SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " drug " 1,592 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
The Enhanced Games is here. But forget the ‘sport’ – it has something it wants to sell you
A competition where drug taking is legal may appeal and intrigue in equal measure, but the bottom line is what counts
Inflammation may help explain how GLP-1 drugs prevent AFib
Kenneth Bilchick, MD, spoke to Cardiovascular Business about new data he presented at Heart Rhythm 2026.
GLP-1 Drugs Are Causing Frailty | Health for May 22
Plus, why one writer wants everyone to bail on Botox and how natural food colors are linked to health problems
A new sporting event’s controversial pitch: Performance-enhancing drugs welcome
The Enhanced Games, taking place this weekend in Las Vegas, support “safe, responsible, and clinically supervised use of performance enhancements.”
Burlington signs suggest 911 alternatives for mental health, drug call
The city is set to print 100 or so signs for about $3,000 that will include a wide range of contacts for handling mental health, drug and other calls.
5 Notable Moments From Candace Owens’s Warm Interview With Hunter Biden
In a nearly two-hour conversation, Mr. Biden discussed his addiction to drugs and alcohol, and Ms. Owens apologized for her past remarks about him.
Popular weight loss drugs like Wegovy may also target arthritis inflammation
Researchers have discovered that the GLP-1 hormone targeted by drugs like Wegovy is present in very low amounts inside the joints of arthritis patients. That finding suggests high-dose GLP-1 medications could potentially reach the joints and influence inflammation directly, not just help through weight loss. Scientists say this could open the door to a completely new approach to arthritis treatment.
Popular Weight Loss Drugs May Have Surprising Side Effect: Stalling Cancer
A suite of new studies suggest drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound might slow tumor progression and improve survival, but more research is needed to confirm the findings.
The Science Behind the Quest for a Non-Peptide Oral Weight Loss Drug
Not only does it have a tongue-twisting name, “orforglipron” has a complex molecular structure that made its synthesis very challenging. A massive effort by chemists at the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical
New obesity drug helped patients lose up to 85 pounds in trial
A new experimental obesity drug from Eli Lilly helped patients lose an average of about 85 pounds in a late-stage clinical trial. Duke Health expert Dr. Susan Spratt says the results are reaching levels typically only seen with gastric bypass surgery.
Welcome to the Enhanced Games, where doping is encouraged
The Enhanced Games are here to destigmatize conventional wisdom about performance enhancing drugs.
Drug-enhanced sports: 'Clown show' or the future?
More than 40 athletes, most using performance-enhancing drugs, will compete in the Enhanced Games in a competition that seeks to upend sporting norms.
Common asthma drug helps fight hard-to-treat cancers, including aggressive breast cancers, early study finds
Scientists found that blocking a protein best known for its role in asthma enhances cancer immunotherapy in preclinical models.
New drug approach offers hope for patients with recurrent aggressive cancers
Merck announces that sac-TMT, a new cancer drug, demonstrated strong results in phase 3 trials for advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer patients.
Dartmouth Health study could point way to sustained weight loss for those who stop using GLP-1 drugs
GLP-1 drugs have transformed obesity treatment, but many patients regain weight after stopping the medication. A new study could point the way to a solution.
Scientists use light to create tiny molecules that could transform medicine
Researchers have developed a light-driven method for creating tiny, high-energy “housane” molecules that are valuable for drug development and materials science. These compact ring-shaped structures are difficult to produce because of the intense internal strain they contain. By using photocatalysis and carefully tuning the starting molecules, the team managed to guide the reaction into a clean and efficient pathway.
Two AI-based science assistants succeed with drug-retargeting tasks
Both tools generate hypotheses; one goes on to analyze some of the data.
FDA approves first-in-class hypertension drug from AstraZeneca
The pivotal trial for baxdrostat showed nearly double-digit placebo-adjusted systolic blood pressure reduction.
Pentagon watchdog evaluating US operations involving strikes on alleged drug boats
The Defense Department’s internal watchdog has said it is evaluating US Southern Command’s operations that have included strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
What Is ‘Ozempic Personality’? Patients Say GLP-1 Left Them Emotionally Flat
Some patients taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs report less pleasure and excitement in life. “It is not in their heads,” doctor says. How to get help if you’re feeling less joy on the medication.
What we know about the 2026 Ebola outbreak as first American tests positive
The type of Ebolavirus causing the outbreak in DRC, called Bundibugyo, is less common than other types of Ebola. There are no vaccines or drugs available to treat it.
Abortion Pill Lawsuit Leaves Trump Silent, and in a Political Bind
Louisiana wants the Food and Drug Administration to curtail access to the medication. Doing so could cost Republicans at the polls.
