Pharmaceuticals
Pfizer, Glaxo to create over-the-counter drug giant | The Wall Street Journal
The two pharmaceutical giants want to combine their consumer health units and then spin off the company, which would become the largest seller of consumer healthcare products like Advil.
Public health
Set it and forget it: How better contraception could be a key to reducing poverty | The New York Times
In Delaware, medical clinics are now asking women: "Do you want to get pregnant in the next year?" For those who don't, medical providers are offering birth control. The idea is that if they expand access to birth control, they'll reduce the poverty rate. But some wonder if poverty leads to unplanned pregnancies, rather than vice-versa.
Falling out | The Washington Post
The rate of fatal drug overdoses in the U.S. has risen twice as fast among blacks compared to whites, according to the CDC. In Washington, D.C., where the epidemic is raging, 279 people died of opioid overdoses last year.
Technology
Change Healthcare acquires blockchain API startup PokitDok's IP, staff | Mobihealthnews
Health IT software vendor Change Healthcare is acquiring software, IP and employees from API startup PokitDok. The company makes a blockchain transaction network for identify verification and smart contracts in healthcare.
In other news
Someone hacked NASA | Gizmodo
NASA's data were breached on October 23, according to a memo sent to employees on December 18. Hackers stole employees' personal information, including social security numbers.
