FTC to Sue Drug Middlemen Over High Insulin Prices

Health News

FTC to Sue Drug Middlemen Over High Insulin Prices

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) plans to sue drug middlemen for inflating insulin prices, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The lawsuit targets pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) who negotiate drug prices and rebates between manufacturers and insurers. The FTC alleges these practices lead to higher costs for consumers.

The PBMs, including major players like CVS Health and Express Scripts, have faced scrutiny for their role in rising drug prices. Critics argue that their complex rebate structures lack transparency and contribute to unaffordable medications.

The FTC's move signals increased regulatory pressure on the pharmaceutical supply chain, aiming to bring relief to patients struggling with high insulin costs.

Health News

Johns Hopkins’ $1 Billion Gift Will Make Medical School Free For Most Students

Johns Hopkins University has announced a $1 billion donation from Bloomberg Philanthropies to reduce financial barriers for medical students. Beginning in fall 2024, Johns Hopkins will offer free tuition for MD students from families earning under $300,000, representing 95% of Americans.

Additionally, living expenses will be covered for students from families earning up to $175,000. Nearly two-thirds of current and incoming students will qualify for these benefits. Updated financial aid packages reflecting this gift will be provided this summer.

Health News

Rising STD Rates Among Seniors Alarms Health Officials

The United States is witnessing a troubling rise in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among senior citizens. According to health officials, the rates of syphilis, HPV, HIV/AIDS, and gonorrhea have increased 24% in adults 65 and older. This demographic shift highlights the need for better sexual health education and resources for seniors.

The CDC reports that the lack of awareness and prevention measures contributes to the surge in STD cases among seniors. Many older adults mistakenly believe they are not at risk, leading to lower condom use and reduced testing rates. Health experts emphasize the importance of targeted interventions to address this growing public health issue and protect the well-being of the senior population.

Journal Gists

SGLT2 Inhibitors Show Promise in Acute Myocardial Infarction Recovery

Clinical Question: Do sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)?

Bottom Line: This meta-analysis indicates that SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduce hospitalization for heart failure and all-cause mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Additionally, SGLT2i improve left ventricular ejection fraction and reduce NT-proBNP levels. These benefits are observed in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients, suggesting SGLT2i as a promising therapeutic option for AMI management, regardless of diabetes status. Read more in Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology.

Is Bempedoic Acid The New Statin Substitute?

Clinical Question: Does bempedoic acid reduce cardiovascular risk in statin-intolerant patients to a similar extent as statins when adjusted for LDL-C lowering?

Bottom Line: The CLEAR Outcomes trial shows that bempedoic acid reduces major vascular events by 15% in statin-intolerant patients. When normalized per 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL-C, the cardiovascular risk reduction (HR: 0.75) is comparable to that of statins (HR: 0.78). This indicates that bempedoic acid provides similar cardiovascular benefits as statins for equivalent LDL-C lowering, offering an effective alternative for those who cannot tolerate statins. Read more at JACC.

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What in the world is going on?

🇺🇦 Russian missiles struck multiple Ukrainian cities on Monday, including Kyiv, killing at least 31 people and injuring over 150. The assault, described as Russia's heaviest on Kyiv in months, targeted civilian areas, including the largest children's hospital where surgeries were interrupted, forcing cancer patients outdoors for treatment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, emphasizing the need for global condemnation of Russia's actions. Russia denied targeting the hospital, claiming military objectives were hit. The strikes occurred just before a NATO summit aimed at supporting Ukraine amidst escalating conflict. AP News has more.

💲 Democratic donors are withholding significant contributions amid concerns over President Joe Biden's candidacy. Following a lackluster debate performance, donors are in a holding pattern, closely watching Biden's actions and interviews. George Clooney's public call for Biden to step aside has intensified anxieties among supporters, leading to a notable slowdown in major donations. Despite Biden's assurances of staying in the race, fundraisers report a drying up of incoming funds, reflecting deepening frustrations within the donor base. CNN has more.

🇵🇱 Poland is increasing troop numbers on its border with Russia and Belarus, preparing for potential full-scale conflict amid heightened tensions. Army Chief of Staff General Wieslaw Kukula emphasized the need for readiness while balancing border missions and military training intensity. The move follows Poland's introduction of the "East Shield" defense program, allocating $2.5 billion to fortify borders by 2028. Defense spending has surged to over 4% of GDP in response to regional instability. Poland aims to expand its armed forces from 190,000 to 300,000 personnel in the coming years, despite potential recruitment challenges. Read more at Reuters.

⚠️ The Israeli military has instructed Gaza City residents to evacuate south due to intensified operations in the north, citing it as a "dangerous combat zone." This marks the second evacuation order for the city since conflict escalated. Israeli forces have re-entered districts believed to house Hamas fighters. Hamas accuses Israel of using bombings to influence ceasefire negotiations in Qatar. Despite the evacuation directive, many residents refuse to leave, citing solidarity and safety concerns amid ongoing airstrikes. The situation has raised humanitarian alarms, with concerns over civilian safety and the capacity of overcrowded refuge areas like Deir al-Balah. Read more at BBC.

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What’s The Diagnosis?

A 45-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with acute onset of severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. On examination, she is febrile with neck stiffness and photophobia. Lumbar puncture reveals cloudy cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with an elevated opening pressure. Gram stain of the CSF shows gram-positive cocci in pairs. Which of the following is the most likely causative organism?

A) Streptococcus pneumoniae
B) Neisseria meningitidis
C) Haemophilus influenzae
D) Listeria monocytogenes
E) Escherichia coli

Answer: B) Neisseria meningitidis

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