Science Says People Who Lose Weight on GLP-1 Drugs Face More Stigma Than People Who Stay Overweight. That's Just Weird
I have thoughts.
SF business owners in Mission District say drug use, encampment fires are worsening
Small business owners on Clinton Park and Stevenson Street in the Mission say conditions have worsened in recent months as enforcement and encampment cleanups at major hotspots increase in other parts of the city.
Federal 340B drug program accused of health care abuse
FOX Business' Gerri Willis reports on health care abuse accusations against the federal 340B drug program and the impact of costs on 'Varney & Co.'
Philippines vows to hand fugitive senator to ICC following shootout
Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa wanted for alleged role as top enforcer of ex-president Duterte's deadly drug war.
Rocket Science Health validates targeted olfactory-cleft deposition in non-human primates ahead of the 4th Nasal Formulation & Delivery Summit
As the pace of modern drug discovery accelerates, the industry is increasingly recognizing that a breakthrough molecule is only as effective as its ability to reach the target site.
FDA Blocked Melanoma Drug as Confusion Reigned Under Makary
A third of patients in a clinical trial had tumors shrink while taking a genetically engineered treatment known as RP1.
Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion pill, while lawsuit plays out
The court’s order allows women seeking abortions to continue obtaining the drug, mifepristone, at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. Access is likely to remain uninterrupted at least until into next year as the case plays out, including a potential appeal to the high court.
Twins with Batten disease benefit from UNC Health drug trial
Therapy designed to mask the girls’ affected genes helps Amelia and Makenzie Kahn deal with the rare neurological condition.
KFF Poll Finds That Most Adults Lack Confidence in Key Health Agencies to Act Independently — The Monitor
KFF’s latest Health Tracking Poll finds that confidence in the independence of key government health agencies overseeing food and drug safety and public health is low among the public and across partisans. Most of the public also share a distrust of agriculture, food, and pharmaceutical companies to act in the public’s best interest, compared with doctors and health care providers who are much more trusted among the public.
Puberty field trip? Philly-area students get a front-row seat to health education
Lankenau Medical Center’s health education center provides free interactive programs on nutrition, exercise, drugs and alcohol, puberty and more.
Routine testing is needed to locate patients who may not benefit from clopidogrel
Up to 30% of U.S. patients carry genetic variations that reduce the effectiveness of clopidogrel, an antiplatelet medication sold under the brand name Plavix.
INOVIO Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Recent Business Highlights
Biologics License Application (BLA) for INO-3107 actively being reviewed under the accelerated approval program by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)...
Joe Rogan podcast appearance tied to rise in demand for alternative cancer treatment
Ivermectin prescriptions spiked among cancer patients after Mel Gibson endorsed antiparasitic drugs on Joe Rogan's podcast, a new JAMA study reports.
Drug counselor who gave Matthew Perry fatal ketamine gets 2 years in prison
A drug addiction counselor who delivered the fatal ketamine doses to Matthew Perry was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the actor’s death.
An unloved health-care stock gets a welcome nod in this AI-obsessed market
Leerink analysts lifted J&J shares to a buy equivalent from hold on Wednesday, citing the company's slate of new drugs.
FDA chief’s resignation widens a leadership gap at the nation’s health department
Dr. Marty Makary's resignation from his post atop the Food and Drug Administration is widening a leadership gap that already existed at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
AI Life Science Firm Metis TechBio Set for HK Debut After IPO
Metis TechBio Co, a biotechnology company using artificial intelligence to deliver and formulate drugs, is set to begin trading in Hong Kong after raising HK$2.1 billion ($270 million) in an initial public offering.
Marty Makary out as head of US Food and Drug Administration
Makary is the latest top health official to be ousted under Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.
FDA chief to depart after Trump signed off on ousting him
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary is leaving the Trump administration, according to two people familiar with the situation, after President Donald Trump signed off on a plan to fire him last week.
FDA commissioner Makary is resigning, sources say
U.S. Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary plans to resign on Tuesday, according to two sources familiar with the situation, the latest leadership change at the federal health department which comes after weeks of public speculation and a mounting pressure campaign.
Supreme Court extends mifepristone deadline
The deadliest drug in the country, the new name for PCOS, and more health news from Morning Rounds
Trump's FDA boss resigning as admin taps next acting leader
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigns after clashes over the abortion drug mifepristone and mounting pro-life group frustrations.
New drugs could wipe out the “zombie cells” linked to cancer and aging
Researchers found a new way to kill harmful “zombie” cells that linger after chemotherapy and help cancers become more aggressive. These senescent cells survive by relying on a protective protein called GPX4, even while sitting on the edge of a deadly iron-triggered collapse. New drugs remove that protection, causing the cells to self-destruct. In mice, the approach reduced tumor size and boosted survival, hinting at a promising new cancer therapy.
