Industry Insights Healthcare: 19/09/24
In this week’s insights, we will briefly summarise three of the latest developments in the healthcare industry.
FDA approves updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna designed to target the currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant (an Omicron subvariant). The reformulated vaccines are authorised for individuals aged 12 and older as a single dose. Emergency use authorisation is also granted for children aged 6 months to 11 years. The FDA’s approval precedes the anticipated increase in COVID-19 cases during autumn and winter and emphasises the importance of receiving updated vaccines for better protection.
Brain scans reveal that mindfulness meditation for pain is not a placebo
A recent study published in Biological Psychiatry demonstrates that mindfulness meditation does not rely on the placebo effect to reduce pain; instead, it activates distinct brain mechanisms. Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine used brain imaging to compare the effects of mindfulness meditation, a placebo cream and a ‘sham’ meditation on pain perception in healthy participants. The study found that, while both mindfulness meditation and the placebo cream reduced pain, only mindfulness meditation impacted the neural pain signal (NPS), a specific pattern of brain activity associated with pain processing. The findings suggest that mindfulness meditation directly affects the experience of pain, while the placebo effect operates through a separate mechanism.
Gene therapy may improve sight by 100 times in patients with inherited eye diseases, trial says
A Phase 1/2 clinical trial, co-led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and published in The Lancet, found that gene therapy considerably improved vision in patients with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA1), a rare but devastating inherited condition that causes early childhood blindness. The gene therapy, called ATSN-101, was delivered via injection under the retina to target the gene mutation responsible for LCA1. Interestingly, some patients who received the highest dosage of the therapy experienced a 10,000-fold improvement in sight. These improvements were observed within a month of receiving the therapy and lasted for at least 12 months.
At Elion Medical Communications, we keep up with the latest trends in the healthcare industry. Check out our other Industry Insights posts on LinkedIn or learn more at elion.nz/insights.
