Topical Gel Soothes Skin Rash for CRC Patients on EGFR Inhibitors
The use of an investigational topical BRAF-inhibiting gel appeared to be effective in treating acneiform rash in patients with advanced colorectal cancer who were treated with an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted drug, a randomized phase II trial showed. The 39 patients randomly assigned to receive a high-dose 0.1% formulation of LUT014 gel were twice […]
Novel CAR-T for Glioblastoma Induced ‘Dramatic’ Responses in Early Trial
A new approach to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy showed promise in treating recurrent glioblastoma, according to a small phase I study. In the first-in-human trial, three patients with recurrent glioblastoma who were treated with CARv3-TEAM-E T cells experienced “dramatic and rapid” tumor regression within days of receiving a single intraventricular infusion, reported Marcela […]
Kindness a Key Component of Treating Pregnant Patients With SUD, Experts Say
“Don’t be mean.” That advice might be seen as unnecessary for most doctor-patient relationships, but not for treating patients with substance use disorder (SUD), especially pregnant patients, according to Cara Poland, MD, MEd, of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in East Lansing. “The bar is really low in addiction,” she said Wednesday during […]
Opinion | ‘We’re Doing God’s Work’: What We Heard This Week
“Treating patients and getting them well, it’s something — we’re doing God’s work.” — Steven Feldman, MD, PhD, of Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina, on treating patients with atopic dermatitis. “It’s kind of overkill.” — Raman Madan, MD, a dermatologist with Northwell Health in New York, on people under 25 getting […]
SABR Offers New Hope for Older Patients With Inoperable Kidney Cancer
SAN DIEGO — Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) was an effective, noninvasive strategy for treating primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in patients who were not suitable for surgery, according to the FASTRACK II trial. In the prospective, phase II study of 70 patients, none had local progression of kidney cancer during the trial lifetime (median […]
Shorter TB Regimen Misses the Mark
Shorter high-dose rifampicin regimens proved safe for treating pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), but failed to demonstrate noninferiority compared with the standard 6-month regimen, a phase III trial found. For the primary efficacy outcome, an absolute 6.3% more adults receiving a 4-month regimen that included the highest dose of rifampicin had an unfavorable outcome at 12 to […]
Pulsed Field Ablation Measures Up in Head-to-Head Trial
AMSTERDAM — Pulsed field ablation appeared as safe and effective as thermal ablation in treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (Afib) in the first randomized head-to-head trial for the novel technology. Efficacy failure of the procedure — initial procedural failure, documented atrial tachyarrhythmia after a 3-month blanking period, antiarrhythmic drug use, cardioversion, or repeat ablation — at […]
CDC Issues Sepsis Care Guidance for Hospitals
The CDC issued new guidance to hospitals Thursday for managing sepsis and called on hospitals to do better at treating it. “Every hospital, regardless of size, location, and resources can strengthen the quality of care delivered to these patients and ensure their survival,” CDC Director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, said at a press conference. “That’s […]
FDA OKs Over-the-Counter Gel for Erectile Dysfunction
The FDA has granted over-the-counter marketing authorization to MED3000 (Eroxon), the first nonprescription topical gel for treating erectile dysfunction (ED), maker Futura Medical announced on Monday. According to the company, MED3000 has “a 10-minute onset of action” that sets it apart from prescription PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis), which typically require […]
First Drug Approved for Kids’ Functional Constipation
The FDA approved linaclotide (Linzess) capsules for treating functional constipation in kids 6 years and up, the agency announced on Monday. Along with data from trials in adults with chronic idiopathic constipation, support for the pediatric approval came from a phase III trial that included 330 children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 years with […]