What We’re Reading: FDA Approves Expanded Use of Keytruda; Menthol Cigarette Ban; Diagnostic Errors in US Hospitals

FDA Approves Expanded Use of Pembrolizumab for Patients With Newly Diagnosed Advanced Cervical Cancer

The FDA has granted approval for the expanded use of Merck's immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda), in combination with chemoradiotherapy, to be used for the treatment of patients newly diagnosed with a type of advanced cervical cancer who have not received prior surgery, radiation, or systemic therapy, according to Reuters. This makes pembrolizumab the first anti–PD-1–based immunotherapy approved in the US for the first-line treatment of this type of cervical cancer, marking a significant advancement in cancer treatment options. The drug demonstrated efficacy in reducing the risk of cancer progression or death by 41% in a late-stage trial involving 1060 patients with advanced cervical cancer.

Biden Administration Urged to Publish Rules Banning Menthol Cigarettes, Flavored Cigars

A group of Senate Democrats and advocacy groups have called on the Biden administration to promptly publish 2 final rules banning menthol-flavored cigarettes and all flavored cigars, according to The Hill. The lawmakers emphasized the urgency of these regulations, citing concerns that delays could lead to increased addiction and health risks. The proposed ban on menthol cigarettes was initially introduced by the Biden administration in 2022, and the final version, initially expected in August, faced delays, with the White House pushing the ban's implementation to at least March 2024. The senators and supporting groups are urging the administration to reject arguments they say are driven by the tobacco industry and instead prioritize public health.

Study Reveals High Rates of Diagnostic Errors Leading to Harm and Deaths in US Hospitals

A recent study highlighted the prevalence of diagnostic errors in US hospitals, reporting that nearly 1 in 4 hospital patients who died or were transferred to intensive care had experienced a diagnostic error, according to NBC News. The study found approximately 18% of misdiagnosed patients suffered harm or died. Furthermore, racial and gender disparities were evident, with women and ethnic minorities being 20% to 30% more likely than White men to experience misdiagnosis. The study also emphasized the urgent public health problem of diagnostic errors, estimating that 795,000 patients a year in the US suffer permanent disability or death due to misdiagnosis.