MPR Weekly Dose

Omicron-adapted COVID-19 booster vaccines; guidance for the 2022-23 influenza season; efficacy of COVID-19 antiviral; 'rainbow fentanly' targeting youth; and a device to treat chronic idiopathic constipation. 

USPSTF recommendations on the use of statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease; At-home visual acuity test; A new treatment for major depressive disorder; Novavax COVID-19 vaccine approved for adolescents; And there is an alert regarding the potential risk of transmission of monkey virus through fecal microbiota transplantation.

Novavax vaccine booster update; over-the-counter hearing aids; priority review for a castration-resistant prostate cancer combination treatment; a first gene therapy approved for beta-thalassemia; FDA urges repeat at home COVID-19 testing to reduce risk of missing infection.

New authorization for intradermal administration of monkeypox vaccine; a new approval for endometriosis pain; Amazon is among the companies to receive an FDA Warning Letter for selling unapproved drugs; a diabetes drug is found to contain a possible carcinogen; and a new scale that measures peripheral impedance and pulse rate.  

A neurostimulation device has been cleared for post-C-section pain; a new plaque psoriasis treatment; the FDA address the contrast agent shortage; Lucentis biosimilar treatment is approved; and the recall for an over-the-counter laxative is expanded.

Novavax Emergency Use authorization; the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine gets approval in adolescents; submission for oral contraceptive to be switched to over the counter; Astepro nasal spray gets over-the-counter approval; and Dupixent shows benefits in pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Pharmacists now allowed to prescribe Paxlovid; new dosing recommendations for Evusheld; abuse-deterrent opioid analgesic; priority review for early alzheimer disease treatment; morphine tablets recalled.

New nasal spray for allergic rhinitis; weight management drug indication is expanded to include teens; monkeypox vaccine access; COVID-19 antibody shelf-life extension; JUUL banned in the US.

Skyrizi gains new approval; the USPSTF make recommendations on multivitamin use to prevent CVD and cancer; an FDA Panel vote on pimavanserin efficacy for treating hallucinations associated with Alzheimer disease psychosis; Phexxi analysed in over 1000 patients; and Vaxneuvance approved for some pediatrics.

FDA panel vote on COVID vaccines for young children; new drug approved to treat alopecia; paxlovid tested in standard risk individuals; a device to aid autism diagnosis; and a new approval for polyneuropathy hATTR.

The FDA Advisory Committee vote on Novavax; new option for MMR vaccination; Dupixent approval expanded; and we take a look at the latest data on COVID-19 treatments.

Ukoniq, a treatment just approved last year, has been withdrawn; We rundown a host of drug pipeline news in asthma, dermatology and oncology; and there's positive results for a novel postpartum depression treatment.

The latest guidance for Paxlovid treatment following rebound reports; Dupixent gets a new approval; A new treatment is approved for plaque psoriasis; Update on the efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine in those aged under 5; And the latest on Monkeypox.

The FDA decide to decline COVID-19 treatment; Booster doses authorized for children; A direct to consumer test to detect COVID-19, influenza, and RSV; And a wearable furosemide delivery system accepted for review.

Treatment approved for hospitalized COVID-19 patients; Update on Varenicline supply; Limits have been set for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine; Safety alert issued for a COVID-19 test; And certain hemodialysis machines may carry the potential for chemical exposure.

This week: USPSTF recommendations on aspirin use to prevent cardiovascular disease; Veklury indication expanded; Accupril Lots recalled; Legal action on counterfeit HIV medication; And the White House releases plan to tackle the overdose epidemic.

This week: the halting of the sabizabulin trial in COVID-19; Emergency Use Authorization to be requested for booster dose in 5 to 11 year olds; Diversity in Clinical Trials; Myopericarditis risk compared for COVID-19 vaccines vs other vaccines; And survey results of unvaccinated attitudes following FDA approval.

A second booster dose for some COVID-19 vaccines is authorized; Sotrovimab has its use limited due to the BA.2 Omicron subvariant; An investigational oral antiviral gains Fast Track designation; PreHevbrio hepatitis B vaccine now available; And the FDA update a safety communication regard the risk of thyroid dysfunction in infants following the use of contrast media containing iodine.

Allergy treatment gets over-the-counter approval; Anaphylaxis treatment recalled; Phase 3 trial results for investigational sciatica treatment; FDA alert regarding at-home COVID tests; And the resubmitted Biologics License Application for teplizumab for type 1 diabetes is accepted. 

In this week's special episode of The Weekly Dose Podcast we interview Dr Tobias Janowitz, a medical oncologist, assistant professor at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories and adjunct professor at the Feinstein Institutes. Dr Janowitz was part of a team that recently conducted a phase 2 clinical trial assessing high doses of famotidine in adults with COVID-19. The trial was conducted completely re...

A new injection is approved for opioid overdose; The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices releases vaccine schedules; The FDA provides a list of approved COVID-19 tests; A trial of an investigational spontaneous urticaria treatment is stopped; And the first condom is authorized for anal intercourse.

This week in COVID related news, a heartburn medication shows benefit in patients; Bebtelovimab is authroized; Veklury is shown to retain antiviral activity against variants. Away from COVID, a functionally scored carbidopa/levodopa tablet is now available for Parkinson disease, and the FDA issue a ketamine compounding warning.

This week: news of millions of courses of a COVID-19 oral antiviral being provided to the US government for distribution throughout the country; There's a draft guidance for novel nonopioid analgesics; Possible strangulation warning for enteral feeding tubes; A new treatment has been approved for cold agglutinin disease; And a treatment is under review for HFrEF.

This week: The approval of a second COVID-19 vaccine; Pfizer and BioNTech submit for Emergency use of their vaccine for children under 5; Pfizer have also stopped development on a potential drug treatment to reduce cardiovascular risk and severe hypertriglyceridemia; And new dosing options for a HIV drug.

Use of monoclonal antibodies restricted due to Omicron; Veklury given the go-ahead as an outpatient treatment; New data produces a reconsideration for Pepaxto withdrawal; And there's a new treatment approval for unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma.