The Handoff: Your Week in Neurology News – 2/2/17

The Handoff is a weekly roundup of neurology news covering various developments in subspecialties, the pharmaceutical industry, and the overall state of health care as it affects neurologists.

— Just days ahead of Super Bowl LI, 2 new lawsuits were filed against the NCAA and helmet-maker Riddell on behalf of former high school and college football athletes who claim both entities misrepresented risks and failed to educate them about concussions. 

— In an effort to increase education among consumers, the CDC is hosting an “Ask the Experts” session on its Heads Up Concussion campaign page on Facebook.

— Researchers make a plea to the scientific community to seriously consider drug efficacy before initiating human trials.

— Health care professionals fear the repeal of the ACA may poorly impact improvements in health care quality and delivery. 

— Novartis’ Votubia® won approval from the European Union for the treatment of refractory partial-onset seizures in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. 

— Preliminary results from the HALT-MS trial suggest that stem cell transplantation may induce sustained remission of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. 

— The FDA has approved a lower dose of Opiant Pharma’s naloxone after advocates claimed the higher dose was sending recipients into withdrawals. 

— An email chain between top executives of the Super Bowl-bound Atlanta Falcons organization shows growing concern over the program’s reliance on pain killers

— New research takes a deeper dive into the connection between dementia and sense of smell. 

— For more on the latest concussion research, check out this round-table discussion led by Candace Floyd, PhD, of the University of Alabama.