- Anthrobots are biological robots, made from human cells, that “can be coached to do something they would never have done on their own.”
- A critical analysis of a proposal to abolish the FDA, by Scott Alexander.
- Blue cities are more segregated than the rest of America.
- A brief history of torture in judicial proceedings, including the modern era.
- Despite its being in place for more than half a century and directing more than a billion dollars annually, there is limited evidence of the Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) program’s effectiveness at reducing geographic disparities in access to care or health outcomes.
Category: Drug Prices & Regulations
Scientists Seek the Fountain of Youth, for Dogs and Humans
Dogs share greater genetic similarity to humans than other animal models that are routinely used for scientific research, such as rats. Dogs also share the same environment as humans, so they are a good subject to study for longevity. Dogs begin to experience many of the same age-related diseases as humans, including cancer, heart disease, renal failure, hip dysplasia, and others. According to the Wall Street Journal, scientists are studying dogs to learn more about human longevity and hopefully extend it.
Wednesday Links
- Lilly’s weight loss drug: if you stop taking it you will regain half the weight you have lost.
- Trump’s environmental record was surprisingly good.
- A typical couple reaching age 65 and retiring in 2020 has paid $680,000 in lifetime taxes. They can expect lifetime benefits of about $1.24 million. Most retiree couples are “Social Security millionaires,” regardless of other income and assets.
- One in four animals raised for food are never eaten.
- There are over 73,000 contract pharmacies that qualify for 340B discounts. Is anybody paying list price for these drugs?
That Cheap Drug From Mexico (or Bought Online) May Not Be What You Think
Years ago I crossed into Mexico from Weslaco, Texas. You could park on the U.S. side and walk across the bridge into Mexico. If you pull up Weslaco on Google Maps it lists eight different pharmacies or clinics within several blocks of the international border crossing. Google Maps does not always list every business. There are probably more than eight. As I recall there were rows of pharmacies. The storefronts were often narrow but deep. On one side of the pharmacy was cheap drugs while on the other side was cheap liquor.