Air Force To Review Cancers Among Nuclear Missile Workers
The Air Force is already reviewing whether service members who worked with nuclear missiles have had higher-than-normal rates of cancer, but is now expanding this review. Also in the news: a U.S. Army veteran is suing the government, alleging a VA computer system delayed a cancer diagnosis.
AP:
The Air Force Is Expanding A Review Of Cancers For Service Members Who Worked With Nuclear Missiles
The Air Force is expanding its study of whether service members who worked with nuclear missiles have had unusually high rates of cancer after a preliminary review determined that a deeper examination is needed. The initial study was launched in response to reports that many who served are now ill. The Air Force isn’t making its initial findings of cancer numbers public for a month or so, but released its initial assessment Monday that more review is necessary. (Copp, 12/4)
The Spokesman-Review:
Army Veteran Files Lawsuit Alleging VA Computer System Delayed Cancer Diagnosis
An Eastern Washington veteran and his wife are suing the federal government and the companies behind a computer system the Department of Veterans Affairs has tested in Spokane, alleging that flaws in the system delayed the diagnosis of cancer that became terminal before it could be treated. Chewelah resident Charlie Bourg and his wife, Deborah Brinson, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington on Friday. They are seeking unspecified monetary damages from the government and the companies that have developed the electronic health record system — including Cerner, to which the VA awarded a $10 billion contract in 2018, and Oracle, which acquired Cerner for $28.3 billion in 2022. (Smith, 12/5)
In other cancer news —
Reuters:
Bayer Ordered To Pay $3.5 Million In Latest Roundup Weedkiller Trial
Bayer was ordered on Tuesday to pay nearly $3.5 million by a Philadelphia jury that found the company's Roundup weedkiller caused a woman's cancer, the company said, the latest in a string of trial losses for the company as it tries to fend off thousands of similar lawsuits. The verdict in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas marks the fifth consecutive loss for Bayer, but it is much smaller than recent verdicts against the company that total more than $2 billion. The German conglomerate has faced pressure from some investors to reach a speedy settlement of the litigation in order to avoid further hefty trial verdicts. (Pierson, 12/5)
Reuters:
J&J Says It Has Settled Some Talc Claims, Will Continue Bankruptcy Strategy
Johnson & Johnson's worldwide vice president for litigation said on Tuesday that the company has recently reached settlements with several law firms over their clients' claims that J&J talc products caused cancer. The settlements were reached "with a goal to facilitate our pursuit of a consensual prepackaged bankruptcy resolution," Erik Haas said on an investor call. It was not clear whether the deals have been finalized. (Pierson, 12/5)
Stat:
J&J To Emphasize Cancer Drugs, Stop Much Of Its Vaccine Research
Eight months into his tenure, Johnson & Johnson’s R&D chief is putting a big emphasis on medicines for cancer, treatment-resistant depression, and autoimmune disease. To sharpen that focus, R&D chief John Reed told STAT that the company is de-emphasizing two areas that have been mainstays for the drug and medical device giant: infectious disease and vaccines, as well as medicines targeting kidney disease and rare eye conditions. (Herper, 12/5)
Stat:
CAR-T Startup, Brainchild Bio, Focuses On Childhood Brain Tumors
About a decade ago, Mike Jensen, a pediatric oncologist at Seattle Children’s hospital, licensed to a startup his designs for a powerful new type of therapy, called CAR-T, that would re-engineer a child’s own immune cells to target cancer. The deal proved be a mixed blessing. The therapy eventually reached market as Breyanzi, one of three CAR-Ts approved for adult leukemia. But it was never approved for childhood cancer. (Mast, 12/5)
