Damian McNamara is a journalist for Medscape Medical News and MDedge. He worked full-time for MDedge as the Miami Bureau covering a dozen medical specialties during 2001-2012, then as a freelancer for Medscape and MDedge, before being hired on staff by Medscape in 2018. Now the two companies are one. He uses what he learned in school – Damian has a BS in chemistry and an MS in science, health and environmental reporting/journalism. He works out of a home office in Miami, with a 100-pound chocolate lab known to snore under his desk during work hours.
News
Moderna filing for FDA emergency COVID-19 vaccine approval, reports 94.1% efficacy
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Vaccine efficacy remained consistent across different groups analyzed by age, race/ethnicity, and gender.
News
IDSA updates COVID guidelines for antibodies, antivirals, other drugs
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Panel cautions against routine use of bamlanivimab and notes that remdesivir can shorten the clinical course of COVID-19.
News

Debate: After methotrexate failure, is JAK inhibitor or biologic next?
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Experts pointed to differences in safety, clinical experience, and cost when considering Janus kinase inhibitors or biologic treatment after a...
News
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine 95% effective in final phase 3 results
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
The vaccine was well tolerated with no serious safety concerns.
Article
Moderna: Interim data show 94.5% efficacy for COVID-19 vaccine, will seek FDA EUA
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
The first interim results of the phase 3 COVE trial included 95 participants with confirmed COVID-19.
News

Methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine split on cardiovascular outcomes in RA
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Some distinctions in risk for heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke emerged between agents.
News
Moral distress: COVID-19 shortages prompt tough decisions at bedside
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Many hospital crisis capacity plans were too general to address all the specific challenges arising during the...
News

FDA grants emergency use authorization to Lilly’s antibody COVID-19 therapy
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
“We have supplies to distribute now. Product distribution will begin this week.”
News

FAST trial clears febuxostat of increased mortality in gout
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Researchers in Europe compare adverse cardiovascular events, including mortality, between febuxostat and allopurinol among older adults with gout...
News

Denosumab favored over alendronate for BMD protection in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Denosumab “may be considered as an alternative first-line therapy in higher-risk patients and in those who are contraindicated for the oral...
News

Higher cardiovascular risks in Kawasaki disease persist 10-plus years
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Researchers evaluated the incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, death, and more in a follow-up study of Kawasaki disease survivors, compared...
News

COVID-19 risks in rheumatic disease remain unclear
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
Elevated COVID-19-related risks, many associated with comorbidities, emerged in a match-control study, whereas a systematic review delivers more...
News
Common SARS-CoV-2 mutation may be making COVID-19 more contagious
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
In contrast to a greater variety of strains early in the pandemic, now 99.9% of circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains in the study feature the D614G...
News
About 17% of COVID-19 survivors retest positive in follow-up study
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
The findings could carry important implications for people who continue to be symptomatic.
News
More mask wearing could save 130,000 US lives by end of February
- Author:
- Damian McNamara
“Case numbers are climbing in the US, and without further intervention, there will be a significant number of...