Current Events in January 2021

It’s commonplace for retailers to have their own vanity cards, but Walgreens’ latest foray goes a little further. In an effort to boost both loyalty and revenue, the drugstore chain says it will partner with Synchrony and Mastercard to launch credit cards and a prepaid debit card, and it is exploring other financial services.

The company’s short-term plan for the credit cards is to connect them with its new customer loyalty program, myWalgreens, allowing cardholders to receive cash rewards and other offers. 

A wide range of benefits

Walgreens is keeping its cards close to its chest, only going as far as saying that the co-branded credit card will offer an undefined “wider range of benefits” when used at other retailers and service providers. The offering will reportedly be the first in another “range of new financial products and services” that the company has up its sleeve. While it didn’t give specifics, it said in a release that it plans to explore a number of add-ons that Mastercard offers such as point-of-sale financing and installments.

That last part -- point-of-sale financing and installment plans -- comes directly from the financial crunch that the pandemic put the consumer world in. According to a report by Salesforce and coverage by CNBC, the use of “buy now, pay later” for online orders grew 109 percent during the 2020 holiday shopping season.

The company is also taking a health-first cue from the pandemic, allowing customers to have access to contactless shopping experiences.

“Walgreens is committed to providing our customers and patients with unparalleled loyalty and rewards experiences for managing their health and well-being, and we are excited to partner with Synchrony and Mastercard, who share our commitment to support healthy communities,” said John Standley, Walgreens president. 

“As we continue to focus on creating new revenue streams, we look forward to exploring and introducing even more health and well-being payment initiatives in the near future.”

The new Walgreens credit cards are slated to be available in the second half of 2021, and eligible customers will be able to use the Walgreens credit card for purchases at more than 9,000 Walgreens stores, via the Walgreens mobile app, and at Walgreens.com.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought some positive news in terms of the environment, research shows that pollution is still a very real problem.

Though a lot of work still needs to be done, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter is detailing why hope still remains in the fight against climate change. According to the researchers, efforts put into place in two key areas -- lighter road transportation and power -- will likely benefit the environment for years to come. 

“We have left it too late to tackle climate change incrementally,” said researcher Tim Lenton. “Limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius now requires transformational change and a dramatic acceleration process.”

Tipping towards environmental advancements 

Lenton and his team are optimistic about the future of climate change because of what they refer to as “tipping points.” They explained that this happens when several small changes build on top of one another to create one lasting change. When it comes to climate change, the researchers anticipate tipping points to occur in the areas of power and lighter road transportation. In both cases, policy-led interventions have already been put into place to help set the scales in motion that will eventually create long-term change. 

In looking at power, the researchers explained that countries around the world are working to make coal plants a thing of the past. On a global scale, renewable energy sources are proving to be a more cost-effective method of generating power, which is minimizing the benefits associated with coal and fossil fuels. 

As these efforts continue, and renewable energy is utilized more and more, the researchers predict that there will no longer be any financial benefits of using coal or in maintaining coal plants. In time, the widespread use of solar or wind-powered energy will tip the scales and make coal-fueled power obsolete.

The researchers anticipate a similar tipping point to occur when electric cars are more widely used by consumers. Currently, the manufacturing costs of electric cars are making it difficult for them to be more accessible to car buyers. However, offsetting these costs is possible; the researchers explained that legislators in parts of the world that generate the highest car sales -- California, China, and the European Union -- can work together to mass-produce electric cars and lower costs. 

“If either of these efforts -- in power or road transport -- succeed, the most important effect could be to tip perceptions of the potential for international cooperation to tackle climate change,” Lenton said. 

The deal is off. Visa and Plaid have announced they are dropping their plans to merge due to opposition from the U.S. Justice Department.

Visa previously agreed to acquire Plaid, a fintech company, for $5.3 billion dollars. But the Justice Department filed suit in November to block the deal, calling it anti-competitive.

