// Biotech and Pharma Therapeutics
1,000-year-old health hacks are trending—and backed by science
July 16, 2025 / Medieval medicine / Natural remedies / Historical health practices / Rose oil benefits / Ancient wellness trends
New research reveals early medieval medical practices were observational, widespread, and surprisingly aligned with modern wellness trends—highlighting remedies like rose oil for headaches—challenging assumptions of a non-scientific “Dark Ages.”
‘We are not rolling over’: J&J electrophysiology unit rebounds amid PFA rivalry
July 16, 2025 / Electrophysiology growth / Pulsed field ablation / Varipulse system / Cardiac ablation technology / Medtech competition
Johnson & Johnson’s electrophysiology unit rebounded with 11% growth, driven by global adoption of its Varipulse PFA system, despite earlier safety concerns and fierce competition from Boston Scientific and Medtronic in the pulsed field ablation market.
Using Case Management to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes
July 16, 2025 / Maternal mortality / Preterm birth risks / Integrated care management / Health equity maternity / NICU case management
Van Andel Institute scientists develop improved technique to profile DNA methylation in single cells
July 16, 2025 / DNA methylation / Single-cell analysis / Epigenetics cancer research / scDEEP-mC technique / Cellular aging biomarkers
Optogenetic platform enables precise discovery of anti-aging therapeutics
// 4th Industrial Revolution
Intuitive demos telesurgery; SS Innovations marks 100 robot installs
July 16, 2025 / Robotic telesurgery / da Vinci 5 system / SSi Mantra robot / Remote surgical collaboration / FDA surgical robot approval
Intuitive Surgical demonstrated trans-Atlantic robotic telesurgery using its da Vinci 5 system, highlighting future applications in remote collaboration. Meanwhile, SS Innovations surpassed 100 global installs of its SSi Mantra system and plans FDA submission for U.S. approval.
New micro physiological system emulates different regions of the human lung
Kyoto University researchers developed a micro physiological system that mimics human lung regions, enabling precise modeling of respiratory infections like COVID-19. Using iPSC-derived lung cells, the system supports personalized treatment development and enhances drug testing and disease mechanism research.
33 states pick up CMS program to pay for sickle cell gene therapies
July 16, 2025 / Sickle cell gene therapy / Medicaid coverage expansion / Casgevy Lyfgenia access / Outcomes-based agreements / CMS innovation model
CMS launched a gene therapy access model with 33 states to expand Medicaid coverage for costly sickle cell treatments, Casgevy and Lyfgenia. The initiative supports outcomes-based payments, fertility services, and aims to improve access while managing state budget impact.
New adhesive could offer a more comfortable alternative for medical device users
July 16, 2025 / Wearable medical devices / Skin-friendly adhesive / PEC biomedical adhesive / Sweat-activated adhesion / Medical device comfort
Texas A&M researchers developed a water-based polyelectrolyte-complex (PEC) adhesive that offers a gentler, moisture-enhanced alternative to conventional adhesives used in wearable medical devices, potentially reducing skin irritation and improving long-term comfort for users.
North East NHS launches digital platform to tackle chronic kidney disease
July 16, 2025 / Chronic kidney disease / Digital health platform / Health equity NHS / CKD early detection / SPOT CKD program
The North East NHS launched the Healthinote digital platform to support early detection and self-management of chronic kidney disease, focusing on high-risk, underserved communities. The SPOT CKD program promotes health equity through multilingual, NHS-approved educational tools and proactive care.
// Business & Markets
Sarepta to lay off about 500 employees after Duchenne gene therapy setbacks
GT Medical closes $53M round to commercialize brain tumor device
July 16, 2025 / GammaTile brain tumor / Implantable radiation therapy / GT Medical funding / Brain metastases treatment / Glioblastoma clinical trials
GT Medical raised $53M to expand commercialization and clinical trials for GammaTile, a surgically implanted radiation device for brain tumors. FDA-cleared for recurrent and newly diagnosed tumors, GammaTile targets residual cancer cells post-surgery with localized radiation therapy.
AstraZeneca Blockbuster Prospect Is a Bust in Pivotal Test in Light Chain Amyloidosis
July 16, 2025 / Light chain amyloidosis / Anselamimab trial failure / Amyloid-targeting antibody / AstraZeneca Alexion pipeline / Rare disease treatment
AstraZeneca’s anselamimab failed its Phase 3 trial in light chain amyloidosis, not meeting primary endpoints. However, promising results in a pre-defined subgroup suggest potential benefit in targeting amyloid deposits, warranting further evaluation of safety and efficacy.
