Men, on average, die younger than women in the United States. According to CDC data, American women had a life expectancy of 79 years in 2021, compared with men’s, which was only about 73. “As…
Biden Warns of GOP Plans to Cut Access to Federal Health-Care
U.S. President Joe Biden will deliver a strong critique of Republican policies during a speech in Virginia Beach on Tuesday afternoon, warning of GOP plans to reduce access to federal health-care programs. Speaking at the…
Lilly to Cut Insulin Prices to $35 Per Month for Individuals With Private Insurance
Drugmaker Eli Lilly & Co. announced on Wednesday that it will reduce the prices of its most commonly prescribed insulins by 70% and cap monthly out-of-pocket costs at $35 at select retail pharmacies for individuals…
FDA Recommends Use of Pfizer’s RSV Vaccine Despite Potential Risks
The Food and Drug Administration’s independent advisors recommended on Tuesday what could become the world’s first RSV vaccine, a shot from Pfizer for adults aged 60 and older, despite safety concerns following two trial participants…
Shortage of Adderall for ADHD Patients Blamed on DEA and FDA Rules
A nationwide shortage of Adderall has left many patients struggling to manage their attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). From all indications, supplies are likely to remain scarce for several more months. The blame for these…
Energy Department Concludes its Probe into COVID Origin With Low Confidence That It Came From Laboratory Leak in Wuhan
The Energy Department has concluded with “low confidence” that the Covid-19 pandemic “likely” originated from a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China, according to a classified report delivered to key lawmakers on the House and Senate…
Guillain-Barre Syndrome Identified By FDA As Potential Risk of Pfizer’s RSV Vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified a potential risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) with Pfizer’s RSV vaccine for older adults. The FDA has requested that Pfizer conduct a safety study if the vaccine…
Moderna Growing Production Cost and Lower COVID Shot Demand Leads to Revenue Loss
Moderna missed earnings expectations for the fourth quarter on Thursday, as costs increased due to surplus production capacity and decreased demand for its Covid-19 vaccine, which remains the company’s only product on the market. The…
CDC Advises Adults at Risk to Take Vaccine for mpox Future Outbreaks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s independent advisors on Wednesday unanimously recommended administering the two-dose Jynneos vaccine to adults at risk of mpox in the event of future outbreaks, following last year’s unprecedented epidemic.…
Flu Vaccine Data for This Season Showed 68% Effectiveness in Children, Remained Less Protective for Seniors
The flu vaccine has been 68% effective at preventing hospitalizations in children but has been less protective for seniors this season, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
Pfizer’s Vaccine for Infants to Protect Against RSV Could Get FDA Approval By End of Summer
Pfizer’s vaccine designed to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could be granted approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of this summer. On Tuesday, Pfizer announced that the FDA…
Brain Implant Project Backed By Bezos and Gates Testing Initial Devices
In a Brooklyn lab filled with 3D printers and even a makeshift pickleball court, employees at a brain interface startup called Synchron are developing technology aimed at transforming daily life for individuals with paralysis. The…
Senator John Fetterman to Remain in Treatment for Clinical Depression
Senator John Fetterman, Democrat from Pennsylvania, will undergo inpatient hospital care for several weeks as he seeks treatment for clinical depression, according to a senior staffer for the senator. The expected duration of Fetterman’s hospitalization…
US Senators Call for Expansion of Medicare for Alzheimer’s Disease
On Friday, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators urged Medicare to expand its coverage of Alzheimer’s treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), citing concerns that current restrictions delay crucial care for patients…
FDA Recommends Use of Narcan to Reverse Opioid Overdose
The Food and Drug Administration’s independent advisors unanimously recommended on Wednesday expanding access to the nasal spray Narcan for over-the-counter use to reverse opioid overdoses, potentially making this life-saving treatment more widely available. Emergent BioSolutions’…
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel to Appear Against Senate Health Committee Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Price
Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel is scheduled to appear before the Senate health committee in March to address concerns regarding the pricing of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine once it enters the private market. Senator Bernie Sanders, chair…
