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)