•  District of Columbia: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week announced plans to roll back some Biden-era limits on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or "forever chemicals" in drinking water. The Biden administration set the first federal drinking water limits for PFAS after finding that they increased the risk of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and low birth weight in infants. EPA said it would roll back limits on three types of PFAS, as well as a limit on a mixture of several types of PFAS. However, the agency said it would keep two standards set by the Biden administration on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). EPA also gave utility companies until 2031, two more years than they were initially given, to comply with its standards. "We are on a path to uphold the agency's nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "At the same time, we will work to provide common-sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance." (Associated Press/MedPage Today, 5/14)
• New York: WHO member states voted on Tuesday to adopt the first-ever international pandemic treaty aimed at preparing for and responding to potential future pandemics. Overall, 124 countries supported the treaty, 11 abstained, and none opposed it. The United States was not part of the treaty vote, having departed from negotiations earlier this year after President Donald Trump issued an executive order withdrawing the country and its funding from WHO. "The agreement is a victory for public health, science, and multilateral action," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats. It is also a recognition by the international community that our citizens, societies, and economies must not be left vulnerable to again suffer losses like those endured during Covid-19." According to STAT, this is only the second time that WHO member states have reached a similar international legal agreement, with the first being a tobacco control initiative over 20 years ago. (Joseph, STAT, 5/20)
• North Carolina/Pennsylvania: Lask week, GSK announced that it would purchase an experimental liver disease treatment from Boston Pharmaceuticals for $1.2 billion upfront, with an additional $800 million in potential success-based milestone payments. The drug, which is called efimosfermin, is in development to treat MASH, a liver condition that is characterized by inflammation and damage caused by fat build-up. The drug is also being considered as a treatment for alcohol-related liver disease. Efimosfermin, which is designed to be administered as a monthly shot, is currently in late-stage trials and could potentially launch in 2029. "Efimosfermin has the potential to define a new standard-of-care with its monthly dosing and tolerability profile" and "will significantly expand our hepatology pipeline," said Tony Wood, GSK's chief scientific officer. (Joseph, STAT+ [subscription required], 5/14; Smolak, Wall Street Journal, 5/14)

Learn how Moderna designed a vaccine against the novel coronavirus — in just two days. This expert insight dives into Moderna's collaboration with Operation Warp Speed, CEO Stéphane Bancel's "warrior personality," and his ambitious plan to develop vaccines against potentially deadly viruses before they strike humans.