Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Experts Slam Review Of Alzheimer's Treatments, Suggest Data Was Misused
MedPage Today: Alzheimer's Drug Review Ignites Backlash From Experts
A systematic review suggested that drugs targeting amyloid beta appeared to have no clinically meaningful positive effects, sparking swift backlash from Alzheimer's disease experts. (George, 4/16)
More pharmaceutical industry developments —
CIDRAP: Hidden Supply-Chain Risks Threaten 100 Essential US Medicines
A new analysis from US Pharmacopeia (USP) suggests that vulnerabilities in the pharmaceutical supply chain could put dozens of widely used medicines at risk of shortage, even when current supplies appear stable. (Bergeson, 4/16)
Bloomberg: OpenAI Takes On Google With New AI Model Aimed At Drug Discovery
OpenAI is rolling out an early version of an artificial intelligence model meant to speed up drug discoveries, joining a field of growing interest for tech companies eager to prove AI can pave the way for more scientific breakthroughs. The ChatGPT maker said Thursday that the model, GPT-Rosalind, is intended for life sciences research, such as helping glean insights from large volumes of data and turning scientific studies into health-care applications for patients. The model will be available initially as a research preview to some of the company’s business customers, OpenAI said. The initial users include drugmaker Amgen Inc., vaccine maker Moderna Inc. and the Allen Institute, a bioscience research nonprofit. (Metz, 4/16)
Bloomberg: Novo Nordisk Has Hired 2,000 This Year To Reshape Workforce
Novo Nordisk A/S has hired about 2,000 people this year, reshaping its workforce after laying off about 10% of staff in 2025. The figure reflects successful job offers, and about 1,400 of those workers have already started, a company spokeswoman said. Of those new hires, Novo said 398 have been in its home country of Denmark. (Kresge, 4/16)
On weight loss drugs —
Stat: Weight Loss Drugs Without Side Effects? Top Researchers Propose New Approach
The scientists whose work spurred the development of powerful obesity drugs like Eli Lilly’s Zepbound are now raising a provocative hypothesis: Perhaps targeting the GLP-1 hormone is actually not necessary to achieve effective weight loss. (Chen, 4/16)
The Hill: Weight Loss Medications Like Ozempic Linked To Hidden Side Effects, Study Finds
A recent analysis of more than 400,000 Reddit posts has found some lesser-known side effects of GLP-1 drugs taken for weight loss and diabetes. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania used AI to analyze more than five years of posts from nearly 70,000 Reddit users, according to a report published in Medical Xpress. Gastrointestinal issues, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and headaches, are commonly reported side effects of GLP-1s, according to the Mayo Clinic. (Kaplan, 4/16)
Bloomberg: Lilly Obesity Pill Shows No Added Heart Risk In Trial
Eli Lilly & Co. said its new weight-loss pill Foundayo was at least as good as an older insulin at warding off heart attacks, strokes or other major cardiovascular events in a study, a finding that comes after US regulators asked for more safety data. The late-stage trial compared Foundayo to Lilly’s insulin, following patients over the course of about two years. Its main objective was to assess the new pill’s ability to prevent cardiovascular emergencies in people who were at increased risk and had both diabetes and obesity. (Muller and Kresge, 4/16)
