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, so far, rather modest. We plan to manicure the Pharmalot grounds, promenade with the official mascots, and sample some natural wonders. We also hope to hold another listening party, where the rotation will likely include this, this, this, this, and this. And what about you? This remains a fine time to enjoy the great outdoors. You could careen through forests or stock up on apples and pumpkins. You could also get a head start on planning a holiday break. Or simply reach out to someone special and swap stories. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
A turbulent series of events surrounding the supply of Eli Lilly’s blockbuster weight loss treatment has raised concerns around how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration maintains its list of drug shortages and which sources it relies on, an issue that affects a growing number of Americans, STAT explains. Earlier this month, the FDA declared an end to the shortage of Lilly’s tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for obesity, after almost two years. By law, that should have prohibited compounding pharmacies from making copies of the drug, as they are allowed to do so only when the treatment is on the shortage list. However, some traditional retail pharmacies said supplies of Lilly’s treatment were still unavailable, and a trade group representing compounders took the FDA to court. The agency then made a sudden about-face, saying it would reconsider its decision and allow compounders to continue for the meantime. It marked the first time experts recall the FDA changing course about a shortage decision.
AstraZeneca may cut jobs at its U.K. operation if the government enforces a global push to make companies share profits derived from nature’s genetic codes, The Guardian reports. The alleged comments from the company came amid a concerted lobbying push by the pharmaceutical industry against the profit-sharing measures. Sources told the Guardian that the company made the comments during a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs roundtable meeting last week to discuss a proposed new global levy on drugs derived from the digital forms of biodiversity. A spokesperson for AstraZeneca denied the comments were made by their representative. The genetic codes of nature — which, when stored digitally, are known as digital sequence information (DSI) — are playing a growing role in new drug development in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. But there is widespread anger among biodiverse countries about how DSI is being used by multinational companies to develop commercial products — almost always for free.
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