01/01/25 - #295

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Costco Egg Recall for Salmonella Receives FDA's Most Severe Designation

  • Novo Nordisk Shares Plunge After CagriSema Obesity Drug Trial Disappoints

  • Key Warning Signs About Bird Flu Are All Going in the Wrong Direction

  • FDA Approves Generic Version of Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 Diabetes Drug Victoza

…and lots more. Have a great day!

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Costco Egg Recall for Salmonella Receives FDA's Most Severe Designation

If you've bought 24-count organic pasture-raised eggs from Costco, you need to know about a serious recall. These eggs are from the Kirkland Signature brand with a UPC code of 9661910680, a Julian code of 327, and a use-by date of January 5, 2025. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class I recall, which is the most serious type. This means eating these eggs could be very dangerous, and might even lead to death.

The recalled eggs were sent to 25 Costco stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. They should not have been sold because of a mistake in packaging by Handsome Brook Farms in New York.

If you have these eggs, take them back to Costco for a refund or throw them away to avoid getting sick. Symptoms of salmonella, like diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, usually show up a few days after eating contaminated food and can last about a week. In serious cases, the infection can spread and cause more severe health problems.

As of now, no one has reported getting sick from these eggs. Neither Costco nor the FDA has given more updates about this issue. Be sure to check your eggs and stay safe!

WEIGHT LOSS

Novo Nordisk Shares Plunge After CagriSema Obesity Drug Trial Disappoints

Novo Nordisk's stock price took a big hit after their new obesity drug, CagriSema, didn't do as well as expected. The company lost $125 billion in market value because the drug only helped patients lose 22.7% of their weight, not reaching the 25% goal.

This was a major setback for Novo Nordisk, as their stock fell by 27% in one day, one of the biggest losses for a European company in a single day. However, the company is still hopeful. Martin Holst Lange, a top executive at Novo Nordisk, said they were encouraged by the trial results and planned to run another trial in 2025.

The trial had about 3,400 participants. It aimed to see if CagriSema was better than Wegovy and could compete with Eli Lilly's Zepbound. Although it didn't meet the main goal, it still had the best results in a Phase 3 trial so far.

Investors were eager for this trial. They hoped it would confirm Novo Nordisk's strong position in the competitive obesity drug market. Even though the outcome was disappointing, some experts think the stock market overreacted. They believe CagriSema could still be successful in the long run. Novo Nordisk is continuing to work on the drug, hoping for better results and approval to sell it.

HEALTH

Key Warning Signs About Bird Flu Are All Going in the Wrong Direction

This year, bird flu has become a bigger worry. Experts have found the virus in unusual places like wastewater and milk. Although only 65 people in the U.S. have caught the virus so far, its spread to new areas is concerning.

Bird flu, known as H5N1, used to affect mostly birds, but now it’s been found in cows and even in water systems. This means the virus is spreading in ways we didn't expect before. The government has responded by starting to test the national milk supply to track the virus.

Most of the infected people were working with animals like chickens and cows. But there have been some cases where people got sick and we don't know how they caught the virus. This is confusing and alarming for experts.

The virus is also being found more in wastewater, showing that it's in more places than we thought. This is dangerous not just for animals, but for people too.

Studies show that the virus could start spreading to humans more easily with just a few changes in its genes. While this doesn't mean an outbreak among people is certain, it's a risk we can't ignore.

The CDC and other agencies are increasing their efforts to keep track of the virus through testing animals and checking places like wastewater. Even though there’s no vaccine for people yet, preparations are underway just in case.

It's important to watch how this virus is changing and moving. We need to be ready for what might come next.

FDA Approves Generic Version of Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 Diabetes Drug Victoza

The FDA has approved a cheaper version of the diabetes drug Victoza, which is great news for people who need this medication. The original drug, made by Novo Nordisk, has been hard to find because it’s in short supply. The new, generic version is made by Hikma Pharmaceuticals.

Victoza is a part of a drug family known as GLP-1 agonists. This group includes other important diabetes drugs: Ozempic and Wegovy. They have a key ingredient, semaglutide. These medicines are crucial for managing type 2 diabetes and are also used to help with weight loss in people with obesity.

Approving this generic drug means more people can get the medicine they need at a lower price. Earlier in the year, another company called Teva also released a generic version of Victoza in the U.S. to help with the shortage.

Victoza is an injection taken once a day and is approved for adults and kids 10 years and older. Since the patent for Victoza expired last year, there's been less demand for it because newer medicines that you take once a week have been developed. These new options are more effective for many patients.

The FDA’s move to approve a generic form of Victoza will help make sure more people can afford and access this important diabetes treatment. This is especially helpful for those who depend on it for their daily health needs.

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.