Latest news with #Tylenol
Global News
18 hours ago
- Health
- Global News
Alberta strikes deal to off-load remaining controversial children's pain medicine
Three years after Alberta's government paid $70 million for children's pain and fever medicine, its front-line health provider says it has worked out a deal to off-load what remains of the controversial stockpile. Alberta Health Services spokeswoman Kristi Bland, in a Friday statement, confirmed the medicine is being donated to the charity group Health Partners International of Canada to distribute to 'vulnerable communities worldwide.' 'Preliminary shipments of products have started to leave Alberta, and additional shipments will happen in the coming months,' she wrote. Jackie Cousins, president of Health Partners, said the group works with others to ship medicine where it is needed, and that donations of medicine could end up in more than one country. In an email, she said some of the Alberta medicine would be sent to war-torn Ukraine. Story continues below advertisement 1:46 Alberta government looks to recoup $80M from children's medicine shipment The medication has proven to be problematic for Premier Danielle Smith's government. It struck a deal for the medicine three years ago to fill a gap during the COVID-19 pandemic. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Alberta paid $70 million to MHCare Medical for the medication in 2022 during a countrywide shortage. The province only received about 30 per cent of the shipment, and it has sat on 1.4 million bottles since the spring of 2023 after front-line health staff reported problems, including that the medicine's thicker consistency risked clogging feeding tubes. View image in full screen The government of Alberta paid more than $70 million for 1.4 million bottles of children's pain medicine in 2022, during a countrywide shortage, but was forced to stop distributing the medicine when health care workers raised safety concerns. Government of Alberta At an unrelated news conference Friday, Opposition NDP finance critic Court Ellingson said the government 'refuses' to take responsibility for the medicine and has 'no plan' to recoup funds. Story continues below advertisement 'That somebody is able to make use of this Tylenol somewhere, I'm going to say that that is a good thing, but there are so many other challenges there,' he said. '(Smith's government members) need to acknowledge that they were the ones that made these inappropriate decisions, that we're still on the hook for (product) — that we did not get product, and we don't know if that money is coming back.' Smith hinted in March that her government was working on a deal to send scores of the medication elsewhere. At that time, then-health minister Adriana LaGrange called the medications 'good quality drugs' and said it bothered her that they were going unused. The government has said it's still looking to get its money's worth by working with MHCare to import other medications to fulfill the $70-million deal. 0:40 Alberta Health Minister confirms new procurement of children's medicine will be at average retail price MHCare has since became embroiled in a provincial contracting and conflict of interest scandal after the former head of Alberta Health Services filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the province. Story continues below advertisement In the lawsuit, which hasn't been tested in court, Athana Mentzelopoulos alleges she was fired for looking into inflated government contracts awarded to private surgical companies. The lawsuit mentions MHCare multiple times, but the company is not named as a defendant. MHCare has said any allegations of wrongdoing on its part are 'unwarranted and unjustified.' The allegations have prompted numerous internal and external investigations, including by the RCMP.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Bacteria can turn plastic waste into a painkiller
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Tylenol could potentially be made greener and cheaper with the help of bacteria. Scientists were able to use a bacterial chemical reaction to convert a plastic water bottle into paracetamol with no environmental strain. This development could alter the way drugs are produced and provide a much-needed solution to the plastic pollution problem. The bacteria Escherichia coli or common in the gut microbiome, can be used to break down plastic into paracetamol, according to a study published in the journal Nature Chemistry. Paracetamol, or acetaminophen, is the main active ingredient in the painkiller Tylenol. It is generally produced using fossil fuels, namely crude oil, which has been known to worsen climate change. But "by merging chemistry and biology in this way for the first time, we can make paracetamol more sustainably and clean up plastic waste from the environment at the same time," said Stephen Wallace, a professor at the University of Edinburgh and the lead author of the study, to The Guardian. The researchers triggered a chemical reaction in known as the Lossen rearrangement that "until now had only been observed in test tubes," said Spanish newspaper El País. The was genetically modified to be able to break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic used in food packaging and bottles, and ultimately produce paracetamol. This process can occur at room temperature and produces no carbon emissions. "It enables, for the first time, a pathway