Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Allergy Drug Appears To Reduce Alpha-Gal Reactions To Red Meat, Study Shows
NBC News: For Alpha-Gal Patients, Allergy Drug Could Cut The Severity Of Reactions To Red Meat
There’s emerging evidence that the allergy drug omalizumab may reduce severe allergic reactions for alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy triggered by a tick bite. In a study presented Thursday at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, researchers found that 95% of participants using the drug experienced meaningful reductions in the frequency or severity of their allergic reactions. The study included 64 people with confirmed alpha-gal diagnoses who took omalizumab for an average of 23 months. The findings haven’t yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. (Cox, 11/12)
Bloomberg: Merck KGaA Drops Heart Drug As Novartis Trial Flop Sows Doubts
Merck KGaA plans to drop an experimental heart drug it’s acquiring through the takeover of Silence Therapeutics Plc in the wake of the failure of a similar treatment by rival Novartis AG. Adding to doubts about a once-promising treatment approach, Merck said it will not pursue an advanced study of zerlasiran, which is designed to lower lipoprotein(a), a cholesterol-carrying particle that is a known cardiovascular risk factor. (Wind and Muller, 11/12)
Stat: What To Know About Biogen's Big Looming Lupus Study Readout
More than two years have passed since Biogen announced results from a Phase 3 study in lupus. The drug was dapirolizumab and the outcome was positive, in case you were wondering. In the first half of December, Biogen will hope for a repeat, and once again, it’s another lupus drug, litifilimab, that is being evaluated in twin Phase 3 studies. (Feuerstein, 11/12)
Stat: Oura Acquisition Of Startup Raises Conflict-Of-Interest Questions For Eli Lilly
Pharma companies that make GLP-1 drugs have increasingly promoted telehealth companies that prescribe the popular treatments. With a new deal announced this week, one of those relationships is expected to grow more complicated. (Chen, 11/13)
MedPage Today: Prescriptions Down 25%, Overdoses Cut In Half: What Stopped A Gabapentinoid Surge?
High-profile media coverage of the harms associated with the gabapentinoid pregabalin (Lyrica) and tighter safeguards coincided with fewer prescriptions and overdoses in Australia, a retrospective study showed. Following a media campaign, tighter dispensing rules, and boxed warnings, pregabalin prescriptions and overdoses dropped significantly below projected trends -- falling by 25% and 47%, respectively -- reported Rose Cairns, PhD, of the University of Sydney, and co-authors in The BMJ. (George, 11/12)
Also —
Stat: Map Of Brain’s ‘Grand Central Station’ Offers Path To New Treatments
A massive scientific collaboration meant to unravel the mysteries of the human brain has produced the most detailed map yet of the basal ganglia, a region closely associated with a wide array of psychiatric and neurologic disorders. (Wosen, 11/12)