Obesity Drug Prices Undercut Healthcare Savings, CVS CEO Says
CVS Health Corp. Chief Executive Officer David Joyner said that drugmakers must significantly reduce the price of anti-obesity medicines before the drugs will save money for commercial health insurance plans.
Alcohol is wreaking havoc on U.S. public health. American society looks the other way
The Deadliest Drug, a new investigative series, shows that the alcohol epidemic is a generational failure of the medical and public health systems, of industry, and of government.
6 takeaways from STAT’s investigation into the U.S. alcohol epidemic
Alcohol is the culprit behind the United States' most enduring and overlooked drug crisis. Here are 6 takeaways from STAT's new investigative series, The Deadliest Drug.
Why Swedish scientists gave salmon cocaine
A recent study caught our eye: salmon on cocaine. Or really, researchers giving salmon cocaine…for science. See, scientists know human drugs pollute aquatic environments – past studies have shown even anti-anxiety drugs can change how fish act. But illicit drugs are less studied. And Jack Brand, an aquatic ecologist at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, wanted to know how illicit drugs like cocaine might change fish behavior, like foraging and mating. To answer that question, Jack and his team gave salmon cocaine. Interested in more science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
DeepAFM: A deep learning method to decode protein motion
Proteins change shape as they function, and these changes are essential for processes such as drug interactions and cellular activity. Researchers from the Tokyo University of Science developed an AI-based method called DeepAFM that is trained on millions of simulated images representing different protein states, accurately identifying transitions between closed and open states in a protein called SecA. This approach highlights the growing potential of AI to solve complex challenges in biology and medicine.
What The Abortion Pill Case Could Mean For The Workforce And Healthcare
A federal appeals court said providers could no longer mail mifepristone anywhere in the country. SCOTUS temporarily restored access for mailing the drug until May 14th.
5 Key Facts on Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Nineteen percent of adolescents experience moderate to severe anxiety and 2 million have a substance use disorder. This analysis covers the latest data on adolescent mental illness, suicide and drug overdose trends, and access to care.
Supreme Court temporarily extends access to a widely used abortion pill
The Supreme Court is leaving women’s access to a widely used abortion pill untouched until at least Thursday, while the justices consider whether to allow restrictions on the drug, mifepristone, to take effect.
Medicare’s miss on Alzheimer’s drug spending
Far fewer seniors than expected are taking costly Alzheimer's drugs.
Jefferson County health officials report troubling rise in drug overdose deaths in 2026
A sharp rise in drug-related overdose deaths in Jefferson County has health officials urging residents to take precautions and seek help, as the county’s 2026 t
DEA Announces New Marijuana Registration Forms For Manufacturing, Distribution And Testing Businesses
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced it will soon be rolling out new forms for additional types of state-licensed medical marijuana businesses beyond dispensaries that want to take advantage of federal protections in line with the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling process. Last month, DEA launched a registration form for medical marijuana dispensaries only, […]
Unintentional drug overdose fatalities in Philadelphia in 2024
Unintentional drug overdose fatalities in Philadelphia in 2024
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the new food pyramid
U.S. Health and Human Service (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hosts U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins at the HHS Headquarters for the celebration of a major announcement. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary kicked off the event. Speakers included Kelly Loeffler, United States Administrator of the Small Business Administration, Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health of the United States, Ben Carson, National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Jim O’Neill, United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, Brian Christine, Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and Kyle Diamantas, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (USDA photo by Christophe Paul)
Greater weight loss from GLP-1 drugs lowers health complication risk
New research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 May) shows that, following treatment for obesity or diabetes or both using incretin-based drugs, losing more weight versus less weight, and losing a little weight versus gaining weight, both lead to relatively lower risk of obesity-related conditions.
Daytime Performer of the Week: ‘Y&R’s’ Joshua Morrow is Riding High on Nick’s Drug Addiction Storyline
Morrow is flying to new heights in this story.
FDA Policies: Rigorous Science or Roadblocks?
Readers debate how the Food and Drug Administration should handle treatments for rare diseases.
How a pill approved 25 years ago transformed cancer treatment
When the Food and Drug Administration approved Gleevec to treat a form of leukemia in 2001, it ushered in a new era in cancer care.
Johnson & Johnson CEO: America’s innovation advantage starts with health
From AI-accelerated drug discovery to a $55 billion domestic manufacturing push, the U.S. health innovation engine is just getting started.
Germany’s Healthcare Reforms Herald More Pain for Big Pharma
Donald Trump’s push to bring down drug prices in the US has rattled the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. Now, they’re confronting a new menace as Germany seeks to plug a ballooning deficit in its public health-insurance funds.
