Trending News Today: Teva Discontinues Development of Drug for Cluster Headaches

Teva announced that it is discontinuing development of its drug fremanezumab (Ajovy) for the treatment of cluster headaches, the company reported. According to a press release, an analysis of a phase 3 study found that the treatment was unlikely to meet the primary endpoint of mean change from baseline in the weekly average number of cluster headache attacks during the 4-week period. Teva continues to explore other uses for fremanezumab, including the treatment of post-traumatic headache, which is currently being studied in a phase 2 trial, according to the company.

Both Rite Aid and Walgreens said they will increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco products at their stores to 21, The Hill reported. According to the article, the move comes as states debate whether to raise the minimum purchasing age for tobacco products to 21 and follow Rite Aid’s decision to remove e-cigarettes and vaping products from its stores. The changes will take effect within 90 days, the article reported.

The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will partially raise payment for high cost chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies administered at certain large hospitals, Reuters reported. According to the article, CMS issued a proposed rule raising its maximum “new technology add-on payment” from 50% of estimated costs to 65%, which would increase reimbursement from $242,450 from the $186,500. However, the proposed payment still falls short of the actual costs, which can be up to $475,000 per treatment, the article reported.