Biology Digest

SAN RAFAEL, California, April 11 (Reuters) - As the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, a California county is using the same wastewater monitoring program it used to track the coronavirus to go after another deadly public health crisis: opioids. Marin County, north of San Francisco, began a pilot program in February to collect wastewater samples from its sanitation agency and test them for the presence of substances like fentanyl, methamphetamines, cocaine, and nicotine. Local authorities hope the data could be beneficial in assisting prevention and intervention efforts. For example, if there is an abundance of opioids present in the samples, they could boost the distribution of Narcan, which rapidly reverses the effects of the illegal drug, especially when given within minutes of the first signs of an overdose. "The problem of overdose is a public health crisis. We're losing one resident every five days in Marin County," said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County's public health offic

 As if partaking in the powerful drug it aggressively marketed, being at the forefront of the opioid boom was a dizzying high for Purdue Pharma. But it ultimately proved crippling for the manufacturer of OxyContin. On Tuesday, the company revealed that its bankruptcy plan has received “overwhelming support.” The move will allow Purdue to settle thousands of lawsuits it faced over its role in helping trigger and fuel the opioid crisis. Among nearly 5,000 state and local creditors, 97% voted to accept the chapter 11 reorganization plan. A confirmation hearing is set for Aug. 9. “This is an unprecedented expression of support for a restructuring of this size and complexity, in favor of a plan that will provide needed resources to those affected by the opioid crisis,” Purdue Pharma CEO Steve Miller said in a release. The vote came less than three weeks after 15 states signed off on Purdue’s controversial plan, which would transform the company into a nonprofit in exchange for excusing it f

While COVID-19 dominated headlines last year, an epidemic of overdoses roiled quietly in the background. Amid the pandemic, U.S. officials recorded the highest tally of drug overdose deaths ever over a 12-month period, with the vast majority stemming from opioids. Now, Emergent BioSolutions has joined forces with a syndicate of nonprofits—plus a former Congresswoman, a prominent lifestyle influencer and an NFL tight end—to shine a spotlight on the overdose crisis. The campaign, called Reverse the Silence,  debuted  on July 26 and features an unbranded website, plus nationwide television and radio spots that aim to address the stigma surrounding opioid overdoses, which are often accidental, Emergent said in a release. Four advocacy groups, led by former Congresswoman Mary Bono, have joined the Emergent-sponsored campaign. Emergent makes the popular overdose reversal drug Narcan, a nasal spray version of the opioid antagonist naloxone. Each person who takes part in the overdose discussio

NEW YORK, June 26 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson  (JNJ.N)  said on Saturday it will pay $263 million to resolve claims it fueled an opioid epidemic in New York state and two of its largest counties. The settlements remove the drugmaker from a jury trial scheduled to begin on Tuesday on Long Island, where several big opioid makers and distributors are also defendants. Johnson & Johnson did not admit liability or wrongdoing in settling with New York state, and with Nassau and Suffolk counties. The $229.9 million state settlement also calls for J&J to stop selling the painkillers nationwide. “The opioid epidemic has wreaked havoc" across the nation, New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. "Johnson & Johnson helped fuel this fire." She said her focus remains "getting funds into communities devastated by opioids as quickly as possible." J&J said the settlements were consistent with its prior agreement to pay $5 billion to sett