Stat News, February 5, 2021. The cancer drug Keytruda is a medical and financial juggernaut, but it may not win FDA approval for early-stage triple negative breast cancer. FDA medical reviewers agreed there is a need for new treatments, but Keytruda did not impress them with its small benefit of “questionable clinical meaningfulness” and serious safety issues. NCHR’s Dr. Zuckerman said “This is one of the most negative reviews I’ve ever seen.”
Read More »Author: Caroline Bradford
Patients Continue to Be Inadequately Informed of Risk for Breast Implant-Associated ALCL
Cancer Therapy Advisor, February 8, 2021. Although the risk for breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) has been well-documented, patients considering breast implants continue to be inadequately informed of the propensity for disease development. Awareness of BIA-ALCL has risen since 2020, but adequate safeguards have not yet been put in place, according to experts in the field, including Dr. Diana Zuckerman of the National Center for Health Research and their Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund.
Read More »Can Daily Aspirin Prevent Both Heart Disease and Cancer?
Daily low-dose aspirin used to be widely recommended to prevent heart attacks but is now only recommended for patients who already have had heart attacks or other serious cardiovascular problems. It is not recommended for people with high blood pressure because it can cause serious bleeding complications that outweigh any benefits for heart disease or cancer. That’s why experts recommend safer options to help prevent heart disease in low-risk patients.
Read More »Congressman calls for FDA to continue vaccine trials
ABC, December 29, 2020. Rep. Llyod Doggett of Texas wrote to the FDA urging COVID-19 clinical trials to continue until they have more data.
Read More »Covid-19: Should vaccine trials be unblinded?
BMJ, December 29, 2020. Volunteers in COVID-19 vaccine studies want the vaccine, not placebos, but stopping studies early could be dangerous.
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