An Iowa abortion ban is temporarily blocked; Pfizer partners with Flagship Pioneering in drug development deal; South Dakota’s governor calls for action in addressing the national drug shortage.
Judge Temporarily Blocks Iowa Abortion Ban
Iowa's new abortion ban was temporarily blocked from taking effect by Polk County District Court Judge Joseph Seidlin, according to The Hill. The lawsuit filed by abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, argus that the ban was not constitutional under Iowa law. The court ruled in favor of the abortion providers, granting a temporary injunction while the case continues, thus restoring access to abortion in the state.
Pfizer, Flagship Pioneering to Invest in Drug Discovery, Development
Drugmaker Pfizer and venture capital firm Flagship Pioneering have partnered to invest $100 million to discover and develop 10 potential drugs targeting diseases with limited or no treatment options, according to Reuters. Flagship will contribute $50 million, leveraging its drug discovery initiative, Pioneering Medicines, to lead the research for new drug molecules. Pfizer will provide funding for the development of the selected drugs and have the option to acquire them, gaining access to Flagship's research platform and preclinical study resources. Additionally, Flagship-backed companies could receive up to $700 million in milestones and royalties if any of the experimental treatments are successfully launched and sold because of this collaboration.
South Dakota Governor Addresses US Drug Shortages
Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota, has taken action to address drug shortages in the United State, announcing plans to expand the state's stockpiles of certain medications facing shortages, according to The Associated Press. Noem hopes this move will prompt federal authorities, particularly the FDA, to take decisive action in addressing weaknesses in the international pharmaceutical supply chain and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, such as China and India. These drug shortages are an ongoing issue in the country, affecting patient care due to manufacturing problems, demand spikes, tight ingredient supplies, and overreliance on foreign sources.
Perioperative Nivolumab Boosts NSCLC Survival: CheckMate 77T Trial
May 16th 2024This interim analysis of the CheckMate 77T trial, outcomes were compared between adult patients receiving neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy or neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus placebo for resectable non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
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Covering antiobesity medications like semaglutide could save Medicare around $500 million annually; preliminary CDC data showed a 3% decline in the number of US overdose deaths last year; the Biden administration recently announced the first national maternal mental health strategy.
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Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Urban Health Outreach
May 9th 2024In the series debut episode of "Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity," Mary Sligh, CRNP, and Chelsea Chappars, of Allegheny Health Network, explain how the Urban Health Outreach program aims to improve health equity for individuals experiencing homelessness.
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Congress Urged to Repeal Comstock Act Threatening Reproductive Rights and Public Health
May 16th 2024In a joint letter addressed to Congress, Healthcare Across Borders, Take Back the Court Action Fund, and UltraViolet Action called out the resurgence of the Comstock Act, urging immediate action to repeal this century-old law that threatens reproductive rights and public health in the US.
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Atypical Marker Expression in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma
May 15th 2024Two unique case reports highlight the diagnostic challenges and critical importance of comprehensive immunophenotyping in cases of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma that present without typical immaturity markers but with rare γδ T-cell receptor expression.
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