FDA Panel: "Living Drug" Approval Recommened For Leukemia Treatment

A Food and Drug Administration panel unanimously recommended approval for a treatment that "genetically alters a patient's own cells to fight leukemia," turning them into what is being called "a living drug" to help stop the disease, according to The New York Times ("F.D.A. Panel Recommends Approval for Gene-Altering Leukemia Treatment"). The recommendation came down Wednesday and is likely to be accepted by the F.D.A.

The treatment, which will be the "the first gene therapy ever to reach the market," is expected to be followed by other gene therapies. Novartis is expected to be the first to drug company to market a "living drug" with its treatment for a type of leukemia. Drug companies and researchers "have been engaged in intense competition for decades to reach this milestone."

To read the Times article in its entirety, click here.

Sen. Marco Rubio Supports Bare-Bones Health Care

A just-released GOP health care bill that would "allow insurers to sell bare-bones policies that do not meet standards of the Affordable Care Act" has the support of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

In a Facebook Live address, Rubio said that “People should have the right to buy the kind of insurance they want at a price they can afford. Not everyone wants or needs the same kind of insurance,” according to The Tampa Bay Times ("Rubio on board with plan to offer bare-bones health care policies"). Rubio added, “Why can’t you just insure against a serious illness or a bad accident but allow primary care or something else to either be covered by a separate but limited policy or through a health savings account or if you have enough money, out of pocket.”

Click here to read the Times blog post in its entirety.