Poisonous Yellow Oleander Found In Alternative Weight-Loss Drugs
Tests in a lab in Oregon showed that in nine out of 10 diet pills and health food products, what was labeled as Tejocote root was yellow oleander, which is poisonous and sometimes deadly. Some products have been withdrawn, but the FDA has warned that other, similarly-labeled ones remain on sale.
Bloomberg:
Oleander Found In Tejocote Root Bought For Weight Loss Claims
A poisonous and sometimes deadly yellow plant is increasingly being found in diet pills and health foods, a concerning trend as Americans seek out unregulated alternatives to popular weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Testing at a lab in Oregon revealed that nine out of 10 products labeled as Tejocote Root were actually a plant called yellow oleander that is toxic to humans, according to findings published Thursday in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. (Muller, 9/14)
NBC News:
Weight Loss Supplement May Have A Poisonous Ingredient, CDC Warns
In its report, the FDA cautioned that several products labeled as Nuez de la India and sold online through platforms like Amazon, Walmart or eBay may be yellow oleander instead. The agency named two brands: Nut Diet Max and Todorganic Natural Products, both of which voluntarily recalled the products. But the FDA warned that other candlenut supplements “with similar marketing descriptions may also contain yellow oleander.” (Bendix, 9/14)
In other pharmaceutical industry news —
Reuters:
Bristol Myers Plans To Double Experimental Treatments To Expand Research Pipeline
Bristol Myers Squibb said on Thursday it plans to double the number of treatments it is testing in clinical trials, with a focus on cell therapies, over the next 18 months, as it contends with increasing generic competition for two of its top-selling drugs. The drugmaker, which currently has six candidates in trials, will advance six more in its research pipeline - including three cell therapies that target immune system disorders and different types of cancer. (9/14)
The Boston Globe:
Vertex Scientists Share $3 Million Prize For Developing The Company’s Cystic Fibrosis Drugs
Three scientists at Vertex Pharmaceuticals will share a $3 million prize for revolutionizing the treatment of cystic fibrosis and adding decades to the lives of patients with the deadly genetic disease. Sabine Hadida and Paul Negulescu, both senior vice presidents at the Boston-based company, and Fredrick Van Goor, vice president and head of cystic fibrosis research, will receive a 2024 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for developing four game-changing Vertex drugs that have won approval since 2012. (Saltzman, 9/14)
The Boston Globe:
Saudi Fund Sets Up In Boston To Plow $1 Billion A Year Into Research And Drugs To Extend Life
Saudi Arabia is bringing its gusher of investment capital to Boston, setting up shop in the nation’s biotechnology hub to bankroll scientists seeking ways to extend human life. A new funding organization, created by decree by Saudi King Salman and chaired by the kingdom’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, opened its North American headquarters this week on the 22nd floor of 200 Clarendon, formerly known as the John Hancock Tower. The group, called the Hevolution Foundation, is promising to invest as much as $1 billion a year in academic research and biotech startups that promote longevity by slowing down aging and combating age-related diseases. (Weisman, 9/14)
AP:
Johnson & Johnson Is Getting Rid Of Its Script Logo After More Than 130 Years
Johnson & Johnson is signing off on a new logo. The health care giant said Thursday that it will replace the well-known signature script it has used since 1887 with a modern look that reflects its sharpened focus on pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The original script — based on co-founder James Wood Johnson’s signature — will still be seen for now on consumer products like baby shampoo from Kenvue, a new company recently spun off from J&J. (Murphy, 9/14)
Also —
AP:
Repurposing Dead Spiders, Counting Cadaver Nose Hairs Win Ig Nobels For Comical Scientific Feats
Counting nose hairs in cadavers, repurposing dead spiders and explaining why scientists lick rocks, are among the winning achievements in this year’s Ig Nobels, the prize for humorous scientific feats, organizers announced Thursday. The 33rd annual prize ceremony was a prerecorded online event, as it has been since the coronavirus pandemic, instead of the past live ceremonies at Harvard University. Ten spoof prizes were awarded to the teams and individuals around the globe. (Rathke, 9/14)
