An FDA advisory committee recently voted 11-5 in favor of the efficacy of arimoclomol, an investigative treatment for Niemann-Pick disease type C. However, despite the majority vote, some committee members still expressed concerns about the treatment. If the FDA ultimately approves arimoclomol, it would be the first indicated treatment for this ultra-rare and fatal neurovisceral
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The FDA recently granted accelerated approval to afamitresgene autoleucel (afami-cel, Tecelra) for the treatment of advanced synovial sarcoma, marking a significant milestone in cancer therapy. This engineered cell therapy represents a new option for patients with unresectable or metastatic disease who have previously undergone chemotherapy. Synovial sarcoma is a rare soft-tissue cancer that predominantly affects
A recent study based on the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) has highlighted the association between the presence of non-essential and essential metals in urine and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. The study found that various metals such as cadmium, tungsten, uranium, cobalt, copper, and zinc were linked to increased incidence
The recently released proposed Medicare fee schedule for physicians and other healthcare professionals in 2025 has sparked concerns within the healthcare community. One of the primary issues highlighted in the proposal is the significant decrease in the Medicare “conversion factor” (CF), which is used to determine payment rates for services and procedures. This decrease means
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s administration recently received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a groundbreaking proposal aimed at providing financial incentives to hospitals in the state. The goal of this initiative is to help hospitals eliminate patients’ medical debt and implement policies that deter future liabilities. Under this new
The recent FDA approval of the Shield blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in adults aged 45 and older at average risk has garnered significant attention. Guardant Health announced that the approval marks a milestone as Shield becomes the first blood test approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for CRC. It
The world is currently facing a significant public health concern with the rise of dengue fever cases. According to a recent Health Advisory from the CDC, the number of reported cases of dengue in the Americas has doubled this year, reaching 9.7 million as of June 24. This alarming increase in cases is a cause
The excitement surrounding MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in veterans reached new heights when VA Under-Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, MD, expressed the agency’s readiness to roll out this treatment option. However, this optimism was short-lived as FDA advisers later voted against the drug due to concerns about flawed data, questionable research conduct, and potential safety
A recent study challenged some commonly held beliefs about how the H5N1 bird flu behaves in cattle. While it was previously thought that the virus usually caused only mild illness and that asymptomatic animals did not spread the disease, new findings have shed light on a different reality. The study, conducted by Kiril Dimitrov, DVM,
In the age where social media plays a significant role in our lives, healthcare professionals are utilizing platforms such as X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to advocate for various causes and educate the public. One such example is cardiothoracic ICU nurse Alexis Smith, also known as Miss Kansas 2024, who went viral for speaking