Health News Roundup: FDA warns online vendors selling misbranded weight-loss, diabetes drugs; US CDC plans to drop five-day COVID isolation guidelines - Washington Post and more
The Colorado-based company now sees 2024 adjusted per-share profit between $8.70 and $9.80, beating average analysts' estimate of $8.68, as per LSEG data. Abbott's heart valve repair device gets FDA advisers' backing Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday backed an approval for Abbott Laboratories' heart valve repair device that is designed for patients who are at risk of complications or death during surgery.
![Health News Roundup: FDA warns online vendors selling misbranded weight-loss, diabetes drugs; US CDC plans to drop five-day COVID isolation guidelines - Washington Post and more](https://devdiscourse.blob.core.windows.net/devnews/19_01_2024_18_34_19_5586079.jpg)
Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
FDA warns online vendors selling misbranded weight-loss, diabetes drugs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday it has sent warning letters to two online vendors for selling unapproved and misbranded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide, the active ingredients in popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs. The letters were issued earlier this month to Synthetix, which sells drugs on a website called Helix Chemical Supply, and US Chem Labs after the U.S. regulator conducted a review of their respective websites in October.
US CDC plans to drop five-day COVID isolation guidelines - Washington Post
The U.S. CDC plans to drop its five-day COVID-19 isolation recommendations under new guidance planned by the agency, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday. The health agency plans to recommend people who test positive for COVID-19 to take a call on when to end isolation based on their symptoms.
Rugby-Mouthguard tech a huge step forward for player safety, says ex-Scotland scrum half Lawson
Former Scotland scrum half Rory Lawson said smart mouthguards were "a huge step forward" in making rugby safer after hooker George Turner became the first player in the Six Nations to have a Head Injury Assessment following an alert from the technology. Rugby union has been grappling with the long-term health consequences of repeated concussions in recent years.
Eli Lilly partner BioAge raises $170 million for obesity treatment
BioAge Labs, a biotech startup collaborating with Eli Lilly for trialing its obesity therapy, said on Tuesday it had raised $170 million in its latest funding round. The Richmond, California-based startup is one of several that are developing potential treatments for obesity. Investors have rushed to back such companies in recent months, hoping to make a fortune later as the demand for weight-loss drugs picks up.
DaVita gains after co says expects strong 2024 profit
DaVita forecast 2024 profit above Wall Street estimates on Tuesday on anticipated strong demand for its kidney dialysis services, sending its shares up 4.8% after the bell. The Colorado-based company now sees 2024 adjusted per-share profit between $8.70 and $9.80, beating average analysts' estimate of $8.68, as per LSEG data.
Abbott's heart valve repair device gets FDA advisers' backing
Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday backed an approval for Abbott Laboratories' heart valve repair device that is designed for patients who are at risk of complications or death during surgery. The panel voted 13-to-1 in favor of the benefits of using TriClip in tricuspid regurgitation (TR) outweighing the risks. In TR, the valve separating the right lower chamber of the heart from the right upper does not close properly, which can potentially cause heart failure.
US hospitals see post pandemic catch-up behind insurer healthcare costs
Americans are catching up on healthcare missed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend driven by heart procedures and outpatient orthopedic surgeries that likely won't soon slow, according to interviews with three hospital officials in major U.S. cities, but other factors may also be at play. U.S. health insurers have warned of high demand for medical services based on late 2023 usage, but have offered few details on the trend or how long it may continue driving up costs.
Pharmaceutical group's lawsuit over Medicare drug price program dismissed
A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit by a major pharmaceutical industry trade association challenging a new program that allows Medicare to negotiate prices with drug companies for selected costly drugs. U.S. District Judge David Ezra in Austin, Texas, sided with President Joe Biden's administration in dismissing a lawsuit by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and two other groups that argued that the program was unconstitutional.
Biogen gets DOJ subpoena on business operations in foreign countries
Biogen has received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice seeking information relating to the company's business operations in several foreign countries, the drugmaker disclosed in a filing on Wednesday. The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Biogen sees flat 2024 sales, pick up in Alzheimer's drug demand
Biogen on Tuesday forecast flat 2024 product revenue as top-selling drugs face tough competition and sales of newer treatments take off slowly, but said there are signs its new Alzheimer's drug is gaining traction. Shares of the U.S. biotech fell 7% as it missed Wall Street expectations for quarterly revenue and projected sales for this year that several analysts found underwhelming.
(With inputs from agencies.)