Covid symptoms may return for some after taking Paxlovid antiviral pills
NBC News, April 2022
There have been anecdotal reports of people treated for Covid with Pfizer's Paxlovid who experience a rebound of symptoms within about a week. These apparently rare cases have led infectious disease experts to call for federal agencies to issue more precise treatment and prevention guidelines addressing such outcomes.
NBC News, April 2022
There have been anecdotal reports of people treated for Covid with Pfizer's Paxlovid who experience a rebound of symptoms within about a week. These apparently rare cases have led infectious disease experts to call for federal agencies to issue more precise treatment and prevention guidelines addressing such outcomes.
Viagra and nitrates don't mix, so how are some men still taking both?
NBC News, April 2022
Mixing erectile dysfunction drugs with nitrates for chest pain can cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. Researchers have recently found, however that a substantial number of men are nevertheless obtaining overlapping prescriptions for both classes of drugs. But evidence suggests that they don’t appear to suffer negative health outcomes, such as heart attacks, as a result.
NBC News, April 2022
Mixing erectile dysfunction drugs with nitrates for chest pain can cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. Researchers have recently found, however that a substantial number of men are nevertheless obtaining overlapping prescriptions for both classes of drugs. But evidence suggests that they don’t appear to suffer negative health outcomes, such as heart attacks, as a result.
Judge strikes down military's limits on service members with HIV
NBC News, April 2022
In a landmark ruling, a federal court has ordered the Defense Department to end a long-standing Pentagon policy forbidding enlisted military service members from deploying in active duty outside the continental U.S. and being commissioned as officers if they have HIV. Supporters hailed it as overdue legal affirmation that people on effective antiretroviral treatment for HIV are healthy and pose no risk to others.
NBC News, April 2022
In a landmark ruling, a federal court has ordered the Defense Department to end a long-standing Pentagon policy forbidding enlisted military service members from deploying in active duty outside the continental U.S. and being commissioned as officers if they have HIV. Supporters hailed it as overdue legal affirmation that people on effective antiretroviral treatment for HIV are healthy and pose no risk to others.
After cancer screenings fell during Covid-19, an effort to reverse the trend
NBC's Today, March 2022
Given the worrisome drop in cancer screenings seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, health care facilities across the nation have been mobilizing to make-up for lost time. The overarching goal is to mitigate the harmful impact delayed cancer detection can have. A paper published in the journal Cancer offers good news and bad news on this front.
NBC's Today, March 2022
Given the worrisome drop in cancer screenings seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, health care facilities across the nation have been mobilizing to make-up for lost time. The overarching goal is to mitigate the harmful impact delayed cancer detection can have. A paper published in the journal Cancer offers good news and bad news on this front.
Transgender woman, 79, can claim Maine nursing home discriminated against her
NBC News, March 2022
A 79-year-old woman has reasonable grounds to claim that a Maine assisted-living facility discriminated against her for being transgender when it rejected her as a potential resident, the Maine Human Rights Commission found. The commission’s 3-2 vote sets in motion a process that could result in a lawsuit being filed against Sunrise Assisted Living in the town of Jonesport on a claim of violating state nondiscrimination law by denying Marie King’s application for residency.
NBC News, March 2022
A 79-year-old woman has reasonable grounds to claim that a Maine assisted-living facility discriminated against her for being transgender when it rejected her as a potential resident, the Maine Human Rights Commission found. The commission’s 3-2 vote sets in motion a process that could result in a lawsuit being filed against Sunrise Assisted Living in the town of Jonesport on a claim of violating state nondiscrimination law by denying Marie King’s application for residency.
Even mild Covid is linked to brain damage, scans show
NBC News, March 2022
During at least the first few months following a coronavirus infection, even mild Covid-19 is linked to tissue damage and accelerated losses in brain regions tied to the sense of smell, as well as a small loss in the brain’s overall volume. Mild Covid is also associated with a cognitive function deficit. These are the findings of the first study of the disease’s potential brain impacts that is based on brain scans taken both before and after coronavirus infection.
NBC News, March 2022
During at least the first few months following a coronavirus infection, even mild Covid-19 is linked to tissue damage and accelerated losses in brain regions tied to the sense of smell, as well as a small loss in the brain’s overall volume. Mild Covid is also associated with a cognitive function deficit. These are the findings of the first study of the disease’s potential brain impacts that is based on brain scans taken both before and after coronavirus infection.
While straight men face educational crisis, gay men excel academically, study finds
NBC News, March 2022
A new study offers important nuance about the widening educational gender gap in the United States, coming to starkly opposing conclusions about how growing up gay appears to affect the academic performance of males versus females. On an array of academic measures, gay males outperform all other groups on average, across all major racial groups. Conversely, lesbians perform more poorly in school overall and Black gay women have a much lower college graduation rate than their white counterparts.
NBC News, March 2022
A new study offers important nuance about the widening educational gender gap in the United States, coming to starkly opposing conclusions about how growing up gay appears to affect the academic performance of males versus females. On an array of academic measures, gay males outperform all other groups on average, across all major racial groups. Conversely, lesbians perform more poorly in school overall and Black gay women have a much lower college graduation rate than their white counterparts.
Scientists have possibly cured HIV in a woman for the first time
NBC News, February 2022
An American research team reported that it has possibly cured HIV in a woman for the first time. Building on past successes, as well as failures, in the HIV-cure research field, these scientists used a cutting-edge stem cell transplant method that they expect will expand the pool of people who could receive similar treatment to several dozen annually.
NBC News, February 2022
An American research team reported that it has possibly cured HIV in a woman for the first time. Building on past successes, as well as failures, in the HIV-cure research field, these scientists used a cutting-edge stem cell transplant method that they expect will expand the pool of people who could receive similar treatment to several dozen annually.
New injectable HIV prevention drug fails in seven people
NBC News, February 2022
In a large clinical trial assessing Apretude, ViiV Healthcare’s recently approved injectable drug, as a form of HIV prevention, seven participants contracted the virus despite receiving their injections on schedule. The new findings indicate that, just as with those who take daily pills to prevent HIV, breakthrough infections are possible among people receiving Apretude.
NBC News, February 2022
In a large clinical trial assessing Apretude, ViiV Healthcare’s recently approved injectable drug, as a form of HIV prevention, seven participants contracted the virus despite receiving their injections on schedule. The new findings indicate that, just as with those who take daily pills to prevent HIV, breakthrough infections are possible among people receiving Apretude.
Pfizer's Covid pill has been heralded as a game-changer. The U.S. is bungling the rollout
NBC News, February 2022
Critical shortages of Covid-19 treatments have hamstrung health care providers as the omicron wave has driven a desperate need for treatments to keep people with Covid out of the hospital. The situation has been worsened by states not prioritizing people at the highest risk of severe illness or death — those who are immunocompromised and unvaccinated people with underlying health conditions.
NBC News, February 2022
Critical shortages of Covid-19 treatments have hamstrung health care providers as the omicron wave has driven a desperate need for treatments to keep people with Covid out of the hospital. The situation has been worsened by states not prioritizing people at the highest risk of severe illness or death — those who are immunocompromised and unvaccinated people with underlying health conditions.
A 'highly virulent' HIV strain is 'no cause for alarm,' scientists say
NBC News, February 2022
Researchers have identified a highly virulent strain of HIV that likely began circulating in the Netherlands in the 1990s and has infected more than 100 people. Left untreated, it leads to a much higher viral load a doubled rate of decline in key immune cells compared with typical HIV infection.
NBC News, February 2022
Researchers have identified a highly virulent strain of HIV that likely began circulating in the Netherlands in the 1990s and has infected more than 100 people. Left untreated, it leads to a much higher viral load a doubled rate of decline in key immune cells compared with typical HIV infection.
Pfizer Covid antiviral pills may be risky with other medications
NBC News, December 2021
As the omicron surge pummels a pandemic-weary nation, the first antiviral pills for Covid-19 promise desperately needed protection for people at risk of severe disease. However, many people prescribed Pfizer’s or Merck’s new medications will require careful monitoring by doctors and pharmacists, and the antivirals may not be safe for everyone, experts caution.
NBC News, December 2021
As the omicron surge pummels a pandemic-weary nation, the first antiviral pills for Covid-19 promise desperately needed protection for people at risk of severe disease. However, many people prescribed Pfizer’s or Merck’s new medications will require careful monitoring by doctors and pharmacists, and the antivirals may not be safe for everyone, experts caution.
FDA Approves First Injectable HIV Prevention Drug
NBC News, December 2021
The FDA has approved the first long-acting injectable medication for use as pre-exposure prevention, or PrEP, against HIV. Apretude is an injectable given every two months as an alternative to HIV prevention pills, like Truvada and Descovy, which have been shown to reduce the risk of HIV by 99 percent when taken daily. Two FDA trials analyzing the safety and efficacy of the novel drug found that Apretude was more likely to reduce HIV than the daily oral medications.
NBC News, December 2021
The FDA has approved the first long-acting injectable medication for use as pre-exposure prevention, or PrEP, against HIV. Apretude is an injectable given every two months as an alternative to HIV prevention pills, like Truvada and Descovy, which have been shown to reduce the risk of HIV by 99 percent when taken daily. Two FDA trials analyzing the safety and efficacy of the novel drug found that Apretude was more likely to reduce HIV than the daily oral medications.
FDA clears AstraZeneca's Covid preventive antibody therapy for the immunocompromised
NBC News, December 2021
The Food and Drug Administration authorized the first injectable monoclonal antibody cocktail for long-term prevention of Covid-19 among people with weakened immune systems before they have been exposed to the coronavirus. The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for AstraZeneca’s antibody cocktail, Evusheld, for what is known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, against Covid-19.
NBC News, December 2021
The Food and Drug Administration authorized the first injectable monoclonal antibody cocktail for long-term prevention of Covid-19 among people with weakened immune systems before they have been exposed to the coronavirus. The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for AstraZeneca’s antibody cocktail, Evusheld, for what is known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, against Covid-19.
Woman's own immune system has possibly cured her of HIV
NBC News, November 2021
For the second time in the four-decade history of the HIV epidemic, researchers have documented a case of an individual's own immune system curing them of HIV. Even after scanning over 1 billion cells from the 30-year-old mother from Argentina with highly sophisticated and sensitive tests, scientists could find no viable viral DNA in her body.
NBC News, November 2021
For the second time in the four-decade history of the HIV epidemic, researchers have documented a case of an individual's own immune system curing them of HIV. Even after scanning over 1 billion cells from the 30-year-old mother from Argentina with highly sophisticated and sensitive tests, scientists could find no viable viral DNA in her body.
Covid antibody drugs could protect people with weak immune systems against Covid
NBC News, November 2021
If the FDA grants emergency authorization to monoclonal antibodies as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against Covid-19, how accessible will this preventive therapy be for immunocompromised people? Demand for the antibodies as treatment has fallen. But health care providers are struggling with staffing concerns, which could affect their capacity to provide PrEP.
NBC News, November 2021
If the FDA grants emergency authorization to monoclonal antibodies as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against Covid-19, how accessible will this preventive therapy be for immunocompromised people? Demand for the antibodies as treatment has fallen. But health care providers are struggling with staffing concerns, which could affect their capacity to provide PrEP.
FDA authorizes Covid antibody treatment as preventive after exposure
NBC News, August 2021
The FDA has approved Regeneron's monoclonal antibody cocktail, REGEN-COV, for use as post-exposure prevention among unvaccinated and immunocompromised people at high risk of severe Covid-19. They must have been in recent close contact with someone who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
NBC News, August 2021
The FDA has approved Regeneron's monoclonal antibody cocktail, REGEN-COV, for use as post-exposure prevention among unvaccinated and immunocompromised people at high risk of severe Covid-19. They must have been in recent close contact with someone who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Long-acting HIV-prevention drugs may be key to beating the epidemic in the U.S.
NBC News, July 2021
Dosed no more frequently than monthly, these experimental drugs offer potential solutions to a problem that has long frustrated the HIV fight: that many at-risk people find adhering to a daily preventive medication too burdensome. But will a critical mass of Black and Latino gay and bisexual men, who comprise nearly half of new HIV diagnoses, end up taking these drugs?
NBC News, July 2021
Dosed no more frequently than monthly, these experimental drugs offer potential solutions to a problem that has long frustrated the HIV fight: that many at-risk people find adhering to a daily preventive medication too burdensome. But will a critical mass of Black and Latino gay and bisexual men, who comprise nearly half of new HIV diagnoses, end up taking these drugs?
PrEP, the HIV prevention pill, must now be totally free under almost all insurance plans
NBC News, July 2021
In a move hailed as potentially transformative by HIV advocates, the federal government has issued a guidance instructing almost all insurance plans to stop charging all out-of-pocket fees for the HIV prevention pill, known as PrEP. This includes the medication itself and, crucially, the quarterly clinic visits and lab tests required to maintain the prescription.
NBC News, July 2021
In a move hailed as potentially transformative by HIV advocates, the federal government has issued a guidance instructing almost all insurance plans to stop charging all out-of-pocket fees for the HIV prevention pill, known as PrEP. This includes the medication itself and, crucially, the quarterly clinic visits and lab tests required to maintain the prescription.
'This will shut us down': HIV prevention clinics brace for Gilead reimbursement cuts
NBC News, July 2021
HIV prevention clinics are facing a fiscal crisis owing to the vagaries of an arcane federal drug pricing law, with a bare minimum of $100 million annually expected to drain from the nonprofits starting in 2022. This devastating loss of funds, which is expected to shut down some clinics, comes just as the federal government has ramped up spending in an effort to essentially end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
NBC News, July 2021
HIV prevention clinics are facing a fiscal crisis owing to the vagaries of an arcane federal drug pricing law, with a bare minimum of $100 million annually expected to drain from the nonprofits starting in 2022. This devastating loss of funds, which is expected to shut down some clinics, comes just as the federal government has ramped up spending in an effort to essentially end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
As Meth Overdoses Soar, Scientists Develop First Regimen to Treat Addiction to the Drug
NBC News, February 2021
Just as the National Institute on Drug Abuse has issued a report detailing the U.S.'s soaring rate of overdose deaths tied to meth, a national research team has reached a milestone by developing the first safe and efficacious medication-based treatment for addiction to the often ruinous stimulant.
NBC News, February 2021
Just as the National Institute on Drug Abuse has issued a report detailing the U.S.'s soaring rate of overdose deaths tied to meth, a national research team has reached a milestone by developing the first safe and efficacious medication-based treatment for addiction to the often ruinous stimulant.