Pharmaceutical Review (Staff) Prof. Dr. Riffat-ul-Zaman was a learned scholar, competent scientist and outstanding teacher. He passed away in August, 2018. Whereas, Muhammad Iqbal was another legend pharmacist, great leader, competent professional and noble personality passed way in December, 2018.

Nadia Ashraf was a doctoral student at Dr. Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Research at Karachi University.

She was unable to complete her PhD in the last 15 years and was reportedly harassed by her thesis supervisor Dr Iqbal Chaudhry. She was also suffering from psychological and family issues.

It has also been revealed that Dr Iqbal Chaudhry has appointed faculty member Dr Atiya Wahab to oversee Nadia which had upset her.

Nadia had revealed to her close friends that Chaudhry also tried to terminate her job when she joined another research organisation.

Nadia Ashraf rejoined Panjwani Center, submitted her dissertation with PhD extension but Iqbal Chaudhry asked her to take another six-month extension. Nadia eventually ended up taking her own life.

Centre rejects allegations

The International Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences (ICCBS) at the University of Karachi has termed news and social media posts linking the suicide of Nadia Ashraf with her PhD at the Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine & Drug Research (PCMD) as “baseless and unfounded”.

The spokesman said Nadia enrolled for her MPhil/PhD in 2007 under the supervision of Dr Ameen Suria but later went under the supervision of Dr Iqbal Chaudhary. The ICCBS said she was provided an opportunity to train in France with other students but was unable to focus on her research due to family issues and personal health.

The spokesman said she stopped coming to the centre for a few years and started working at private universities to support her family, adding that she occasionally visited the centre to meet with her colleagues and supervisor.

The statement claimed that she was severely depressed and frequently mentioned her serious family issues, including the unexplained disappearance of her father a long time ago, and was also concerned about her own health and her mother.

The spokesman said her supervisor and the institution offered maximum support to her on every occasion, adding that her application for an extension of registration was also favourably recommended to facilitate the completion of her PhD.

The statement said she was always appreciative of the support she received from Dr Chaudhary and respected him like her father, adding that Dr Chaudhary had supervised over 100 PhDs and was ranked among the top scientists of the country.

The PCMD management expressed deep sorrow on Nadia’s passing away, saying that if her life had ended due to suicide, it must have been over personal issues, over which the institution had no control.

Nadia Ashraf reportedly committed suicide after being unable to complete her PhD during the last 15 years under the supervision of Dr Iqbal Chaudhry who was allegedly harassing the doctoral student.

According to reports, the late doctoral student was also suffering from psychological as well as family issues a part from the harassment she faced from her supervisor who wouldn’t let her complete her PhD.

Students of Karachi University specifically the Dr. Panjwani Centre are now demanding an investigation into the suicide of their friend Nadia Ashraf asking for a probe into why she wasn’t able to finish her PhD during the last 15 years.

According to some reports, the doctoral student would tell her friends prior to her suicide that Dr. Iqbal Chaudhry would not allow her to have a PhD saying, “I don’t know what the doctor wants from me.”

However, the International Centre for Chemical and Biologocal Sciences (ICCBS) at the University of Karachi has denied the accusations of the story behind the suicide of Nadia Ashraf as “baseless and unfounded”.

A spokesman of the department said that Nadia Ashraf was enrolled for her M. Phil / PhD back in 2007 under the supervision of Dr Ameen Suria but later when under the supervision of Dr. Iqbal Chaudhry.

According to the spokesperson, Nadia just stopped coming to the Centre a few ago and started working at private universities to support her family occasionally visiting occasionally to meet her colleagues and supervisor.

The spokesman also said that Nadia Ashraf was severely depressed due to family issues especially after the disappearance of her father a long time ago and the Centre did its best to support her during this difficult time.

What really happened?

Nobody really knows the true story behind what happened but according to friends of Nadia Ashraf, the constant harassment she faced at the hands of Dr. Iqbal Chaudhry and not being allowed her PhD after years of hard work was the reason she committed suicide.

It had been hoped that people who’d had COVID-19 might develop long-term immunity to further infection. However, studies looking at the levels of IgG antibodies, the type of antibodies that contribute to immunity, suggest this may not be the case.

Researchers studied 1,500 people admitted to hospitals in China with confirmed COVID-19 infection. These patients had antibody tests at least 21 days after admission. Almost 1 in 10 had no detectable IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus when tested. Another study of 37 people with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test but no symptoms, found that 40% had no detectable IgG antibodies two months after the infection.

The findings suggest that many people who recover from COVID-19 may still develop long-term immunity, but a few could remain vulnerable to future infection. Vaccines train the immune system to recognise the virus and are thought, potentially, to confer longer-lasting immunity. So, these data boosts the hunt for a safe and effective vaccine.

Where did the story come from?
The Daily Telegraph is one of a number of news outlets that reported on the two studies. One was published on a pre-print server, meaning it has not been accepted by a medical journal or peer-reviewed. The other is published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Medicine.

