The recent evaluation of gefapixant for the treatment of chronic cough by the FDA’s Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee has raised concerns over its efficacy. The committee concluded that the evidence presented does not warrant approval for this condition, for which there is currently no approved therapy available. Although phase III trials showed some reduction in
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Recent warnings about the presence of lead in recalled applesauce packets have raised concerns among pediatricians. While it is still uncertain whether children exposed to these packets have suffered from acute lead poisoning, experts emphasize the importance of taking these warnings seriously. High blood lead levels in young children can lead to clinical diseases, particularly
The Senate Finance Healthcare Subcommittee hearing on making certain telehealth rules permanent for the Medicare program revealed a rare display of discord among panelists. While the senators present were united in their belief that the current flexible rules for telehealth should be made permanent for Medicare beneficiaries, the discussions among the panelists themselves sparked a
Bayer recently announced its decision to withdraw its follicular lymphoma drug, copanlisib (Aliqopa), from the U.S. market. This move comes after the drug failed a confirmatory study, known as CHRONOS-4, and discussions with the FDA. The phase III study was required as a condition for the PI3K inhibitor’s accelerated approval. The study aimed to evaluate
In recent clinical trials, the investigational drug lebrikizumab has shown promising results in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). This interleukin (IL)-13 inhibitor has demonstrated both clinical efficacy and the ability to allow patients to space out their treatments. Despite the anticipation of approval from the FDA, recent issues at a manufacturing facility have
A recent survey conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA) has revealed that half of healthcare organizations surveyed have either eliminated or are actively working to eliminate race-based clinical algorithms and decision-making tools. These tools have historically used race as a proxy for genetic or biological ancestry, which can lead to inaccurate assessments and biased
In the ARIES-HM3 trial, the decision to exclude aspirin from the antithrombotic therapy regimen after HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation was shown to be a safer approach compared to the usual combination approach. The trial involved comparing the effectiveness of placebo in combination with warfarin or other vitamin K antagonist therapy, to
The nursing profession has been grappling with a concerning issue in recent years – “accelerated burnout” among new nurses. A panel discussion hosted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) shed light on this problem and revealed some alarming statistics. Approximately 100,000 registered nurses (RNs) left the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic,
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open conducted by Lin et al., investigated the effectiveness and patient-centered outcomes of different oral anticoagulants (OACs) in older adults with atrial fibrillation (Afib), with a particular focus on those with frailty. The study found that apixaban (Eliquis) demonstrated better outcomes compared to rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and warfarin. However,
Head tremors, also known as essential or isolated head tremors, can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. The use of botulinum toxin type A injections has been suggested as a potential treatment option for reducing head tremor severity. However, the results of clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of this treatment have been limited and