Brenda Fitzgerald, who has faced questions about conflicts of interest since taking the helm at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has resigned. She’s the Trump administration’s second high-profile health official to step down. (Axios)
Privacy experts say Amazon’s healthcare venture for employees, which the ecommerce giant announced on Tuesday with partners Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan, raises concerns about how personal data is collected and used. (Washington Post)
During his first State of the Union address, President Donald Trump spoke about making lower drug prices a “priority” for the year, adding, “Prices will come down,” although he did not offer any details on how his administration will pursue that goal. He also commented on broader access to novel clinical trial drugs. (Modern Healthcare)
The FDA on Tuesday took steps regarding OTC loperamide, the active ingredient in diarrhea drugs including generics and the brand Imodium A-D, requesting manufacturers limit packages to a short-term dose. Evidence has suggested such limits may stem an increase in abuse seen with the medication among those addicted to opioids. (FDA)
As World Cancer Day and the Super Bowl approach on Sunday, Merck, along with Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, launched a social awareness effort to raise funds to support cancer patient organizations. The 30-day effort, dubbed Your Cancer Game Plan Challenge, is part of a larger resource from the drugmaker and the cancer advocacy community. (Merck)
