‘Are We Going Back in Time?’ Public Health Experts Worry as Indiana Vax Rates Plummet
The Indianapolis Star reported:
In the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, statewide vaccination rates gradually rose among Indiana toddlers, an encouraging sign for health providers. By the end of 2019, 70% of children aged 19-35 months old had received the seven-vaccine series for rare but dangerous diseases like tetanus, whooping cough and polio.
But four years later the same metric had plummeted by 14 percentage points. In 2023, just 56% of Hoosier toddlers received the series recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to Indiana Department of Health data. In LaPorte County, which ranked lowest in the state, just one in three children was immunized with the full series by age three.
A confluence of factors — misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine, missed routine doctor’s visits, mistrust of mainstream medical science and, ironically, vaccines’ success at making severe diseases rare in the U.S. — has heightened existing vaccine hesitancy both in Indiana and the nation as a whole.
Bill Would Ban Vaccines in Iowa Unless Manufacturer Waives Legal Immunity
Iowa lawmakers are looking at removing legal protections for vaccine manufacturers.
Wednesday, lawmakers advanced a bill that bans vaccines from being administered unless the manufacturer waives any immunity they may have from lawsuits.
At a subcommittee meeting, University of Iowa Medical Student Jack Ohringer told lawmakers that this bill would have severe negative consequences if passed. “This legislation would open the floodgates for unfounded vaccination injury claims and would likely lead the vaccine manufacturers either making the vaccines more expensive, which could limit access or pulling out of our state entirely.
This could apply to all vaccines. This is not just about the COVID vaccine,” he said.
Bill to Eliminate New Hampshire Vaccine Association Moves Forward
On a narrow vote, the New Hampshire House moved forward with a bill to repeal the state’s vaccine association, but the legislative battle is just getting started. On a 189-181 vote, the House gave initial approval to legislation eliminating the New Hampshire Vaccine Association.
The association was created two decades ago to buy vaccines in bulk, reducing costs and ensuring a steady supply. Republicans backing the bill said it would not affect vaccination rates or the cost of pediatric vaccines to parents.
“They don’t pay anything for the vaccine when they go to the doctor today, and if this bill is passed and becomes law, they won’t pay anything for it tomorrow or a year from now or five years from now,” said state Rep. Jim Kofalt, R-Wilton. Opponents of the bill disagree, saying not only will costs go up, but fewer children will be vaccinated.
FDA Will Finally Ban Controversial Ingredient in Popular Decongestants
Sudafed, Mucinex, Benadryl, Advil, Tylenol, Vicks and Dimetapp. These popular brand names appear on oral decongestants that are staples of the cold and flu aisle in American drug stores, and yet many contain an ingredient that does not work as promised.
In November 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed an order to remove oral phenylephrine from every single cold, cough, allergy, bronchodilator, and anti-asthmatic drug product available today, roughly four-fifths of all oral decongestants.
The proposal is currently open for public comment, and, if finalized, the ruling would dramatically reshape the drug formulations seen in hundreds of over-the-counter oral decongestants available for purchase in the country — a market share worth roughly US$1.76 billion in 2022.
The proposed order came a year after an independent advisory body for the FDA unanimously concluded that while oral phenylephrine is safe to consume, it is no better than a placebo at clearing a stuffy nose.
Moderna Anticipates 2027 Release for Cancer Vaccine in Collaboration With Merck
Moderna Inc. anticipates the release of a personalized cancer vaccine, currently being developed in partnership with Merck & Co., by 2027, according to a statement made by Moderna’s President Stephen Hoge. He made these remarks at an investor conference on Wednesday.
The company is presently conducting a late-stage trial for a skin cancer vaccine. Hoge expressed optimism about the potential revenue from the cancer vaccine, stating that it could materialize rapidly. He also confirmed that the phase three study for the vaccine had been fully enrolled as of Sept. 24.
Hoge further discussed the adjuvant melanoma market, which is the initial indication for the vaccine. He suggested that the market could be significantly profitable due to the considerable improvements they’ve observed over Keytruda, a checkpoint inhibitor. Hoge also mentioned plans for expansion into non-small cell lung cancer, renal cancer, and bladder cancer once the vaccine is approved and launched.
Pfizer Appoints Former J&J Executive to Lead Obesity Drug Development
Pfizer on Thursday named James List as the head of the drugmaker’s Internal Medicine portfolio, where he will oversee the development of its closely watched oral weight-loss drug candidate along with those that treat heart conditions and blood disorders.
The drugmaker said in January it would go “all in” to develop its experimental obesity drug, danuglipron, recruiting more experts in the area to “make better and more sound decisions.” Before joining Pfizer, List headed the cardiovascular and metabolism unit at Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ.N) Janssen division, where he was responsible for the discovery and development of new medicines in these areas.
Pfizer is testing multiple doses for a once-a-day version of danuglipron after scrapping the development of a twice-daily version of the drug in late 2023. Pfizer said in January that it expects to have data from dose-testing studies in a few months and that it could start a late-stage study of the drug in the second half of this year.
Oral Norovirus Vaccine Passes Safety Testing With a Strong Immune Response in Older Adults
Researchers at Vaxart Inc. and the Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of an oral norovirus vaccine tablet, VXA-G1.1-NN. Results indicate that the vaccine was safe and well tolerated while eliciting robust systemic and mucosal immune responses in adults aged 55 to 80 years.
Norovirus infections cause approximately 20 million cases of acute gastroenteritis annually in the U.S., leading to 70,000 hospitalizations and up to 800 deaths. The economic impact is estimated at $10.6 billion per year.
Older adults, particularly those in long-term care facilities, are disproportionately affected, with 90% of norovirus-associated deaths occurring in individuals aged 65 and older. No licensed vaccine currently exists to prevent norovirus infections, despite the significant health care burden it imposes.
Why Moderna Stock Has Surged 20% This Week Despite Mixed News
Investor’s Business Daily reported:
Moderna stock has surged more than 20% this week after regulatory filings showed several executives — including Chief Executive Stephane Bancel — bought shares on the open market.
According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bancel purchased about 160,000 shares worth $5 million on Monday. The same day, board member Paul Sagan bought almost 32,000 shares at a value of roughly $1 million.
Last week, Chief Financial Officer Jamey Mock, Chief Legal Officer Shannon Klinger and President Stephen Hoge added to their Moderna stock holdings. In response, Moderna stock jumped nearly 16% on Monday. In midday trades Friday, shares rallied again, adding another 10% to 37.78. Moderna stock is butting up against a ceiling at its 50-day moving average.
Glenmark Issues Another Recall, This Time for Nearly 1.5M Bottles of Generic ADHD Drug
Glenmark Pharma, an India-based drug manufacturer that has been the focal point of a spate of recalls in recent years, has issued another. This time, the product pull covers about 1.48 million bottles of the generic attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug atomoxetine.
Eli Lilly previously sold the branded version of the drug, Strattera, but discontinued all strengths in 2023 after the arrival of generics. Unlike stimulant-based drugs that make up the bulk of ADHD treatment, including those like Vyvanse and Adderall, atomoxetine is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (sNRI).
The recall was triggered by the presence of unacceptable levels of N-nitroso atomoxetine, a possible carcinogen, in multiple Glenmark atomoxetine batches, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
