ELI LILLY INSULIN VIAL SHORTAGE IMPACTS MILLIONS AMERICANS.
Eli Lilly announced a temporary shortage of its 10-milliliter vials of Humalog and insulin lispro injection due to a brief manufacturing delay, impacting availability at wholesalers and some pharmacies through early April. While prefilled pen versions remain accessible, the shortage poses challenges for over 8 million insulin-dependent Americans. The difficulty in switching insulin types or delivery methods exacerbates the situation for patients like Laura Marston, who relies on Humalog vials for her pump but faces insurance hurdles for alternatives. Lilly advises patients facing difficulties to consult healthcare providers for potential switches to prefilled pens or other insulin options and has highlighted a coupon program offering insulin at $35 for the uninsured. This shortage raises concerns about insulin supply stability, especially after recent price cuts and amidst growing demand for insulin and newer diabetes treatments. Lilly assures urgency in resolving the supply issue while analysts and industry experts express concerns over potential impacts on patient security and insulin access. (CNN)
CHICK-FIL-A REVISITS ANTIBIOTIC POLICY FOR CHICKEN SUPPLY.
Chick-fil-A announced it will modify its antibiotic policy for chicken in Spring 2024, stepping back from its 2014 pledge to serve only antibiotic-free chicken. The new policy, titled “No Antibiotics Important To Human Medicine” (NAIHM), permits the use of antibiotics only if necessary for the health of the animal. This decision aligns with FDA guidelines ensuring all antibiotics are cleared from the chicken’s system before it enters the supply chain, with compliance verified by USDA audits. This adjustment is motivated by concerns over the future availability of high-quality chicken that meets Chick-fil-A’s standards. By 2019, Chick-fil-A had achieved its goal of 100% antibiotic-free chicken across all restaurants, but this policy shift aims to maintain supply quality while still meeting customer expectations. The change follows similar moves by other companies, including Tyson Foods, indicating a broader industry trend away from strict “no antibiotics ever” pledges. (USA Today)
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INTELLIA EXITS HEMOPHILIA B CRISPR PROJECT WITH REGENERON.
Intellia Therapeutics has decided to step back from a collaborative hemophilia B program, leaving its partner Regeneron to continue the development of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing treatments for factor IX deficiencies. While Regeneron has been leading the initiative, Intellia’s withdrawal is not expected to significantly affect Regeneron’s operations or future plans, as confirmed by a spokesperson. This move frees Intellia from covering 35% of the program’s expenses but also from earning an equivalent share of potential profits. Nonetheless, Intellia is still entitled to up to $320 million in milestone payments and royalties. The decision does not affect other collaborative efforts between the two companies, including a promising phase 3 study on transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis led by Intellia, featuring the pioneering gene editing therapy NTLA-2001. The partnership, established in April 2016, has been pivotal in advancing gene editing therapies, with significant financial commitments and the prospect of substantial milestone and royalty payments. (Fierce Biotech)
PHOSPHINE ON VENUS STIRS DEBATE OVER EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE SIGNS.
In 2020, the discovery of phosphine on Venus suggested potential biological activity due to its known production by living organisms on Earth, sparking debates about life signs on other planets. However, the presence and implications of phosphine, and what it signifies about extraterrestrial life, remain controversial. This situation underscores the broader challenges in identifying biosignatures, or signs of life, on exoplanets. Scientists, grappling with the vast unknowns of exoplanet geology and chemistry, face the “problem of unconceived alternatives” โ the difficulty of ruling out non-biological explanations for observed phenomena. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has provided data on exoplanets like K2-18 b, indicating possible biosignatures such as dimethyl sulfide, though interpretations vary. Recent research emphasizes the complexity of definitively identifying biosignatures, suggesting that combinations of gases, rather than single gases, might be more reliable indicators of life. Yet, even this approach faces skepticism over the certainty of linking such signs to biological activity, illustrating the inherent challenges and uncertainties in the search for extraterrestrial life. This ongoing debate highlights the dynamic nature of astrobiology and the cautious approach needed in claiming evidence of life beyond Earth. (Quanta)
CERN LAUNCHES SHIP EXPERIMENT TO HUNT ‘GHOST’ PARTICLES.
CERN has initiated an experiment to search for elusive ‘ghost’ particles, hypothesized to make up a significant portion of the universe’s mass beyond the observable. The Standard Model of particle physics, which identifies 17 fundamental particles, fails to account for astronomical observations suggesting that visible matter constitutes only about 5% of the universe. The remaining 95% might be composed of ghost particles, which are challenging to detect due to their rare interactions with known particles. The new experiment, named the Search for Hidden Particles (SHiP), will employ a novel approach by crashing particles into a solid block, rather than colliding particles with each other. This method is expected to be a thousand times more sensitive than previous efforts, increasing the chances of observing the rare transformation of ghost particles into detectable Standard Model particles. SHiP is set to begin in 2030 and offers a more cost-effective avenue for groundbreaking discoveries in physics, complementing other projects like the Large Hadron Collider and the proposed Future Circular Collider. (BBC)
VERMONT CONSIDERS DIVERSIFYING WILDLIFE BOARD TO INCLUDE NON-HUNTERS.
Vermont legislators are considering a proposal to diversify the state’s board responsible for drafting hunting and fishing regulations by including non-hunters, sparking a significant debate between hunters and wildlife advocates. The current 14-member board, composed of hunters, trappers, and fishermen, may see an addition of members with different perspectives, such as wildlife watchers and photographers, to reflect a broader range of interests. Critics argue that the board has historically represented a narrow viewpoint, while proponents of the current system point to the success of Vermont’s game species management as evidence of its effectiveness. The proposed changes, which have evolved to seek “balanced viewpoints” and allow the governor to appoint most members, aim to democratize wildlife management. This move aligns with a broader national trend of challenging traditional wildlife management practices to include more compassionate and diverse approaches. The debate highlights tensions between traditional rural practices and progressive values, touching on issues of democracy, respect for different lifestyles, and the future of wildlife management in Vermont. (New York Times)
SOLAR STORM MAY BRING AURORAS TO US, SCOTLAND, AND AUSTRALIA.
Solar eruptions are sending a stream of particles towards Earth, resulting in the potential visibility of the aurora borealis in the US Midwest and Scotland, and the aurora australis in southern Australia. These natural light displays coincide with a penumbral lunar eclipse visible globally. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued an alert due to a severe solar storm, indicating possible visibility of the southern lights across Tasmania, Victoriaโs coastline, and Western Australia’s south-west coast. Coronal mass ejections from the sun cause these auroras, which are more vivid during severe solar storms and can extend visibility further from the poles. Such storms pose risks to power networks, satellites, astronauts, and high-flying aircraft due to the intense geomagnetic activity. Viewers are advised to seek dark, open locations away from city lights for the best chance to witness these phenomena. The current solar cycle, expected to peak earlier than the predicted 2025, enhances the likelihood of observing these events in the coming years. (The Guardian)
Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.
WORDS: The Biology Guy.
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