May 26th Newsletter
Salmonella Infections in Six States Linked to Papa Murphy’s Raw Cookie Dough?- Those sickened were in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, and Missouri. Illnesses were reported between February and May, according to the CDC. The agency is advising people to throw out the cookie dough if they have any in their kitchen. Papa Murphy’s is temporarily not selling its raw chocolate chip cookie dough and raw S’mores bars dough. (more)
Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain–spine interface -?Gert-Jan Oskam, a Dutch 40-year-old who was paralyzed 12 years ago (see documentary), received?two brain implants and one on his spine, creating a "digital bridge" across the injured nerves. A portable computer decodes his brain's electrical signals and relays them to a spinal pulse generator, resulting in the perception that his lower body movements are voluntary. Combined with regular therapy, the procedure allows Oskam to walk and climb stairs with a natural gait aided by a walker, at times without the digital bridge activated. (more)
Increase in Medicaid Drug Transparency?- The notice of proposed rulemaking recommends that CMS and states get a drug price verification survey tool to verify prices and negotiate for expensive drugs under Medicaid. The notice also focuses on more transparency into what health plans pay to pharmacy benefit managers and what pharmacies get paid for drugs. (more)
Pharma-backed report targets federal clinics for benefiting financially from 340B drug discounts?- Healthcare facilities, particularly federal grantee clinics like federally qualified health centers, can purchase discounted drugs through the 340B program. A recent analysis funded by Gilead Sciences reveals that these grantees, on average, mark up the price of prescription drugs by nearly four times and generated a margin of $8 billion to $12 billion from these markups in 2020. The analysis, conducted by Berkeley Research Group, highlights the need for greater transparency in the 340B program, which is a significant concern for drug manufacturers. (more)
10 commonly used pesticides directly linked to Parkinson's in new study?– The condition is thought to arise from a mix of factors, including genetics, environmental factors, and aging. Increasing evidence suggests that exposure to certain pesticides may increase Parkinson’s disease risk.?
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Paxlovid becomes 1st approved COVID-19 pill?- The FDA granted Pfizer's popular COVID-19 antiviral treatment, Paxlovid, full approval on May 25. The five-day regimen is approved for treating mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at high risk for progression to more severe outcomes. (more)
Can a Saliva Test Predict the Best Way to Manage Obesity??- Mayo Clinic (and Phenomix Sciences) researchers have developed a genetic saliva test that categorizes obesity into four phenotypes, allowing for personalized treatment plans. While experts emphasize the need for independent studies to verify the test's potential, it holds promise for predicting the response to anti-obesity medications and could reduce healthcare costs by targeting treatment to those most likely to benefit. (more)
A new research effort takes aim at 8 rare diseases. It could revolutionize many more?- The Bespoke Gene Therapy Consortium plans to develop gene therapies for each of the eight carefully chosen diseases over the next year, begin clinical trials late next year, and see results 12 to 18 months after that. The consortium, led by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, a nonprofit wing of the federal agency, has helped raise $97 million to advance the treatments. (more)
Apple's Latest Ad Campaign Takes a Humorous Look at Health Data Privacy?- With Apple's built-in privacy protections across its devices and services, the company is seeking to reassure users that their health data remains secure within Apple's ecosystem. (more)
Colorado embraces broad law requiring patient consent for pelvic exams while sedated?– The new law goes beyond other states' laws by requiring prior identification of participating students. Supporters believe the law protects patients from non-consensual exams, but some bioethicists express concerns that the requirement to name students in advance may limit educational opportunities. 20 other states have consent laws. (more)
Virtually ouch-free: Promising early data on a measles vaccine delivered via sticker?- Vaccine experts are excited about the results of a clinical trial for a new vaccine delivery system using a microarray patch. The patch (developed by Micron Biomedical), containing tiny dry needles, can be easily administered, does not require refrigeration, and has the potential to improve vaccine coverage, particularly in low-income countries. (more)