Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Lawsuits Claim Acetaminophen During Pregnancy Harms Fetuses
Dozens of lawsuits are challenging the long-standing belief that pregnant women can safely take acetaminophen, an over-the-counter drug used in Tylenol and generic pain medications.聽(Feeley, 9/29)
Taking the pain medication acetaminophen, also known under the brand name of Tylenol, during pregnancy may be associated with child behavioral issues at three years old. That's according to a new report published in the journal PLOS Medicine. (Sudhakar, 9/29)
In other pharmaceutical industry news 鈥�
Illumina Inc. says it can read a person鈥檚 entire genetic code for as little as $200 with its new sequencing machine, bringing the company within reach of its long-promised goal of the $100 genome. (Peebles, 9/29)
Certain lots of a daily dietary supplement called Wonder Pill sold by Walmart and Amazon are being recalled聽because lab tests detected the presence of tadalafil, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction, according to an announcement on the聽Food and Drug Administration聽website this week.聽(Mayorquin, 9/29)
KHN: Pharma-Funded FDA Gets Drugs Out Faster, But Some Work Only 鈥楳arginally鈥� And Most Are Pricey聽
Dr. Steven-Huy Han, a UCLA liver specialist, has prescribed Ocaliva to a handful of patients, although he鈥檚 not sure it helps. As advertised, the drug is lowering levels of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase in their blood, and that should be a sign of healing for their autoimmune disease, called primary biliary cholangitis. But 鈥渘o one knows for sure,鈥� Han said, whether less enzyme means they won鈥檛 get liver cancer or cirrhosis in the long run. 鈥淚 have no idea if the drug will make them better,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t could take 10, 20, or 30 years to know.鈥� (Allen, 9/30)
Major medical groups are urging states that won a $438.5 million settlement earlier this month in a case against electronic cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc. to use the money for tobacco prevention and cessation programs, particularly those aimed at young people. (Vestal, 9/28)