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, once again, is rather modest. We plan to check in on the Pharmalot ancestors, catch up on some reading, and watch some footie on the telly. And how about you? This remains a fine time to enjoy the great outdoors — leaves are turning colors, apples are dangling from orchards, and pumpkins are growing lonely in their patches waiting for visitors. You could boost the economy by purchasing a sweater or two. Or maybe convince someone to get vaccinated. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
An experimental antiviral pill reduced the chances that patients newly diagnosed with Covid-19 would be hospitalized by about 50%, a finding that could give doctors a desperately needed new way to treat the sick, STAT explains. A five-day course of molnupiravir, developed by Merck (MRK) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, reduced both hospitalization and death compared to a placebo. In the placebo group, 53 patients, or 14.1%, were hospitalized or died. For those who received the drug, 28, or 7.3%, were hospitalized or died. A simple oral medication to help treat Covid-19 has been an elusive goal since the start of the pandemic.
Top congressional Democrats are acknowledging for the first time that they will have to scale back their drug pricing plans to win centrist votes for their giant social spending package, Politico reports. The Democratic leadership may drop efforts to have the government directly negotiate the prices for medicines in private insurance plans and make fewer drugs subject to negotiations in Medicare, among the changes under consideration. This is a sign the drug industry is bending a potential compromise in favor of the pharmaceutical industry, which spent more than $171 million lobbying in the first half of this year.
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