To help promote dementia awareness this year, the Alzheimer’s Society is endorsing an activity in which we can all participate: talking. The Society is sponsoring Dementia Awareness Week, which takes place from May 19–25, and is urging people to join the conversation about dementia — who it affects, its symptoms, and how it can be prevented. The question is, what do people want to talk about?

On May 7, 2013, the FDA granted its coveted Fast-Track status to Cubist Pharmaceutical’s Phase III antibiotic CXA-201 (ceftolozane/tazobactam) for the treatment of hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP)/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) and complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) caused by gram-negative bacteria.

With the FDA approval of their targeted radiopharmaceutical Xofigo (radium-223 dichloride), Bayer and Algeta must prepare to enter the battle for patient share in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Competition in this space has intensified over the last two years, due to the launch of Johnson & Johnson’s Zytiga (abiraterone) and Medivation/Astellas’ Xtandi (enzalutamide).

OraSure Technologies, Walgreens, and the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation have announced an HCV screening initiative in several US cities as part of the upcoming National Hepatitis Testing Day on May 19th. This partnership, an excellent example of public and private entities working together to help increase both awareness of the disease and the HCV diagnosis rate, does little to help address the problem of treatment post-diagnosis.

Embracing social media and capitalizing on the potential to reach a broad spectrum of people, the International Autoimmune Arthritis Movement (IAAM) is hosting its second annual global virtual convention on May 20, 2013, which marks World Autoimmune Arthritis Day (WAAD).

Arena Pharmaceuticals announced last week the final ruling of the DEA, which has placed the company’s anti-obesity drug Belviq (lorcaserin) into Schedule IV of controlled substances. This development comes after months of protracted anticipation from the company and investors alike regarding when this new drug will finally enter the market. Arena, which licensed the drug to Eisai, will receive a $65m milestone payment from the Japanese pharmaceutical company for the launch of Belviq, now set for early next month.

May 18th marks World AIDS Vaccine Day, and is a reminder of the need to take on drastic measures to curb the AIDS epidemic in developed and developing countries, alike. Current antiretroviral therapies (ART) have successfully turned this deadly disease into a chronic and manageable condition.

Last week, the House of Representatives of South Carolina passed the South Carolina Freedom of Health Care Protection Act. This Act would nullify the implementation of Obamacare in South Carolina and declare it a criminal offense.

While surgical costs remain the driving force behind the adoption of medical tourism in the short term, the quality of medical care in these countries will become the paramount differentiator in the long run. The rising healthcare costs in the major developed economies of North America and Europe have led to the growing adoption of medical tourism.

Takeda’s recent acquisition of Inviragen for $250m in a cash and milestone payment deal has positioned the Japan-based firm as a strong contender in the race to develop a vaccine against the dengue virus.