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How Big Pharma games the system — and keeps drugs prices high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:56 GMT

The pharmaceutical market is a strange beast.It’s governed by a complex system of rules that protect new branded drugs from unbranded rivals for a limited period of time, in order to keep these cheaper generic competitors at bay.But measures such as patents, market exclusivity and data protection — designed to give pharma companies the chance to recoup investment in a new drug — are being exploited by some Big Pharma to keep competitors out of the market far beyond the intended fixed period of around 15 years, argues the generics sector. Gaming the system is so common that it even has a name: Evergreening. It can add billions of euros to pharmaceutical companies’ balance sheets, and cost EU countries significantly in missed savings. Big Pharma strongly denies wrongdoing, but in a 2009 report, the European Commission highlighted the need for stronger enforcement of competition laws to prevent evergreening. However, little has changed.Now, the leaked draft of the EU’s pharmaceutical l...

Fast-spreading fire tears through Manchester, NH home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:56 GMT

A fire in a multi-family home in Manchester, New Hampshire sent residents and neighbors scrambling to safety Monday as fast moving flames spread, according to witnesses. One person suffered life-threatening injuries, officials said, and needed to be flown to a hospital in Boston for treatment.Officials said the fire broke out in a building on Walnut Street around 6 p.m. Monday. Multiple cell phone videos later showed smoke and flames rising from the building after witnesses said they saw the fire quickly climb up the side of the structure. In one video, part of the building can be seen collapsing, sending fire billowing further into the air.https://twitter.com/KimLucey/status/1645605287431135234Justin Dutton, who saw the fire, said the flames started on a small wooden porch and engulfed the home within minutes. Jack Walsh, another fire whiteness, said he saw people running as the fire took hold. “It’s crazy because you’re right there and you don’t kn...

Asian shares mostly higher after mixed day on Wall Street

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:56 GMT

By ELAINE KURTENBACH (AP Business Writer)Stocks were mostly higher in Asia on Tuesday after a mixed session on Wall Street dominated by speculation the Federal Reserve may tap the brakes again on financial markets and the economy by raising interest rates. Shares rose in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Shanghai. U.S. futures edged higher and oil prices also gained. Monday was the first U.S. trading day after the release of data showing a stronger than expected jobs market in March, which might keep inflation high. That has reinforced expectations the Fed may hike interest rates again at its next meeting. In Japan, the new central bank governor indicated late Monday that he expects to keep its ultra-low interest rate policy in place without drastic changes. Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda did say a long-term review of the policy, which is aimed at fostering stronger economic growth by keeping inflation near a target of 2%, might eventually be needed.“The upshot is that Governor Ueda ...

Driver killed in head-on crash in East County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:56 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A driver was killed in a two-vehicle crash Friday in the rural East County area, authorities said.The collision occurred around 2:25 p.m. on Buckman Springs Road, located north of Corral Canyon Road, Officer Jared Grieshaber with the California Highway Patrol said in a news release Monday.According to law enforcement, a 35-year-old man driving a white 2015 Toyota Tacoma was traveling northbound on Buckman Springs Road, when the car crossed over into the southbound lane and slammed into the front of an oncoming maroon 1997 Toyota Tacoma driven by a 62-year-old man. The maroon Tacoma also was carrying a 59-year-old woman in the front passenger seat. At least 1 killed after semi-truck crash in Encinitas The 62-year-old man died from his injuries while the 35-year-old man and 59-year-old woman suffered major injuries and were taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital, Grieshaber confirmed.The identity of the deceased has not been released at this time.It is unknown if driving un...

SDG&E submits rate reform proposal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:56 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A new proposal from San Diego Gas and Electric has been sent to the California Public Utilities Commission, asking to reorganize the way bills are paid.SDG&E is pushing forward a graduated billing system offering to lowering the bills of low- and moderate-income rate payers while raising bills of people making more than $180,000 a year."We're going to be able to save low- and middle-income customers up to $300 per year on their energy bill by taking this approach," said Scott Krider, a senior vice president from SDG&E. "At number two, this is going to provide better predictability that you're going to see that customers could see less volatility and less big swings in their energy bills, especially in the summertime."Flat base fees are also being proposed, meaning solar users would find themselves paying for their solar panels and an unexpected fee as well.“Our perspective is that solar customers are still going to be able to save compared to not having solar,” ...

