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☆ Fact Check-Pregnancy ultrasound does not cause the DNA damage of ‘250 chest x-rays’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The text in one post sharing the claim (here) reads, “A Single Exposure to Ultrasound Causes DNA Damage Similar to 250 Chest X-Rays” overlayed on an ultrasound image of a fetus. A URL printed across the fetus image leads to an article (here) that makes unfounded claims about the risk of fetal ultrasound, and cites a 1981 study for the “250 chest x-rays” figure. The 1981 study did not draw any such conclusion. In response to a request for comment, the author of the article Jeanice Barcelo said she stands by her claim about the 1981 study. A 1981 study of mouse cells in test tubes did not conclude that ultrasound caused DNA damage equivalent to that of hundreds of x-rays, and extensive research finds ultrasound to be safe for use during pregnancy.

Persons: RAY, “, ”, Safwan, Ann, Robert H, Lurie, Ken Karipidis, Karipidis, Halabi, Jeanice Barcelo, Barcelo, Read Organizations: grays, Reuters, RAY Ultrasound, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, FDA, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago Institute for Fetal, Australian Radiation Protection, Nuclear Safety Agency, International Commission, American Institute of Ultrasound, International Society of Ultrasound, Gynecology, Health Organization Locations: mSv

☆ Cancer vaccines poised to unlock 'new treatment paradigm' with Merck/Moderna data
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Julie Steenhuysen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The hope is for "a completely new treatment paradigm in cancer that will be better tolerated and unique to individual patients' tumors," said Dr. Jane Healy, an executive overseeing in early cancer treatment development at Merck. The Merck/Moderna collaboration is one of several combining powerful drugs that unleash the immune system to target cancers with mRNA vaccine technology. Aiming at these unique proteins allows the immune system to kill cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue unscathed. With standard treatment, 90% of pancreatic cancer patients die within five years of diagnosis. The approach first primes the immune system with an older technology called a chimpanzee adenovirus vaccine that targets patients' tumors.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Keytruda, Jane Healy, Germany's BioNTech, Vinod Balachandran, we've, we're, Andrew Allen, Healy, Julie Steenhuysen, Caroline Humer, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Merck & Co, REUTERS, CHICAGO, Moderna Inc, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Merck, Moderna, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Thomson Locations: Kenilworth , New Jersey, U.S, Chicago, New York, Nature

☆ Moderna and Merck cancer vaccine used with Keytruda reduces risk of deadly skin cancer spreading
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Moderna and Merck's experimental cancer vaccine, used in combination with Merck 's Keytruda, reduced the risk of the most deadly form of skin cancer spreading to other parts of the body in a clinical trial, according to the midstage trial results published Monday. Moderna and Merck's cancer vaccine reduced the risk of melanoma spreading to other parts of the body or death by 65% in patients with stage 3 or 4 of the disease compared with patients who received Merck's immunotherapy treatment alone, the trial has found. Moderna and Merck will present the data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual conference in Chicago at 5 p.m. The clinical trial has enrolled 157 patients who have had their cancer surgically removed. Patients in the treatment group receive 1 milligram injections of the vaccine every three weeks for nine total doses and 200 mg intravenous infusions of Keytruda every three weeks for about a year.

Persons: Merck Organizations: Moderna, Merck, American Society, Clinical Locations: Chicago

☆ Cancer drugmakers rise as industry meet fuels investor interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 5 (Reuters) - Shares of several cancer drug firms surged on Monday after the companies reported positive clinical trial data from their therapies at an ongoing industry conference in Chicago. ImmunoGen Inc's experimental drug, Elahere, to treat a type of ovarian cancer showed 35% reduction in the risk of tumor progression or death compared to chemotherapy in a late-stage study. Shares of Evaxion rose 5.4% to $1.55 after the smaller drug developer said its vaccine to prevent a type of skin cancer met safety goals in an early-stage study. Shares of Blueprint Medicines Corp (BPMC.O) fell 9.4% to $52.76 after analysts flagged potential safety issues about its experimental drug to treat a type of lung cancer. Reporting by Manas Mishra and Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: William Blair, Manas Mishra, Mariam Sunny, Shailesh Organizations: Immunogen Inc, Evaxion, Therapeutics, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Arcus, Medicines Corp, Thomson Locations: Chicago, Bengaluru

