Why Texas is suing Eli Lilly; this two-dose antibiotic works as well as weeks of IV treatment for serious staph infections; COVID-19 tied to heightened risk of asthma – Morning Medical Update

Texas sues Eli Lilly over alleged kickbacks for weight-loss drugs

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suit against Eli Lilly, accusing the drugmaker of bribing providers with “free nurses” and reimbursement support to push prescriptions of GLP-1 blockbusters Mounjaro and Zepbound. The complaint claims the scheme defrauded Texas Medicaid and violated state fraud laws. Lilly denies wrongdoing and vows to fight the charges, calling them meritless and recycled from a previously dismissed case. BioSpace has more.

Two-dose antibiotic works as well as weeks of IV treatment for serious staph infections

A new National Institutes of Health (NIH)-backed study shows that a two-dose antibiotic regimen may be just as effective as the standard weeks-long IV therapy for treating complicated Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections. The antibiotic, dalbavancin, is given just twice — one week apart — and was found to perform on par with traditional treatment in terms of safety and success rates. Researchers say the simplified approach could make life easier for patients, who normally require a central line and daily hospital visits or at-home infusions.

COVID-19 tied to heightened asthma risk

A new study finds people who had COVID-19 are significantly more likely to develop asthma, chronic sinusitis and hay fever — but vaccination appears to cut that risk. Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet analyzed nearly 6 million health records and found COVID-19 infection raised asthma risk by 66%, while vaccinated individuals were actually less likely than healthy controls to develop respiratory inflammation. The findings highlight how COVID may trigger lingering airway issues — and how vaccines can offer protection beyond preventing infection.