Government lawyers said Plaid was developing a payments platform that posed a challenge to what they called Visa’s “monopoly.” According to the suit, the transaction would have enabled Visa to eliminate competition with its online debit business before Plaid had a chance to succeed.

Previously, Visa said it would defend the deal in court, and a trial was scheduled for June.

“We are confident we would have prevailed in court as Plaid’s capabilities are complementary to Visa’s, not competitive,” said Al Kelly, Chairman and CEO of Visa. “We believe the combination of Visa with Plaid would have delivered significant benefits, including greater innovation for developers, financial institutions, and consumers.”

Kelly said Visa reconsidered the deal after determining the litigation would be “protracted and complex” and would likely take years to resolve.

‘Victory for consumers’

“In a victory for American consumers and small businesses, Visa has abandoned its efforts to acquire an innovative and nascent competitor,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “American consumers and business owners rely on the internet to buy and sell goods and services, and Visa,  which has immense power in online debit in the United States, has extracted billions of dollars from those transactions.”

Delrahim said the merger would have ended up raising costs for both consumers and businesses. He said Plaid and other fintech innovators should be free to develop potential alternatives to Visa’s online debit services.  

“With more competition, consumers can expect lower prices and better services,” he said.

Visa and Plaid said it was a mutual decision to abandon the deal. Zach Perret, CEO and co-founder of Plaid, said demand for the company’s services has increased during 2020 and that it will focus its efforts on enhancing that service.

“While Plaid and Visa would have been a great combination, we have decided to instead work with Visa as an investor and partner so we can fully focus on building the infrastructure to support fintech,“ he said.

AT&T has announced that it’s merging AT&T TV Now and AT&T TV in an effort to bring “more value and simplicity” to its streaming service offerings. 

“AT&T TV Now has merged with AT&T TV to bring you the best live and on-demand experience,” the company said in an update on its website. 

Although the telecom and media giant has stopped allowing new sign-ups for AT&T TV Now, existing users will be able to continue using the service without disruptions or price changes.  

AT&T TV Now was designed to replace the company’s “DirecTV Now” satellite service, which launched in November 2016. The “skinny bundle” offering was initially priced at $35 per month and offered cord-cutters more than 100 channels. However, AT&T raised the price over time, and many early adopters stopped using the service. 

Going forward, the telecom’s AT&T TV offering -- which is more similar to traditional cable than AT&T TV Now -- will be offered with a month-to-month payment option. Current contracts will remain in effect, but customers can move to the month-to-month plan once their current contract expires. 

Prices for the non-contractual options start at $70 per month. That price gets customers an Entertainment package that includes ESPN, CNN, and FX, as well as local broadcast channels and 20 hours of cloud DVR. For $10 extra per month, the company will add additional DVR storage. 

Consumers can also choose to sign up for a two-year contract. Doing so drops the price of the Entertainment package’s first-year price to $60 per month. In the second year, that price increases to $93 per month. 

Walmart has stuck another toe into the world of finance with the creation of a new fintech startup offering a range of financial services to its customers, many of whom have no banking relationship.

It’s collaborating in the venture with Ribbit Capital, the company behind investment platform Robinhood and the consumer technology platform Credit Karma.

Walmart says the venture will combine Walmart’s retail knowledge and scale with Ribbit’s fintech expertise to deliver tech-driven financial experiences tailored to Walmart’s customers and associates.

“For years, millions of customers have put their trust in Walmart to not only save them money when they shop with us but help them manage their financial needs. And they’ve made it clear they want more from us in the financial services arena,” said John Furner, CEO of Walmart U.S. 

Left unsaid is what the new venture will be called and when it will launch. Walmart did say that it would hold a majority stake in the new firm. Walmart also did not disclose what types of services the new company would offer. However, typical fintech companies might offer some or all of these services:

• Banking.

• Insurance.

• Loans.

• Personal finance.

• Electronic payments.

• Loans.

• Venture capital.

• Wealth Management.

