Most dollars spent on top-selling orphan drugs don’t go to treat people with rare diseases

Pharmaceutical companies get special protection from the FDA for orphan drugs aimed at rare diseases, but a study shows high spending for common diseases for some such drugs. Just 21% of the total dollars spent in 2018 on 15 top-selling partial orphan drugs went to the treatment of rare diseases, while more than 70% went to the treatment of common diseases.

First FDA-approved drug for thyroid eye disease effective regardless of age, gender

Teprotumumab, the first FDA-approved medicine for thyroid eye disease, provides significant improvement in eye bulging, regardless of patient gender, age or smoking status, according to a study accepted for presentation at ENDO 2020, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, and publication in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

Poll reveals risky use of antibiotics by some older adults, and opportunities for providers to improve

Half of older Americans got help from the infection-fighting power of antibiotics in the past two years, a new poll finds, but a sizable minority didn’t follow the instructions on their pill bottle. And one in five say that in the past, they’ve engaged in a risky practice: taking leftover antibiotics without checking with a medical professional.