Pink Sheet, January 16, 2023: FDA and CDC failed to be transparent regarding their analysis of whether the Pfizer bivalent COVID vaccine increase strokes in older patients. There seems to be disagreement about how to explain the findings and the bottom line is that the agencies “don’t want to be asked questions” by experts in public.
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As a respected nonprofit health research center, our views are often quoted in the media, including newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, and websites. We also write articles and blogs for a number of different and highly respected newspapers, magazines, and popular websites, and we are published in prestigious medical journals and health policy publications. We frequently express our policy views in letters to government officials and public comments to federal agencies and we sometimes release statements or press releases on newsworthy issues.
Please e-mail info@center4research.org or call 202-223-4000 with your inquiries. We can assist you with scheduling interviews with the NCHR President, Dr. Diana Zuckerman, and other experts on our staff.
Medicare, patient advocates at odds over coverage for an expensive new Alzheimer’s therapy
PoliticoPro, January 18, 2023: Public health and patient advocates disagree on whether Medicare should cover Leqembi, a questionable new treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease. We express doubts that the benefits outweigh the risks and the Patient, Consumer and Public Health Coalition urges Medicare to restrict coverage to clinical trials as they do for Aduhelm.
Read More »An FDA pathway to clear medical devices puts patients at risk, research suggests
Stat News, January 10, 2023: When FDA clears medical devices based on similar “predicate” devices that were previously recalled, that puts patients’ lives at risk. It’s easy to fix: Don’t allow recalled predicates!
Read More »FDA approves Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab amid safety concerns
Nature, January 7, 2023: FDA approved Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab (Leqembi) under the accelerated approval pathway, despite safety concerns. 3 patients died. It has serious risks, is not proven to work, and will cost $26,500/year. Dr. Zuckerman points out that those risks may outweigh the benefits for people with mild impairment who are still functioning well.
Read More »ALS patients contend with $158K price tag on new drug
AP, December 18, 2022: Patients with ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease) celebrated when FDA approved Relyvrio in 2022. But it costs $158k despite combining two old ingredients, the benefits are unclear, and the effective ingredient may be the one sold by Amazon for $1/day. Important research is underway to find out if the ingredient available on Amazon is equally or more effective, says Dr. Diana Zuckerman of National Center for Health Research.
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