Revolutionary partner

Ribbit Capital’s Robinhood has revolutionized online trading. A favorite among millennial investors, Robinhood grew quickly because it doesn’t charge commissions on transactions, a move that forced other online brokers to drop end their commissions as well.

Walmart said its existing financial services remain in place. They include Walmart Credit Card, Walmart Money Card, check cashing, money transfers, and installment financing.

This isn’t Walmart’s first foray into the world of technology. Last year it threw its hat in the ring as a potential buyer of TikTok when the Trump administration said it would force a sale by the company’s Chinese owner.

Ford Motor Company is recalling about 32,000 model year 2021 Ford E-Series vehicles.

The vehicles may contain mispositioned insulation on the underside of the engine cover that does not fully extend to the perimeter as intended.

As a result, heat from the engine compartment can cause elevated temperatures on the passenger compartment surface of the engine cover.

Under certain conditions, engine cover surface temperatures can further increase in vehicles modified with Stationary Elevated Idle Control or Battery Charge Protect.

Direct and continuous contact with certain areas of the surface of the engine cover in the passenger compartment may cause burns to the skin of the driver or front passenger.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the engine cover for gaps between the rubber seal and the insulation. If needed, the dealer will install engine cover insulation patches in the right and left inner lower corners of the engine cover. The dealer will also update the powertrain calibration for heat management under certain elevated idle conditions.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is  20S73.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 2,563 model year 2018-2020 AMG GLC 63 4MATICs.

The power supply cable on the starter might not have been installed correctly, possibly allowing the cable to chafe against the starter housing and short-circuit.

A power supply cable short-circuit can result in a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, a short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the starter harness and power supply cable installation, and correct it -- as necessary -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin February 9, 2021.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 22,645,344 (22,429,685)

Total U.S. deaths: 377,616 (374,442)

Total global cases: 91,087,170 (90,435,754)

Total global deaths: 1,950,190 (1,938,004)

Report: Vaccine to be opened to those 65 and older

As states run into bottlenecks trying to administer the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to high priority groups, the decision has apparently been made to expand the pool of potential recipients.

CNBC quotes a senior Trump administration official as saying new guidelines are being issued that will make the vaccine available to every person age 65 and older. A few states have already taken that action, but the new guidelines would make it federal policy.

The official attributed the vaccine bottlenecks to states’ desire to provide the first doses of the vaccine only to frontline health care workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities.

California death toll reaches 30,000

California reached another dubious milestone on Monday. The death toll from the virus reached 30,000 as the state continues to go through the worst surge it has experienced thus far.

New cases of the coronavirus are rising at an even faster rate. The state recorded more than a quarter-million new cases last week. Officials in Los Angeles county are telling people to wear a mask even when at home.

“The damaging impact to our families and local hospitals from this surge is the worst disaster our county has experienced for decades,” health director Barbara Ferrer said.

NHL doesn’t expect fans to return this season

The rollout of two coronavirus vaccines has raised hopes that fans may soon be able to return to the stands for sporting events. However, the commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL) doesn’t expect that to happen in the upcoming season.

According to Newsday, Commissioner Gary Bettman has warned of a revenue shortfall of at least $1 billion because he expects another season of mostly empty arenas.

“It would be cheaper for us to shut the door and not play,” Bettman reportedly said on a teleconference with the media. “It’s just what we have to deal with and what clubs have decided they have to do. Everyone thought it was important to play our game and deliver what people expect from us, and that’s what everyone signed on to do.”

Why COVID-19 sometimes affects the brain

COVID-19 is mostly associated with infection of the lungs, but occasionally it can affect the brain. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine now think they know why.

They’ve discovered that the virus can directly infect the central nervous system, and now they have begun to unravel some of the virus’ effects on brain cells. The study, published today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM), may help researchers develop treatments for the various neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19.

“Understanding the full extent of viral invasion is crucial to treating patients, as we begin to try to figure out the long-term consequences of COVID-19, many of which are predicted to involve the central nervous system,” said Akiko Iwasaki, a professor at Yale School of Medicine.

