parts of the US /... Read More
1
Feb
2021
2021: The Rise of the Variants
This column will have a “glass half full / glass half empty” feeling for many readers, I fear. Before diving deep into the troubling emergence of highly transmissible and virulent SARS-CoV-2 variants, a couple of brief reminders: Immunology is very complicated: for the uninitiated, please read this (always impeccably well written) piece by Ed Yong in The Atlantic. We still... Read More
19
Dec
2020
There Is Light at the End of the Tunnel, Yes. But it’s a Long Tunnel
I will start with the good news. The good news As of this writing, on Dec. 19, the FDA has just granted ModeRNA an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a coronavirus vaccine. We now have two vaccines available, based on essentially the same mRNA-based technology, including the one from Pfizer/BioNTech that received an EUA earlier this month. It’s worth stating... Read More
31
Aug
2020
The Data Are Telling Us to Prepare for a Difficult Fall
I could not resist using the above, peerless comic strip from Stephan Pastis. Indeed, the two “plagues” are not just co-existing, but they are mutually reinforcing each other and making things worse. We should take the “great wise ass on the hill” seriously and invest in science and (investigative, high quality) journalism. About two months ago, I wrote here about... Read More
26
Jun
2020
Leadership, Strategy and Capabilities: How We Are Losing The Fight Against the Virus
“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence” –Charles Bukowski The quote above is presented with more than a hint of self-deprecating irony (I did spend some formative years in the UK). Indeed, I am often told I am a little bit too confident in my... Read More
26
May
2020
Miscommunications, Misapplied Policy & Misunderstood Liberty: Why the US Pandemic Response is in Trouble
On April 17 — seemingly a long time ago — I wrote about what steps would have to be taken in order to (cautiously) “reopen” US states from their various lock-downs and stay-at-home advisories. The piece tried to focus on the “how”, versus the “when”. By the early days of May, most states had begun re-opening, and now all 50... Read More
17
Apr
2020
The Real Question is How to Restart
When?? When can we finally go back to something resembling a “normal” life, go back to work and restart our economies, embrace again long-lost family, friends, co-workers? And, in too many cases, when can we get together to properly mourn those we have lost? I cannot tell you “when.” Everyone wants the answer to that question. I do, too. But... Read More
1
Apr
2020
What’s the Real Risk of Death from COVID19? It Can Be Deceiving
“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics,” quote popularized in the US by Mark Twain This is an almost direct follow-up to my latest article for Timmerman Report (“Let it Rip or Shelter at Home?) Usual caveats apply: I am not an epidemiologist, and not a virologist. This is still a new virus for us as... Read More
23
Mar
2020
Let it Rip or Shelter at Home? Choosing Between Two Bad Options on Coronavirus
Like most of you, I have been obsessively following “the virus.” It is having a devastating impact on human life, hospital systems, governments and economies. The worst is still to come, based on what we know about this new coronavirus and its ability to spread with exponential force. Here are some thoughts on the difficult choices laying ahead. Before I... Read More
18
Mar
2020
8 Days Later: Italy vs. US
The following is an update to my article on March 10, also published on Timmerman Report. The initial article is available (free to read here). Before I begin, I would like to sincerely thank everybody who has reached out with comments / feedback after my first article. Thank you also for the outpouring of well wishes for my family in... Read More
10
Mar
2020
Lessons from Italy: How the US Can Respond to the Urgent Coronavirus Threat
As background: I am Italian-born, and was raised in Italy. My entire family works and lives there, mostly in Milan or nearby areas. I have been communicating with family members about the noval coronavirus for the last month. I have a PhD in Molecular Biology from Geneva, Switzerland, and I have been in biotechnology venture capital since the early 2000s.... Read More