Photo credit: Kārlis Dambrāns/Creative Commons
1. A study looked at 16 online telemedicine companies and found that online doctors misdiagnosed syphilis, herpes, and skin cancer. In addition, some of the physicians prescribed drugs without asking “key questions” about the patients’ medical histories or providing warnings about adverse events. (WSJ)
2. The House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee is expected to hold a hearing Tuesday to discuss a proposal to test new models to pay for drugs that are administered in the physician’s office. (Politico)
3. The market for obesity drugs continues to struggle, despite the FDA approvals in recent years of Arena Pharmaceuticals’ Belviq, Vivus’ Qsymia, and Orexigen Therapeutics’ Contrave. One reason is physicians are reticent to prescribe the new drugs. (Stat)
4. American researchers working in China are developing a smart tampon that they plan to start marketing in the U.S. next year. The founder of the company said social taboos have limited the technology industry’s participation in developing menstrual-cycle products so far. (South China Morning Post)
5. A FDA official said that security remains a concern for product submissions, describing the regulator as a “ripe target. (FedScoop)
