NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

A $2.5 million NIH award unites OHSU's ORPRN and WWAMI's WPRN to form a primary care research hub in the Pacific Northwest, aiming to enhance research-to-clinic connectivity and health equity. The PRaCTICE Network Research Hub will support innovative study designs addressing common health issues, with a focus on rural and underrepresented communities.

Kennedy criticizes NYT opinion piece on obesity for not addressing diet's role, and targets Novo Nordisk's profits from obesity drugs. He advocates for addressing food system corruption and mental health issues, aiming to 'Make America Healthy Again' under a potential Trump administration.

The NIH's RECOVER initiative shifts focus to clinical trials for long COVID under RECOVER-TLC, addressing previous criticism for lack of pharmaceutical intervention studies. The initiative aims to expedite responses to treatment submissions and establish standardized trial endpoints, crucial for attracting industry investment and FDA approval.

Scientists at NIH identified the gene UBAP1L as responsible for some inherited retinal diseases, paving the way for genetic testing and therapy development.

Donanemab, an Alzheimer’s drug by Eli Lilly, faces scrutiny over excess deaths, missing safety data, questionable efficacy, and financial conflicts among FDA advisory panel members. Despite these concerns, the FDA approved the drug in July 2023, raising questions about the approval process and the drug's true benefits and risks.

A federal court in California ruled that the EPA must address potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water, citing evidence of IQ reduction in children and hazardous levels close to current U.S. water fluoride levels. The decision leaves it to the EPA to determine specific actions, but they cannot ignore the risk.

Semaglutide, in Ozempic and Wegovy, showed lower opioid overdose risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes and opioid use disorder. A study by Case Western Reserve and NIDA found a 58% reduced risk post-treatment compared to insulin users. Semaglutide is FDA-approved for diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, with potential cognitive benefits. Advocates push for Medicare coverage, citing cost savings over chronic illness treatment. Current list prices are $969 and $1,349 per month for Ozempic and Wegovy, respectively.

TxGNN, an AI model developed by Harvard Medical School, identifies drug candidates for over 17,000 diseases, including many without treatments, by repurposing existing medicines. It outperforms leading AI models in drug repurposing by nearly 50% and predicts contraindications 35% more accurately. The tool aims to reduce health disparities in rare and neglected conditions by offering a faster, cost-effective approach to therapy development.

A study suggests Novo Nordisk's Ozempic may reduce opioid overdose risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes and opioid use disorder, offering potential in addressing the U.S. opioid epidemic.