MPR Weekly Dose

Study supports the benefit of potential new Alzheimer drug; RSV treatment approved for neonates and infants; Veklury approval expanded; a blood test used to diagnose life-threatening heart muscle injuries has been recalled; Brenzavvy available for adults.

First over-the-counter birth control pill; expanded approval for Leqvio; Gavreto has an indication withdrawn; batches of Albuterol inhalers recalled; results from analysis of paclitaxel-coated devices.

New approvals for alopecia, generalized myasthenia gravis and type 1 diabetes; New colonoscopy prep option; And FDA denies application for pre-chirrotic fibrosis due to NASH.

FDA revoke Emergency Use Authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine; New approval for treatment of iron deficiency in patients with heart failure; Lumryz now available for excessive daytime sleepiness; Vowst approved for C. difficile infection; Prevymis approved for prophylaxis of CMV disease in adult kidney transplant recipients.

New vaccine for lower respiratory tract disease; A new treatment for heart failure; Concerns over some compounded semaglutide; New opioid use disorder treatment; Motion sickness Tx shows promise.  

First oral antiviral approved for COVID-19; First topical treatment approved for epidermolysis bullosa; Xacduro gets green like for bacterial pneumonia; New nasal spray for opioid overdoses; Child cough suppressant recalled.

FDA requires label updates for the entire class of prescription stimulants; Novel treatment approved for menopause symptoms; FDA Committee takes votes on potentially accelerated approval of Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy; Fungal meningitis outbreak in US; Wearable child thermometer recalled.

Panel votes unanimously in favour of over-the-counter change for contraceptive pill; First pharmacological therapy for agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer disease; Elfabrio approved for the treatment of Fabry disease; Farxiga approval expanded; Bacterial contamination concerns for certain COVID-19 at-home tests.

Investigational treatment for early Alzheimer disease shows promise; First vaccine for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV; Nightly granules approved for narcolepsy; Latest health tech advance in toilets; And the FDA warns of energy boosting over-the-counter inhalants.

Large recall of drugs due to company shutdown; First orally administered fecal microbiota treatment given green light; Treatment approved for certain ALS patients; Type 2 diabetes insulin delivery system; FDA issue safety alert concerning eyedrops.

Updates to COVID-19 vaccines; FDA panel votse on potential treatment for agitation with Alzheimer dementia; DEA deschedule drug; Migraine treatment indication expanded; A new device is cleared to aid in restless legs syndrome.

Implantable device approved for those with knee osteoarthritis; Prescribing Information labeling updated for opioids; Imbruvica indications withdrawn; Patch to combat excessive underarm sweating given green light; Novel treatment Fast Tracked for Type A and B influenza.

Treatment granted Emergency Use Authorization for hospitalized COVID-19 patients; Preterm-birth prevention treatment withdrawn from market; Sleep device for infants gets green light for marketing; New Padcev plus Keytruda indication; Mail-back system for unused opioids; Opioid overdose prevention device approved

Two diabetes drugs permanently discontinued; Consistent reduction in schizophrenia symptoms with an investigational Tx; Positive results for investigational Social Anxiety Disorder therapy; High-concentration Humira biosimilar approved; Sleep apnea treatment expanded for pediatrics with Down syndrome

COVID-19 Booster dose authorized for those aged 6 months through 4 years; Rapid STI point-of-care test for women is cleared; Rett syndrome and migraine Tx Approved; and The Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee takes a vote on a drug combination treatment for diffuse large b-cell lymphoma.  

Limits on acetaminophen levels in combination opioid products linked to declines in liver injuries; Investigational Alzheimer disease drug fails to show efficacy; Bempedoic acid assessed for reducing major adverse cardiovascular events; Commercial blood test for suspected TBIs; Mammography regulations updated.

Kevzara approved for polymyalgia rheumatica; Skyclarys approved for Friedreich ataxia; Emergency authorization granted to at-home COVID-19, flu test; Drug-resistant bacteria virus spiking in the US; FDA clamps down on unlawful xylazine imports.

Results from postexposure prophylaxis study of molnupiravir; Treatment approved to reduce proteinuria in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy; Intravitreal injection approved for geographic atrophy secondary to AMD; Potential vaccines for melanoma and pregnant individuals to help protect from RSV complications in infants.  

FDA Committee take vote on possible OTC Narcan; Rebyota available to prevent CDI recurrence; Risk of maternal sepsis lowered with azithromycin; Cinbinqo indication expanded; Topical treatment shows promise for hand eczema

Type 2 diabetes treatment discontinued; Depression, postpartum treatment gets Priority Review; Hypothyroid treatment recalled; FDA warns about weight loss supplement; First retinopathy of prematurity treatment for preterm infants approved.

The FDA make major revisions to COVID-19 antiretrovirals; Large study finds possible new indication for beta blockers; Jesduvroq approved; Artificial tears product recalled; Evusheld emergency use authorization halted.

Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine under investigation; Trial evaluating HIV prevention vaccine discontinued; Early detection sepsis test cleared; Trial results for RSV-associated disease vaccine; Combo Tx for HCC recurrence shows promise

FDA grant accelerated approval to Alzheimer disease treatment; New fixed-dose asthma treatment; NERD therapy looks promising; Leukemia drug to be withdrawn; Pertussis prevention treatment approved for use during pregnancy

Risk evaluation and mitigation strategy updated for abortion pill, mifepristone; Potential PTSD therapy shows positive results; A host of HIV meds are to be discontinued in the next year; Weight-loss treatment gains expanded approval in pediatrics; Experts rank their best diets for a variety of categories. 

In this week's episode we interviewed Gretel Schueller, managing editor of health at US news, to discuss the results from this year's Best Diet rankings and the methodology used to compile the list.