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 promenade with the official mascot, catch up on our paperwork and hold our weekly listening party with Mrs. Pharmalot (the rotation will include this, this and this). And what about you? Depending upon your location, this may be an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, but if not, you could curl up in front of the telly and binge-watch or dive into an e-book. Of course, it is never too early to plan a spring break. Or reach out to someone special. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
The first scheduled trial over claims that GSK’s Zantac heartburn drug caused cancer, which had been set to begin Monday, was postponed, likely by several months, Reuters reports. The case, brought by California resident James Goetz, is now expected to go to trial in June or July, though no date has yet been set. Goetz alleged he developed bladder cancer from taking Zantac, and his case will offer an early test of how cancer claims may fare in state courts, where tens of thousands of cases are filed. A federal judge in December tossed all of the Zantac cases in federal court, some 50,000, after finding the opinions of expert witnesses linking Zantac to cancer were not backed by sound science.
Moderna has made a $400 million payment to the U.S. government for the rights to a chemical technique that scientists said the company had borrowed from government-funded research and used in its successful Covid-19 vaccines, The New York Times reports. The payment will be shared by the National Institutes of Health and two American universities where the method was invented. The payment, which was disclosed in Moderna’s latest earnings report, represented a small victory for the experts and activists who long argued that the company had resisted acknowledging its debt to the government and academic researchers.
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
About the Author Reprints
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect