Articles by Carl O'Donnell

Johnson & Johnson to No Longer Sell Talc-Based Baby Powder in U.S., Canada

Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday announced that it would stop selling its talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder in the United States and Canada, making the decision after a consumer products “portfolio reassessment related to COVID-19.” The U.S. healthcare conglomerate said it …

Drugmaker Questioned for Nearly Tripling Price of Potential COVID-19 Drug

The chair of a House of Representatives committee and a fellow Democratic committee member on Monday urged Jaguar Health Inc. to reverse recent price hikes of a drug that could be used to treat side effects in COVID-19 patients and …

Industry Balks at Trump Rule to Let States Import Drugs from Canada

The Trump administration on Wednesday said it is proposing a rule to allow states to import prescription drugs from Canada, advancing a plan announced in July that the president has said will bring cheaper prescription drugs to Americans. Importation of …

Latest Tests Disprove FDA Claim of Asbestos in Johnson’s Baby Powder, J&J Says

Johnson & Johnson said on Tuesday that recent tests showed that Johnson’s Baby Powder was free of asbestos, after U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigations reported trace amounts of the material in the product earlier this year. A total of …

Walmart Talking with Health Insurer Humana on Closer Ties, Possible Acquisition

U.S. retailer Walmart Inc. is in early-stage talks with health insurer Humana Inc. about developing closer ties, with the acquisition of Humana being discussed as one possibility, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Should the talks lead to …

CVS, Aetna Could Close $70B Merger Deal as Soon as December

U.S. pharmacy operator CVS Health Corp. and health insurer Aetna Inc. are working toward finalizing merger terms and announcing a deal for more than $70 billion as early as December, according to people familiar with the matter. The deal would …

Health Insurers Could Go on Buying Spree If Big Mergers Blocked

The potential bust-up of two mega deals among America’s largest health insurance companies may have an unintended result – more mergers. The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday sued to block Aetna Inc.’s $37 billion purchase of Humana Inc and …

Verisk in Talks to Sell Health Data Unit to Carlyle Group: Reuters

Private equity firm Carlyle Group LP is in advanced talks to acquire the healthcare information technology division of U.S. data analytics company Verisk Analytics Inc., according to people familiar with the matter. Carlyle has so far prevailed in an auction …