What is the basis for the claim?
The larger, pre-publication study included 1,470 people admitted to hospitals in Wuhan, China, with symptoms of COVID-19, and who tested positive for the virus. After 21 days they had blood tests for IgG antibodies. The vast majority (90%) had IgG antibodies.

The researchers then gave antibody tests to 3,832 healthcare staff from Wuhan who had not been tested for the virus, but where exposure to the virus was assumed. Only 4% demonstrated IgG antibodies, around the same as the general population, where infection levels were expected to be much lower levels. However, it is difficult to form certain conclusions from this as infection among healthcare workers was not confirmed.

The second study from China included 37 asymptomatic people who had tested positive for COVID-19 during contact tracing, and been admitted to hospital for isolation purposes. Around 80% tested positive for IgG antibodies three to four weeks later, the same as a comparison group of 37 people with symptomatic infection. However, a follow-up study around eight weeks later showed 40% of asymptomatic people had lost their IgG antibodies, compared with only 13% of those with symptomatic infection. This could suggest that people with symptomatic infection are more likely to gain longer immunity than those with absent or minimal symptoms. But these are small numbers on which to base firm conclusions.

What do trusted sources say?
In April, BBC News quoted technical lead Dr Maria van Kerkhove from the World Health Organisation who cautioned the value of antibody tests because it is unknown whether people who have contracted SARS-CoV-2 will be immune to further infection.

The CDC also stated that it is not yet known whether people who recover from COVID-19 can get infected again, and emphasise infection control and social distancing measures for all.

Citation
Liu, T et al. Prevalence of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan – implications for the ability to produce long-lasting protective antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. medRxiv 2020.06.13.20130252; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.13.20130252 (Accessed 30 June 2020).
Long, Q et al. Clinical and immunological assessment of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. Nat Med (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0965-6

Analysis by EIU Healthcare, supported by Reckitt Benckiser

Reading list
Centres for Disease Control. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Frequently Asked Questions.

It had been hoped that people who’d had COVID-19 might develop long-term immunity to further infection. However, studies looking at the levels of IgG antibodies, the type of antibodies that contribute to immunity, suggest this may not be the case.

Researchers studied 1,500 people admitted to hospitals in China with confirmed COVID-19 infection. These patients had antibody tests at least 21 days after admission. Almost 1 in 10 had no detectable IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus when tested. Another study of 37 people with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test but no symptoms, found that 40% had no detectable IgG antibodies two months after the infection.

The findings suggest that many people who recover from COVID-19 may still develop long-term immunity, but a few could remain vulnerable to future infection. Vaccines train the immune system to recognise the virus and are thought, potentially, to confer longer-lasting immunity. So, these data boosts the hunt for a safe and effective vaccine.

Where did the story come from?
The Daily Telegraph is one of a number of news outlets that reported on the two studies. One was published on a pre-print server, meaning it has not been accepted by a medical journal or peer-reviewed. The other is published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Medicine.

What is the basis for the claim?
The larger, pre-publication study included 1,470 people admitted to hospitals in Wuhan, China, with symptoms of COVID-19, and who tested positive for the virus. After 21 days they had blood tests for IgG antibodies. The vast majority (90%) had IgG antibodies.

The researchers then gave antibody tests to 3,832 healthcare staff from Wuhan who had not been tested for the virus, but where exposure to the virus was assumed. Only 4% demonstrated IgG antibodies, around the same as the general population, where infection levels were expected to be much lower levels. However, it is difficult to form certain conclusions from this as infection among healthcare workers was not confirmed.

The second study from China included 37 asymptomatic people who had tested positive for COVID-19 during contact tracing, and been admitted to hospital for isolation purposes. Around 80% tested positive for IgG antibodies three to four weeks later, the same as a comparison group of 37 people with symptomatic infection. However, a follow-up study around eight weeks later showed 40% of asymptomatic people had lost their IgG antibodies, compared with only 13% of those with symptomatic infection. This could suggest that people with symptomatic infection are more likely to gain longer immunity than those with absent or minimal symptoms. But these are small numbers on which to base firm conclusions.

What do trusted sources say?
In April, BBC News quoted technical lead Dr Maria van Kerkhove from the World Health Organisation who cautioned the value of antibody tests because it is unknown whether people who have contracted SARS-CoV-2 will be immune to further infection.

The CDC also stated that it is not yet known whether people who recover from COVID-19 can get infected again, and emphasise infection control and social distancing measures for all.

Citation
Liu, T et al. Prevalence of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan – implications for the ability to produce long-lasting protective antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. medRxiv 2020.06.13.20130252; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.13.20130252 (Accessed 30 June 2020).
Long, Q et al. Clinical and immunological assessment of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. Nat Med (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0965-6

Analysis by EIU Healthcare, supported by Reckitt Benckiser

Reading list
Centres for Disease Control. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Frequently Asked Questions.