Kentucky passes a bill to require insurers to cover biomarker tests for patients with cancer; CDC opioid guidelines updated in November may be too late for patients with chronic pain; the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new limits to reduce dangerous human-manufactured chemicals in drinking water.
Read More
The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will cover Alzheimer drug lecanemab (Leqembi) based on inclusion criteria approval and other factors; Pfizer Inc. will buy drug maker Seagen Inc. and their targeted cancer drugs for $43 billion; Novo Nordisk will reduce its insulin costs by up to 75%, and also plans to discount other drugs.
Read More
Using Technology to Improve Patient Outcomes in Diabetes, Hypoglycemia
March 9th 2023Given the cost and impact of chronic diseases on the US health care system, health technology like digital coaching for chronic diseases is increasingly being looked at as a way to offer personalized therapies on a wide scale.
Read More
US adults had low trust in public health agency information during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new survey reported; a new study showed that people who have been incarcerated are more likely to die when they have cancer, compared to those never incarcerated; an unproven drug aimed at preventing preterm birth will be removed from the US market.
Read More
President Joe Biden proposes plan to tackle Medicare funding situation, testing GOP; WeightWatchers is in the process of buying telehealth company Sequence that will allow weight-loss drugs like Ozempic to be prescribed; patients experiencing long COVID-19 seem to be more likely to have gastrointestinal (GI) issues, finds a study.
Read More
What We’re Reading: Rare Disease Drug Approved; Congress and PBMs; FDA Panel Splits on RSV Shot
March 1st 2023The FDA approved the first drug for the rare disease Friedreich’s ataxia; House Republicans seek information from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs); FDA panel narrowly supports respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for older adults.
Read More
Wall Street investors pour money into developing new psychedelic treatments for mental illnesses; extreme temperature fluctuations around the country can pose health risks; Moderna and Merck's combination skin cancer treatment receives breakthrough designation from the FDA.
Read More
FDA Hits 4 Firms With Civil Money Complaints Over Unauthorized Tobacco Products
February 22nd 2023The civil money complaints, which carry a maximum penalty of $19,192 for a single violation, are intended to hold tobacco companies accountable for selling e-liquids—or vape juice—without FDA approval.
Read More
Merck’s COVID-19 pill has been shown to not be successful against household infection risk; the government plans to allow states to use Medicaid funds for prison drug treatment and other services; Ozempic, used to treat type 2 diabetes, is in short supply because it’s being sought for weight loss.
Read More