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Medscape
3 days ago
- Business
- Medscape
Tezepelumab Curbs Oral Corticosteroid Use in Severe Asthma
The addition of tezepelumab to standard treatment allowed half the adults with severe asthma to discontinue their use of oral corticosteroids (OCS) after 1 year, according to new data from nearly 300 individuals. Tezepelumab, a human monoclonal antibody, has been associated with reduction in the use of OCS in patients with OCS-dependent asthma, David J. Jackson, MD, professor and clinical director, Guy's Severe Asthma Centre at Guy's Hospital King's College London, London, England, and colleagues wrote in an abstract presented at American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference. Many patients with severe asthma take OCS, but previous research has shown associations between extended OCS use and increased risk for a range of side effects including osteoporosis and fractures, hypertension, and infections, and more strategies are needed to help these patients reduce OCS use, the researchers noted. 'We know prolonged oral corticosteroid use leads to adverse effects, including bone, cardiovascular, metabolic, gastrointestinal and psychiatric disorders, and adrenal insufficiency,' Jackson said in an interview. 'The WAYFINDER trial is a multicenter, open-label, single-arm trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of tezepelumab compared to placebo in severe asthma patients who require maintenance use of OCS alongside their standard treatment,' he said. A previous phase 3 OCS-sparing study known as SOURCE did not meet its primary endpoint, but patients with baseline blood eosinophil counts ≥ 150 cels/μL who received tezepelumab achieved a reduction in daily maintenance OCS (mOCS) dose compared with placebo patients, the researchers wrote in their abstract. 'The WAYFINDER trial was designed to accelerate data collection and specifically address the complexities in the SOURCE trial design that may have contributed to the result of the primary endpoint,' Jackson told Medscape Medical News . The WAYFINDER trial enrolled 298 adults with severe asthma who had received OCS for at least 3 months before starting the study. All participants received 210 mg of subcutaneous tezepelumab every 4 weeks for up to 52 weeks after a 4-week induction period. The co-primary endpoints were the proportion of patients who reduced their daily mOCS to 5 mg/d or less or discontinued OCS without loss of asthma control. A total of 273 patients completed the study; the mean baseline mOCS was 10.8 mg/d, and patients were assessed at 28 weeks and 52 weeks. Overall, 88.9% and 89.9% of patients reduced their mOCS to 5 mg/d or less by week 28 and week 52, respectively, while 32.2% and 50.3% discontinued OCS at these time periods, respectively. In a post hoc analysis, 82.2% of patients whose reason for systemic corticosteroids was related to adrenal insufficiency achieved an mOCS dose of 5 mg/d or less without loss of asthma control at week 52. The study was limited by the open-label design, but the safety profile was consistent with previous studies of tezepelumab, researchers said. A 2023 meta-analysis of safety data on tezepelumab for uncontrolled asthma showed that the most common adverse events were nasopharyngitis, headache, and bronchitis, and most AEs occurred within a month of starting tezepelumab. Rates of serious adverse events were lower in patients receiving tezepelumab than those receiving placebo in a pooled analysis. The standout findings from the study are the clinically meaningful reductions in maintenance OCS use or complete discontinuation achieved with tezepelumab among a broad severe asthma patient population, Jackson told Medscape Medical News . In addition, two thirds of participants remained exacerbation-free despite OCS dose reductions, and the OCS-sparing effect of tezepelumab was observed across pre-specified patient subgroups, including those defined by baseline blood eosinophil counts (BEC), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) level and allergy status, Jackson said. 'These findings reinforce tezepelumab's efficacy in severe asthma as the first and only biologic targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) with demonstrated efficacy for severe asthma patients across phenotypes and irrespective of biomarker levels including BEC, allergic status, and FeNO,' he said. Improving Short-Term Health and Long-Term Wellness 'For people living with severe asthma, achieving stable control and reducing or eliminating reliance on oral corticosteroids is a critical goal, not only for respiratory health but also for long-term well-being,' Jackson told Medscape Medical News . 'By showing the benefit of targeting TSLP at the top of the inflammatory cascade and controlling asthma effectively with tezepelumab, we may be able to reduce these risks from OCS and significantly improve control for patients living with severe asthma,' Jackson said. 