FDA on Friday approved the first nonhormonal drug to treat hot flashes in menopausal women, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from California, the District of Columbia, and North Carolina.

• California: R.J. Reynolds on Thursday announced it is suing the state of California in an effort to keep its Camel Crush and Newport cigarettes — which are marketed as "crisp" cigarettes that will produce a "tropical oasis" for menthol smokers — on the market following California's statewide ban on menthol cigarettes. California Attorney General Rob Bonta argued the products are an end-run around the law, however, Reynolds argued the products "do not impart a distinguishable taste or aroma other than tobacco" and should be available to be sold. (Florko, STAT, 5/11)
• District of Columbia: FDA on Friday approved the first nonhormonal drug to treat hot flashes in menopausal women. The drug, which is made by Astellas and will be sold under the brand name Veozah, provides women with a "safe and effective treatment option," according to Janet Maynard, director of FDA's Office of Rare Diseases, Pediatrics, Urologic, and Reproductive Medicine. Hot flashes affect roughly 75% of menopausal and perimenopausal women. And according to Lauren Streicher, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University, years of limited treatment options have created a gaping "unmet need," which makes Veozah both a groundbreaking drug and one that is long overdue. "When you think about the impact of [hot flashes] on work, on cognitive function, on sleep, on quality of life — the availability of another option is exciting," Streicher said. "This is something we've been anticipating for a long time." (Jewett, New York Times, 5/12; Gupta, New York Times, 5/12)
• North Carolina: Gov. Roy Cooper (D) on Saturday vetoed Senate Bill 20, which made the majority of abortions illegal after 12 weeks, with some exceptions for rape, incest, or to preserve the life and health of the mother. The bill will now go back to the House and Senate, which will hold votes to override Cooper's veto. According to the New York Times, overriding the veto would likely require the vote of every elected Republican in the state's congress. (Kelly, New York Times, 5/13)