About pharma
11 drugs likely to become blockbusters: These drugs are expected to have sales of $1billion or more.
CVS, Walgreens blame ‘Dr. John and Jane Doe’ for Florida opioid epidemic: First pharma companies were held liable for the opioid epidemic. Then it was pharmacies and wholesalers. Now physicians are in the spotlight. “The retailers, which operate more than 1,600 pharmacies in Florida, filed a third-party complaint in January denying liability “in any respect” for the state’s opioid epidemic and asked the 6th Judicial Circuit in Pasco County to shift blame to the real culprit: 500 Dr. John and Jane Does.”
Proposed Bill Would Allow FDA to Destroy Counterfeit Products: Unlike seized narcotics, which are eventually destroyed, the FDA “currently only has the authority to send counterfeit products back to the manufacturer, which risks putting them back in the market. drugs and devices.” This bill would give the agency the authority to destroy them.
About emerging technology
How blocking a 'first responder' in blood vessels could prevent heart disease: “Plexin D1…acts as a ‘mechanosensor’ in endothelial cells. It can respond to the dynamic forces of blood flow by promoting the formation of plaques that clog up the arteries, leading to atherosclerosis, the usual cause of heart attacks and stroke…” If a Plexin D1 blocking drug can be found, it could impede atherosclerotic plaque formation. However, we need to consider the natural protective effect this mechanism has.
GreenBone Ortho Earns CE Mark for Wooden Bone Substitute: “GreenBone Ortho has received CE Mark certification for its Bone Substitute, a ‘nature-inspired biomimetic’ graft that is designed to imitate the chemical composition and architecture of bone.
The device, made of rattan wood, is designed with osseointegration properties to heal large bone damage in the extremities or the pelvis.”
Can’t resist…this product gives new meaning to the term “wooden leg.”
About the public’s health
FDA Report Continues to See No Link Between Cell Phones and Cancer: The headline is self-explanatory…and a relief.
Variation in Tdap and Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women by Insurance Type — Florida, 2016–2018: While the low rates of immunization for this population are concerning, the sample size was only 341 and the study was limited to Florida. More states and larger populations need to be assessed to validate this result.
Trump Seeks to Halve U.S. Funding for World Health Organization as Coronavirus Rages:”The Trump administration is eyeing steep cuts to global health funds in its 2021 budget proposal, slashing more than $3 billion in overall programs, including half of its annual funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), which is leading the fight against the deadly coronavirus outbreak…
Senior administration officials said they were allocating new resources, including an additional $15 million for the USAID Global Health Security Program, to fight the coronavirus, as government officials worked around the clock to evacuate American citizens from the region of China hit by the deadly outbreak. The budget proposal also includes a request for $25 million for a so-called Emergency Reserve Fund, which, according to a State Department spokesperson, ‘can be quickly deployed to respond to pandemic outbreaks…’
But experts and some on Capitol Hill say a small increase in funds doesn’t outweigh the steep proposed cuts to global health programs overall.”
CVS invested $67M in housing last year. Here's a look at where that money went: “CVS invested $67 million in growing affordable housing options across the U.S. last year—and the healthcare giant said it’s hoping to significantly grow those investments in 2020.
In 2019, the investments made nearly 300 new permanent supportive housing units available, which target people who are impacted by domestic violence, chronic illness, homelessness and addiction, officials said.
CVS’ funding also backed the creation of 450 units for seniors, 59 for veterans and their families and 38 dedicated to Native Americans and their families. The efforts are a critical part of the company’s Destination: Health initiative, which targets social issues.”
How a new wave of technology startups is tackling social determinants of health [SDOH] challenges: This article presents some examples of new ventures addressing SDOH. One valuable resource for information that is mentioned in the article is the National Alliance to impact the Social Determinants of Health (NASDOH), convened by the consulting firm Leavitt Partners.
About health insurance
Health Insurance Affordability Concerns and Health Care Avoidance Among US Adults Approaching Retirement: Among 1028 respondents aged 50 to 64 years, approximately “one-fourth of respondents… had little to no confidence in being able to afford health insurance over the next year, and nearly one-half… had little to no confidence in their ability to afford health insurance when they retire.”
About healthcare quality
America's Best Hospitals for 2020: This rating is from Healthgrades. Check the methodology as well as the rankings.