In this week’s InnovationRX week, we look at possible cannabis pain, the risks of new vaccine restrictions, virtual clinical trials at Mayo Clinic, GSK’s 30 billion US GSK commitment and much more. To take it to your inbox, Sign up here.
dDiscover their addictive natureOpioids continue to be an important treatment for pain due to lack of effective alternatives. In an attempt to strengthen new drugs, the FDA released new instructions For non -opioid painkillers last week. But the construction of these drugs was not easy. Vertex Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval for non -opioid Journavx in January then abandoned A next -generation drug after a failed clinical trial earlier this summer. Similarly abandoned A promising candidate after a failed trial in 2022.
A possible base for non -opioids can be hemp. Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Washington in St. Louis and Stanford published a study showing that a cannabis union successfully reduced the pain In mice with minimal side effects.
The Munich -based Vertanical pharmaceutical company is perhaps the farthest in this search. It develops a cannabinoid -based extract for the treatment of chronic pain that hopes will soon become an approved drug, first in the European Union and ultimately in the United States. The drug, currently called Ver-01, packs quite low levels of cannabinoids (including THC) to relieve the pain, but not so much that patients reach high. Founder Clemens Fischer, a 50 -year -old physician and serial pharmaceutical and complementary businessman, hopes to become the first cannabis -based painkiller provided by doctors and covered by insurance.
Fischer founded Vertanical, with his partner Madlena Hohlefelder in 2017 and has invested more than $ 250 million from his own money. With the location of cannabis and the installation of drug production in Denmark, Vertanical has successfully passed Phase III clinical trials in Germany and expects a decision by German and Austrian authorities later this year. So far, the data is very promising: his drug was found to be more effective than opioid painkillers with fewer side effects, including evidence of addiction. He hopes to start Phase III tests in the US in 2026. “We believe we will be the first unnatable chronic pain therapy worldwide,” says Fischer.
Vaccines are a hard work. The RFK CDC Jr. makes it even harder
Secretary HHS Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Getty pictures
TCDC Immigration Advisory Committee-The Minister of Health and Human Services of Robert F. Kennedy younger was cleaned in June and replaced with people more aligned with his anti-testified views-is scheduled to meet this week, starting on Thursday. To agendaAn issue that is critical to the health of the country and its pharmaceutical industry: children’s vaccinations, especially those who protect it from hepatitis B, measles and chickenpox, as well as COVID-19.
Usually the meetings of this committee, known as the ACIP acronym, are simple outside the public radar, but since 1964 they have served as a vital role in setting up recommendations and immunization programs to serve public health. States generally follow this guidance to determine vaccine commands for schools, while insurers usually follow the designation of the shootings they will cover. Global immunization attempts saved at least 154 million lives Between 1974 and 2024, more than 100 million children, according to a study published in The Lancet.
Since his appointment, Kennedy is pushing policies against vaccines at federal level and this meeting could prove to be critical to US policy. Already, he has announced plans for awarding a contract without bid At the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to “investigate” long -term bonds between vaccines and autism and members of the committee such as Retsef Levi and Robert Malone Estimated about 14.4 million lives The first year after their disposal, Catherine Stein, who has supported the vaccine commands. Sources with knowledge called Tower This Acip can limit the recommendations of the COVID-19 vaccine to people over 75 years of age and the younger with a narrow set of pre-existing conditions. The Washington Post stated this feature previously.
“We have to worry a lot because Acip is no longer an acip,” said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Training Center at Philadelphia Hospital Tower. “It is essentially a arm of the HHS secretary who is an anti-vaccination and has passed the last 20 years.”
Read more here.
Biotechnology and pharmacy
GSK announced on Tuesday that it plans to invest $ 30 billion in R&D and US production facilities the next five years. This includes $ 1.2 billion in advanced production and AI for next -generation Biopharma factories and laboratories, including a new organic factory in Upper Merion, PA. Earlier on Tuesday, Lilly announced her plans to build a Facilitating of the construction of $ 5 billion near Richmond, VA., As part of its previous commitment to spend $ 50 billion on US capital expansion projects.
Plus: The local gene therapy of Krystal Biotech Vyjuvek for patients with bullosa dystrophic skin, known as “butterfly disease”, received one Extension of label from FDA This allows infants to be treated immediately during the diagnosis and to do so at home without a health care professional. Krystal’s stock increased by 8% on Monday, to $ 156 in the news. Tower Previous profile co -founder of Krystal Suma Krishnan.
Digital health and ai
Researchers at Mayo Clinic developed “Virtual clinical trials” to predict how possible therapies for heart failure. These tests use computer models trained in data from about 60,000 patients with heart failure to predict if some existing drugs may be good candidates for heart disease reset. The approach was ratified by comparing forecasts with existing clinical trial data. The Mayo team posted the Posts of peer findings in NPJ Digital Medicine.
Plus: Lila sciences set $ 235 million Evaluation of $ 1.2 billion to bring AI to scientific research. The business, founded by the pioneer of the flagship in 2023, had previously been lifted Round of $ 200 million seeds in March.
Public health and hospitals
More than half of health professionals are planning to look for or go to new jobs next year, According to a new Harris poll. Of the 1,504 health care workers, 84% said they felt “considered given” by their employers and only 37% said they were satisfied with their current jobs. Findings come as industry faces both high levels of exhaustion and lack of workforce.
Plus: Investments in disease prevention and timely detection could save US healthcare system up to $ 2.2 trillion by 2040, according to one reference From Deloitte.
What do we read
Former Director of CDC Susn Monarez testified on Wednesday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He was planning to change the long -term childhood vaccine program and said he was fired because he refused to proceed with the change.
FDA released 40 letters as part of suppression of pharmaceutical ads. Among them targeted: Pfizer, Novartis, BMS and Lilly.
As DIY dosage holds San Francisco’s technology cycles, it looks like Everyone has a Chinese peptide trader Now to enhance health and performance.
Trump Former Surgeon Jerome Adams Discussions about why Rfk Jr. must go.
Novo Nordisk Wegovy weight loss medicine helps patients Stop thinking about food, According to a new study.
The judge throws two charges of murder associated with acts of terrorism against Luigi Mangione, the alleged murderer of the United Healthcare CEO last year.
Casey means, the Wellness candidate who is Trump’s candidate for the General Surgeon revealed that he made hundreds of thousands of dollars Promotion of supplements and said he would assign her Family entries in tobacco companies.
Merck and Astrazeneca Dissolved scheduled works In statements by the United Kingdom by Lilly and Sanofi, they doubted their ongoing investment in the United Kingdom.
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