CNN Business
Fast food restaurants used to be easily spotted by their quirky architecture, be it the red roofs of Pizza Hut or McDonald's gigantic yellow arches. "But the fast-food architecture of today has lost its quirky charm and distinctive features," per CNN Business. "Shifts in the restaurant industry, advertising and technology have made fast-food exteriors bland and spiritless, critics say. The chains now sport nearly identical looks. Call it the gentrification of fast-food design."
Boston Globe
After decades of failed treatments, a new drug called Lequmbi is offering some hope in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. "The medicine’s benefits are modest — it slowed cognitive decline by 27% in an 18-month clinical study run by the Japanese drug firm Eisai and its Cambridge partner Biogen — but hopes are high that it could mark a turning point in Alzheimer’s research," per the Boston Globe.
The Associated Press
A panel of Food and Drug Administration experts voted to make the overdose-reversing drug naloxone available over the counter. Discussions centered on whether untrained users would be able to safely and effectively use the nasal spray in emergency situations. "The positive vote, which is not binding, came despite concerns from some panel members about the drug’s instructions and packaging, which caused confusion among some people in a company study," per The Associated Press. "The manufacturer, Emergent Biosolutions, said it would revise the packaging and labeling to address those concerns. The FDA will make a final decision on the drug in coming weeks."
USA Today
The phrase "you are what you eat" may have informed a new Medicaid program that’ll provide more people with healthy foods and, potentially, lower health care costs. "Medicaid typically only covers medical expenses, but Arkansas, Oregon and Massachusetts received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last year to use a portion of their Medicaid funds to pay for food programs, including medically tailored meals, groceries and produce prescriptions (fruit and vegetable prescriptions or vouchers provided by medical professionals for people with diet-related diseases or food insecurity)," per USA Today. "California already was running a food program under a different centers approval. The aim …
Stat News
Moderna is doing an about-face and is now saying it won't ask consumers to pay for the COVID-19 vaccine. It is "a move that follows intense criticism over initial plans to charge $110 to $130 per dose after the company pivots from government contracts to commercial distribution," per Stat News. For those lacking adequate insurance, the drugmaker says it will use a patient assistance program.
Jalopnik
The first Buick vehicle to appear with the General Motors division's new logo, the redesigned 2024 Encore GX, has been unveiled. "[T]here’s a lot to talk about inside and out," per Jalopnik. "For 2024, Buick’s most popular vehicle in the North American market gets all-new styling and a vastly updated interior. The new Encore also introduces Buick’s new corporate design language, and becomes the first vehicle to wear Buick’s updated logo."
SportBusiness
The NHL is planning sponsorship activations at the upcoming Stadium Series outdoor game on Feb. 18. "Prior to the game, the Truly Hard Seltzer NHL PreGame fan festival will hold activities beginning six hours before the puck drops. Brands with activations during the pregame event include Truly, BioSteel, Caterpillar, Fanatics, Honda, Upper Deck, and Verizon," per SportBusiness. "Only fans with tickets are permitted entry."
Sourcing Journal
Ikea and Marimekko are partnering for a collection of furnishings, textiles and home goods that launches in March. The Scandinavian companies say the Bastua collection is inspired by Nordic nature, wellness and self-care rituals. The line includes 26 products featuring prints and patterns created by Marimekko. This is the first time the Finnish design company has created a set of prints exclusively for a collaboration.
Financial Times
Novo Nordisk has issued a mea culpa for breaking the industry code by failing to disclose its sponsorship of obesity and weight management training courses for healthcare professionals that also promoted its weight loss drug. The company's branding was missing from a LinkedIn post promoting online weight loss webinars and e-learning modules that Novo Nordisk said it sponsored from February 2020 to December 2021. "The webinars, which were viewed by thousands of healthcare professionals, preferentially included positive information about Novo’s weight loss drug Saxenda that the self-regulatory watchdog deemed a 'disguised' large-scale promotional campaign," per Financial Times.
USA Today
McDonald's is offering a limited time special meal-for-two deal just in time for Valentine's Day. "he Cardi B & Offset meal includes a cheeseburger with BBQ sauce and large Coke -- Cardi B's preferences -- and a Quarter Pounder with Cheese with a large Hi-C Orange Lavaburst (Offset's choice), plus a large order of fries and an apple pie. "Social media posts about date nights and meet-ups at McDonald's inspired the fast-food chain," per USA Today. "The new advertisement included several couples talking about known their significant others' regular order at the restaurant."