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Can someone tell me what a PBM does?

It was back-to-school day at the Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday morning. In the third of a series of hearings on rising drug prices, the senators seemed focused on getting an answer to one central question: What the heck is a pharmacy benefit manager?

10 Apr 2019

$FDA approves new osteoporosis drug for postmenopausal women with high fracture risk$

FDA approves new osteoporosis drug for postmenopausal women with high fracture risk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg) to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of breaking a bone (fracture).

9 Apr 2019

UTMB receives grant to combat highly-lethal hemorrhagic fever viruses

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Profectus Biosciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Mapp Biopharmaceutical and Genevant Sciences Corp. have been awarded up to $35 million to advance the development of rapid-acting vaccines and broad-spectrum treatments of the highly-lethal hemorrhagic fever viruses Ebola and Marburg.

9 Apr 2019

Experts detail efforts to improve seasonal and universal influenza vaccine

In a new series of articles, experts in immunology, virology, epidemiology, and vaccine development detail efforts to improve seasonal influenza vaccines and ultimately develop a universal influenza vaccine.

9 Apr 2019

FDA approves two-drug complete regimen for previously untreated HIV-infected adults

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Dovato (dolutegravir and lamivudine), as a complete regimen for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in adults with no antiretroviral treatment history and with no known or suspected substitutions associated with resistance to the individual components of Dovato.

9 Apr 2019

AVITA Medical presents results highlighting outcomes for pediatric burn patients treated using RECELL System

AVITA Medical, a global regenerative medicine company, announced that interim results describing clinical outcomes for pediatric patients treated using the RECELL System were presented at the American Burn Association 51st Annual Meeting in Las Vegas by Jeffrey Carter, MD, FACS University Medical Center New Orleans Burn Center and LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine.

8 Apr 2019

On the border, volunteer doctors struggle to provide stopgap care to immigrants

It wasn't the rash covering Meliza's feet and legs that worried Dr. José Manuel de la Rosa. What concerned him were the deep bruises beneath. They were a sign she could be experiencing something far more serious than an allergic reaction.

5 Apr 2019

FDA extends indication of metastatic breast cancer treatment to include male patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today is extending the indication of Ibrance (palbociclib) capsules in combination with specific endocrine therapies for hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer in male patients.

5 Apr 2019

How easy are vaccine exemptions? Take a look at the Oregon model

As measles outbreaks continue in the Northwest and across the nation, newly revealed health records from Oregon suggest it's surprisingly easy to opt out of required vaccinations in that state — as in several others.

4 Apr 2019

FDA and CBP collaborate to protect public health and safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection leaders signed an agreement today to maximize inspection and detection capabilities in order to prevent illegal and harmful products entering the U.S. through the nation's International Mail Facilities and Ports of Entry that pose a threat to public health.

4 Apr 2019

Opioid epidemic fuels growing rates of some infectious diseases

The United States faces a converging public health crisis as the nation's opioid epidemic fuels growing rates of certain infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, heart infections, and skin and soft tissue infections.

4 Apr 2019

Gout treatment could potentially reduce complications accompanying metabolic syndrome

The drug colchicine, used to treat the arthritic condition gout, could potentially reduce complications accompanying metabolic syndrome, a combination of high blood pressure, high blood sugar and other conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

2 Apr 2019

FDA issues warning letters to four homeopathic firms for CGMP violations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today posted warning letters to four companies who produce homeopathic drug products for significant violations of current good manufacturing practice regulations, including a letter to King Bio Inc. of Asheville, N.C.

2 Apr 2019

FDA approves new oral drug to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Mavenclad (cladribine) tablets to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults, to include relapsing-remitting disease and active secondary progressive disease.

29 Mar 2019

CMS ignores federal judge ruling to approve Medicaid work rules in Utah

Less than 48 hours after a federal judge struck down Medicaid work requirements, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Friday gave Utah permission to use those mandates.

29 Mar 2019

FDA approves treatment for adults with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) injection for treatment of adults with a certain type of inflammatory arthritis called non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), with objective signs of inflammation. This is the first time that the FDA has approved a treatment for nr-axSpA.

28 Mar 2019

Study finds no damaging role for microglia during retinal prion disease in mice

National Institutes of Health scientists studying the progression of inherited and infectious eye diseases that can cause blindness have found that microglia, a type of nervous system cell suspected to cause retinal damage, surprisingly had no damaging role during prion disease in mice.

28 Mar 2019

FDA approves new oral treatment for men with certain forms of hypogonadism

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Jatenzo (testosterone undecanoate), an oral testosterone capsule to treat men with certain forms of hypogonadism.

27 Mar 2019

Federal judge again blocks Medicaid work requirements

For a second time in nine months, the same federal judge has struck down the Trump administration's plan to force some Medicaid recipients to work to maintain benefits.

27 Mar 2019

FDA approves new drug to treat adults with relapsing forms of MS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Mayzent (siponimod) tablets to treat adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease.

27 Mar 2019