Talk Show Host Jerry Springer Dies of Pancreatic Cancer, Pharma Company to Tackle Prostate Cancer Drug Shortage and More

Jerry Springer, talk show host and former politician, died of pancreatic cancer.

Talk show host and former mayor of Cincinnati, Jerry Springer, died on April 27 from pancreatic cancer, according to his family’s spokesperson, Jene Galvin. He was 79 years old.

“Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried, whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word,” Galvin said in a statement to the Associated Press. “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”

Springer hosted his own talk show, “The Jerry Springer Show,” from 1991 to 2018. Before the show, he was the mayor of Cincinnati for one year in 1977, then became an anchor and political reporter for Cincinnati’s NBC affiliate for 10 years. Springer was also the host of “America’s Got Talent” for seasons 2 and 3.

Steve Wilkos, who was the security guard on “The Jerry Springer Show,” tweeted about the impact Springer had on his life. “Other than my father, Jerry was the most influential man in my life,” he tweeted. “Everything I have today, I owe to Jerry. He was the smartest, most generous, kindest person I’ve ever known. My wife and I are devastated. We will miss him terribly.”

‘The Young and the Restless’ star announced his cancer diagnosis.

Eric Braeden, who plays Victor Newman on the daytime television show “The Young and the Restless,” announced on social media that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The 82-year-old said that he was recovering from a knee replacement when he began noticing some issues with his urinary system — including the need to urinate nearly every half hour — which caused him to visit a urologist and have a catheter inserted. However, after the catheter was removed, he was unable to urinate, and went to Cedars-Sinai hospital, where eventually he received the cancer diagnosis.

“I hate to be this personal, but I think this may be good for some older guys who may or may not listen to this. It’ll happen to them,” he said in the April 21 video announcement on Facebook.

Braeden initially went surgery to remove the cancer, and then BCG immunotherapy.

“So, if you’ve seen me a little under the weather, well, I have been,” he continued. “But I’m going to lick this. This prostate ain’t going to get me. I’m going to get it… and I’ll be in top form again soon.”

‘Dancing With the Stars’ judge Len Goodman died of cancer.

Len Goodman, a British ballroom dancer who served as a judge on the shows “Dancing With the Stars” and the British “Strictly Come Dancing” died on April 22 of bone cancer, according to reports from the BBC. He was 78 years old.

Goodman, who joined “Dancing With the Stars” in 2005, underwent treatment for prostate cancer in 2009, before later revealing in 2021 that he underwent surgery for melanoma on his face. After 17 years judging “Dancing With the Stars,” Goodman announced last year that season 31 would be his last. He eventually went into hospice care in Kent — a county in southeastern England — where he died.

Many people paid Goodman tribute on social media, including Bruno Tonioli, who was a judge on both “Dancing With the Stars” and “Strictly Coming Dancing.” He wrote, “Heartbroken my dear friend and partner for 19 years, the one and only ballroom LEGEND Len Goodman passed away. I will treasure the memories of our adventures … there will never be anyone like you. You will always be my perfect 10.”

The FDA agreed to allow a New Jersey factory to produce a short-supplied prostate cancer drug.

Pluvicto will soon be manufacturered in a New Jersey-based facility to help mitigate the shortage of the prostate cancer drug.

Supply chain issues have caused a shortage of Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan), a radiopharmaceutical drug that is approved for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The shortage became so severe that an expert reported that no new patients were being prescribed Pluvico, so that the drug — which is manufactured in small batches in Italy — can be given to patients who have already started their Pluvicto regimen.

Now, Novartis, the pharmaceutical company behind Pluvicto, was granted FDA clearance to manufacturer the radiopharmaceutical in its Millburn, New Jersey factory.

A press release from the company explained, “Production will begin in the coming weeks and ramp up gradually. The site is expected to contribute meaningfully to supply and sales in the third quarter, after the anticipated approval of additional lines at the site. Capacity should continue to increase through the second half of this year, helping to ensure stable, reliable supply to patients.”

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