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The peak body for immunologists in Australia has changed its national guidelines on penicillin allergies. This follows evidence showing up to 90% of reported penicillin allergies are not true allergies. However, this 90% figure is based on existing studies, not a new trial.
Takeda's orexin agonist Orzeyful (oveporexton) received US national regulatory approval in August 2026 for a type of narcolepsy. The drug is approved only for that specific type of narcolepsy, not all sleep disorders. Broader uses, such as ADHD, are still investigational, and long-term outcomes are not yet established.
Engineers have removed the masts from the sunken WWII munitions ship SS Richard Montgomery in the Thames estuary. This is a delivered step in a project to reduce the local risk posed by the single wreck. The operation does not remove the 1,400 tonnes of munitions still onboard, and the wreck remains dangerous.
Colorado's state public option health insurance plan now covers about 139,000 people. Since launch, it delivers lower premiums of $14 to $33 less per month and about 15% lower annual out-of-pocket costs compared to comparable plans, according to state estimates. These savings are averages and may vary for individuals.
The Prima system, a retinal implant used with camera-equipped glasses, has received regulatory approval in Europe. It is designed to restore sight for people with age-related macular degeneration, a condition affecting millions globally. The approval is a regulatory decision and not a measure of the system's performance in patients.
The Food and Drug Administration of Maharashtra has banned the sale of loose spices across the state. The ban is intended to prevent the adulteration of spices with carcinogenic dyes. The ban is now in effect, but enforcement is ongoing and its full impact on adulteration has yet to be seen.
Consuming alcohol is no longer permitted at German train stations. The ban is intended to improve conditions for travelers and railway staff.
According to an NPR report, the antibiotic morning-after pill doxycycline PEP is now widely available in San Francisco for STI prevention among gay men. The availability is limited to this one city, and the report notes unresolved concerns about antibiotic resistance.
Maryland enacted a new law requiring radiologists to inform patients if mammogram results show calcium deposits in blood vessels. The requirement applies statewide. The law is newly enacted, and its impact on patient health has not yet been measured.
According to the American Association for Cancer Research, the five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with cancer in the United States increased to 71% for those diagnosed between 2016 and 2022. This is up from 49% in the late 1970s. This national trend varies widely by cancer type, and some cancers still have much lower survival rates.
The FDA approved Eli Lilly's drug Jaypirca as a first-line treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) at a national level. The available details do not specify whether this is a full or accelerated approval.
Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug, demonstrated 100% efficacy in a 2024 clinical trial of over 2,000 young women in South Africa and Uganda. The drug is now approved by the US FDA and recommended by the WHO for global HIV prevention. Widespread access in low- and middle-income countries is delayed until 2027 due to patent and pricing issues.
The World Health Organization has formally recognized Bhutan for eliminating dog-transmitted human rabies as a public health problem. This national achievement means people are no longer contracting the fatal disease from dogs. The recognition specifically addresses rabies transmitted by dogs and does not necessarily eliminate the risk from other animal reservoirs.
AbbVie received FDA approval for an oral pill to treat Parkinson's disease, creating a new national option. The company has not yet shared details on pricing, launch timing, or clinical differentiation. As a result, real-world impact and patient adoption remain pending.
Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital has opened the UK's first specialist clinic for young people with 'ketamine bladder' urology problems linked to drug addiction. The clinic, located in the city of Liverpool, is newly opened, so long-term patient outcomes are not yet known.
Congo launched an Ebola vaccination campaign on September 19 in Bunia, the epicenter of the outbreak. The campaign aims to vaccinate 20,000 frontline health workers in the city. However, the Ervebo vaccine being used is effective against a different Ebola strain, so its efficacy against the current Bundibugyo virus outbreak is uncertain.
The FDA approved Fayuvi as the first treatment for Sanfilippo syndrome type A. This gene therapy targets an ultra-rare disease population. The treatment is newly approved, so long-term outcomes and real-world effectiveness are still to be determined. Pricing has not yet been announced.
NHS England agreed to cover Enhertu for patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer. This decision applies across the country and is associated with an estimated 1,000 eligible people. Implementation details are pending and the patient count is a projection rather than actual uptake.
Doctors in England can now prescribe the drug Enhertu for patients with HER2-low incurable breast cancer. This access applies to about 1,000 patients per year. The drug extends life by an average of nearly seven months but is not a cure. This follows new guidance from NICE.
The World Health Organization validated Chile as the first country in South America to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies to humans. The national achievement is based on a delivered public health result, not a projection. The last reported case of this type was in 1972.
The FDA approved Scholar Rock's drug Isembyld for US patients with spinal muscular atrophy aged 2 and older who are already on SMN2-targeting treatments. The drug is the first therapy to specifically target muscle loss in this condition. It is approved for use in combination with existing therapies, not as a standalone treatment, and its real-world effectiveness is not yet known.
The FDA has approved Isembyld, a new drug to treat muscle loss in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The drug is approved as an add-on to existing therapies for the national, rare disease population of people aged 2 and older. The approval was based on clinical trial improvements in motor skills, and long-term real-world outcomes are not yet known.
Federal officials declared the end of what the FDA called the largest cyclospora food poisoning outbreak in U.S. history, which sickened thousands of people across 21 states. The exact case count was not provided.
In March 2021, Berkeley became the first city to prohibit the display of sugary beverages and snacks in checkout lanes. The policy applies to stores within the city. This item reports on the implementation of the ban, not on the results of a study evaluating its effects.
Rwandan authorities are conducting a nationwide crackdown on illegal alcohol. The enforcement action includes shutting down factories, seizing products, and recalling dozens of brands. The crackdown follows the deaths of 18 people in Bugesera from methanol-contaminated drinks. The enforcement is ongoing.