Recon: Vaping as good as drug for smoking cessation; FTC scrubbing Orange Book of device patents

• Why health care spending keeps climbing (STAT)
• Vaping is just as good as Chantix at helping people quit cigarettes, new study finds (STAT)
• Under pressure to thwart pharma patent abuse, the PTO proposes a new rule. But will it fly? (STAT)
• FDA places partial hold on BioNTech-MediLink ADC after multiple deaths (Endpoints)
• Teva in talks to settle US lawsuit alleging MS drug kickbacks (Reuters)
• J&J to seek appeal of $150M verdict in long-spanning HIV meds off-label marketing case (Fierce Pharma)
• AI and Adverse Events: Tech Not Ready For Prime Time For Case Safety Reports, US FDA Says (Pink Sheet)
• Scrub-a-Dub-Dub: FTC is Cleansing the Orange Book of Device Patents (FDA Law Blog)

• EMA & Health Canada Harmonize Anonymization Reporting For Clinical Trial Reports (Pink Sheet)
• First Drug Treatment For Myopia Among 14 New EU Filings (Pink Sheet)
• EU HTA Regulation: Guidance Released On Joint Clinical Assessment Scoping & Reporting (Pink Sheet)
• UK Early Access Scheme Treatments More Likely To Get Faster NICE Stamp Of Approval (Pink Sheet)

• Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s candidate, Bob Langer’s new startup, and other biotech news you need to know (STAT)
• AstraZeneca backs up Calquence's potential in mantle cell lymphoma with detailed data (Fierce Pharma)
• Aerovate’s stock craters after PAH drug fails Phase 2 study (Endpoints)
• Argenx drops post-Covid syndrome program; Mirum picks a dose for bile duct disease drug (Endpoints)
• Marinus reports mixed Phase 3 results on IV seizure drug (Endpoints)
• Deerfield backs $81M round for biotech developing antifungal therapy with less toxicity (Endpoints)

• Oncologists turn to blood test for circulating tumor DNA, but questions remain on how to use the data (STAT)
• PFA devices are changing AFib treatment. The next wave could grow the market further (MedTech Dive)
• Merit Medical recalls plastic syringes made by Jiangsu Shenli (MedTech Dive)
• Agilent to cut 3% of employees as sluggish lab equipment market persists (MedTech Dive)
• Teleflex catheter kit recall linked to 31 injuries, 3 deaths (MedTech Dive)
• Medtech group updates EtO standard for first time in 25 years (MedTech Dive)

• Bird flu snapshot: A critic of the U.S. response speaks out, and USDA tries to ‘corner the virus’ (STAT)
• Why a big California employer ditched Elevance for some of its health plans (STAT)
• Novo Nordisk CEO to testify in US Senate hearing on high cost of Ozempic, Wegovy (Reuters)