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01 / 05
FDA Approves Merck’s Drug for Rare, Deadly Lung Condition

CNBC | Sickness & Disease

FDA Approves Merck’s Drug for Rare, Deadly Lung Condition

“The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved a drug from Merck designed to treat a progressive and life-threatening lung condition in a win for both the drugmaker and for patients suffering from the rare disease.

The agency greenlighted the therapy, which will be marketed as Winrevair, for adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension. The decision is a big step for the roughly 40,000 people in the U.S. living with that disease because Winrevair is the first drug to target the root cause of the condition. Other available medicines only help manage symptoms.”

From CNBC.

New Atlas | Noncommunicable Disease

US Approves “Milestone” Parkinson’s Treatment for 2025 Release

“Americans will soon have access to an infusion device that provides round-the-clock effective relief of Parkinson’s disease. The US FDA this week approved the sale of the treatment, which harnesses innovative technology to make managing the condition easier and more impactful, will be available towards the end of 2025.

The treatment, which will be sold under the name Onapgo, is essentially a subcutaneous – under the skin – device that allows for continuous infusion of the dopamine agonist apomorphine hydrochloride to reduce ‘off’ episodes. These episodes are periods during the day and night when lepodova medication wears off between doses and adverse motor-function symptoms (dyskensia) become amplified. In trial, Onapgo – formerly known as SPN-830 – significantly reduced these daily off episodes by an average of 2.47 hours, compared to the placebo treatment (0.58 hours).”

From New Atlas.

World Health Organization | Communicable Disease

Guinea Eliminates Sleeping Sickness

“The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Guinea for eliminating the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis as a public health problem. This form of human African trypanosomiasis, the only type transmitted in Guinea, is the first neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in the country…

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by infected tsetse flies. Symptoms include fever, headaches, joint pain and, in advanced stages, neurological symptoms like confusion, disrupted sleep patterns and behavioural changes.”

From World Health Organization.

World Health Organization | Noncommunicable Disease

Niger Becomes First African Country Free of River Blindness

“Congratulations to Niger – the country has been verified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating transmission of onchocerciasis.

This is a historic milestone in the history of global health achievements of Africa. Niger is the first country in Africa to be declared free of onchocerciasis, a parasitic disease caused by the Onchocerca volvulus worm, transmitted through the bites of infected black flies.

Niger has been significantly impacted by this disease, affecting communities primarily along riverbanks of fast-flowing rivers where these flies breed, hence the disease is also known as river blindness…

When onchocerciasis was widespread in West Africa, communities near rivers experienced higher rates of infection. Consequently, millions of people left these regions, often giving up farming on family land. Those who remained suffered severe symptoms such as blindness or incessant itching, which greatly limited their productivity.”

From World Health Organization.