Latest KFF Health News Stories
J&J, Merck Break Out The Big Bucks In Separate Billon-Dollar Deals
Johnson & Johnson is paying $1.25 billion to acquire the rights to an experimental skin disorder treatment, while Merck is reportedly nearing a $1.3 billion deal to buy Eyebiotech.
Viewpoints: EPA’s Plan To Regulate PFAs Is Just A Start; Melinda Gates Invests In Women’s Health
Editorial writers discuss forever chemicals, female health care, RNA, and uterine fibroids.
Higher Temperatures Are A Factor In Early And Preterm Births, Study Finds
Moreover, mothers who were younger, less educated, or belonged to a minority racial and ethnic group had an even greater chance of an adverse outcome. In other news, women infected with covid seem to have greater protection from long covid if they are pregnant.
Ancient Egyptians Pioneered Cancer Treatments, Scrutiny Of Skulls Shows
In other cancer research, a Merus-Keytruda combination treatment is showing promise for patients with head and neck cancer, and a new transplant technique for people with lung cancer has a 100% success rate.
San Francisco Rings Alarm Over Rising Use Of Animal Sedative Medetomidine
As a street drug, it’s most often detected as an adulterant in fentanyl, KQED reports. At least one San Francisco official wants to make sure the wastewater supply is being tested for the drug. Other state news is on radiation contamination and Medicaid negotiations.
More Clinics Providing Cosmetic Procedures With Little Safety Oversight
Experts warn that it is becoming more difficult for consumers to tell the difference between legitimate medical spas and “unscrupulous” practices, raising safety risks for people getting Botox injections, dermal fillers, or other cosmetic treatments.
House GOP Members Allege Health Officials Dodged Public Records Laws
Republican lawmakers continue their push to try to link covid’s origins with U.S. research groups. Meanwhile, the United States has joined other Western unions in pressing for agreement on pandemic response rules.
California Flu Spike Investigated; H5N1 Infects Alpacas In Idaho
At the point in the flu season when levels should be decreasing, wastewater monitoring in Northern California has found unusual spikes. Health officials are investigating if avian flu is playing a role. Meanwhile, the virus is having an impact on alpaca and chicken flocks in other parts of the country.
Adults Who Help A Tennessee Minor Get An Abortion Will Face Prosecution
Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed into law a bill that, starting July 1, would criminalize actions by a nonparental adult in transporting a minor to get an abortion or to access abortion pills. The measure is expected to face judicial challenge.
Giving Babies Peanuts Can Reduce Chance Of Developing Allergy: Study
The latest study backs up previous findings that introducing peanut products during infancy and consuming them regularly to age 5 can reduce the risk of peanut allergies.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: AI Is Worsening The Medical Misinformation Crisis; Telehealth Needs Closed Captioning
Editorial writers discuss misinformation, telehealth, pandemic treaties, and more.
In Lawsuit, Uvalde Families Accuse 3 Companies Of Cultivating Criminality
Gunmaker Daniel Defense, Meta, and Activision all “knowingly exposed [the mass shooter] to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems, and trained him to use it,” the lawsuit contends.
Health Network In Florida Gave Patients’ Data To Meta, Lawsuit Alleges
Other news from around the nation is on cesarean sections outside of hospitals, childhood vaccine requirements, “just brutal” heat in Phoenix, and more.
Who Should Prescribe Methadone? Industry Leaders Sound Off At Summit
At issue is a bill from Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) that would wrest methadone from the control of specialized clinics and allow any board-certified addiction doctor or addiction psychiatrist to prescribe the medication directly to patients, Stat reports.
After ‘Pandemic Treaty’ Fails, WHO Assembly Eyes Future Preparedness
The weeklong meeting of the World Health Assembly kicked off Monday in Geneva. Other related news is on summer covid, the new FLiRT subvariants, long covid patients of color, and more.
Study: Raw Milk Contaminated With Bird Flu Virus Infects Mice
Reuters reports on the study, which was published Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Other related news is on dairy cows, an experimental mRNA vaccine, and more.
Abortion Pills Will Soon Be Illegal Without A Prescription In Louisiana
Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill Friday that will put mifepristone and misoprostol in the same controlled-substance category as opioids. The law takes effect Oct. 1.
Moms Exposed To Forever Chemicals May Put Child At Risk For Obesity
A study examining the childhood obesity epidemic keys in on the effect of endocrine disruptors in utero. Other news stories look at the promises and pitfalls of popular weight loss drugs.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
