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Managed Healthcare Executive •

Analyzing the Effectiveness of Laser Therapy in Dental Pain Relief

Intraoral laser therapy may not provide long lasting pain relief after root canal treatments (RCT) according to a recently published systematic review and meta-analysis. Photodynamic therapy and laser disinfection provide short-term pain relief in the early postoperative period, but its long-term benefits in pain relief are less clear and require further research.The review published in October in Nature Scientific Reports evaluated existing literature to determine the overall effectiveness of l...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

Ethical Considerations of Friedreich’s Ataxia Treatment

A recently published article in the International Journal for Equity in Health investigated the current and emerging treatment strategies available to Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) patients and the ethical issues they raise. Faith A.A. Kwa and Evie Kendal, Ph.D., of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, said they were examining FRDA as an example “to explore some of the practical and ethical issues emerging in precision medicine for rare diseases.”Kwa and Kendal take up the et...
Citeline •

US Drug Pricing And Reimbursement Trends 2025

As the pharmaceutical industry readies itself to navigate the complexities of 2025, US pricing trends reveal a landscape shaped by regulatory and legislative changes, innovative pricing models, and the ongoing impact of inflation.

As the pharmaceutical industry readies itself to navigate the complexities of 2025, US pricing trends reveal a landscape shaped by regulatory and legislative changes, innovative pricing models, and the ongoing impact of inflation.
WebMD •

Andrew Cox, PharmD, MBA

Andrew Cox, PharmD, MBA, has over 12 years of experience encompassing client account management, medical affairs, pharmacy benefit management, and managed care. His expertise lies in Medicare D, Medicaid, and commercial formulary management, focusing on autoimmunity, hepatology, oncology, and neuroscience therapeutics. Cox has authored numerous articles and presentations across various therapeutic areas, including oncology, infectious disease, and hepatology. Cox is a dynamic clinical pharmacist...
AntiCancer360.com •

Can “Vitamin B-17” Really Help Treat Cancer? What the Research Says

Medical Disclaimer: The information in this article is meant for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace a healthcare provider’s medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a healthcare practitioner before taking any new medications. 
When faced with a serious illness like cancer, it’s natural for individuals to seek out alternative treatment methods in addition to conventional medical interventions. Many products are promoted as “all-natural” cancer treatments. It can be c...
AntiCancer360.com •

Does This Supplement Have A “K(NAC)K” For Beating Cancer? Exploring The Potential Benefits Of N-Acetylcysteine For Cancer

Medical Disclaimer: The information in this article is meant for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace a healthcare provider’s medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a healthcare practitioner before taking any new medications or dietary supplements. 
When it comes to fighting cancer, people are always looking for more effective and safer treatments. By leveraging popular integrative approaches that involve adding natural substances (supplements), honing your nutritio...
AntiCancer360.com •

Bromocriptine: A Potential Treatment Option for Cancer Patients

Medical Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a healthcare provider. Please consult a healthcare practitioner before starting any new medications. 
Cancer is a devastating disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Although traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation have been effective, they often come with significant side effects. As a result, research...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

A Gender Difference in Acute Pain

A recent study from the University of California (UC) San Diego School of Medicine highlighted significant sex-based differences in pain processing, revealing that pain medication is less effective in women compared with men. The findings, published in the journal PNAS Nexus, were from two clinical trials that had 98 participants, 51 females and 47 males, some of whom were healthy while others suffered from chronic low back pain.Previous preclinical and clinical work had established a prepondera...
WebMD •

Dabigatran (Pradaxa): Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing - WebMD

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use dabigatran.Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific dabigatran products they stock.Active Bleeding Problems. Dabigatran should not be used if you have active bleeding, such as bleeding of the brain, stomach, or intestines.  Mechanical Heart Valves. Dabigatran should not be used if you have a mechanical prosthetic valve.  Do not take dabigatran unless it has been prescribed to you b...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

Wearable Devices Help Assess Friedreich's Ataxia Severity Better Than In-Clinic Assessments

Sensor derived metrics demonstrated accurate measurements of disease severity and motor dysfunction in Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) according to a study published in Communications Medicine. Furthermore, incorporation of the metrics into machine learning models improved predictions of disease severity.FRDA is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of coordination and movement due to frataxin protein deficiency. Traditional clinical assessments, such as the modified Friedrei...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

A Promising Candidate for Friedreich's Ataxia

This past August, Larimar Therapeutics delivered a presentation highlighting their drug candidate, nomlabofusp (CTI-1601), positive initial early clinical trial results, and the company’s clinical strategy, including the FDA approval process and FDA START Pilot Program.Nomlabofusp works by correcting the frataxin deficiency commonly observed in FRDA patients.The recombinant fusion protein is designed for mitochondrial uptake where frataxin is expressed. Nomlabofusp contains a specific cell-penet...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

