Anger and suspicion fuel big TB outbreak in rural Alabama

February 04, 2016 State officials trying to stamp out a tuberculosis outbreak in the small town of Marion, AL, have resorted to financial incentives to encourage testing and treatment. Despite the alarming spread of the disease—3 deaths, 27 active lung infections, and...

Lawsuits claim insurers unfairly refuse pricey HCV drugs

February 04, 2016 Hepatitis C virus affects 3.5 million Americans, but many insurers refuse to pay for newer, highly effective drugs. Treatment with ledipasvir–sofosbuvir (Harvoni—Gilead Sciences), for instance, costs about $95,000 for a 12-week course. A consumer in...

Urgent care market braces for CVS and Walgreens entry

February 04, 2016 A new report predicts significant growth in the urgent care niche over the next several years, likely with greater participation by community pharmacy chains such as CVS and Walgreens. While neither brand intends to directly enter the business, both...

Metformin may not help neonatal birth weight

February 04, 2016 New research suggests that the diabetes drug metformin may not help obese pregnant women have normal-weight babies. Researchers evaluated 400 obese women (with a body-mass index higher than 35) without diabetes who received metformin 3 g/daily or...