Weekend ICYMI: August 12 to August 16

First FDA-Approved Digital Therapeutic to Treat Depression Now Available in App Stores

Silhouette of depressed indivual / tadamichi - stock.adobe.com

The first digital therapeutic to receive FDA approval for the treatment of major depressive disorder is now available for download from mobile application stores, according to a news release.1 Rejoyn, which was developed by Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Click Therapeutics, is accessible only with a prescription from a health care provider. Patients with a prescription can receive an access code from BlinkRx, a digital pharmacy that is the exclusive provider of the therapeutic program.

As Fall Allergy Season Approaches, Encourage Patients to Begin Medicating Today

August may be the height of summer, but for those living with allergies, it’s also time to start thinking about managing fall allergy symptoms. Although many associate the spring season with red itchy eyes, runny noses, and sneezing, pollen from ragweed—the most common culprit for fall allergies—“wreaks havoc” in the late summer and fall, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI). “If you suffer from fall allergies, you should be thinking now, in mid-August, about starting the medications you normally take to treat symptoms,” said Gailen Marshall, MD, PhD, ACAAI president, in a news release.

FDA Grants Marketing Authorization to First-Ever OTC Syphilis Test

The FDA granted marketing authorization to NOWDiagnostics for its First To Know Syphilis Test, the first at-home, OTC test to detect Treponema pallidum (syphilis) antibodies in human blood. Requiring just a drop of blood, the rapid test delivers results in approximately 15 minutes and can help individuals make informed decisions about seeking further care for the sexually transmitted infection.

Despite Success of Vaccines for Children Program, Disparities Persist

The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is 1 of the nation’s primary health platforms created to promote health equity through vaccination. Since its inception in 1994, it is estimated to have prevented 508 million illnesses, 1,129,000 deaths, and saved nearly $2.7 trillion in societal costs among children born between 1994 and 2023. But despite its success, disparities exist in coverage among VFC-eligible children compared with non-VFC-eligible children. To address these inequities, the CDC analyzed vaccination trends among the 2 groups and identified opportunities to boost protection.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa Treatment Shows Positive Results in Phase 3 Trial

Positive results have been announced from a global phase 3 trial that’s evaluating the safety and efficacy of izokibep for the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa in adults. Data from the phase 3 trial (NCT05905783) showed that izokibep met its primary endpoint of a Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR) 75 at 12 weeks. The therapy also met its key secondary endpoints of HiSCR90 and HiSCR100.

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