Alva neighbors brace for another development battlePresident Trump signs Executive Order aimed at expanding access to IVF
ALVA Alva neighbors brace for another development battle Alva neighbors have made an urgent call to action to “Defend Alva and North River Road from overdevelopment.”
WINK NEWS President Trump signs Executive Order aimed at expanding access to IVF President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Tuesday to try to reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans.
Warm and breezy afternoon with scattered rain this evening The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday, and scattered rain is expected this evening.
WINK NEWS Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
SANIBEL Sanibel Church rebuilds after Hurricane Ian The Sanibel Community Church has completed its remarkable rebuild after Hurricane Ian devastated their place of worship over two years ago.
NAPLES Costco construction causes commotion in Collier County community Costco is eyeing a plot of land in Collier County for a new store, but residents are voicing strong opposition.
NAPLES Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho’s impact on education and Southwest Florida Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho, a beloved philanthropist and advocate for education, dedicated his life to empowering others through opportunity and knowledge.
SANIBEL Sanibel cracks down on school zone speeders with new camera system Sanibel is tightening its grip on school zone speeders with newly installed cameras.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers food pantry expands efforts with Harry Chapin support The Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers plays a crucial role in supporting smaller food banks in the area.
Fort Myers Beach Pier scheduled to be finished a year ahead of schedule The Fort Myers Beach Pier remains a symbol of the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian two years ago. Efforts to rebuild it has taken a lot of time.
FORT MYERS Iconic Fort Myers statue to undergo repairs The iconic “Rachel at the Well” statue on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers has been a landmark for 94 years. However, it became a casualty of Hurricane Ian in 2022, and discussions for its repair are ongoing.
Salvation Army Thrift Store closing its doors in Collier County The Salvation Army has announced the permanent closure of the Naples Family Store on Davis Boulevard.
SANIBEL Rebuilding the Sanibel Causeway with a cause Construction crews are hard at work making the Sanibel Causeway more resilient. The bridge is being fortified to withstand future storms.
LEE COUNTY No. 2 prospect in MLB Roman Anthony with Red Sox for Spring Training Roman Anthony, who is ranked as the second best in baseball, is with the Boston Red Sox for his first Spring Training.
MANASOTA KEY Popular Manasota Key restaurant reopens after storm damage Manasota Key is steadily recovering from a challenging hurricane season, and residents are celebrating the reopening of a beloved local spot.
ALVA Alva neighbors brace for another development battle Alva neighbors have made an urgent call to action to “Defend Alva and North River Road from overdevelopment.”
WINK NEWS President Trump signs Executive Order aimed at expanding access to IVF President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Tuesday to try to reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans.
Warm and breezy afternoon with scattered rain this evening The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday, and scattered rain is expected this evening.
WINK NEWS Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
SANIBEL Sanibel Church rebuilds after Hurricane Ian The Sanibel Community Church has completed its remarkable rebuild after Hurricane Ian devastated their place of worship over two years ago.
NAPLES Costco construction causes commotion in Collier County community Costco is eyeing a plot of land in Collier County for a new store, but residents are voicing strong opposition.
NAPLES Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho’s impact on education and Southwest Florida Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho, a beloved philanthropist and advocate for education, dedicated his life to empowering others through opportunity and knowledge.
SANIBEL Sanibel cracks down on school zone speeders with new camera system Sanibel is tightening its grip on school zone speeders with newly installed cameras.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers food pantry expands efforts with Harry Chapin support The Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers plays a crucial role in supporting smaller food banks in the area.
Fort Myers Beach Pier scheduled to be finished a year ahead of schedule The Fort Myers Beach Pier remains a symbol of the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian two years ago. Efforts to rebuild it has taken a lot of time.
FORT MYERS Iconic Fort Myers statue to undergo repairs The iconic “Rachel at the Well” statue on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers has been a landmark for 94 years. However, it became a casualty of Hurricane Ian in 2022, and discussions for its repair are ongoing.
Salvation Army Thrift Store closing its doors in Collier County The Salvation Army has announced the permanent closure of the Naples Family Store on Davis Boulevard.
SANIBEL Rebuilding the Sanibel Causeway with a cause Construction crews are hard at work making the Sanibel Causeway more resilient. The bridge is being fortified to withstand future storms.
