INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

WORCESTER, Mass. — Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School said a diabetes prevention program they created was able to reduce prediabetes indicators among Latinos who were at risk of developing the disease.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — An orally administered drug made by Genzyme for treating multiple sclerosis did not appear superior to a biotech drug already on the market, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial.

Genzyme, owned by French drug maker Sanofi, compared the once-daily drug teriflunomide with Rebif (interferon beta-1a), made by Pfizer and Merck KGaA, in patients with relapsing MS in the 324-patient "TENERE" trial. Merck KGaA, based in Germany, operates under the name EMD Serono in the United States to avoid confusion with U.S.-based Merck & Co.

RESTON, Va. — Following recent e-commerce trends released by ComScore, online spending continues to grow at a consistent 15% rate. As reported earlier, holiday e-commerce spending rose 15% year over year to $26.8 billion for the first 42 days of the shopping season, through Dec. 12.

And on Sunday, ComScore released its latest findings, that online sales surpassed $1 billion on four days during the work week of Dec.12 to 16, a 15% increase over the same period last year.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — AstraZeneca and Targacept released results of the second of four phase-3 clinical trials that investigated the efficacy and tolerability of a drug that could serve as an adjunct therapy to major depressive disorder patients that had an inadequate response to initial antidepressant therapies.

NEW YORK — The tea market is expected to see a surge in sales this year and beyond, according to a Packaged Facts report.

"Tea and Ready-to-Drink Tea in the U.S.," which was published in October, projected that the tea market will grow 5.2% to $6.5 billion this year, with retail tea market growth climbing from 6.6% in 2012 to 8.7% in 2014, reaching $8.3 billion in that year.

SAN FRANCISCO — A new survey conducted by Visa revealed that 77% of consumers still need to buy holiday gifts this week. These last-minute shoppers will spend an average of $278 in the final days leading up to Christmas and Hanukkah.

CHICAGO — A hike in blood pressure during middle age significantly raises the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke, according to new Northwestern Medicine research released Monday. The study offers a new understanding on the importance of maintaining low blood pressure early in middle age to prevent heart disease later in life.

NEW YORK — Compared with those who continue to smoke, quitters are both happier and more satisfied with their health, both one year and three years afterward, than those who continue to smoke, according to new research published last week in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

Smokers hold strong beliefs about how stopping smoking will reduce their quality of life. Positive experiences of smoking cessation, including improved well-being, could be used by clinicians to educate and motivate individuals to stop smoking.