The FDA last week dropped the emergency use authorization requirement that patients have positive test results before prescribing of the antiviral products ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) and molnupiravir (Lagevrio). People with known recent exposure and COVID-19 symptoms sometimes test negative, FDA said. While the agency continues to recommend testing, these agents can now be prescribed without prior testing for patients who report mild-to-moderate symptoms of COVID-19 and are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
In reaching a $1.5 million settlement, the Federal Trade Commission is took aim “at prescription drug coupon site GoodRx … in an early attempt to crack down on the unfettered sharing of consumers’ health data for advertising,” Stat reports. “In issuing its GoodRx ruling, the FTC seemed to signal its intention to continue digging in on health data. The agency also issued a blog post laying out what similar companies should take away from the GoodRx settlement. ‘If sensitive health data is part of your business, understand that you’ve upped the ante on ensuring its security and privacy,’ the FTC warned. ‘Like a truck hauling flammable material on the highway, companies that collect sensitive consumer data should exercise particular caution.’” GoodRx released a statement saying it no longer uses a Facebook Javascript tracking pixel that was at issue in the FTC complaint. Still, it added this advertising tracking pixel is commonly used on many websites, including those operated by the U.S. Government, insurance companies, and hospitals.