Public Health England

Eli Lilly Expands Digital Health Partnership with Evidation to Advance Patient-Generated Data Analytics

3 months ago

• Eli Lilly has partnered with Evidation Health to leverage their Andromeda platform, enabling analysis of data from wearables, sensors, and smartphones to develop novel digital health measures. • The collaboration focuses on transforming complex patient-generated behavioral data into clinically meaningful insights, with initial applications in diabetes management through continuous glucose monitoring and insulin delivery systems. • This strategic partnership aims to uncover new physiological and environmental indicators that could revolutionize disease identification, treatment monitoring, and medical advancement.

Semaglutide Shows Promise in Reducing Alcohol Consumption and Cravings

6 months ago

• A new study reveals that semaglutide, known as Ozempic and Wegovy, significantly reduces alcohol cravings and consumption in individuals with alcohol use disorder. • Participants on semaglutide experienced fewer heavy drinking days and decreased alcohol intake during lab tests compared to those on a placebo, indicating potential therapeutic benefits. • The research suggests semaglutide's effects on alcohol cravings may surpass existing treatments, offering a promising avenue for addressing the unmet needs in alcohol use disorder. • Further studies are warranted to explore semaglutide's long-term efficacy, optimal dosages, and safety, particularly for individuals without obesity or diabetes.

Tagrisso Approved for Unresectable Stage III EGFR-Mutated NSCLC

8 months ago

• The FDA has approved Tagrisso (osimertinib) for adults with unresectable Stage III EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after platinum-based chemoradiation therapy. • The approval was based on the LAURA Phase III trial, which showed Tagrisso significantly improved progression-free survival compared to placebo. • Tagrisso reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 84%, offering a new targeted therapy option for patients with these specific mutations. • This approval expands Tagrisso's use across all stages of EGFR-mutated NSCLC, addressing a critical unmet need for targeted treatments.

Doxy-PEP Shows Promise in STI Prevention, Balancing Benefits and Risks

2 years ago

• Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) has demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing the incidence of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis among high-risk populations. • Studies show doxy-PEP is highly effective among MSM and TGW with a history of STIs, potentially increasing sexual pleasure and decreasing STI-related stigma. • Concerns remain regarding the long-term consequences of doxy-PEP, including the potential development of antibiotic resistance and disturbances to the microbiome. • Implementation of doxy-PEP requires careful consideration of benefits versus risks, with ongoing research needed to optimize its use and monitor its impact on antibiotic resistance.

Smoking Poses Heightened Health Risks for HIV Patients, Studies Show

10 years ago

• Recent studies reveal that people living with HIV who smoke lose more years of life from smoking than from HIV itself, with 50-70% of HIV-positive individuals being smokers. • Smoking significantly increases HIV patients' risk of opportunistic infections, cardiovascular disease, and medication complications, with up to 60% higher mortality rates observed in smokers. • Public health initiatives like Stoptober and e-cigarette adoption are being promoted as harm reduction strategies, with evidence showing e-cigarettes carry only 5% of tobacco's health risks.