News

A new preventive migraine treatment, Aimovig (erenumab-aooe), poses promising possibilities for some migraine sufferers.

New clinical results show that Durvalumab improved survival (versus a placebo) in patients with non–small cell lung cancer.

The first-ever preventative treatment for migraine in adults, Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) is now approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Lucemyra (lofexidine hydrochloride), now approved by the Food and Drug Administration, may offer relief (and new hope) for patients experiencing withdrawal symptoms from opioid dependence.

This will provide a much-needed alternative therapy for a debilitating disease with limited treatment options. 



Moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis can now be treated with Xeljanz (tofacitinib), following the expanded approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This will provide a much-needed alternative therapy for a debilitating disease with limited treatment options.

"We currently test for liver cancer using ultrasound and a blood protein marker called alpha fetoprotein," says John Kisiel, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic. "Unfortunately, these tests are not very sensitive for curable stage liver cancers, and most patients who need this testing do not have it easily available or [are] not able to receive it often enough to be effective." The new advance by the team opens the door to further development of a DNA test. 

This new development may increase chances of patients discussing the disease with their doctor...



A new package insert that includes information/data about psoriasis in the genital area has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

A team of researchers from the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) has succeeded in demonstrating experimentally (in a lab) that genetic diversity makes populations more resistant to disease.

 

Researchers have built an ingestible sensor equipped with genetically engineered bacteria that can diagnose bleeding in the stomach or other gastrointestinal problems. Ultra-low-power sensors carrying genetically engineered bacteria can detect gastric bleeding. 

 

The Entomological Society of America reports today that a new study from the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) in the USA shows that permethrin-treated clothing may stop ticks from biting. This will thus reduce transmission of diseases like Lyme disease. Lab tests showed germ-carrying ticks can't move properly after contact with treated garments, making them sluggish and likely interfering with their ability to bite. 



 

Service Announcement for price changes to 12 medicines. For 9 medicines we have negotiated lower prices for patients, 3 medicines have increases. 

 

‘Unapproved medicines’, ‘compassionate use’, ‘early access drugs’..

A personalised vaccine which boosts a patient’s own immune system has nearly doubled the number of women surviving ovarian cancer by two years.

Following an earlier negative decision, NICE is now recommending NHS use of Roche’s immunotherapy Tecentriq for lung cancer.

Rubraca (rucaparib), already approved as a treatment for BRCA positive ovarian cancer, has been approved as a maintenance therapy for ovarian cancer regardless of BRCA mutation. 

The FDA approves Blincyto (blinatumomab) for patients with B-cell ALL, who are in remission but still have minimal residual disease.

FDA approves Tasigna (nilotinib) for certain pediatric patients with Ph+ CML in chronic phase.

FDA approves Genentech’s Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) syringe for diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy.

CLL expert explains latest treatment developments in the field.

FDA expands approval of Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) for first-line treatment of Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma in combination with chemotherapy.

Expert emphasises healthy lifestyle in prostate cancer care.

The FDA has approved a new HIV treatment for patients with limited treatment options.

Kymriah, the first FDA-approved CAR-T cell therapy, is showing promising results in treating children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have extended the approval of Verzenio (abemaciclib) to now be a first line treatment for some types of advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

The UK institute NICE gives 3 nods in thyroid cancer: Cometriq (cabozantinib), Nexavar (sorafenib) and Lenvima (lenvatinib).

FDA Approves Osmolex ER (amantadine) for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Reactions. 

Imfinzi (durvalumab), already approved for some bladder cancers, is now FDA approved for some patients with lung cancer.

Price decreases for 38 medicines

In a recent trial, 80% of patients with (MRD)-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were treated with a drug called Blincyto (blinatumomab) achieved a complete response.

The FDA has approved Erleada (apalutamide) for the treatment of patients with prostate cancer that has not spread, but that continues to grow despite treatment with hormone therapy.