Good morning, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you, despite the unusual humidity descending upon the otherwise comfortable Pharmalot campus. Our official mascot is snoozing nearby and we have yet another cup of stimulation at hand. Our choice today is Jack Daniels (yes, this is a real one, folks). Meanwhile, there is much to do. So here is the latest menu of tidbits for you to peruse. Hope you conquer the world today and, as always, please keep in touch …
President Trump said the Department of Veterans Affairs will buy “a lot” of the controversial new Spravato antidepressant to help fight veteran suicides, The Military Times writes. Earlier this year, Trump reportedly pushed the VA to quickly adopt the ketamine-like drug from Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) despite concerns from some medical experts about its effectiveness. In June, a VA medical advisory panel declined to put the drug on its formulary, but did not ban it altogether. Instead, VA doctors must provide added justification for patient use.
Gilead Sciences (GILD) is challenging patents held by the federal government for using the Truvada pill to prevent HIV, a drug that has sparked controversy due to its cost and taxpayer dollars used to fund crucial research, STAT says. The company asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to examine the patents, which AIDS activists have argued would entitle the government to collect royalties from Gilead and use the funds to combat the virus. Gilead refused to agree to a license in talks with federal officials over the past three years.
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