And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is fairly modest. We hope to catch up on our reading, spend time with our Pharmalot ancestor, and promenade with the official mascots. We also hope to hold another listening party, where the rotation will likely feature this, this, this, this, and this. And what about you? This is a grand time to enjoy the great outdoors. Beaches and lakes are beckoning. City streets want to be strolled. And woods are inviting the adventurous for long mysterious walks. Take your pick. Or you could simply hide indoors and binge-watch something on the telly. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon …
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bankruptcy deal in which the owners of Purdue Pharma sought to contribute up to $6 billion in exchange for immunity from further lawsuits, STAT reports. The ruling means the company and its creditors — including numerous state and local governments — will have to negotiate a new settlement. The 5-4 decision was a rebuke to members of the Sackler family, who control the company and demanded the legal shield in return for contributing to the deal even though, as individuals, they did not file for bankruptcy. The immunity was a huge sticking point and prevented the deal, approved by a bankruptcy judge three years ago, from being finalized.
A U.S. House committee overwhelmingly passed four bills that would expand Medicare coverage of obesity drugs and cancer screening blood tests and place guardrails around Medicare’s discretion in covering drugs and devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration, STAT writes. The House Ways & Means Committee passed obesity drug coverage legislation that would offer a limited pathway for adults 65 and older to get their weight loss drugs paid for by Medicare. Right now, Medicare is prohibited from covering medications used for weight loss, like Wegovy and Zepbound.
