All articles tagged with #prescription drugs
The FDA has approved Revolution Medicines’ daraxonrasib (Rasonque), a daily pill that nearly doubles median survival in pancreatic cancer in a trial of about 500 patients versus chemotherapy, signaling a major advance in treating one of the deadliest cancers.
Chinese teenagers facing intense academic pressure are increasingly using prescription medications obtained online to escape reality, sometimes in dangerous overdoses. While authorities have tightened controls on cough suppressants and other drugs, access persists through chat groups and unregulated channels. The issue highlights a broader youth mental-health crisis in China, with government plans to expand support by 2030 amid a shortage of child psychiatrists. Experts stress the importance of family dialogue and accessible mental-health services to address the underlying anxiety driving this trend.
Young adults, especially in Generation Z, are increasingly using prescription medications and other online-sold substances as alcohol substitutes, a trend fueled by social anxiety and social media. Experts warn that unsupervised use can lead to dependence, mental health issues, and serious health risks, reshaping how this generation socializes and manages anxiety.
Trump touted a Washington Post headline claiming a drop in prescription drug prices, but the accompanying article also notes Biden-era policy and cites experts who say Medicare price negotiations are likely driving the decrease, making the boast misleading without the broader context.
A study of 7,828 adults aged 65+ followed for about 8.5 years found that taking five or more prescription medications (polypharmacy) is associated with a 38% higher overall mortality risk, with each additional medication linked to roughly a 7% increase. The findings suggest considering deprescribing, but limitations include a single 30-day medication snapshot and the observational nature of the study; patients should review all meds with their clinician.
The Trump administration has ended a Medicare drug subsidy program, a move that could lift out-of-pocket costs for certain beneficiaries and shift some expenses within Medicare. The impact will vary by individual drug needs and coverage, with broader implications for overall healthcare spending and policy.
CVS Health’s CEO David Joyner says private employers aren’t ready to broadly cover GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic because of high costs and uncertain long-term savings; prices need to come down and there must be clear evidence they reduce overall health care costs before broader coverage resumes, even as Medicare moves to cover GLP-1s.
A Yale secret-shopping study in which a Yale medical student posed as a 237-pound patient found that most online GLP-1 weight-loss drug vendors provide lax clinical oversight; only 13 of 49 sites required video consultations, with many relying on unverified online questionnaires, raising patient-safety concerns amid the GLP-1 drug boom.
Colorado has FDA approval to import 20 prescription drugs from Canada, including Ozempic and Eliquis, in a bid to lower costs—potentially 20–70% cheaper per drug and about $46 million in savings over three years—though availability will depend on Canada’s supply and manufacturers’ participation; safety and supply-chain concerns persist, and Florida is the only other state with a similar approval.
Eli Lilly’s experimental GLP-1 drug retatrutide produced an average 28% weight loss in obese patients, a striking boost over existing GLP-1 therapies, but doctors warn that greater potency can bring new safety risks; the company expects to file for FDA approval by 2026.
The Washington Post reports that some people with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder are using GLP-1 weight-loss medications, prompting alarm from doctors about safety and the need for careful monitoring of vulnerable patients, as anecdotal stories highlight the risk and complexity of treating eating disorders with these drugs.
The FDA granted expanded access to Revolution Medicines’ pancreatic cancer drug daraxonrasib, allowing more patients to use the treatment while it remains under regulatory review. In trials the drug showed promise, including doubling survival time in some studies, raising hopes that approval could come later in the year.
TrumpRx.gov, launched to curb prescription costs, has offered discounts on only 54 drugs—many with cheaper generics or other savings options—and remains far from an insurance-friendly tool, with limited awareness; experts say its real impact hinges on scale, broader drug coverage, price transparency, and potential congressional action to codify MFN-style deals into law.
The Trump administration unveiled TrumpRx, a White House-backed website intended to help patients buy prescription drugs directly at discounted rates, as part of a push to address rising healthcare and living costs.
President Trump is rolling out TrumpRx.gov, a government site intended to help Americans buy discounted prescription medicines as part of his broader bid to extract price concessions from drugmakers; experts say the plan could offer some savings but is unlikely to dramatically lower costs or reshape the pharmaceutical market.