Health
Utah mom fights for her daughter’s access to discontinued diabetes medication: ‘Life-saving'
A Utah mother is fighting for her teenage daughter’s access to diabetes medicine.
Ruby Smart, 15, has been taking Levemir (detemir) insulin since she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes more than two years ago.
“Levemir is uniquely suited to her situation,” Alison Smart, the girl’s mother, told Fox News Digital in an interview.
The family was stunned when Novo Nordisk, the Denmark-based manufacturer of Levemir, announced in November 2023 that the drug was being discontinued.
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Smart has now made it her mission to convince Novo Nordisk to continue making Levemir — or to find a pharmaceutical company to create a biosimilar (generic) alternative.
Levemir is a long-acting basal insulin that’s injected once or twice a day to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes, according to Novo Nordisk’s website.
Utah mother Alison Smart (in green sweater, pictured with Ruby Smart, age 15) is fighting for her teenage daughter’s access to diabetes medicine. (Alison Smart/iStock)
For Smart’s daughter, an active athlete who plays on the tennis team at Woods Cross High School, Levemir has enabled her to continue with her regular activities while controlling her diabetes.
While there are a couple of other types of basal insulin on the market, Smart said Levemir is best suited to her daughter’s needs.
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“Levemir is unique in that it is a relatively shorter-acting basal insulin, making it ideal for those with fluctuating basal insulin needs, including teenagers, menstruating women, pregnant women and athletes,” she said.
“The two remaining insulins also have side effects we don’t worry about when using Levemir.”
“She’s super active and plays tennis almost every day,” Smart said of her daughter, pictured here. “The pump was fine for daily activity, but for tennis tournament days, it didn’t work.” (Alison Smart)
They did try an insulin pump for a few weeks, which is a wearable device that provides a steady flow of insulin to the body. But Smart said it was not compatible with her daughter’s high activity levels.
“She’s super active, and plays tennis almost every day,” Smart said. “The pump was fine for daily activity, but for tennis tournament days, it didn’t work.”
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Smart is advocating for people to be able to choose.
“The bottom line is that Levemir works for us,” she said. “Our lives are much easier and less complex on a regimen of multiple daily injections using Levemir insulin.”
Reasons for discontinuation
Novo Nordisk provided three main reasons for why it’s discontinuing Levenir.
“After careful consideration, we made this decision because of global manufacturing issues, decreasing patient coverage, and because we are confident that patients in the U.S. will be able to find alternative treatments,” the company said in a press release.
Novo Nordisk announced in Nov. 2023 that Levemir would be discontinued. “During this time, we strongly encourage that health care professionals and patients discuss transitioning to alternative treatment options prior to the discontinuation date,” the company said in a statement. (LISELOTTE SABROE/Scanpix Denmark/AFP)
When contacted by Fox News Digital, Novo Nordisk provided the following recommendation to doctors and patients.
“During this time, we strongly encourage that health care professionals and patients discuss transitioning to alternative treatment options prior to the discontinuation date. Novo Nordisk, along with other companies, provides a number of alternative treatment options for people living with diabetes who require basal insulin.”
The company suggested that patients switch to other basal insulin options, including but not limited to Basaglar, Insulin Degludec, Insulin Glargine U-300, Lantus, Rezvoglar, Semglee, Toujeo and Tresiba.
“The other options for basal insulin are not equal and are not sufficient — they have different side effects and different qualities.”
Many parents, however, say these alternatives are not the same.
“The other options for basal insulin are not equal and are not sufficient — they have different side effects and different qualities,” Smart told Fox News Digital.
“They’re not as flexible, and not as easy to use with someone who has varying basal insulin needs, like a teenager.”
Alison Smart, far right, is pictured with two other parents of teens with type 1 diabetes in Washington, D.C. (Alison Smart)
Other parents are also concerned about being forced to switch medications.
Jaime Losinski, a mother in Tampa, Florida, has a 14-year-old son with type 1 diabetes. He’s been taking Levemir for years.
“Levemir is a valuable insulin for children and teens, who have ever-changing insulin needs as they grow,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“Levemir’s action profile makes it perfect for patients who need to make rapid and continual changes,” she went on.
“An insulin such as Lantus or Tresiba, which the industry tells us to ‘just switch to,’ lasts far too long in the system for someone like him and would be dangerous overnight,” she said. “They also come with side effects, all of which he experienced when we tried them both shortly after his diagnosis seven years ago.”
Smart teamed up with other parents to form the Alliance to Protect Insulin Choice. She has also visited Washington, D.C., twice to meet with senators and congressional representatives. (Alison Smart)
Although Levemir is expected to be available until Dec. 2024, Smart said providers have warned her to “expect supply disruption” in the meantime.
