EpiPen Is Getting Competition Again — But It’s Unclear Whether That Will Curb Prices
At the time Auvi-Q was pulled from the market in 2015 — after reports that it was not delivering proper doses of epinephrine — it cost more than the EpiPen.
The New York Times:
An EpiPen Rival Is About To Return To The Shelves
The EpiPen is about to get some more competition. The makers of the Auvi-Q, an EpiPen alternative taken off the market last year, announced on Wednesday that they would bring it back in 2017. The move is certain to be welcomed by many patients and lawmakers, who have denounced the rising price of EpiPens and the lack of strong competition. (Thomas, 10/26)
In other national health care news —
ProPublica:
Dr. Orange: The Secret Nemesis Of Sick Vets
Anyone who set foot in Vietnam during the war is eligible for compensation if they become ill with one of 14 cancers or other ailments linked to Agent Orange. But vets with an array of other illnesses where the connection is less well established continue to push for benefits. And those vets who believe they were exposed while serving elsewhere must prove it — often finding themselves stymied.It’s not just the vets. Some of their children now contend their parents’ exposure has led to their own health problems, and they, too, are filing claims. (Ornstein and Hixenbaugh, 10/26)
Stat:
Experiment Plans To Release Bacteria-Bearing Mosquitoes At Large Scale
Two major philanthropic organizations, along with the United States and Britain, announced on Wednesday an ambitious experiment to combat mosquito-borne diseases in cities by infecting the insects with crafty bacteria. Researchers have used the bacteria, known as Wolbachia, in trials in places including Australia and Brazil in recent years. But those efforts were small, reaching areas with tens of thousands of residents. (Joseph, 10/26)
The Washington Post:
Bloodsucking Parasitic Hookworms Could Help Make Millions Of People Healthier
Necator americanus, the New World hookworm, is as long and thin as a vermicelli noodle. It will slip under your skin and travel through the blood to your trachea, where you will swallow it and give it a free ride to your small intestine. Upon arrival, it will open its tiny jaw, dig its teeth into your intestinal wall and begin to drink your blood. And it could be the key to making millions of people healthier. (Kaplan, 10/26)