A More Aggressive FTC Is Starting to Target Drug Mergers and Industry Middlemen
Under the leadership of an aggressive opponent of anti-competitive business practices, the Federal Trade Commission is moving against drug companies and industry middlemen as part of the Biden administration’s push for lower drug prices at the pharmacy counter.
On May 16, the FTC sued to block the merger of drugmakers Amgen and Horizon Therapeutics, saying the tangled web of drug industry deal-making would enable Amgen to leverage the monopoly power of two top Horizon drugs that have no rivals.
In its lawsuit, the FTC said that if it allowed Amgen’s $27.8 billion purchase to go through, Amgen could pressure the companies that manage access to prescription drugs — pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs — to boost the two extremely expensive Horizon products in a way that would inhibit any competition.
The suit, the first time since 2009 that the FTC has tried to block a drug company merger, reflects Chair Lina Khan’s strong interest in antitrust action. In announcing the suit, the agency said that by fighting monopoly powers it aimed to tame prices and improve patients’ access to cheaper products.
The FTC’s action is a “shot across the bow for the pharmaceutical industry,” said Robin Feldman, a professor and drug industry expert at the University of California College of the Law-San Francisco. David Balto, a former FTC official and attorney who fought the 2019 Bristol-Myers Squibb-Celgene and 2020 AbbVie-Allergan mergers, said FTC’s action was long overdue.
The Horizon-Amgen merger would “cost consumers in higher prices, less choice, and innovation,” he said. “The merger would have given Amgen even more tools to exploit consumers and harm competition.”
The FTC also announced an expansion of a yearlong investigation of the PBMs, saying it was looking at two giant drug-purchasing companies, Ascent Health Services and Zinc Health Services. Critics claim the PBMs set up these companies to conceal profits.
When Amgen announced its purchase of Horizon in December — the biggest biopharma transaction in 2022 — it showed particular interest in Horizon’s drugs for thyroid eye disease (Tepezza) and severe gout (Krystexxa), for which the company was charging up to $350,000 and $650,000, respectively, for a year of treatment. The complaint said the merger would disadvantage biotech rivals that have similar products in advanced clinical testing.
Amgen could promote the Horizon drugs through “cross-market bundling,” the FTC said. That means requiring PBMs to promote some of Amgen’s less popular drugs — the Horizon products, in this case — in exchange for Amgen offering the PBMs large rebates for its blockbusters. Amgen has nine drugs that each earned more than $1 billion last year, according to the complaint, the most popular being Enbrel, which treats rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases.
The three biggest PBMs negotiate prices and access to 80% of prescription drugs in the U.S., giving them enormous bargaining power. Their ability to influence which drugs Americans can get, and at what price, enables the PBMs to obtain billions in rebates from drug manufacturers.
“The prospect that Amgen could leverage its portfolio of blockbuster drugs to gain advantages over potential rivals is not hypothetical,” the FTC complaint states. “Amgen has deployed this very strategy to extract favorable terms from payers to protect sales of Amgen’s struggling drugs.”
The complaint noted that biotech Regeneron last year sued Amgen, alleging that the latter’s rebating strategy harmed Regeneron’s ability to sell its competing cholesterol drug, Praluent. Amgen’s Repatha generated $1.3 billion in global revenue in 2022.
It “may be effectively impossible” for smaller rivals to “match the value of bundled rebates that Amgen would be able to offer” as it leverages placement of the Horizon drugs on health plan formularies, the complaint states.
Business analysts were skeptical that the FTC action would succeed. Until now the commission and the Department of Justice have shied away from challenging pharmaceutical mergers, a precedent that will be hard to overcome.
Research on the impact of mergers has shown that they often benefit shareholders by increasing stock prices, but hurt innovation in drug development by trimming research projects and staffing.
Waves of consolidation shrank the field of leading pharma companies from 60 to 10 from 1995 to 2015. Most of the mergers in recent years have involved “big fish buying up lots of little fish,” such as biotech companies with promising drugs, Feldman said.
The giant Amgen-Horizon merger is an obvious exception, and therefore a good opportunity for the FTC to demonstrate a “theory of harm” around drug industry bundling maneuvers with PBMs, said Aaron Glick, a mergers analyst with Cowen & Co.
But that doesn’t mean the FTC will win.
Amgen may or may not engage in anti-competitive practices, but “a separate question is, how does this lawsuit fit under current antitrust laws and precedent?” Glick said. “The way the law is set up today, it seems unlikely it will hold up in court.”
The FTC’s argument about Amgen’s behavior with Horizon products is hypothetical. The pending Regeneron suit against Amgen, as well as other, successful lawsuits, suggests that rules are in place to suppress this kind of anti-competitive behavior when it occurs, Glick said.
The judge presiding over the case in U.S. District Court in Illinois is John Kness, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump and is a former member of the Federalist Society, whose membership tends to be skeptical of antitrust efforts. The case is likely to be settled by Dec. 12, the deadline for the merger to go through under current terms.
Amgen sought to undercut the government’s case by agreeing not to bundle Horizon products in future negotiations with pharmacy benefit managers. That promise, while hard to enforce, might get a sympathetic hearing in court, Glick said.
Still, even a loss would enable the FTC to shed light on a problem in the industry and what it sees as a deficiency in antitrust laws that it wants Congress to correct, he said.
The day after suing to stop the merger, the FTC announced it was pushing further into an investigation of pharmacy benefit managers that it began last June. The agency demanded information from Ascent and Zinc, the two so-called rebate aggregators — drug purchasing organizations set up by PBMs Express Scripts and CVS Caremark.
At a May 10 hearing, Eli Lilly & Co. CEO Dave Ricks said that most of the $8 billion in rebate checks his company paid last year went to rebate aggregators, rather than to the PBMs directly. A “big chunk” of the $8 billion went overseas, he said. Ascent is based in Switzerland, while Emisar Pharma Services, an aggregator established by PBM OptumRx, is headquartered in Ireland. Zinc Health Services is registered in the U.S.
Critics say the aggregators enable PBMs to obscure the size and destination of rebates and other fees they charge as intermediaries in the drug business.
The PBMs say their efforts reduce prices at the pharmaceutical counter. Testimony in Congress and in FTC hearings over the past year indicate that, at least in some instances, they actually increase them.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
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2 years 2 months ago
Courts, Health Industry, Pharmaceuticals, Drug Costs, Prescription Drugs
Una FTC más agresiva persigue las fusiones en la industria farmacéutica y a los intermediarios del sector
Bajo la dirección de una agresiva opositora al comportamiento empresarial que menoscaba la competencia, la Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC) está actuando contra las empresas farmacéuticas y los intermediarios del sector, como parte de la campaña de la administración Biden para reducir los precios de los medicamentos en las farmacias.
