According to the CDC, approximately six million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, but access to experimental, potentially life-saving drugs is limited. For impacted veterans, the Veterans Health Administration is looking for ways to provide that access.
Last year, Biogen, in partnership with Japanese drug company Eisai, announced that the drug called Leqembi showed promise in slowing cognitive decline in Alzaheimer's patients by 27 percent. The VHA announced it will shell out more than $26,000 annually for each veteran on Leqembi. If the FDA grants a full approval by July 6, Medicare and Medicaid services said it would immediately provide broad coverage of the drug to customers.
The experimental treatment received Accelerated Approval by the Food and Drug administration earlier this year. The specific pathway to approval had been introduced by the agency to provide speedier clearance on drugs that treat serious conditions.
Last month the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services declined to provide unrestricted coverage of the drug because "there is not yet evidence meeting the criteria for reconsideration."
"This standard differs from the criteria used by the FDA to assess whether medications are safe and effective. We are aware that additional publications may be forthcoming that include information relevant to the questions included in the current NCD," the agency added in its statement.
Roughly 25% of people in the U.S. live with air pollution that could shorten their lives, according to a report from the American Lung Association.
Earth Day is in just a few days, and Shelley Rogers, who coordinates a fashion initiative for Earthday.org, stopped by the Cheddar News studios to showcase some clothing options for environmentally-conscious shoppers.
Earth Day is in just a few days, and Shelley Rogers, who coordinates a fashion initiative for Earthday.org, stopped by the Cheddar News studios to showcase some clothing options for environmentally-conscious shoppers.
How Salt Caves Can Boost Health and Wellness
A T-Rex skeleton that was assembled from nearly 300 bones dug up in the U.S. was sold at an auction in Zurich, Switzerland for over $5 million.
How Incorporating Resistance Bands Can Diversify Workout Sessions
A giant Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton that’s been dug up from three sites in the United States is going up for auction in Zurich. It's a first sale of its kind in Europe.
As the inaugural guest on Cheddar News' new show Be Well, Dr. Sandra Lee, also known as Dr. Pimple Popper, discussed when (and when not) to pop a pimple and how to take care of your skin and keep an eye out for signs of more dangerous issues such as cancer.
Moderna and Merck & Co. have developed a cancer vaccine that cuts the risk of death or recurrence of most deadly skin cancer by 44 percent compared to Keytruda on its own, according to researchers.
The company got the OK on Friday from the Federal Aviation Administration. CEO Elon Musk is giving 50-50 odds of Starship reaching orbit.
