Recon: Eli Lilly wins FDA nod for obesity therapy Zepbound; Fully synthetic genome nears completion

• Eli Lilly gets FDA approval to sell Mounjaro as obesity drug called Zepbound (STAT)
• Senator floats new models to manage costs of weight loss drugs like Ozempic (STAT)
• Republicans divided over financial crisis in Medicare (STAT)
• Senate panel clears PBM reforms, safety-net hospital payments (STAT)
• Weight loss drugs transforming healthcare, may help with addiction (Reuters)
• US Senator Elizabeth Warren expresses ‘disappointment’ in FTC’s Amgen decision (Reuters)

• Landmark legal case will claim the AstraZeneca vaccine was ‘defective’ (The Irish Independent)
• Sanofi plots exit as Nigeria operation struggles (Business Day)
• US Pharma Lobby Group Urges Japan to Stop Cutting Drug Prices (Bloomberg Law)
• Eli Lilly is still seeking UK approval on pen for weight-loss drug (Reuters)
• India’s Aurobindo Pharma posts jump in profit on strong overseas demand (Reuters)
• Merck KGaA tempers 2023 sales expectations after underwhelming third-quarter performance (Endpoints)
• BioNTech’s ‘extensive’ cancer pipeline comes into focus, with emphasis on ADCs (Endpoints)
• NICE backs use of hybrid closed loop systems for Type 1 diabetes, if companies offer discounts (MedTech Dive)

• AstraZeneca raises stakes in obesity drug race with Eccogene deal (Reuters)
• AstraZeneca spotlights bispecifics in cancer as it raises guidance, while pruning rare disease pipeline (Endpoints)
• Sanofi CEO defends company’s move to abandon profit guidance and boost research (STAT)
• Bayer’s new CEO signals business shake-up, plans to slash management (BioPharma Dive)
• Eli Lilly tries a rare tactic: competing on price (STAT)
• In the fight against cancer, it’s boom times for radiopharmaceuticals (STAT)
• Intellia plans to file IND for AATD trial next year; Ascidian raises $40M (Endpoints)
• Recursion and Bayer to wind down fibrosis R&D pact after three years, refocusing on cancer (Endpoints)
• Charles River’s CDMO business slows; Lilly boosts GLP-1 capacity; Teva’s Israel sites 'unaffected' (Endpoints)
• Novavax’s troubles continue as Covid vaccine maker plans another $300M+ in cost-cutting (Endpoints)
• Atara Biotherapeutics' stock drops nearly 50% after PhII trial fail in MS (Endpoints)

• Digital health startups need more doctor CEOs (STAT)
• Fully synthetic genome nears completion in a step toward unraveling genetic mysteries (Endpoints)
• J&J’s Ottava robot arriving too late to threaten Intuitive: analysts (MedTech Dive)
• Masimo lowers outlook, citing constrained hospital budgets (MedTech Dive)
• Siemens Healthineers’ Varian rebounds; execs mum on diagnostics sale rumors (MedTech Dive)
• Recor wins FDA approval for renal denervation system (MedTech Dive)

• Lawsuit Challenges Federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (MedPage Today)
• 25 attorneys general urge FDA to act fact to mitigate risk of racial bias in pulse oximetry (MedTech Dive)