| |   | Meghana today. We've got a fascinating look at how we can track a cancer's mutations over time, as well as some questions about whether Paxlovid has been appropriately vetted for the broader population. | | | A ‘molecular black box’ for cancer The mice in one Whitehead Institute lab have a unique genetic makeup that allows scientists to trace the ancestries of single tumor cells — helping uncover cancer’s basic biology and how it evolves. The mice are engineered to carry extra DNA that, when coupled with stretches of the Cas9 protein, can work as a molecular machine that keeps record of mutations. Then, when the mice are exposed to a carcinogen in order to trigger a cancer, the additional DNA can be accessed to see what, precisely, is happening genetically. “It’s like a molecular flight recorder like the black box on a plane,” said scientist Jonathan Weissman, whose lab engineered the mice. “You can reconstruct the history of how a tumor evolved and became aggressive, even try to understand the vulnerabilities that a tumor has at a very early stage.” Read more. | NASEM urges clinical trial diversity There is a critical dearth of diversity in clinical trials, according to a new report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. For example, more than 97% of participants in a Phase 2 trial for the Alzheimer’s drug crenezumab were white and just 2.8% Hispanic, even though Hispanic people are more likely to develop the neurodegenerative disease. It’s “urgent” that studies stop focusing primarily on white men, the authors say — adding that investing in more diverse recruitment could ultimately save money because doing so could help address the country’s health disparities. “An equitable clinical research enterprise would include trials and studies that match the demographics of the disease burden under study,” the report says. “However, we remain far from achieving this goal.” Read more. | Meet us at The STAT Health Tech Summit Next week, we’re hosting a full day of conversations covering all things health tech - from how tech giants are tackling health tech to what it will take to ensure patient data is protected. Meet us in San Francisco, or join us virtually, to be part of these important discussions. Learn more at statnews.com/summit. | Is Paxlovid as effective as we think it is? Pfizer antiviral pill Paxlovid is considered the leading Covid-19 treatment, thanks to its efficacy and ease of use. But the FDA’s emergency use authorization for the drug relies on a single clinical trial among unvaccinated people, New York-based primary care physician Paul Fenyves points out. But since 76% of U.S. adults now have received vaccines, and 58% have had Covid, that particular trial isn’t actually useful for the majority of people who might need the drug. “This means that doctors treating people with the disease don’t know to what degree — if any — Paxlovid will benefit their vaccinated patients,” he writes. “I am left hoping and guessing, and continue to prescribe Paxlovid to my high-risk Covid-19 patients without being sure if I am helping them.” There needs to be greater transparency around how the pharmaceutical industry has been able to market such drugs with little pushback, Fenyves opines. Read more. | Disparity in access to high blood pressure pills Low- and middle-income countries don’t have enough access to drugs for high blood pressure, a new study from the nonprofits Doctors Without Borders and Resolve to Save Lives shows. Although nearly three-quarters of people who have high blood pressure live in these countries, fewer than 10% of the people are being treated adequately. This is in part because market prices in five such countries were up to 41 times higher than the lowest possible price: For example, although blood pressure drug amlodipine is just 1 cent per tablet, it costs private payers 11 cents in South Africa and 22 cents in Lebanon. “Exorbitant drug pricing is forcing many people in lower- and middle-income countries to choose between food, shelter, or life-saving medication,” former CDC director and current Resolve to Save Lives CEO Tom Frieden said in a statement. “No one should have to make this choice.” Read more. | More reads - UK biotech launches with backing from pharma giant AstraZeneca. (Bloomberg)
- FDA clears Covid booster shot for healthy kids ages 5 to 11. (STAT)
| Thanks for reading! Until tomorrow,  | | | |
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