Some insurance companies have already stopped coverage of the drug due to the discontinuation.
Smart received a letter from her insurance company in November saying Levemir would not be on her plan any longer. They later agreed to add it back on — but only if she paid a premium.
‘Not as cut and dry as it might seem’
Erin Palinski-Wade, a certified diabetes educator in New Jersey, said the discontinuation of Levemir is “understandably surprising and frustrating” for patients who rely on this brand of insulin.
“Although there are other forms of long-acting insulin on the market, each has its own slight differences, such as peak times, which can have a significant impact on blood glucose management during the day,” she told Fox News Digital.
“For children and teens, there may be greater fluctuations in blood sugar.”
“Transitioning from one brand of insulin to another is not as cut and dry as it might seem, and can lead to periods of high blood sugar or hypoglycemia episodes (dangerously low blood sugars) as the adjustment occurs,” Palinski-Wade added.
For parents who rely on Levemir, the expert recommended working with a physician, endocrinologist and/or dietitian to create the “best transition plan possible” to minimize fluctuations in blood sugar while finding an alternative that works best.
“Levemir is a valuable insulin for children and teens, who have ever-changing insulin needs as they grow,” a mother said. (iStock)
When transitioning to a new insulin, increased testing of glucose levels is needed to prevent and correct highs and lows as they occur, Palinski-Wade noted.
“This is especially important for children and teens, as there may be greater fluctuations in blood sugar due to activity, growth and hormone fluctuations,” she said.
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Tanya Freirich, a certified diabetes educator in New York City working as The Lupus Dietitian, agreed that the closest replacement in terms of duration of action is Lantus (insulin glargine).
“One of the differences is the peak time,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Lantus peaks [or lowers the blood sugar the most] at six hours after administration, while Levemir peaks at eight to 10 hours after administration. This difference would affect the appropriate timing for the medication to prevent dangerous blood sugar lows.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, said he is also disappointed by the news of the discontinuation. (Fox News)
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, said he is also disappointed by the news of the discontinuation.
“It is based on supply chain and production issues rather than a problem with the product,” he told Fox News Digital.
“We definitely need biosimilar versions to replace it,” he said. “It can be life-saving.”
“It is based on supply chain and production issues rather than a problem with the product.”
“Some patients really need a version of insulin and Levemir may be their best option.”
Although Levemir is “very similar” to Lantus, Siegel said, it has two important differences: “It causes less weight gain and less hypoglycemia (low glucose).”
Advocating for access
After Novo Nordisk’s November announcement of the discontinuation, Smart sprung into action.
She set up an online petition and began contacting the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization.
“This drug is on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines,” she said. “I just couldn’t wrap my head around the possibility of this happening and people not being as outraged as I was.”
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Smart also teamed up with other parents to form the Alliance to Protect Insulin Choice. She has visited Washington, D.C., twice to meet with senators and congressional representatives.
“Our goal is to have Novo Nordisk slow down the discontinuation, and produce Levemir insulin for a few years until a biosimilar is widely available,” she said.
“We would like to find a biosimilar manufacturer to make this insulin, so it stays available.”
An insulin pump, a wearable device that provides a steady flow of insulin to the body, was not compatible with her daughter’s high activity levels, said Smart of Utah. (iStock)
While Smart recognizes that the medication may not be available “forever,” she aims to slow down the discontinuation and keep Levemir available for a few more years — “because it will take that long to get a biosimilar up and running.”
Smart’s efforts have also caught the attention of billionaire Mark Cuban, who expressed his willingness to partner with Novo Nordisk to continue producing Levemir.
When contacted by Fox News Digital, Cuban said that his pharmaceutical company, CostPlus Drug Company, is “trying to figure out a way to source [Levemir].”
“We aren’t there yet, but we are trying,” he said.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
Health
6 things to know about pancreatic cancer after former senator’s diagnosis
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Former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska announced this week that he has been diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 pancreatic cancer, calling the disease “a death sentence” in a message posted on X.
Sasse, 53, said the cancer has spread and acknowledged that he has “less time than I’d prefer,” although he also mentioned recent scientific advances and his intention to pursue treatment.
“I’m not going down without a fight,” Sasse said when revealing his diagnosis. “One sub-part of God’s grace is found in the jaw-dropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more.”
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Pancreatic cancer is known to be one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with ongoing research efforts aiming to improve outcomes.
Below are six key things to know about the disease.
No. 1: Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late and is highly deadly
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously aggressive and difficult to treat, according to the American Cancer Society. Most patients are not diagnosed until the disease has already spread to other organs, largely because there aren’t reliable screening tests and early symptoms can be vague or absent.
Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, announced that he has been diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 pancreatic cancer. (Getty Images; iStock)
The ACS estimates that 67,440 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2025, and about 51,980 are expected to die from it. The tumor’s biology creates physical and chemical barriers that reduce the effectiveness of many traditional treatments.
No. 2: New immunotherapies are showing early promise
Researchers at UCLA recently reported progress on an experimental, off-the-shelf, cell-based immunotherapy designed to attack pancreatic cancer.
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In mouse studies, the therapy slowed tumor growth, extended survival and remained effective even after the cancer had spread to other organs, such as the liver and lungs.
The treatment uses special immune cells called natural killer T (NKT) cells, which are genetically modified so they can specifically recognize and attack pancreatic cancer cells.
Early research is exploring new approaches to pancreatic cancer, including experimental immunotherapies and studies of risk factors, but many findings are still in preclinical or observational stages. (iStock)
Unlike personalized therapies, the NKT cells are naturally compatible with different immune systems and can be mass-produced from donor stem cells.
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Researchers estimate that one donor could supply cells for thousands of treatments, with a potential cost of around $5,000 per dose. All testing so far has been done in mice, and human trials have not yet begun.
No. 3: Diet and gut health may affect treatment recovery
Separate research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has suggested that the amino acid cysteine could help the gut heal after cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation.
In mouse studies, cysteine — found in foods like meat, eggs, dairy products, legumes and nuts — helped to regenerate intestinal stem cells that are often damaged during cancer therapy.
Researchers are studying how diet, including nutrients such as cysteine found in high-protein foods, may help support recovery from pancreatic cancer treatments. (iStock)
Additional unpublished research showed benefits after treatment with 5-fluorouracil, a chemotherapy drug used for colon and pancreatic cancers.
Researchers emphasized that human studies are still needed and that cysteine is not a cure for cancer itself.
No. 4: Alcohol and lifestyle factors may raise cancer risk
Recent research published in PLOS Medicine by the International Agency for Research on Cancer found that alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
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The study followed 2.5 million people for about 16 years, finding that each additional 10 grams of ethanol consumed per day was linked to a 3% increase in risk. Higher intake levels were associated with greater risk, particularly with beer and spirits.
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Researchers noted that the study was observational and that more work is needed to understand lifetime drinking patterns.
No. 5: Symptoms are often subtle and easily missed
When symptoms do occur, they can include abdominal pain that spreads to the sides or back, loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss, according to Mayo Clinic.
Some patients develop jaundice — yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes — along with light-colored or floating stools, dark urine and itching.
Common warning signs of pancreatic cancer can include abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite. (iStock)
Other possible signs include a new diagnosis of diabetes (or diabetes that becomes harder to control), pain and swelling in an arm or leg that may be linked to a blood clot, and persistent tiredness or weakness.
Those who are experiencing symptoms should consult with a healthcare professional.
No. 6: Age, genetics and health conditions can raise risk
Pancreatic cancer risk is influenced by a combination of genetic, medical and lifestyle factors.
The disease becomes more likely with age, and men are slightly more susceptible, according to the ACS. Those with a family history or inherited genetic mutation also have a higher risk, as do people with type 2 diabetes, obesity and lack of physical activity.
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Diets high in processed or red meats and low in fruits and vegetables, as well as high alcohol consumption, may also contribute to pancreatic cancer risk, along with some occupational chemical exposures, per multiple cancer agencies.
Experts note, however, that many people are diagnosed with the disease despite having no clear risk factors.
Deirdre Bardolf, Ashley J. DiMella, Alex Nitzberg and Angelica Stabile, all of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.
Health
New Wegovy pill offers needle-free weight loss — but may not work for everyone
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The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S.
The Wegovy pill, from drugmaker Novo Nordisk, was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce excess body weight, maintain long-term weight reduction and lower the risk of major cardiovascular events.
Approval of the once-daily 25mg semaglutide pill was based on the results of two clinical trials — the OASIS trial program and the SELECT trial.
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The Wegovy pill demonstrated a mean weight loss of 16.6% in the OASIS 4 trial among adults who were obese or overweight and had one or more comorbidities (other medical conditions), according to a press release. In the same trial, one in three participants experienced 20% or greater weight loss.
The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S. (iStock)
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile.
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“With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” said Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, in the press release.
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile. (James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images)
“As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for people living with overweight or obesity, the Wegovy pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight-loss journey.”
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The oral GLP-1 is expected to launch in the U.S. in early January 2026. Novo Nordisk has also submitted oral semaglutide for obesity to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory authorities.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” an expert said. (iStock)
Dr. Sue Decotiis, a medical weight-loss doctor in New York City, confirmed in an interview with Fox News Digital that studies show oral Wegovy is comparable to the weekly injectable, just without the needles.
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Although the pill may result in better compliance and ease of use, Decotiis warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version due to individual idiosyncrasies in the body.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” she said.
