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According to new research published in PNAS, researchers have determined that a molecule that helps blood clot may also play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses, in addition to discovering a new way of studying the disease in mice that more closely resembles the human form.

A recent study found that treatment with a systemic JAK1/2 inhibitor was associated with weight gain, the development of obesity, and increased systolic blood pressure.

A recent study employed the use of a high-throughput ultrasonication-induced amyloid fibrillation assay to amplify and detect α-synuclein aggregates from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and investigated the association between seeding activity and clinical indicators. The assay, created by the study investigators and dubbed the HANdai Amyloid Burst Inducer (HANABI), dramatically reduces the time to perform the assay from the estimated 10 days for the shaking-based assays to only several hours.

The May issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) featured research on diabetes drug cost-effectiveness, patient-centered medical homes, and value-based insurance design. Here are 5 findings from research published in the issue.

Deductible Relief Day, the day when enrollees will, on average, have spent enough on healthcare to hit the average deductible in an employer plan, will be May 19 this year, far later in the year than a decade ago when it was March 18.

This week, the top managed care news included 44 states suing drug makers for price fixing; Gilead pledging to donate pre-exposure prophylaxis for up to 200,000 people for up to 11 years; Philadelphia soda tax reduced consumption of sugary drinks.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the healthcare and mainstream press.

The Trump administration is backing off a proposal that would have allowed private Medicare plans to refuse to pay for certain drugs for chronic conditions that experience steep price hikes; 5 more states have sued Purdue Pharma, alleging the company llegally marketed and sold opioids; bariatric surgery may offer more benefits for adolescents than adults.

Stubborn racial disparities mean that the rate of new HIV inections was 93% higher among black women than it would have been if the rate were the same as white women.

Venetoclax (Venclexta) has received FDA approval in combination with obinutuzumab (Gazyva) for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), offering a chemotherapy-free regimen for patients with previously untreated disease.

Cure rates for Hodgkin lymphoma are high, but survivors may live for decades with side effects from chemotherapy. Finding a new treatment target could lead to fewer toxic effects.

https://www.pharmacytimes.org/on-demand/an-american-journal-of-managed-care-managing-treatment-gaps-with-pcsk9-inhibitors

In oncology, precision medicine is already well established with targeted therapies approved based on the patient’s genetic makeup or genetic variants of their tumor, and using precision medicine successfully means also using diagnostics and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Last year, CMS finalized coverage of NGS tests, which are to be used to identify patients that may benefit the most from approved treatments. And it looks like other payers may be following CMS’ lead.

US birth rates have declined for the fourth year in a row; Gilead's chief executive officer (CEO) is expected to testify before a House committee about Truvada pricing; nonprofit generic drug company Civica Rx has chosen the first 2 antibiotics that it will produce.

A health tracking app that monitors asthma control in children in real time and sends medication reminders successfully reduced emergency department visits as well as the use of inhaled corticosteroids, according to a new study.

The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization, this week released the latest hospital safety grades for Spring 2019 in addition to a report compiled in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality that assessed the number of deaths due to errors, accidents, injuries and infections at all rated hospitals.

A new computer application could easily and reliably predict the short-term risk of adverse outcomes and guide treatment options for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who visited an emergency department due to an exacerbation.

The Alabama Senate has approved a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state, regardless of whether pregnancies were caused from rape or incest; Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has sued Purdue Pharmaceuticals over the company's role in the opioid epidemic; the Justice Department has decided the FDA can't regulate death penalty drugs.

Researchers say by targeting a protein that assists KRAS mutations, they have overcome the challeges of resistance to treatment in a mouse model.

Blood eosinophil (EOS) counts of 150 cells/mcL or greater were associated with increased chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)–related healthcare resource utilization compared with EOS counts less than 150 cells/mcL, regardless of multiple inhaler triple therapy use.

Voxelotor, a first-in-class oral therapy, is both safe and effective in sickle cell disease, according to a phase 1/2 randomized study assessing the drug. These findings were consistent across all doses, ranging from 500 to 1000 mg.

In a large survey of patients with migraine taking an oral, acute prescription migraine medication, most had unmet needs, according to survey results presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

Patients with primary care appointments in the morning were more likely to have orders for and receive recommended breast and colorectal cancer screenings.

Findings from a new study have shown that sales of sweetened drinks fell by 38% after Philadelphia implemented a tax on sugary beverages.

A California jury found that the weed killer, Roundup, caused a couple's cancer and awarded $2 billion in damages; a federal appeals court will decide if and how states could end federal Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood; Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signs a new law raising the age for nicotine-related product purchases from 18 to 21.

Damage to mitochondria, which can occur from exposure to cigarette smoke and environmental pollutants, leads to a surge in the creation of osteoclasts that break down bone.

As pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers point fingers over who is responsible for high drug prices, employers have the opportunity to demand change to business as usual, consultant Chris Robbins of Arxcel says.

Several generic drug manufacturers are accused of price-fixing in a lawsuit; the state of Washington offers residents a universally available public option for health insurance; bills proposed by states to limit vaccine exemptions have stalled.