Feds release more RSV vaccines

Apparently there was a secret stockpile of RSV vaccinations, and the CDC has just released more than 77,000 doses to ease the shortage. It seems demand for infant RSV vaccines was higher than expected and people are having trouble getting the shots.

The agencies are also working with manufacturers (to get more doses out there) and with Ob/Gyns (to encourage more women to get the maternal vaccine to protect the kids before they’re even born).

Congress tackles PBMs (again)

Two bills targeting PBMs have passed the House health subcommittee of Energy and Commerce, and both have bipartisan support.

The first, introduced by Georgia’s own Buddy Carter, would fight retroactive DIR fees by having CMS create standards for those fees. I.e., PBMs wouldn’t be able to demand clawbacks later because they dreamed about a talking chicken (or whatever method they currently use).

The second…

… would delink PBM compensation from cost of medications, ban spread pricing and require PBMs to reimburse network pharmacies the same as affiliated pharmacies.

As similar bills are in the Senate, also with wide support, this might actually happen.

A hormone path to liver treatment

Hormone treatment may be about more than just menopause, mood, and fertility. How about adding liver fibrosis to the list?

Those shifty Danes have figured out that a certain type of liver cell, called a stellate cell, is activated in cases of fibrosis, i.e., scar tissue caused by various diseases. Then they found that those stellate cells can be deactivated by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) — an intestinal hormone.

So … like making Kardashians famous, you might create a synthetic VIP. This one would actually be useful, though, keeping those stellate cells at bay and treating the fibrosis without serious side effects. But that, they say, is still years away.

Ecstasy may be coming

Two studies have found that MDMA, when combined with human therapy, can ease the symptoms of PTSD. That in mind, the FDA might approve it for treatment next year.

Interesting notes: 1) If that happens, that would be the first new PTSD medication in more than two decades. B) MDMA has been shown (again, along with therapy) to help with treatment-resistant depression as well, so once the door is open, who knows? iii) Despite all the science showing otherwise, the DEA still considers MDMA to have no medical use. Go figure.

Vitamin D mystery mystery solved

Whether vitamin D supplements can help prevent heart attacks is still unclear. Now, though, researchers from Intermountain Health in Utah say there might be a reason for this uncertainly: Study patients aren’t getting enough to overcome their deficiencies.

Specifically, while the USRDA is 600 to 800 IU of vitamin D as a supplement, “In some cases, patients needed more than 10,000 IU” to reach a level of 40 ng/mL.

“Our findings here show that just giving patients some Vitamin D does not help them achieve optimal levels. If researchers are going to further look at Vitamin D dosing as a possible way to improve heart health, patients need to be given the right doses to reach those ideal levels.”

Cause and effect

Measles vaccination rates have been declining, and what d’ya know, measles cases are skyrocketing around the world. In many places it’s because of a shortage of the vaccine, but in the US, “I don’t wanna^*” exemptions are increasing in kindergartens.

^* “Philosophical objections.” The only large religious sect that doesn’t believe in vaccination is the Christian Science Church, and even it recommends obeying public-health authorities when it comes to vaccination. 

Shocking finding about air travel

University of Texas researchers have concluded — after carefully studying 21 years’ worth of data from more than 915 on-board incidents — that misconduct on airplanes is “predominantly caused by passenger intoxication.”