Abortion continues to play a key role in the lead-up to November’s elections, the Lykos CEO resigns following the Food and Drug Administration’s rejection of the company’s MDMA-assisted therapy application, mpox vaccines hit the ground in the Congo and a push to expand methadone access runs into a roadblock.
Eyes on abortion
Abortion access remains a central campaign issue. My colleague, Alice Miranda Ollstein, details the experience of one doctor who had to travel from her conservative state to Delaware for abortion training — and had to pull together several grants and scholarships to the cover $8,000 for a flight, hotel, rental car, medical licensing fees, malpractice insurance and background check. The training wasn’t required, but she felt it was a “moral imperative” — as many doctors who make the trip do.
Meanwhile, pressure from anti-abortion groups is also ramping up for Donald Trump’s campaign. The Republican presidential nominee said he would vote against an abortion ballot measure in his home state of Florida after signaling that he might not. But anti-abortion activists — worried by Trump’s “leave-it-to-the-states” position — weren’t placated. They’re now calling for a promise from Trump to staff his administration with abortion opponents if he wins, Alice reports.
Another setback for Lykos
Lykos Therapeutics is still recovering from an FDA decision to reject its application to offer the psychedelic drug MDMA as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Now, it’s also dealing with a major transition.
CEO Amy Emerson is leaving, POLITICO’s Erin Shumaker reports. Emerson’s departure comes after the company cut 75 percent of its staff and Rick Doblin, who led the push for MDMA-assisted therapy, left its board.
The fight against mpox
After months of delay over bureaucratic issues, 99,000 mpox vaccines have arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help stem the outbreak of the virus’ deadly Ib variant — different from the clade 2b variant that led to the 2022 outbreak in the U.S.
The vaccines come after the variant has recently spread outside of the African continent, including to Europe, your host reports with POLITICO’s Carmen Paun. And it could still be weeks until the vaccines are deployed.
The methadone fight
Expanding methadone access to allow the medication to be dispensed outside of clinics has garnered bipartisan support in the Senate, Carmen reports. But some, including many directors at methadone clinics and enough Republicans to stall the bill, fear expanded access would actually worsen the opioid crisis because of the drug’s potential for abuse.
This week’s essential health news
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September 12, 2024 3:24 am
Abortion continues to play a key role in the lead-up to November’s elections, the Lykos CEO resigns following the Food and Drug Administration’s rejection of the company’s MDMA-assisted therapy application, mpox vaccines hit the ground in the Congo and a push to expand methadone access runs into a roadblock.
Eyes on abortion
Abortion access remains a central campaign issue. My colleague, Alice Miranda Ollstein, details the experience of one doctor who had to travel from her conservative state to Delaware for abortion training — and had to pull together several grants and scholarships to the cover $8,000 for a flight, hotel, rental car, medical licensing fees, malpractice insurance and background check. The training wasn’t required, but she felt it was a “moral imperative” — as many doctors who make the trip do.
Meanwhile, pressure from anti-abortion groups is also ramping up for Donald Trump’s campaign. The Republican presidential nominee said he would vote against an abortion ballot measure in his home state of Florida after signaling that he might not. But anti-abortion activists — worried by Trump’s “leave-it-to-the-states” position — weren’t placated. They’re now calling for a promise from Trump to staff his administration with abortion opponents if he wins, Alice reports.
Another setback for Lykos
Lykos Therapeutics is still recovering from an FDA decision to reject its application to offer the psychedelic drug MDMA as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Now, it’s also dealing with a major transition.
CEO Amy Emerson is leaving, POLITICO’s Erin Shumaker reports. Emerson’s departure comes after the company cut 75 percent of its staff and Rick Doblin, who led the push for MDMA-assisted therapy, left its board.
The fight against mpox
After months of delay over bureaucratic issues, 99,000 mpox vaccines have arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help stem the outbreak of the virus’ deadly Ib variant — different from the clade 2b variant that led to the 2022 outbreak in the U.S.
The vaccines come after the variant has recently spread outside of the African continent, including to Europe, your host reports with POLITICO’s Carmen Paun. And it could still be weeks until the vaccines are deployed.
The methadone fight
Expanding methadone access to allow the medication to be dispensed outside of clinics has garnered bipartisan support in the Senate, Carmen reports. But some, including many directors at methadone clinics and enough Republicans to stall the bill, fear expanded access would actually worsen the opioid crisis because of the drug’s potential for abuse.