Substances acting on opioid receptors; medical pain relief and opioid use disorder therapies.
New LiBBY trial data shows a THC-CBD oral formulation reduced agitation in late-stage dementia, with about 84% improving within two weeks and roughly 90% showing overall improvement after 12 weeks. Results emerged from 120 participants; placebo showed far fewer improvements. Experts call the results promising for end-of-life care, though officials note the treatment differs from consumer cannabis products.
A body of studies is showing that a blood marker called p-tau217 can forecast an elevated risk of cognitive impairment in healthy older adults years before symptoms appear. The evidence is not yet clinical-ready, but it is guiding trials that aim to slow or prevent Alzheimer’s disease and is being tested in Scotland’s primary care setting.
The U.S. Department of Justice and Walmart have reached a settlement over claims that Walmart pharmacies violated the Controlled Substances Act by failing to report red flags tied to opioid prescriptions. Walmart has not admitted liability. The settlement resolves claims from 2013 onward, with earlier related actions already settled in 2022. Walmart shares edged higher after the announcement.
The UN Special Rapporteur has concluded that US strikes on 68 vessels in international waters since September last year have killed at least 223 people and may constitute crimes against humanity. The report says self-defence claims are not supported by evidence, and calls for investigations and accountability.
The Justice Department has reached a settlement with CVS over a 2024 lawsuit that accused the company of dispensing large quantities of opioids and other controlled substances to fuel profits, sidelining public health. The agreement requires additional safeguards to ensure prescriptions are medically appropriate, with no admission of wrongdoing by CVS.