Trending News Today: FDA Panel Recommends New Antibiotic for Bacterial Pneumonia, Skin Infections

A US FDA expert panel voted in favor for approval of Paratek Pharmaceutical Inc’s antibiotic, omadacycline, to treat bacterial pneumonia and skin infections, Reuters reported. According to the article, the panel voted 17-1 in favor of the drug’s safety and efficacy in treating acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, and voted 14-4 for treating community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. If approved, omadacycline would be the first of a new class of antibiotics known as aminomethylcyclines, the article reported.

The American Medical Association (AMA) announced its opposition to the merger of CVS Health Corp and Aetna, urging the US Department of Justice to stop the deal, Reuters reported. According to the article, the AMA warned that the deal could lead to a substantial reduction of competition in the pharmacy benefit services market and the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for seniors. In a statement, CVS said that it strongly disagreed with the AMA’s assessment of the deal, the article reported.

A new study has found that immigrants have lower health care costs than individuals born in the United States, The Hill reported. According to the article, the report examined all peer-reviewed studies since 2000 on immigrants’ health care costs in the United States. The researchers found that immigrants’ health care expenditures were one-half to two-thirds lower than individuals born in United States, the article reported. Even among immigrants who had health insurance, the study found that spending was 52% lower than that of insured US-born individuals, according to The Hill.