Apparently, somewhere, somebody has been claiming that neonatal male circumcision causes autism spectrum disorder. Rather than immediately dismissing this unusual idea, a team of paediatricians and epidemiologists based in the USA tested the hypothesis thoroughly and found it easy to disprove. They published the results of the study in JAMA Pediatrics, a well respected medical…
Ed’s stories explore prescription drug pricing, affordability and access, as well issues surrounding patents, litigation, and legislation. He is also the author of the morning Pharmalittle newsletter and the afternoon Pharmalot newsletter. A little-noticed policy shift by Medicare caused a seven-year delay in choosing a costly AbbVie medicine for price negotiations, a move likely to…
Recent research has prompted closer scrutiny of prebiotic sodas, suggesting that not all beverages marketed for gut health provide the same nutritional value. Researchers found that some commercially available prebiotic sodas contained relatively high amounts of sugar and lower amounts of dietary fiber than consumers might expect based on their health-focused marketing, raising questions about…
For years physiotherapists have been suggesting that people with chronic lower back pain should try swimming. In theory it should be the perfect exercise for people with limited mobility due to its non-load bearing nature and the scope for gently supported mobility. There has however, until now, been no evidence that swimming really gives any…
National Biotech Reporter Elaine’s stories explore the boom in new obesity treatments, new drug payment models, the ways companies are affected by FDA changes, and the emerging psychedelics drug sector. She co-writes The Readout newsletter, and co-hosts STAT’s weekly biotech podcast, The Readout Loud. You can reach Elaine on Signal at elaineywchen.70.
Two bedside procedures that have stayed almost entirely manual for decades are now the target of robotic automation, and the companies building the machines are not primarily claiming they perform better than trained staff. They are claiming there are not enough trained staff. Blood collection is the more advanced of the two. Vitestro, a Netherlands…
Each week, thousands of wellness studies hit the news, but most of them are very scientific and complicated for the ordinary person to understand. The problem isn’t in finding information—it’s in translating it to people without distorting the meaning. Storytelling based on science is the key tool for positioning creators, health coaches, and wellness brands…
Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today? Sign up to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox. Hiya, and welcome back to The Readout. Today, we’re getting ready for the FDA’s upcoming decision on Moderna’s mRNA flu shot, and see both a revived fight over 340B rebates and fresh legal scrutiny…
Federal regulators have accused one of the largest direct-to-consumer telehealth companies of routing customers’ health conditions to advertising platforms while marketing itself on privacy. The Federal Trade Commission, joined by Utah and by California through Los Angeles County Counsel, sued Hims and Hers Health on July 29 in federal court in San Francisco. The complaint…
Public health researchers in the UK have performed a years-long study into whether putting portable HEPA filter air purifiers into elderly care home residents’ bedrooms can prevent respiratory illnesses. The results make for depressing reading. Contrary to expectations, a Bristol University led team of medical doctors, epidemiologists and public health experts relate in a JAMA…
