'Pink tape' at the FDA holds up new contraception options; premature deaths and party affiliation

Expert opinion and perspective curated by First Opinion editor Patrick Skerrett ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Sponsored by   This week in First Opinion, authors exposed the FDA's "pink tape" delaying access to contraception, explored the connection between premature death in counties and party-line voting for president and governor, identified the need for additional and better wastewater monitoring, and more. If you are hankering to write a First Opinion, or have an idea for an essay, please send it to first.opinion@statnews.com. 'Pink tape' at the FDA is delaying access to contraception — again By Dana Singiser Adobe The FDA's foot dragging on approving over-the-counter oral contraception harkens back to its delays in approving Plan B. Read More A growing gap in premature deaths along party lines underscores the collision of politics and public health By Haider J. Warraich Drew Angerer/Getty Images Between 2001 to 2019, people in Republican-voting counties were more like to die prematurely than those in Democratic-voting counties. Read More Sponsor content by Johnson & Johnson MedTech Empowering medtech to reimagine wellness in every-body As medicine continues to grapple with pervasive medical conditions that impact many lives, medtech provides an integrated approach that combines medical technology, software and biopharmaceuticals to rethink how we treat complex diseases. A medtech-led approach has the potential to transform the way care is delivered and enhance patient outcomes, but it will require unprecedented levels of industry collaboration. Learn how we're forging a new future through this important space. Wastewater monitoring: how to strengthen and sustain an important public health tool By Aparna Keshaviah and Megan Diamond Adobe Health agencies must do a better job of using data generated by wastewater monitoring, and local agencies need more support for surveillance. Read More Waiving intellectual property rights is a flawed solution to achieving Covid-19 vaccine equity By Thomas B. Cueni David Goldman/AP Given the abundance of Covid-19 vaccine doses, a proposal to waive intellectual property rights for making them is puzzling. Read More It's time to move past Aduhelm and focus on a broader Alzheimer's drug pipeline By Howard M. Fillit Adobe Alzheimer's is not a one-cause-explains-all disease. That's why researchers must take a broader and more diverse approach finding new therapies. Read More FDA user fee legislation needs to mitigate the pharmaceutical industry's carbon pollution By David Introcaso KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images The reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act must not ignore the pharmaceutical industry's contributions to the climate crisis. Read More STAT+: How the U.S. can mitigate and prevent medical device shortages By Michael J. Alkire and Soumi Saha Mario Tama/Getty Images The public and private sectors must collaborate to develop better ways to predict and prevent the disruption of medical device supplies. Read More Pursuit of profits is driving drug companies to break the 340B law By Maureen Testoni Adobe Seventeen drug companies are flouting the 340B law that helps safety-net and rural hospitals treat low-income and underserved patients. Read More Sunday, June 12, 2022       1 Exchange Pl, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02109 ©2022, All Rights Reserved. I no longer wish to receive STAT emails Update Email Preferences | Contact Us | View In Browser