News from other sources

Pharmaceuticals

Pfizer ends research for new Alzheimer's, Parkinson's drugs | Reuters

In ending research on the conditions, Pfizer is laying off 300 people from its Massachusetts and Connecticut development programs.

Koch-backed groups launch 'Right to Try' campaign | The Hill

Groups backed by the Koch Brothers are telling Congress to allow terminally ill patients to take drugs that have gone through preliminary testing but that are not yet approved by the FDA.

Information technology

Google makes millions from plight of addicts | The Sunday Times

Google has been charging addiction-services referral agents for clicks on advertised links in Google searches.

How digital health technologies can help the United States address the opioid epidemic | Mobihealthnews

Startups are developing prevention tools, including virtual reality for education and wearables to detect overdoses.

In other news

Some people curse and say nasty things in their sleep. There's a good reason. | The Washington Post

Sleep talkers swear and say the word "no" more often than they do when awake, according to a new study. That may be the "threat simulation theory" in action, which suggests that dreams help ready people for waking threats.