J&J absorbs Stelara, tariff hits to deliver beat-and-raise quarter
July 16, 2025 / Johnson & Johnson earnings / Stelara patent loss / Tremfya Crohn’s disease / Oncology drug sales / TAR-200 bladder cancer
J&J’s pharma sales surpassed $15B in Q2, driven by oncology growth and Tremfya uptake despite Stelara’s patent loss. Strong performance offsets tariff impacts, with Darzalex, Carvykti, and bladder cancer asset TAR-200 highlighted as key future revenue drivers.
Jaan Health Secures $25M to Transform Care for Millions of Chronically Ill Patients
July 16, 2025 / Chronic disease management / AI healthcare platform / Proactive virtual care / Patient engagement software / Jaan Health Phamily
Jaan Health secured $25M to expand its AI-powered care platform, Phamily, which supports proactive, between-visit chronic disease management. The technology improves patient outcomes, reduces costs, and enables healthcare providers to deliver scalable, individualized care amid labor and reimbursement challenges.
// Legal & Regulatory
Moderna’s latest approval again reveals FDA rift over COVID vaccines
July 16, 2025 / Moderna Spikevax approval / COVID vaccine FDA rift / Pediatric vaccine guidance / mRNA vaccine safety / Vinay Prasad FDA
FDA’s vaccine chief Vinay Prasad limited Moderna’s Spikevax approval to high-risk children, citing insufficient benefit-risk certainty for healthy kids. The decision marks ongoing internal FDA disagreement over COVID-19 vaccines amid evolving virus dynamics and public skepticism.
Zimmer Biomet to Strengthen to Robotics Position with New Acquisition
July 14, 2025 / Zimmer Biomet acquisition / Orthopedic robotics innovation / AI knee arthroplasty / Rosa Robotics platform / Monogram Technologies deal
Zimmer Biomet will acquire Monogram Technologies for $177M to enhance its Rosa Robotics platform with AI-guided, semi-autonomous knee arthroplasty technology, aiming to expand its orthopedic robotics portfolio and strengthen global leadership in surgical navigation and enabling technologies.
FDA Issues Warning Letters to Firms Marketing Products Containing 7-Hydroxymitragynine
July 15, 2025 / FDA warning letters / 7-hydroxymitragynine safety / Illegal kratom products / Unapproved opioid supplements / Novel psychoactive substances
The FDA issued warning letters to seven companies for illegally marketing products with 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a potent kratom-derived opioid. These unapproved, potentially dangerous substances are being sold as supplements and food items with unproven therapeutic claims.
Shorla Oncology Announces FDA Orphan Drug Designation for SH-110 to Treat Rare Brain Cancer Using Oral Liquid
July 15, 2025 / Glioma oral treatment / Orphan drug designation / SH-110 brain cancer / Dysphagia cancer therapy / Shorla Oncology FDA
Shorla Oncology’s SH-110, an oral liquid formulation for Glioma, received FDA orphan drug designation. Designed for patients with swallowing difficulties, SH-110 improves safety, compliance, and access for those with this rare brain cancer, especially in pediatric and dysphagic populations.
Corcept Submits New Drug Application for Relacorilant as a Treatment for Patients with Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer
July 14, 2025 / Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer / Relacorilant FDA submission / Cortisol modulation therapy / Selective GR antagonist / Corcept oncology pipeline
Corcept Therapeutics submitted an NDA to the FDA for relacorilant, a selective cortisol modulator, to treat platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Phase 3 data showed improved survival with good tolerability, offering a promising option for patients with limited therapeutic alternatives.
// Research & Development
Dogs can detect Parkinson’s years before symptoms—with 98% accuracy
July 16, 2025 / Parkinson’s disease detection / Olfactory biomarkers PD / Medical detection dogs / Early Parkinson’s diagnosis / Non-invasive diagnostic tools
In a double-blind study, trained dogs accurately identified Parkinson’s disease from skin swabs with 98% specificity and up to 80% sensitivity, supporting the potential of non-invasive olfactory biomarkers for early, pre-symptomatic detection of the disease.
