Gene-silencing Technology Gets First Frug Approval After 20-year Wait

Gene-silencing Technology Gets First Frug Approval After 20-year Wait

US regulators have approved the first therapy based on RNA interference (RNAi), a technique that can be used to silence specific genes linked to disease. The drug, "patisiran", targets a rare condition that can impair heart... read more

Intravenous Fish Oil (Omegaven) Approved by FDA

Intravenous Fish Oil (Omegaven) Approved by FDA

Intravenous Fish Oil (Omegaven) approved by FDA for use in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in pediatric patients in the United States. Omegaven 10% Emulsion is a fish oil emulsion administered intravenously in patients who... read more

FDA Approves Treatment of Patients with Hospital-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia and Ventilator-Associated Bacterial Pneumonia

FDA Approves Treatment of Patients with Hospital-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia and Ventilator-Associated Bacterial Pneumonia

FDA has approved Allergan's supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to expand the approved use of AVYCAZ® (ceftazidime and avibactam) to include the treatment of hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated... read more

FDA Approves Angiotensin-II for Septic Shock

FDA Approves Angiotensin-II for Septic Shock

The FDA approved angiotensin-II (Giapreza) as a new intravenous vasopressor for septic shock and other forms of distributive shock. The first new FDA-approved vasopressor in decades, angiotensin-II could significantly change... read more

A New Combination of Antibiotic and Inhibitor

A New Combination of Antibiotic and Inhibitor

Intensivists have another antibiotic combination to treat severe infections caused by gram-negative bacteria with the FDA’s approval of Vabomere (meropenem, combined with the beta-lactamase inhibitor called vaborbactam).... read more

Diagnostic Imaging on iPhone

Diagnostic Imaging on iPhone

FDA just cleared Butterfly Network's iQ an iPhone-connected Ultrasound system, which claims it is the world's first "ultrasound-on-a-chip" system. Butterfly iQ is FDA 510(k) cleared for diagnostic imaging across 13 clinical... read more

FDA approves betrixaban for VTE prophylaxis

FDA approves betrixaban for VTE prophylaxis

Betrixaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, has been approved for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in at-risk adult patients hospitalized with an acute illness, according to an announcement from the Food and Drug Administration.... read more

FDA Approves Label Changes for Pediatric General Anesthetic and Sedation Drugs

FDA Approves Label Changes for Pediatric General Anesthetic and Sedation Drugs

The FDA has approved labeling changes regarding the use of general anesthetic and sedation medicines in children younger than 3 years. General anesthetic and sedation drugs are necessary for patients, including young children... read more

Drug-Free Musculoskeletal Pain Therapy Given Clearance by FDA

Drug-Free Musculoskeletal Pain Therapy Given Clearance by FDA

BioElectronics Corp. has received over-the-counter use market clearance from the FDA for ActiPatch for the adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain related to plantar fasciitis of the heel and osteoarthritis of the knee. BioElectronics... read more

Pharmacists Can Make a Difference During Influenza Pandemics

Pharmacists Can Make a Difference During Influenza Pandemics

Since November 2015, approximately 25% of adults who receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination are immunized in pharmacies or retail health care settings. The growth in vaccine uptake at pharmacies has public health policy... read more

In Hospital ICUs, AI Could Predict Which Patients Are Likely to Die

With streams of data coming from equipment that monitors patients’ vital signs, the ICU seems the perfect setting to deploy artificially intelligent tools that could judge when a patient is likely to take a turn for the... read more

This Handheld Ultrasound Scanner Could Be the Next Stethoscope

This Handheld Ultrasound Scanner Could Be the Next Stethoscope

Clarius co-founder and CEO Laurent Pelissier believes the affordable, wireless device could revolutionize health care. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Clarius ultrasound scanner for use in December 2016,... read more

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Younger Individuals

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Younger Individuals

When a patient has an aortic valve that requires replacement because the native valve is diseased, 2 types of valves can be used - mechanical valves or bioprosthetic valves, also known as tissue valves. Bioprosthetic valves... read more

FDA Recommendation: Reduce Max Storage Limit of RBCs

FDA Recommendation: Reduce Max Storage Limit of RBCs

A group of researchers are asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce maximum storage limit for red blood cells from 6 weeks to 5 weeks, as long as there are sufficient blood supplies available. The researchers... read more

Metformin Associated with Reduced Mortality in CKD, CHF, and CLD

Metformin Associated with Reduced Mortality in CKD, CHF, and CLD

Metformin is currently the suggested initial treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus in the United States. In the past, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not recommend metformin for patients with chronic kidney... read more

New Warning for Anesthetic Use in Children and Pregnant Women

New Warning for Anesthetic Use in Children and Pregnant Women

The FDA issued a warning that repeated or lengthy use of general anesthetics and sedatives during surgeries or procedures in children aged <3 years or in pregnant women during their 3rd trimester may affect the development... read more

Pulmaquin Looks Promising for Treating Lung Infections in Non-CF Bronchiectasis Patients

Pulmaquin Looks Promising for Treating Lung Infections in Non-CF Bronchiectasis Patients

Aradigm has announced top-line results from two Phase 3 clinical trials of Pulmaquin (inhaled ciprofloxacin) for the treatment of patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (non-CF BE) who have chronic lung infections... read more