El 16 de mayo, la FTC interpuso una demanda para bloquear la fusión de las farmacéuticas Amgen y Horizon Therapeutics, alegando que la enmarañada red de acuerdos de la industria permitiría a Amgen aprovechar el poder monopolístico de dos de los principales medicamentos de Horizon que no tienen rivales.
En su demanda, la FTC alegó que si se permitía la compra que pretende Amgen por $27,800 millones, Amgen podría presionar a las empresas que gestionan el acceso a los medicamentos con receta —los gestores de beneficios de farmacia, o PBM— para que impongan los dos productos extremadamente caros de Horizon de una manera que eliminaría cualquier competencia.
Es la primera vez desde 2009 que la FTC intenta bloquear una fusión de empresas farmacéuticas, y esta demanda refleja el gran interés de la presidenta Lina Khan por las medidas antimonopolio. Al anunciar la demanda, la agencia declaró que al luchar contra los poderes monopolísticos pretendía controlar los precios y mejorar el acceso de los pacientes a productos más baratos.
Para Robin Feldman, profesor y experto en la industria farmacéutica de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de California en San Francisco, la actuación de la FTC es “un golpe frontal a la industria farmacéutica”. David Balto, ex funcionario de la FTC y abogado que luchó contra las fusiones Bristol-Myers Squibb-Celgene en 2019 y AbbVie-Allergan en 2020, dijo que la acción de la FTC era necesaria desde hace mucho tiempo.
La fusión Horizon-Amgen “costaría a los consumidores precios más altos, menos opciones e innovación”, señaló. “La fusión habría dado a Amgen aún más herramientas para explotar a los consumidores y dañar la competencia”.
La FTC también anunció la ampliación de una investigación de un año sobre los PBM, indicando que se investigaban dos gigantescas empresas de compra de medicamentos, Ascent Health Services y Zinc Health Services. Los críticos afirman que los PBM crearon estas empresas para ocultar beneficios.
Cuando Amgen anunció la compra de Horizon en diciembre —la mayor operación biofarmacéutica de 2022— mostró especial interés por los medicamentos de Horizon para la enfermedad tiroidea ocular (Tepezza) y la gota grave (Krystexxa), por los que la empresa cobraba hasta $350,000 y $650,000, respectivamente, por un año de tratamiento. Según la demanda, la fusión perjudicaría a rivales biotecnológicos que tienen productos similares en fase avanzada de pruebas clínicas.
Según la FTC, Amgen podría promocionar los fármacos de Horizon a través de la “venta cruzada”. Esto significa exigir a los PBM que promocionen algunos de los medicamentos menos populares de Amgen —los productos Horizon, en este caso— a cambio de que Amgen ofrezca a los PBM grandes descuentos por sus superventas. Según la denuncia, Amgen tiene nueve medicamentos que el año pasado generaron más de $1,000 millones cada uno. El más popular es Enbrel, que trata la artritis reumatoide y otras enfermedades.
Los tres mayores PBM negocian los precios y el acceso al 80% de los medicamentos recetados en Estados Unidos, lo que les confiere un enorme poder de negociación. Su capacidad para influir en los medicamentos a los que tienen acceso los estadounidenses, y a qué precio, les permite obtener miles de millones en descuentos de los fabricantes.
“La posibilidad de que Amgen pudiera aprovechar su cartera de medicamentos superventas para obtener ventajas sobre sus rivales potenciales no es hipotética”, afirma la denuncia de la FTC. “Amgen ha desplegado esta misma estrategia para conseguir condiciones favorables de los pagadores y proteger así las ventas de los medicamentos de Amgen en dificultades”.
La denuncia señaló que la biotecnológica Regeneron demandó el año pasado a Amgen, alegando que la estrategia de reembolso de esta última perjudicó la capacidad de Regeneron para vender su medicamento competidor contra el colesterol, Praluent. Repatha, de Amgen, generó unos ingresos mundiales de $1,300 millones en 2022.
Según la demanda, “puede resultar completamente imposible” para los rivales más pequeños “igualar el valor de los reembolsos agrupados que Amgen podría ofrecer”, ya que aprovecha la colocación de los medicamentos de Horizon en los formularios de los planes de salud.
Los analistas de la industria se mostraron escépticos sobre el éxito de la acción de la FTC. Hasta ahora, la Comisión y el Departamento de Justicia han evitado cuestionar las fusiones farmacéuticas, un precedente difícil de superar.
Las investigaciones sobre el impacto de las fusiones han demostrado que a menudo benefician a los accionistas al aumentar el precio de las acciones; pero perjudican la innovación en el desarrollo de fármacos al recortar los proyectos de investigación y el personal.
Las olas de consolidación redujeron el número de empresas farmacéuticas líderes de 60 a 10 entre 1995 y 2015. Según Feldman, la mayoría de las fusiones de los últimos años se han producido entre “peces gordos que adquieren muchos peces pequeños”, como empresas de biotecnología con fármacos prometedores.
La gigantesca fusión Amgen-Horizon es una excepción obvia y, por tanto, una buena oportunidad para que la FTC demuestre la “teoría del daño” en las maniobras de consolidación de la industria farmacéutica con los PBM, dijo Aaron Glick, analista de fusiones de Cowen & Co.
Pero eso no significa que la FTC vaya a ganar.
Amgen puede incurrir o no en prácticas anticompetitivas, pero “otra cuestión es cómo encaja esta demanda en las leyes antimonopolio y los precedentes actuales”, señaló Glick. “Tal y como está configurada la ley hoy, parece poco probable que se sostenga en los tribunales”.
El argumento de la FTC sobre el comportamiento de Amgen con los productos Horizon es hipotético. La demanda pendiente de Regeneron contra Amgen, así como otras demandas que han prosperado, sugiere que existen normas para suprimir este tipo de comportamiento anticompetitivo cuando se produce, añadió Glick.
El juez que preside el caso en el Tribunal de Distrito de Estados Unidos en Illinois es John Kness, quien fue nombrado por el entonces presidente Donald Trump y es un ex miembro de la Federalist Society, cuyos miembros tienden a ser escépticos sobre los esfuerzos antimonopolio.
