News

FDA rejects MS drug

FDA has rejected alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, Genzyme, a Sanofi company) for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.

The newly enrolled individuals to the healthcare exchanges will be faced with higher out-of-pocket costs for their medications than those who receive insurance through their employers, according to an analysis by Avalere Health of more than 600 health plans in the exchanges.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals will start shipping its branded Esomeprazole Strontium 49.3 mg delayed-release capsules on December 18 to three major U.S. wholesalers. Its capsules contain the same active ingredient, esomeprazole, in a different salt form as found in Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium).

US life expectancy for people with cancer hit another all-time high, rising over 50 million life-years (LYS) after diagnosis, according to statistics collected through the Value of Medical Innovation initiative, led by the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest (CMPI).

Individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) more recently experienced decreased disability and psychological problems than those treated 20 years ago. While treatment strategies have helped, researchers attribute the positive effects to greater physical activity and encouragement of a worthwhile life by healthcare professionals.

Diabetes was associated with an increased risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer, and this association was highest for Latinos, followed by Hawaiians, African-Americans, and Japanese-Americans, according to results presented here at the Sixth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held Dec. 6-9, in Atlanta.

On December 6, FDA approved Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) tablets for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection as a component of a combination antiviral treatment regimen.

A specific type of diabetes drug can decrease the risk of cancer in female patients with type 2 diabetes up to 32%, according to a study published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. People with type 2 diabetes have a higher rate of cancer development and recurrence compared to the general population.