'We look forward to sharing a manuscript in the future for the phase 3b WAYFINDER study,' he added. Support for Steroid-Sparing The current study highlights an important population: Patients with asthma who are dependent on OCS, said Sucharita Kher, MD, pulmonologist and vice chair of clinical operations and quality for the Department of Medicine at Tufts Medical Center, in an interview. The endpoint tapering OCS without loss of asthma control is clinically meaningful because of the known side effects of OCS, said Kher, who was not involved in the study. The results were not unexpected, but more details on whether patients with eosinophils below 150 cells/µL also benefitted from tezepelumab would be helpful, Kher noted. The data are exciting because they suggest another option for patients with OCS dependent asthma, said Kher. 'The data also guide clinicians to adopt a strategy to wean patients off OCS when on tezepelumab with the goal of reducing OCS exposure and hence, side effects of prolonged OCS use,' she said. 'We know that OCS have side effects and negative consequences on factors including bone health, blood pressure, and blood sugar control and infection risk,' she added. Potential barriers to expanding the use of tezepelumab for reducing OCS in asthma patients exist at the patient and healthcare systems levels, Kher told Medscape Medical News . Patient-level barriers include cost sharing, worry/hesitancy about injections, lack of specialty access, and patient health literacy, she said. In addition, healthcare system barriers include a lack of knowledge on the part of primary care providers, and even some specialty physicians, of the benefits of biologics for severe asthma, said Kher. Other potential challenges include limited infrastructure in clinician offices, such as trained personnel and staff to navigate prior auth/insurance mandates, pre-authorization barriers, and denials based on tiers by insurance companies, she noted. 'Overcoming the barriers requires a multipronged approach, improving awareness and education for healthcare professionals, improve access to specialty care for patients, and advocacy to reduce the processes for insurance approvals,' Kher said.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. Offshore Oil Production Set To Jump
U.S. energy executives are forecasting a significant increase in offshore oil production under a potential second Trump administration, attributing this to streamlined permitting processes, sustained investments, and technological advancements. The Gulf of Mexico's output is projected to rise from 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) to 2.4 million bpd by 2027, according to estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). While shale oil offers flexibility, its growth is expected to plateau, prompting companies to focus more on offshore drilling. The Trump administration's commitment to expediting oil and gas project approvals on federal lands is anticipated to further bolster offshore activities. BOEM currently manages 2,227 active leases on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), with 469 leases producing as of 2024. In 2023, OCS leases generated over $7 billion in federal revenue and accounted for approximately 14% of total U.S. crude production. Recent BOEM assessments estimate the Gulf holds 29.59 billion barrels of oil and 54.84 trillion cubic feet of gas in technically recoverable, undiscovered fields. A 2023 update added 1.3 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe), marking a 22.6% increase after analyzing more than 37,000 reservoirs across 1,336 fields. In addition to promising geology, deepwater drilling is benefiting from technological advances. Chevron's Anchor project, for example, recently began production at record-breaking pressures of 20,000 psi—a first for the industry and a milestone in deepwater engineering. At the same time, energy companies are deploying AI-driven tools to reduce risk, increase productivity, and optimize maintenance. Companies like BP and Devon Energy are using artificial intelligence for predictive modeling, real-time drilling performance, reservoir analysis, and cost forecasting—giving them a competitive edge in volatile price the appeal of offshore growth, the shift also reflects emerging challenges onshore. The U.S. oil and gas rig count has fallen to its lowest level since November 2021. In the Permian Basin, rig activity is down 11% year-over-year, and fracking activity is showing similar declines. This retreat has forced a strategic recalibration for many operators. Diamondback Energy recently lowered its 2025 capital budget by $400 million, now forecasting $3.4–$3.8 billion in spending. The company also announced it would drop three rigs and