Proposed $7.25B settlement to resolve weedkiller cancer lawsuits
Thousands of lawsuits in the U.S. allege that the agrochemical maker Bayer failed to warn people that its popular weedkiller Roundup could cause non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. While Bayer disputes the claim, the company recently agreed to a $7.25 billion settlement to resolve those lawsuits.
The settlement is pending approval by a Missouri court, and there is no guarantee it will go through. A previous attempt at a settlement in 2020 fell through after a judge raised concerns.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Bayer’s assertion that the EPA’s approval of Roundup without a cancer warning should invalidate any claims filed in state courts. The agreement, however, will not impact these proceedings.
360
A recent report from UCLA’s Williams Institute revealed that since the start of the Trump administration, around 360 federal data collections have removed gender identity or sexual orientation demographic measures. This includes national surveys, surveillance systems, and administrative records.
The removals were mainly related to gender identity data due to an executive order declaring only two sexes. However, some datasets also removed information on sexual orientation without such a directive. The report highlighted that 83% of the removals were done through non-substantive change requests, raising concerns about the impact on data collection and response to community needs.
One area where AI could play a significant role in healthcare is in helping oncologists determine the most effective treatment for patients. AI-powered digital pathology tools are being developed to provide more insights into tumors than what can be observed by human eyes. These tools hold promise in personalizing treatment plans for patients.
‘In general, we’ve been very pro vaccines … Now, you can never make everybody happy’
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary recently spoke at an event held by the pharmaceutical industry group PhRMA, where he discussed the agency’s approach to vaccine regulation. Makary’s comments differed from those of CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, who had a more positive stance towards vaccines.
Makary faced questions about the agency’s review of vaccines, including a recent controversy over Moderna’s application for a new flu shot. However, the FDA has since agreed to review the vaccine, reversing its previous stance.
Same blood test, different results
Patient advocate Samantha Bonsack highlighted the lack of standardization in the thyroid-stimulating hormone test, leading to varying results depending on the analyzing company. Despite the availability of a validated protocol to address this issue, manufacturers have not been required to recalibrate, resulting in inconsistent test results.
Bonsack emphasized the need for regulatory action to address this long-standing problem and ensure accurate test results for patients.
What we’re reading
- RFK Jr. claimed that keto diets cured schizophrenia. Here’s what science says, Washington Post
- 988 suicide hotline is getting more calls than ever. Many states have no clear plan to fund it, KCUR
- Opinion: I was a Moderna exec when the Covid vaccine rolled out. That spirit of possibility is no more, STAT
- Confessions of a brain-training dropout, Boston Globe
- Biotech startup raises $175 million to advance Alzheimer’s antibody therapy, STAT
