President Trump's Make America Health Again Commission released a highly anticipated report Thursday that gives Americans a clearer sense of HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health agenda.
The big picture: The highly anticipated report hits some of RFK Jr.'s key targets: bad diets, overuse of medicine and corporate influence.
President Trump's Make America Healthy Again Commission blamed factors including bad diets, chemical exposure and unnecessary medication for causing childhood chronic illness in a highly anticipated report released Thursday.
Why it matters: The 68-page document from a panel led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seeks to lay out a unifying theory around what's causing conditions like obesity, autoimmune conditions and behavioral disorders in kids.
As retail pharmacy giants like CVS Health and Walgreens look to find their footing, they could find opportunities customizing services to large employers instead of the mass consumer market.
Why it matters: The industry is shrinking its footprint and pulling back from full-service care delivery. Experts say the biggest players could refashion themselves to become de facto in-house clinics to giant corporations.
With thousands of their brick-and-mortar stores closing and online vendors proliferating, big pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens are seeing their reputations slide, according to the annual Axios Harris Poll 100.
Why it matters: The souring consumer sentiment comes as pharmacy giants mount major turnaround plans in the hopes they can overcome slumping in-store sales, overexpansion and backlash from putting more products under lock and key and shortening pharmacy hours.
Bayer is fighting to keep the popular agricultural herbicide Roundup available for farmers in the U.S., but could "reach the end of the road" and pull out of the market amid mounting challenges, CEO Bill Anderson said at an Axios event on Wednesday night.
Why it matters: Anderson said the chemical, known as glyphosate, has been repeatedly found safe and is "table stakes" for feeding the world.
The Food and Drug Administration is requiring Pfizer and Moderna to expand warnings on the labels of their COVID-19 vaccines for the risk of heart inflammation in adolescents and young men.
The big picture: The agency cited updated estimates of cases of myocarditis and pericarditis — inflammation of heart muscle and surrounding tissue — and a post-approval study showing the persistence of heart abnormalities months after getting the mRNA shots.
Former President Biden's cancer diagnosis and new revelations about the White House's efforts to hide his deteriorating health highlight the murky standards for what health information presidents are required to disclose.
The big picture: There is no legal requirement for presidents to divulge their health records or status. There's also no agreed-upon definition of what being "fit for office" means.
Why it matters: It would be the latest chapter in a battle with brand-name GLP-1 giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly as millions try to get their hands on versions of the blockbuster drugs.
A little-discussed provision on student loan policies in President Trump's massive budget bill would restrict borrowing for medical school and possibly exacerbate the country's physician shortage.
Why it matters: The U.S. is already projected to face a deficit of 187,130 physicians by 2037, with shortages particularly acute in specialties like vascular and thoracic surgery.
Representatives for Andrew Cuomo, a New York City mayoral race front-runner, on Tuesday questioned the timing of a reported Trump Department of Justice investigation into the former Democratic N.Y. governor.
Why it matters: The New York Times first reported that the investigation into Cuomo over decisions he made as governor during the COVID pandemic began about a month ago, after the DOJ moved to have the criminal corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams dismissed.
New research says 49 is the age when physical activity markedly declines.
Why it matters: Putting a number on when exercise drops off could encourage people to establish active habits early — before brain changes can make it harder to get moving.
Former President Biden's team on Tuesday sought to shut down questions over how long they've known about his cancer diagnosis.
The big picture: After previous concerns that the 82-year-old's health issues may have been covered up in the past, Biden's disclosure over the weekend that he has Stage 4 prostate cancer was met with both sympathy and speculation over its timing.