Es probable que el caso se resuelva antes del 12 de diciembre, fecha límite para que la fusión se lleve a cabo en los términos actuales.
Amgen trató de socavar los argumentos del Gobierno comprometiéndose a no agrupar los productos de Horizon en futuras negociaciones con los gestores de beneficios farmacéuticos (PBM). Esta promesa, aunque difícil de hacer cumplir, podría obtener una audiencia favorable en corte, apuntó Glick.
Sin embargo, incluso una derrota permitiría a la FTC arrojar luz sobre un problema en la industria y lo que considera una deficiencia en las leyes antimonopolio que quiere que el Congreso corrija, explicó.
Al día siguiente de ir a corte para detener la fusión, la FTC anunció que profundizaba en una investigación sobre los gestores de beneficios farmacéuticos que inició el pasado mes de junio. La agencia solicitó información a Ascent y Zinc, los dos llamados agregadores de reembolsos, organizaciones de compra de medicamentos creadas por los PBM Express Scripts y CVS Caremark.
En una audiencia celebrada el 10 de mayo, el CEO de Eli Lilly & Co., Dave Ricks, afirmó que la mayor parte de los $8,000 millones en cheques de reembolso que su empresa pagó el año pasado fueron a parar a los agregadores de reembolsos, en lugar de directamente a los PBM. Una “gran parte” de los $8,000 millones fue a parar al extranjero, indicó Ricks. Ascent tiene su sede en Suiza, mientras que Emisar Pharma Services, un agregador establecido por PBM OptumRx, tiene su sede en Irlanda. Zinc Health Services está registrada en Estados Unidos.
Los críticos afirman que los agregadores permiten a los PBM ocultar la cuantía y el destino de los reembolsos y otras comisiones que cobran como intermediarios en el negocio de los medicamentos.
Por su parte, los PBM aseguran que sus esfuerzos reducen los precios en el mostrador de la farmacia. Los testimonios en el Congreso y en las audiencias de la FTC del año pasado indican que, al menos en algunos casos, en realidad los aumentan.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
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2 years 2 months ago
Courts, Health Industry, Noticias En Español, Pharmaceuticals, Drug Costs, Prescription Drugs
Custos, Mandeville Hospital hosting 5K to raise money for renal unit
MANDEVILLE, Manchester — With more than 100 people on the waiting list for dialysis at the Mandeville Regional Hospital's renal unit Jamaicans are being encouraged to maintain healthy lifestyles, even as leaders and businesses here pledge support towards the facility.
Dr Garbriel Ukala, consultant internist and head of the medicine department at the hospital, shared the worrying statistics of Jamaicans requiring dialysis and the insufficient resources available to them.
"At Mandeville Regional Hospital there are 12 dialysis stations operating on two and a half shifts daily, in addition to providing emergency dialysis when needed. On average this is able to accommodate about 70 patients for regular, planned dialysis," he said on Friday.
Ukala was addressing the media launch of a 5K event set for June 11 in support of the Mandeville Regional Hospital's renal unit.
He said 6,025 dialysis treatments were administered to 221 patients in 2021 at the renal unit.
"In 2022 there were 6,615 dialysis treatments on 197 patients. This is not meeting the demand — it hardly scratches the surface. The waiting list for dialysis at Mandeville Regional Hospital is well over 100 patients, and I don't want to tell you what the criteria for bringing in the next person is," said Ukala.
"Most of these patients are unable to afford the cost of private dialysis. Many start out by getting private dialysis but are unable to keep up with the requirement for two or three dialysis treatments a week due to the cost associated with the treatment," he said.
He reiterated that kidney disease is preventable.
"The main risk factors that we have discovered for end-stage kidney disease are poorly controlled diabetes and hypertension, both chronic lifestyle diseases that are prevalent in our population," said Ukala.
Custos of Manchester Garfield Green, who has been vital to the organisation of the 5K, said he is looking forward to people supporting the event.
"[For] the inaugural run/walk/cycle for Manchester we have decided to partner with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, through the Southern Regional Health Authority, to provide moral and financial support to the renal unit… Providing care for kidney disease is very costly, delicate and technical. I toured the unit and I learnt a lot. I had no idea [prior] as to how it worked," he said.
"Our 5K road race is not just a physical challenge, but it sets the tone for trust, commitment, solidarity, sympathy and empathy," he added.
Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell said the municipal corporation, which manages Cecil Charlton Park, has waived fees for the use of the facility for the 5K and has contributed to the purchase of 200 branded T-shirts.
"We are partnering with the custos and his team. Twenty members of our staff will join the 5K," he said.
CEO of the Mandeville Regional Hospital Alwyn Miller commended Custos Green for partnering with the renal unit.
"The promotion of a healthy lifestyle, and particularly exercise, remains very relevant beyond the COVID[-19] pandemic. I think most of us will remember during the pandemic we saw a whole lot more people walking in the morning and persons drinking more water and juices and striving for a healthy life. We should continue that," he said.
"This event promises to be an extraordinary one. In my mind, outside of the Blue Mountains, Mandeville has the most salubrious and refreshing climate that will contribute to revitalising our participants," added Miller.
The registration link for the event is https://my.raceresult.com/241933/registration
2 years 2 months ago
High-risk mom worried about delivery
Dear Dr. Mitchell,
I am pregnant with my fifth child and thought I would be doing my fifth C-section. However, no doctor wants to deliver me, as they have said that I'm high risk. How am I supposed to get this baby out? I am 15 weeks pregnant.
Dear Dr. Mitchell,
I am pregnant with my fifth child and thought I would be doing my fifth C-section. However, no doctor wants to deliver me, as they have said that I'm high risk. How am I supposed to get this baby out? I am 15 weeks pregnant.
Congratulations on your pregnancy. I know it is your fifth, and that you will need a Caesarean section for the delivery.
The problem that could arise with the fact that you have had four previous pregnancies is that the scar on the uterus gets progressively weaker with each operation that you do and the uterus can rupture at anytime in the pregnancy. The risk becomes greater if you are in the last few weeks of pregnancy before delivery and even greater if you go into premature labour. It is important that you register to have your baby at a hospital that has a blood bank or ready access to blood products. It is also important that the hospital is equipped to do an emergency Caesarean section immediately, if you go into labour before the scheduled date.
It is important that you attend all your antenatal visits, and take your prenatal vitamins and iron supplements to ensure that your blood count is good. You should also follow the advice that your doctor gives you.
