Senate Confirms Monarez as CDC Director
By a vote of 51-47 on Tuesday evening, the Senate confirmed Susan Monarez, PhD, as the next director of the CDC. The vote fell along party lines, with 51 Republicans voting for the nominee and all 45 Democratic senators and two Independent senators voting no. Two senators, Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), did […]
All Thumbs Up for OTC Birth Control Pill at FDA Advisory Meeting
In a unanimous vote, advisors to the FDA recommended the agency approve what could become the first-ever over the counter (OTC) birth control pill. All 17 members of the joint Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Obstetrics, Reproductive, and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee said the widespread benefits of switching daily norgestrel tablets 0.075 mg (Opill) […]
FDA Panel Rejects Broad Olaparib Indication in Metastatic CRPC
In a near-unanimous vote on Friday, outside advisors to the FDA recommended a narrow indication should the agency approve olaparib (Lynparza) plus abiraterone (Zytiga) as initial treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In an 11-1 vote (with one abstention), the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) recommended that any approval be restricted to patients with […]
House Passes Bill Allowing Medicare Drug Price Negotiation
WASHINGTON — By a party-line vote of 220-207, the House passed the Inflation Reduction Act — a bill that among other provisions allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices — and sent it to President Biden for his signature. “The Inflation Reduction Act is also one of the most significant pieces of health care legislation to […]