CDC ENTEBBE

FDA approves FluMist, a nasal spray flu vaccine for self-administration, for healthy individuals aged 2 to 49. FluMist effectiveness is comparable to the flu shot and protects against severe flu complications. Administered at home via a spray in each nostril, it may have side effects like runny nose and fever. Cost and insurance coverage for the at-home version are uncertain, with availability starting next flu season.

The FDA approved GE HealthCare’s Flyrcado, a PET MPI agent for diagnosing CAD, offering improved accuracy over SPECT MPI. Flyrcado, with a 109-minute half-life, demonstrated superior efficacy in the AURORA trial compared to SPECT and was validated against coronary angiography. Expected to launch in the U.S. early next year, it aims to address limited access to PET tracers and improve CAD diagnosis.

A physician advocates for maintaining the current meningococcal vaccination schedule, expressing concern over proposed changes that could endanger young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The current schedule, which includes a dose at 11-12 years old followed by a booster at 16, has led to a 90% decline in meningococcal disease rates among adolescents. Removing the 11-12-year-old vaccination recommendation could widen existing gaps in care, exposing more families to the dangers of meningococcal disease, which has a high fatality rate and severe long-term effects.

Nearly 90% of hospitalized COVID-19 babies had unvaccinated mothers, highlighting the need for pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect their infants. Vaccination during pregnancy is the only effective protection for babies under six months old, as they cannot be vaccinated themselves.

Anthony Fauci contracted West Nile virus from a mosquito bite in his garden. The virus, first discovered in Uganda in the 1930s, has caused 2,000 American illnesses annually, leading to 1,200 neurological illnesses and 120 deaths. Despite 20 years of research, there is no cure or dedicated treatment, and vaccines for humans have not progressed beyond initial trials. Climate change is increasing the frequency of outbreaks, making the virus a growing concern.

Enanta Pharmaceuticals announced positive phase 2a results for EDP-323, an RSV L-protein inhibitor, showing 85-87% reduction in viral load, 97-98% in infectious viral load, and 66-78% in symptom scores compared to placebo. EDP-323, with Fast Track designation, aims to be a once-daily oral treatment for RSV, addressing a significant need for effective treatments.

Enanta Pharmaceuticals announced positive Phase 2a results for EDP-323, showing significant reductions in RSV viral load and symptoms, with favorable safety and tolerability.

Kennedy criticizes NYT opinion piece on obesity for not addressing diet's role, and targets Novo Nordisk's profits from obesity drugs. He advocates for addressing food system corruption and mental health issues, aiming to 'Make America Healthy Again' under a potential Trump administration.

Pharmaceutical companies have raised prices on over 1,000 drugs this year, disproportionately affecting Black and Latino patients aged 65 and over. Enhertu, used to treat HER2 negative breast cancer, has seen eight price hikes since 2019, reaching over $2,800 per month. Patients for Affordable Drugs calls the lack of affordability a 'crisis' disproportionately hurting people of color, who are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions requiring expensive drugs. Advocacy groups push for policies to lower drug prices, highlighting systemic racism in healthcare.

A study suggests Novo Nordisk's Ozempic may reduce opioid overdose risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes and opioid use disorder, offering potential in addressing the U.S. opioid epidemic.