Axios

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday kicked off an effort to use AI and other data science tools to monitor clinical trials in real time and cut down review times for new drugs.

Why it matters: Agency leaders portrayed the move as a major step toward keeping U.S. biomedical research competitive against countries like China.

Supreme Court justices on Wednesday will hear arguments in a patent case that could change the way generic drug companies market and label copycat products.

Why it matters: At the heart of the case is whether efforts to lower health costs through generic competition are undercutting patent protections that brand-name drugmakers say are essential for innovation.

Stimulant use has spiked in the post-pandemic era, particularly among young adult women.

Why it matters: Demand for ADHD medications is surging, but the drugs may not be reaching the people who need them the most.

"Make America Healthy Again" activists are converging on the Supreme Court Monday as justices hear arguments in a high-stakes case over health warnings on pesticide labels.

Why it matters: The Trump administration is backing Bayer's efforts to limit lawsuits claiming that its weedkiller Roundup causes cancer.

Hospitals that treat patients who require extended stays have been closing at a rapid clip, driving up demand for the remaining beds and prompting health systems to appeal to the Trump administration and Congress for relief.

Why it matters: The industry says it's unable to discharge certain patients who need long-term intensive care, which is adding to hospital overcrowding in a system that's already experiencing a shortage of beds.

America is becoming more multiracial, but its data systems are still thinking in black and white.

Why it matters: Outdated measurement systems are shaping how elections are analyzed, health risks are tracked and civil rights laws are enforced.

The Food and Drug Administration fulfilled a key part of President Trump's recent federal green light on psychedelics research on Friday by granting expedited review for three companies studying psychedelic treatment for mental conditions.

The big picture: A significant challenge to combating mental health issues is resistance to treatment — a hurdle that research suggests psychedelic therapy could help patients clear.

The digital detox movement is gaining popularity, driven by grassroots efforts to limit screen time and a broader push among Gen Zers to switch off their phones.

The big picture: Phone-free bars, restaurants and entertainment experiences are on the rise while cellphone pouches are becoming an essential item at schools, weddings, proms and retreats, and search interest in apps that keep you off your phone skyrocketed.

Major health insurers including UnitedHealthcare, Humana and CVS Health/Aetna will adopt a single standard for health providers to request pre-treatment reviews starting next year, the insurers tell Axios.

Why it matters: Health plans often deny or delay coverage because of incomplete documentation.

• A standardized approach could reduce the back-and-forth between plans and providers — and improve the odds of delivering timely care.

You can learn a lot about the indomitable nature of the human spirit by training for and tackling a marathon.

Why it matters: It's a tremendous physical feat. But standing at the finish line — watching thousands of people arrive after 26.2 miles of pain, doubt and persistence — may be even more gratifying.

• I witnessed it this week at the atmospheric end of the Boston Marathon.