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What We're Reading: Promoting Pediatric Cancer Research; Mystery Paralysis; Cost of Being Sick
The FDA has developed 2 lists with molecular targets to increase drug development for pediatric cancers; there have been at least 62 cases in 2018 of children who have been affected by a rare paralyzing illness; a recent survey has found that health insurance has failed in its basic function of protecting people from financial ruin in case of costly health issues.
FDA Highlights Targets for Pediatric Cancer Research
Drug development for pediatric cancer has lagged behind the development of drugs for adults, and the FDA is promoting targets to increase drug development for pediatric cancers. According to the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society, the FDA has developed 2 lists with molecular targets. One list includes molecular targets that could contribute to at least 1 pediatric cancer. The second list identifies new drugs in development that would be exempt from requirements of pediatric cancer studies. There are 205 targets with 62 that target a gene abnormality, 40 that target a cell lineage determinant, and only 5 eligible for waivers.
Kids in 22 States Affected by Mystery Paralysis
There have been at least 62 cases in 2018 of children who have been affected by a rare paralyzing illness. The Associated Press reported that the CDC hasn’t found the cause, but that there has been a pattern of cases every other year, with similar waves in 2014 and 2016. The majority of children have experienced muscle weakness or paralysis after a fever and respiratory illness. Polio and West Nile virus have been ruled out, and most kids recover.
Survey Examines Cost of Being Sick
A recent survey has found that health insurance has failed in its basic function of protecting people from financial ruin in case of costly health issues. One-third of the most seriously ill people in the United States in the survey had spent all or most of their savings while sick, according to The New York Times. Respondents had been hospitalized twice in the last 2 years and had seen at least 3 doctors. More than 20% with insurance had trouble paying for basic necessities, and 13% had to borrow money. The survey also found family members who are not sick also feel financial strain.
Urticaria Diagnosis Challenged by Overlapping Pruritic Skin Conditions
April 23rd 2025Urticaria is complicated to diagnose by its symptomatic overlap with other skin conditions and the frequent misclassification in literature of distinct pathologies like vasculitic urticaria and bullous pemphigus.
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New Research Challenges Assumptions About Hospital-Physician Integration, Medicare Patient Mix
April 22nd 2025On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Brady Post, PhD, lead author of a study published in the April 2025 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care®, challenges the claim that hospital-employed physicians serve a more complex patient mix.
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Personalized Care Key as Tirzepatide Use Expands Rapidly
April 15th 2025Using commercial insurance claims data and the US launch of tirzepatide as their dividing point, John Ostrominski, MD, Harvard Medical School, and his team studied trends in the use of both glucose-lowering and weight-lowering medications, comparing outcomes between adults with and without type 2 diabetes.
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ACOs’ Focus on Rooting Out Fraud Aligns With CMS Vision Under Oz
April 23rd 2025Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are increasingly playing the role of data sleuths as they identify and report trends of anomalous billing in hopes of salvaging their shared savings. This mission dovetails with that of CMS, which under the new administration plans to prioritize rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse.
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