It is important to drink a lot of fluids to stay well hydrated since premature contractions and labour can be triggered by dehydration. Infection can also cause pre-term labour so you should report any sign of any abnormal vaginal discharge, fever or any viral illness so that you can be appropriately managed to reduce the risk of premature labour and uterine rupture.
Your doctor might also decide to deliver the baby at least three weeks early to reduce the chances of early labour and uterine rupture. It might also be necessary to give you some steroids to mature the lungs of the baby to reduce the risk of breathing difficulties at birth and the need for the baby to be placed on a ventilator. This is especially important if there is a threat of premature labour.
Consult your doctor and ask for a referral to a major hospital so you can get the care you will need. Ensure that you eat a healthy diet containing iron-rich foods while taking your supplements. You should take your iron tablets with water or fruit juice which will improve absorption. Do not take iron with antacid, milk or tea as this will reduce the absorption and delay the increase in your blood count which is vital to ensure proper growth and development of your baby and also reduce your risk of serious complications from blood loss at the time of your delivery. You should also consider doing a tubal ligation at the time of your Caesarean section delivery to prevent an unwanted pregnancy with all its complications.
Wishing for you a safe delivery.
Best regards.
Dr Sharmaine Mitchell is an obstetrician and gynaecologist. Send questions via e-mail to allwoman@jamaicaobserver.com; write to All Woman, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5 or fax to 876-968-2025. All responses are published. Dr Mitchell cannot provide personal responses.
DISCLAIMER:
The contents of this article are for informational purposes only and must not be relied upon as an alternative to medical advice or treatment from your own doctor.
2 years 2 months ago
Obesity drug brings heart health benefit alongside weight loss, study says - KSL.com
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2 years 2 months ago
Health Archives - Barbados Today
Men urged to get tested for prostate cancer
Barbadian men need to come forward and be tested for prostate cancer. This was the plea made by president of the Barbados Cancer Society, Professor R David Rosin, as he spoke during Sunday’s Prostate Cancer Walk.
Barbadian men need to come forward and be tested for prostate cancer. This was the plea made by president of the Barbados Cancer Society, Professor R David Rosin, as he spoke during Sunday’s Prostate Cancer Walk.
The walk was recently launched to encourage more men to get tested for the disease.
Professor Rosin said even though more Barbadians are coming forward to be tested, the numbers among men are still worryingly low, and needed to see a change.
“Men I think don’t like to show weakness, so they don’t come forward. That’s why we really [need] more education … cancer is not such a disaster, in fact in the rest of the world [prostate cancer] is the least worrying, because men can live with it. Unfortunately, in men of African descent it’s more aggressive, so they need to come forward and they need to be sensible. Forget the idea that it’s showing weakness … come forward,” he said.
While noting the results of a recent trial which involved 565 men over 40 that showed thousands of Barbadian men as young as 40 have a specific DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecule gene that predisposes them to the development of prostate cancer, Rosin stressed it was vital for men to come out in their numbers and get tested as soon as possible in order for necessary treatment to take place.
“In Barbados, prostate cancer is the most common cancer that we have. We roughly have in the last census in 2018, 325 men with prostate cancer. When you consider that it’s only half the population being men, that is a very high percentage. I think Barbados is the third highest in the world for prostate cancer [so] it’s vital that we diagnose this as early as possible.
“As with any [other] cancer, if we diagnose it early, then of course it’s very treatable. The whole idea of today’s walk is to really bring everybody’s attention to come forward and be screened.” (SB)
The post Men urged to get tested for prostate cancer appeared first on Barbados Today.
2 years 2 months ago
A Slider, Health, Local News
Kids as young as 4 years old can begin to learn medical emergency training: New report
Teaching children basic life support knowledge can start as early as four years old, according to a new scientific statement from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), the American Heart Association and the European Resuscitation Council.
The group said that building the skills for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can start at age four — and be developed over time through routine training.
By the time children have reached 10 years old, they then may be able to perform effective chest compressions on manikins, said the statement published in Circulation, the American Heart Association’s journal.
It detailed evidence showing that schoolchildren as young as age four know how to call for help in a medical emergency — and that, by the ages of 10-12, they can even administer effective chest compressions when performing CPR.
The statement also said that kids can become aware of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and begin learning the steps and rhythm of CPR.
"Building skills at a young age that are reinforced consistently throughout their years in school has the potential to educate generations of students and their parents on how to respond to cardiac arrest, perform chest compressions and rescue breaths, use an AED and ultimately increase survival," Comilla Sasson, M.D., PhD and a member of the statement-writing committee, said in a news release.
BE WELL: FLOSS YOUR TEETH DAILY FOR BETTER HEART HEALTH
Sasson, an emergency physician based in the Denver area who serves as vice president for science and innovation at the American Heart Association, said all family members should know what to do in the event of a cardiac arrest (when the heart stops beating) — since it occurs most often outside a hospital setting.
The report authors reviewed over 100 research articles about training students in CPR.
They found that school-aged children are highly motivated to learn life-saving skills and often "multiply" their training by sharing what they have learned with others, the news release said.
"Training students has become a key element to increase the number of people ready to perform CPR when cardiac arrest occurs outside a hospital, and potentially increase rates of CPR and cardiac arrest survival globally," Dr. Bernd W. Böttiger, chair of the statement-writing group and head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at the University Hospital of Cologne in Cologne, Germany, said in a news release.
The authors recommended a combination of theoretical and practical training in schools and using social media tools to help share lifesaving skills.
Worldwide, cardiac arrest that occurs away from a hospital setting is a leading cause of death, with survival rates range between 2% and 20% globally, according to the report.
These rates are especially low when a bystander does not take immediate action, the news release said.
"With survival rates of 2% to 20% for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, this study delineates the significance of children and their ability to respond not only in a timely manner but also provide care in a critical period for a patient or possibly even a friend or family member," said Dr. Zachary Hena, M.D., a pediatric cardiologist at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone in New York City, who was not associated with the report.
Hena also told Fox News Digital, "We know the time from when someone is down to [the] time to starting chest compressions and/or delivering an effective shock if necessary improves survival and outcomes. Effectively, kids can save lives from this study — but more importantly, kids will save lives," he added.
COVID PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IS OVER: HERE'S WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
Dr. Kendra Hoepper, a pediatric nurse practitioner and an associate professor and program director of nursing at Dominican University of California in San Rafael, told Fox News Digital that it's important to implement a tiered type of training program regarding CPR and first aid in children.
