Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Cancer Mortality Rates For Americans Fell 35% Between 1991 And 2024, Report Shows
MedPage Today: U.S. Cancer Mortality Declined 35% Since 1991, AACR Report Shows
The overall cancer mortality rate in the U.S. declined by 35% between 1991 and 2024, resulting in almost 5 million cancer deaths averted, according to the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Cancer Progress Report. That decline was largely driven by decreased smoking rates and an ensuing decline in lung cancer deaths, a trend that accelerated due to advances in early detection and treatment. (Bassett, 9/22)
CIDRAP: Drug Shortages Disrupt Care At Leading US Cancer Centers
All 31 leading cancer centers responding to a new survey reported shortages of at least one cancer drug, and nearly two-thirds said they resorted to mitigation strategies to keep patients on their recommended treatments. But in many cases, those mitigation strategies weren’t enough. Ninety percent of centers reported that treatment plans had to be modified because of drug shortages, creating additional insurance hurdles that may have delayed care. (Bergeson, 9/22)
Modern Healthcare: Health Systems Expand Theranostics Programs For Cancer Treatment
Medicine typically offers surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy to treat cancer. Now, more providers are offering theranostics, an emerging targeted treatment approach. Major academic medical centers like Mayo Clinic, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and UChicago Medicine have established theranostics programs, and community hospitals and outpatient cancer clinics are getting on board too. (Dubinsky, 9/22)
MPR News: In Minnesota’s Governor Race, Breast Cancer Creates ‘A Sisterhood’ Among Rivals
Lisa Demuth was shopping for some final Christmas gifts for her daughters in 2009 when she got a call that changed her life. As she prepared for a Senate vote in 2021, Amy Klobuchar fielded a similar call. Both women said they were stunned by the news of a breast cancer diagnosis. (Ferguson, 9/23)
More pharma and tech developments —
Stat: FDA, NIH Unveil New Rules To Reduce Animal Testing In Drug Development
For the second time this year, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a new set of strategies to speed a shift toward human-based research methods and reduce the use of animals in medical testing. (Silverman, 9/22)
The New York Times: Many Americans Use GLP-1 Drugs Without A Medical Reason, Study Shows
A large new study confirms what many people have long suspected: A sizable number of people taking drugs like Ozempic have no medical reason to do so. The study, an analysis of the medical records of more than 92 million U.S. adults, identified more than 1.1 million who were taking GLP-1 medications, without any record of an issue that would make them eligible, like obesity or diabetes. While the researchers didn’t examine why people took these medications, doctors said many people are probably using them simply to shed some pounds or in the hope they might deliver other, buzzy potential benefits. (Blum, 9/22)
Modern Healthcare: Epic Systems Pauses Product Development To Focus On Cybersecurity
Epic Systems has paused most of its technology development while it ensures its systems are secure and not vulnerable to cyberattacks. The move involves hundreds of projects, company founder and CEO Judy Faulkner said while speaking at Modern Healthcare’s Leadership Summit Tuesday. Faulkner said the decision was a “shame,” although she suspects work is continuing in some development areas. (Famakinwa, 9/22)
Modern Healthcare: Anthropic, OpenAI Warnings Test Healthcare AI Plans
Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon made waves this month with his high-profile resignation from the artificial intelligence company over what he called the technology’s threat to humanity. Now, the healthcare sector is mulling over what his warning means for the industry and its significant investments in AI. In a series of posts on X, Coxon, who is also a former OpenAI researcher, said both companies were not acting responsibly as they compete to develop self-improving models. He warned the public not to underestimate the power of the technology, and wrote AI developers believe “it could kill us all by the end of the decade.” (Famakinwa, 9/22)
Bloomberg: Apple Developing New Fitness Tracker Aimed At Rivaling Whoop
Apple Inc. is developing a screenless health and fitness tracker similar to Whoop Inc.’s wrist-worn device, part of an effort to rethink its smartwatch lineup and add new wearable technologies. The company has been exploring the category for several months and is now developing prototypes, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The effort has support from top executives, but Apple hasn’t decided whether to release the product, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the work is confidential. (Gurman, 9/22)
