FDA Approves Wezlana, First Interchangeable Biosimilar to Stelara

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Wezlana (ustekinumab-auub) as a biosimilar to and interchangeable with Stelara for adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy; active psoriatic arthritis; moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease; and moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.
HHS Awards $45 Million in Grants to Expand Access to Care for People with Long COVID

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced nine grant awards $1 million each for up to five years to support existing multidisciplinary Long COVID clinics across the country.
Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs Receive HHS Awards

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced approximately $23 million in funding to foster innovation, provide new research and expand the evidence to support and advance equity in the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program.
First Drugs Selected for Medicare Drug Price Negotiation

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the first 10 drugs covered under Medicare Part D selected for negotiation as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
OCR Issues Resources to Educate Patients about Telehealth and the Privacy and Security of Protected Health Information

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued two resource documents to help explain to patients the privacy and security risks to their protected health information when using telehealth services and ways to reduce these risks.
Protein Identified That Can Cause Cancer Cells to Die

Scientists at the University of California, Davis have identified a protein on the CD95 receptor that can “program” cancer cells to die.
First Treatment Approved for Genetic Clotting Disorder

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a recombinant ADAMTS13 protein product (Adzynma) as a prophylactic or on-demand enzyme replacement therapy for patients with congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
First Vaccine for Mosquito-Born Viral Disease Is Approved by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved IXCHIQ, Valneva’s single-dose, live-attenuated vaccine indicated for the prevention of disease caused by chikungunya virus in individuals 18 years of age and older who are at increased risk of exposure to CHIKV.
FDA Approves Zepbound as a New Weight-Loss Drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide medication, which is branded as Mounjaro for diabetes, under a new brand for weight loss as well.
New Vaccine Could Fight Hospital-Acquired Infections by Boosting the Immune System

A new type of vaccine could stimulate the innate immune system to prevent deaths from hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) caused by a variety of bacteria and fungi, according to a recent study.