Ottawa – Health Canada has authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant for individuals six months of age and older. Health Canada received Pfizer-BioNTech’s submission on June 29, 2023. After a thorough and independent review of the evidence, Health Canada has determined that the vaccine meets the Department’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements. …
Ottawa – Canada is facing an unrelenting and tragic toxic drug and overdose crisis that has left no community untouched. Family members, friends, and neighbours are losing their lives to one of the most serious public health crises in our country’s history. The national data release on opioid and stimulant-related harms tells us that this crisis continues. According to the latest …
Ottawa – Palliative care is a critical part of Canada’s health care system as it helps improve the quality of life for as long as possible. For many that means care at home or in the communities where they live. In 2022, more than half of Canadians received palliative care before the end of their lives. The Government of Canada …
KIRKLAND – The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recently provided a strong recommendation for PREVNAR 20 for the following adult populations who have not been previously immunized with a pneumococcal vaccine or whose vaccination status is unknown: Adults ≥65 years of age Adults 50-64 years of age living with risk factors placing them at higher risk of pneumococcal disease. …
Boston – Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, has completed a definitive purchase and licence agreement for a portfolio of preclinical rare disease gene therapy programmes and enabling technologies from Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer). These new resources build on the combined capabilities of Alexion and AstraZeneca in genomic medicine, with the objective to develop new genetic therapies with improved safety and efficacy profiles. …
First Phase III results in breast cancer for AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s datopotamab deruxtecan Plans for global regulatory submissions underway Positive high-level results from the TROPION-Breast01 Phase III trial showed datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement for the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) compared to investigator’s choice of chemotherapy in patients with inoperable or …
Ottawa – According to data from Public Health Ontario, case numbers have been climbing since hitting a low point in early July. For the first full week of September, Ontario saw roughly 12 cases per 100,000 people. That’s up from the roughly three cases per 100,000 people at the low point in July, but still a far cry from the …
Ottawa – Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is having a substantial and growing impact in Canada and around the world. According to the latest national data, almost 474,000 people aged 65 and older have been diagnosed with dementia in Canada. Of those living with dementia, two-thirds are women. The number of Canadians living with dementia more than doubled in the last …
Current recommendations An updated Covid-19 vaccine has been approved by Health Canada and will be available for use. Covid-19 vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness, death and post Covid-19 condition (long Covid). Starting in fall 2023, it’s recommended that you get an updated Covid-19 vaccine dose if it’s been at least 6 months: since your last Covid-19 vaccine dose …
Kerala – Nipah virus can kill as many as three out of four people it infects. Since the fruit bat that carries the virus often comes into contact with humans, here we explain why the development of drugs and vaccines for the disease is becoming increasingly more urgent. Nipah virus can kill as many as three in four people it …
