News from Thursday, August 7, 2025
Articles
RFK Jr. May Be on the Verge of Dismantling U.S. Preventive Health Care
(8/5, Leana S. Wen, The Washington Post) comments “...Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association, told me that physicians rely on these guidelines ‘big time.’ It’s just not possible for them to read every new publication on every disease. His members trust the task force’s carefully vetted scientists to keep them up-to-date on changing evidence. Its credibility depends on objective, methodological evaluation of the evidence. ‘We want to stick to science, and opinion isn’t a part of science,’ he said.” Subscription Required
Trump, Pharma Industry Discuss Boosting Medicine Spending Abroad to Cut US Prices, Sources Say
(8/7, Patrick Wingrove, Maggie Fick, Reuters) reports “...U.S. officials told drug companies it would support their international negotiations with governments if they adopt ‘most favored nation’ pricing under which U.S. drug costs match the lower rates offered to other wealthy countries, the White House official said...The Trump administration has asked some companies for ideas on raising prices abroad, two of the sources said, describing multiple meetings over several months aimed at lowering U.S. prices without triggering cuts to research and development spending drugmakers insist would result.” Subscription Required
Press Releases
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Researchers Lead Largest Comparative Study of Surgical Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Kidney Stones
(8/7, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Press Release) “Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), along with several academic partners, announced the primary results of the Pediatric KIDney Stone (PKIDS) trial, the largest comparative effectiveness study of surgical interventions for children and adolescents with kidney stones. The CHOP-led PKIDS trial, with two studies published in JAMA Network Open, marks a significant breakthrough by offering stronger evidence for treating stones of varying sizes, including new information on patient experiences after surgery, thus reducing uncertainty and empowering informed decision-making for patients, caregivers, and physicians.” Full
Hundreds with Rare Inherited Eye Disease to Benefit after NICE Recommends Treatment
(8/7, NICE Press Release) “Hundreds of adults and teenagers in England with a rare, inherited eye disease will benefit from a new treatment after NICE today recommended idebenone for visual impairment caused by Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). The drug, the first treatment for LHON recommended by NICE for use on the NHS in England, is made by Chiesi and marketed as Raxone, has been approved in final draft guidance as a treatment option for people aged 12 and over with LHON.” Full
Journals
Inflation Reduction Act Impact on Pharmaceutical Investment: Insights from Investor Interviews
WJ Canestaro, JA Patterson, JD Campbell
August 7, 2025, Health Affairs Scholar
Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Labetalol Versus Nifedipine for Treatment of Chronic Hypertension During Pregnancy
Stephanie A Leonard, et al.
July 31, 2025, JACC Advances
Comparative Effectiveness of Panax Notoginseng Saponins-Related Agents and Antiplatelet Agents in Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Hongrui Zhang, et al.
August 4, 2025, Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Overall Survival Associated with Real-World Treatment Sequences in Patients with CLL/SLL in the United States
Joanna M. Rhodes, et al.
August 7, 2025, cancers