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Ten patients have been treated with the CRISPR-based gene therapy, the drug developer's chief scientific officer announced today, and high doses have had the intended effect of lowering LDL cholesterol. One study volunteer died five weeks after the infusion from cardiac arrest, but the company says the death was unrelated to the therapy and no changes were made to the study.

The Choosing Wisely campaign has helped with overscreening and overtreatment. Some experts say better management of end-of-life care and value-based payment would also help steer oncology away from care with poor cost-benefit ratios.

Tirzepatide, with the brand name Zepbound, is expected to be available by the end of the year in six doses at a list price of $1,059.87, which is about 20% lower than semaglutide.

Briana Contreras, an editor with Managed Healthcare Executive, spoke with Harsha Rajasimha, MD, founder and executive chairman of IndoUSrare, in this month's episode of Tuning in to the C-Suite podcast. The conversation was about how the disparity in diversity and ethnicity in rare disease clinical trials in the U.S. has led to gaps in understanding diseases and conditions, jeopardizing universal health, and increasing the economic burden of healthcare.

Private equity (PE) can bring capital investment to retina specialty practices and significantly increase the incomes of the physicians, said a proponent during a debate on private equity at the AAO meeting. The retina specialist arguing against PE said physicians lose control of their practices and the loyalty of their staff and that profits get prioritized over patients.