Trending News Today: Gilead's Experimental NASH Drug Fails Second Study

Gilead Sciences Inc’s experimental drug selonsertib for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) failed to meet the primary goal of a late-stage study, which is the second failed late-stage trial for the drug, Reuters reported. According to the article, approximately 9.3% of patients treated in the study with an 18-mg dose of selonsertib and 12.1% of patients treated with a lower dose of the drug achieved an improvement in fibrosis by at least 1 stage. However, 13.2% of patients treated with a placebo showed improved fibrosis symptom, the article reported.

A recent study showed that nonpersistance to prophylactic migraine treatment was common among individuals with migraine, The American Journal of Managed Care reported. According to the article, the study evaluated long-term treatment patterns in patients with migraine initiating prophylactic therapy, as well as acute medication use and adverse effects associated with opioids. Overall, the researchers found that persistence of treatment was seen in 9.7% of patients, whereas nonpersistance was observed in 90.3% of patients, the article reported.

The Congressional Budget Office will release a report on single-payer health care next week, The Hill reported. According to the article, the report will not be a formal score, meaning it may not include a specific cost estimate of Medicare for All. However, the report will likely provide a qualitative assessment of how major design issues would affect health care spending, the article reported.