Positive Results for Xolair For Food Allergy Protection. But Will the Protection Last?
February 25th 2024Researchers say the open-label extension of their study suggests the response to Xolair (omalizumab) will be a durable, but an accompanying editorial says that “protection will most likely disappear” after treatment is stopped.
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Beyond Hair Styling: Stylists As HIV PrEP Messengers
February 24th 2024Duke researchers tested a program that involves hair stylists in raising awareness, possible uptake of HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Black women, a group that is disproportionately affected by new HIV infections.
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FDA Updates for the Week of Feb 19: Cancer Approval Revoked
February 24th 2024The FDA has removed the approval of Pepaxto in multiple myeloma. The agency approved Amtagvi, the first TIL therapy for a solid tumor, as well a new biweekly dosing of Tecvayli for multiple myeloma. The agency has set actions for several products, including a first-in-class lung cancer therapy, a bispecific antibody for advanced multiple myeloma, and another for Dupixent for COPD
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Women Leaders Rally and Urge Health Insurers to Comply with ACA Birth Control Coverage
February 22nd 2024A coalition of women, including members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), Pro-Choice Caucus Contraception & Family Planning Task Force, and Senators, took the lead in rallying over 150 House and Senate Democratic colleagues, after the large group of lawmakers wrote a letter yesterday to America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) President and CEO Mike Tuffin addressing that AHIP’s “members are not complying with the Affordable Care Act contraception coverage requirement.."
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A Quarter of Public Sector Health Plan Spending Goes Toward Covering Specialty Drug Costs
February 22nd 2024Because of expensive specialty drugs, pharmacy expenditures accounted for one-quarter of healthcare spending by public sector health plans, according to a new report by two public sector health plan groups.
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HHS Needs More Rebate Information To Negotiate Medicare Drug Prices, Say USC Experts
February 19th 2024The Health and Human Services department could wind up overpaying (or possibly underpaying) for the drugs for which it is negotiating a “maximum fair price” for Medicare under the Inflation Reduction Act, argue experts at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. A fuller picture of rebates and net prices could help that from happening, they say.
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FDA Updates for the Week of Feb. 12, 2024: New Approvals, an Extended Review and Goal Dates Set
February 17th 2024The FDA approves Eohilia for eosinophilic esophagitis and Onivyde for metastatic pancreatic cancer but extends review of gene therapy for rare immune disorder. The agency also set goal dates for three products: full approval for Elevidys, Augtyro for solid tumors with NTRK gene fusions and seladelpar as for rare liver disease.
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New Federal Rule Overhauls Health Insurers' Prior Authorization Processes
February 16th 2024The rule comes as health insurers have increasingly been criticized for onerous and time-consuming prior authorization procedures that physicians say unfairly delay or deny the medical treatment that their patients need.
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