Study Shows Impact of Age and Pre-Existing Influenza Immune Responses in Older and Younger Adults
In an effort to understand how current influenza vaccines are influenced by preexisting immunity in people of different ages, researchers vaccinated volunteers ages 18 years to 85 years with split, inactivated Fluzone influenza vaccine in four consecutive seasons from 2013 to 2016, and assessed the impact of repeated vaccination on breadth and durability of antibodies as a result of vaccine strain changes.
Study Shows a Positive Mood Could Boost Effectiveness of Flu Vaccine
Researchers at the University of Nottingham in England have found evidence that being in a positive mood when receiving an influenza (flu) vaccine can increase its protective effect.
FDA Approves and CDC Recommends Shingrix Vaccine to Prevent Shingles
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has receivedU.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its Shingrix vaccine to prevent shingles (herpes zoster) in patients 50 years and older.
Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Well-Tolerated and Effective in Mild to Moderate Exacerbations of Myasthenia Gravis
Canadian investigators at the University of Alberta evaluated the use of self-administered subcutaneous immune globulin in a prospective, open-label, Phase III crossover trial in adult patients with myasthenia gravis experiencing mild to moderate worsening of symptoms.
Kedrion Biopharma and Kamada Receive FDA Approval for KEDRAB
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Kedrion Biopharma’s and Kamada’s KEDRAB (rabies immune globulin [human]) for passive, transient postexposure prophylaxis of rabies infection.
NIH Grants $9 Million to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for SCID Research
The National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases division has awarded nearly $9 million to researchers from Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Boston Children’s Hospital to study the lowest dose of chemotherapy needed for babies with severe combined immunodeficiency(SCID) undergoing bone marrow transplant, the standard treatment for SCID.
Cutting-Edge Pediatric Cancer Therapy Approved by FDA
Novartis’ Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Faith-Based Hospitals’ Exemption from ERISA
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that faith-based hospitals’ pension plans qualify for the “church plan” exemption from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
FDA Approves First Drug to Treat Giant Cell Arteritis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Roche’s Actemra (tocilizumab), the first treatment for adult patients with giant cell arteritis.
Octapharma USA’s NUWIQ Receives FDA Approval for Expanded Vial Strengths
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved new product strengths for Octapharma’s NUWIQ.
