“People sometimes make fun of science that sounds stupid and random. Meanwhile, a study of lizard saliva turned into a peptide medication, which was turned into a diabetes medication, which was turned into a GLP1 weight loss drug, that just became the first therapy every approved for … sleep apnea,” notes journalist Derek Thompson.
He links to an article about how the FDA approved use of the weight loss drug Zepbound for a common form of sleep apnea. It’s the first drug authorized to treat the disorder.
The article notes that the FDA just approved “Zepbound for people with obesity and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Millions of Americans have the condition, and many of them also have obesity….When people have obstructive sleep apnea, they struggle to breathe properly during sleep, and can wake up gasping for air. If untreated, obstructive sleep apnea raises the risk for a range of health issues, including cardiovascular problems, diabetes, stroke and dementia.”
In June, two studies found that people who took Zepbound “saw a greater improvement in sleep apnea symptoms, including fewer interruptions in sleep, than those who took a placebo. Eli Lilly funded both studies….The F.D.A.’s decision may place added pressure on insurance companies to cover obesity medications….The question now is whether Medicare will cover Zepbound for people with obstructive sleep apnea. Age raises the risk of developing the condition…The disorder is more common in people over 65 compared with the general population.”
A recently developed cancer vaccine for dogs doubles their survival rate. In trials, personalized cancer vaccines cut the death rates for skin and breast cancer by 40%-50% for certain people. Even if such personalized vaccines save many lives, government regulations may delay them from being used for years. The FDA can take years to approve vaccines, medical tests, and drugs. The FDA didn’t approve a home test for HIV until 24 years after it first received an application. According to an FDA advisory committee, the test held “the potential to prevent the transmission of more than 4,000 new HIV infections in its first year of use alone.” That means thousands of people likely got infected with AIDS as a result of the delay in approving it. At least a hundred thousand people died waiting years for the FDA to approve beta blockers.
A new cancer vaccine triggers a fierce immune response to fight brain cancer.
A child recently was cured of a type of brain cancer that previously always killed kids who had it.
Scientists recently discovered a new antibiotic that can kill drug-resistant bacteria.
Scientists have developed tiny robots made of human cells to repair damaged cells. And “in a major advancement in nanomedicine, Arizona State University scientists…have successfully programmed nanorobots to shrink tumors by cutting off their blood supply.”
