FDA approves another pneumococcal vaccine that’s effective in older adults
Drugmaker Merck is encouraging the use of its new shot, Vaxneuvance, in older adults diagnosed with certain chronic medical conditions or who are immunocompromised.
FDA approval
NIH head says full Pfizer vaccine approval could come this summer
Waiting for full federal approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is no reason to delay protection, the director of the National Institutes of Health said Monday, but those still holding out for the end of the emergency authorization period might have only weeks to go.
FDA calls for investigation into its approval of controversial Alzheimer’s drug
The acting chief of the Food and Drug Administration has called for an investigation into the events leading up to the approval of Biogen’s brain plaque-clearing dementia drug aducanumab (Aduhelm).
Feds revoke emergency use of some respirators, mask decontamination in healthcare settings
Healthcare personnel are no longer authorized to use certain respirators not approved by NIOSH or technology for cleaning disposable masks, the FDA says.
Criticism, confusion and hope: new Alzheimer’s drug receives messy welcome
Clinicians’ responses to the controversial approval of Aduhelm range between excitement and disapproval, with questions abounding on how to advise patients on treatment and the cost to patients and Medicare.
Clinical briefs for Monday, June 14
3 FDA advisory panel members resign in wake of controversial approval of new Alzheimer’s drug … U.S. suspends COVID J&J vaccine shipments as backlog builds; extends expiration dates … VoiceFriend adds new discharged patient module for post-acute care … Computerized tests show how poorly fitting N95 masks increase risk of infection … FDA recalls unapproved COVID test that used falsified data … Parkinson’s drug candidates to be targeted to genetic groups in new Abbie biopharma collaboration
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, June 9
Twist in the FDA’s Alzheimer’s decision: no limits on which patients can get the drug … Biden administration advises changes to policies linked to N95 shortages … Frailty tied to increased mortality in COVID: A living review and meta-analysis … In type 1 diabetes, blood sugar extremes are tied to sixfold risk of dementia … Exercise likely to be best treatment for depression in coronary heart disease … “Immunological memory” protects against COVID re-infection for at least 11 months, analysis shows
FDA allows injections, reduced dose of COVID monoclonal antibody therapy
An effective but arguably underused COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy now may be more accessible for long-term care facilities that aren’t equipped to deliver intravenous infusions.
As COVID-19 vaccine boosters are mulled, long-term care advocates, critics both want facilities to prepare
Since before the first shots went into arms, health experts and federal officials have pondered the need for boosters. Much of the initial chatter focused on a six-month window before protection waned, a timeline that is beginning to worry some long-term care advocates.
