‘Massive’ 5th Wave? Purdue Pharma Settlement Nixed; EU Allows Pfizer’s COVID Pill

Germany’s health minister warned that Omicron will result in a “massive fifth wave” of the pandemic. (Reuters)

In the U.S., New York state is already having it particularly bad, as Omicron piles on Delta. (Bloomberg)

A federal judge tossed Purdue Pharma‘s restructuring settlement because it freed certain Sackler family members from liability in civil opioid cases. (New York Times)

The Biden administration plans to funnel nearly $3 billion in infrastructure bill funds toward removing lead pipes to improve drinking water quality. (AP)

As of 8 a.m. EST on Friday, the unofficial COVID-19 toll in the U.S. was 50,513,437 cases and 803,652 deaths, increases of 138,883 and 1,141, respectively, from the same time yesterday.

A Danish study found that Moderna’s vaccine was tied to a significantly greater risk of heart inflammation versus Pfizer’s, particularly for those ages 12 to 39, but the absolute risk remained low. (The BMJ)

Meanwhile, Pfizer announced it filed for full FDA approval of its vaccine for adolescents ages 12 to 15. (Reuters)

AstraZeneca said its monoclonal antibody therapy tixagevimab-cilgavimab (Evusheld) held up in lab studies against Omicron, while Regeneron reported “diminished potency” for REGEN-COV. (Washington Post)

The U.S. is loading up on another of these antibody therapies. (Washington Post)

Speaking of Omicron, we know it spreads twice as fast as Delta, but what will come next with this variant? (New York Times)

The Biden administration asked the Supreme Court to revive its nationwide COVID vaccine mandate for healthcare workers; the CMS rule was frozen after challenges in two dozen states. (Politico)

American Airlines’ and Southwest’s CEOs said they both weren’t sold over passengers masking up on planes, saying masks likely don’t do much due to the “very high quality” of cabin air. (CNN)

Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill got a thumbs up for emergency use from EU regulators, while the controversial Alzheimer’s treatment aducanumab (Aduhelm) got a thumbs down. (Reuters, Bloomberg)

The Oregon Legislature pledged a whopping $25 million to crack down on illegal marijuana farms. (AP via ABC News)

103: that’s the number of Marines that were given the boot after refusing to get vaccinated. (Politico)

NIH’s COVID-19 treatment guidelines underwent a minor overhaul — see what’s new.

Officials in the Congo declared an end to the Ebola outbreak that started in October and killed at least six people. (AP)

Colorado announced a new law for 2022 that will help step up its efforts against the illegal distribution of fentanyl, following new CDC data detailing the spike in fentanyl overdoses. (AP, MedPage Today)

The FDA approved ferric carboxymaltose injection (Injectafer) for kids ages 1 year and up who have iron deficiency anemia and are intolerant or don’t adequately respond to oral iron, Daiichi Sankyo and American Regent announced.

The CDC started to dole out free at-home testing kits to international travelers at certain airports as they enter the U.S. (USA Today)

Are millions of migrants being passed over for vaccination over legal fears? (Reuters)

A coroner ruled that all 10 of the deaths at Travis Scott’s Astroworld concert were due to compression asphyxia. (New York Post)