House GOP Investigation into COVID Origins, Dr. Fauci to Testify Before Congress
House Republicans have formally requested Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former White House chief medical advisor, to testify before Congress as they initiate a new investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. Leaders of the…
Elon Musk’s Brain Chip Company Neuralink Under Investigation for Improper Transport of Contaminants
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has confirmed that it is investigating Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface company, over allegations of mishandling and improperly transporting contaminated hardware. According to a spokesperson for the DOT, the…
Use of Radioligand Therapy for Cancer Treatment, Creating A Crucial Race Against Time
In 2010, Iceland’s volcanic eruption posed a challenge for Dr. Oliver Sartor, a cancer research professor at Tulane University School of Medicine. The eruption disrupted flights across Europe, delaying a crucial shipment of experimental radioligand…
Republicans in Favor of Lawsuit Against FDA Approval of Abortion Pill
Democratic and Republican attorneys general clashed on Friday in opposing arguments over efforts by anti-abortion physicians to remove the abortion pill, mifepristone, from the U.S. market. Leading a coalition of 22 attorneys general, New York…
Fungal Infections Pose A Significant Health Threat, No Vaccines Available for Prevention
Fungal infections are on the rise in the United States, posing a significant health concern without any available vaccines to prevent them, unlike bacterial or viral illnesses. While the scenario of a fungal infection causing…
Florida Schools to Remove Question About Menstrual History for Sports Activities Following Backlash
Florida schools have decided to discontinue the practice of requiring student-athletes to disclose their menstrual histories in order to participate in high school sports, following widespread opposition. At an emergency meeting on Thursday, the Florida…
Biden’s Suggested Plan to Cap Insulin Price at $35 A Month Unlikely to Pass Congress
President Joe Biden utilized his platform during the State of the Union address this week to advocate for a universal price cap on insulin for all diabetes patients, although the proposal faces significant challenges in…
Singapore to Allow No Mask-Wearing in Airports, Ease in COVID Regulations
Singapore announced on Thursday that it will permit non-fully vaccinated travelers to enter the country without needing a negative pre-departure test starting from February 13, 2023, according to health authorities. The Ministry of Health also…
Federal Judge Points Out the Conflict of Supreme Court Ruling Against Abortion With 13th Amendment
A federal judge suggested on Monday that the federal right to abortion, which the Supreme Court overturned last year, might still find protection under the Constitution’s 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly posed…
Hispanic Dialysis Patients Face 40% Greater Chance of Developing Staph Bloodstream Infections According to CDC Data
Hispanic dialysis patients face a 40% higher risk of developing a staph bloodstream infection compared to whites, highlighting economic and racial disparities within the U.S. healthcare system, according to new data released Monday by the…
FDA to Continue its Work to Regulate COVID Vaccines After End of Public Health Emergency
The Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday that its emergency authorizations for Covid vaccines, tests, and treatments will remain unaffected by the planned end of the public health emergency this spring. President Joe Biden…
Pfizer Earnings Went Past $100 Billion in 2022 During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic propelled Pfizer’s earnings to a record $100 billion last year, with nearly $57 billion driven by its vaccine and antiviral pill Paxlovid, the company reported on Tuesday. The vaccine contributed $37.8…
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Becomes Part of Federal Commission to Evaluate BioTech Investments
On December 30, leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees announced the selection of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and 11 others to join a newly formed federal commission on biotechnology. The National…
US to Conclude COVID Emergency and Transition to Managing it As a Seasonal Illness
The Biden administration intends to conclude the Covid public health emergency this spring, transitioning from treating the pandemic as a national crisis to managing it more akin to a seasonal respiratory illness. On Monday, the…
Pfizer Expects A Decline in Revenue As COVID-19 Vaccine Demand Decreases