one full-time completion crew, revising its full-year production guidance to 857,000–900,000 boe/day, down from an earlier 883,000–909,000 boe/day. Other players, including ConocoPhillips, are also trimming capital expenditure and scaling back completion activity, citing low oil prices and margin pressures. Meanwhile, global market dynamics may complicate the U.S. supply picture. OPEC+ is considering a 411,000 bpd production increase in July, with Saudi Arabia reportedly backing the move to counterbalance repeated quota violations by members such as Kazakhstan. A production hike could suppress oil prices further if global demand fails to keep pace. Still, offshore U.S. production could fill key gaps left by a slowing shale sector. In 2024, federal offshore areas produced 668 million barrels of oil and 700 billion cubic feet of natural gas—figures that are expected to climb as new projects come online and lease activity increases. Analysts note that despite trade disputes and policy shifts, U.S. offshore oil remains globally competitive. Its high-volume, low-decline profile offers a degree of reliability that investors and buyers increasingly value. Even in the face of Chinese tariffs on U.S. LNG, American energy exports continue to expand. Ultimately, the outlook for U.S. oil production—onshore and offshore—will depend on a combination of market prices, regulatory conditions, and geopolitical risk. But for now, the message from the Gulf is clear: offshore is no longer a sideshow. It's where the next wave of U.S. oil growth may be anchored. Diamondback Energy recently lowered its 2025 capital budget by $400 million, now forecasting $3.4–$3.8 billion in spending. The company also announced it would drop three rigs and one full-time completion crew, revising its full-year production guidance to 857,000–900,000 boe/day, down from an earlier 883,000–909,000 boe/day. Other players, including ConocoPhillips, are also trimming capital expenditure and scaling back completion activity, citing low oil prices and margin pressures. Meanwhile, global market dynamics may complicate the U.S. supply picture. OPEC+ is considering a 411,000 bpd production increase in July, with Saudi Arabia reportedly backing the move to counterbalance repeated quota violations by members such as Kazakhstan. A production hike could suppress oil prices further if global demand fails to keep pace. Still, offshore U.S. production could fill key gaps left by a slowing shale sector. In 2024, federal offshore areas produced 668 million barrels of oil and 700 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and those figures are expected to climb as new projects come online and lease activity increases. Analysts note that despite trade disputes and policy shifts, U.S. offshore oil remains globally competitive. Its high-volume, low-decline profile offers a degree of reliability that investors and buyers increasingly value. Even in the face of Chinese tariffs on U.S. LNG, American energy exports continue to expand. Ultimately, the outlook for U.S. oil production (both onshore and offshore) will depend on a combination of market prices, regulatory conditions, and geopolitical risk. But for now, the message from the Gulf is clear: offshore oil has long ceased to be a sideshow. It's where the next wave of U.S. oil growth is likely to come from. By Alex Kimani for More Top Reads From this article on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Glasgow Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Unite secures pay boost for Glasgow Airport workers
Unite confirmed that 60 cleaners and 80 workers who assist passengers with restricted mobility at the airport will receive a five per cent pay increase. The cleaners, employed by ABM, saw their hourly rate rise to £12.70 from April. Night shift pay will also increase to £13.50 an hour, with double time on Christmas and New Year's Day. This marks a 15.5 per cent increase in basic pay over two years for the ABM cleaners. Sharon Graham. general secretary of Unite, said: "Unite has secured more pay wins for our members at Glasgow Airport. "Our members at ABM and OCS have secured a succession of inflation-beating pay increases. "Unite does what it says on the tin, we deliver higher pay and better conditions." Around 80 workers employed by the OCS Group also accepted a five per cent increase in basic pay. This will lift the basic hourly rate to £12.81, and night shift workers will earn £14.29 from April. OCS workers assist passengers with wheelchairs and ambulift vehicles for travellers at the airport. Pat McIlvogue, regional industrial officer at Unite, said: "The wage wins for ABM and OCS workers at Glasgow Airport will deliver improvements across the board for our members. "We have worked hard to deliver significant boosts to the pay packets of workers and these wins represent further progress for Unite."
