Axios

President-elect Trump yesterday said that he'll nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health & Human Services, sending shockwaves through the biotech sector.

Why it matters: Investing in vaccine and other drug development is inherently risky and expensive, and soon may have the added variable of a medical conspiracy theorist leading a department that oversees the FDA.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could radically reshape the Department of Health and Human Services if he is confirmed as secretary of the agency under President-elect Trump.

Why it matters: The onetime independent presidential candidate has been one of the country's most prominent vaccine skeptics for years, alarming public health experts about his nomination to lead to HHS.

President-elect Trump has selected vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the nation's top health care agency, which would give him power over food and drug regulation, Medicare and Medicaid policy, the federal public health system and national health care research money.

Why it matters: We're now in the Wild West in a way we never were during Trump's first presidency, at least when it comes to health care.

Americans are divided about what role scientists should play in crafting public policies, with Democrats far more likely than Republicans to say they should play an active part, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center.

Why it matters: Partisan differences in trust of scientists could influence who helps devise policies in the new Trump administration — and beyond — as the world faces climate change, new pathogens, AI and other complex challenges.

Public health leaders on Thursday quickly decried President-elect Trump's pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary, predicting his vaccine skepticism and other public statements would undermine scientific expertise.

Why it matters: Key figures warned of the unique predicament of a having a noted vaccine skeptic who's sown mistrust of federal health agencies in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fanned the flames of vaccine misinformation and elevated unfounded claims about corruption within the FDA.

Why it matters: Now, he's President-elect Trump's pick to lead America's health agencies — including the ones he has lambasted for years.

Vaccine company stocks fell sharply Thursday on reports that President-elect Donald Trump would nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services.

Why it matters: Trump's pick, which was confirmed after markets closed, puts one of the nation's foremost vaccine skeptics in charge of America's health care agencies.

A sprawling movement built around concerns over the food supply and drug industry profiteering is poised to shake up health policy in the new Trump administration — and is already stoking disinformation concerns.

Why it matters: Trump has now picked the leader of the "Make America Healthy Again" campaign, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as his nominee for health secretary — meaning he could soon have the power to implement some of the MAHA agenda.

President-elect Trump has asked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as secretary of health and human services, Trump confirmed on Thursday.

Why it matters: Trump's pick would put one of the nation's foremost vaccine skeptics in charge of America's health care agencies.

President-elect Trump has nominated former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to serve as his director of national intelligence.

Why it matters: If confirmed, the ex-Democrat turned MAGA ally would head the country's vast intelligence community despite having little experience in the field.

Life sciences companies are quickly integrating artificial intelligence into their work, but guardrails for using the technology are lagging, according to a survey from law firm Arnold & Porter.

The big picture: 75% of the 100 senior life sciences executives said their companies started implementing AI in the past two years, and 86% said they'll deploy those tools within two years or less.

Hospitals performed more than 200,000 unnecessary back surgeries on Medicare beneficiaries in the U.S. over three years, according to a new analysis.

Why it matters: Roughly $2 billion was spent on the "low value" procedures while patients were put at risk of poor outcomes, researchers from the Lown Institute wrote.

The E. coli outbreak linked to onions served in McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers has now infected at least 104 people in 14 states, per a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention update Wednesday.

The big picture: McDonald's reported sales took a hit over the outbreak, which the CDC said killed one person, hospitalized 34 people and left four with kidney problems.