U.S. Conducts Third Boat Strike in 5 Days, Killing 2 and Leaving a Survivor
Of the 57 attacks in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific against boats accused of drug trafficking, there have rarely been survivors.
White House prepares to replace FDA leader Marty Makary amid agency turmoil
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has faced criticism over his leadership of the agency that oversees vaccine and drug approvals.
Health economist analyzes Trump’s deal for cheaper drugs
Exclusive: Kennedy's health officials explored US ban of some widely used antidepressants, sources say
U.S. health department officials last week explored whether they could ban certain drugs in a widely prescribed class of antidepressants as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. prepared to roll out a plan to reduce their use, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
Can blockbuster GLP-1 weight-loss drugs also protect brain health?
UCSF experts share their research on medications’ potential to slow or reduce risk of dementia and to treat the triggers that drive addiction.
Pyxis Oncology Appoints Nelson Azoulay as Chief Business Officer
BOSTON, May 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pyxis Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: PYXS), a clinical-stage company developing next-generation therapeutics for difficult-to-treat cancers, today announced the appointment of Nelson Azoulay as Chief Business Officer. Mr. Azoulay joins Pyxis Oncology with more than 15 years of experience in corporate strategy, business development, and value-creating transactions across the biopharma industry, including deep antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) experience. In his role,
More political interference at the FDA?
A political appointee gets in the way of a Sanofi drug's approval, and more from STAT's D.C. Diagnosis newsletter.
FDA's New Playbook: Lots of Media Announcements but Not Much Rulemaking
WASHINGTON (AP) — In one of his first major announcements as health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called a news conference to unveil a plan to “phase out” synthetic food dyes. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary opened the event by saying his agency was “removing all ...
Is the FDA Really Suppressing Science? Plus. . .
It’s Thursday, May 7. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Aaron MacLean says Trump is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Iran war. Joe Klein on the life of CNN founder Ted Turner. Jillian Lederman on why cruise ships are here to stay. And much more. But first: Is the FDA suppressing science? On Tuesday, The New York Times published a story with an alarming takeaway. “FDA Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe,” read the headline. It is the latest in a string of stories that all have the same message: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies, are engaged in a cover-up—and silencing scientists trying to get the word out about the Covid vaccine. What all these stories suggest—some more subtly than others—is that the outsiders now running the public health establishment, officials such as Marty Makary at the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health, are on a revenge tour. That they are doing harm to the country to get back at the scientists and bureaucrats who ostracized them for deviating from the public-health consensus during the pandemic. It’s a seductive narrative. But is it true? That’s the question we address in our latest editorial. —The Editors Read [ Marty Makary's FDA Has All the Right Enemies ](https://www.thefp.com/p/marty-makary-vaccine-study-fda) [ Trump Blinks First ](https://www.thefp.com/p/iran-peace-deal-pakistan-trump-strait-of-hormuz) Aaron MacLean In return for no detectable concessions, President Trump this week gave up on forcing open the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the Trump administration looks desperate for a deal to end the war with Iran. It’s easy to understand the desire to end the war, but are they blowing the chance at victory? Aaron MacLean makes sense of the administration’s latest moves—and Iran’s response—in his column today. Read full story Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson: Live in New York City Join Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson on May 19 for a live recording of School of War at the iconic New York Historical. In a conversation as timely as it is wide-ranging, Aaron and Niall will explore the strategic stakes of the moment, including the Middle East, China, and the future of American leadership on the global stage. Get Tickets Now [ Ted Turner, the Optimist Who Built CNN ](https://www.thefp.com/p/ted-turner-cnn-tribute) Joe Klein The man who gave us CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, Ted Turner, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Today, political writer Joe Klein—who almost ghostwrote Turner’s autobiography—remembers his friend, the American media mogul who stood out for his idealism and lack of a filter—something that got Turner in trouble more than once. “His was not a traditional intelligence, but one of horizon: Ted saw things before other people did,” Joe writes. Read full story [ Nothing Can Sink the Cruise Ship ](https://www.thefp.com/p/cruise-ship-hantavirus) Jillian Lederman A viral outbreak on a cruise ship that left three passengers dead has left some people wondering: Are cruise ships on the way out? Not so fast, says Jillian Lederman, who has been on many a cruise herself. Read her piece on why 38 million people a year take a cruise—and aren’t about to stop. Read full story [ The Great Writers Who Were Terrible People ](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-great-writers-who-were-terrible) Shilo Brooks Throughout history, some of the greatest literary geniuses have also been immoral bigots. In the latest episode of Old School, Shilo Brooks is joined by Eli Lake for a conversation about those geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer and Roald Dahl—and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices. Listen on MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS [ Inside the Digital Intifada ](https://www.thefp.com/p/digital-intifada-social-media-hamas-terror) Warren Kinsella Read full story [ This Week in American History: Trump’s Over-Arching Problem ](https://www.thefp.com/p/this-week-in-american-history-trumps-over-arching-problem) Jonathan Horn Read full story [ Humanity Is Still Evolving—and Fast ](https://www.thefp.com/p/humanity-is-still-evolvingand-fast) Razib Khan Read full story THE NEWS Thirteen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination after an internal investigation found evidence that crime statistics were manipulated to make the city look safer. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee previously alleged that former D.C. police chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to skew data. Tennessee Republicans unveiled a redrawn U.S. House map yesterday that would split up Memphis’s black-majority Democratic district, the latest move in a nationwide push to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The effort follows a Supreme Court ruling last week on Louisiana’s districts, which Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said gave states the green light to redraw maps along partisan lines. Israel struck Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect last month, saying it targeted a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the city’s southern suburbs. The strikes risk destabilizing that truce at a delicate moment, as Iran and the U.S. report progress toward a deal to resolve their own standoff. The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, hoping to add it to the Air Force One fleet in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Reuters reported. (For more on the controversy surrounding the aircraft, read Jed Rubenfeld’s piece “It’s a Terrible Idea, but Trump Probably Can Accept a Free Jet from Qatar.”) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified privately before Congress that he has no memory of why he and his family dined on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to Reuters. The admission contradicts Lutnick’s earlier claim that he had cut ties with the convicted sex offender well before that visit. Weeks before a former JPMorgan investment banker filed a lawsuit packed with explosive allegations, the bank reportedly offered him $1 million to settle his sexual assault and harassment claims, according to The Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted by a female colleague, subjected to racial discrimination, and forced into a degrading dynamic at work. JPMorgan says the claims lack merit, and the female colleague’s lawyers call the accusations fabricated. A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that, for the first time in roughly 20 years, church attendance is trending upward, with more people volunteering and clergy expressing renewed optimism. The study’s authors described the findings, based on a survey of more than 7,400 congregations, as showing signs of widespread recovery from low attendance numbers.
Khloé Kardashian Says She Was Drugged at a Coachella Party: ‘I Was So Scared’
"I don't think anyone drugged me," she revealed on her podcast. "I just think I was the dumb one and didn't realize everyone was on drugs"
U.S. to press allies to bolster counterterrorism efforts under new strategy
A new counterterrorism strategy, signed by President Trump on Tuesday, seeks to crack down on Islamist terror groups, drug cartels and violent domestic political groups.
Wisconsin lab tapped to research psychedelic drug as mental health treatment
A Wisconsin-based medical research lab is one of just three organizations nationwide the federal government has tapped to move forward on research into psychedelic medications.
How science is taking tripping mainstream
President Trump recently signed an order to speed up the evaluation of psychedelics to treat the brain. That’s coming after decades of strict prohibition on psychedelic drug use dating back to President Nixon. So how did we go from that to a psychedelic renaissance? A look into a key institution in the world of psychedelic research may give us some clues. This episode, NPR’s brain correspondent Jon Hamilton shares insight from a recent trip. (No pun intended.) Want more psychedelic content? Catch our episode on ketamine therapy here, or learn why some scientists want to take the trip out of psychedelics here. Have other questions about psychedelics and the brain? Let us know by emailing shortwave@npr.org!
Northshore business owner arrested, accused of selling newly criminalized drug
A Covington business owner faces charges for allegedly selling kratom, a drug that became illegal in Louisiana less than a year ago.
Michigan may force hospitals to disclose savings from drug cost program
The federal 340B program was meant to reduce drug costs for patients, but, according to some critics, instead it’s lining the budgets of big hospital systems. Others argue it’s keeping the little guys afloat.
Tonopah business owner arrested for alleged drug possession
A business owner in Tonopah has been arrested after police say he was found with drugs.
RFK Jr. launches plan to curb ‘overprescribing’ of psychiatric drugs
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced federal efforts to limit overprescribing and support deprescribing of psychiatric drugs, including antidepressants.
White House says Trump's deals with pharmaceutical companies offer billions in savings
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House economists estimate that President Donald Trump’s deals with pharmaceutical companies to drop some of their U.S. prescription drug prices to what they charge in other countries could save $529 billion over the next 10 years. The analysis obtained by The Associated Press includes the first economy-wide projections behind a policy at the core of Trump’s pitch to voters going into November’s midterm elections for control of the House and Senate.
Researchers are giving salmon cocaine. Don't worry, it's for science
With cocaine and its metabolite, benzoylecgonine, being detected in waterways across the globe, Canadian researcher Erin McCallum and her team set out to understand the impact of these illicit drugs on fish in Sweden.