On Tuesday, Pfizer issued its sales guidance for 2023, projecting revenues between $67 billion and $71 billion, which marks a decline from its record-breaking performance in 2022. In 2022, the pharmaceutical giant achieved a milestone…
WHO Asserts That COVID-19 Remains A Global Emergency However Pandemic to End By 2023
The World Health Organization reaffirmed on Monday that Covid-19 remains a global health emergency as the world begins its fourth year grappling with the pandemic. However, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed optimism that this…
CDC Wants Individuals to Take Additional Precaution Following Spreading Omicron
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a recommendation on Friday advising individuals with weakened immune systems to take additional precautions against Covid-19, following the emergence of dominant omicron subvariants that have rendered a…
FDA Official In-charge of Food Policy and Response Resigns Following Backlash of Baby Formula Shortage
Frank Yiannas, a senior official at the Food and Drug Administration responsible for overseeing the agency’s food policy and response office, announced on Wednesday that he is resigning from his position as deputy commissioner. Yiannas…
China’s Drive Against COVID Raised Interest in Medical Insurance Spending Following Health Concerns
At the forefront of the shopping priorities for individuals in their late 20s and beyond in China is health, sports, and wellness, according to an Oliver Wyman survey conducted late last year as China began…
CDC Research Suggests that Booster Shots for Omicron Help Prevent Illness From the XBB Subvariants
Pfizer’s and Moderna’s boosters designed for the omicron variant have been found to reduce the risk of mild illness from the XBB family of subvariants compared to those who did not receive the shot, according…
GenBioPro Files A Lawsuit Against State of West Virginia to Overturn Abortion Ban
GenBioPro, the manufacturer of the abortion pill, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday seeking to overturn West Virginia’s abortion ban, arguing that it obstructs access to a medication approved by the FDA. The lawsuit, lodged in…
Amazon Adds Prescription Perk for Prime Members to Access Generic Medications
Amazon revealed a new benefit for U.S. Prime members on Tuesday, aiming to enhance subscriptions and draw users to its pharmacy services. Called RxPass, this new addition enables Prime members to access up to 50…
FDA Lays Out Plan for Vaccine Shots of COVID-19, Suggesting One Shot Per Year Needed
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has outlined a plan for the future administration of Covid-19 vaccines. In a briefing document released on Monday, the FDA indicated that due to the ongoing evolution of the…
Relying on Online Systems for Diabetes Pose Risks of Leaked Data
The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) in remote monitoring and managing common health issues, particularly among diabetes patients, has been steadily advancing. Approximately one in ten Americans, totaling 37 million people, live with…
Philip Esformes Loses Appeal at Federal Court Despite 20-Year Prison Sentence for Medicare Fraud Commuted By Trump in 2020
Philip Esformes, a Florida nursing home owner whose 20-year prison sentence for a $1.3 billion Medicare fraud scheme was commuted by former President Donald Trump in late 2020, has lost an appeal in federal court.…
FTC Files to Hold Martin Shkreli in Contempt of Court for Setting Up A New Drug Firm
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has petitioned for Martin Shkreli to be held in contempt of court, asserting that he violated a judge’s order by establishing a new pharmaceutical company after his prohibition from the…
Only HIV Vaccine Under Trial Fails to Show Results at Advanced Stage
The sole HIV vaccine in an advanced-stage trial has failed, researchers announced on Wednesday, delivering a significant setback to efforts to combat the global HIV epidemic and adding to decades of unsuccessful attempts. Known as…
Supreme Court Investigation Fails to Find Leads on Culprit Who Leaked Ruling on Right to Abortion
An investigation into the leak of a significant Supreme Court ruling overturning the federal right to abortion before its official release has concluded without identifying the culprit, the court announced Thursday. The inconclusive end to…
China Suggested to Set Aside Politics and Import Western Vaccines to Combat COVID
China must prioritize global health over political considerations by opening up to Western vaccines to combat Covid-19 and end the pandemic, according to Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest…
China Reopening After COVID Surge is Positive for Soaring Global Inflation, OECD Secretary-General Says
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann emphasized on Monday that China’s reopening represents a significant positive development in the global effort to combat soaring inflation. “We certainly very much welcome the easing of Covid related restrictions in…
