Skip to Main Content

Rise and shine, everyone. The middle of the week is upon us. Have heart, though. You made it this far, so why not hang on for another couple of days, yes? And what better way to make the time fly than to keep busy. So grab that cup of stimulation — our flavor today is butter pecan, a household favorite — and get started. Meanwhile, do keep us in mind if you hear anything interesting. We hope you have a simply smashing day and emerge unscathed. …

Chinese pharmaceutical companies are developing domestic versions of “miracle” weight-loss drugs as they take on Western drugmakers selling anti-obesity medication in one of the world’s biggest markets, The Financial Times tells us. The Chinese companies hope to compete with the Danish pharma group Novo Nordisk’s pioneering drugs in China, which has the world’s largest overweight and diabetic population. If successful, they could also potentially offer a cheaper alternative in the West. Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, or Ozempic, dominates the market, but dozens of medicines using the same mechanism are undergoing clinical trials in China, according to analysts.

advertisement

A U.S. government probe into a monkey-smuggling operation emanating from Cambodia has gone in a new direction as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission examines whether Inotiv, a key importer, complied with a federal law that governs bribing foreign officials, STAT writes. The company — which is a major supplier of non-human primates to corporate, government, and academic research laboratories — received a voluntary request last May for documents dating back to December 2017 about importing non-human primates from Asia, according to a regulatory filing. And the SEC wants to know whether Inotiv complied with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

STAT+ Exclusive Story

STAT+

This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers

Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and networking platform access.

Already have an account? Log in

Already have an account? Log in

Monthly

$39

Totals $468 per year

$39/month Get Started

Totals $468 per year

Starter

$30

for 3 months, then $39/month

$30 for 3 months Get Started

Then $39/month

Annual

$399

Save 15%

$399/year Get Started

Save 15%

11+ Users

Custom

Savings start at 25%!

Request A Quote Request A Quote

Savings start at 25%!

2-10 Users

$300

Annually per user

$300/year Get Started

$300 Annually per user

View All Plans

Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.

Subscribe

STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect

To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.