The Daily Dose – This little piggy

Today’s dose is far-reaching, all the way from Greece to Pennsylvania, and from pigs on down to bacteria.


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— The Greek debt crisis has many on edge, including the pharmaceutical industry. Earlier this week, the Greek government introduced regulations that cut the price of more than 1500 drugs by over 20%, on average. Now, the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies warns that price drops could not only lead to drug shortages in Greece, but drive prices downward elsewhere, hurting the entire industry. (Pharmalot)

— To help get a handle on germs, one company has lent a hand by making an antibacterial glove. New Jersey-based Ansell has released an antimicrobial surgical glove, coated in the commonly used CHG (chlorhexidine gluconate), which can kill off more than 99% of HIV-1, Hepatitis C1, and eight common bacteria. (MedGadget)

— Researchers reported last month the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from pigs. In their study, porcine embryos were injected with human reprogramming factors, leading to 29 chimeric pig offspring with a variety of tissues. Because pigs are more closely related to humans than mice, the new iPSCs could prove better for research. That’ll do, pigs. That’ll do. (CNN)

— Following the recall of more than 40 medications by Johnson & Johnson, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now urging consumers to use generic versions of products like Children’s Tylenol. It’s yet another blow to J&J, after the FDA reportedly found grime at a Pennsylvania factory, along with ingredients contaminated by bacteria. (WSJ)

Image by stevendepolo via Flickr Creative Commons

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