Thank you for visiting the Contemporary Pediatrics® website. Take a look at some of our top stories from last week (Monday, November 17, to Friday, November 21, 2025), and click on each link to read and watch anything you may have missed.

CDC updates website, opens door for autism and vaccines link

On November 19, 2025, the CDC updated a webpage on Autism and Vaccines to state that the claim “vaccines do not cause autism” is not evidence-based, citing that studies have not ruled out a potential link. The change sparked pushback from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which emphasized that decades of research—covering more than 5.6 million people—show no connection between vaccines and autism. Pediatric and vaccine experts warned that the update could fuel misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, while affirming that routine immunizations remain safe and critical for protecting children’s health.

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FDA approves EYLEA HD injection 8 mg to treat macular edema following RVO and monthly dosing

On November 19, 2025, the FDA approved Regeneron’s aflibercept (EYLEA HD) 8 mg injection for patients with macular edema following retinal vein occlusion, allowing dosing every 8 weeks after an initial monthly period, with a monthly option available for other approved indications. The update provides physicians greater flexibility to tailor treatment for wet AMD, diabetic macular edema, diabetic retinopathy, and RVO, particularly for patients who do not maintain response with extended dosing intervals. EYLEA HD builds on the original formulation’s decade-long clinical experience, offering comparable efficacy and safety with fewer injections.

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Redefining type 1 diabetes: Early identification, staging, and clinical implications for pediatric care

Advances in understanding type 1 diabetes (T1D) have shifted the focus from reactive, symptom-based diagnosis to early detection through staged identification of autoimmune beta-cell destruction. The 3-stage system—endorsed by the ADA and ISPAD—defines Stage 1 as asymptomatic autoimmunity with normoglycemia, Stage 2 as autoimmunity with dysglycemia, and Stage 3 as symptomatic diabetes requiring insulin. Early identification, particularly in Stage 2, now enables timely interventions, including FDA-approved teplizumab, which can delay progression to Stage 3, reduce severe presentations like DKA, and improve long-term outcomes for pediatric patients.

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FDA expands antithrombin III (human) label to pediatric patients with rare blood-clotting disorder

On November 18, 2025, the FDA approved an expanded indication for Grifols’ antithrombin III (THROMBATE III) to include pediatric patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency (hATd), making it the first antithrombin concentrate approved for both adults and children with this condition. The approval, based on adult clinical data, provides a new option to prevent and treat thromboembolism in high-risk pediatric patients, including perioperative and peripartum settings. Safety considerations include potential hypersensitivity reactions, infectious risks from human plasma–derived products, and the need to monitor coagulation when used with heparin.

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