White House Says It’s Trying To End Cancer Drug Shortages
Stat reports experts are still worried and say the administration has to show exactly how it'll tackle shortages of three key generic chemotherapies. Separately, 2Seventy Bio, a Cambridge biotech developing cancer drugs, is laying off 40% of its workforce as the business sector is in hard times.
Stat:
White House Touts Steps To Stem Shortages Of Cancer Treatments
The White House says it’s working to end shortages of three key generic chemotherapies. But experts said the administration would have to provide more details to fully mitigate the health care system’s concerns. (Wilkerson, 9/12)
The Boston Globe:
Cambridge Biotech 2Seventy Bio Slashes 40 Percent Of Workforce
2Seventy Bio, a Cambridge biotech developing cancer drugs, said Tuesday it will lay off about 40 percent of its workforce, or 176 employees, becoming the latest Massachusetts drug company to slash its staff as the business sector faces hard times. 2Seventy’s chief executive, Nick Leschly, who led the Somerville gene therapy company Bluebird Bio for 11 years before it spun off 2Seventy in 2021, also said he plans to step down as chief executive and become chairman of the board of directors. (Saltzman, 9/12)
In other pharmaceutical news —
Bloomberg:
CVS, Walgreens Warned Over Eyedrops After Deadly Bacterial Outbreak
Over-the-counter eye drops sold by CVS Health Corp., Walgreens Boots Alliance and six other companies are illegally marketed and pose a public health concern to Americans, US regulators said in warning letters Tuesday. A deadly bacterial outbreak was linked to other eye drop products earlier this year. (Muller, 9/12)
Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Harmonic Innerprizes Supplements Could Be Toxic, SNHD Says
A local supplement manufacturer sold products made with ingredients that could lead to heavy metal toxicity, the Southern Nevada Health District reported Tuesday. Harmonic Innerprizes, the health district said in a news release, also sold items which had ingredients that are not food grade and with ingredients from unapproved sources. (9/12)
NBC News:
Laxative Shortage: Amid High Demand, Doctors Warn Not To Misuse Them
Amid high demand for laxatives, doctors are cautioning people not to overuse the products or take them for purposes other than constipation relief, such as weight loss. Pharma giant Sanofi said its over-the-counter laxative, Dulcolax, is facing supply constraints. “Over the past few months, we have seen unprecedented demand for Dulcolax products," a Sanofi spokesperson said. "As a result, some retailers temporarily may not have certain Dulcolax products on their shelves.” (Bendix, 9/12)
Axios:
Biden Admin Previews Defense Of Drug Price Negotiations
Plenty of legal precedent already allows Medicare to determine what it will pay for health care goods and services, the Department of Justice argued this week in defense of new Medicare drug price negotiations. The filing, in response to Merck's lawsuit, indicates how the government will defend the program's constitutionality against a wave of similar challenges. (Reed, 9/13)
