Jill Murphy, Assistant Editor

The study, which includes data from asthma patient samples and mouse models, is the first to definitively show a relationship between iron build-up in the lung cells and tissues and the severity of asthma, according to the researchers.

The test can be used to identify large numbers of infected patients and asymptomatic carriers, which would help support containment efforts and slow the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The new study has found that the lymphedema monitoring technology, marketed by LymphaTech, can effectively detect early arm swelling associated with lymphedema in breast cancer patients.

Trastuzumab-dttb was first approved in January 2019 across all eligible indications, mainly adjuvant treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, and metastatic gastric cancer.

A study of the second HIV patient to undergo successful stem cell transplantation from donors with an HIV-resistant gene found that there was no active viral infection in the patient’s blood 30 months after they stopped antiretroviral therapy.

The US Pharmacopeia (USP) is providing free technical assistance to developers of antiviral drugs and vaccines that will support the public health response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

More than 90% of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists are concerned about COVID-19 affecting their patients, whereas 68% of doctors and 67% of nurses feel they are reasonably prepared for a COVID-19 outbreak in their area.

The study focused on whether moderate alcohol intake is related to reductions in amyloid-beta deposition or is protective via amyloid-independent mechanisms in the living human brain since little information was available.

The FDA has released a statement addressing the issue, stating that the organization is “not aware of scientific evidence connecting the use of NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, with worsening COVID-19 symptoms.”

All 3 trials reached their primary endpoints, specifically percentage change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from baseline to 17 months and time-adjusted percentage change in LDL-C from baseline from 3 to 18 months.

The findings highlight the critical role played by excess visceral adiposity in the progression of fibrosis among HIV-infected patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to the study authors.

With the publication of the new vancomycin guidelines, pharmacists are going to experience a major change from trough-based monitoring of vancomycin to area under the curve-based dosing strategies.

Earlier this week, the FDA updated its guidance on testing for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), allowing clinical laboratories to create and perform COVID-19 tests without pursuing FDA emergency use authorization (EUA).

SARS-CoV-2 was detectable in aerosols for up to 3 hours, up to 4 hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to 3 days on plastic and stainless steel.

Conferences such as the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) 2020 Annual Meeting and Expo are now implementing virtual versions of their programs.

Although vaccine development is underway, the process can take at least a year before reaching in the mass-production stage.

A 72-week interim analysis of observational data from the ongoing SEARCH study was used to examine optimal strategies for PrEP engagement and uptake after population-level HIV testing and universal PrEP access.

A clinical program evaluating sarilumab (Kevzara, Sanofi and Regeneron) has started in patients hospitalized with a severe form of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to the company.

The first clinical trial evaluating an investigational vaccine designed to protect against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has begun.

Pharmacies across the country also taking necessary steps to help facilitate COVID-19 testing and to keep patients safe.

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging the public to follow proper safety procedures and support each other, according to the latest press conference.

In its first action, the FDA has decided to not object to the New York State Department of Health’s (NYSDOH) action authorizing certain laboratories in New York to start patient testing for COVID-19.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has been awarded a contract from the FDA to assess medication safety practices in the perioperative setting from the time patients are prepared for a procedure until they are discharged home.

Rotovirus infection is a hypothesized risk factor for type 1 diabetes, according to the authors.

In addition, the new legislation calls for more intervention from local and state health officers, allowing them to recommend options ranging from testing to counseling. This includes the ability to mandate treatment for an individual determined to be placing others at risk.

Using the 2012 to 2017 Medicare Part D Drug Event and Medicaid Spending and Utilization data sets, the researchers analyzed 20 extended-release drugs with 37 Medicare formulations and 36 Medicaid formulations. The analyses were conducted from January to December 2019.

Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have cataloged host proteins that physically bind to HIV proteins, which identify human proteins that the virus can use to infect cells and spread.

The bill is intended to "prevent a health insurance carrier from requiring a covered person to undergo step therapy or to receive prior authorization before receiving HIV infection prevention drugs."

The designation was granted to Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals’ EHP-101, an oral formulation of a novel aminoquinone synthetic derivative of cannabidiol endowed with dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and cannabinoid receptor type 2 agonist activity.

The Undectectable = Untransmittable (U=U) campaign started in early 2016 and has been sharing the message to dismantle the stigma surrounding HIV ever since. More than 970 community partners from 101 countries have come together to clear up the confusion about the science behind U=U.