Mobile healthcare apps may be regulated
The FDA is concerned that some mobile healthcare apps may cause harm if/when they don’t work as intended.
Costly cancer drugs may or may not be covered by insurance
Neither the Food and Drug Administration, which decides which drugs can be marketed, nor Medicare, which decides which treatments to cover, considers costs, reports The New York Times.
Insurance companies may stop covering costs of Avastin, a treatment for breast cancer
A Food and Drug Administration panel’s decision this week to reject the drug Avastin for treatment for breast cancer could mean insurance companies would stop covering its costs for patients who depended on it, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Silicone breast implants still safe, says the FDA
The FDA says research in the last five years has shown that silicone breast implants have ‘reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness.’ The agency was criticized in 2006 for approving the controversial implants after they’d been off the market for 14 years, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Gout drug rejected by FDA
The FDA stuggles with approving a gout drug that had higher serious infection rates during clinical studies.
Cigarette labels will be more graphic with warnings of danger
The Boston Herald reports, the government’s new, nastier-than-ever cigarette labels are expected to roll out later this week, plastering large images of cancer lesions, diseased lungs and rotten teeth across packaging to shock smokers into kicking the habit.
New label norms for sunscreen mandated by the FDA
With 3.5 million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year, sunscreen may not be used to its full potential. New labels required by the FDA will help consumers more appropriately use and buy the products.
Hepatitis C drug waiting on approval of FDA
The Food and Drug Administration will review Merck & Co.’s proposed hepatitis C drug because it has raised safety concerns in relation to anemia and other blood disorders.
FDA reviews cholesterol drugs after negative reports
Cholesterol lowering drugs are now being called into question by the FDA. Over 25 million people take these drugs and could be at risk of memory loss.
FDA approves testing for mosquito-borne virus
Each year, 100 million people are believed to be infected with a mosquito-borne virus and the FDA has recently approved a test that will help doctors diagnose the symptoms.