Gendered impacts of disease outbreaks! Policies and public health efforts have not addressed the gendered impacts of disease outbreaks. The response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appears no different. We are not aware of any gender analysis of the outbreak by global health institutions or governments in affected countries or in preparedness phases. Recognising the…
Include women in Clinical Trials!
The EIWH was recently invited to provide content for a guest blog by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) The subject chosen by the EIWH was: “The inclusion of women in clinical trials.” You can read this article at the following link. Including Women in Clinical Trials
Vaccination reduces illness in children!
Vaccination reduces illness in children A recent study shows that the UK’s vaccination programme against group B meningococcal disease (MenB) has reduced cases of meningitis and septicaemia in young children by almost two-thirds. The UK was the first country to offer this new vaccine against MenB in 2015 and since then approximately 90% of infants…
Guide on biosimilars for healthcare professionals
EMA published the information guide on biosimilars for healthcare professionals in 15 additional EU languages. It now includes Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Greek, Estonian, Finnish, Croatian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Maltese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian and Swedish. These educational materials on biosimilar, and link to the Q&A for patients, can be found on EMA’s webpage on biosimilar medicines…
Strep B Awareness Month
PRESS RELEASE In Recognition of Strep B Awareness Month, the European Institute of Women’s Health calls on key stakeholders and citizens of Europe to eliminate preventable Group B Strep transmission to infants 19 July 2017—July is International Group B Strep Awareness Month. This year’s theme, “What if we had known…?” promotes awareness raising of Group…
Use in pregnancy and women of childbearing age of valproate
Review of valproate use in pregnancy and women of childbearing age EMA to consider risks of these medicines require further restrictions of use The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has started a review looking at the use of valproate containing medicines in the treatment of women and girls who are pregnant or of childbearing age. These…
Final guidance for treating neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)
Guidance issued by NICE (England) for treating neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) Final guidance recommending everolimus (Infinitor, Novartis) and sunitinib (Sutent, Pfizer) to treat neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). The drugs are recommended as an option for pancreatic NETs that cannot be operated on and have progressed. Everolimus is also recommended as an option for those with NETs of…
Potential of E-health to increase vaccination coverage
Report shows potential of E-health to increase vaccination. Twenty one EU/EEA countries have developed or are developing systems to digitally record information about vaccination, according to a new “ECDC survey report on immunisation information systems implementation and system characteristics”. 14 of these countries already have a system in place, whereas innovative systems are being piloted…
Ixekizumab for treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
Today NICE, England published final draft guidance recommending Ixekizumab for treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The draft guidance can be found here Ixekizumab is recommended as an option for treating plaque psoriasis in adults, only if: the disease is severe, as defined by a total Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) of 10 or…

Tests to identify gastrointestinal pathogens
Final guidance: tests identifying gastrointestinal pathogens Tests for people with suspected gastroenteritis Part of NICE’s diagnostics assessment programme, it does not recommend multiplex polymerase chain reaction tests (xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel – Luminex; FilmArray Gastrointestinal Panel – BioFire Diagnostics; Faecal Pathogens B assay – AusDiagnostics) for routine use in the NHS in England. The tests…