That way, kids can feel more comfortable and not be fearful of reacting.
Despite their young age, she said even a 4-year-old could be helpful in an emergency.
"The sooner we can encourage kids to know what to do in emergencies, the better," she said.
"Let's say a parent or grandparent collapses in the home — [children] may not know how to check a pulse or for breathing, but they can recognize when something is wrong and they should know to call 9-1-1."
She added, "The 4-year-old can at least talk to someone on the phone who would then be able to instruct the child on what to do until emergency services arrive."
Hoepper and some of her former colleagues at Molloy University in Rockville Center, New York, partnered with local schools and organizations such as the Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts to help educate the community on the American Heart Association’s "Hands On Only" CPR training through formal classes and pop-up tent events.
Debra McWilliams, MS, RN, director of Interprofessional Simulation at Long Island University Post in Brookville, New York, said of the report, "We know that every second counts when it comes to helping someone who has collapsed from a cardiac event."
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She added, "Many people witnessed the collapse of Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin on the field this past year. Within seconds, team trainers provided CPR and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restart his heart."
McWilliams and her nursing students recently taught CPR to the LIU community.
She said, "Knowledge is power. Educating people of all ages, children to adults, will have a positive ripple effect. This lesson can literally save lives."
2 years 2 months ago
Health, healthy-living, lifestyle, heart-health, Education, medical-tech, parenting
PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization
Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly opens in Geneva
Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly opens in Geneva
Luciana Viegas
21 May 2023
Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly opens in Geneva
Luciana Viegas
21 May 2023
2 years 2 months ago
Drinking water crisis, breeding ground for gastrointestinal diseases
Humans cannot deny the importance of water as a resource for life, which serves for hydration, daily hygiene, cooking food, and other uses such as irrigation, recreational purposes, and even energy production.
However, when water is contaminated by parasites, it can cause various diseases, especially in the digestive tract.
Humans cannot deny the importance of water as a resource for life, which serves for hydration, daily hygiene, cooking food, and other uses such as irrigation, recreational purposes, and even energy production.
However, when water is contaminated by parasites, it can cause various diseases, especially in the digestive tract.
In the Dominican Republic, it is not uncommon for diarrhea to be caused by parasitic agents detected through stool culture.
“We live with parasites. It is very common in our country that a patient who comes with diarrhea and fever turns out to have a parasitic infection,” said gastroenterologist María Alonzo.
This is due, to a great extent, to four fundamental reasons: impurities that were not eliminated in the source at the moment of drinking water; lack of chlorine; deficient systems of storage of the liquid, and bad hygiene habits on the part of the citizens.
“Many of the pictures we see in the gastro consultation have to do with water that has not been properly processed and transmit parasites, bacteria and viruses,” she added.
According to the specialist at the Center for Advanced Gastroenterology, the most common parasite reports she sees in her practice are from patients infected with amoeba and giardia.
Dr. Maria Alonzo (EXTERNAL SOURCE).
These microscopic agents can cause acute gastroenteritis, consisting of diarrhea with nausea, vomiting, fever, and general malaise.
Alonzo clarifies that it is important to identify which parasitic agent is causing diarrhea, since “each one has a specific type of treatment.” Self-medication is ruled out.
“We cook or clean with non-potable water, thus contaminating the food and then we ingest it. Also, people who do not wash their hands properly, when interacting with food, in the end it is transmitted orally,” the doctor explained about the transmission cycle.
The gastro pointed out that children and elderly people are the most at-risk population, reminding that in case of diarrhea, the main thing is to keep the patient hydrated until he/she receives the corresponding treatment, otherwise, it could lead to renal failure.
More hand washing
Although it may seem a reiterative measure, Alonzo called for more emphasis on hand washing education, a simple action with proven results for the benefit of health.
“The Covid pandemic reminded us of this, but we are becoming increasingly lax. People no longer last the 20 seconds they should be soaping each hand. Only good hygiene prevents these cases (of parasitosis),” she said.
Water crisis
At present, the country is experiencing a water shortage as a consequence of the drought, aggravating the factors that lead to a lack of sanitation, which may cause, in addition to gastroenteritis, an increase of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya due to the storage of water in tanks and gallons that end up becoming mosquito breeding places if they are not hermetically sealed.
Another disease that spreads rapidly due to lack of water is cholera since its transmission is entirely linked to poor hygiene and sanitation habits. It is important to note that cholera cases have decreased and in the last few weeks, Public Health has not reported any new infections.
A direct consequence of the low rainfall is that the Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewerage Corporation (Caasd) has stopped producing about 25% less water than it used to, for a deficit of 139 million gallons per day in Greater Santo Domingo.
2 years 2 months ago
Health, Local
Levonorgestrel IUD reduces blood loss by more than 90% in those with heavy menstrual bleeding
BALTIMORE — Patients with heavy menstrual bleeding who received the levonorgestrel 52 mg intrauterine device experienced significant and rapid decreases in uterine bleeding after placement, a researcher reported here.Blood loss was reduced by more than 90% over 6 months after placement of the Liletta levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (AbbVie/Medicines360) compared with baseline for m
ost with heavy menstrual bleeding, according to Mitchell D. Creinin, MD, professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at University of California Davis Health System in Sacramento.“The
2 years 2 months ago
What to keep in your first aid kit
I have been asked many times why I wear a medic alert bracelet. The answer is that I suffer from many allergies — foods and insect bites.
In fact, I was once stung by a bee and developed an anaphylactic reaction. Whoa! What's that? A very serious allergic reaction! I stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated (just like on the medical TV shows). What saved my life was my obsession with having certain medications easily available at home. These medications included injectable drugs which were used by a neighbour to save my life.
I mention my case to illustrate the importance of having a first aid kit at home. Of course, most people will not have injectable medications at home and if someone developed a bad allergic reaction, that person would need to be rushed to the nearest medical facility for appropriate treatment. However, some action could be taken as soon as symptoms developed. Assuming that the affected person is conscious, he or she could be given an antihistamine (for example — diphenhydramine — DPH) before being rushed off to the nearest medical facility. Quick action in emergency and non-emergency situations can be facilitated by having a first aid kit that is readily accessible to each household member.
The following are items that are suitable for a home first aid kit.