LEE COUNTY No. 2 prospect in MLB Roman Anthony with Red Sox for Spring Training Roman Anthony, who is ranked as the second best in baseball, is with the Boston Red Sox for his first Spring Training.
MANASOTA KEY Popular Manasota Key restaurant reopens after storm damage Manasota Key is steadily recovering from a challenging hurricane season, and residents are celebrating the reopening of a beloved local spot.
MGN WASHINGTON (AP) – The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a first-of-a-kind drug that lowers artery-clogging cholesterol more than older drugs that have been prescribed for decades. The drug from Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. offers an important new option for millions of patients at high risk of heart disease. But the drug’s sky-high price tag – $14,600 per year – is certain to escalate debate about the cost of breakthrough drugs and who should take them. Praluent is the first in a new class of biotech medications that use a novel approach to lower bad, or LDL, cholesterol. The drugs are considered the first major advance in treatment since the introduction of statin drugs more than 20 years ago, and analysts expect them to generate billions in sales. But the prospect of introducing highly-expensive, injectable drugs for one of the most common medical conditions is drawing concerns from health insurers, doctors and employers. Especially since generic statin pills are now available for as little as a dime a day. More than 73 million U.S. adults, or nearly one-third, have high LDL cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those patients have twice the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. The FDA approved Praluent for two groups of patients at highest risk of heart problems: – patients with abnormally high LDL cholesterol caused by an inherited condition – patients with high LDL cholesterol and a history of heart attack, stroke, chest pain and related conditions Sanofi estimates those groups account for 8 to 10 million patients in the U.S. The drug’s $40-a-day price is even higher than many analyst predictions, which centered on $10,000 per year. In an interview Friday, Sanofi executive Dr. Jay Edelberg said the $14,600-a-year price reflects the “value to the health care system and the value to individual patients.” He noted that estimated costs for a patient who has suffered a heart attack or similar cardiovascular problem range from $50,000 to $119,000 over 1 year. But experts say more data is needed to establish if Praluent’s cholesterol-lowering ability actually translates into fewer heart problems and deaths. Sanofi and Regeneron are conducting an 18,000-patient study to answer that question, but it won’t be complete until 2017. Until then, many experts say new drugs like Praluent should be limited to the highest risk patients. “What we know so far is that they reduce cholesterol really well, but what we’re not sure about is whether they actually reduce someone’s risk,” said Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a Yale University cardiologist. “I think the wisest thing is to be cautious about their use and reserve them for people who have no other choice.” An estimated 6.3 million U.S. patients cannot control their LDL levels with statins alone, according to medical surveys. And another 3.3 million are thought to be unable to tolerate statins due to side effects, but there are no formal criteria to identify these patients. As such, experts say more research is needed to define the group. “I think we need to be clear what qualifies for statin intolerance,” Dr. Neil Stone, a cardiologist at Northwestern University, said. “What moves you from an inexpensive, generic statin to a very expensive new drug that doesn’t have near the track record of the statin?” The FDA is scheduled to rule on a similar drug from Amgen by Aug. 27. Pfizer’s entry into the field is expected to launch in 2018 or later. All three drugs lower low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol more powerfully and in a different way than statins. They block a substance called PCSK9, which interferes with the liver’s ability to remove cholesterol from the blood. Adding the new drugs to older statins reduces LDL cholesterol by about 40 percent to 60 percent. Statins alone generally lower levels of the wax-like substance by about 25 to 35 percent. Statistical analyses published earlier this year suggest patients taking PCSK9 drugs have half the risk of dying or suffering a heart problem as patients receiving statins or older drugs. But definitive studies are still ongoing. For now, several factors could limit use of the drugs. They must be self-injected by patients, with Praluent dosed every two weeks. Also their price is expected to face pushback from insurers and other companies that manage drug expenses. Pharmacy benefit manager, CVS Caremark, has warned that if 10 million U.S. patients ultimately take PCSK9 drugs it could result in well over $100 billion in new drug spending. “The one thing you can say for sure is that these medications are going to add substantially to the overall cost of health care,” said Troyen Brennan, CVS’ chief medical officer. But analyst predictions for the drugs are more modest, at least initially. Credit Suisse analyst Vamil Divan estimates sales for the entire class – including drugs from Amgen and Pfizer – will reach $10 billion by 2019. Pharmaceutical research firm GlobalData projects global sales of $17.8 billion by 2023.