 Health Care |
Health Care |
|
|
FDA probes possible side effects from diabetes, weight-loss drugs |
Federal regulators are looking into reports of possible side effects associated with popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs as a major manufacturer warns against off-label use. |
Reports involving the class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists — Ozempic, Mounjaro and Zepbound, to include a few — were submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), stating patients experienced hair loss, depression and a respiratory complication called aspiration. Six products manufactured by Novo Nordisk were included in the list of medications being evaluated by the FDA. When asked for comment, the company said it "stands behind the safety and efficacy of all of our GLP-1RA medicines" and is working with the FDA as it conducts its evaluation. These drugs mimic a hormone known as GLP-1 that stimulates insulin production, slows down stomach emptying and reduces appetite. Most of these medications are approved for treating type 2 diabetes while some like Wegovy are approved for weight loss management. Eli Lilly, whose products were also named as being under evaluation by the FDA, issued an open letter Thursday warning against taking its GLP-1 agonist drugs for "cosmetic" purposes. Eli Lilly is the manufacturer for the type 2 diabetes medication Mounjaro and the recently approved weight loss medication Zepbound, both forms of tirzepatide. "Mounjaro and Zepbound are indicated for the treatment of serious diseases; they are not approved for – and should not be used for – cosmetic weight loss," the company said. The company further warned against taking knock-off products, saying these substances have been tested and found to have "high amounts of impurities" and in one instance the knock-off was found to just be sugar alcohol. |
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
|
|
How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
|
|
Nearly 17,000 people across six countries may have died because they took hydroxychloroquine (HQC) during the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020, according to a new analysis published by French researchers. Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malaria drug that was prescribed off-label to treat COVID-19 in the early stage of the pandemic, as researchers and physicians scrambled to find a way to combat the disease. It was also proposed … |
| |
| The U.S. is riding another wave of rising COVID-19 infections, as holiday gatherings and a new variant are driving increased transmission. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is the highest it's been since the omicron surge in 2022. At the same time, a new variant called JN.1 has become the most dominant strain and was responsible for … |
| |
|
The Republican-controlled New Hampshire state House voted Thursday to approve a bill barring physicians from performing gender-affirming genital surgeries on transgender minors, sending the controversial measure to the Senate, where it is also expected to pass. House Bill 619 had initially sought to ban all gender-affirming medical care, including puberty blockers and hormones, for transgender minors but was later amended to … |
| |
|
Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
|
|
Kentucky governor backs longer list of conditions eligible for treatment under medical marijuana law |
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Access to medical marijuana in Kentucky should expand to include a longer list of severe health conditions, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday in advocating a change that would make hundreds of thousands more people eligible for treatment when the program begins next year. The measure passed by the GOP-led legislature … | |
|
Local and state headlines on health care: |
- Most people dropped in Medicaid 'unwinding' never tried to renew coverage, Utah finds (KFF Health News)
- Oregon Health Authority watchdog finds shortcomings in children's behavioral health care system (The Oregonian)
- Illinois Health officials say racism is a public health crisis creating care disparities (WTTW)
|
|
|
Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- Health insurers invest in digital to boost drug-by-mail delivery (Wall Street Journal)
- Hemp industry coalition lays out priorities for 2024 farm bill (Politico)
- Baby monitor videos yield evidence for long-suspected link between seizures and unexplained toddler deaths (Stat)
|
|
|
Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
|
|
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) criticized Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for suggesting on Wednesday that border patrol agents do not want the $14 billion … Read more |
| Former President Trump’s attorney Alina Habba on Wednesday said the former president is concerned the U.S. Supreme Court justices may “shy … Read more |
|
|
You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
1625 K Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 |
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
|
If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe.
No comments:
Post a Comment