Since arriving in your world not long ago, Pharmalot would usually close the counter for the weekend. Until now. To mark the annual hoopla that is the American College of Cardiology meeting, Pharmalot will provide periodic dispatches and round-ups with help of an on-the-spot colleague in New Orleans. So feel free to stop by over the next two days to learn more about stents, cholesterol pills, diets and all manner of heartening insights into health.

Of course, there is so much more to life than plaque and infarctions.

So we would be remiss not to remind you that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which is chaired by Henry Waxman, holds a 10 a.m. hearing on Monday about generic biotechs that features an interesting line-up of witnesses, led by the FDA’s Janet Woodcock.

Also on Monday, the National Conference of State Legislatures releases a report that compiles prescription-drug legislation in all 50 states.