a. New flu strain driving surge across U.S.
The Washington Post (1/1, Ovalle) reports flu cases in the U.S. are “rising, driven by a new strain that public health officials worry current vaccines may not protect against as effectively.” According to the CDC, “the number of hospitalizations, emergency room and outpatient visits, and deaths associated with the flu have shot up,” although the U.S. is not likely “to reach peak until early in the year, possibly February.”
b. U.S. logs highest measles case total in decades
USA Today (12/31, Moniuszko) reported the U.S. “recorded 2,012 measles cases as of Dec. 23 [last] year, the highest total in more than 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
PG: Most of these cases occurred in patients who were not vaccinated.
c. Drugmakers set to raise U.S. prices on at least 350 medications
Reuters (12/31, Erman) reported drugmakers are expected to raise U.S. prices “on at least 350 branded medications including vaccines against COVID, RSV and shingles and blockbuster cancer treatment Ibrance, even as the…administration pressures them for cuts, according to data provided exclusively by health care research firm 3 Axis Advisors. The number of price increases for 2026 is up from the same point last year, when drugmakers unveiled plans for raises on more than 250 drugs.” According to the report, “the median of this year’s price hikes is around 4% – in line with 2025.” The companies are also expected to “cut the list prices on around nine drugs.”
PG. Don’t forget Canadian pharmacies on line to check on prices; eg Pharm Store.
d. FDA approves first motion sickness drug in over four decades
MedPage Today (12/31, George) reported the FDA on Tuesday approved Vanda Pharmaceuticals’ “tradipitant (Nereus), an oral neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist, to prevent vomiting induced by motion in adults.” This marks the “the first new drug treatment for motion sickness in over four decades and signifies an advancement in understanding motion sickness mechanisms, the company said.” The agency “based its approval of tradipitant on the phase III Motion Syros and Motion Serifos trials of people with documented histories of motion sickness.” Tradipitant (85 mg or 170 mg) is now “recommended as a single dose about 60 minutes before exposure to a potential motion sickness event.”
PG: I have a life-long problem with this and I have missed many boat, car, or bus rides. So this is a wonderful advance. I have limited information. ? if it is readily available, and evidently it is not for children.
e. Reports of infections from eating raw oysters including 6 cases in New Jersey as of last week