Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Disappointing': Cassava Sciences Ends Study Of Alzheimer's Drug Simufilam
Cassava Sciences, a small biotechnology company based in Austin, Texas, announced it would stop the advanced clinical trial for an experimental Alzheimers drug, ending a long-contested bid for regulatory approval. The company announced on Monday that the drug, simufilam, did not significantly reduce cognitive decline in people with mild to moderate Alzheimers disease in the trial, which enrolled more than 1,900 patients. (Rosenbluth, 11/25)
An experimental cancer treatment from Roche failed to improve survival in a major lung cancer study, the company said Tuesday, a result that will further stoke doubts about the drugs target. (Joseph, 11/26)
The new class of GLP-1 weight loss drugs have been blockbusters since they arrived on the market a few years ago. These medications have made tens of billions of dollars for drugmakers and have made their way into the public consciousness in a remarkable way.(Hogan, 11/26)
Near the end of every year, the carbon output data of the industries are published by My Green Lab, a non-profit organization that awards its coveted certificates to lab companies that demonstrate a commitment to a net zero carbon future. So, just how green are the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors? Well, certain companies have honorably low carbon outputs, but, according to the My Green Labs 2024 Carbon Impact of Biotech & Pharma Report, theres still plenty of work to be done to improve the sustainability of the industries supply chains. (Bear-McGuinness, 11/26)