Author's posts
China’s Massive Covid-19 Surge May Overwhelm Healthcare System And Negatively Impact Global Economy
In the wake of a wave of protests that gripped numerous Chinese cities last month, the Beijing government relaxed its strict Covid-19 restrictions. Emerging evidence suggests a massive surge in Covid-19 infections has ensued, with a corresponding steep…
NHS England Completes Move Towards Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing Of All Critically Ill Infants
NHS England is substantially scaling up whole genome sequencing in a population-wide effort. In an ambitious program, beginning in 2023, all seriously ill children in England with an unexplained disorder will be eligible for genome analysis, which invo…
Amid Rising STDs, France Makes Condoms Freely Available For People Between The Ages Of 18 And 25
Rising STD infections led to the French decision to facilitate free access to condoms and STD tests in the 18 to 25 age group. And, the French are widening free access to hormonal contraceptives.
When Paxlovid Is “Commercialized” In 2023, Patient Access To The Covid-19 Treatment Will Depend On Insurance Status
Regardless of what happens to the price of Paxlovid once the product is commercialized, a uniquely American situation will emerge in which a person’s access to a potentially life-saving Covid-19 treatment will depend on arbitrary features like insuranc…
The Netherlands To Make Menstrual Hygiene Products Freely Available To Individuals Living On Low Incomes
The Dutch Parliament’s move to provide widely available, free access to menstrual hygiene products to low-income persons is the latest attempt to address period equity. The question is whether this movement to “free the tampon” expands beyond Kenya, Sc…
Holy Grail Of Precision Medicine – Co-Development Of Therapeutics And Companion Diagnostics – Hasn’t Yet Achieved Its Potential
Developing a novel biomarker test in parallel with a therapeutic, with the expectation that the biomarker is going to be included in the FDA-approved label, is accompanied by a set of significant scientific and commercialization challenges.
As Tripledemic Of Flu, RSV, And Covid-19 Surges Shortages Of Drugs Are Having A Disproportionate Impact On Children
Drug shortages are a persistent public health issue in the US. There is no easy method to scale up production to meet periodic sharp increases in demand, like the one occurring at the moment as a result of the “tripledemic.” And there is a limited prof…
Novartis And Medicines For Malaria Venture Make Important Progress On The Anti-Malarial Treatment Front
Should the Phase 3 trial prove successful, ganaplacide/lumefantrine could be an alternative to artemisinin-based treatments, which are being increasingly challenged by resistant strains of malaria. Indeed, as the world faces emerging resistance to curr…
Despite Eye-Popping $3.5 Million Price Tag For Gene Therapy Hemgenix, Budget Impact For Most Payers Will Be Relatively Small
The first gene therapy for hemophilia B, Hemgenix, will have a list price of $3.5 million per use. This sets a new record for the most expensive single-use gene therapy in the U.S. In spite of the very high price tag, the budgetary impact of the produc…
China Protests Go Beyond Demanding An End To Severe Covid-19 Restrictions
The BBC and other news outlets have called recent demonstrations in China “Covid protests.” But, the protests are not simply about stringent Covid-19 policies. Though triggered by ongoing lockdowns, the protests have a broader aim of ending authoritari…
