Piece by piece, scientists are trying to solve the puzzle of the ancient but evolutionary relationship between humans and their microbiomes, or the genetic world stemming from bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microbes inside or on the human body.
What's new: In the second part of a more than decade-long project to decode the genetic influence from these mysteriously important "bugs," the Integrative Human Microbiome Project (iHMP) published 3 studies Wednesday in Nature and Nature Medicine that look at how changes in the microbiome could be related to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), prediabetes and preterm births.
Measles cases today reached 971 in 26 states so far this year — eclipsing 1994's 963 cases reported for the entire year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday.
Why it matters: Measles was declared "eradicated" in the U.S. in 2000, years after the development and implementation of the MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective with 2 doses. But the extremely contagious virus has crept back into American society, mainly via pockets of communities who refuse to use the vaccinations, experts have told Axios.
Editor's Note: Hickenlooperdropped outof contention for the Democratic presidential nomination on Aug. 15, 2019. Below is our original article on his candidacy.
Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is positioning himself as a pragmatic, productive, drama-free moderate. He even weighed running on a joint ticket with former Ohio GOP Gov. John Kasich. On progressive policy proposals like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal, he said, "I reject the notion that it should become a litmus test of what it takes to be a good Democrat."
Key facts about John Hickenlooper:
Current position: N/a — 2-term governor of Colorado until Jan. 8, 2019
Age: 67
Born: Narberth, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate: Wesleyan University
Date candidacy announced: March 4, 2019
Previous roles: Governor of Colorado, mayor of Denver, restaurant and brewery owner, geologist
John Hickenlooper's stance on key issues:
Climate change: Calls for the U.S. to reenter the Paris climate agreement, institute a carbon tax and collaborate with industry for infrastructure investment. He wrote an op-ed in March denouncing the Green New Deal, arguing that while he supports the "concept", the model "sets unachievable goals" and would inflate the government.
Gun control: Signed legislation to require background checks for all gun sales and a ban on high-capacity magazines.
Marijuana: Once opposed to the idea of legalization in Colorado, he has come around to it.
Medicare for All: Said he supports single-payer health care, advocating for the general idea rather than hastily hashing out a specific policy. He opposed a ballot measure to bring a publicly-financed health care system to Colorado.
Reproductive rights: Hickenlooper unveiled in a Medium blog a new plan to expand access to long-acting, reversible contraception (LARC), such as Intrauterine Devices (IUDs), if elected.
Rural communities: Hickenlooper plans to strengthen rural communities by expanding broadband access, providing tax credits for small businesses and boosting funding for agricultural development, according to The Hill.
Key criticisms of John Hickenlooper:
Moderation: Many feel moderation and nuance is not a winning formula for 2020 Democrats.
A new analysis finds that relatively minor changes to Medicare's payment policies could help jump-start the fledgling market for biosimilars.
Where it stands: The market for biosimilars is weak, and that means the drugs' expected savings aren't materializing. But Medicare could help kick things up a notch, according to Avalere estimates commissioned by a coalition of biosimilars manufacturers.
Facing increasingly overworked doctors and labyrinthine insurance systems, hospitals are searching for a lifeline in AI systems that promises to ease hard diagnoses and treatment decisions.
Reality check: The data underpinning the very first systems is often spotty, volatile and completely lacking in critical context, leading to a poor early record in the field.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) sent acting FDA commissioner Ned Sharpless a biting letter on Wednesday, writing that he believes Sharpless has "no intention" of addressing the youth e-cigarette epidemic after a meeting between the two on May 14.
What he's saying: Durbin warned Sharpless not to make the same mistakes as his predecessor Scott Gottlieb by underestimating the impact of rampant youth vaping. "I write to again reiterate the specific actions that FDA should be taking, today, to protect children from a lifetime of addiction."
Equity analysts at UBS downgraded pharmaceutical companies Teva and Mylan significantly on Tuesday, highlighting pending litigation and an "unclear path to upside."
Driving the news: Teva on Sunday agreed to pay $85 million to settle claims with the attorney general of Oklahoma for its role in the opioid crisis.
Small groups of pharmaceutical industry shareholders have pushed for companies to disclose whether higher drug prices fuel lavish bonuses for top executives. But those proposals were handily defeated.
The bottom line: The industry and its largest stockholders are not about to start self-regulating when it comes to drug prices and incentive pay packages.
