Health News Weekly Links, 3/17/2025
Microplastics Health Impacts; Skyrocketing Drug Prices; How to Prevent Mirror Life; The Weird Market for Obesity Drugs; New Fertility Tech; Downsizing Pharmacies; Graphic Health Warnings; MMR Vax FAQ!
The Macro Impacts of Microplastics:
“Microplastics can potentially cause disease in at least two ways. “One is by releasing toxic chemicals,” Landrigan said. “Another is simply by their sheer physical presence. The fact that these particles are sitting inside cells means that they have the potential to disrupt cellular function.””
“There are at least 16,000 chemicals in plastics. Nobody really knows [how many],” Landrigan said. “And the real kicker is that more than 80% of the chemicals in plastic have never been tested for toxicity.”
“From 2008 to 2021, launch prices for new drugs increased exponentially by 20% per year.”
“Prices increased by 11% per year even after adjusting for estimated manufacturer discounts and changes in certain drug characteristics, such as more oncology and specialty drugs (eg, injectables, biologics) introduced in recent years.”
“launch prices increased more quickly among biologics, drugs treating rare diseases, and nononcology drugs”
Policy Options to Prevent the Creation of Mirror-Life:
“Mirror life could proliferate throughout the biosphere and evade major components of natural hosts’ immune systems… mirror life could not be developed safely and could lead to the death of most complex life on earth…”
^DALL-E’s take on Mirror Life
“Domestic policy options could include executive branch statements and norm-building actions, a ban on federal funding of research toward the creation of mirror organisms, regulatory changes under the existing statutory authority in the federal select agent program and export controls, and legislation tailored to prohibiting and preventing the construction of mirror organisms.”
“Policy options in the international arena include bilateral and multilateral engagement; invoking and using the authorities of the Biological Weapons Convention, the Environmental Modification Convention, and the United Nations Security Council; and the development of a new treaty banning research into mirror organisms.”
The bizarre regulatory status and market for new obesity drugs.
“For the past three years, ~2 million people have taken complex peptides provided direct-to-consumer by a less-regulated supply chain, with barely a fig leaf of medical oversight, and it went great.”
CVS is rolling out downsized, streamlined stores with a focus on its core pharmacy business.
“National retail pharmacies are struggling to find a winning business model in an increasingly challenging environment.”
“About 80% of CVS Health's store revenue comes from its drug business, the Wall Street Journal reported…this makes sense as a way to optimize for the higher-margin business while benefiting from less expensive leases and smaller staff needed for a smaller store, Bonis said.”
Kenya sets precedent with graphic health warnings on vapes and nicotine pouches
“Kenya has now become the first African nation to mandate graphic health warnings on all emerging tobacco and nicotine products in a move that Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance CEO Thomas Lindi believes “sets a powerful precedent.” He praised the Kenyan government for "resisting” industry pressure and prioritizing public health…“These warnings will be instrumental in deterring potential users, especially youth who are often targeted with flavored products,” Lindi said.”
