Pharmaceuticals
The price dilemma over a $16,000 drug | The Wall Street Journal
Novartis' ACZ885, known as Ilaris, is currently used for rare inflammatory disorders. But it might also be effective in cutting the risk of stroke and other complications in people who've had heart attacks. The problem: The drug costs $16,000 per dose.
First gene therapy—'a true living drug'—on the cusp of FDA approval | The Washington Post
A gene therapy may soon become the first to gain FDA approval. The therapy involves genetically altering a patient's immune cells to treat blood cancers.
Medical devices
FDA deal would relax rules on reporting medical device problems | The New York Times
A new agreement between the FDA and the medical device industry would make it so medical device manufacturers could put off reporting dangerous problems to the FDA.
Safety, quality and clinical practice
Women with high-risk pregnancies far more prone to heart disease | Kaiser Health News
Women who get diabetes during pregnancy, whose babies are born prematurely, and others who've had high-risk pregnancies or childbirth complications are eight times more likely to develop heart disease.
UN: Yemen unlikely to get cholera vaccine as first planned | State News
The world's largest cholera outbreak now totals more than 313,000 cases and 1700 deaths in Yemen, where vaccine distribution is difficult.
In other news
Closing medical marijuana dispensaries increases crime, according to new study | Science Daily
Medical marijuana dispensaries cut crime in the areas around them, according to a new study of California dispensaries. "We can conclude from our research that retail businesses are effective in lowering crime, even when the retail business is a medical marijuana dispensary."
