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KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The Supreme Court and the abortion pill

In its first abortion case since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, the Supreme Court this week looked unlikely to uphold an appeals court ruling that would dramatically restrict the availability of the abortion pill mifepristone.

28 Mar 2024

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit of an urgent priority: shutting down access to abortion pills for women across the country.

25 Mar 2024

A paramedic was skeptical about this Rx for stopping repeat opioid overdoses. Then he saw it help.

Fire Capt. Jesse Blaire steered his SUV through the mobile home park until he spotted the little beige house with white trim and radioed to let dispatchers know he'd arrived.

25 Mar 2024

Study highlights global fertility decline and its implications for the future

The world is approaching a low-fertility future. Although by 2100 more than 97% of countries and territories will have fertility rates below what is necessary to sustain population size over time, comparatively high fertility rates in numerous low-income countries, predominantly in western and eastern sub-Saharan Africa, will continue to drive population increases in these locations throughout the century.

21 Mar 2024

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The ACA turns 14

The Affordable Care Act was signed into law 14 years ago this week, and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra joined KFF Health News' Julie Rovner on this week's "What the Health?" podcast to discuss its accomplishments so far — and the challenges that remain for the health law.

21 Mar 2024

Pembrolizumab enhances breast cancer treatment regardless of age or menopausal status

New data from the KEYNOTE-756 phase 3 clinical trial show that adding the immunotherapy drug, pembrolizumab, to chemotherapy before and after surgery for breast cancer leads to better outcomes for patients regardless of their age or menopausal status.

20 Mar 2024

Watch: Many Americans are unaware of HIV prevention medication

Céline Gounder, KFF Health News' editor-at-large for public health, explained on "CBS Mornings" why many at-risk Americans do not know about medication to prevent HIV infection through sexual contact or do not have access to it.

20 Mar 2024

Antipsychotic use during pregnancy not linked to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders or learning difficulties

The use of antipsychotics during pregnancy isn't linked to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders or learning difficulties, UNSW Sydney-led study shows – giving assurance to those concerned about continuing their medications during pregnancy.

18 Mar 2024

New compounds show potential to mimic benefits of exercise

Doctors have long prescribed exercise to improve and protect health. In the future, a pill may offer some of the same benefits as exercise.

18 Mar 2024

Novel scoring system can distinguish between two serious skin diseases

Your skin becomes red and spots filled with pus appear, so you visit a dermatologist. When these symptoms spread to the skin throughout the body, it is difficult for the physician to distinguish whether it is generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) or acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), as both have similar symptoms.

18 Mar 2024

Innovative levodopa infusion pump trial shows promise for reducing Parkinson's symptoms

An international, multisite phase 3 trial co-led by a University of Cincinnati researcher found Parkinson's disease medication delivered through an infusion pump is safe and effective at reducing symptoms for longer periods of time.

15 Mar 2024

BU study reveals key to combating high-risk neuroblastoma

The MYCN oncoprotein (proteins related to the growth of cancer cells) plays a key role in starting, advancing and making it difficult to treat various human cancers.

15 Mar 2024

Study highlights growing burden of neurological disorders worldwide

Globally, the number of people living with, or dying from, neurological conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and meningitis has risen substantially over the past 30 years due to the growth and aging of the global population as well as increased exposure to environmental, metabolic, and lifestyle risk factors.

15 Mar 2024

Ricoh and ERS Genomics enter into CRISPR/Cas9 license agreement

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From ERS Genomics 13 Mar 2024

Study highlights impact of government vaccine recommendations and direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising

A new study co-authored by a University of Massachusetts Amherst economist reveals the value of government vaccine recommendations to drugmakers, as well as potential benefits of advertising pharmaceuticals directly to consumers -; a practice that is banned in every country apart from the United States and New Zealand.

13 Mar 2024

A new $16,000 postpartum depression drug is here. How will insurers handle it?

A much-awaited treatment for postpartum depression, zuranolone, hit the market in December, promising an accessible and fast-acting medication for a debilitating illness.

12 Mar 2024

Why covid patients who could most benefit from paxlovid still aren’t getting it

Evangelical minister Eddie Hyatt believes in the healing power of prayer but "also the medical approach." So on a February evening a week before scheduled prostate surgery, he had his sore throat checked out at an emergency room near his home in Grapevine, Texas.

11 Mar 2024