Lawmakers Lash Out at Sanofi Over Zika Vaccine
With government funding involved in the Sanofi vaccine for the Zika virus, a group of senators are urging the company provide pricing assurances. According to FiercePharma, 6 senators sent letters to Sanofi, saying that they are “deeply troubled” that the drug maker won’t agree to pricing assurance. The government has provided $10 million to support research for the vaccine, another $43 million for testing, and could award another $130 million for late-stage studies.
Voicing Concerns Over Health Bill
VoteVets, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, and AMVETS have all expressed concerns over the Senate healthcare bill. They are worried the Department of Veterans Affairs won’t be able to fill the coverage gap since 62% of veterans receive care through Medicaid, the exchanges, an employer, or are uninsured, reported the AP. However, some other groups have not weighed in on the health bill. The Washington Post pointed out that major healthcare industry groups have been relatively silent. They may be staying silent on this issue since they have other agenda items coming up that they will need to work with Republicans on.
The Trouble With Lyme Disease Testing
Even though 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease every year, there is a lot of room for improvement in testing for the disease. STAT reported that research groups are working to improve Lyme tests, which are often wrong in the first month of infection. If the disease is caught and treated early, it is simple to cure, but it can cause lingering symptoms if left untreated. The only FDA-approved test for Lyme relies on detecting antibodies, which is only good for diagnosing the disease at later stages, so research on new tests must identify new avenues to explore.
Standard Criteria for Loss of Ambulation Needed in DMD
April 19th 2024A recent study suggests the differences between ambulation definitions for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) can impact the identification of ambulant vs nonambulant individuals, and standard criteria across settings are needed.
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Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
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Early Involvement Critical in Treating Immunotherapy-Induced Overlap Syndrome
April 19th 2024A series of case studies reveals the importance of early diagnosis and involvement of special teams of clinicians when dealing with potential cases of overlap syndrome, which encompasses myocarditis, myasthenia gravis, and immune checkpoint inhibitor–related myositis.
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Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
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