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Friday, July 13, 2012

Shots - Health News

Generic Drugs Make Dent In Global AIDS Pandemic

Generic antiretroviral drugs have made treatment widely available for people like Marie Lourdes Pierre (left), a patient with HIV/AIDS in Haiti.

July 13, 2012 Making generic drugs available through a U.S. AIDS relief fund has opened access to HIV treatment for millions of people around the world, a study finds.

Summary

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Shots - Health News

When Does An App Need FDA's Blessing?

Pedometer, an app, keeps track of your steps, distance traveled and calories burned.

July 10, 2012 There's been an explosion in apps designed to help people stay healthy and manage chronic diseases. The Food and Drug Administration has announced plans to regulate some of these apps to make sure they're not putting patients at risk. But that's triggered a debate over whether government regulation may end up doing more harm than good.

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On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Shots - Health News

Picking The Right Shades: How To Protect Your Peepers

Brazilian shoppers try on sunglasses at a store in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in March.

July 4, 2012 Besides damaging your skin, the summer sun's ultraviolet rays can also hurt your eyes. Over time, exposure to UV rays can can raise the risk for cataracts and other eye problems. Take care by wearing proper sunglasses.

Summary

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

The Two-Way

Over-The-Counter, At-Home HIV Test Gets FDA's OK

July 3, 2012 In another bid to stop the spread of the HIV virus that can lead to AIDS, the Food and Drug Administration has approved for sale the first over-the-counter, self-administered HIV test kit that doesn't need to be sent to a laboratory.

Summary

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Shots - Health News

FDA Approves First New Weight-Loss Drug In More Than A Decade

Belviq, the first new prescription drug in years to help people lose weight, is expected to be available in four to six months.

June 28, 2012 The Food and Drug Administration gave the green light to Belviq, a twice-a-day pill that suppresses appetite and appears to affect metabolism by influencing levels of the brain chemical serotonin. The agency had previously rejected the drug over concerns about safety.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Monday, June 18, 2012

Shots - Health News

Consumers Stuck With Murky Sunscreen Labels Another Summer

Which one of these sunscreens would be considered safe and correctly labeled by the Food and Drug Administration? Not a single one. Safe sunscreens are SPF15 or higher, and the new rules require those with broad-spectrum protection to include the term next to and in the same style as the sun protection factor.

June 18, 2012 Consumers who were expecting the Food and Drug Administration's new requirements for sunscreen labels to be implemented this month will have to wait. The agency has given sunscreen manufacturers until December to catch up to the mandate for clearer information on labels.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Salt

FDA Rules Corn Syrup Can't Change Its Name To Corn Sugar

A sweetener by any other name ...

May 30, 2012 The FDA ruled that changing the name high fructose corn syrup to "corn sugar" would cause confusion. Makers of corn syrup say their product has unfairly received a bad rap and had asked the agency to allow the change almost two years ago.

Summary

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Shots - Health News

Counterfeiters Exploit Shortage To Market Fake Adderall Pills

If the label of ingredients on the Adderall pack says "singel entity," that's a tip-off for trouble.

May 29, 2012 The FDA says fake Adderall pills are easy to spot: They're white instead of peachy-pink; and the packaging of the counterfeit pills is riddled with typos and misspellings — "aspartrte" instead of "aspartate," and "singel" instead of "single."

Summary

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Salt

Judge Sours On POM Wonderful's Erectile Dysfunction And Heart Disease Claims

POM products

May 22, 2012 A federal judge says POM Wonderful violated the law by making claims that led people to believe the juice could treat, prevent or reduce the risk of certain diseases. But the company is claiming victory because it will not have to clear its future marketing plans with the FDA.

Summary

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Shots - Health News

FDA Delays Sunscreen Label Redo

Alivia Parker, 21 months at the time, ran through circles of spraying water on a hot day in Montgomery, Ala., last June. She was wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 100, a rating that won't be allowed much longer.

May 16, 2012 Almost a year ago, the Food and Drug Administration proposed a slew of new rules to make the labels of sunscreens more helpful and realistic. To avert summer shortages, the agency has delayed implementation until December for most companies.

Summary

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Salt

FDA Launches Voluntary Plan To Reduce Use Of Antibiotics In Animals

The FDA's latest effort to end the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animals is getting mixed reviews from activists.

April 11, 2012 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it will collaborate with the livestock industry to reduce the use of antibiotics in animal feed. But activists say a voluntary approach won't go nearly far enough to protect human health.

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On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

Wednesday, April 04, 2012

Shots - Health News

More Fake Cancer Drugs Turn Up In The U.S.

The FDA says so far it hasn't gotten any reports of patients receiving the fake Altuzan.

April 4, 2012 U.S. medical practices bought counterfeit medicine labeled as Altuzan from a foreign supplier, the FDA says. Altuzan, which is the Turkish brand name for the blockbuster drug Avastin, is approved for use in Turkey but not in this country.

Summary

Friday, March 09, 2012

Shots - Health News

FDA: Skin-Lightening Creams Pose Mercury Threat

One of the creams the Food and Drug Administration said contains mercury, a toxin that is an illegal ingredient.

March 9, 2012 Some skin-lightening cosmetics contain dangerous amounts of mercury, the FDA warned consumers. Though illegal to sell in the U.S., the foreign-made products are popular in communities where fair skin is considered a mark of beauty.

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Wednesday, March 07, 2012

The Salt

Inhalable Caffeine Maker Gets Warning Letter From FDA

A woman holds an AeroShot inhalable caffeine device in Boston.

March 7, 2012 When the inhalable caffeine product, known as AeroShot, hit college campus stores back in January, it caused a buzz, not all of it euphoric. Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned the company that makes it about the labeling and safety of its product.

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Shots - Health News

FDA Scientists Feel A Little Better About Where They Work

A survey of scientists at the Food and Drug Administration finds they're feeling more optimistic about the integrity of decisions made at headquarters (seen here) and elsewhere in the agency.

March 7, 2012 Scientists at the Food and Drug Administration are feeling more optimistic about the future of their agency than they were back in 2006, according to a survey just out from the Union of Concerned Scientists. But they still report concerns about outside pressures on the agency's decisions and policies.

Summary

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