France 24
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
Eurovision triggers betting interest surge
"Eurovision has quietly become one of the biggest betting events of the year," said Tomi Huttunen, senior manager of the Online Computer Finland (OCS) betting and casino platform. Betting sites have long been used to gauge which way voters might be leaning ahead of the world's biggest televised live music event. But bookmakers highlight a huge increase in engagement in recent years -- and this year in particular. "We've already passed 2023's total activity and we're not even at the final yet," Huttunen told AFP by email on Friday. "If this trajectory holds, we're on track to see a record-breaking Eurovision in terms of betting volume." On the OCS platform, "Eurovision ranks as the number one non-sporting event for betting -- and in some cases it's outperforming smaller sports competitions entirely". 'Reacting in real time' Sweden, represented by Finnish comedy act KAJ, has been pegged by bookmakers as the runaway favourite this year, putting Sweden on course to win a record-breaking eighth Eurovision. Their quirky number "Bara Bada Bastu" about sweating it out in a sauna, is "already odds-on (10/11) to win, which is incredibly rare", Alex Apati, spokesman for the British Ladbrokes betting chain, told AFP. OCS said its search data showed a 57 percent spike in betting-related searches just on Sweden. Austria's JJ has meanwhile been gaining traction for his operatic ballad "Wasted Love", with his odds shortening to 9/4 and search volume increasing 44 percent over the past weekend, OCS said. Bookmakers have France's Louane, with her ballad "Maman", in third position with a 10 percent shot at the title. She is followed by "C'est la vie" by Claude of the Netherlands, and Finland's leather-clad Erika Vikman and her "Ich Komme" song about falling into the trance of lust. Thursday's second semi-final, meanwhile, "definitely stirred things up", Huttunen said, pointing to "a noticeable spike in bets on Armenia" and also a "surge of interest in Ukraine". "It's clear viewers are reacting in real time." 'Interesting angles' For Ladbrokes, the UK's act is "the most popular pick in our book in terms of bets placed", Apati said in an email. "But at odds of 66/1, they're incredibly unlikely to win this year," he said. "They're actually considerably more likely to finish with zero points (12/1), or in last place (3/1), than they are to win it." The betting interest meanwhile spreads far beyond simply trying to pick the winner. "There's a lot of interest in the top five," Apati said. "This is because Sweden are priced so short, punters are looking for value elsewhere." "When the favourites are heavily tipped, savvy betters start looking for more interesting angles," agreed Huttunen. Bookmakers have received bets on anything from the top performer within a specific region, like the Baltics or Nordic countries, to the winning performance language. The language aspect is particularly interesting, Huttunen said, "since it taps into the cultural and emotional side of Eurovision, especially as more countries embrace native-language entries again". After Eurovision removed the requirement for countries to perform in their native languages from 1999, most acts began performing in English. But there has been an increasing shift back towards native language songs, with this year's contest boasting artists performing in 20 different languages. High volumes of bets on that and other aspects show a "depth of engagement (that) tells us that fans aren't just watching for entertainment", Huttunen said. "Eurovision has evolved into an event that's every bit as dynamic as traditional sport and betters are treating it that way."
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Warrant issued for arrest of Tipperary man who threatened Tesco guard
Security guard James McCauley told Judge Brian O'Shea that he was on duty on August 22, 2024, in Tesco Shopping Centre, Cahir Road, Cashel, when he saw William Harty enter the store. Mr Harty, of 7 Oliver Plunkett Park, Cashel, Co Tipperary, was barred from the store for a previous incident. Mr McCauley said he approached Mr Harty and said: 'William, you are not allowed in.' Harty 'kind of muttered' and walked on. Mr McCauley again asked Harty to 'please leave' or he would call the gardaí. Mr Harty responded, 'I don't give a f**k about the guards,' and kept walking. Mr McCauley again asked him to leave. Harty said he didn't give 'two f**ks' about the gardaí, as he made his way to the exit. Mr Harty told the security guard, 'I will knock your head off your f**king shoulders.' Mr McCauley said he is employed by private security firm OCS, who provide security for Tesco in Cashel. He said he knew who Mr Harty was, as he had been pointed out to him a few times. Harty had caused problems in the past and staff were told to 'keep an eye on him', he said. At one stage during the incident, Mr Harty said 'f**k' the gardaí and took a step towards Mr McCauley. Garda Patrick Bourke later charged Harty with using threatening, abusive, or insulting behaviour in a public place, contrary to Section 6 of the Public Order Act. Judge O'Shea said he found the facts proven and issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Mr Harty in relation to sentencing.
