In brief: FDA questions testosterone drug safety

Washington – The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it is reviewing the safety of popular testosterone drugs for men in light of recent studies suggesting they can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and death.

A study published earlier this week suggested testosterone therapy could double the risk of those problems in men older than 65. Another study published in November found that the hormone increased the risk by 30 percent.

The FDA said it is evaluating information from those studies and others but hasn’t yet reached any conclusion.

The investigation comes amid an advertising blitz for testosterone gels, patches and injections marketed for low sex drive, fatigue and other age-related ailments in men.

Obama’s library gets new foundation

Chicago – The push to build Barack Obama’s presidential library officially got underway Friday with the establishment of a foundation managed by three of his longtime supporters to oversee the process.

Chicago businessman Marty Nesbitt, a personal friend of the president who served as national treasurer for Obama’s two presidential campaigns, will head the Barack H. Obama Foundation. He is joined by Julianna Smoot, a former senior staff member in Obama’s administration and the deputy campaign manager for his re-election, and Kevin Poorman, president and CEO of PSP Capital Partners, an investment firm founded by U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker of Chicago.

While Chicago will be competing with other cities and states, including New York and Hawaii, to get the library, the University of Chicago is considered by many observers as the front-runner.

Shortly after the foundation was announced, the University of Chicago issued a statement confirming its intention to bid for the library and build it at a location off campus. In addition to the University of Chicago, Chicago State University and the University of Illinois at Chicago also plan to bid on the library.