Each week we highlight five things affecting the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
FDA rule allowing gay and bisexual men to donate blood indicates positive change
- In 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated its guidelines to allow gay and bisexual men to donate blood, focusing on individual risk assessments rather than sexual orientation.
- Early evidence indicates that the policy has successfully increased the blood supply and reduced stigmatization, while maintaining the safety of the blood donation process, reports ABC News.
Connected health solutions to account for a fifth of pharma revenue
- A Capgemini report predicts that connected health solutions—programs in telehealth, remote care, and disease and lifestyle management—could generate over 20% of pharmaceutical revenue within the next five years, driven by a sixfold increase in market-ready products since 2021.
- Per TechInformed, while 92% of UK organizations are developing connected health roadmaps, only about a third have achieved maturity in adoption, highlighting the need for improved data management and security measures.
Overweight patients feel misunderstood by pharma ads, according to survey
- A survey by Phreesia and Klick Health found that many overweight or obese patients do not find pharmaceutical ads for weight-management products relatable or informative.
- Fewer than 20% of those with lower body mass index trust pharma ads, with many respondents indicating these ads fail to accurately represent their experiences or needs, reports Fierce Pharma.
FDA approves adult pneumococcal vaccine
- The FDA approved Merck’s 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for preventing invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia in adults, covering strains responsible for 84% of these diseases.
- Per BioSpace, Capvaxive includes eight unique serotypes not targeted by existing vaccines, with approval based on the Phase III study showing superior immune responses for 10 serotypes compared to a 20-valent comparator.
CDC prepares bird flu tests amid concerns of repeating COVID-19 missteps
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has prepared one million bird flu tests, but experts worry the lack of widespread surveillance and data sharing could lead to repeated mistakes, similar to what was encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Per Fierce Biotech, scientists emphasize the importance of proactive measures and transparency to effectively manage and mitigate the potential outbreak.
For more insights in life sciences, check out RSM’s industry outlook.
