Trending News Today: Emergent BioSolutions to Acquire Narcan Maker Adapt Pharma

The CDC has found that STD rates increased for the fourth year in a row, hitting a new record high in the United States, NPR reported. According to the article, the CDC reported nearly 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in 2017, which is an increase of 200,000 cases over the previous year. Chlamydia remained the most common sexually transmitted disease, with more than 1.7 million reported cases, the article stated. According to health officials, gonorrhea cases increased 67% between 2013 and 2017, and syphilis increased by 76% over those 4 years.

Emergent BioSolutions is acquiring Adapt Pharma, the maker of the opioid overdose antidote Narcan, in a $735 million deal, Bloomberg reported. According to the article, Emergent said the deal will expand the use of the nasal spray while maintaining its affordability and raising awareness of naloxone. The deal is expected to generate annual revenue as much as $220 million in 2019, the article reported.

A new study indicated that nearly 1 in 5 American children use at least 1 prescription medication, and 1 in 13 take more than 1 prescription drug, Reuters reported. According to the article, the researchers analyzed medication use of 23,179 children and adolescents who were participants in the larger ongoing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among children taking more than 1 medication, the researchers found that 1 in 12 is at risk of a harmful drug interaction, the article reported.