What We’re Reading: NJ Tightens Gun Laws; Temporary Lift on Juul Ban; Cancer Drug Cuts COVID-19 Deaths

New Jersey Strengthens Gun Laws

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation Tuesday that would make it harder for individuals to obtain a handgun license and purchase high-capacity rifles in the state, The New York Times reported. The new legislation requires individuals to receive training to get a gun license and register firearms purchased out of state, and outlaws .50-caliber weapons. This news follows the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a New York state gun law, and multiple shootings over Independence Day weekend.

FDA Temporarily Lifts Ban on Juul Purchases

The FDA temporarily suspended its ban on Juul sales, the agency announced Tuesday, clarifying this does not entirely rescind the ban. As reported by The Hill, the FDA found scientific issues unique to Juul’s application that require further review. During this time, Juul is also permitted to market its products in the United States. This announcement was made 2 weeks after the FDA ordered Juul to pull its e-cigarettes from the US market.

Cancer Drug Cuts COVID-19 Deaths in Half, 1 Study Finds

Experimental drug sabizabulin was initially developed for cancer treatment, but has been found to reduce the risk of death among people hospitalized with COVID-19 by half, The New York Times reported. According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the drug was more effective at reducing death compared with other drugs, and works by blocking cells from building microtubules. Because the study only included 134 patients, experts have expressed caution in interpreting the results, and encourage more, larger studies.