Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced the presentation of the latest interim data from a Phase II, multi-center, randomized, dose-ranging clinical trial evaluating the safety and antiviral activity of MK-5172, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection.
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"More than 26 percent of married women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo want to avoid pregnancy but aren't using a modern method of family planning," Christopher Hook, program assistant for USAID's Office of Population and Reproductive Health, writes in the agency's "IMPACTblog," adding, "Furthermore, meeting this demand for family planning is not an easy task in the DRC, where deep-seated traditional and religious views exist around family size, gender roles and the use of contraception."
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A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, California, Michigan, Texas, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.
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When the Supreme Court took up the question Monday of whether genes could be patented, the justices were clearly concerned about preserving innovation in medicine and biotechnology. But the issue presented by Myriad Genetics' patents on the BRCA genes cuts both ways, leading to a potential split among the justices (Jon Healey, 4/15).
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New research by Professor James Jaccard, Ph.D., and Nicole Levitz, M.P.H., of the New York University Silver School of Social Work and its Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health (CLAFH) has led them to suggest 12 evidence-based principles that can be used to improve contraceptive counseling of adolescents in U.S. health care clinics, doctor's offices, and health service organizations.
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Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the Republican vice presidential candidate in 2012, said Thursday that anti-abortion activists should work with abortion-rights counterparts to advance their agenda and that the GOP must stay strong on the issue.
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Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that two analyses of VICTRELIS (boceprevir) and data from Phase II studies of two of Merck's investigational medicines for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1, MK-5172 and vaniprevir (MK-7009), will be presented at the 2013 International Liver Congress (EASL) Annual Meeting.
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The U.S. has huge budget challenges. And for the first time in years, we will have three budget proposals to carefully consider -- instead of speeches and talking points.
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Writing in a SciDev.Net feature article, journalist Imogen Mathers examines what the election of the new pope will mean for the development sector.
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President Obama will release his overdue budget on Wednesday. It will doubtless project a reduction in the federal budget deficit-;a projection that journalists, commentators and policy makers should ignore.
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Genzyme, a Sanofi company, announced today Argentina's National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology has approved once-daily, oral AUBAGIO 14 mg as a new treatment indicated for patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.
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A federal judge's ruling on Friday that the Food and Drug Administration has to lift age restrictions on emergency contraception has set up choices for pharmacists, consumers and the Obama administration about whether this is the end of the controversy.
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Today's headlines include reports about the politics surrounding the Wednesday unveiling of President Barack Obama's budget as well as other news about the health law's implementation.
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Writing in RH Reality Check, Heather Sayette of Planned Parenthood Global/Latin America examines how Ecuador's newly re-elected President Rafael Correa this week "voiced unconditional support for contraception, including emergency contraception."
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A federal judge has ruled that the United States government must make the most common morning-after pill available over the counter for all ages, instead of requiring a prescription for girls 16 and under (Belluck, 4/5).
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The measure, which still must be signed by the governor, would make abortion clinics use doctors with admitting privileges at local hospitals, a move opponents say could force the state's five clinics to close.
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States have passed a record number of abortion bills since 2011, including curbs on clinics and chemically induced abortions and in North Dakota, a ban on abortions as early as six weeks.
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Women reaching the age of 40 tend to be less vigilant about birth control because they think the risk of pregnancy is low - or that birth control can cause health problems - but a review of the evidence by a team that includes a Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island physician recently underscored the need to be vigilant about contraception even in perimenopause.
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VIVUS, Inc. announced today that a new study demonstrates that effective medical treatment providing 10% to 15% weight loss could lead to significant improvements in Medicare spending by reversing or reducing significant health consequences such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia in obese or overweight patients.
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Missouri's House speaker is calling on their state's attorney general to appeal a ruling that stops a state law from allowing employers to exclude contraception and abortion from insurance coverage.
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