Reuters Health News Summary

Study shows measles vaccine thwarts other infectious diseases

The measles vaccine provides benefits beyond merely protecting against that highly contagious viral respiratory disease that remains a leading childhood killer in parts of the world, scientists say. By blocking the measles infection, the vaccine prevents measles-induced immune system damage that makes children much more vulnerable to numerous other infectious diseases for two to three years, a study published on Thursday found.

Under pressure, FDA to hold public meeting on off-label use

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will hold a public meeting this summer to address drug company concern that restrictions on what they can say about off-label use of drugs violate their First Amendment right to free speech. The meeting, announced last month by FDA chief counsel Elizabeth Dickinson, comes as a bill known as 21st Century Cures, designed to speed new drugs to market, is moving through Congress. Language in the bill is adding pressure on the agency to relax its guidelines.

Waiting to call ambulance delays heart attack treatment

Half of heart attack patients fail to immediately call an ambulance for help, delaying diagnosis and potentially worsening their survival odds, a Swedish study suggests. Researchers studied treatment timelines from symptom onset to diagnosis for about 450 people hospitalized for the deadliest type of heart attacks, known as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), which are caused by prolonged blockage of blood supply to the heart.

For diabetes control, surgery and intensive lifestyle change about equal

Intensive medical management with supervised diet and exercise may work as well as weight-loss surgery to help diabetics get blood sugar levels under control, at least in the short term, a small study suggests. Researchers followed 40 people with diabetes and poorly controlled blood sugar for one year, giving half of them weight-loss surgery and offering the other half a non-surgical alternative, so-called intensive medical management. Both options produced similar reductions in blood sugar.

Grocery lists may help shoppers stick to healthier diet, lower weight

(Reuters Health) - Heading to the grocery store armed with a list may make it easier to follow a healthy diet, a study of shoppers in Pittsburgh suggests. Researchers surveyed more than 1,300 mostly overweight and obese residents in two poor, primarily African American communities and found that shoppers who regularly made grocery lists also made higher quality food choices and had lower body weights.

Safety switches may redeem potent CAR T cancer therapies

New therapies that clinical data show can eliminate blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma in 40 percent to 90 percent of patients may have to be genetically modified to include a switch that shields healthy cells from attack. The therapies could generate tens of billions of dollars in annual sales for drugmakers including Kite Pharma and Juno Therapeutics Inc, once they are approved.

Despite U.S. efforts, bird flu thought to spread between farms

Poultry veterinarians in Minnesota believe an outbreak of avian flu has spread between farms, indicating the implementation of a U.S. strategy to contain the deadly bird disease failed in at least some cases. Wild birds are thought to be carriers of the flu virus, which can be tracked onto poultry farms by people or trucks that come into contact with contaminated feces. It may also be carried into barns by wind blowing in contaminated dirt or dust.

Novartis AG's 'biosimilar' drug sale blocked by U.S. appeals court

A U.S. appeals court has blocked the sale of Novartis AG's recently approved "biosimilar" form of Neupogen, Amgen Inc's blockbuster drug used to prevent infections in cancer patients. A lower court judge rejected Amgen's request for an injunction. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled on Tuesday, however, that the injunction could take effect while Amgen's appeal is pending.

Healthy diet tied to lower risk of cognitive decline

(Reuters Health) - Older people who eat healthy, with more fruits and vegetables, nuts and fish in their diets, may be less likely to experience declines in thinking and memory over time, according to a new international study. "It is likely that a healthy diet has effects on cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease, and that this is an important mechanism for reducing the risk of cognitive decline," said lead author Andrew Smyth of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and the National University of Ireland in Galway.

Roche says FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation for venetoclax

Swiss drugmaker Roche said on Thursday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough therapy designation for venetoclax for the treatment of people who have relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia with a genetic abnormality. "We are pleased that the FDA has granted venetoclax breakthrough therapy designation and hope this regulatory pathway will help us bring venetoclax to people with this difficult-to-treat disease soon," Roche Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Clinical Development Sandra Horning said in a statement.