In an announcement that may cause concern among patients, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed on Wednesday that the majority of doses for Eli Lilly’s popular weight loss medication Zepbound and its diabetes counterpart Mounjaro will remain in short supply throughout the second quarter of this year due to surging demand.
The shortage encompasses all variants of Zepbound and Mounjaro except for the 2.5-milligram formulations, exacerbating the challenges faced by individuals seeking these treatments. This update follows a previous notification indicating limited availability of some doses until April.
Despite concerted efforts by Eli Lilly and its primary competitor Novo Nordisk to ramp up production, the demand for these sought-after weight loss and diabetes drugs continues to outpace supply. These injectable treatments, known as incretin drugs, have witnessed a surge in demand for their ability to facilitate significant weight loss over time by mimicking gut hormones to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar levels.
Eli Lilly, which aims to double its production capacity for incretin drugs by the end of 2023, affirmed its commitment to accelerating production efforts throughout the current year. Significant enhancements are anticipated in the latter half of the year, with projected production levels expected to surpass those of the second half of 2023 by at least 1.5 times.
The pharmaceutical giant also disclosed plans for a new manufacturing facility in Concord, North Carolina, slated to commence production by year-end, with products expected to be available for shipping in 2025. Additionally, Eli Lilly plans to establish several other facilities in the coming years, including a site in Germany and two new plants in its home state of Indiana.
Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk is undertaking similar initiatives to address shortages in its weight loss drug Wegovy and its diabetes medication Ozempic, both of which are also experiencing limited availability, according to information on the FDA’s website.
Efforts by both pharmaceutical companies underscore the persistent challenges faced by patients in accessing these crucial medications amidst soaring demand, highlighting the pressing need for sustained production expansions and supply chain optimizations. Eli Lilly has yet to provide comment on the FDA’s latest update.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Years after a young boy’s skeletal remains were found in a Harris County apartment where his brothers were living alone, the man accused of beating the child to death is headed to prison.
Brian Coulter, 34, has been convicted of capital murder and will serve life in prison for killing Kendrick Lee. Coulter pleaded not guilty but opted for a bench trial without a jury present.
After deliberating for about 20 minutes, Judge Kelli Johnson of the 178th Harris County Criminal District Court convicted Coulter.
The judge addressed Coulter, calling the case “the most horrific set of facts” she’s ever heard.
“Sir, those children have haunted me this last week,” Johnson said to an impassive Coulter. “I hope, sir, when you’re in prison, those same boys that have haunted my mind haunt yours.”
Coulter, who did not testify during his trial, was led from the courtroom in handcuffs, still wearing a yellow jumpsuit as he did throughout trial, after Johnson’s ruling Monday afternoon. Coulter’s attorneys said they planned to file an appeal. They declined to comment after the verdict.
“The death of Kendrick Lee was so tragic, and the fact that for so long there was no one to speak up for him, we felt like we had a duty to be his voice,” Celeste Byrom, the Harris County assistant district attorney, said as she addressed the media.
The three surviving brothers of the 8-year-old boy, whose decomposing body was found in October 2021, told their story in court Thursday of what life was like living with their mother’s alleged abusive boyfriend.
In the capital murder trail for Brian Coulter, 8-year-old Kendrick Lee’s surviving brothers testified on Thursday.
One by one, the siblings, now ages 17, 12, and 9 years old, took the stand on the trial’s third day, testifying for hours about how Coulter kicked, hit, and punched Kendrick for months leading up to his death. The two younger brothers said Coulter abused them as well.
The 9-year-old, who was 7 at the time of Kendrick’s death, told Judge Johnson he was in the room when Coulter killed Kendrick.
“I saw (Coulter) beat (Kendrick) up,” the child said. “(Coulter) used his fists.”
He explained that Coulter used the children’s toys to beat Kendrick, specifically a Spider-Man figurine and model jet. The 9-year-old said Kendrick “stopped moving,” and then Coulter “put the blue blanket on top (of him).”
The 12- and 9-year-old brothers described how they were often locked in a bedroom at the family’s Alief-area apartment. Prosecutors showed photos of the bedroom door with an exterior deadbolt lock replacing the knob. The children told the judge they weren’t allowed to come out and were forced to go to the bathroom in the bedroom.
Deputies discovered Kendrick’s body was just a skeleton when HCSO found it under a blue blanket on Oct. 24, 2021.
The eldest brother called 911. He was 15 years old at the time. Prosecutors played the call during closing arguments.
