Merck to seek emergency use for COVID-19 antiviral pill that cuts severe outcomes by 50 percent
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 04, 2021
Molnupiravir has reduced COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations by half in a new clinical trial. An orally delivered drug could offer unprecedented treatment convenience, the drug’s developers say.
Drugmakers ask FDA to approve another Alzheimer’s drug, similar to Aduhelm
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 29, 2021
Drugmakers Eisai and Biogen are putting the Food and Drug Administration to the test with a request to approve a second Alzheimer’s drug that works like aducanumab (Aduhelm), the new, yet controversial,...
New CDC vaccine access info covers COVID booster shots, ‘safety net’ support
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 23, 2021
With assurances to provide help as needed, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention is sharing vaccine access information ahead of the federal COVID-19 vaccine booster shot approvals expected to come...
CDC: Lasting COVID-19 symptoms tied to age, sex, race factors
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 21, 2021
Investigators examined recovered COVID-19 patients in Long Beach California. Fully one third of participants reported having at least one symptom of post-acute sequelae, commonly called “long COVID-19,”...
U.S. lawmakers ramp up scrutiny of FDA following agency’s approval of controversial Alzheimer’s drug
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 07, 2021
The FDA is being asked to help explain how Aduhelm (aducanumab) met accelerated approval criteria when so many experts — including internal advisers — have flagged insufficient safety and efficacy...
Plan your vaccine booster clinics now, LeadingAge entreats LTC operators
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 25, 2021
With infections now surging in parts of the United States, facility operators can begin taking steps to offer third COVID-19 vaccine doses to eligible staff and residents in anticipation of a federal go-ahead,...
New dashboard to track ‘Long COVID’ cases for healthcare planning
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 25, 2021
The dashboard will track state and county level statistics and trends. The goal is to provide data to healthcare decision makers as they prepare to care for patients with lingering symptoms, says the American...
All nursing home staff in Massachusetts must get COVID-19 shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 05, 2021
The state is requiring staff and contract employees in all of its 378 facilities to receive a vaccination, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday.
CDC safety panel: J&J vaccine benefits outweigh rare neuro risks seen in older adults
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 26, 2021
The benefits of the shot — including reduced hospitalization, intensive care unit admission and death — outweigh the risk of contracting Guillain-Barre syndrome, the Advisory Committee on Immunization...
Low-dose brain radiation improves behavior, cognition in Alzheimer’s pilot study
By
Alicia Lasek
May 04, 2021
Low-dose ionizing radiation may be a promising, although possibly controversial, therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, according to the researchers behind a small new pilot study.