from plastic waste to paracetamol, which is not possible using biology alone, and it's not possible using chemistry alone," Wallace said to Science News. While it will take time before the painkiller can be widely produced using this method, "this could mark part of a broader shift toward more sustainable, biology-based manufacturing practices, both in the pharmaceutical industry and in plastic recycling," El País said. Plastic waste has been known to harm the environment and can pollute waterways and leach chemicals into the ecosystem. Microplastics have also been found almost everywhere on Earth and in our bodies. "I genuinely think this is quite an exciting sort of starting point for plastic waste upcycling," Wallace said. PET plastic "creates more than 350 million tons of waste annually," said a news release about the study. While PET recycling is possible, "existing processes create products that continue to contribute to plastic pollution worldwide." This research could be the solution to the pollution. The study's findings indicate that "PET plastic isn't just waste or a material destined to become more plastic," Wallace said in the release. "It can be transformed by microorganisms into valuable new products, including those with potential for treating disease." This is not the first time bacteria have been used to break down plastic, and it likely will not be the last. However, the ability to create medicine from plastic introduces a fresh area of research. "Based on what we've seen, it's highly likely that many — or even most — bacteria can perform these kinds of transmutations," Wallace said. "This opens up a whole new way of thinking about how we might use microbes as tiny chemical factories."
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Kenvue Releases Second Annual Healthy Lives Mission Report Highlighting Progress in Reducing Emissions and Advancing More Sustainable Product Innovation
Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE), maker of iconic brands such as Neutrogena®, Listerine®, Aveeno®, and Tylenol®, today released its second Healthy Lives Mission Report. The report shares how Kenvue has helped advance the well-being of both people and planet in 2024, with progress noted across three pillars: Healthy People, Healthy Planet, and Healthy Practice. 'Having some of the most recognizable consumer brands in the world gives us a tremendous opportunity to create a positive impact for the millions of people we touch every day,' said Thibaut Mongon, Chief Executive Officer, Kenvue. 'Whether improving our packaging to be more sustainable, advancing the decarbonization of our operations, or giving back to our communities, our sustainability strategy is helping meet customer and consumer expectations, and deliver everyday care for generations to come.' Since becoming an independent company in 2023, Kenvue has invested in research and development, hired experts in areas like packaging, embedded sustainability into key functions and designed a sustainability strategy purposefully built to meet critical commitments and deliver superior consumer experiences and products. Highlights from the report include: Healthy People: Healthy Planet: Healthy Practice: To read Kenvue's 2024 Healthy Lives Mission Report, visit About Kenvue Kenvue Inc. is the world's largest pure-play consumer health company by revenue. Built on more than a century of heritage, our iconic brands, including Aveeno®, BAND-AID® Brand, Johnson's®, Listerine®, Neutrogena® and Tylenol®, are science-backed and recommended by healthcare professionals around the world. At Kenvue, we realize the extraordinary power of everyday care. Our teams work every day to put that power in consumers' hands and earn a place in their hearts and homes. Learn more at Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This media alert contains 'forward-looking statements' as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including forward-looking statements related to the Healthy Lives Mission and its related goals and commitments. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as 'plans, 'expects,' 'may,' 'will,' 'anticipates,' 'estimates,' 'intends,' 'goal,' 'target,' 'commitment,' and other words of similar meaning. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Kenvue Inc. and its affiliates. A list and descriptions of risks, uncertainties, and other factors can be found in Kenvue Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2024, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, available at or on request from Kenvue Inc. Kenvue Inc. and its affiliates undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments or otherwise. # # # Footnotes:1 Applies to all Kenvue-owned facilities where Kenvue has operational control, regardless of building type; all leased facilities used for manufacturing and/or research and development; and leased, non-manufacturing and/or non-research and development facilities where the facility is greater than 50,000 square feet and where Kenvue has operational control. The 2020 base year and all subsequent reporting years include all facilities aligned to Kenvue's structure upon separation from Johnson & Johnson in 2023 and do not include any operational or organizational exclusions. 