(HealthDay)—For adult oncology patients receiving oral anticancer drugs (OACDs), almost three-quarters of prescriptions require prior authorization (PA), according to a study presented at the annual ASCO Quality Care Symposium, held from Sep. 24 to 25 in Boston. Morgan Lichtenstein, M.D.,…
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Study finds worsening disparities among states in use of HIV-prevention drugs
States with low initial use of HIV-prevention drugs are continuing to fall behind in usage among people at risk for the disease, a new study finds. Researchers, clinicians and advocates had hoped that late-adopting states would see a surge in…
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Children of heavy drinkers have elevated risk of several adverse experiences
The children of parents who drink alcohol heavily have an elevated risk of a number of adverse experiences, including mental health disorders, hospitalizations and criminal behavior, according to a new review in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs….
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As holdout Missouri joins nation in monitoring opioid prescriptions, experts worry
Kathi Arbini said she felt elated when Missouri finally caught up to the other 49 states and approved a statewide prescription drug monitoring program this June in an attempt to curb opioid addiction. The hairstylist turned activist estimated she made…
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Researchers identify an unexpected effect for already characterized active substances
Every innovative drug starts with the search for an active substance targeting key players in disease-related processes. However, there is no perfect drug that affects the one target in the body: no effect without side effects, as also described in…
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The ABCs of an overdose: What to do when drugs go wrong
When it comes to drugs, the safest approach is not taking them at all. But if you are going to get high, whether that’s on ketamine, cocaine, MDMA, or whatever else you can get your hands on, it’s vital you…
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Analysis: Necessary or not, covid booster shots are probably on the horizon
The drugmaker Pfizer recently announced that vaccinated people are likely to need a booster shot to be effectively protected against new variants of covid-19 and that the company would apply for Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization for the…
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Drug rebates were associated with higher out-of-pocket costs for patients
Federal agencies that regulate drug pricing and healthcare insurance are concerned that an industry practice of using rebates to lower drug costs for insurers has led to increases in list prices and out-of-pockets costs for patients. To investigate whether patients…
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Change to Gilead assistance program threatens prep access, HIV advocates say
Dr. John Carlo is concerned that patients at Prism Health North Texas who rely on the health care safety net will soon be struggling even more to stay on PrEP, a medication that prevents HIV transmission. Carlo, chief executive officer…
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A new method for efficient and automated production of synthetic DNA
Chemically synthesized short DNA sequences are extremely important ingredients with countless uses in research laboratories, hospitals, and in industry, like in the method for identifying COVID-19. Phosphoramidites are necessary building blocks in the production of DNA sequences, but they are…
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