Pharmacologist and President of The People’s Pharmacy, Joe Graedon, discusses Authorized Generics, what they are and the difference between Authorized Generics, generics, and brand name medications. He talks about who might benefit from and how to access Authorized Generics.
INTERVIEWS
Quest Diagnostics – Illicit Drug Use and COVID-19
Dr. Harvey Kaufman, Senior Medical Director and head of the Health Trends™ Research Program at Quest Diagnostics discusses a recent study of the skyrocketing increase in the use of heroin and fentanyl as well as dangerous drug combining during the onset of the pandemic. He talks about how the decrease in urine drug testing at the onset of pandemic has contributed to the disturbing increase in addiction and fatal overdoses and what could be contributing to these trends, including the impact that the prolonged delay in elective care has had on the substance use disorders and recovery community.
Exaggerated Animal Study Results
Dr. Jarrod Bailey, Director of Science and Technology at the Center for Contemporary Sciences discusses a new peer-reviewed report in “BMJ – Open Science” that illustrates the exaggerated results of biomedical studies using animals.The report looked at 27 examples of animal research that were highly publicized in the UK national media in 1995, and which were claimed to provide a “breakthrough” for human health. Each study was followed up more than 20 years later to determine if any actual human benefit had transpired. Only 1 out of the 27 animal studies reviewed for the report resulted in actual benefit to humans.
STELARA® Phase 3 UNIFI Study – Ulcerative Colitis
Returning guest, Dr. William Sandborn, Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at UC San Diego Health, discusses recent data from the Phase 3 UNIFI study evaluating the safety and efficacy of Janssen’s STELARA® (ustekinumab) as a maintenance therapy in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who previously failed biologic or conventional therapy. The long-term extension study out to two years, includes an abstract showing the effect of treatment on stool frequency and rectal bleeding. These data were presented at the 2020 American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Meeting.
Dental Practices and COVID-19
Returning guest, Julie Charlestein, President, CEO, and fourth-generation leader of Premier Dental discusses the challenges facing dentists as they re-enter the care dynamic in the COVID-19 era and ways in which she’s revamped her family’s business to continue to make a difference during a time of challenge for the dental market.
Abbott – DISTINCT Trial for Chronic Low Back Pain
Dr. Allen Burton, MD, Medical Director at Abbott Neuromodulation, discusses the DISTINCT trial (Dorsal spInal cord STImulatioN vs mediCal management for the Treatment of low back pain) that will investigate the effectiveness of Abbott’s BurstDRTM spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in patients with chronic low back pain that have not had any surgeries and where other therapies have been unsuccessful or not an option.
Cala Health – Cala Trio™ Non-Invasive Non-Drug Therapy Treatment for Essential Tremor
Kate Rosenbluth, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Cala Health discusses the impact of patients living with essential tremors (ET). She talks about the inner workings of the Cala Trio™, a new, wrist-worn bioelectronic device, that is the only non-invasive, non-drug therapy that goes directly to the source of tremor by delivering advanced targeted therapy that safely and effectively reduces hand tremors. This new approach harnesses the advances in neuroscience, nerve excitation, and electronics miniaturization and decades of neuromodulation experience to improve care for patients with ET.
Study Finds Possible Breakthrough in Treating Incurable Neurological Conditions
Dr. Benjamin Segal, co-director of the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center’s Neurological Institute discusses study findings published in the journal “Nature Immunology” (26 Oct 2020) that showed a novel type of immune cell not only prevents further damage of the central nervous system, but also reverses damage and restores function. Researchers hope this discovery will lead to new therapeutic breakthroughs as well as previously unheard of recovery for those with neurological diseases and injuries such as ALS, multiple sclerosis, stroke, or a traumatic brain or spine injury.
Air Force Optimal Nutrition and Peak Performance Study
Matt Kuchan, PhD, Research Fellow and discovery scientist in Research and Development, the global brain health platform and science lead for Abbott’s partnership with the Center for Nutrition Learning and Memory at the University of Illinois discusses a new study published in “Scientific Reports” (19 Oct 2020) that confirms that proper nutrition not only fuels our bodies and improves fitness, but also provides a mental edge. Researchers from the U.S. Air Force, University of Illinois and Abbott found that airmen who consumed a high-protein nutrition drink with specific ingredients to target muscle and cognitive function were able to improve working memory and reaction time, increase muscle mass, and lower resting heart rate.
Regenerative Medicine – Ovarian Rejuvenation Therapy
Dr. David Knight, Medical Director of Demeter Regeneration in Sydney, Australia discusses the field of regenerative medicine which uses the body’s own cells and tissues to heal itself. Unlike traditional medicine, regenerative medicine harnesses cells and tissues, by utilising gene therapy, to enable the body to regenerate and, in effect, heal itself. This includes Ovarian Rejuvenation Therapy (ORT) technique which is revolutionising the fertility industry. ORT is giving infertile and menopausal women the chance to conceive using their own eggs and in a recent Australian first, an infertile woman gave birth after undergoing the breakthrough fertility treatment last year.