Category: Pharmaceuticals
US FDA approves first ALS drug treatment in over 20 years
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug to treat the fatal neurological disorder ALS, becoming the first such regulatory approval in the US in more than 20 years. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare condition that affects between 12,000 and 15,000 Americans, according [...]
US prescription drug spending forecasted to reach US$610 bn by 2021
US spending on prescription drugs is expected to rise by 4-7% through 2021, reaching US$580 to US$610 billion, according to a report released by Quintiles IMS Holding, lowering its previous forecast. Drug makers are facing increasing pricing pressure and competition in the market. In addition, 2016 saw fewer new medicines being approved than prior years. [...]
UK scientists find drug that could stop neurodegenerative brain diseases
Scientists at the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) may have found a drug to stop all neurodegenerative brain diseases, including dementia. In 2013, a UK MRC team stopped brain cells dying in an animal for the first time, creating headline news around the world. But the compound used was unsuitable for people, as it caused [...]
Huge progress made in fight against neglected tropical diseases –Bill Gates
The world has made a huge progress in its fight against neglected tropical diseases, and efforts have been ramped up since a key meeting in London five years ago, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says. The London meeting resulted in a pledge to control or eliminate 10 neglected tropical diseases – including guinea worm, [...]
Malaria vaccine developed by Australian scientists passes early human trials
A new malaria vaccine developed by Australian scientists has passed early human trials, marking a world-first breakthrough in vaccine development for the mosquito-borne disease that kills up to half a million people each year. The vaccine, called PlasProtecT, developed by researchers at Queensland’s Griffith University consists of inactivated human malaria parasites which have been prevented [...]
New evolocumab drug more effective than statins in cutting cholesterol levels
A new innovative drug, called evolocumab, has been found to be more effective than the often-prescribed statins in cutting down the levels of bad cholesterol and lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The positive results of the international trial means the drug could soon be used by millions of people. Around 15 million [...]
Two-part vaccine shows potential for long-lasting protection against Ebola
A two-part vaccine from Johnson & Johnson and Danish partner Bavarian Nordic has shown promising results in offering long-lasting protection against the deadly Ebola virus. The vaccine induced a durable immune response lasting a full year in 100% of healthy volunteers vaccinated, researchers reported. “The persistence of vaccine-induced immunity to one year post-immunization is truly [...]
HIV vaccine leaves five patients without need for daily drugs in early trials
A new development in the search for a functional HIV cure has been made in the early trials of a vaccine-based treatment that combines two new HIV vaccines with a drug usually used to treat cancer. The new treatment proved to be successful in suppressing the virus in five of the patients in what could [...]
CEPI urges fast-tracking of vaccines for three potential disease outbreaks
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a public-private coalition that aims to derail epidemics by speeding development of vaccines, has committed US$460million to speed up vaccine development for MERS, Lassa fever and Nipah virus – three relatively little-known diseases scientists think could cause the next global health emergency. Aiming to have two new experimental [...]
US CDC finds superbug resistant to all kinds of antibiotic
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report has confirmed that a 70-year-old woman from Nevada in the US has died after being infected with a superbug that is “resistant to all available antimicrobial drugs”. The victim broke her right leg during a long stay in India and had repeatedly needed hospital treatment [...]
