STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Lilly ‘black market’ lawsuits, pushback over Trump vaccine plan, and more

Hello, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you, especially since the middle of the week is upon us. After all, we have made it this far so we are determined to hang on for another couple of days. And why not? The alternatives — at least those we can identify — are not so appetizing. And what better way to make the time fly than to keep busy. So grab that cup of stimulation and get started. Our flavor today is butter pecan, a pantry favorite. We hope you have a lovely day, and do keep in touch. … A group of physicians and experts in Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare disease that causes an insatiable desire to eat, notified clinicians of a series of patient deaths and cases of severe side effects potentially associated with Vykat XR, a newly approved drug sold by Neurocrine Biosciences, STAT reports. Vykat was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year, but since then, seven people prescribed the drug have died, according to the FDA’s Adverse Event Monitoring System. And more than 100 reports of serious adverse events, mostly cases of patients hospitalized for swelling, respiratory, and heart complications, have been reported to the FDA. Eli Lilly filed six lawsuits against U.S. companies it accuses of illegally selling black-market versions of its experimental obesity drug retatrutide, escalating its campaign against unauthorized sellers before the medicine has won regulatory approval, Reuters says. The drugmaker said the lawsuits target a ​range of businesses, including compounding pharmacies, medical spas, and online sellers that allegedly marketed retatrutide ​products to consumers despite the drug remaining under clinical development. Retatrutide is still in ⁠Phase 3 clinical trials for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other related conditions. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe