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FDA approves recombinant von Willebrand factor for treating bleeding episodes in adults with VWD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Vonvendi, von Willebrand factor (Recombinant), for use in adults 18 years of age and older who have von Willebrand disease (VWD). Vonvendi is the first FDA-approved recombinant von Willebrand factor, and is approved for the on-demand (as needed) treatment and control of bleeding episodes in adults diagnosed with VWD.

8 Dec 2015

Kanuma approved as first treatment for patients with LAL deficiency

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Kanuma (sebelipase alfa) as the first treatment for patients with a rare disease known as lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) deficiency.

8 Dec 2015

FDA clears use of XSTAT 30 wound dressing to control severe bleeding in civilian population

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the use of the XSTAT 30 wound dressing, an expandable, multi-sponge dressing used to control severe, life-threatening bleeding from wounds in areas that a tourniquet cannot be placed (such as the groin or armpit) in battlefield and civilian trauma settings.

8 Dec 2015

Gene therapy can restore immune systems of children and young adults with SCID-X1

Gene therapy can safely rebuild the immune systems of older children and young adults with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1), a rare inherited disorder that primarily affects males, scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, have found.

7 Dec 2015

Low levels of BRCA1 protein in the brain linked to dementia

Mutant forms of breast cancer factor 1 (BRCA1) are associated with breast and ovarian cancers but according to new findings, in the brain the normal BRCA1 gene product may also be linked to Alzheimer's disease. The results, published in Nature Communications, suggest that low levels of BRCA1 protein in the brain may contribute to dementia.

1 Dec 2015

FDA grants approval for Empliciti (elotuzumab) to treat patients with multiple myeloma

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval for Empliciti (elotuzumab) in combination with two other therapies to treat people with multiple myeloma who have received one to three prior medications.

30 Nov 2015

New drug may show promise against resistant melanomas

A new drug discovered by scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute may show promise for treating skin cancers that are resistant or unresponsive to today's leading therapies.

25 Nov 2015

First seasonal influenza vaccine containing adjuvant now approved by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Fluad, the first seasonal influenza vaccine containing an adjuvant. Fluad, a trivalent vaccine produced from three influenza virus strains (two subtype A and one type B), is approved for the prevention of seasonal influenza in people 65 years of age and older.

25 Nov 2015

Portrazza approved to treat patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Portrazza (necitumumab) in combination with two forms of chemotherapy to treat patients with advanced (metastatic) squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not previously received medication specifically for treating their advanced lung cancer.

24 Nov 2015

BioThrax approved to prevent disease after exposure to anthrax spores

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new indication for BioThrax (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) to prevent disease following suspected or confirmed exposure to Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax disease. The vaccine's new use is approved for people 18 through 65 years of age in conjunction with recommended antibiotic treatment. BioThrax was initially approved by the FDA in 1970 for the prevention of anthrax disease in persons at high risk of exposure.

24 Nov 2015

Opdivo (nivolumab) approved to treat patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Opdivo (nivolumab) to treat patients with advanced (metastatic) renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer, who have received a certain type of prior therapy.

23 Nov 2015

Ninlaro (ixazomib) approved to treat people with multiple myeloma

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval for Ninlaro (ixazomib) in combination with two other therapies to treat people with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.

21 Nov 2015

AHRQ releases new toolkit to help prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections in hospitals

As part of its ongoing efforts to make health care safer, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality today released a new toolkit to help hospitals prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).

19 Nov 2015

Modest physical activity associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease in older adults

In a large prospective community-based study of older Americans, modest physical activity was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This was true even among men and women older than age 75 at baseline - a rapidly growing population for whom regular activity has been advised, but with little supportive empirical evidence.

19 Nov 2015

Two American Academy of Pain Medicine leaders receive NIH Director's Award

The American Academy of Pain Medicine announced today that its Immediate Past President Sean Mackey, MD, PhD, was awarded the highly prestigious National Institutes of Health Director's Award in recognition of his leadership role on the National Pain Strategy.

19 Nov 2015

NIH-led collaboration details research strategy to address brain disorders

Infants are starved of oxygen during difficult births. Children's cognitive function is permanently damaged due to malnutrition or exposure to infections or toxins. Adults suffer from crippling depression or dementia. The breadth and complexity of these and other brain and nervous system disorders make them some of the most difficult conditions to diagnose and treat, especially in the developing world, where there are few resources.

19 Nov 2015

NIAID launches major initiative to advance novel approaches to treat, prevent HIV infections

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, launched a major initiative to advance novel approaches to treat and prevent HIV infections based on broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) today.

19 Nov 2015

FDA approves Narcan nasal spray to prevent or reverse effects of opioid overdose

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan nasal spray, the first FDA-approved nasal spray version of naloxone hydrochloride, a life-saving medication that can stop or reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, as well as the illegal drug heroin.

18 Nov 2015

NIMH signs agreement to establish collaborative brain donation initiative for autism research

The National Institute of Mental Health has signed an agreement to establish a collaborative, nationwide effort for the collection, storage, and distribution of postmortem human brain tissue for the benefit of autism research. The agreement with Foundation Associates LLC will coordinate the efforts of two independent networks of human brain tissue repositories, the National Institutes of Health NeuroBioBank and the Autism BrainNet.

18 Nov 2015

Shorter patients receive lung transplants at lower rates

Short people have several health advantages over tall people, including lower risk for cancer and heart disease, and longer life expectancy. But there's at least one health-related downside to being small: the odds of getting a lung transplant are considerably lower.

17 Nov 2015

Health and Human Services News and Research

FDA approves recombinant von Willebrand factor for treating bleeding episodes in adults with VWD

Kanuma approved as first treatment for patients with LAL deficiency

FDA clears use of XSTAT 30 wound dressing to control severe bleeding in civilian population

Gene therapy can restore immune systems of children and young adults with SCID-X1

Low levels of BRCA1 protein in the brain linked to dementia

FDA grants approval for Empliciti (elotuzumab) to treat patients with multiple myeloma

New drug may show promise against resistant melanomas

First seasonal influenza vaccine containing adjuvant now approved by FDA

Portrazza approved to treat patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer

BioThrax approved to prevent disease after exposure to anthrax spores

Opdivo (nivolumab) approved to treat patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

Ninlaro (ixazomib) approved to treat people with multiple myeloma

AHRQ releases new toolkit to help prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections in hospitals

Modest physical activity associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease in older adults

Two American Academy of Pain Medicine leaders receive NIH Director's Award

NIH-led collaboration details research strategy to address brain disorders

NIAID launches major initiative to advance novel approaches to treat, prevent HIV infections

FDA approves Narcan nasal spray to prevent or reverse effects of opioid overdose

NIMH signs agreement to establish collaborative brain donation initiative for autism research

Shorter patients receive lung transplants at lower rates

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