The Trump administration took another step toward pivoting away from animal testing in biomedical research on Monday, establishing an office within the National Institutes of Health to develop and promote 3D human tissue models, computational tools and other alternatives.
Why it matters: It makes good on a pledge NIH director Jay Bhattacharya made in April 2025 and follows the launch of a Food and Drug Administration pilot program to phase out some animal testing requirements for antibody therapies and other drugs.
Senate Democrats on Tuesday are unveiling a proposal to expand Medicare drug price negotiations, in a bid to counter President Trump's election-year messaging on health care affordability.
Why it matters: High prescription drug prices are a key concern for voters ahead of the midterms — one Trump is trying to address through voluntary pricing deals with leading drug companies and with the TrumpRx website.
The U.K. plans to ban children under 16 from major social media platforms starting in 2027, joining a growing international effort to restrict minors' access.
Why it matters: Governments worldwide are increasingly pursuing social media restrictions for minors amid concerns about young people's health, wellbeing and online safety.
Next month's launch of a Medicare program providing weight-loss drugs for $50 a month is expected to unleash pent-up demand for Wegovy, Zepbound and other blockbuster treatments — and create new bottlenecks at doctors' offices.
The big picture: It could become one of the biggest drug rollouts ever — and it could test an already burdened system as seniors seek new GLP-1 prescriptions.
