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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
