New Alzheimer's Drug, Chipotle Portions, and a 6-Day Work Week.

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Big Stories

FDA Approves New Alzheimer’s Drug

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's drug called donanemab.

• The approval comes after a delay and a detailed review by an advisory panel, which unanimously recommended the drug. Donanemab is a monoclonal antibody that targets brain plaque and is given monthly through an intravenous infusion. It aims to treat early-stage Alzheimer's disease and will be available in the coming weeks.

• In an 18-month clinical trial with 1,700 patients, donanemab slowed the progression of Alzheimer's by 35% compared to a placebo, effectively delaying the disease by about four months. However, there were some serious side effects, including brain bleeding or swelling, which led to the deaths of three participants.

• Donanemab is the third amyloid plaque-targeting drug approved by the FDA since 2021. Unlike other similar drugs, treatment with donanemab can be stopped once the amyloid plaque is reduced to minimal levels. This could potentially lower costs and reduce the number of infusions needed.

• More than 6 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer's, with about 1 million in the early stages who could benefit from the drug

Rudy Giuliani disbarred in New York

Rudy Giuliani, ex-lawyer for former President Trump, lost his law license in New York on Tuesday.

• The decision is part of ongoing issues related to Giuliani's efforts to help Trump overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Judges said Giuliani made false and misleading statements about the election and misused his position as Trump's lawyer.

• The judges noted that Giuliani "flagrantly misused" his platform and broke important rules of the legal profession. Giuliani plans to appeal the decision, with his spokesperson saying the legal community should oppose the decision. Giuliani was already suspended from practicing law in New York in 2021, and last year, a committee recommended he be disbarred in Washington, D.C.

• Giuliani is juggling many legal charges and financial penalties related to the 2020 election. He pleaded not guilty in a fake electors case in Arizona and faces multiple charges in Georgia, including conspiracy and violating Georgia's RICO act. He was also ordered to pay $148 million for defaming Georgia election workers.

Are Chipotle’s Portions Shrinking?

A Wall Street analyst tested Chipotle's portion sizes after customers and content creators complained about shrinking meal sizes.

• Wells Fargo’s Zachary Fadem and his team ordered 75 identical burrito bowls from eight Chipotle locations in New York City. They found significant variations in how much each meal weighed, even though the orders were the same.

• The average weight of the burrito bowls was 21.5 ounces, but the heaviest was 26.8 ounces, and the lightest was 13.8 ounces. Fadem reported no significant difference between in-store and digital orders, but consistency varied widely. Chipotle responded by saying their portion sizes haven't changed, and the variability in meal size is due to the customizable nature of their orders.

• Recently, complaints about portion inconsistency have increased, with a TikTok influencer, Keith Lee, highlighting the issue in a popular video. Forced to respond, Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol said that “portions haven't gotten smaller” and suggested customers ask for more if they want larger servings.

Little Stories

• The U.S. Marshals Service and other agencies found and rescued over 170 endangered runaways in a nationwide effort called "Operation We Will Find You 2." From May 20 to June 24, they found 200 missing kids. They saved 123 kids from dangerous situations and found 77 others in safe places. (More)

• The U.S. government has given vaccine maker Moderna a $176 million contract to create a vaccine for pandemic influenza due to rising concerns about bird flu in U.S. dairy farms. Right now, there's no evidence the virus spreads from human to human, and the general public's risk is low, but that could change if the virus evolves. (More)

• Hurricane Beryl has killed at least six people in the Caribbean, causing heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding. Beryl became a Category 5 storm on Tuesday making it the strongest July hurricane ever recorded. It had winds of about 165 mph, although they later dropped slightly into Category 4 range. (More)

• Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) is the first Democratic Congress member to publicly ask President Biden to drop out as the party's 2024 nominee after his poor debate performance. Doggett said there's too much at stake to risk a Trump victory and doubts things can improve in time. (More)

• The Supreme Court decided not to hear a challenge to an Illinois law banning certain semi-automatic rifles and large-capacity magazines, keeping the ban in place. This was the third time the justices have chosen not to block the law while legal battles continue. (More)

Extra Credit

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