Timely Insights for Healthcare Experts
Sanofi and Cigna Launch First-Ever Affordable Insulin Plans for Eligible Patients
Sanofi and Cigna are responding to the escalating financial and mortality costs of insulin with affordable patient assistance programs - a first in America's broken drug pricing system. Beginning June, Sanofi's Insulins Valyou Savings Program will allow diabetic...
E. Coli O103 Outbreak Investigation in Five States
The CDC, several states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Services, and the U.S. FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E.Coli) O103 infections. There is not yet an identification of a...
Cerner Endorses Adoption of Normative FHIR R4 Standard
Kansas-based EHR vendor Cerner proudly takes the industry lead in adopting HL7's latest rollout - FHIR Release 4, the normative interoperability standard. The vendor embraced FHIR R4 only 3 months after it was published. “It’s incredibly important that major vendors...
FDA Investigates Seizures Reported Following E-Cigarette Use in Youth
The FDA is investigating reports of seizures following the use of e-cigarettes, most involving youth and young adult users. The FDA foresees a potential emerging safety issue with the recent voluntary reports of adverse experiences with tobacco products that...
Cimzia Approved as the First Treatment for Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) by FDA
The US FDA approved Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) injection for treatment of adults with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), a type of inflammatory arthritis. This is the first fda approved treatment for nr-axSpA. Nr-axSpA causes inflammation in the...
FDA Approves Two New Oral Drugs to Treat Multiple Sclerosis
Mayzent (siponimod) The FDA 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. Mayzent was shown to be...
Second Highest Record of Measles Since Elimination, 6 Outbreaks within U.S.
Six outbreaks, defined as three or more cases of Measles (Rubeola), are currently ongoing within: New York State, Rockland CountyNew York CityWashingtonCalifornia, Santa Cruz CountyNew JerseyCalifornia, Butte County There have been 387 confirmed individual cases of...
FDA Greenlights Oral Testosterone Capsule for Treatment of Men with Certain Forms of Hypogonadism
Jatenzo, (testosterone undecanoate) has been given the FDA greenlight to be used as an oral capsule treatment for men with certain forms of hypogonadism. Jatenzo is the first treatment option for men with certain hypogonadal...
CDC Advises Early Antiviral Treatment Amidst High Influenza A(H3N2) Activity
Influenza activity, particularly caused by the A(H3N2) virus, remains elevated across the US. The CDC has released a health advisory, reminding clinicians to keep influenza top of mind when diagnosing patients with respiratory illness. The report contains several...
CDC Warrants Immediate Action to Vaccinate at Risk People for Hepatitis A
Multiple states across the U.S. have reported hepatitis A outbreaks among people who use drugs and people experiencing homelessness. Since the initial awareness of the outbreak in 2016, there have been more than 15,000 cases with 57% in need of hospitalizations, and...
“Breakthrough Device” to Treat Patients with Moderate to Severe Chronic Heart Failure FDA Approved
The FDA approved the Optimizer Smart system for patients with chronic, moderate-to-severe heart failure who are not suited for treatment with other heart failure devices such as cardiac re-synchronization therapy to restore a normal heartbeat timing pattern. The...
FDA Approves Spravato (esketamine) Nasal Spray for Treatment-Resistant Depression
FDA Approves Spravato (esketamine) nasal spray to treat treatment-resistant depression in adults, but is only available at certified doctor’s offices and clinics. Treatment-resistant patients are adults with major depressive disorder, who have tried a minimum of two...
First Treatment for Post-partum Depression FDA Approved
Tuesday, March 19, the FDA approved Zulresso (brexanolone) injection for intravenous (IV) use to treat post-partum depression (PPD) in adult women. No other drug before now has been approved to specifically treat PPD. Zulresso will be available through Risk Evaluation...
FDA Allows Marketing of Device to Treat Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed marketing of ClearMate to treat patients suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning in emergency rooms. Malvina Eydelman, M.D., director of the Division of Ophthalmic, and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices in the FDA's...
FDA Approves a New Generic Valsartan to Mitigate Shortages
As of March 12, 2019 the U.S. FDA approved a new generic of Diovan (valsartan) for high blood pressure and heart failure to relieve the shortage from multiple recalls of generic valsartan products from several manufacturers. The approval of the new generic of Diovan...
Increase in Measles 2018 -Feb 2019
Measles, also known as rubeola or “first disease”, is a highly contagious viral infection caused by paramyxovirus, causing a prodrome of fever, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis followed by eruption of maculopapular rash. The CDC states 2 main reasons for the increase...
CDC Report Confirms HIV Prevention has Stalled
CDC published a report today that provides the most recent data on HIV trends in America from 2010 to 2016. The results show a stagnation in the decline of HIV infections, with numbers of HIV Infections leveling off at about 39,000. When taking a deeper dive into the...
Washington Public Officials Investigate Measles Outbreak
Public Officials in Clark County, Washington are investigating a measles outbreak after reports of 34 confirmed cases and nine suspected cases since the first of January. Of the 34 cases, thirty-two have been confirmed to be unimmunized, while four remain unverified....