Guest Rebecca Robbins, a business reporter covering the pharmaceutical industry, discusses how drug patents can lead to perverse incentives to delay better medications. The podcast explores a case where Gilead Sciences withheld a safer HIV treatment to maximize profits on existing patents.

Sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins debunks common myths about sleep, emphasizing the importance of 7-9 hours of sleep for overall health. She talks about the impact of natural sunlight on regulating melatonin secretion and provides tips to improve sleep quality like keeping cool before bed and focusing on positive memories.

The rise of the Delta variant has prompted a thorny question: Do we need a booster dose of the vaccine for Covid-19? Vaccine makers think so, but regulators are yet to be convinced.Principles are also at stake: Should richer countries be talking about administering extra doses when so many people around the world are yet to receive even a single shot?Guest: Rebecca Robbins, a business reporter covering Covid-19 vaccines for The New York Times. Sign up here to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, subscribe to our newsletter. Background reading: Although studies of a third dose are underway, experts agree that the vaccines are still working well. Here’s what to know about the potential booster dose.U.S. officials said that the decision to go ahead with a booster shot would depend partly on how many infections cause serious disease or hospitalization in vaccinated people.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.