Pfizer Omicron Booster Does Not Pose Any Risk of Stroke in Seniors According to CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on Friday that it is “very unlikely” the Pfizer omicron booster poses a risk of stroke for seniors, following an investigation into a preliminary safety concern…
Number of Uninsured People in US Grew in COVID-19 Pandemic Following Enforcement of Medicaid and Obamacare
The uninsured rate in the United States saw a decline during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite millions losing employer-sponsored coverage due to layoffs, according to a report released Friday by the Health and Human Services Department.…
Biden Administration to Continue COVID-19 Health Emergency Following Omicron Subvariant Spreading
The Biden administration has decided to extend the Covid-19 public health emergency until April, citing concerns over a highly transmissible omicron subvariant that could potentially lead to another wave of hospitalizations in the U.S. this…
Alphabet to Cut Staff for Health Division Verily By 15%
In an email circulated to its workforce on Wednesday, Verily CEO Stephen Gillett outlined a restructuring plan that will involve reducing its staff by 15%, affecting approximately 240 employees, as confirmed by a Verily spokesperson.…
CDC Finding Suggests that More Than 250,000 Kindergartners in US Are At Risk of Measles
In a report published Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted that nearly a quarter of a million kindergartners are at risk of measles due to a decline in vaccination coverage during…
Eager Chinese Travelers Looking to Get Western mRNA Vaccines for COVID-19
Mainland China’s shift from its zero-Covid policy has triggered a significant surge in infections, prompting many to look beyond their borders for vaccines. By mid-December, China’s full Covid vaccination rate was nearly 87%, with 54%…
Rishi Sunak Set to Hold Union Talks Ahead of Introducing Controversial Anti-Strike Laws
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to meet union leaders this week for what he hopes will be “constructive” talks aimed at halting nationwide industrial action, even as his government prepares to introduce controversial…
BioNTech Plans to Start Cancer Vaccine Trials in UK Starting From September
On Friday, the U.K. government announced a partnership with the German firm BioNTech to test potential vaccines for cancer and other diseases. Campaigners emphasized that any breakthrough must remain affordable and accessible. Cancer patients in…
South Carolina Supreme Court Deems State Ban on Abortion After Six Weeks Violating Constitution
The South Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the state’s ban on abortion after around six weeks of pregnancy, ruling that the law violated the state’s constitutional right to privacy. The 3-2 decision comes nearly…
FDA Changes Rule for Abortion Pill Mifepristone, Walgreens and CVS to Sell the Prescription Drug
Walgreens and CVS will sell the prescription abortion pill mifepristone after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dropped a long-standing rule that previously prevented drug stores from doing so. The decision by the two largest…
EU Officials Want Chinese Travelers to Be Screened for COVID Before Entering Europe
European nations on Wednesday recommended new restrictions on travelers from China due to concerns over increasing Covid cases. Travelers departing from China may soon be required to present a negative Covid test before leaving for…
WHO States That XBB.1.5 Omicron Subvariant of COVID is the Most Contagious So Far
The XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant, currently dominant in the U.S., is the most contagious version of Covid-19 to date, though it does not seem to cause more severe illness, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).…
COVID Omicron XBB.1.5 is Spreading in U.S, Highly Immune and Reduces Effectiveness of Vaccines
The Covid omicron XBB.1.5 variant is rapidly becoming dominant in the U.S. due to its high immune evasiveness and enhanced ability to bind to cells compared to related subvariants, according to scientists. XBB.1.5 now accounts…
UK and France Dismiss Intentions to Start Mandatory COVID-19 Test for Travelers Entering Their Countries
The U.K. and France confirmed on Thursday that they currently have no intentions to reinstate mandatory Covid-19 tests or impose additional requirements on travelers entering their countries. U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace indicated later on…
Amazon Web Services Used By Researchers to Create and Analyze Genetic Sequences
As health care becomes increasingly digitized, scientists, doctors, and researchers face the challenge of deciphering unprecedented amounts of data to adequately personalize care. The vast amount of information available often exceeds their capacity to consume…