Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Using Organ Donor Immune Cells Can Help Avoid Organ Rejection: Study
The New York Times: New Treatment Lets 3 Transplant Patients Halt Anti-Rejection Drugs
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh reported on Friday that they had trained the immune systems of a few patients to accept liver transplants without the drugs needed to avoid organ rejection. Three of eight patients have now been off the drugs for at least three years, perhaps an early step toward a new approach to transplantation that experts in the field have long hoped for. The study was published in Nature Communications. (Kolata, 4/17)
More pharmaceutical developments —
NBC News: Pancreatic Cancer MRNA Vaccine Shows Lasting Results In An Early Trial
Donna Gustafson had a harder time than usual shaking off the jet lag from her 22-hour journey from Florida to Australia. Two days into her trip, her skin took on the yellow hue of jaundice. Gustafson, who is now 72 and lives in Delray Beach, Florida, went to the emergency room for fluids, thinking she was dehydrated. In a surreal moment, the Australian doctors instead told Gustafson that she had pancreatic cancer. “They were very adamant about it,” Gustafson said. “This is absolutely pancreatic cancer.” (Sullivan, Kopf and Thompson, 4/18)
The Wall Street Journal: A Long Elusive Lung Cancer Target May Finally Be Yielding To New Drugs
Doctors may be getting closer to having a potent weapon against a genetic driver of lung cancer that has long lacked any targeted treatment options. Researchers on Sunday presented early results of clinical trials of two experimental drugs targeting a gene called KRAS, one of the most common and challenging drivers of human cancers. Each drug takes aim at a different KRAS mutation that drives lung cancer, which kills more people worldwide each year than any other form of the disease. (Martinez, 4/19)
The New York Times: Batch Of Anti-Anxiety Drug Xanax Recalled, F.D.A. Says
A single batch of the widely prescribed anti-anxiety drug Xanax has been recalled, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The drug’s distributor, Viatris, said it was recalling one lot containing 51 bottles of 3 milligram extended release tablets because of concerns that they might not dissolve in the body as expected. This can affect how much of the drug is released and absorbed over time, making the effects less predictable. The pills were sold nationwide under the brand name Xanax XR. (Bajaj, 4/16)
Also —
Becker's Hospital Review: Mark Cuban Wants To Bring Drug Manufacturing To Hospitals’ Doorsteps — Literally
Mark Cuban has a pitch for hospitals: Manufacture drugs in their own parking lot. Mr. Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs previously launched a Dallas-based manufacturing facility to address supply issues, starting with epinephrine and norepinephrine production. More recently, Mr. Cuban said his facility can also produce Pitocin, pediatric cancer drugs and sterile water — and that generic tablets can be cheaper when made in Dallas versus purchased from India. (Casolo, 4/17)
Healthcare Dive: Walmart Expands Digital Health Platform’s Weight Loss Offerings, Including GLP-1 Prescribing
Walmart will now offer obesity and weight management support services from five companies: Aaptiv, Berry Street, Curai Health, MyCare by Twin Health and Wheel. Several of the services offered are designed to support patients already taking GLP-1s, while others include nutrition therapy, exercise guidance and personal coaching services. Walmart has also redesigned its “GLP-1 digital destination” webpage, which advertises both GLP-1 medications that customers can fill at a Walmart pharmacy as well as other products the retailer sells, like vitamins and supplements. (Halleman, 4/16)
KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘An Arm and a Leg’: The Accidental Architect Of America’s Drug Patent Problem
Depending on whom you ask, Alfred Engelberg could be a hero or a villain in the story of American pharmaceuticals. The patent lawyer helped write legislation that led to a dramatic increase in the number of generic drugs on the market. He also contributed to a patent system that gives pharmaceutical companies monopolies on their most lucrative drugs, blocking generic competition and keeping prices high along the way. (Weissmann, 4/20)