2 The target boundary includes land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks. 3 The inventory was compiled in accordance with the World Resources Institute (WRI)/World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) (GHG) Protocol – A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition 2013) including the amendment to this protocol, GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance (2015). 4 We aim to meet the goal by end of fiscal year and publish the year after. 5 Renewable energy source is an energy source that is capable of being replenished in a short time through ecological cycles or agricultural processes (e.g., biomass, geothermal, hydro, solar, wind). Renewable electricity targets are achieved through a combination of actions, including on-site solar, virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs), direct power purchase agreements (PPAs), energy attribute certificates (EACs), also known as renewable electricity certificates (RECs), and green retail contracts. 6 Packaging for direct purchases may not include all externally manufactured products. Total weight of plastics packaging is calculated utilizing 2025 Business Plan volume and is not trued up to actual sales. Manual adjustments of <10% were made to 2025 Business Plan volume based on SME judgment to remove materials not assumed to contain plastics. 7 Recyclable, also defined as recycle-ready, is when packaging is designed for collection, sorting, and recycling using end of-life processes, but where collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure may not yet be in place for the packaging to actually be recycled. Best practices of 'designing for recyclability' guidance for plastic-based packaging include the Association of Plastics Recyclers in the U.S. Note: 'Designed for recycling,' 'designed for recyclability,' and 'recycle ready' are also used interchangeably and reflect the same meaning. Recyclability % was assessed using Ellen MacArthur Foundation recycling rate guidelines and Consumer Goods Forum golden design rules guidelines. For pure buy, data assumptions were made on recyclability at brand level. 8 Kenvue defines refillable or reusable packaging as packaging that is designed for either the business or the consumer to put the same type of purchased product back into the original packaging, is designed to be returnable and/or refillable, and accomplishes a minimum number of reuses by being part of a system that enables reuse. 9 Virgin plastic means newly manufactured resin produced from petrochemical feedstock used as the raw material for the manufacture of plastic products and which has never been used or processed before. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Kenvue
Condé Nast Traveler
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Condé Nast Traveler
How I Travel: Molly Shannon Saunas While Her Family Surfs
It's a bit surprising to learn that Molly Shannon of all people spends most of her vacations in surfing hot spots around the world, as she tells Condé Nast Traveler. What's perhaps less unexpected is that this beach bum is really, really polite to flight attendants. "Because I fly Los Angeles to New York a lot on one particular airline, I know a lot of the pilots and attendants. I've gotten to know them,' says the actress. 'I feel like we're all working together, so I say 'Good morning!'' Shannon, who's currently a partner for the supplement Proactive Support from the Makers of Tylenol, chatted about her life in a surf family (her two children are in their early twenties), cowering from monkeys in Bali, and her first-ever first class flight, which was to Budapest. Her priorities when planning a vacation: When I'm traveling for fun, definitely the beach. I love the tropical vacation. That's my favorite. Fun family dinners, reading, relaxing, swimming. I like to keep it simple. What guides their choice of destinations: We're a big Hawaii family and a big surf family. My son and husband are really big surfers and my daughter does it too. I tried it a couple of times years ago, and it's really not my thing—but I appreciate it. Taking a lesson was great. I was like, god, this requires such upper-body strength. I'm proud that I tried it! How she spends her flight time: It's a nice, quiet time to read. Sometimes I download TV shows for the plane, but mostly I read. I'll tear through a book. I don't usually work on planes. Sometimes if I'm on my way to do a job, I have to memorize lines and that's kind of a drag, so I won't do it for more than an hour at a time. The best vacation of her life so far: Bali, Indonesia. My son Nolan surfed Uluwatu. My friend Tamra Davis knows a lot about Bali, so she was like, 'You've got to go here, do this, eat at this restaurant.' It was everything I would have wanted and more—just a wonderful family vacation. We stayed at a hotel that was off-the-charts fantastic. There were so many monkeys trying to get into our room, so we were laughing and videotaping them. Sometimes [my family] would leave to go get breakfast and I'd be swimming in the pool and the monkey would come back around. Oh god, I was scared! But it was a magical vacation, with the best food. I would love to go back to Bali. The most random place she's been recognized: Nothing too weird, but my daughter was doing a semester abroad in Madrid and I felt pretty relaxed there, walking around with a baseball cap or whatever. We were in a [clothing store], and two women were really staring at me while I was shopping. Looking at me like, 'Do I know you?' Maybe they think I'm a school teacher. They were really staring! It took me by surprise.
