And so, another working week will soon come 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 mascots, catch up on our reading, and take a nap or two. We also hope to hold another listening party with Mrs. Pharmalot and, if so, the rotation will likely include this, this, this and this. And what about you? This may be a fine time to curl up in front of the telly and binge-watch, or catch up on your own reading list. Or maybe you want to find a new hobby? Of course, many of you may be readying for the annual JPM health care gathering that takes place next week — think of it as Woodstock for biopharma dealmakers — and STAT has a bunch of things lined up. Meanwhile, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
Eli Lilly started a new online service offering telehealth prescriptions and direct home delivery of its new Zepbound weight-loss drug, an unusual move into the supply chain by a pharmaceutical company with one of the hottest-selling medicines, The Wall Street Journal writes. The new service, called Lilly Direct, also will offer delivery of certain Lilly insulin products for people with diabetes and a migraine drug. The company may add other products in the future. The foray takes Lilly into new terrain and turns it into something of a rival to firms like Weight Watchers and the pharmacies to which the company sells its drugs.
A large U.S. study found no evidence that taking Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic or Wegovy is tied to an increase in suicidal thoughts, Reuters says. Both Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and the obesity treatment Wegovy have the same active ingredient, semaglutide. The analysis of electronic medical record data from more than 1.8 million patients found a lower risk of new and recurrent suicidal thoughts in those taking semaglutide compared to those using other drugs for weight loss or diabetes. Concerns over suicidal ideation led to an investigation by the European Medicines Agency, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has listed suicidal ideation as a potential safety signal.
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