News

The economic impact of an Ebola pandemic could reach $32 billion by 2015, according to the World Bank, while costs to the healthcare insurance industry will depend on how quickly the disease is controlled in countries with high insurance penetration, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III).

In recent months, the incidence of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infection has markedly increased across the United States, notably affecting young pediatric patients. Hospitalizations of children with severe respiratory illness associated with this non-polio enterovirus have concurrently risen.1,2

FDA’s approval of ledipasvir 90 mg/sofosbuvir 400 mg (Harvoni, Gilead Sciences), the first once-daily single tablet regimen for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection in adults, may signal that industry is at the forefront of a cure for hepatitis C, according to one industry expert.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that everybody aged 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine.

FDA fast tracks ALS drug

FDA has designated new ALS stem cell therapy from BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics as a “fast-track” product.

FDA approved the Lutonix 035 Drug Coated Balloon (DCB) Catheter (Bard) for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), after pre-dilatation, for the treatment of de novo or restenotic lesions up to 150 mm in length in native vascular disease of the superficial femoral or popliteal arteries with reference vessel diameters of 4 mm to 6 mm.

Zykadia (ceritinib) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that was approved by FDA on April 29, 2014, as a medication for the treatment of patients with ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC who have progressed on or are intolerant to crizotinib.