Pandemic produces new financial confidence

The COVID-19 pandemic has produced widespread health and economic hardship over the last 10 months, but, oddly, many consumers have also gained financial confidence during this time. The KeyBank 2020 Financial Resiliency Survey, released today, finds that many Americans have increased emergency savings and have more financial awareness.

The survey found that 53 percent of consumers reported feeling more financially confident, and just over half said they could come up with $2,000 to meet an emergency expense. That’s up from 42 percent at the end of 2019.

Forty-two percent of respondents said they are spending less and saving more since the pandemic began, and among those who say they are doing so, 71 percent are spending less money on discretionary items—including travel, dining, and entertainment.

Around the nation

• Michigan: Seeking to alleviate a shortage of available vaccine doses, Gov. Gretchen Whitner is asking if the state can purchase 100,000 additional doses from Pfizer. Demand is soaring as teachers, police officers, and seniors have been added to the vaccination group.

• New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy says his state is now seeing the expected surge in coronavirus cases associated with the end-of-the-year holidays. Health officials reported 5,042 new COVID-19 cases and 51 deaths on Monday.

• Oregon: Oregon is among the states turning to mass inoculation events to speed up the vaccine rollout. Oregon Health & Science University in Portland hosted a drive-through clinic over the weekend for more than 2,000 community-health workers, first responders, and home care-workers.

With the rise of online shopping, consumers are buying and selling items at a higher pace than ever before. Between eBay, Shopify, Facebook Marketplace, WooCommerce, Amazon Handmade, Etsy, and others, there are literally millions of people who have built millions of little online shops from the comfort of their kitchen table, generating billions in sales.

Digital crooks love all that’s going on and have created the “overpayment scam” to get in on all the action. Sadly, the scam is proving to be a winner for them but a loser for online shop owners. 

Enter the scammers

The scam is pretty simple: the crooks offer to pay you more than the listed price -- sometimes claiming they want to cover shipping or other fees for you “because you’ve been so helpful.” They’ll often ask to overpay through a digital wallet, such as PayPal Venmo, claiming it’s a matter of policy. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that they may mail a check for more than the asking price in some cases.

Step two is that the scammer will claim the overpayment was an honest mistake and ask the seller for the difference back. However, once the seller returns the money, they’ll quickly find out that the initial payment was bogus when the check bounces or the buyer’s online payment is denied. Not only does the seller lose the money they “returned,” but on top of that, they’ve also lost the item they sold. 

“Once the money is sent back to the scammer, it’s gone,” said Roseann Freitas, the Better Business Bureau Hawaii’s Marketplace Manager. “There is nothing they can do to get that money back once they send it. That person now disappears and the other scary part though, is they actually have some of your personal information.”

How to avoid online selling scams

The BBB says anyone selling anything online needs to stay vigilant and burn three important warning signs into their conscience. 

• Don’t ship an item before you receive payment. Put forth the effort to make sure any payments you receive are legitimate before you ship your item to the seller. Why? It’s simple -- if you ship before they pay, you have no chance at all of getting your item back.

• Don’t believe offers that are too good to be true. The BBB says that unless you’re selling something like a rare or highly desirable item that several people are bidding on, it’s ludicrous to think you can expect anyone to offer to pay more than what you are asking. If someone tries to overpay you, then consider it a red flag.

• Look out for counterfeit emails. Remember, scammers are relentless and come in many forms. They’ll try to imitate any legitimate business -- from tech giants like Microsoft to payment systems like Venmo or PayPal. Take a hard, careful look at all emails. If it comes from a domain that isn’t official or contains obvious typos and grammatical errors, it’s probably a scam.

ConsumerAffairs suggests that anyone selling on Facebook Marketplace take a look at its guidelines. Boning up on the BBB’s tips about selling used items online could also prevent getting scammed.

