Current medical news and unique business news for anyone who cares about the healthcare industry.
New rules for acetaminophen? An FDA panel has voted 21-0 supporting new dosing instructions for acetaminophen given to children younger than 2. The panel said that dosing should be based on weight, not age. Currently products containing acetaminophen, such as Tylenol and Triaminic, just instruct parents to “consult a doctor” before giving the medicine to children under 2. The goal is to avoid acetaminophen overdoses in young children. The panel also said it feels drug makers should stop advertising these products as painkillers for children under 2. There have never been clinical trials on such a young patient population; the painkilling claims were extrapolated from adult trials. The panel’s votes are advisory but the FDA often follows such recommendations.
Health costs up: Health care costs are projected to rise 8.5 percent next year, according to a new report from PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Hep C test approved: Abbott receives Food and Drug Administration approval on a new molecular test for Hepatitis C.
Selenium seen as eye treatment: Researcher say that the trace mineral selenium can slow progression of eye symptoms of the automimmune disorder known as Graves’ disease.
Preparing for the zombie apocalypse: Assistant Surgeon General Ali Khan blogs that in preparation for a zombie attack, you should stock up on food, water and first aid supplies. These tips are also applicable to other threatening circumstances, such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Dealflow: Takeda Pharmaceuticals to buy Nycomed for $13.7 billion; Cameron Health raises $107 million in equity financing to complete FDA submission of subcutaneous implantable defibrillator; Thermo Fisher Scientific acquires UK laboratory product firm Sterilin.