Positive Pipeline Updates for Friedreich’s Ataxia

PTC Therapeutics reported recent advance in the development of vatiquinone, a drug aimed at treating Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), a rare degenerative disease that affects the nervous system. Coming off of clinical trial setbacks in 2023, PTC Therapeutics reported promising long-term data that showed a significant reduction in disease progression as measured by the modified Friedreich ataxia Rating Scale (mFARS).In two long-term extension studies that were clinically and statistically significant...
WebMD •

Valacyclovir (Valtrex): Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing - WebMD

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take valacyclovir.Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific valacyclovir products they stock.Do not take valacyclovir unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.Do not share valacyclovir with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.Valacyclovir is not a cure for cold sores, genital herpes, chickenpox, or shing...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

Pacira BioSciences Receives CMS Approval for Exparel J-Code

With the NOPAIN Act mandate to go into effect at the beginning of next year, Pacira BioSciences recently announced that CMS granted a new product specific Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System J-Code for Exparel (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension). Should Exparel be administered in an office setting or for office-based surgeries, the J-Code enables separate reimbursement.J-codes are specific codes for reimbursing Medicare Part B drugs, such as Exparel, by commercial insurance plans,...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

Pain Specialists Not High on Improving Access to Medicinal Cannabis

Research reveals differences between physicians and adults suffering from chronic pain in levels of support for cannabis access, signifying implications for policymaking and healthcare practices regarding cannabis use. Results from the survey were published this past September 2024 in JAMA Network Open. The survey captured the attitudes of two key groups about cannabis policies and expanding access to cannabis for chronic pain management in states with active medical cannabis programs.Elizabeth...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

Of Mice, Muscles, Older Adults and RSV

As the global population ages, respiratory viral infections have become a significant health concern, leading to severe morbidity and increased mortality in this demographic. Skeletal muscle loss is ordinarily a feature of aging and age-related health conditions. However, in the setting of severe respiratory infections, susceptible older adults experience faster muscle deterioration. But the mechanisms contributing to accelerated muscle loss are not well established.Using an aged mice model, res...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

How Do Skeletal Muscle Relaxants Fit Into Pain Management?

Centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxers (SMRs) include drugs as a baclofen, sold under the brand names Gablofen and Loresal; carisoprodol, sold under the name Soma; and metaxalone, sold under the name Metaxall. Long-term use of SMRs may provide relief for certain pain syndromes according to a recent systematic review published in JAMA Network Open. Those who suffer from painful spasms, cramps, and neck pain may benefit. With increasing concerns over opioid prescriptions and their associated r...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

Arexvy and Abrysvo Potentially Cost-Effective in Older Adults

A recent study has found that the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for adults aged 60 years and older are likely to be cost-effective in preventing various health complications associated with the virus, including illness, hospitalizations, loss of quality of life, and fatalities. This investigation highlighted the potential benefits of RSV vaccination, suggesting that the vaccines could provide both individual and societal cost savings.Led by researchers at the University of Michigan'...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

RSV Vaccine Keeps Older People Out of the Hospital

A study published in JAMA earlier this months found the RSV vaccine to be 75% effective in preventing hospitalizations due to RSV-associated illness. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported findings to support the ongoing risk-benefit analysis of RSV vaccines for older adults.Prelicensure randomized trials did not assess vaccine efficacy against RSV-associated hospitalization nor did they include immunocompromised patients and underrepresented groups at risk...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

Insights into Emerging Technologies in Pain Medicine

Pain medicine is on the cusp of a transformative era driven by a convergence of innovative technologies and novel treatment strategies. An article from the Journal of Pain Research, various emerging modalities, including virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), wearable medical technology, and psychedelics, are reshaping how chronic pain is perceived and managed.Christopher Robinson, M.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and co...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

Early Genetic Testing Avoids Treatment Delays for Patients with Friedreich Ataxia

Speakers during a symposium at The European Association of Neurology Congress called attention to delays in diagnosis and treatment of patients with Friedreich ataxia (FDRA), a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder and the most common hereditary ataxia.Held in Finland in July 2024, the symposium was led by speakers Mathieu Anheim, M.D, Ph.D., professor of neurology at University Hospital of Strasbourg, and Jörg Schulz, M.D., professor of neurology at RWTH Aachen University Hospital. They ur...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

Corticosteroids May Prove Beneficial in Treating Neuropathy

Corticosteroids may prove to be an effective treatment for peripheral neuropathies, according to a systematic review published in Frontiers in Neurology. The review of steroid use in peripheral nerve pathologies and treatment aimed to synthesize the current findings regarding the role of corticosteroids in the management of peripheral nerve injuries and disorders.Given the widespread use of corticosteroids in various medical conditions and their established anti-inflammatory properties, Brendan...
Managed Healthcare Executive •

Telomere Length May Be a Helpful Biomarker in Friedreich Ataxia Patients

Telomeres are short nucleotide sequences at the end of chromosomes that protect genetic information. They have been analogized to the tips of shoelaces, called aglets, that keep the laces from fraying. Inflammation and increased levels of oxidative stress can affect telomere length, and several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and spinocerebellar ataxias have characteristic telomere shortening, often resulting from immune system insult and oxidative...
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