Oct 15 We may soon have our first $1 million drug. Who will pay for it? And how? By Meghana Keshavan, STAT As the first gene therapies approach the market, drug makers, insurers, and patients are debating complex questions about cost, value, and payment plans. Continue reading
Oct 05 WATCH LIVE: Senate committee weighs federal response to opioid crisis By Laura Santhanam The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is scheduled to convene at 10 a.m. ET to discuss how well the federal government has responded to a mounting public health crisis over opioids. Continue reading
Jun 11 FDA wants to yank an opioid painkiller over concerns about abuse By Ed Silverman, STAT The Food and Drug Administration has asked Endo Pharmaceuticals to withdraw its Opana ER painkiller over concerns that the drug is too easily abused, the first time the agency has made such a move. Continue reading
Apr 21 FDA: Codeine cough syrup should not be given to kids By Kate Sheridan, STAT The FDA issued its strongest level of drug warnings Thursday concerning opioid pain-reliever use in children. Continue reading
Feb 19 Lawmakers seek to help e-cigarette makers escape new regulations By Sheila Kaplan, STAT Congressional supporters of the tobacco industry have proposed legislation to help e-cigarette companies escape rules adopted under Obama. Continue reading
Jan 15 What happens if kratom becomes illegal? By PBS News Hour The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has received thousands of comments on whether it should make kratom, a popular painkiller, illegal. Continue reading
Dec 06 Watch 9:16 Major health bill would fund medical research, hasten FDA approvals By PBS News Hour In Congress, lawmakers are close to passing a major bill that would increase funding for the FDA, the NIH and the effort to fight opioid abuse. The measure would also introduce more flexible standards for drug approvals, reducing the need… Continue watching
Dec 01 Using Ecstasy to treat PTSD: ‘I felt like my soul snapped back into place’ By Caleb Hellerman, Global Health Reporting Center On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration gave an important boost to a therapy that uses MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, to treat PTSD, clearing the way for one or more large-scale research studies. Since 2004, more than 100 patients… Continue reading
Nov 27 House to vote on bill aimed at speeding approval of drugs By Associated Press The House plans to vote Wednesday on a $6.3 billion bill aimed at speeding federal approval of drugs and medical devices and boosting biomedical research. Continue reading
Nov 02 FDA to America: How much Nutella do you eat? By Megan Thielking, STAT The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is gathering information on the amount of Nutella that constitutes a reasonable serving size. Continue reading