Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Formula Shortage Could Soon Get Boost By Abbott Production Restart
The Wall Street Journal: Abbott Could Restart Baby Formula Production Within Two Weeks
Abbott Laboratories said it could resume infant formula production within two weeks at a Michigan manufacturing plant that has been shut since February because of bacterial contamination concerns, exacerbating a nationwide formula shortage. The Illinois-based company said Wednesday it would resume production pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration, which has been conducting an investigation into whether bacterial contamination at the plant caused the illnesses of four babies, two of whom died, after being fed Abbott-brand formula. The babies were infected by a bacteria called cronobacter sakazakii, which is known to survive in dry foods such as infant formula powder. (Walker, 5/11)
NBC News: Baby Formula Shortage Has Anxious Parents Stalking Shelves Nationwide
In Evans, Georgia, William Zachary and his wife have spent hours driving around in search of formula for their 6-month-old twins, which they use to supplement breast milk. This week, Zachary planned the most efficient route he could think of for a search during his lunch break, which involved stopping at Walmart, Kroger, Publix and other stores. He came back empty-handed. Since shortages started ramping up after Abbott Nutrition’s voluntary recall in February, Zachary’s twins have had six different types of formula — whatever the family can get their hands on. Some seem more suited to the twins than others. “Our oldest son is lactose-intolerant. We think one of the twins is, too — when he doesn’t have sensitive versions, he ends up being fussier,” Zachary said. “It ends up being a bit of an issue, but I’d rather them be fed.” (Chuck, 5/12)
Houston Chronicle: Is Homemade Baby Formula Safe? Pediatricians, Nutritionists Weigh In
Some desperate parents have been turning to the internet for homemade baby formula recipes amid a nationwide shortage. But pediatricians and nutritionists have a word of advice for anyone who is considering making formula at home: Don’t. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has strict regulations to ensure baby formula meets nutritional and safety requirements, and advises against making it at home. That’s because it’s “extremely difficult” for parents and guardians to mimic the nutrition levels, said Dr. Amy Hair, the program director of neonatal nutrition at Texas Children’s Hospital. (MacDonald, 5/11)
In other pharmaceutical news —
AP: Arkansas Sues Drug Companies Over High Insulin Prices
Arkansas on Wednesday sued several drug manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers over the cost of insulin for diabetes, accusing the companies of conspiring to inflate the price of the medication. The lawsuit filed in state court accuses manufacturers Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Eli Lilly of conspiring with pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts, Caremark and Optum and violating Arkansas’ deceptive trade practices law with the high insulin prices. (DeMillo, 5/11)
Axios: Fast-Track Drug Approval Process Marked For Limited Changes
A week after the maker of a controversial Alzheimer's drug announced it would largely stop marketing it, Congress is readying legislation that tinkers with the pathway used by the FDA to approve the drug, but avoids making large-scale changes. Aduhelm's approval created heightened scrutiny around whether the FDA's "accelerated approval" process is being used appropriately. But as the drug fades largely into the background, so are the calls for stringent reforms. (Bettelheim, 5/11)
Stat: Roche Anti-TIGIT Cancer Immunotherapy Fails Second Clinical Trial
Roche said Wednesday that its experimental cancer immunotherapy directed against a target called TIGIT suffered its second consecutive setback, failing this time to slow tumor growth in a large study involving the most common type of lung cancer. The study’s disappointing outcome is a significant blow to the Swiss pharma giant’s effort to develop the antibody treatment called tiragolumab — the most important cancer drug in its research pipeline, and a linchpin in its strategy to greatly expand the pool of patients who might benefit from treatments that work by activating the immune system to find and kill tumors. (Feuerstein, 5/11)
