Respiratory illnesses have risen across the country, with hospitalizations from the flu up 200%. Facing simultaneous surges of flu, COVID-19 and RSV, most Americans still aren’t getting the vaccines that could temper the worst effects. (CNN)
Argenx said its closely watched antibody therapy failed to outperform placebo in a Phase 3 trial in an autoimmune condition that causes the skin to blister. This the second setback in less than a month for the biotech, send its stock tumbling around 30%.(STAT News)
After a monthslong investigation by the Food and Drug Administration into applesauce pouches tainted with lead, the agency suspected the contaminated products were the result of a manufacturer cutting corners to save money. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 205 total confirmed and probable cases as of Dec. 21, though that number may also include cases counted separately by the FDA. (ABC News)
RedHill Biopharma announced two of its experimental drugs, when individually combined with remdesivir, showed promise in combating the Ebola virus. The drugs, opaganib and RHB-107, “show a distinct synergy in terms of viral inhibition while maintaining cell viability” when either is combined with remdesivir. (MarketWatch)
A federal judge dealt a significant blow to hundreds of lawsuits against manufacturers of Tylenol and generic acetaminophen, ruling the plaintiffs don’t have admissible evidence to support claims that using the pain reliever during pregnancy raises a child’s risks of autism or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan said the more than 400 consolidated lawsuits were centered on scientific claims that were fundamentally unreliable. (The Wall Street Journal)
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