☆ AstraZeneca's Tagrisso slashes death risk in certain post-surgery lung cancer patients
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 4 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca's lung cancer therapy, Tagrisso, cut the risk of death by more than half in patients with a certain form of lung cancer who were diagnosed early enough to have their tumour surgically removed, trial data showed. The drug has regulatory approvals across multiple geographies for certain patients with so-called non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have a mutation of the EGFR gene. In the trial, Tagrisso or a placebo was given to patients to assess whether the AstraZeneca therapy could keep their cancer at bay. An estimated 88% of patients treated with Tagrisso were alive at five years compared to 78% on placebo, trial data also showed. AstraZeneca is also expecting to provide details on the impact of combining Tagrisso with chemotherapy in patients with advanced EGFR-mutated lung cancer later this year.

Persons: Tagrisso, Susan Galbraith, Dave Fredrickson, Natalie Grover, Angus MacSwan Organizations: American Society of Clinical Oncology, AstraZeneca, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Swedish, London

☆ As the market starts to cool down, Cramer says don't be afraid to stay bullish
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

CNBC's Jim Cramer told investors on Friday to stay bullish going into the week ahead, even as the market starts to cool down. "I liked [the market] more yesterday than I do today because it's higher, and that's how you have to think." On Monday, Cramer will be watching Apple 's Worldwide Developers Conference, where new products, ideas and software updates will be on display. Cramer's bottom line is to stay bullish, as he believes the Fed won't drastically raise rates at its next meeting. "We are not going to overstay our bullish welcome mat because others are stomping on it," Cramer said.

Persons: CNBC's Jim Cramer, Cramer, everybody's, Brinker, Chipotle — Organizations: Apple, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Moderna, Merck, Bristol, Myers, Darden

☆ Novartis drug cuts recurrence risk by 25% in early-stage breast cancer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Ludwig Burger | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The company on Friday said the relative risk reduction of cancer recurrence was 25.2% and that the results were broadly consistent regardless of patients' menopausal status or cancer progression status. Kisqali has been approved to treat hormone-driven breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, where Novartis has taken market share from Pfizer's (PFE.N) Ibrance. But that is in a subset of women who are at high risk of recurrence after surgery, typically diagnosed based on signs of cancer in the lymph nodes. Here, Novartis will face tough competition because the U.S. drugmaker has said Verzenio reduces the risk of recurrence by 35% in that group. Novartis will request approval for wider use in the U.S. and Europe before the end of the year, it added.

Persons: Kisqali, Eli Lilly, Verzenio, drugmaker, Eli Lilly's Verzenio, Jeff Legos, Vas, Ludwig Burger, Sriraj Organizations: Novartis, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Oncology, Hematology, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Chicago, U.S, Europe

☆ Drug cuts risk of breast cancer recurrence for some early-stage patients, trial shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A drug used in people in the early stage of the most common kind of breast cancer – HR+/HER2- breast cancer – significantly reduced the risk of the cancer returning after treatment, according to a new study. HR+/HER2- breast cancer has tested positive for progesterone and estrogen receptors and negative for HER2. Endocrine therapy generally works well, but for patients with HR+ or HER- breast cancer, there’s still a 10% to 40% chance that the cancer will come back, some studies show. The new trial found that when Kisqali is added to endocrine therapy, it reduces the risk of recurrence by 25% across a broad population of patients with early breast cancer. About 90% of patients who have breast cancer are diagnosed in the early stages.

