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The FDA approved efgartigimod on Friday (Dec. 17). The treatment, which is being sold under the brand name Vyvgart, could foment price competition with Soliris (eculizumab) and other treatments usually reserved for severe or refractory cases of myasthenia gravis. But there is a long way to go. According to one cost-effectiveness analysis, Soliris should be priced at between 2% and 3% of its current price.

Early in the pandemic about 1 in 5 people admitted to the hospital with a COVID-19 diagnosis had obesity and in younger adults, obesity was associated with a doubling of the mortality risk.

Fluctuating body weight may worsen insulin resistance — and insulin resistance can, in turn, stress the kidneys and harm kidney tissue.

Consumers have a false sense of security about buying drugs from online platforms.

Prescription digital therapeutics are FDA approved and available only by prescription. Their developers are aiming to get them covered by insurers.

Blood cancer patients who had at least some antibodies after the first two doses are likely to produce large amounts after the third vaccination.

Many healthcare organizations find themselves in arrangements with technology vendors in which patient-reported outcomes measures are handled as an add-on to an existing electronic health records. The better way makes it easier and more convenient for patients to supply information and incentivizes engagement.

Healthcare executives look ahead to 2022 and the forces and events that will shape the American healthcare landscape.Amendola Communications compiled these comments from a variety of healthcare executives.

Baha Zeidan, CEO of Azalea Health, gives his take on the infrastructure legislation and the benefits it can provide for patient access to quality care, especially in traditionally underserved communities.

In COVID-19 news, FDA grants EUA to AstraZeneca’s monoclonal antibody to prevent infection and the FDA extends EUA of Pfizer/BioNTech Booster to those 16 and 17 years of age. The regulatory agency also approved a therapy for spasticity resulting from multiple sclerosis, and is requiring an updated boxed warning on three top-selling JAK inhibitors for rheumatoid arthritis. And FDA committee votes no on kidney disease drug.

Medexus is working with Ethypharm to generate the data needed to support an abbreviated new drug application for triamcinolone hexacetonide.

Despite the surge in late 2020, a study by Stanford researchers shows just a 10% drop in procedures from 2019 levels.

A temporary add-on payment in the Part B program should be considered as a way to increase biosimilar uptake, says Sandoz’s Afton Wagner.

The FDA in late November authorized the COVID-19 booster for all people 18 years of age and older.

Evusheld is the only monoclonal antibody authorized in the United States for COVID-19 pre-exposure prophylaxis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare and many parts of the U.S. economy, but employer-based health insurance?

Researchers find that only 2.4% of prescriptions for 90 “substitutable” drugs were for brand-name drugs yet they accounted 21.2% of the expenditures on those drugs.

Briana Contreras, associate editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, spoke with Shara Cohen, CEO of Carallel, an organization built to support caregivers, in this week's podcast. Shara shared not only who caregivers are and the vital role they play in healthcare, but the challenges they face. She also discussed ways health plans can do better to meet the needs of today’s caregivers.

Pfizer and BioNTech expect to have an omicron-specific booster ready by March 2022.

Preclinical studies show sotrovimab is active against key mutations of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.

The Oncology Care Model (OCM) was CMS’ main attempt to usher value-based care into oncology. What will come after OCM is unclear as the future of successor, Oncology Care First, is now very much in doubt.

Researchers say findings argue for including substance use counseling in family planning care for people living with HIV.

The model could make it quicker and easier to decide whether patients need continuous positive airflow pressure machines or not.

Besremi was approved in November to treat adults with polycythemia vera.

Like other providers, the VA saw a large, pandemic-related increase in virtual visits. In 2019, 27% of visits were virtual compared with 64% in 2020.

A new model of the hypothalamus can lead to potential new genetic targets for a number of disorders.

According to a survey, 63% are reviewing Medicare options for the 2022 plan year.

More than one quarter (27%) of employees with employer-sponsored health insurance said those expenses had a major impact on their mental health, while 16% indicated they had a major impact on their family’s well-being.