While owning up to being victimized by a scam is embarrassing, it’s important. While it probably won’t get you your money or the item you sold back, reporting scams to the online marketplace where it occurred, as well as to the BBB’s Scam Tracker, could stop the scammers from ripping off others.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given conditional approval to the first oral treatment for dogs that suffer from lymphoma -- a type of cancer that attacks the lymphatic system. 

The FDA says the treatment drug, called Laverdia-CA1 (verdinexor), helps stop the spread of cancerous cells by bolstering important proteins. Dog owners will be able to give their pet the treatment at home after getting a prescription from their veterinarian and reading the safety directions on the client information sheet. 

“Lymphoma is a devastating cancer in dogs, with few FDA-approved treatments available. This conditional approval provides a much-needed option to treat dogs with lymphoma,” said Steven M. Solomon, the director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.  “We are encouraged to see drug companies bring forward applications for products to treat serious diseases, even if they affect relatively small populations.”

Laverdia-CA1 is the second overall treatment for lymphoma in dogs, with the first being an injectable drug called Tanovea-CA1 that was approved back in 2016.

Follow safety guidelines

The package for Laverdia-CA1 includes detailed safety information and special instructions for consumers who obtain it from a veterinarian. Among them are provisions to wear gloves while handling the drugs and while cleaning up after a dog that is undergoing treatment.

Pregnant women, women that may become pregnant, nursing women, and children are also advised not to handle or administer the drug -- or to clean up after dogs that are taking the treatment. 

A full freedom of information summary can be found on the FDA’s site here. Consumers seeking more information can also contact the agency at 888-INFO-FDA.

Having a family pet has been found to relieve consumers’ stress both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia has found that having a pet cat can be particularly beneficial for kids with autism.

According to their findings, having a cat can help kids with autism improve their anxiety-related symptoms and develop stronger empathy skills. 

“We found the main benefit of these companion animals is their unconditional acceptance,” said researcher Gretchen Carlisle. “Some children with autism may have sensory issues or be sensitive to loud noises, so a cat may be an appropriate, comforting pet for some families due to their calming presence.” 

Cats can improve anxiety

To see how cats can benefit kids with autism, the researchers had families with kids between the ages of six and 14 adopt a cat. Prior to taking the cats home, all of the animals were evaluated to ensure that they had a calm demeanor. For 18 weeks, the researchers evaluated the families’ progress with the cats at home, and parents completed surveys about how their kids interacted with the cats and how their overall mental well-being was affected by having a pet in the house. 

The researchers found that the cats provided several benefits for the kids and their families -- not least of which was an immediate bond between the kids and their new pets. The parents reported that their kids were not only experiencing less severe separation anxiety, but they also were less angry and had better focus and attention. Additionally, having a cat at home helped the kids develop stronger empathy skills and improve their overall well-being. 

Carlisle noted that a lot of research focuses on how having a dog in the house can benefit kids with autism. While she agrees that a pet can be a great form of stress relief, she says these findings should help encourage more families to consider adopting a cat. 

“Previous research has shown parents of kids with autism are more stressed than parents of kids with any other disability,” Carlisle said. “If a family is considering adopting a companion animal, we want to provide the best evidence-based information possible so they can make an informed decision, and cats might be more beneficial to some families than dogs.” 

The researchers hope that families with kids with autism utilize these findings because they emphasize the countless ways that having a pet can help reduce stress and anxiety for the whole family. 

“As a former pediatric nurse, I have always strived to help children, and one thing I learned is that you need to involve the parents so they can make informed choices for their children,” said Carlisle. “I see pets as a way to enhance wellness, and it feels gratifying to provide assistance to families that have a lot on their plate.” 

Walmart is looking to up its grocery delivery game by opening the possibility of consumers being able to get their orders at any time of the day or night. 

In a blog post, the company says it will be conducting a pilot this spring that will allow customers in Arkansas to get fresh groceries delivered to their doors in a temperature-controlled smart box. The boxes are made by HomeValet, and they will reportedly be able to hold frozen, refrigerated, and pantry items.