1. Disinfectant
2. Antibiotic ointment (for minor cuts, wounds)
3. Ointment for burns
4. Rubbing alcohol
5. Antihistamine liquid or tablets (for allergic reactions, runny nostrils, itching of the skin)
6. Pain relieving ointment/gel
7. Pain relieving liquid/tablets
8. Oral rehydration salts (for the treatment of dehydration in cases of vomiting and/or diarrhoea)
9. Sundry items — cotton swabs, gauze pads, band-aid, elastic bandage, tape, gloves
10. A small pair of scissors
11. A disposable razor (helps in removing hair from wounds)
12. Tweezers ( can be used to remove splinters from wounds. I have had to use my tweezers to remove prickles from my fingers)
13. Olive oil (can be placed in the ear to aid in the removal of wax)
14. Flashlight
15. Thermometer
16. Ice pack
17. Hot water bottle
A great substitute for an ice pack is an ice filled plastic bag wrapped with a small towel. Similarly, a good substitute for a hot water bottle is a small plastic bottle filled with hot water and wrapped in a towel.
I keep my first aid items in a carton box which is kept in a cupboard. The location of the box is known to all members of the household. You can vary the contents of your kit based on your family's needs. For example, if there are children in the household, you should have oral rehydration salts, paracetamol (for fever), an antihistamine (for example, DPH for runny nostrils) in your first aid kit. I suggest that you purchase the smallest size tubes/bottles of medications and regularly check the expiration dates of the medications that you purchase.
The contents of your first aid kit can be expanded if any household member is diabetic or hypertensive. Those persons need ready access to a glucometer to check the blood glucose levels and a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure measuring machine). Diabetics can obtain a glucometer from the National Health Fund. Many pharmacies sell blood pressure measuring machines. It is very important that everyone is familiar with rendering first aid. Knowledge of first aid can help to alleviate suffering and save lives. We all need to know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), what to do if someone is choking, ways to stop bleeding, clean wounds, lower a fever, relieve pain, and treat dehydration.
Please remember to keep all medicines out of the reach of small children. If you do not have a first aid kit at home, please start acquiring the contents as soon as possible. This kit may save your life.
Dr Jacqueline E Campbell is a family physician and radio show host. She is the author of the book "A patient's guide to the treatment of diabetes mellitus." Email:drjcampbell14@yahoo.com and IG: dr.jcampbell
2 years 2 months ago
How telemedicine supports the health needs of growing teens
TECHNOLOGY is taking over and telemedicine is just one way that the health-care sector has taken advantage of this phenomenon.
Many conversations around telemedicine underscore the benefits of it for adult patients; however, teens can also gain large benefits from the offerings of telemedicine platforms such as MDLink.
TECHNOLOGY is taking over and telemedicine is just one way that the health-care sector has taken advantage of this phenomenon.
Many conversations around telemedicine underscore the benefits of it for adult patients; however, teens can also gain large benefits from the offerings of telemedicine platforms such as MDLink.
A teenager is any person between the ages of 13-19, this period may also be referred to as adolescence as it represents the onset of puberty. During puberty, the body undergoes several changes preparing it for reproductive maturity. This period may feel unsettling for the growing teen, but also for the parents who are not sure how to guide and support them through this time. Telemedicine offers remote support for teens who may need health-care treatment for physical, emotional and mental challenges.
The following are a few ways teens can take advantage of telemedicine:
• Support through general health concerns. Whether it be a cold, a rash or even pains such as girls' menstrual cramps, teens can take advantage of telemedicine services as much as adults can. Teens can talk one-on-one with their doctors through the offerings of telemedicine such as voice call, text or video call, with permission from their parents. Parents may still offer input if necessary or teens may talk to their doctors on their own — whichever makes both child and parents most comfortable. They may find a safe space, use their headphones, and discuss with their doctor any health issues they may be having. Tech-savvy teens may find comfort in using the Internet for their treatment. Additionally, those with busy parents can get treatment without having to fit an in-person appointment into their busy schedules.
• Teens gain access to health care in rural areas. While many rural areas may not have access to specialist paediatricians or any state-of-the-art health-care facility for miles, many teens do have access to smart devices and the Internet. Therefore, teens will be able to use the technology they use every day to take care of their health and possibly even help members of their families that aren't too keen on using technology. This eliminates travelling long distances as well as long waits to get in-person visits from specialists.
• Easy and relatable access to mental health services. Teens may not only need support through physical changes but with anxiety and stress stemming from school, home life and general insecurities, including self-confidence, that come with growing up. Giving teens the opportunity to have a trained mental health physician they can talk to virtually provides key support to those that need it. They need only to find a safe and private area where they can discuss their problems and receive the recommended treatment and guidance to overcome their challenges.
• Support and advice through the changes of adolescence. Parents and teens alike may find it uncomfortable to discuss the changes happening in adolescence. This may include physical and hormonal changes. Helping teens understand how to prepare is important for managing this period of their lives. Additionally, your doctor can discuss with them about their reproductive health and offer sex education to ensure they transition through this period safely and carefully. Telemedicine provides a safe space to educate and encourage growing teens to make knowledgeable decisions about their health. It may, in turn, help teens feel more comfortable discussing their health with medical professionals and their parents. Ultimately, it ensures that teens understand there is nothing for them to worry about as they go through the phases of adolescence.
As the world changes the needs of the next generation also change. Therefore, offering more varied means to access health care is of prime importance. Telemedicine allows health care to meet teens halfway and have their needs met in a way that they find accessible and convenient. Encouraging the use of telemedicine by teens will not only support its use and importance as they get older, but provides a fundamental form of support and quality health care during a fundamental period. For parents, if you are unsure how your child can benefit from telemedicine or how you should guide them using this, you may reach out to your doctor and discuss with them the possibilities.
Dr Ché Bowen, a digital health entrepreneur and family physician, is the CEO & founder of MDLink, a digital health company that provides telemedicine options. Check out the company's website at www.theMDLink.com. You can also contact him at drchebowen@themdlink.com.
2 years 2 months ago
Children's cancer research fund backs cutting-edge leukaemia research at UVA
CHARLOTTESVILLE, United States – The Children's Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) has awarded US$250,000 to an innovative new approach to treating leukaemia (blood cancer) being developed at the UVA Cancer Center.
The grant to John H Bushweller, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, is part of the national non-profit's efforts to accelerate the development of new and better treatments for difficult-to-treat cancers.
"This funding makes it possible to continue developing a novel approach to treatment for a form of paediatric leukaemia with a very poor prognosis," said Bushweller of UVA's Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics. "For paediatric cancers in particular, the development of highly targeted approaches that directly inhibit the protein that drives the cancer has the potential to be more effective and to limit the substantial toxicity of current approaches, vastly improving outcomes for these patients. This is exactly the approach we are pursuing with the support of CCRF."
