AJMC Staff

Although 2021 closes with a plentiful supply of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, Americans continue to face challenges with the widespread Omicron variant and new testing hurdles.

The United States has authorized Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 treatment for at-home use; study results show that the Omicron variant may have a lower risk of hospitalization; and Chicago and Boston announce proof of vaccination requirements for indoor settings.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

Health care professionals in oncology comment on the evolving concept of precision medicine in cancer care and the role of comprehensive genomic profiling.

COVID-19 at-home test kits are in short supply; 2021 is on track to surpass 2020's death toll; hospitals report patient surges.

Up to 500 million at-home COVID-19 test kits will be sent to US households for free, by request; Biogen cut the price of its Alzheimer disease drug Aduhelm nearly in half; the FDA approved the world’s first injectable medication to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted HIV.

Nicholas McAndrew, MD, MSCE, a medical oncologist and breast cancer specialist at UCLA Health and assistant clinical professor of Medicine at UCLA in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, discusses the arrival of CDK4/6 inhibitors in the treatment landscape.

CDC data shown to overstate US vaccination rates; school-based cognitive behavioral therapy for overwhelmed children; Moderna to develop Omicron-specific COVID-19 booster dose.

Using the fatty liver index (FLI) to identify nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), researchers sought to understand the association between first-degree family members of patients with diabetes and NAFLD.

There are 2 such vaccines now in use in the United States; the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is fully approved for the first 2 doses for those 16 and older, and the Moderna vaccine has an emergency use authorization for those 18 and older.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

The CDC is recommending that people at risk of developing blood clots receive the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines instead of Johnson & Johnson (J&J); the FDA lifts restrictions on mail order access to abortion pills; US health care spending more than doubled during the first year of the pandemic.

Two doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine have reduced efficacy against the Omicron variant; a federal appeals court reinstates the Biden administration’s health care worker vaccine mandate in 26 states; a new combination therapy may reduce breast cancer progression.

The Omicron variant may cause a wave of infections as soon as January 2022; Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill, Paxlovid, was found to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 88%; JPMorgan Health Care Conference will move to a virtual format after receiving pressure from major drug companies.

More Americans reported skipping medical care over cost concerns; today marks the 1-year anniversary of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout; hospitals in Minnesota are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.

Two doses of the Pfizer vaccine may only have 22.5% efficacy against the Omicron variant; as of 2018, less than 16% of orthopedic specialists are people of color; a mask mandate for stores and indoor spaces in New York state went into effect.

The Supreme Court will allow a challenge to Texas' controversial abortion law; the FDA broadens booster eligibility for teens; Kentucky declares an emergency over nurse shortages.

Pfizer predicts that a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine may be needed to quell the Omicron variant; CMS officials share figures on enrollment for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA); City of Hope announces acquisition of Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Antibodies produced by vaccinated people may be less successful at fighting against Omicron compared with other variants; Congressional leaders created a plan to lift the debt limit with only Democratic votes in the Senate, staving off Medicare cuts; cases of depression and anxiety among youths both doubled during the pandemic.

British study finds higher immune response when mixing Pfizer, AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines with Moderna; World Health Organization strongly advises against the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19; disparities in pay by gender among physicians.

Early data suggest the Omicron variant may cause less severe cases of COVID-19; a new JAMA study finds the average young adult overweight; spotlighting vaccine discrimination in Africa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa, which is linked with microbial dysbiosis and immune dysregulation, is defined by recurrent nodules, tunnels and scarring, primarily in skin folds; the review found a multitude of antimicrobial peptides expressed in this skin disease.

New data suggest more children are being diagnosed with autism in the United States; Biden pushes for coverage of at-home COVID-19 tests; different pollutants may affect the ratio of boys to girls born.

The first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant has been detected in the United States; Supreme Court justices signal support for upholding Mississippi’s abortion law; a federal judge blocks the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for health care workers.

An FDA advisory panel voted in favor of emergency authorization for Merck's COVID-19 pill; South African drug maker Aspen Pharmacare announced that it was finalizing the first agreement to control production of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in Africa; the International AIDS Society launched its latest strategy to find a cure for HIV.

CTI BioPharma's New Drug Application had previously been granted Priority Review. The PDUFA date was November 30.

The CDC expands its recommendation on booster shots to all adults aged 18 and older amid Omicron variant concerns; a federal judge temporarily blocks COVID-19 vaccine mandates for health workers in 10 states; the Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments on Mississippi’s landmark abortion case tomorrow.

President Joe Biden will provide an update today on his administration’s response to the Omicron COVID-19 variant; marked rise in lung transplants for patients with COVID-19 sparks ethical questions; an independent panel of experts will advise FDA tomorrow on the use of Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral pill.

A federal jury in Cleveland found CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart pharmacies responsible for contributing to the opioid crisis; concerns rise after the death of a woman who received infusions of the Alzheimer disease drug Aduhelm; Juul vowed to stop advertising its vaping products to young people in Arizona.

The White House will invest $1.5 billion to bolster the nation's health care workforce; new data reveal long-term Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in children; Idaho deactivates crisis standards of care for some portions of the state.