Dr. Richard Pazdur Appointed to Lead FDA’s Drug Division After Turbulent Year

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has appointed one of its most respected cancer drug regulators to lead the agency’s main division for approving new drugs.

The appointment of Dr. Richard Pazdur comes after a turbulent year with hundreds of staff departures within the agency.

Pazdur, who has been with FDA for 26 years...

New Merck Pill Cuts 'Bad' Cholesterol by 60%, Potentially Replacing Injections

A new pill from Merck could change how millions of people treat high cholesterol and help prevent heart attacks and strokes without the need for injections.

The drug, called enlicitide, slashes levels of harmful LDL cholesterol by up to 60%, similar to injectable PCSK9 drugs already on the market. 

The pill blocks a liver protei...

Heart Health Impact Of Food Deserts Can Be Blunted By Healthy Grocery Deliveries, Study Says

Black adults living in food deserts can beat high blood pressure, with a little help.

Folks living in an area with few grocery stores had a greater reduction in blood pressure if they participated in a program that home-delivered healthy eats, researchers recently reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

...

Ultra-Processed Foods Linked To Diabetes Risk In Young Adults

Chowing down on ultra-processed foods – fast food, packaged snacks, heat-and-eat meals – increases young adults’ risk of health problems that contribute to diabetes, a new study warns.

An increase in ultra-processed food intake is associated with a higher risk of prediabetes, in which early-stage high blood sugar can lead...

Headaches Affect Almost a Third of People Worldwide

Do you have regular migraine headaches? If so, you’ve got a lot of company.

Nearly 1 in every 3 people worldwide suffer from a headache disorder, affecting almost 3 billion people, researchers will report in the December issue of The Lancet Neurology.

It’s especially bad for women, who experience more than double...

High Blood Pressure Rates Double Among Children & Teens

The rate of kids and teens with high blood pressure worldwide nearly doubled over the past two decades, according to a startling new report.

In 2020, more than 6% of children and adolescents under 19 had high blood pressure, up from around 3% in 2000, researchers reported Nov. 12 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

...