Bushweller and his team are developing drugs to block the effect of an abnormal protein that is formed when the protein MLL becomes fused to other proteins and alters the cell, resulting in either acute myeloid leukaemia or acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Bushweller and his team found in their lab models that blocking the ability of these abnormal proteins to bind to DNA completely prevented them from causing leukaemia. Based on those results they are working to develop drugs that disrupt this DNA binding, as a novel approach for treatment.
Based on the promising results so far Bushweller believes his new approach could be both more effective and less toxic than existing options for treating leukaemia. Further, he hopes that the new approach can be combined with existing drugs to provide unique benefits for patients.
"The potential benefits to patients include improved efficacy, leading to better outcomes; and much-reduced toxicity, leading to [a] far better quality of life and reduced long-term health effects from the treatment," he said.
Children's Cancer Research Fund is a national non-profit dedicated to ending childhood cancer. It backs promising research from top scientists across the country, funding projects that could make the greatest impact for children battling cancer. Since 1981 the group has contributed more than US$200 million to research, support programmes for children and their families, and towards cancer awareness and education outreach efforts.
"At Children's Cancer Research Fund we select and fund the best and most innovative research to advance breakthrough treatments for children's cancer, and we are excited about Dr Bushweller's promising results," said Jean Machart, chief operating officer and interim chief executive officer at CCRF.
2 years 2 months ago
Health-care financing options for informal sector operators
THE informal sector plays an outsized but unappreciated role in our economic development.
According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, as of July 2020 approximately 12.3 per cent of the employed labour force in Jamaica was engaged in the formal sector, while around 50.7 per cent were employed in the informal sector. The remaining portion consists of self-employed individuals without paid employees and unpaid family workers. The informal sector in Jamaica includes various types of employment, such as creative arts, music and entertainment, street vending, informal manufacturing, agriculture, self-employed contractors, and domestic work, among others. These workers often face challenges in accessing social protection, including health-care coverage and other benefits provided with employment in the formal sector.
Many times, individuals in the informal sector lack access to traditional health-care financing options, thereby limiting their choices when an unpredictable health-care crisis occurs. For many, the lack of access to traditional health insurance and unpredictable and irregular income streams impairs their ability to access needed health care, especially when the level of care needed is unavailable within the public health-care system.
It is necessary, therefore, to have alternative health-care financing options for this large pool of workers to ensure more reliable access to appropriate health care. Because of lack of risk pooling and limited financial protection, traditional health insurance may leave many informal sector individuals with significant out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles, or co-payments, which can be unaffordable for low-income individuals. This limitation undermines the financial protection that insurance is intended to provide and ultimately undermine health equity.
The traditional health insurance model may not be the most suitable option for our informal sector workers due to several reasons:
1) Affordability: Traditional health insurance premiums can be costly and exceptionally so for individuals outside of a group or risk pool. Informal sector workers are often not within a formal group and tend to have unpredictable or low incomes. Paying regular insurance premiums may impose a significant financial burden on them, making it difficult to afford and sustain coverage.
2) Absence of mandatory health insurance coverage laws or provisions to protect the poor.
Insurance companies have no legal mandates to provide mandatory low-cost coverage for the poor and less financially secure. In the more established economies, governments step in to fill the void to expand access to patients. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the USA, also known as Obamacare, introduced certain regulations and provisions, including subsidies and tax credits to lower-income families and individuals, aimed at expanding access to affordable health insurance. Additionally, certain government programmes like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide affordable or free health insurance to eligible individuals and families with limited income. Such options do not exist in Jamaica currently.
3) Irregular Income and Unpredictable Healthcare Expenses: Informal sector workers typically experience irregular income streams and face unpredictable health-care expenses. Traditional health insurance plans often require regular premium payments, which may not align with the income patterns of informal sector workers. Additionally, these plans may have deductibles, co-payments, or coverage limitations that can be challenging for workers with unpredictable income and health-care needs.
4) Limited Coverage for Informal Sector Needs: Traditional health insurance models often focus on formal sector employments or affinity groups both of which more likely do not include informal sector workers. Furthermore, informal sector workers may have unique occupational health services that may not be covered in traditional plans.
5) Lack of Risk Pooling: In low-income countries with a large informal sector, traditional health insurance models may struggle to achieve sufficient risk pooling to accommodate many informal sector workers making it difficult to establish stable insurance pools.
6) Lack of Inclusive Provider Networks: Traditional insurance models often have limited networks of health-care providers. In low-income countries, where health-care infrastructure and provider capacity can be limited, insurance networks may not adequately cover essential services or specialists, further restricting access to care.
7) Administrative Challenges: Informal sector workers may face difficulties in navigating the cumbersome administrative processes associated with traditional health insurance. Filling out forms, submitting claims, and meeting documentation requirements can be burdensome, particularly for those with limited literacy or access to administrative resources.
8) Fragmented Health Care Access: Informal sector workers often face challenges in accessing health-care services due to factors such as geographic location, limited provider networks, or other socio-economic barriers.
Considering these challenges, alternative health-care financing models may be more suitable for informal sector workers. These models can be designed to accommodate the irregular income patterns, specific health-care needs, and administrative capacities of informal sector workers, providing them with more accessible and affordable health-care coverage. It's important to tailor the health-care financing approach to the unique circumstances and requirements of the informal sector.
Addressing the limitations of traditional health insurance requires innovative approaches to health-care financing and delivery that are contextually appropriate for Jamaica. It may involve exploring alternative models, such as community-based health financing, social health protection programmes, or public-private partnerships to overcome these challenges and ensure equitable and inclusive access to quality health-care services in Jamaica.
In future columns we will explore specific alternative health-care financing mechanisms that may be more suitable for the large pool of informal sector workers in Jamaica to ensure a more inclusive and equitable health-care environment.
2 years 2 months ago
5 diseases under surveillance
During the first three months of this year, the country registered more cases of dengue, malaria, leptospirosis, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis than those reported last year in the same period.
According to epidemiological surveillance records of notifiable diseases, as of March 25, the system had captured 1,331 cases of dengue, 31% more than last year; 66 of malaria, 24% more and 100 of leptospirosis, 107% more (including 10 deaths).
Also, they report 14 cases of diphtheria, with one death; 12 cases of tetanus in non-neonatal ages, with seven deaths, and two cases of pertussis, including one death from that cause.
