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An experimental medication made from marijuana successfully reduced back pain in a new study, offering further support for the drugs potential in treating one of the most common forms of chronic pain. The 800-patient study by a German drugmaker is the latest evidence of the therapeutic properties of cannabis, which remains illegal under U.S. federal law even as most states have made it available for medical or recreational use. Health officials in Canada and Europe have previously approved a pharmaceutical-grade form of cannabis for several types of pain, including nerve pain due to multiple sclerosis. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug containing CBD one of the many non-intoxicating chemicals found in cannabis to treat rare seizures in children with epilepsy. Unlike that drug, known as Epidiolex, the new cannabis formula from drugmaker Vertanical contains THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that gets users high. But levels of the chemical are very low, essentially a microdose compared to whats available in gummies, chocolate bars, and other products sold at marijuana dispensaries in the U.S. The company said patients in the trial didnt show any signs of drug abuse, dependence, or withdrawal. Vertanical is seeking approval for a large group of patients: those suffering from lower-back pain, a chronic condition that affects millions and has few proven treatments. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen cant be used for long-term pain because of their side effects, which include stomach ulcers and indigestion. Opioids are no longer recommended, after the overprescribing of painkillers such as OxyContin in the 1990s and 2000s led to the ongoing epidemic of addiction to that class of drug. Chronic pain is one of the most frequently cited conditions of people enrolled in state-run medical marijuana programs. But there’s been little rigorous research on the drug’s use in that group. Lead study author Dr. Matthias Karst said in an email that the new findings show cannabis “can significantly reduce pain and improve physical function in patients with chronic low-back pain, without the safety concerns commonly associated with opioids. Karst is a pain specialist at Hannover Medical School and a consultant for Vertanical. For the new study, patients with back pain were randomly assigned to take Vertanicals proprietary liquid cannabis extract or a placebo. At the end of 12 weeks, patients taking the medication reported a nearly 2-point reduction in pain on an 11-point scale, compared with 1.4 points for those taking placebo. The difference was statistically significant. Those getting the drug also reported improvements in sleep and physical function. Patients who continued with a six-month extension phase continued to experience reductions in pain. The results were published Monday in the journal Nature. Side effects included dizziness, headache, fatigue, and nausea, and led to more than 17% of people discontinuing the drug early. Researchers said that the dropout rate was lower than what’s typically reported with opioids, which can cause constipation, nausea, drowsiness, and carry risks of addiction. Vertanical has filed an application for its drug with European regulators. In the U.S., the company says it is working closely with regulators to design a study to support FDA approval. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Matthew Perrone, AP health writer
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CSX railroad announced Monday that it had replaced its CEO less than two months after an investment fund urged it to either find another railroad to merge with to better compete with the proposed transcontinental Union Pacific railroad or fire outgoing CEO Joe Hinrichs. The outgoing CEO, who came to the railroad in 2022 after a long career with Ford, focused on repairing CSX’s relationship with its workers and labor unions and unifying the team after a bitter contract fight. But Ancora Holdings, which helped spur major changes at Norfolk Southern, said CSX’s operating performance deteriorated significantly under Hinrichs’ leadership. Hinrichs resigned to clear the way for Steve Angel to become CEO effective Sunday. Angel, 70, also comes from outside the rail industry although earlier in his career he oversaw GE’s locomotive building unit, so he does have that experience. CSX said he has 45 years experience leading large public companies, including most recently as CEO of Linde and Praxair. We are excited to welcome Steve as our new CEO. He is a visionary in creating long-term value and an expert in guiding companies through significant transformation,” the railroad’s board Chairman John Zillmer said. CSX has been under pressure from Ancora and other investors since Union Pacific announced its $85 billion deal to acquire Norfolk Southern, which is CSX’s rival in the eastern United States. But both BNSF and CPKC railroads said they aren’t interested in a merger right now. Ancora said CSX has delivered disappointing shareholder returns and poor financial performance during Hinrichs’ tenure. But over the past year, CSX was working on two major construction projects repairs from Hurricane Helene and a major tunnel renovation in Baltimore that disrupted the railroad. Both those projects were just completed this month, so CSX’s performance was expected to improve in the fourth quarter. Angel promised to make improvements at the Jacksonville, Florida-based company, which is one of the six largest railroads in North America. My top priorities will be to ensure the safety of the railroad and our employees, deliver reliable service to our customers, and increase value for our shareholders, Angel said in a statement. Josh Funk, AP transportation writer
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Lufthansa announced on Monday it plans to cut thousands of workers as it aims to increase profitability and efficiency, in part by relying more heavily on artificial intelligence. The airline group said it will eliminate a total of 4,000 jobs worldwide by 2030, the majority of which will be in Germanywith a focus on administration roles, not operational ones. “The Lufthansa Group is reviewing which activities will no longer be necessary in the future, for example due to duplication of work,” the company said in a statement. “In particular, the profound changes brought about by digitalization and the increased use of AI will lead to greater efficiency in many areas and processes.” (The Lufthansa Group includes Germany’s Lufthansa, in addition to Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways, the successor to Alitalia.) That restructuring will include the largest fleet modernization in the company’s history. To that end, the Lufthansa Group expects to add more than 230 new aircraft by 2030, including 100 long-haul aircraft. The Cologne-based German carrier said it plans to invest in the growth of its core business, expanding locations and its international presence, including in Canada and Portugal. It also plans to extend its digital business models, as part of its Ambition 2030 program. The changes are expected to significantly increase revenue and profit by 2030. The airline also set new financial targets for 2028 to 2030, saying it expects its adjusted operating margin to reach 8-10% and over 2.5 billion euros in adjusted free cash flow per year. Lufthansa, like a number of companies including Klarna, Duolingo, and Salesforce, has recently turned to AI. Some of those companies even instituted AI-first workplaces as a way of slashing workforces toward greater profitabilitybut not without some missteps. According to a recent Nexford University survey, in the past year, around 65% of companies conducted layoffs, with 68% of companies identifying cost-cutting as the culprit, and 27% citing AI adoption. Lufthansa financials Lufthansa reported strong Q2 2025 results with considerable year-on-year growth, including a 27% increase in its operating profit compared to 2024, and a 3% increase in revenue (from 10 billion to 10.3 billion). Last year, Lufthansa increased its revenue by six percent year-on-year to EUR 37.6 billion as it offered more flights, making it the highest revenue in its history. However, the operating profit (adjusted EBIT) was EUR 1.6 billion, compared with EUR 2.7 billion the previous year, as the airline faced strikes and higher global costs. Lufthansa (Deutsche Lufthansa AG), which is traded under the stock ticker LHA on the Xetra and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges, closed up slightly on Monday.
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