“My brother is dead, and he’s been dead for a while,” the teen can be heard saying. He explained to the dispatcher that his mom and her boyfriend moved out. “It’s just me and my two other brothers here.”
The teen, now 17, was the only one of the three brothers to testify in the same room as Coulter but did not look at the man he once thought of as a “father figure.”
The two younger brothers testified via video from another room after a Texas Children’s doctor, psychologist, counselor, and their adoptive mother testified that being in the same room as Coulter could resurrect the trauma they’ve suffered, creating a significant setback.
ABC13 is not identifying any of the boys, per strict orders from the court, who were all minors when the alleged abuse occurred.
Gloria Williams, the children’s mother, is also charged in connection with her son’s death. She’s expected to stand trial in the coming months for injury to a child and tampering with a corpse. Though, Williams is not charged with murder.
Much of last Wednesday’s time in court was spent looking at text messages the state said were shared between Coulter and Williams.
Williams was accused of telling Coulter that Kendrick had feces on him and wasn’t moving. She went on to say her son “looked dead,” asking Coulter to clean him up.
Other texts show Coulter allegedly told Williams that “it was in God’s hands” and “not to worry.”
These messages were sent a year before Kendrick Lee was found dead by authorities.
The trial began last Tuesday with testimony from multiple state witnesses, including an investigator.
HCSO investigators described the scene they found inside the apartment as horrific, with one testifying it was one of the worst scenes he’s ever worked. Prosecutors played body camera footage on Tuesday, showing two shocked deputies as they pulled back a blue blanket, exposing Kendrick’s skeleton on a bedroom floor.
More crime scene photos taken that day showed the then-10-year-old brother with a swollen jaw. Investigators said the boy was beaten so severely he needed surgery.
The boys lived in the apartment without electricity and beds to sleep on, with roaches everywhere and, as one investigator recalled, a distinct smell.
On Nov. 23, 2020, Coulter was arrested in Luling, Texas, for unlawful possession of a weapon. Investigators believe he had killed Kendrick days before that arrest.
Months later, in March 2021, court records show Coulter and Williams moved out of the apartments on Green Crest Drive and abandoned the children.
According to the boys, Williams and Coulter would return every few weeks to drop off some food. Coulter allegedly beat the younger two during those trips.
By around September or October of that year, the electricity was cut off to the apartment.
On Oct. 26, 2021, two days after deputies found Kendrick Lee’s remains, Coulter and Williams were arrested outside the Robinson-Westchase Library on Wilcrest, where they were captured on surveillance video.
Sources said they were at the library searching for news articles about the case. By this time, Williams’ sons were in Child Protective Services custody.
The medical examiner ruled Kendrick died from “homicidal violence.”
The state rested its case on Thursday. Coulter’s attorneys opted not to present a defense and rested their case Monday.
Public health officials in Stark County revealed alarming statistics on April 12 during the second Maternal and Child Health Conference, hosted by Harris County Public Health and other local agencies. Shockingly, 1 in 8 babies born in Harris County are born prematurely, with the county receiving an “F” letter grade from the March of Dimes national report card. The report also highlighted disparities, with Black babies being one and a half times more likely to be born preterm and three times more likely to die compared to white babies.
Alicia Lee, the director of maternal and child health collective impact at March of Dimes, emphasized the importance of addressing racial inequities and access to resources to combat the rising pregnancy-related deaths, especially among Black birthing individuals. County health officials echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the critical role of addressing social determinants of health such as food insecurity and economic instability in improving birthing outcomes.
In light of these challenges, Harris County Executive Director Barbie Robinson introduced the Maternal Health Bill of Rights during the conference, aimed at addressing the maternal and infant mortality crisis. The bill outlines various rights related to prenatal care, family planning, breastfeeding, and pregnancy complications, aiming to provide better support and resources for expectant mothers.
Attendees, including Alysia Greer from the Houston nonprofit Civic Heart, shared personal experiences highlighting the need for improved maternal care, with Greer recounting her own uncomfortable birthing experience more than two decades ago. The conference shed light on the urgent need for systemic changes to ensure equitable access to quality maternal and child health care services.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A retired teacher was identified as the 74-year-old woman found shot to death inside a senior living facility in west Houston.
According to the Houston Police Department, Carol Webber was found shot to death on the floor of her apartment at the Treemont Senior Living Community at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Police said there were no suspects or a motive.
Several people who live at the senior living center and family members told ABC13 this was the first time they heard of a shooting, and management has not notified them.
One woman told ABC13 she knew Webber, who claimed someone knocked on her door during late hours.