Persons: there’s, Kisqali, ”, Dennis J, Slamon, Sara Tolaney, ” Tolaney, Anupama Goel, Goel, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Alberto Montero, ” Montero, Montero Organizations: CNN, US Food and Drug Administration, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Novartis, UCLA, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Oncology, Dana, Farber Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center, CNN Health, UH Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Locations: Chicago, Ohio, –

☆ Simpler hysterectomy may improve quality of life for some women with cervical cancer, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Thanks to more effective screening, more women have been presenting with cervical cancer at a younger age and an earlier stage of the disease. “Simple hysterectomy can now be considered as a new standard of care for patients with low-risk early-stage cervical cancer,” Plante said. “This is a really big deal for women with cervical cancer,” said Moore, who wasn’t involved with the study. If the findings lead to a change in practice for surgeons, it could “change the trajectory of cervical cancer globally,” she said. Cervical cancer is not common in the US or Canada, Moore said, but it is endemic in low- and middle-income countries.

Persons: Dr, Marie Plante, Plante, ” Plante, ”, Kathleen Moore, Virginia Kerley Cade, Moore, Sanjay Gupta, ” Moore, Stephanie V, Blank, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, American Society of Clinical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Universite Laval, Studies, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Cancer Society, Virginia, Developmental Therapeutics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, World Health Organization, Get CNN, CNN Health, Mount Sinai Health Locations: Chicago, Quebec, Canada

☆ McCarthy’s Debt-Ceiling Deal Meets ‘Die Hard 2’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Daniel Henninger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Daniel Henninger's weekly column, “Wonder Land,” appears in The Wall Street Journal each Thursday. Mr. Henninger was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing in 1987 and 1996, and shared in the Journal's Pulitzer Prize in 2002 for the paper's coverage of the attacks on September 11. In 2004, he won the Eric Breindel Journalism Award for his weekly column. He has won the Gerald Loeb Award for commentary, the Scripps Howard Foundation's Walker Stone Award for editorial writing and the American Society of Newspaper Editors' Distinguished Writing Award for editorial writing. He is a weekly panelist on the "Journal Editorial Report" on Fox News.

Persons: Daniel Henninger's, ”, Henninger, Eric Breindel, Gerald Loeb, Scripps Howard Foundation's Walker Organizations: Scripps, American Society of Newspaper, Fox News, Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service Locations: Cleveland

☆ The Trump-Cuomo Covid Bromance
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Wonder Land. As the Republican presidential candidates start to offer something more than Donald Trump's various paybacks, President Biden figures running against 'MAGA' is his path to a second term. Images: AP/Getty Images Composite: Mark KellyThe 2024 presidential race is already wild, and the strangest moment so far may be the mutual Covid admiration society of Donald Trump and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo . In 2020 they were mortal political enemies, but now they’re uniting to praise their performance in order to trash the far better Covid judgment and governance of Ron DeSantis in Florida.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Biden, MAGA, Mark Kelly The, Donald Trump, Andrew Cuomo, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Republican, New York Gov Locations: Florida

☆ FDA considers temporary cancer drug imports from unapproved companies to ease U.S. shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

She is one of hundreds of Ontario cancer patients who received diluted chemotherapy in the last year and who are still undergoing treatment to beat the disease. The FDA in the past has taken similar action to loosen restrictions on imports when faced with drug shortages. At least 14 cancer drugs are currently in short supply across the U.S. Up to 20% of cancer patients rely on platinum-based chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin and carboplatin for treatment, according to the National Cancer Institute. Some cancer patients could die if the shortages are not quickly resolved, doctors said.

Persons: Dawn Deslippe, Diane Marley, Richard Lautens, Drug Administration –, Julie Gralow, We're, Gralow, —, Abdul Rafeh Naqash, Naqash, Philip Schwieterman, Schwieterman Organizations: Windsor Regional Hospital, Toronto Star, Getty, Drug Administration, CNBC, FDA, U.S, The American Society of Clinical Oncology, World Health, Pharmaceuticals, National Cancer Institute, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, University of Kentucky, kiwis Locations: WINDSOR, Ontario, United States, U.S, carboplatin

☆ Strong leg muscles may be linked with better outcomes after heart attack, study suggests
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Growing evidence shows that building muscle strength can have benefits for your heart, even leading to better outcomes after a heart attack. Kamiya said that after a heart attack, medically known as a myocardial infarction, the heart can go through a process called myocardial remodeling or cardiac remodeling, in which fibrous tissue accumulates, causing an enlargement of the heart. But emerging evidence suggests that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation can alter the course of such remodeling in a way that improves heart function. “Cardiac remodeling is the main cause of the onset of heart failure after myocardial infarction,” Kamiya said. But more can be learned about why some people may be more affected after a heart attack than others, said Dr. Shaline Rao, director of heart failure services at NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island, who was not involved in the new study.