While the records for the year 2022 up to the same period, reported 1,007 cases of dengue fever captured by the system; 53 cases of malaria, 48 of leptospirosis and eight deaths; six cases of diphtheria and one death; eight cases of tetanus in non-neonatal age with one death and one case of pertussis.
The data are contained in epidemiological bulletin number 12 of the General Directorate of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health.
The report details that in epidemiological week 12, which ended last March 25, 62 probable cases of dengue were reported, 21% of the cases are distributed in the province of Santo Domingo, and 303 cases were reported during the last four weeks of registration.
In relation to malaria, the accumulated cases as of that date were 66, of which 50% came from the outbreak in the province of Azua.
During week 12, the report indicates that five suspected cases of leptospirosis were reported, in three men residing in María Trinidad Sánchez, Peravia, and Santiago Rodríguez provinces, and one woman in Hermanas Mirabal province.
The provinces with the highest cumulative incidence of this disease, transmitted to humans through contact with the urine of infected animals, especially rats, are Santiago Rodriguez, Peravia, Azua, La Romana, and Monseñor Nouel.
SANITARY PANORAMA
On 10 April, Listín Diario reported that the first three months of this year, between medical protests, cholera outbreak, dengue cases, Covid-19 surveillance, and epidemiological alert for the presence of chikungunya in the region, were the topics that occupied the most attention in the sanitary field in the country. While the health system maintains important challenges aimed at maintaining a low incidence of other diseases.
2 years 2 months ago
Health, Local
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
AbbVie gets USFDA nod for EPKINLY to treat adult patients with relapsed or refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
North Chicago, Ill.: AbbVie has announced that the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved EPKINLY (epcoritamab-bysp), as the T-cell engaging bispecific antibody for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified (NOS), including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma, and high-grade B–cell lymphoma (HGBL), after two or more lines of systemic therapies.
EPKINLY is approved under the FDA's Accelerated Approval program based on response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. EPKINLY is being co-developed by AbbVie and Genmab as part of the companies' oncology collaboration.
DLBCL is a type of aggressive, fast-growing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system and affects B cells, a type of white blood cell. DLBCL is the most common type of NHL, comprising of an estimated 30,400 U.S. cases in 2022 and 150,000 new cases each year globally. DLBCL patients are typically treated with chemoimmunotherapy-based regimens. For R/R patients, several targeted therapies including T-cell mediated treatments have recently emerged. However, single agent and ready-available or off-the-shelf treatment options are limited.
"DLBCL is an aggressive cancer type that can rapidly progress and resist treatment. The FDA approval of EPKINLY represents a new treatment mechanism of action for third line DLBCL patients. As a non-chemotherapy, single-agent treatment for DLBCL patients, we hope that EPKINLY can effectively treat this aggressive cancer type and can be used for patient care quickly and in an off the shelf form for physicians," said Thomas Hudson, M.D., senior vice president, research and development, chief scientific officer, AbbVie. "The approval is just the first step, with our partner Genmab, towards a shared goal of developing a core therapy for patients with B-cell malignances."
EPKINLY marks the third approved blood cancer treatment available as part of AbbVie's growing oncology portfolio.
"Patients with DLBCL who relapse or are refractory to currently available therapies have limited options. Generally, the prognosis for these patients is poor and management of this aggressive disease can be challenging," said Tycel Phillips, M.D., City of Hope Associate Professor, Division of Lymphoma, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. "Epcoritamab is a subcutaneous bispecific antibody that offers an additional treatment option for this patient population. With this approval, patients who are in need of additional therapy may have the opportunity to receive epcoritamab after failure to respond or relapse after two or more systemic therapies."
"The FDA approval of EPKINLY represents a new treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphomas among patients who have relapsed or have refractory disease and are looking for a new medication," said Meghan Gutierrez, chief executive officer, Lymphoma Research Foundation.
2 years 2 months ago
News,Industry,Pharma News,Latest Industry News
PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization
Urgent action needed to tackle stalled progress on health-related Sustainable Development Goals
Urgent action needed to tackle stalled progress on health-related Sustainable Development Goals
Cristina Mitchell
19 May 2023
Urgent action needed to tackle stalled progress on health-related Sustainable Development Goals
Cristina Mitchell
19 May 2023
2 years 2 months ago
Paper Strip Tests for Hypothyroidism
Student researchers at Rice University have developed a paper strip test for hypothyroidism, similar to those that are commonly used for COVID-19 testing. Babies with congenital hypothyroidism require prompt diagnosis and treatment, but in many parts of the world a lack of healthcare resources can mean that the condition can go undiagnosed for long periods, affecting a child’s development. This paper-based device may be well suited for large screening programs in such countries, as it is inexpensive and easy to use, requiring just a small drop of blood. The device consists of a wicking pad that is impregnated with antibodies against thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), providing a clear strip that can be assessed visually in the case of high levels of TSH, a hallmark of hypothyroidism.
Thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, is crucial for childhood development, but some children are born with an underdeveloped or completely absent thyroid gland. Identifying this early is important in avoiding lifelong developmental issues, but many low-resource countries lack a routine screening program.
“Thyroxine (T4) is responsible for the development of all body systems, including brain development, muscle development and so on,” said Alison Maniace, a researcher involved in the study. “A lack of T4 early in life will cause irreversible developmental delays if left untreated, which is why early-life diagnosis is so crucial.” “At birth, babies with congenital hypothyroidism look normal, there’s no obvious sign of this disorder, so the main roadblock to treatment in low-resource settings is the lack of widespread screening programs,” added Vanshika Jhonsa, another researcher involved in the project.
As the thyroid gland is impaired in those with hypothyroidism, leading to a lack of thyroxine, the body produces high levels of TSH in an attempt to compensate. This was the target of these student researchers, who took inspiration from at-home COVID-19 tests to develop a similar technology to detect TSH in small blood samples.
Their test strip device consists of a 3D printed case around a nitrocellulose wicking strip that has been studded with antibodies against TSH, providing a clear line that can be observed with the naked eye if the hormone is present at high levels.
The researchers have described the technology as having “the potential to impact the lives of thousands of people every year, especially in low-resource areas, allowing for early treatment and preventing the permanent disabilities that can result from untreated congenital hypothyroidism.”
More info here from the test designers: Test TSH…
Via: Rice University
2 years 2 months ago
Diagnostics, Medicine, Pediatrics, riceuniversity