Bayer’s top U.S. pharmaceutical executive said the company plans to spend $1 billion on U.S. pharma research and development this year. Bayer is looking to build up its portfolio of new drugs as it hopes to improve share prices, which have been hit by concerns over litigation surrounding weedkiller Roundup and a lack of trust in the company’s leadership. (Reuters)
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla maxed out campaign contributions to Dr. Oz ahead of midterm elections. Bourla, who is the treasurer of the brand-drug lobby PhRMA’s board of directors, gave Oz $2,900 on Aug. 12; the maximum allowed for an individual. (STAT News)
Scientists have revived a ‘zombie’ virus that spent 48,500 years frozen in permafrost. Chemical and radioactive waste that dates back to the Cold War, which has the potential to harm wildlife and disrupt ecosystems, may also be released during thaws. (CNN)
Long COVID patients face medical debt after insurance denies claims. Millions in the U.S. are out of work because of severe long COVID symptoms, and many are struggling to pay their medical bills. (NBC News)
Covis Pharma, the maker of unproven birth drug Makena, said it will pull the treatment from the U.S. market. The drug, Makena, is a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone, which is needed to maintain a pregnancy. It’s the only drug with FDA approval to reduce the risk of premature birth. (Associated Press)