☆ ASCO conference will put the focus on the fight against cancer. These stocks are in the spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Developments in cancer research will be in the spotlight as the American Society of Clinical Oncology hosts the world's biggest cancer research conference in Chicago, starting Thursday. The pair has already has won regulatory approval for Enhertu for metastatic HER2-low breast cancer, but the companies are also studying its use in a variety other HER2 tumors in breast cancers. Lilly's drug, Verzenio, is used in high-risk patients with HR-positive HER2-negative breast cancer that is more likely to reoccur and has already breached the patient's lymph nodes. In a research note earlier this month, Guggenheim analyst Seamus Fernandez said Kisqali is already taking market share from Pfizer's Ibrance in metastatic breast cancer. Merck's Keytruda is also being watched for what benefits it could offer early-stage lung cancer patients .

☆ As South Carolina governor signs new law, abortion restrictions strain providers in U.S. South
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The South Carolina House of Representatives is called back by Gov. "This is a great day for life in South Carolina, but the fight is not over. We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenges and are confident we will succeed," Republican South Carolina Gov. The new law signed by South Carolina governor's will change that status, according to Caitlin Myers, an economics professor at Middlebury College. Over the past two months, Republican officials in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida have pushed Virginia closer to being a regional outlier as a place with relatively permissive access.

☆ Americans hate tipping so much it was once banned in 7 states
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

By the 1700's, tipping in Europe had evolved from masters tipping servants to customers tipping service-industry workers. Seven states passed anti-tipping legislation in the early 1900sBy the early 1900s, early grumblings about tipping had escalated into full-fledged anti-tipping movements. But in 1919, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the state's anti-tipping law was unconstitutional, and other states followed by striking down or repealing their own similar legislation. Tipping persists in the US todayDespite originating in Europe, tipping has become deeply ingrained in American culture. Today, while many Americans aren't fans of tipping, and some restaurants have tried doing away with the practice, tipping is unlikely to be banned anywhere in the US anytime soon.

☆ HPV vaccine: Some studies say one and done might be better
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The HPV vaccine protects against the strains that cause most HPV-related cancers. But not every country has the same vaccination options, which is part of the reason WHO has been pushing to change the way doctors give the HPV vaccine. A one-and-done approach to the HPV vaccine could be a huge help around the world, experts say. But she’d also like more people to get the HPV vaccine. So I think that’s really, really important,” Abraham said.

[1/4] Military officers assist a person on a dinghy after heavy rains hit Italy's Emilia Romagna region, in Faenza, Italy, May 18. "Climate change is here and we are living the consequences. Last July, an ice avalanche in the Italian Alps killed 11 people following a heatwave that exacerbated the worst drought that Italy has suffered for at least 70 years. "A climate change adaptation policy that goes beyond how to handle emergencies and considers the effects of ordinary planning is increasingly urgent," it said in a statement. Italy's national civil protection agency estimates that 94% of the country's municipalities are prone to natural disasters - making it inconceivable to protect everyone from the dangers of climate change.

☆ Opinion | The Decade That Cannot Be Deleted
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Pamela Paul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

It would seem impossible to forget or minimize the Cultural Revolution in China, which lasted from 1966 to 1976, resulted in an estimated 1.6 million to two million deaths and scarred a generation and its descendants. The movement, which under Mao Zedong’s leadership sought to purge Chinese society of all remaining non-Communist elements, upended nearly every hallowed institution and custom. The Chinese government has never been particularly eager to preserve the memory of that sordid decade. When I spent six weeks traveling in China in 1994 — a slightly more open time in the country — I encountered few public acknowledgments of the Cultural Revolution. “When you’ve had a collective trauma, you really need a collective response,” Branigan told me recently.