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“In my practice, I have found tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) to yield more weight loss and fat loss than semaglutide by about 20%,” the doctor added. “This has been shown in studies, often [with] fewer side effects.”
More oral GLP-1s may be coming in 2026, according to Decotiis, including an Orforglipron application by Lilly and a new combination Novo Nordisk drug, which is pending approval later next year.
One expert warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version. (iStock)
“There will be more new drugs available in the future that will be more effective for patients who are more insulin-resistant and have not responded as well to semaglutide and/or tirzepatide,” the doctor said. “This is great news, as novel drugs affecting more receptors mean better long-term results in more patients.”
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As these medications become cheaper and easier to access, Decotiis emphasized that keeping up with healthy lifestyle habits — including proper nutrition with sufficient protein and fiber, as well as increased hydration — is essential to ensuring lasting results.
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“If not, patients will regain weight and could lose muscle and not enough body fat,” she said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk for comment.
Health
Common household chemicals linked to increased risk of serious neurological condition
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A study from Sweden’s Uppsala University discovered a link between microplastics and multiple sclerosis (MS).
The research, published in the journal Environmental International, discovered that exposure to two common environmental contaminants, PFAS and PCBs, could increase the risk of the autoimmune disease.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are used in some common household products, such as non-stick cookware, textiles and cleaning products. They have also been found in drinking water throughout the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic industrial chemicals once widely used in electrical equipment before being banned decades ago, as stated by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
The new study findings were based on blood samples of 1,800 Swedish individuals, including about 900 who had recently been diagnosed with MS, according to a university press release.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are used in some common household products, including non-stick cookware. (iStock)
The first phase of the trial studied 14 different PFAS contaminants and three substances that appear when PCBs are broken down in the body. These were then investigated for a link to the odds of diagnosis.
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“We saw that several individual substances, such as PFOS and two hydroxylated PCBs, were linked to increased odds for MS,” lead study author Kim Kultima said in a statement. “People with the highest concentrations of PFOS and PCBs had approximately twice the odds of being diagnosed with MS, compared to those with the lowest concentrations.”
The researchers then examined the combined effects of these substances and found that the mixture was also linked to increased risk.
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Fellow researcher Aina Vaivade noted that risk assessments should consider chemical mixtures, not just individual exposures, because people are typically exposed to multiple substances at the same time.
“We saw that several individual substances, such as PFOS and two hydroxylated PCBs, were linked to increased odds for MS,” the lead study author said. (iStock)
The final phase of the study investigated the relationship between inheritance, chemical exposure and the odds of MS diagnosis, revealing that those who carry a certain gene variant actually have a reduced MS risk.
However, individuals who carried the gene and had higher exposure to PFOS — a singular type of chemical in the PFAS family — had an “unexpected” increased risk of MS.
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“This indicates that there is a complex interaction between inheritance and environmental exposure linked to the odds of MS,” Kultima said.
“We therefore think it is important to understand how environmental contaminants interact with hereditary factors, as this can provide new knowledge about the genesis of MS and could also be relevant for other diseases.”
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that leads to the breakdown of the protective covering of the nerves, according to Mayo Clinic. (iStock)
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel commented on these findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“MS is a complex disease that is somewhat autoimmune and somewhat post-inflammatory,” said Siegel, who was not involved in the study. “Epstein-Barr virus infection greatly increases the risk of MS.”
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“There is every reason to believe that environmental triggers play a role, including microplastics, and this important study shows a correlation, but not causation — in other words, it doesn’t prove that the microplastics caused MS.”
The study had some limitations, the researchers acknowledged, including that the chemical exposure was measured only once, at the time of blood sampling. This means it may not accurately represent participants’ long-term or past exposure levels relevant to MS development.
“There is every reason to believe that environmental triggers play a role.”
Fox News Digital reached out to several industry groups and manufacturers requesting comment on the potential link between PFAS chemicals and multiple sclerosis.
Several have issued public statements, including the American Chemistry Council, which states on its website that “manufacturers and many users of today’s PFAS are implementing a variety of practices and technologies to help minimize environmental emissions.”
In April 2024, the EPA enacted a new federal rule that sets mandatory limits on certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water, aiming to reduce exposure. The agency also aims to fund testing and treatment efforts.
A woman working out outdoors takes a sip of water from a plastic bottle. (iStock)
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that leads to the breakdown of the protective coverings that surround nerve fibers, according to Mayo Clinic.
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The immune system’s attack on these nerve sheaths can cause numbness, weakness, trouble walking and moving, vision changes and other symptoms, and can lead to permanent damage.
There is currently no cure for MS, Mayo Clinic reports, but treatment is available to manage symptoms and modify the course of the disease.
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