Kenvue’s stock price spiked after reports that activist investor Starboard Value took a “sizable stake” in the consumer health company. This came one week after Starboard disclosed a $1 billion stake in Pfizer. (Yahoo! Finance)
Eli Lilly continued its legal action against entities distributing copycat weight-loss drugs. The pharma giant sued three medical spas and online vendors for selling products claiming to contain tirzepatide, the main ingredient in its popular weight-loss medicine Zepbound, including in the form of dissolvable tablets. (Reuters)
Johnson & Johnson’s ketamine-derived drug has taken off. Tens of thousands of prescriptions are now being filled each month for ketamine-derived Spravato for depression. (The Wall Street Journal)
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has aspirations to receive a top-ranking job if former President Donald Trump wins the presidential election – worrying many health leaders, even those in the Republican Party. His ascension in Trump’s orbit has triggered alarm from leaders in the industry and even from some former GOP health officials who fear that Kennedy’s history of vaccine skepticism could delegitimize Trump’s genuine health care goals. (STAT News)
Big Pharma has donated large amounts to campaigns of several Illinois members of Congress. Among the drug companies to contribute campaign money to U.S. Reps. Brad Schneider, Robin Kelly and Darin LaHood are several firms accused of helping to fuel the opioid crisis that’s claimed more than 500,000 lives in the U.S. from overdoses. (Chicago Sun-Times)
Click here to view yesterday’s Five things for pharma marketers to know.