The Hill
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
On the Dobbs' abortion case's anniversary, celebrate life-affirming medical care
A full three years have passed since Roe v. Wade was overturned, yet abortion activists still refuse to acknowledge the overwhelmingly positive effect the decision is having on women and children. Instead, they continue to sow fear and misinformation to advance their abortion agenda, telling women the falsehood that they will be unable to get essential miscarriage treatment or lifesaving medical interventions. Indeed, the only thing preventing women from receiving the care they need is the very narrative promoted by these activists, who claim to seek protections for women's reproductive health. It's long past time for them to realize the truth: Pregnant women have the same access to the quality healthcare they need post-Roe as they did before. It's time to set the record straight. For example, despite rampant claims to the contrary, the number of obstetrician gynecologists in pro-life states is growing at a higher rate than in states without pro-life protections, according to a Journal of the American Medical Association article published this year. Yet the media continues shamelessly to rely on interviews with the same handful of doctors to spin their shortage narratives. Pregnant women and their families are also able to access ongoing compassionate care and support at our nation's network of nearly 3,000 pregnancy resource centers, which have served nearly 975,000 patients since 2022. We also have seen improvement in maternal mortality rates in states that have restricted abortion, despite fear-inducing claims that pro-life laws would do the opposite. Idaho, for example, has some of the strongest pro-life protections in the country and saw its maternal mortality numbers improve tremendously since Roe's overturn. CDC data also confirm that maternal mortality decreased by 17 percent nationally during the first full year (2023) after Roe was overturned. This echoed a range of international studies that show that induced abortion does not improve maternal mortality rates. Finally, FDA Commissioner Makary's recent comment committing to a thorough review of the safety of the chemical abortion drug mifepristone represents another important victory for women's health. While abortion proponents dangerously insist that chemical abortion pills are 'safer than Tylenol' — an oft quoted claim that has been thoroughly debunked — they ignore the real-world impact this drug is having among the women who are left without the medical oversight they deserve. A recently released report links mifepristone to serious adverse reactions at much higher rates than reported by the FDA — a finding consistent with what doctors like me are seeing in our practices. Continuing to propagate lies about induced abortion also serves to draw public attention away from making meaningful progress in the area of women's health. Doctors, lawmakers and movement leaders must work to make real strides for mothers and their unborn children, not score political points. In our post-Dobbs world, women need to know that they can continue to receive the excellent care they deserve. To ensure that they do, states should enact more medical education provisions to defend their pro-life protections against misinformation in the media and assure the public and expecting mothers that these laws are in their favor. So far, South Dakota and Texas have passed legislation funding an educational video on their abortion laws, clarifying doctors' ongoing ability to treat women suffering from pregnancy complications. Likewise, in 2024, Florida issued clarification on the availability of life-saving care under its state laws. The medical association that I lead, is also doing its part to educate doctors on their roles and responsibilities to keep treating women in the post-Dobbs legal landscape — assuring them that if they weren't doing induced abortions before, nothing about their practice needs to change. I am able to provide lifesaving care for my patients at every step and stage of pregnancy in Indiana, just as I always have, and just as doctors across the country are able to do. When I care for patients, I ensure they have the best and most accurate information about their healthcare. Regardless of political differences, we must all work together to improve women's health and ensure that women have accurate information so they can make fully informed decisions. We have already made great strides for mothers in the three years post-Dobbs. The next three and beyond can be even more transformative for women and their children if we can all join together to advocate for real solutions to the obstacles that so many face to a healthy future. Christina Francis is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist practicing as an obstetric hospitalist. She also serves as CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
