pharmaceuticals

FDA Approves a Fast-Acting Ebola Test

Medicine & Technology Dec 31, 2014

The fight to stop Ebola continues to rage on across the world as researchers continue to find new ways to both detect and treat the deadly virus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved a new test to detect the virus in patients believed to be suffering from the virus.

Hep-C Treatment On a Budget - Why Prices are Plummeting

Dec 23, 2014

After months of waiting and anticipation, the hepatitis C treatment price wars are finally getting under way. Express Scripts, the largest pharmacy benefits manager in the U.S., has released a new treatment from AbbVie as its exclusive treatment for patients with genotype 1, the most common form of the chronic disease. This drug covers 75% of the estimated 3.2 million Americans who are infected. And this new drug will likely change the market for the hepatitis C treatments that are currently led by a pair of medications from Gilead Sciences which is likely to reach $20 billion in revenue next year thanks to demand for its treatments.

Why the CDC Says Bay Area Residents are In For the Flu Season of Their Lives

Dec 23, 2014

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning that this year's flu season could be one of the worst to date. The CDC issued a warning on Friday that the flu season has started earlier than expected and is spreading rapidly. Already reaching 29 of the 54 states and territories, this year's flu is spreading faster than previously seen. In comparison, at the same time last year, it had only spread to four states.

Will Double the Dose Just Be Twice the Trouble?—Ebola Update December 2014

Dec 12, 2014

For the past few months, researchers in the field of pharmacology and immunology have frantically struggled towards finding an effective treatment or cure to the 2014 Ebola outbreak. But it’s not entirely new research begin with in the first place. Since the original outbreak of Ebola in West Africa during the 1970’s, researchers at labs worldwide have tried unsuccessfully to study and cure the pestilent virus. So with the help of a little new knowledge, a global need knocking down the door, and a strong basis in creation of vaccines, researchers today are able to look towards a potential immunization practice that may better safe than sorry.

Pfizer Explores Gene Therapy In Developing Treatment For Rare Diseases

Dec 09, 2014

Despite the number of mixed results in gene therapy which has had its share of setbacks, drug company giant Pfizer Inc. is pushing through with its gene therapy project. This is backed by advancement in technology and better research facilities, and for its first project, a partnership with privately-owned biotech firm Spark Therapeutics.