Births of eight healthy children show promise of mitochondrial replacement therapy
July 16, 2025 / Mitochondrial replacement therapy / Mitochondrial DNA disorders / Three-parent babies / Genetic disease prevention / Reproductive genetics innovation
Eight healthy births following mitochondrial replacement therapy in the U.K. demonstrate the technique’s potential to prevent transmission of mitochondrial DNA disorders, offering hope for families affected by these rare, often fatal conditions. Developmental outcomes remain positive to date.
Can’t sleep, can’t focus, can’t thrive? ADHD and insomnia may be a vicious cycle
July 16, 2025 / ADHD and insomnia / Sleep quality ADHD / Mental health sleep / Cognitive behavioral therapy / ADHD quality of life
A study links insomnia to reduced quality of life in adults with ADHD traits, suggesting a bidirectional relationship. Targeting insomnia through behavioral therapies may offer a path to improve sleep, mood, and overall well-being in this population.
Topological velocity inference from spatial transcriptomic data
July 16, 2025 / Spatial transcriptomics analysis / Cell fate transitions / RNA velocity modeling / Tissue development dynamics / TopoVelo neural mapping
TopoVelo is a new computational model that infers spatial and temporal dynamics of cell fate transitions using spatial transcriptomics, enhancing our understanding of tissue development by mapping cell movement, gene expression, and spatial interactions during processes like neural tube closure.
Six-hour ‘undo’ button: GAI-17 rewinds stroke damage and may beat Alzheimer’s
July 15, 2025 / Stroke treatment breakthrough / GAPDH aggregation inhibitor / Neurodegenerative disease therapy / GAI-17 brain protection / Alzheimer’s drug development
Researchers developed GAI-17, a GAPDH aggregation inhibitor that significantly reduces brain cell death post-stroke—even when given six hours later—and shows promise for treating Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases without notable side effects.
// Politics
PEPFAR keeps millions of people with HIV alive and may be spared from Trump spending cuts
July 16, 2025 / PEPFAR HIV funding / Global HIV treatment / U.S. foreign aid cuts / Antiretroviral drug access / Trump administration healthcare
PEPFAR, credited with saving over 25 million lives from HIV, narrowly avoided major funding cuts under the Trump administration. However, broader U.S. foreign aid reductions are already disrupting global HIV drug access, raising concerns for treatment continuity.
The Crisis That Unites Us: Healthcare Costs Are Breaking Everyone
July 16, 2025 / Healthcare affordability crisis / Medical debt epidemic / Value-based primary care / Delayed care consequences / Direct Primary Care model
Skyrocketing healthcare costs are driving medical debt, delayed care, and worsened outcomes nationwide. Sustainable models like Advanced Primary Care, Direct Primary Care, and community health centers offer scalable, patient-centered alternatives that improve access, reduce financial strain, and prioritize preventive care.
HHS terminates employees after Supreme Court allows reduction in force to proceed
July 15, 2025 / HHS workforce reduction / Supreme Court ruling / Public health layoffs / RFK Jr. restructuring / Federal agency cuts
Following a Supreme Court ruling, HHS began layoffs tied to a planned 10,000-person workforce reduction, impacting key public health agencies. Legal challenges remain over the president’s authority to restructure federal health operations without full judicial review.
Surfing the tsunami: Surviving in biotech when surrounded by political turmoil
July 15, 2025 / Biotech policy challenges / NIH grant cuts / Biosimilar market reform / Biologics manufacturing tariffs / BIOSECURE Act impact
Biotech leader Paul Hastings highlights how political turmoil—tariff uncertainty, federal agency upheaval, NIH grant cuts, and anti-competitive legislation—threatens U.S. innovation. He advocates for biosimilar reform, domestic competitiveness, and sustained funding to safeguard biologics development and patient access.
Biotech CEOs to FDA: Don’t Let Politics Override Science on Abortion Pill
July 10, 2025 / Mifepristone FDA regulation / Abortion pill safety / Biotech industry letter / Scientific drug approval / REMS mifepristone restrictions
Biotech leaders urged the FDA to uphold science-based regulation of mifepristone amid political pressure. They warned that relying on flawed, non-peer-reviewed data undermines regulatory integrity, jeopardizes patient access, and risks destabilizing the drug approval process across all therapeutic areas.