Oncologist Sued for Double-Billing; Pharmacy Deserts; ‘She Loved Scotch and Pizza’

The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil lawsuit against a Montana oncologist, alleging that Thomas Weiner, MD, double-billed federal healthcare programs and overprescribed pain medication. (AP)

Almost half of U.S. counties have one or more “pharmacy deserts,” where lack of access may discourage adherence to prescribed medication. (Ohio State University, JAMA Network Open)

The FDA issued a warning letter to CARsgen Therapeutics, citing multiple deficiencies at a manufacturing facility for the company’s chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell products, for which the company paused production in December 2023, pending corrective actions.

“She loved scotch and pizza.” A story of love and loss. (JCO: Art of Oncology)

New insights into gut microbiome recovery after chemotherapy could inform strategies to make cancer therapy less toxic. (Luxembourg Institute of Health, Cell Host & Microbe)

Merck announced the discontinuation of two phase III clinical trials of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for lack of efficacy, one in lung cancer and the other in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

A meta-analysis of 32 clinical trials suggested that EGFR-mutant lung cancers that progress on tyrosine kinase inhibitors derive the most benefit from combination therapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor plus an angiogenesis inhibitor and chemotherapy. (Lancet Oncology)

The Delaware Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal by GSK, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim to dismiss more than 70,000 lawsuits alleging the heartburn medication ranitidine (best known by the brand name Zantac) caused cancer. (Reuters)

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