What We’re Reading: Pharmacy Staff Walkout; Male Parental Leave; FDA Reviewing SCD Therapy

US Pharmacy Staff Stage Nationwide Walkout

Pharmacy staff in the United States are taking a stand against what they perceive as unsafe working conditions, according to CNBC. Organizing under the banner "Pharmageddon," employees from Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid, among others, are engaging in a nationwide walkout this week to protest understaffing, inadequate compensation, and excessive work demands, which have been exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic. The walkout follows separate incidents of pharmacy staff protests in Walgreens and CVS locations earlier this year and signals a push for unionization and improved patient awareness regarding their working conditions.

Dads Embrace Paid Family Leave to Bond With Newborns

A significant cultural shift is taking place in the United States, as more fathers are opting to take paid family leave to bond with their newborns and support their partners during the early stages of parenthood, according to Kaiser Health News. The total number of men taking paid leave increased by 19% in California’s fiscal year ending in June 2023, a change that can be attributed to evolving attitudes among a new generation of fathers and increased employer support for male parental leave, further reinforced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the positive effects of this shift on mothers' health have been documented, the effects on children are still under examination.

FDA to Review CRISPR-Based Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease

A groundbreaking gene therapy that leverages CRISPR gene editing technology is being reviewed by the FDA as a potential treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD), a hereditary blood disorder primarily affecting Black individuals in the United States, according to The Associated Press. This gene therapy, exagamglogene autotemcel, is a 1-time treatment that aims to address the genetic root of the disease. Current treatments for SCD involve medications and blood transfusions, with the only permanent solution being a bone marrow transplant, which comes with various challenges, including finding a well-matched donor.