Zelboraf (vemurafenib) has been approved for treatment of adult patients with a rare cancer of the blood. It is the first medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD).  ECD is a rare blood cancer originating in the bone...

Overweight or obese Americans are at a higher risk of developing cancer, according to the latest Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least 13 different types of cancer are associated with obesity, yet figures suggest more than half of Americans are...

The majority of medication available over-the-counter or with a prescription comes with a risk of side effects, whether minor irritations or more serious health concerns. Each year, emergency rooms across the United States deal with more than 700,000 visits as a result of adverse drug events,...

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking into improved packaging, storage and disposal strategies to address the opioid abuse epidemic in the United States. In a statement released at the end of October, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, reaffirmed the regulatory body's...

Patients in the United States who suffer from mantle cell lymphoma have a new treatment option available following the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) decision to grant accelerated approval to Calquence (acalabrutinib). The AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals drug was granted Priority Review,...

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced its decision to recognize the capability of eight regulatory authorities in Europe, which it states will lead to greater efficiency in ensuring the safety of medicines and pharmacy products.  Inspections of manufacturing facilities by...

Scott Gottlieb, MD, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, has outlined the FDA's plans to tackle the nation's opioid abuse epidemic. Speaking to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing, he described opioid addiction as the "biggest crisis facing public health...

Depression and anxiety is more commonly diagnosed in patients suffering atopic dermatitis than among the rest of the US population, a recent survey by the National Eczema Association (NEA) suggests. October is Eczema Awareness Month, during which the NEA is highlighting the impact of eczema on...

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the indication of Stelara (ustekinumab) for adolescent patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Janssen Biotech, the manufacturer of the drug, described the approval as a "significant milestone" in the treatment of young people with...

Pharmacies across the country recently offered free "brown bag" medication reviews as part of National Check Your Meds Day. The awareness-raising event was established by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) and Consumer Reports and this year took place on Saturday, October 21st....

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the nod to Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), the first cell-based gene therapy granted approval for the treatment of certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and only the second gene therapy to gain FDA approval. The drug is indicated for...

California Governor Edmund G Brown Jr has declared a State of Emergency to control the recent outbreak of hepatitis A. Vaccines have already been distributed, but additional supplies are needed to control the outbreak. A total of 80,110 doses of the vaccine had already been distributed by the...

Antibiotics such as Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and Amoxil (amoxicillin) are prescribed to treat a staggering range of different medical conditions, but their pervasive use could be reducing their efficacy in the long-term. The more these drugs are used, the greater the risk of antibiotic-resistant...

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced improvements to its Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). The system is a database of reported medication issues, including product quality complaints leading to adverse events, medication error reports and other adverse event...

Governor Edmund G Brown Jr of California has signed legislation SB 17 aimed at improving the transparency of prescription drug prices in the Golden State. It is hoped the Drug Price Transparency Bill, authored by Senator Ed Hernandez, will curb price hikes and help patients struggling with...

Pfizer's Lyrica CR (pregabalin) extended-release tablets CV gained US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use treating neuropathic pain experienced by patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and for managing postherpetic neuralgia.  The drug's safety and efficacy were...

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough therapy (BTD) designation to the AstraZeneca drug Tagrisso (osimertinib).  It is the sixth such designation granted to AstraZeneca oncology medicine since 2014. Tagrisso received BTD for first-line treatment of patients with...

A generic version of the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone), likely to be cheaper than its branded counterpart, will be reintroduced into local pharmacies across the United States, Teva Pharmaceuticals has announced.  Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection...

A new treatment will soon be available for adults with relapsed follicular lymphoma, a slow-growing form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, following the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of Aliqopa (copanlisib). The drug was granted Accelerated Approval as it fills an unmet medical need....

Over the next four years, more than $22 million in grants have been awarded for clinical trials and research into treatment for patients with rare diseases, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced. In a statement released by the regulatory body, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD,...