Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
15% Of US Adults Have Used GLP-1s For Weight Loss, Poll Finds
The Washington Post: Americans Are Taking Weight-Loss Drugs In Record Numbers
The number of people injecting themselves with or taking an oral version of the new class of weight-loss drugs continues to rise dramatically. A Gallup poll released Tuesday based on a web survey of 5,065 U.S. adults says that 15 percent of U.S. adults reported using GLP-1 medications to lose weight at some point, while 11 percent say they currently are taking them. That’s up from a Gallup poll in 2024 that found 6 percent had ever taken them, and 3 percent were currently on the therapy. (Rowland, 7/7)
More pharma and tech news —
Stat: FDA Approves Vera Therapeutics Kidney Disease Treatment
The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved a new medicine from the biotech company Vera Therapeutics for patients with a type of chronic autoimmune kidney disease. (Feuerstein, 7/7)
CIDRAP: Shigella Vaccine Shows Promise In Phase 2 Trial
An investigational vaccine candidate for Shigella provided high-level protection in a phase 2 clinical trial, researchers reported last week in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. (Dall, 7/7)
Stat: Are Glucose Monitors A Good Thing For 2-Year-Olds? Experts Look At Risks, Benefits
You get a CGM, you get a CGM, everybody gets a CGM? For the first time in the United States, children 2 and older can also get a continuous glucose monitor without a doctor’s prescription. Is that a good thing? The Food and Drug Administration thinks so. (Chan, 7/8)
The New York Times: Dozens Face Felony Charges After Raid Of Beagle Research Facility
The charges for most of the people carry sentences of up to 12.5 years in prison, officials said, and the police have recommended more charges for a separate attempt in April. (Rubin, 7/7)