“Beginning this spring, participating customers in Bentonville, Arkansas, will be able to receive deliveries from their local Walmart directly into a temperature-controlled HomeValet-powered smart box placed outside their home. This gives customers the ability to receive secure, contactless deliveries with the peace of mind knowing their grocery items will stay fresh,” said Tom Ward, Walmart U.S.’ senior vice president of Customer Product.

“The prospect of this technology is intriguing, both for customers and for Walmart’s last-mile delivery efforts. For customers, they don’t need to plan their day around when their grocery delivery will be made. For Walmart, it presents an opportunity to deliver items 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Ward said. 

Ward stated that Walmart probably won’t be delivering groceries on a 24/7 basis anytime in the near future, but he admitted that the idea “certainly has a nice ring to it.”

“If there’s one thing we know about our customers, it’s that they’re busier than ever. Our pilot with HomeValet is one of many solutions we’re testing that can make their days more manageable,” Ward said.

Airlines continue to take a hard line against emotional support animals. Frontier Airlines is joining Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines in adopting new Department of Transportation (DOT) rules. 

The Denver-based carrier announced that it will no longer accept reservations for emotional support animals on any of its flights for all reservations booked on or after January 11, 2021, and for all flights departing on or after February 1, 2021

The DOT was getting gamed

The DOT said it was in a tough spot because the laundry list of concerns tied to emotional support animals raised by the airline industry, disabilities rights groups, and customers was growing out of control. Travelers have to bear some of the responsibility for why the DOT had to do what it did in closing all the loopholes its previous policy had left open to abuse.

“Airline employees will tell you that people with real disabilities present few problems in the airport environment,” the agency said. “Those abusing these policies are often easy to spot — their animals are often clearly pets and treated as such, are usually untrained for any service, the passenger often makes a big deal about it, and they generally stand out.”

“Those with real disabilities and real service animals benefit greatly from this change since it will reduce or eliminate those trying to appropriate their ADA benefit. Flight Attendants, too, undoubtedly see this as an improvement.”

Service dogs are still permitted

While it’s cutting off emotional support animals, Frontier will continue to transport service dogs specifically trained to support a qualified individual with a disability. The airline’s changes to its service animal policy are as follows:

• Paperwork. Customers traveling with a service dog must complete and submit the DOT’s Service Animal Air Transportation Form, attesting to the dog’s health, behavior, and training. For reservations booked more than 48 hours prior to travel, customers must submit the completed form no later than 48 hours prior to travel. For reservations booked less than 48 hours prior to travel, customers must submit the completed form in person to a Customer Service Agent upon arrival at the airport.

• What about animals other than dogs? For service animals booked prior to January 11, 2021, for travel through January 31, 2021, Frontier will transport dogs, cats, and miniature horses that have received training (including as a psychiatric service animal) to assist a qualified individual with a disability.

• Maximum number of animals allowed. Under the new policy, the maximum number of service animals traveling with a single passenger with a disability is two.

• What happens if a service animal “acts up.” A trained service animal that engages in disruptive behavior or poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others may be denied boarding.

• What about animals who don’t qualify? Animals who do not qualify as trained service animals may still be eligible to travel for a fee in accordance with Frontier’s Pet Policy.

The new year is officially underway, and Uber is recommitting to some of the green initiatives that it promised to undertake towards the end of 2020.

On Tuesday, the company announced that it will be expanding its Uber Green ride option to over 1,400 more North American cities and towns. The offering allows riders to choose either an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle as their mode of transport. Drivers who have an eligible vehicle can earn a small bonus from each completed trip, and some of the money also goes towards greater adoption of electric vehicles. 

Uber is also adopting Uber Green into its Uber Pass membership service. Consumers who are enrolled in that program can receive 10 percent off on Green trips and on standard rides.

