Health Highlights: April 12, 2022

New Drug Halves Death Rate in Those With Severe COVID, Maker Claims: An experimental medication for critically ill COVID patients has worked so well that the drug's maker announced Monday it has stopped its clinical trial early and will apply for emergency use authorization. Read more

Philadelphia Becomes First US City to Bring Back Mask Mandate: Faced with rising COVID-19 case counts, the city announced Monday that it will reinstate an indoor mask mandate next week. Read more

Study Finds Just One Dose of HPV Vaccine May be Enough: A single shot provided as much protection against cervical cancer as the standard three-dose regimen, a finding that researchers say could be a game-changer in efforts to vaccinate more people against the human papillomavirus. Read more

Could Some Rheumatoid Arthritis Meds Help Lower Alzheimer's Risk? Preliminary findings suggest a class of rheumatoid arthritis drugs known as TNF inhibitors may lower dementia risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients who also suffer from heart disease. Read more