Ed Silverman , 2025-08-29 13:12:00
And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is still shaping up, but we expect to catch up on our reading, manicure the Pharmalot grounds, and promenade extensively with the official mascots. We also hope to have time for another listening party, where the rotation will likely include this, this, this, this and this. And what about you? Summer may be winding down but there is still any number of enjoyable activities to pursue — a walk along the beach, a hike in the woods, a stroll down a small town street. You could fire up the barbie or find a bistro serving something daring. Or maybe this is a chance to spend some quiet moments with someone special. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you next Tuesday. Why? There is a holiday on this side of the pond, and a long weekend is about to unfold.
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who chairs the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, is calling for next month’s meeting of a federal advisory panel on vaccines to be postponed in the wake of a mass exodus of leaders at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, STAT notes. The move comes a day after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired CDC Director Susan Monarez due to clashes over his vaccine agenda and shortly after the Food and Drug Administration announced a narrower approval of Covid-19 vaccines. Several other high-profile agency leaders also departed in protest. On Thursday, CDC announced the vaccine advisers would meet next month to potentially vote on recommendations related to Covid-19 vaccines, as well as other vaccines that are part of the routine childhood vaccine schedule, such as shots to prevent hepatitis B.
Eli Lilly is partnering with Chinese online health care platform JD Health International to sell its blockbuster drugs for obesity and diabetes online, following its rivals in a bid to drive sales through direct-to-consumer channels, Bloomberg News tells us. The tie-up will ease access to Lilly’s drugs treating obesity, diabetes, and alopecia through a one-stop service via JD Health’s platform that combines consultations and prescriptions all the way to the drug delivery and subsequent follow-ups. Lilly markets Mounjaro for both obesity and diabetes in China. E-commerce channels are emerging as a crucial battlefield for the GLP-1 drug market in China, which analysts estimate could grow to between $5.6 billion and $11.4 billion a year. That marks a shift from a traditional reliance on public hospitals for the bulk of prescription sales. China’s state medical insurance has previously said it will not cover drugs for weight loss purposes, prompting drugmakers to prioritize retail drug channels such as online shops and pharmacies. Novo Nordisk struck similar pacts earlier this year with JD Health, as well as other online health platforms.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts.
Already have an account? Log in
To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+.