Statins and children

Recent headlines state that statins are safe for children. This comes as a new study is published researching the use of statins in children at risk of the genetic condition familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). Whilst this may be reassuring for some parents, the risk is that a step like this could legitimise the use of statins for children in general as a treatment for childhood obesity.

Judicial review sought over blacklisting of homeopathic treatments

The British Homeopathic Association has announced it will be seeking a judicial review following the recent blacklisting of homeopathic treatments by the NHS. They are calling into question the decision to use now discredited information from the UK’s House of Commons Science and Technology Committee and Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council. In making this decision no consideration appears to have been given to either the cost-effectiveness of such treatments or how they can empower patients to practice more self-care to reduce the burden on a service in crisis.

Germany considers a ban on glyphosate

As efforts in Germany continue to form a new government it’s been reported that a total ban on the use of glyphosate in Germany is on the table as part of the negotiations. This follows the Agriculture Minister’s decision to support the renewal of glyphosate’s licence in the EU for another 5 years. Whether or not the German government is strong enough to push such a ban through, particularly given the merger of pharma giant, Bayer, and Monsanto, remains to be seen.

HPV vaccine in spotlight once more

A new study has shown that antibody levels may begin to decline after 7 years following HPV16/18 vaccination. Designed to consider the efficacy of fewer doses of HPV vaccine in order to reduce costs in emerging economies, the study has also highlighted a reduction in the protection conferred. Already highly controversial due to the number of adverse reactions being experienced this can only raise yet more questions over the continued use of the vaccine. Particularly given that generally, cervical cancer develops over an extremely long-time period making it detectable through regular pap smears, the majority of deaths from cervical cancer are in developing countries with most deaths in the Western world occurring in very elderly women.