Category: Pharmaceuticals

First CRISPR Treatment Approval

The first CRISPR-based therapy approval is a milestone worthy of noting.

/ November 22, 2023

Decongestant doesn’t work, concludes FDA advisory committee

An FDA advisory committee has concluded that phenylephrine, a popular decongestant in cough and cold remedies, is ineffective.

/ September 28, 2023

The (Cold) Drugs Don’t Work

The FDA continues to permit the inclusion of an ineffective ingredient in hundreds of cough and cold products.

/ March 30, 2023

How the “Don’t take this medication with grapefruit juice” warning originated

How a chance discovery by one scientist improved the safety of consumers worldwide.

/ September 29, 2022

The Polypill Comes of Age

The polypill is effective for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. By combining drugs in a single pill, it improves convenience and compliance.

/ September 20, 2022

PreP for HIV/AIDS

Two pills and an injection are FDA-approved to prevent HIV infection. Not enough patients and providers know about them.

/ August 30, 2022

Zinc for the prevention or treatment of respiratory tract infections: A new systematic review

A new systematic review examines the evidence for zinc to prevent or treat respiratory tract infections.

/ August 18, 2022
Fentanyl

What are the risks of touching fentanyl?

There is the widespread belief that simply touching fentanyl can be fatal. This assumption isn't supported by science or evidence.

/ July 21, 2022

Melatonin poisonings in children are increasing

Melatonin use is increasing, and accelerated during the pandemic. Overdoses are also increasing in children, and in rare cases are linked to serious harms.

/ July 7, 2022

Good faith doctoring or greedy drug dealing? SCOTUS hears opioid prescribing cases

Physicians running opioid "pill mills" were convicted of violating the Controlled Substances Act and given substantial prison sentences. The U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide whether they were entitled to a "good faith" defense at trial.

/ March 10, 2022