Axios

Arcane arguments made by vaccine critics — many false or misleading — about how some vaccines are tested could have significant implications if one of their own becomes the nation's top health official.

Why it matters: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Trump's choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has said he isn't going to take away vaccines from anyone, although he'll be able to use the bully pulpit to sow fear if he so chooses.

Medicare will seek to negotiate lower prices for Novo Nordisk's popular but pricey GLP-1 drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, along with 14 other drugs, the Biden administration announced Friday morning.

Why it matters: The announcement kicks off the second round of price negotiations between Medicare and drugmakers. The talks, which stem from the Inflation Reduction Act and have already survived multiple court challenges, are projected to save taxpayers billions of dollars.

Idaho, Kansas and Missouri can proceed with their push against abortion pill mifepristone, a judge in Texas ruled Thursday.

The big picture: The Republican-led states are seeking to roll back federal rules on the drug to make it harder for people to access the abortion pill through telehealth prescriptions.

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorized the marketing of Zyn nicotine pouches, citing extensive scientific review.

Why it matters: This is the first FDA authorization of any nicotine pouch, though that does not mean the product is "FDA approved."

A pair of health care leaders at Monday's Axios event in San Francisco expressed optimism about the incoming Trump administration.

Why it matters: A new Washington means new communication opportunities and risks for those in the health care and pharmaceutical space.

The CEO of the company whose insurance leader was killed in New York pledged to help fix the health care industry while also defending his business and blaming pharmaceutical companies for driving up healthcare costs with drug prices.

The big picture: UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty spoke at length Thursday about the brazen public shooting of Brian Thompson — who led the UnitedHealthcare division — and the company's role in the industry.

Cancer incidence young and middle-aged women is rising, driven in part by a growing number of new lung cancer cases that are striking women more than men for the first time, per updated American Cancer Society statistics.

Why it matters: While the data reflects long term gains in reducing cancer deaths, it also shows worrisome ongoing shifts in the burden of disease to women and people under age 65.

The owner of UnitedHealthcare reported record full-year revenue but lower profits for 2024, just weeks after the brazen killing of a top executive inflamed the national ire against insurance companies.

Why it matters: It's the first earnings report for UnitedHealth Group since Brian Thompson's killing in early December sparked a national conversation about the U.S. health care industry's profits and coverage denials.

After several years in the doldrums, pharmaceutical companies and biotechs expect an uptick in dealmaking in 2025, with some positive vibes emanating from the giant J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference this week in San Francisco.

Why it matters: The mood has been decidedly gloomy the past few years as inflation, high borrowing costs, antitrust oversight and election uncertainty all created doubts about biopharma while AI sucked up all the oxygen.

State Medicaid funding could be on the chopping block this year, forcing politically difficult decisions about a safety net program that serves nearly 73 million Americans.

Why it matters: Republicans already are targeting hundreds of billions of dollars in federal health spending, meaning states likely will have to bear a bigger share of Medicaid program costs and face the prospect of coverage and benefit losses as they work through their own fiscal challenges.

About 73% of 13- to 39-year-olds in the U.S. said they don't support a TikTok ban in a new survey from YPulse, a youth research organization.

Why it matters: The app could go dark as soon as Sunday if the Supreme Court upholds a law that forces a ban if the app is not sold to a U.S. buyer. China-based owner ByteDance sued over the law and hasn't indicated it plans to sell.