Year in Review: HIV
Long-acting therapies headlined a year of continued drug development, both in the treatment and prevention of HIV. Meanwhile, CDC recommended a third dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for certain patients living with advanced or untreated HIV to boost their protection. Cabotegravir’s Big Year The year started with the approval of cabotegravir-rilpivirine (Cabenuva), the first […]
Experimental drug boosts immunotherapy effectiveness in pancreatic cancer in mice
An experimental drug enhanced the benefit of an immunotherapy to fight pancreatic cancer in mice by increasing the number of immune cells in the immediate vicinity of the tumor, leading to a reduction in tumor growth, and in some mice, eliminating their cancer. The findings, from researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and BioXcel […]
Documentary Seeks Truth Behind ‘Super-Villain’ of Drug Prices
“Pharma Bro,” a new documentary about disgraced former drug company head Martin Shkreli, seeks to shed light on the person once-dubbed “the most hated man in America.” Regardless of his motivations, Shkreli’s name will forever be linked to the crisis of overpriced drugs in the U.S. The documentary, directed by Brent Hodge and released digitally […]
A ‘cousin’ of Viagra reduces obesity by stimulating cells to burn fat
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have found that a drug first developed to treat Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and sickle cell disease reduces obesity and fatty liver in mice and improves their heart function — without changes in food intake or daily activity. These findings, published online Oct. 7 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, reveal […]
DEA Issues Rare Public Safety Alert on Fake Prescription Pills
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a public safety alert on Monday warning of an “alarming increase” in lethal counterfeit pills containing fentanyl or methamphetamine. The alert, the DEA’s first in 6 years, aimed to raise awareness of a significant surge in fake pills mass-produced by criminal drug networks and marketed as legitimate prescription pills. […]
Stop Using Ivermectin Veterinary Drug to Treat COVID, FDA Urges
Latest Coronavirus News MONDAY, Aug. 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) Taking a drug meant for horses and cattle to prevent or treat COVID-19 is dangerous and could be fatal, the U.S Food and Drug Administration warns. The agency has received multiple reports of people who have been hospitalized after “self-medicating with ivermectin intended for […]
Trials reveal efficacy and safety of oral drug for treating anemia associated with kidney disease
Pooled results from recent clinical trials indicate that an oral drug called roxadustat is an effective treatment for anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. The results are published in an upcoming issue of CJASN. Many individuals with kidney dysfunction develop anemia, or a shortage of healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen to the […]
Drug Abuse vs. Substance Abuse: Signs of Addiction
Substance abuse is a broad term that includes drug abuse. Abuse of any substance can cause chemical changes in the brain that can lead to addiction. Often, the terms drug abuse and substance abuse are used interchangeably. However, they do slightly differ in the following ways. Substance abuse is a broad term that refers to […]
Aducanumab: What to Know if You Prescribe
Not all physicians who treat Alzheimer’s disease will prescribe the new Alzheimer’s drug aducanumab (Aduhelm) — major hospital systems like the Cleveland Clinic and Mount Sinai in New York City, for example, won’t administer the controversial treatment — but those who will offer the drug need more information about how to use it, a panel […]
What Is Substance Use Disorder?
Substance use disorder (or drug addiction) is a psychiatric disorder in people. In the disorder, people uncontrollably use a substance (legal or illegal drugs or medications) despite harmful consequences. Substance use disorder (or drug addiction) is a psychiatric disorder in people. In this condition, people uncontrollably use a substance (legal or illegal drugs or medications) […]