Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Abortion Pill Combo Available To Keep On Hand 'Just In Case' In Washington, Hawaii
NPR: Abortion Pills "Just In Case"? Planned Parenthood Will Offer Them In Two States
When abortion restrictions are in the news, as they have been for several weeks, research shows that many Americans take that as a signal to stock up on abortion medications even if they're not pregnant. Now, for the first time, a Planned Parenthood affiliate is offering what's called the "advance provision" of abortion medication. The initiative, shared exclusively with NPR, launched Thursday and is called "Just In Case Abortion Pills." It means people can have the abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol on their shelf to be used in the future if they want to end an early pregnancy. (Simmons-Duffin, 5/21)
More on abortion and reproductive health care —
Des Moines Register: Gov. Kim Reynolds Signs Bill Restricting Access To Abortion Pills
Iowans will need to see a doctor in person to receive abortion medication under a new law Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed. The Tuesday, May 19, signing came as Republican-led states across the country aim to restrict access to abortion pills, usage of which has increased since the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. (Hoff, 5/19)
Maine Beacon: Susan Collins Skipped Every Senate Health Committee Hearing On Abortion After Dobbs
Sen. Susan Collins has not attended any Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee meetings focused on abortion or reproductive healthcare after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, according to committee hearing reports. During the same period, Collins has highlighted her voting record, saying in a 2025 statement that “the people of Maine deserve a Senator who shows up to represent them every day.” Back in 2018, Collins voted to pave the way for the Dobbs decision by confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. At the time, she said she believed that he would not play a role in overturning Roe v. Wade, which he did just a few years later. (Steinmetz, 5/20)
NPR: As Voters Prioritize Cost Of Living, Focus On Abortion Evolves In Midterm Elections
There's been a shift in attention in the party ahead of the midterms as voters rank affordability the top issue. That raises questions about what an evolving message on reproductive rights looks like. (Moore, 5/22)
The New York Times: Can Allegra And Pepcid AC Really Ease Menopause Or Period Symptoms?
Lauren Herrod, 31, is one of many people who say on social media that taking two antihistamines — often Pepcid AC along with Allegra or Zyrtec — has eased symptoms associated with health conditions like P.M.D.D., perimenopause and menopause. Some of these women, including Ms. Herrod, say they have struggled to get doctors to take their symptoms seriously. (Shakin, 5/21)
In other pharmaceutical news —
Stat: Closely Watched Experimental Parkinson’s Drug Fails Key Clinical Trial
Biogen and Denali Therapeutics said Thursday that their experimental therapy for Parkinson’s disease failed to slow the degenerative brain disorder in a randomized trial, dealing a substantial blow to a scientific approach that stoked excitement among advocates and academics. (Mast and Herper, 5/21)
Stat: Merck-Kelun Lung Cancer Drug Cut Tumor Progression Risk By 65%
A type of targeted chemotherapy developed by China-based Kelun-Biotech and licensed to Merck cut the risk of tumor progression by 65% in patients with lung cancer, according to Phase 3 study results reported Thursday. (Feuerstein, 5/21)
The Wall Street Journal: Weight-Loss Drugs May Have Surprising Side Effect: Stalling Cancer
The world’s most popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs are linked to a powerful new possible benefit: better outcomes for cancer patients. A suite of four new studies suggest that people taking so-called GLP-1 drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro saw reductions in tumor progression, lower overall chance of death and less risk of developing breast cancer. (Martinez, 5/21)
Stat: Whoop Is Yet To Resolve The Dispute With FDA Over Blood Pressure Feature
Wearable maker Whoop has not resolved a dispute with the Food and Drug Administration over a blood pressure feature the company launched last year, according to a top health executive at the company. (Aguilar, 5/21)