More sustainability efforts

Also included in Uber’s announcement was information on two new initiatives it has joined to help fight climate change. The first is its enrollment in the Zero Emissions Transportation Association (ZETA), which is advocating for policies that will allow 100 percent electric vehicle sales in the U.S. by 2030. 

“For the first time in a generation, transportation is the leading emitter of U.S. carbon emissions. By embracing EVs, federal policymakers can help drive innovation, create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and improve air quality and public health,” Joe Britton, ZETA’s executive director, said in November.

The second initiative Uber has joined is Amazon’s and Global Optimism’s Climate Pledge, which seeks to meet the climate goals outlined in The Paris Agreement on a shorter timeline.

“Uber’s work to have 100% of rides taking place in zero-emission vehicles, on public transit, or with micromobility by 2040,” aligns with this pledge, the company said.

Eli Lilly has provided a ray of hope for an aging population worried about the scourge of Alzheimer’s disease.

The pharmaceutical company has reported that its experimental Alzheimer’s drug donanemab helped Alzheimer’s patients in a small clinical trial. In the trial, the drug slowed the decline in memory and ability to perform activities by nearly one-third after 18 months.

The company said the drug met the main goal of the study, getting farther in the process than other Alzheimer’s drugs have.

“We are extremely pleased about these positive findings for donanemab as a potential therapy for people living with Alzheimer's disease, the only leading cause of death without a treatment that slows disease progression,” said Dr. Mark Mintun, vice president of pain and neurodegeneration at Eli Lilly.

Mintun said the positive results give hope for patients and their families. However, there have been previous promising findings in Alzheimer’s research that have failed to pan out.

Targets beta amyloid in the brain

Donanemab works by targeting N3pG beta amyloid in the brain, which is believed to be a major contributor to the cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer’s disease. The company says patients treated with donanemab instead of the placebo showed an 84 centiloid reduction of amyloid plaque at 76 weeks compared to a baseline of 108 centiloids.

In the study, patients stopped receiving donanemab and switched to a placebo once their plaque level was below 25 centiloids for two consecutive measures or below 11 centiloids at any one measure.

"This unique mechanism and antibody for clearing plaques, discovered at Lilly, has the potential to provide high levels of durable amyloid plaque clearance after limited duration dosing," said Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly's chief scientific officer and president of Lilly Research Laboratories. 

Skovronsky said Lily researchers hoped to determine if reducing amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's patients to levels seen in scans of healthy individuals could result in a clinically meaningful slowing of cognitive decline. In that regard, he said the test was successful.

Slowly developing disease

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms may grow slowly, but they eventually become severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.

Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease that worsens over time. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and function in daily life. 

Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Academy Sports + Outdoors of Katy, Texas, is recalling about 6,000 Ozone 500 Density bicycles.

The locking hardware on the front wheel can become loose resulting in front wheel instability, posing fall and injury hazards.

No incidents or injuries are reported.

This recall involves Ozone 500 Density series bicycles sold in multiple colors.

The model numbers, listed here, may be found on the seat tube.

“Ozone 500” is printed on the frame.

The bicycles, manufactured in China, were sold at Academy Sports + Outdoors stores and online at www.academy.com from October 2020, through November 2020, for about $115.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycles and contact Academy Sports + Outdoors for a free repair or free replacement hardware.

Consumers may contact Academy Sports + Outdoors toll-free at (888) 922-2336 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (CT) daily, by email at customerservice@academy.com, or online at www.academy.com and click on “Product Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Daimler Vans USA (DVUSA) is recalling nine model year 2019 Mercedes Benz Sprinters.

The vehicles may have been delivered with a version of the printed and digital operator's manual that may be inaccurate and/or incomplete.

If the operator relies on the provided owner's manual, the information about vehicle functions and other safety relevant information may be inaccurate and/or incomplete, which could lead to improper operation of the vehicle and potentially increase the risk of a crash or injury.

What to do

DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the printed version of the operator's manual with the latest version and update the software of the digital version free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin January 18, 2021.

Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at (877) 762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3PRIDIBA.