Trending News Today: Experimental Drug Shows Promise as Peanut Allergy Treatment

An experimental drug showed potential as a treatment for life-threatening peanut allergies in a late-stage trial, The Wall Street Journal reported. According to the article, the 12-month study found that 67.2% of children who received the drug, called AR101, were able to ingest a single dose of at least 600 mg of peanut protein while experiencing mild symptoms, compared with only 4% in the placebo group. However, approximately 4.3% of those taking AR101 had severe adverse reactions to the drug, compared with less than 1% among those who received a placebo, the article reported.

Pfizer announced that it plans to raise US prices on 41 of its medications in January, Reuters reported. According to the article, Pfizer said it would increase the list price of most of the drugs by 5%, whereas prices for 3 will rise by 3% and the price of 1 by 9%, but did not name the drugs in line for the price increases. The list price changes will be effective January 15, the article stated.

The FDA declined to approve Aquestive Therapeutics’ erectile dysfunction treatment and requested additional data, Reuters reported. According to the article, the company said it would work with the FDA for approval and informed the agency that it plans to engage an alternative supplier of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Tadalafil oral film belongs to a class of drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors, which is the same class as Viagra and Cialis, the article reported.