The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday gave a North Carolina biotech company the go-ahead to test if a monoclonal antibody can prevent people from overdosing on fentanyl.
Why it matters: The synthetic opiate is becoming a leading cause of death for people under 50. Naloxone is currently the most widely used drug to reverse an overdose, but researchers are looking at other treatments, including an experimental vaccine.
Congress is wading back into the prior authorization debate with calls to streamline and make more transparent the process through which insurers can deny access to covered services.
What's happening: House Ways and Means lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a bill as part of a larger health package that would overhaul and accelerateprior authorization decisions for Medicare Advantage plans.
The first health-related spending bill to go through the House this year was pulled from the floor schedule on Thursday amid disputes overspending levels and a contentious abortion pill policy rider.
Why it matters: Lawmakers are heading home for the August recess, meaning work on the Agriculture-FDA appropriations package will be put off until after they return in September.
The Biden administration on Thursday launched an effort under its new science agency ARPA-H to help surgeons better remove cancerous tumors without damaging nerves, blood vessels and other healthy tissue.
Why it matters: It's the first cancer program for the multi-billion-dollar Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health and is paired with the "cancer moonshot" as part of President Biden's "unity agenda" aimed at cutting the cancer death rate in half over 25 years.
The expanding health care services offered by brick-and-mortar pharmacies may help them fend off competition from mail order pharmacies, according to a new J.D. Power study.
Why it matters: While traditional pharmacies are facing increased competition from digital players, including big names like Amazon and Mark Cuban, the pandemic experience made patients more accustomed to getting quick, routine care at their neighborhood drug store.
The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday approved a measure aimed at reforming pharmacy benefit manager practices on a broad bipartisan vote of 26-1.
Why it matters: The move adds to the flurry of activity in both chambers aimed at PBMs, which serve as negotiators between drug manufacturers and insurers, working out rebates with drugmakers and securing the details of their plan coverage.
A trio of policy experts from Stanford’s Hoover Institution are launching a new free-market health care plan this week that they're hoping will become the go-to Republican message for 2024 campaigns, with a focus on expanding health care choices.
Why it matters: Ever since the Affordable Care Act "repeal and replace" effort failed in 2017, Republicans have struggled to find a unifying vision for health care they can put forwardin presidential and congressional races.
A lesser-known fertility option is gaining traction: using donor embryos.
Why it matters: As the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) has gone up, there's been an increase in the amount of unused embryos, and in embryo donor rates.