Trump Pressures FDA Commissioner to Approve Flavored Vapes
President Trump upbraided Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary for not moving quickly enough to approve flavored vapes and nicotine products.
The Cost of AI Is Going Up | AI & Business for May 5
Plus, AI’s drug-discovery challenge, the capital-spending craze and Meta’s borrowing
Supreme Court abortion case could force Trump to take a public stance on mifepristone
The return of abortion to the Supreme Court is testing President Donald Trump’s strategy of avoiding the issue as the anti-abortion advocates grow increasingly frustrated that his administration hasn’t done more to crack down on access to mifepristone, the drug approved to terminate pregnancies.
The dark side of weight loss drugs: Ozempic's surprising hidden cost
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are often celebrated as game-changing solutions—but new research reveals a surprising social twist. People who lose weight using these medications may actually face more judgment than those who lose weight through diet and exercise—or even those who don’t lose weight at all. The stigma seems rooted in a perception that these drugs are an “easy way out,” creating a double bind where individuals are judged both for their weight and for how they choose to manage it.
The scientist designing a tailored attack on glioblastoma
At UCLA, Dr. David Nathanson develops drugs that target the unique biology of glioblastoma, offering new hope for patients with this aggressive cancer.
Supreme Court temporarily restores ability to receive abortion drug mifepristone by mail
The Supreme Court temporarily restored telehealth and mail access to the abortion pill mifepristone on Monday, responding to an emergency appeal that warned of potential chaos for patients who had appointments to access the drug.
Big Tech Targets Drug Discovery with Wave of Life Science Platforms
AWS, OpenAI, and Anthropic have all unveiled specialized AI workflows that promise to accelerate scientific discovery
What Doctors Want You to Know About Cannabis and Health
The government recently loosened medical marijuana rules. Experts separate fact from fiction about the drug’s safety and benefits.
How Republicans came to embrace psychedelic drugs
After decades of backing a “war on drugs,” the GOP has warmed to psychedelics for mental health treatment as high-profile backers and veterans tout the drugs.
Helene frayed the safety net for people who use drugs. This community wove it back together.
Harm reduction groups and health care workers helped avert the worst. But what about the next emergency?
Global Health & WASH: May 2026 Funding Opportunities (14 new opportunities!)
The May update for Global Health & WASH brings new calls that cluster around three distinct shifts: LMIC research leadership moving from funder encouragement into a hard eligibility constraint, pharmaceutical and corporate-linked funders running structurally independent education and use-inspired research portfolios at substantial scale, and AI adoption shifting decisively from speculative tool to operational capability across health and WASH systems alike. In LMIC Research Leadership as Eligibility, Not Encouragement, Wellcome anchors the dominant signal of the month with three separate major calls that all require or strongly center LMIC leadership in their basic eligibility architecture. Wellcome’s ESIC Hubs (£1.5-£1.9M per hub over 3-5 years) explicitly requires an LMIC-based lead applicant, treating Global South leadership as a design constraint rather than a participation goal. Wellcome’s Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Development Award funds transdisciplinary teams whose lead must be a mid-career or established researcher based at an organization in Africa, South Asia, or Southeast Asia. Wellcome’s larger Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Award (£1M-£8M for optimizing licensed interventions) requires the administering organization to be in eligible LMIC regions and at least 50% of applicants based there. Around Wellcome, the same pattern shows up at smaller scale and across funders: CHINNOVA channels $1M into West and Central African research institutions for climate-health work; IBRO’s Neuroscience Training Grants explicitly tier ceilings by region of residence with Africa receiving the highest amount ($5,000); IHME’s GBD Emerging Researcher Award reserves at least one of its two annual awards for an LMIC researcher; Sidaction’s HIV Cure call funds research teams across France, the Netherlands, and eligible African countries with a minimum two-country collaboration requirement. Taken together, these calls signal a meaningful shift in how research equity is being operationalized — not as encouragement language at the bottom of a call, but as a structural feature of who can lead, where the work must be administered, and what proportion of the team must be regionally rooted. In Pharma-Funded Independent Medical Education and Use-Inspired Research, the lineup this month is unusually deep. Pfizer alone runs four parallel calls under independent education and quality improvement frameworks: a Migraine and Women’s Health RFP (200K x 2-year, $500K pool), Migraine IME ($200K, $1M pool), JAK Inhibitor evidence-based education ($100K), and Maternal Vaccination HCP Education in Saudi Arabia ($75K), plus a separate Pediatric Pneumococcal Surveillance research call in Saudi Arabia ($400K per project). Novo Nordisk Foundation runs four parallel calls of its own at substantial scale: Infectious Diseases Catalyst Grants (DKK 60M pool, up to DKK 7M collaborative), Non-Diabetic Endocrinology Collaborative Grants (DKK 53M pool, DKK 5-10M per project), Pioneer Innovator Grant Health (DKK 1.1M), and Distinguished Innovator Grant Health (DKK 6.8M). LEO Foundation deploys DKK 2-4M per project for