premature births

FDA pulls the only approved drug for preventing premature birth off the market

Sydney Lupkin

The drug had been fast-tracked for approval under the agency's accelerated approval program, and has been available for more than a decade, despite the drugmaker's failure to prove that it works.

This image provided by Covis Pharma shows packaging for the company's Makena medication. The maker of an unproven drug intended to prevent premature births says it will voluntarily remove the product from the U.S. market, after regulators signaled plans to follow through on a long-delayed effort to force it from the market. The announcement late Tuesday, March 7, 2023, from Covis Pharma comes nearly four years after the company’s drug, Makena, failed to show a benefit in helping mothers carry their pregnancies to term.

Health News Florida

Maker of unproven premature-birth drug Makena will pull it from the US market

Associated Press

The removal announcement from Covis Pharma comes roughly four years after Makena failed to show a benefit in helping mothers carry pregnancies to term.

Baby Dorian Bennett arrived two months early and needed neonatal intensive care. Despite having insurance, mom Bisi Bennett and her husband faced a bill of more than $550,000 and were offered an installment payment plan of $45,843 per month for 12 months.

Health News Florida

A hospital offered a payment plan for baby's NICU stay — $45,843 a month for a year

Victoria Knight

After baby Dorian Bennett arrived two months early and spent more than 50 days in the neonatal ICU, his parents received a bill of more than $550,000 — despite having health insurance.

Stress, poverty and lack of health care can lead to premature birth. Rates remain stubbornly high in many states.

NPR Health

Premature Birth Rates Rise Again, But A Few States Are Turning Things Around

Rhitu Chatterjee

Premature birth rates are heading in the wrong direction after nearly a decade of decline. Some states have started to tackle the problem, while others struggle with stubbornly high rates.

Health News Florida

Florida Earns ‘C’ on March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card

John Davis

The rate of babies born premature in Florida and around the nation increased in 2015 according to the recently released March of Dimes Premature Birth...

Health News Florida

Too Many Babies Born Early In Florida

Sammy Mack

The March of Dimes has issued its 2015 report card on early births across the country and Florida gets bad grades for its premature birth rates. The...