Oregon trooper finds driver held at gunpoint; suspect dead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:56 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon State Police trooper exchanged gunfire with a man who was holding the driver of a semitrailer at gunpoint Monday morning along Interstate 5 in Salem, leaving the suspect dead, authorities said.Trooper Andrew Tuttle stopped to help the driver of the disabled semitrailer at about 8:45 a.m. when he noticed the gunman, who immediately began shooting at the trooper, the Salem Police Department said in a news release. Tuttle returned fire and the gunman ran into tall grass along the interstate, where he was found with gunshot injuries, the statement said. He died at the scene despite unspecified medical assistance, police said.Police identified the man as Felipe Amezcua Manzo, 31.A vehicle connected with Manzo was found at the scene and searched after police got a warrant. Officials did not disclose if anything relevant to the shooting was found inside Manzo’s car.Police said Tuttle suffered a minor injury. He is currently on administrative leave, which is sta...

Colombian convicted for racism directed at nation’s Black VP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:56 GMT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A 62-year-old woman was convicted of discrimination and harassment on Monday for making racist comments about Colombia’s first Black vice president during an antigovernment protest last year.Luz Fabiola Rubiano pleaded guilty to the charges and will be sentenced by the judge on May 30. In Colombia, acts of discrimination are punishable with up to three years in prison, though judges can replace prison time with parole or house arrest.The small business owner from Bogota went viral in September after she railed against Vice President Francia Márquez on a video published by a local news site. Rubiano was protesting in front of Colombia’s congress and responded to a question from a journalist by hurling insults against Márquez and Afro-Colombians.“Apes are now governing us,” Rubiano said in the video, which is still available on Twitter, but was censored by other platforms. “Francia Márquez is an ape … what education can Black people have, they steal, atta...

Australian lawmaker breaks ranks to support Indigenous Voice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:56 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A senior lawmaker split from Australia’s opposition party leadership Tuesday by supporting the government’s proposal to create a so-called Indigenous Voice to Parliament.Australians are expected to vote sometime between October and December on whether to create the Voice, an elected group that would be charged with advocating Indigenous interests to Parliament but would not have a vote on laws.Julian Leeser resigned as the conservative Liberal Party’s Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians so he could advocate for creating the Voice. As a member of the Shadow Cabinet, Leeser had been obliged to oppose constitutional change.“I believe the time for the Voice has come,” Leeser told reporters. “I believe in a national voice, drawn from local and regional bodies, and l will support the referendum being put this year.”Opposition leader Peter Dutton had been criticized for his insistence that senior lawmakers follow the party...

Cruise recalls robotaxi software after car crashes into San Francisco bus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:56 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Cruise, the self-driving robotaxi service in San Francisco, has recalled the software on their autonomous cars after a collision that happened in March.While tech experts tell Nexstar's KRON the recall is good, what prompted was alarming.Last month, a Cruise self-driving robotaxi crashed into a San Francisco city bus. "Fender benders like this rarely happen to our [autonomous vehicles], but this incident was unique," founder and CEO Kyle Vogt said Friday. "We do not expect our vehicles to run into the back of a city bus under any conditions, so even a single incident like this was worthy of immediate and careful study."He went on to note the "bus's behavior was reasonable and predictable," and that the Cruise vehicle "did break in response" but "too late and rear-ended the bus at about 10 mph.""The Muni bus has an unusual shape because it is two sections, so the movement was not something it had in its scenarios," San Jose State University professor and tech ...

In front of record crowd at Bobcat Ballpark, No. 19 Texas tops Texas State 5-2

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:56 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — No. 19 Texas scored three runs in the third inning to roll in a 5-2 win over Texas State on Monday at Bobcat Ballpark.Longhorns second baseman Jack O'Dowd drove in two runs with a single through the left side of the infield to score Porter Brown and Rylan Galvan in the third inning. He had two hits in both of his official at-bats with a walk.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersGalvan walked with the bases loaded to start the scoring for Texas in the third. The Longhorns didn't score again until Jalin Flores hit a 2-run double to left field in the eighth inning to plate Jayden Duplantier and Galvan.Jarrell native Kobe Minchey picked up his first win of the season after three innings on the mound. He faced 14 batters and allowed three hits with four strikeouts and a walk in his first career start. Heston Tole, Chris Stuart and Zane Morehouse all pi...