dermatology research excellence. Pfizer’s framing across calls deliberately separates the funding from product promotion, emphasizing measurable practice-relevant change and structural distance between scientific outputs and commercial activity. Novo Nordisk’s “use-inspired” hard filter pushes researchers toward a credible translation pathway from mechanism to deployable tool. The pattern: industry-aligned funders are running structurally independent portfolios at meaningful $ that fund implementation evidence, not promotion. In AI as Operational Capability, Not Speculation, several calls this month explicitly treat AI adoption as a near-term operational question with real evidence and governance requirements, rather than a speculative trend to be watched. Wellcome’s ESIC Hubs frames AI as “the accelerator” for evidence synthesis, asking hubs to translate technical innovation into adoption-ready workflows that can match real-world policy timelines. UNICEF Venture Fund’s new Climate Tech for Children’s Health call funds for-profit startups deploying AI, machine learning, and blockchain in low-resource environments, with a strict requirement that solutions must already have a working prototype with promising pilot results. The Water Research Foundation has launched two simultaneous AI calls treating reproducibility, cybersecurity guardrails, and human-in-the-loop deployments as core design constraints rather than nice-to-haves: one on GenAI and Agentic AI in water utilities ($200K), one on alternatives to water shutoffs that explicitly screens for implementation economics evidence. Nordic Innovation’s quantum technology call (NOK 4.5M) extends the same logic into life science and healthcare, demanding consortium-stage projects mature enough to test with real users. TEF-Health offers €300K in subsidized testing infrastructure for European healthcare AI and robotics SMEs. The pattern: funders are converting AI pilots into playbooks, requiring transfer evidence and risk controls before AI can move from experimentation to sector-wide operational practice. For LMIC-based researchers in infectious disease or evidence synthesis, the three Wellcome calls together represent the deepest concentration of LMIC-led research capital in recent memory — pair the Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Development Award (£200K, deadline May 19) as a strategic pipeline feeder into the larger Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Award (£1-£8M, deadline June 2), since the development award functions explicitly as a track into the larger trial scheme. For Nordic researchers, the four Novo Nordisk Foundation calls plus LEO Foundation and Nordic Innovation Quantum represent ~$30M in regional research capital this cycle, all with deadlines clustered in May-August. For WASH practitioners, the three Water Research Foundation calls together (each up to $200K) are a cluster worth reading across — one on AI deployment, one on shutoff alternatives, one rewarding applied innovation — and the strongest applicants will articulate how their work bridges utility operations to policy-relevant evidence. For US-based clinical researchers and educators, the four Pfizer calls plus the APF Portfolio’s 80+ programs form an unusually accessible recurring pipeline; APF’s prohibition on indirect costs is a meaningful structural feature for early-career applicants whose institutions might otherwise absorb significant overhead. Snapshot of New Opportunities Total Estimated Funding Pool: $100 Million+ USD The grants are organized into three categories: Open Calls: Current grant and opportunities with a deadline. Grants are listed by closing date. 39 open opportunities- 14 new! Rolling Applications: current grant and opportunities with rolling applications (but it’s still best to submit as early as possible). 14 rolling opportunities- 1 new opportunity! Long term planning: Grants that have closed their current rounds, but are expected to open new windows. 4 long term opportunities! A quick tip for returning readers: if you want to jump straight to the newest additions, use CTRL F to search for “New!” and navigate quickly to the latest funding opportunities This post is for paid subscribers. This helps support the time and effort it takes to curate and organize these opportunities. Subscribe To keep this accessible to everyone who needs it, we’re happy to offer pay what you can rates. You can find more details here. Open Calls: Migraine Competitive Grant Program: Migraine and Women’s Health (Quality Improvement and/or Research RFP), Pfizer.*Closing soon!* Pfizer, in collaboration with the American Headache Society, is seeking independent quality improvement and research projects that close persistent gaps in migraine care for women across the United States. The funding logic centers on measurable, practice-relevant change: proposals should generate actionable evidence, tools, or system improvements that can be shared and used widely, not just within a single site. Priority areas span menstrual migraine and screening in women’s health settings, the role of hormonal fluctuations across the lifespan, sex-specific risk factors, comorbidities and quality-of-life burden, and disparities in outcomes by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The call is structured as a two-step competitive process with an initial Letter of Intent, with the strongest concepts expected to translate scientific insight into implementable improvements in diagnosis, management, and equity. Geographies: United States. Who can apply: U.S.-based organizations (not individuals), including professional schools, healthcare institutions, professional organizations, and other entities focused on healthcare improvement. Funding amount: Up to USD $200,000 total over 2 years; total pool USD $500,000. Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: migraine, women’s health, quality improvement, clinical research, menstrual migraine, health disparities. Deadline: LOI: May 5, 2026; Full proposal (by invitation): August 28, 2026. Learn more and apply here. This RFP rewards “shareable impact”: the most competitive submissions will pair rigorous methods with a clear plan for system uptake and dissemination beyond the originating institution. ReSSARC: Strengthening the Health Sector and Food Security in the Central African Republic (AID 013381/01/0) Call for Proposals, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). *Closing soon!* AICS is seeking a limited set of high-capacity humanitarian partners to deliver an integrated package that stabilizes essential health services while reducing acute malnutrition and strengthening food security resilience in priority areas of the Central African Republic. The funder’s logic is explicitly nexus-based: proposals should meet urgent, life-saving needs while reinforcing local systems, coordination mechanisms, and community-level capacity so results persist beyond the emergency window. AICS emphasizes inclusion and protection outcomes, expecting gender-sensitive design and explicit measures for groups facing compounded vulnerability, including women, children under five, internally displaced people, and people with disabilities. The call also signals a localization pathway, encouraging stronger collaboration with national NGOs and balanced partnerships, alongside clear coordination with existing cluster and humanitarian actors to minimize duplication and improve coverage. Geographies: Central African Republic (Bangui, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Lim-Pende, Lobaye). Who can apply: Non-profit organizations registered with AICS, plus eligible non-profits without an office in Italy that have a pre-existing collaboration agreement with an AICS-listed organization. Funding amount: Total pool EUR €1,800,000; max EUR €800,000 (single applicant) or EUR €1,000,000 (ATS). Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: malnutrition prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, community health services, food security and resilience, localization partnerships Deadline: May 5, 2026. Learn more and apply here. This call is structured to reward partners who can link frontline service delivery to system durability and localization, not just short-term coverage gains. Contracts for Innovation in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare, Innovate UK. *Closing soon!* Innovate UK, on behalf of the Office for Life Sciences Addiction Healthcare Goals program, is procuring R&D to accelerate innovations that can improve treatment outcomes, strengthen recovery, and reduce harm and deaths linked to drug and alcohol addiction. The competition is positioned as a market-facing readiness push: selected projects are expected to advance solutions toward later-stage validation, generate evidence of user acceptability and UK market fit, and map credible routes through regulatory and certification requirements. Innovate UK signals a preference for innovations that can be field-tested in relevant UK settings and progressed to TRL 6 or 7, with practical plans for commercialization after contract completion. This structure favors applicants that can execute most work in-house, co-develop with service providers and people with lived experience, and translate technical progress into deployable tools for addiction healthcare delivery. Geographies: United Kingdom. Who can apply: Single organizations of any size (including EU, EEA, or international) leading delivery, with most work and key deliverables carried out in the UK; subcontractors for specialist skills only. Funding amount: GBP £200,000–1.5 million per project (inclusive of VAT); Total pool: GBP £20 million (across two strands). Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: Mental Health, Health Systems Strengthening, Research & Development, Technology Access. Deadline: May 6, 2026 (11:00am). Learn more and apply here. This call uses procurement to pull near-market addiction innovations toward operational proof and adoption pathways in UK services.
Weight loss drug Ozempic linked to lower depression and anxiety risk
GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide—best known for treating diabetes and driving weight loss under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy—may also deliver a surprising mental health boost. In a massive study tracking nearly 100,000 people over more than a decade, researchers found that these medications were linked to significantly fewer psychiatric hospital visits and sick days.
Alzheimer’s drugs may not work and could raise brain risks
Drugs designed to clear amyloid beta from the brain—once seen as a promising path to slowing Alzheimer’s—may not actually help patients in any meaningful way, according to a major review of over 20,000 participants. Even more concerning, they may increase the risk of brain swelling and bleeding, sometimes without obvious symptoms.
Republicans see high-risk plans as the future of health insurance
More than 40 million Americans are already opting to take on the cost of sick visits, drugs and surgeries to get lower premiums and tax savings.
Fight over online access to abortion pill reaches Supreme Court in emergency appeal
The makers of the abortion pill mifepristone filed an emergency appeal at the Supreme Court on Saturday urging the justices to pause a lower-court ruling that temporarily blocked Americans from accessing the drug through the mail.
Scientists discover new enzyme that could supercharge weight-loss drugs
Researchers at the University of Utah have discovered an enzyme called Pap B that will chemically change and update drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy making them stronger and last longer.