Residents and their family members demanded answers with a suspect on the loose and little transparency.
Brandy Demeris, whose mother lives there, said she trusts the facility.
“If there was actually a shooting here and they are aware of it, and they would have to be, I would be incredibly upset and would consider moving my mother, hearing they wouldn’t let families know or the residents,” Demeris said.
ABC13 contacted Treemont Senior Living about whether security was increased, the concerns about someone knocking on doors late at night, and why residents weren’t notified. A spokesperson said they have no comment.
“The majority of people I have come into contact with, who live here, are alone and are borderline needing assisted living, more or less someone to check on them,” Demeris said. “I would say Treemont has been pretty good with keeping up with them, but this could be completely swept under the rug without these people knowing.”
ABC13 has requested calls for service at the location over the last few weeks.
According to the victim’s family, Webber’s siblings haven’t spoken to her in years, but they also want answers about what happened.
Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Caitlin Clark, the standout shooting guard from Iowa who shattered NCAA scoring records and captivated audiences with her remarkable play, made history on Monday night by being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever.
The 22-year-old native of West Des Moines, Iowa, known for her exceptional shooting range and playmaking skills, joins a Fever team looking to revitalize its performance after missing the postseason for the past seven seasons. Teaming up with 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston, Clark aims to bring her electrifying talent to the professional stage.
Clark’s selection marks a significant moment not only for her but for women’s basketball as a whole, with other notable prospects such as LSU’s Angel Reese and Stanford’s Cameron Brink also making the leap to the professional ranks.
Having led the Hawkeyes to consecutive national championship game appearances and earning numerous accolades along the way, including the AP Player of the Year and Wooden Award, Clark’s arrival in the WNBA has sparked unprecedented excitement among fans and teams alike.
With anticipation building and venues selling out tickets in record time in anticipation of her debut, Clark’s transition to the professional league promises to be nothing short of sensational, setting the stage for a new era in women’s basketball.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — This week brings a preview of the summer heat and humidity to come. When you pair temperatures climbing toward 90 with high humidity, Houston will definitely have that early-summer feel until a cool front arrives this weekend.
Temperatures Tuesday morning will again only dip into the low 70s for Houston with some outlying communities dropping into the upper 60s. We will again have a mostly cloudy sky, which is good enough for a 20% chance of a quick shower or sprinkle. High temperatures will manage to climb into the mid 80s, and when you factor in the humidity it will feel closer to 90 degrees.
When is our next chance for thunderstorms?
Our weekend cold front will bring the next opportunity for thunderstorms. Right now the timing for the front’s arrival with those thunderstorms is late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
Could the storms this weekend turn severe?
We cannot rule out severe weather at this time, but it’s too early to make a call on that.
How cool will it get behind this front?
After the front’s passage, highs will drop into the upper 70s with lows in the upper 50s for a couple of days. More importantly, there will be a significant break in the humidity, and there aren’t many of those humidity breaks left before the real summer heat and humidity arrive.
Are we done with oak pollen season?
Not entirely, but we are well past the peak of oak pollen season. Oak usually still registers low to moderate counts through early May. Grass pollens and mold spores are now climbing as we journey deeper into spring.
In a surprising turn of events, Tesla employees in the Austin area, home to the automaker’s headquarters, found themselves affected by recent job cuts. Among those affected were a senior equipment engineer and a production supervisor, according to LinkedIn posts. The layoffs appeared to come suddenly, with some employees receiving notifications in the early hours of the morning.
One former employee in Austin described the layoff as a “surprise,” noting that there had been no indication of cutbacks given the ongoing ramp-up in production. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk attributed the decision to eliminate roles to the need for streamlining operations and reducing costs, as reported by Bloomberg News.
Despite the layoffs, some Tesla employees rushed to offer support to their affected colleagues, acknowledging the challenges they may face in finding new employment, especially for those with visa constraints.
The reduction in staff comes at a time when Tesla reported its first year-over-year decline in quarterly deliveries since 2020, amidst increasing competition in the electric vehicle market. Additionally, two Tesla executives, Senior Vice President Drew Baglino and Vice President of Public Policy and Business Development Rohan Patel, are also leaving the company.
This move marks Tesla’s latest round of layoffs since 2022 when CEO Elon Musk announced plans to cut 10 percent of salaried workers. Despite these challenges, Tesla remains active in hiring for certain entry-level positions in Austin and Houston.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A gunman was killed and an innocent bystander was injured in a dramatic shootout involving several members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said a sergeant working traffic enforcement stopped a 47-year-old man for a broken tail light and expired registration just before 3 p.m. in the area of FM-1960 and Red Oak Drive.
