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 is still shaping up, but we plan to indulge in a pastry tasting, continue our annual observance of ancient rituals, and hold another listening party, where the rotation will likely include this, this, this, this and this. And what about you? As noted previously, this is a marvelous time to enjoy the great outdoors. Apple orchards and pumpkin patches await. City streets beckon. And beaches and woodsy trails are closer than you think. You could also curl up with a good book if the weather fails to cooperate, tidy around your castle, or get a head start on a holiday shopping list — the economy could use a boost. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved another generic version of the mifepristone abortion pill, a regulatory formality that quickly triggered pushback from anti-abortion groups and politicians aligned with the Trump administration, the Associated Press writes. The move means that three American companies can now produce mifepristone for abortion. The agency approved the original pill 25 years ago and in 2019 approved the first generic version. The decision comes as anti-abortion activists have been urging the FDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to curtail access to abortion pills, which have been prescribed in increasing numbers in the years since the Supreme Court overturned the national right to abortion in 2022. The additional approval is unlikely to affect access to the pill, which is typically taken with another drug, misoprostol. The combination accounts for roughly two-thirds of all U.S. abortions.
Amgen reported that its cholesterol-lowering shot, Repatha, prevented a composite of heart disease death, heart attack, and the most common type of stroke in a 12,000-patient trial, STAT tells us. Analysts have said that the results of the study could help the drug, which has been available since 2015 to reduce cholesterol, reach a broader market. That represents a comeback story for a class of heart drugs known as PCSK9 inhibitors, which initially stumbled commercially despite expectations that they could become the biggest-selling medicines ever. In 2024, Repatha generated $2.2 billion in global sales, up 36% from the year before. Existing data for Repatha show that it reduces the risks of heart attacks and strokes in those who already have heart problems. Those patients are at higher risk. The drug works because of its ability to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or LDL-C, often called “bad cholesterol.” Amgen did not provide the full results of the study, called VESALIUS-CV, saying only that it had met its two primary goals.
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