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and federal and state regulators attended the session in February, according to a statement from the health ministry that did not mention cough syrups. A source with knowledge of the matter said the policy change could mean increased oversight of India's $41 billion pharmaceutical industry, which is the world's largest supplier of generic medicines. Increased testing of cough syrups as well as of raw materials for drugs in general is one of the steps being considered, said the source. India has acted against a second Indian company whose cough syrups were linked to the deaths of 19 kids in Uzbekistan, including the arrest of three of its employees. Indian health officials have expressed concern that the incidents of contaminated syrups will harm its pharmaceutical industry.

☆ Drug Shortages Near an All-Time High, Leading to Rationing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Christina Jewett | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Society of Gynecologic Oncology sent out a nationwide survey in recent weeks. In response, doctors in 35 states said they had little to no supply of key chemotherapy drugs, even at large cancer centers and teaching hospitals. “Our patients are in a war, and what we’re doing is we’re taking their weapons away,” Dr. Timmins said. Dr. Kevin Schulman, a professor at Stanford Medicine who has studied the generic drug industry, said he had urged the White House team to examine how much power the intermediary companies have in contracting with generic drug makers. He said they demand rock-bottom prices, but unlike a customer-facing company like Apple that contracts with suppliers worldwide, the drug intermediaries face no accountability when shortages arise.

☆ Stellantis: Brexit deal must change or UK car factories will close
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

British car factories will be forced to close with the loss of thousands of jobs if the government does not renegotiate its Brexit trade deal immediately, automaker Stellantis warned on Wednesday. “If the cost of EV manufacturing in the UK becomes uncompetitive and unsustainable, operations will close,” Stellantis said in a submission to a House of Commons committee examining the prospects for Britain’s electric vehicle industry. It’s 800,000 jobs in the UK, which is basically those jobs associated with the car industry,” said Palmer, who is also chairman of European battery manufacturer InoBat. Britain has drawn electric vehicle investment from Nissan (NSANF) and Ford (F), while other big players are still weighing up where to invest. Stellantis had announced a 100 million pound ($126 million) electric vehicle investment in its Ellesmere Port site in 2021.

☆ This biotech stock could yield 33% upside ahead of cancer trial data, Wells Fargo says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Wells Fargo expects upcoming results from Novocure's LUNAR trial to be a catalyst for the stock. Novocure shares were gaining 3.5% on the back of the Wells Fargo upgrade, which lifted the stock's rating to overweight from equal weight. Analyst Larry Biegelsen also set a new price target of $104 per share, which represents 33% upside from Monday's closing price of $78.38. The LUNAR trial studied the efficacy of combining tumor treating fields, which target tumors with electrical frequencies, with more traditional therapies, including immunotherapies, to treat non-small cell lung cancer. NVCR YTD mountain Novocure stock could yield as much as 33% upside ahead of cancer treatment study data, Wells Fargo says.

☆ North Carolina lawmakers to vote on overriding veto of 12-week abortion ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Julia Harte | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The legislature in early May passed the measure, which would cut the window for most abortions in the state back from 20 weeks. "If just one Republican keeps that promise made to the people, then we can stop this ban," Cooper said. The bill whizzed through the legislature with a party-line vote in fewer than 48 hours, passing the Senate 29-20 and the House 71-46. That would make it more difficult for women from out-of-state to obtain an abortion in North Carolina. Near-total abortion bans have taken effect in 14 states since the U.S. Supreme Court revoked federal abortion rights in June 2022, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights advocacy research group.

☆ Change Brexit deal or watch factories close, carmaker Stellantis warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Kate Holton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

May 16 (Reuters) - British car factories will be forced to close with the loss of thousands of jobs if the government does not renegotiate its Brexit deal immediately, automaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI) warned on Wednesday. "Manufacturers will not continue to invest and (instead will) relocate manufacturing operations outside of UK, as seen with previously established UK manufacturers such as Ford and Mini." Under the trade deal agreed when Britain left the bloc, 45% of the value of an electric vehicle must come from Britain or the EU from 2024 to avoid tariffs. "If you don't have a battery capability in the UK, then those car manufacturers will move to mainland Europe." Britain has drawn electric vehicle investment from Nissan and Ford, while other big players are still weighing up where to invest.

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