The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has chosen Dr. Vinay Prasad, a professor at the University of California-San Francisco, to lead its Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. The division oversees vaccines and biologic medicines, including gene therapies, CNN reported. Prasad is a hematologist-oncologist, a specialist in treating cancers of the blood. He has… read on > read on >
Stress can make it even worse for people to deal with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, a new study says. High levels of perceived stress are associated with a quadrupled risk of moderate or severe COPD flare-ups (excerbations), researchers reported recently in the Journal of the COPD Foundation. “There is increased evidence that psychosocial… read on > read on >
The shingles vaccine has benefits that stretch beyond protecting older adults from the painful skin condition, a new study says. Folks who get the shingles jab have a 23% lower risk of health problems like stroke, heart failure and heart disease, researchers reported May 6 in the European Heart Journal. This protective effect lasts for… read on > read on >
Newborns can be effectively protected against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection through the use of nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment, researchers report. Babies treated with nirsevimab had an 83% reduced risk of hospitalization due to RSV infection, researchers reported May 1 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. The antibody treatment also reduced the risk… read on > read on >
The new initiative will focus on research using the beta-propiolactone vaccine platform read on >
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to change how vaccines are tested in the U.S., a decision that could impact how quickly and widely vaccines are made available. The department said the new plan will promote transparency, but many health experts warn it could affect vaccine access and diminish the… read on > read on >
A common diabetes drug can be repurposed to help overweight and obese people with knee arthritis, a new study says. Metformin reduced knee arthritis pain during a six-month treatment period, potentially delaying the need for knee replacement surgery, researchers reported recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “Metformin works in a number of… read on > read on >
A cancer patient’s bond with their partner can be a key factor in helping them ward off chemotherapy-related “brain fog,” a new study says Patients in a satisfying intimate relationship were more likely to resist chemo brain, the cognitive impairment that can occur during or after chemotherapy treatment, researchers report. Couples therapy aimed at enhancing… read on > read on >
Men are more likely than women to die from high blood pressure, diabetes and HIV/AIDS, after shrugging off medical care for the conditions, a new study says. These differences crop up even though men and women are as likely to develop either high blood pressure or diabetes, researchers reported May 1 in the journal PLOS… read on > read on >
Dr. Marty Makary had just finished his last surgery at Johns Hopkins when he stepped into one of the most powerful roles in American public health. Now, as the new commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), he’s wasting no time charting a new course for the agency. In an exclusive interview with… read on > read on >