Gonzalez said the man identified himself as a sovereign citizen and refused to comply with the sergeant’s commands, demanding that a supervisor be called.
Gonzalez said several supervisors and deputies arrived and attempted to continue to try to reason with the individual.
He said they determined the 47-year-old man had a felony warrant out of Brazoria County for evading police. The deputies set out spike strips.
After more than an hour of discussion, the man drove off over the spike strips, sparking a brief chase, HCSO said. About a half mile away on FM-1960 near Ella Boulevard, the sheriff’s office spun his car out with a PIT maneuver.
Gonzalez said the man jumped out of the car and began shooting at deputies. ABC13 spoke with multiple witnesses who corroborated the story. Deputies shot back, eventually killing the man.
Multiple bullets struck a school bus operated by Judy Coward and her husband. Thankfully, no children were on board.
“It was very scary,” Coward said. “For all of our parents to see this.”
One of the bullets passed through the bus and struck a woman who was getting groceries. She was taken to the hospital for surgery and is expected to survive.
“We’re praying for her,” Coward said.
HCSO has yet to identify the suspect who was killed.
“Again, this could have gone a lot differently had he just complied,” Gonzalez said. “Many times, sovereign individuals, it does show that these situations do have a chance to turn violent. Under their belief, they are not under the authority of federal government or law enforcement. But we have a responsibility and our deputies do not have to allow anyone to violate the law.”
A judge in Texas is set to hear arguments Monday in rap star Travis Scott’s request to be dismissed from a lawsuit over the deadly 2021 Astroworld festival in Houston.
Scott headlined the concert during which 10 people were killed as authorities and festival organizers responded to a massive crowd surge and tried to shut down the show.
Last week, the judge dismissed lawsuits against hip-hop guest performer Drake along with several other individuals and companies involved in the show.
Attorneys for Scott, whose real name is Jacques Bermon Webster II and is also known as “Cactus Jack,” write in the motion to dismiss that he is a performer and had no role in providing security or crowd management for the festival.
“Performers are not expected to render special protection to the audience, nor to safeguard them from the rest of the crowd,” the motion said. “Performing artists, even those who engage in certain promotional activities, have no inherent expertise or specialized knowledge in concert safety measures.”
The motion said Scott followed instructions and ended the show after a performance by Drake by performing one final song because it was feared that an abrupt ending could have led to riots, panic and chaos in the crowd.
“Thus, due care also required taking the time to end the show properly, so that the crowd would feel satisfied and leave peacefully,” according to the document.
After an investigation by Houston police, no charges were filed against Scott and a grand jury declined to indict him and five other people on any criminal counts related to the deadly concert.
Those killed, who ranged in age from 9 to 27, died from compression asphyxia, which an expert likened to being crushed by a car.
The first trial from the lawsuits is scheduled for May 6.
Some of the lawsuits filed by the families of the 10 who died and hundreds who were injured have been settled, including those filed by the families of four of the dead.
In a significant development in the legal battles surrounding former President Donald Trump, the commencement of his trial for the so-called “hush money” case is scheduled for April 15th, marking a historic moment as the first time a former U.S. president will stand trial in a court of law.
The case, which revolves around allegations of falsifying business records to conceal payments aimed at silencing extramarital affair allegations during his 2016 presidential campaign, has garnered widespread attention. Trump is accused of orchestrating a scheme with his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to conceal a $130,000 payment to Stephanie Clifford, also known as “Stormy Daniels,” an adult film actor who alleged a past encounter with Trump.
Despite attempts by Trump’s legal team to defer proceedings until after the election, jury selection is set to commence in Manhattan, with Trump facing 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, alleges that Trump’s actions constituted an illegal attempt to sway the outcome of the 2016 election.
A key figure in the trial is expected to be Michael Cohen, who has pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations related to the payments and is anticipated to testify regarding the origins and handling of the funds. The trial, expected to last several weeks, will not be televised, but PBS NewsHour correspondent William Brangham will provide coverage from the Manhattan courthouse.
As the trial unfolds, observers will closely monitor Trump’s demeanor and his response to the proceedings, given his history of vocal criticism directed at prosecutors and judges. Despite his assertions of innocence and claims of victimization by what he terms a “witch hunt,” the trial represents a pivotal moment in Trump’s legal battles as he navigates multiple legal challenges while continuing to engage in political activities.
