Arthur Allen

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JoEllen Zembruski-Ruple was among about 1,300 Americans each year who die from the toxic effects of the chemotherapy pill capecitabine or its cousin, the IV drug fluorouracil, known as 5-FU | COURTESY OF RICHARD KHAVKINE

Two patients faced chemo. The one who survived demanded a test to see if It was safe.

Despite growing awareness of a deficiency that can be fatal in combination with some chemo drugs, the medical establishment has moved slowly on testing that could save lives

Jun 5

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Measles misinformation is on the rise — and Americans are hearing It, survey finds

About two-thirds of Republican-leaning parents are unaware of an uptick in measles cases this year, and Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to believe the measles shot is worse than the disease

Apr 24

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Trump HHS eliminates office that sets poverty levels tied to benefits for at least 80 million people

Recent cuts eliminated a small, specialized workforce that sets the poverty standards determining who is eligible for Medicaid as well as assistance with food, home heating, child care, and more.

Apr 15

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Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at the Fox Tucson Theatre in Tucson, Arizona in 2024. | COURTESY/GAGE SKIDMORE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

With RFK Jr. in charge, supplement makers see chance to cash in

The FDA is already limited in policing claims of health benefits by makers of supplements and herbal remedies — a $70 billion industry. Get ready for even less regulation.

Feb 25

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SHUTTERSTOCK

The Covid ‘Contrarians’ Are in Power. We Still Haven’t Hashed Out Whether They Were Right.

The polarized disagreements about what worked and what didn’t in the fight against the biggest public health disaster in modern times have yet to be aired in a nonpartisan setting — and it seems unlikely they ever will be

Feb 22

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Ozempic insulin injection pen. | NATALIA VARLEI/SHUTTERSTOCK

How little Denmark got homegrown giant Novo Nordisk to lower Ozempic prices

Countries around the world are struggling with how and when to pay for drugs prescribed for weight loss, with the sky-high prices paid in the U.S. used for leverage

Aug 13, 2024

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Compounding pharmacies are formulating copies of semaglutide, a key ingredient in blockbuster weight-loss drugs like Wegovy. | ILLUSTRATION BY OONA TEMPEST/KFF HEALTH NEWS

Why millions are trying FDA-authorized alternatives to Big Pharma’s weight loss drugs

In response to shortages, compounding pharmacies are producing copycat versions of blockbuster weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic. While these pharmacies are operating in a gray area, large drugmakers oppose the practice

Jul 25, 2024

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SHUTTERSTOCK

The chicken and egg problem of fighting another flu pandemic

The spread of an avian flu virus has infected cattle in at least nine state and three people in the U.S., while decimating flocks of birds and killing barn cats and other mammals

Jun 4, 2024

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Overdosing on chemo: A common gene test could save hundreds of lives each year

Certain chemotherapy drugs can be torturous or deadly for patients deficient in an enzyme that metabolizes them, but a recent survey found that only 3% of U.S. oncologists routinely test for the problem

Mar 26, 2024