LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Cure for Certain Cancers Is ‘Realistic’ Goal in Next Decade, Pharma Leader Says
The prospect of curing certain cancers within the next decade is becoming increasingly realistic, according to pharmaceutical leaders and medical experts.
Speaking at a recent summit, Johnson & Johnson CEO Joaquin Duato highlighted advances in immunotherapy that use a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer, noting that some patients with multiple myeloma who had exhausted other treatment options have remained in remission for more than five years after a single administration.
Experts also pointed to the growing role of biomarkers and artificial intelligence in enabling earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment approaches—developments that could significantly shape the future of cancer care and population health outcomes. Read more from Fox News here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Linked with Lower Risk of Heart Attack
A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that COVID-19 vaccination was associated with substantially lower risks of several serious cardiovascular outcomes among more than 1 million U.S. veterans.
Researchers reported nearly a 60% reduction in cardiovascular deaths linked to COVID-19, a roughly 40% lower risk of heart attack and heart failure hospitalization, and more than a 30% reduction in stroke risk. Benefits were greatest among adults age 75 and older and those with preexisting health conditions.
The study also found modest reductions in overall cardiovascular disease, deaths and hospitalizations, highlighting potential cardiovascular protection as an important consideration in COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Read more from The Hill here.
Webinar: What Public Health Can Learn from Content Creators
The Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) will host a June 30 webinar featuring creative director and agency CEO Barry Brandon on communicating in today’s crowded, low-trust information environment.
Drawing on experience developing behavior-change campaigns, including the FDA’s “This Free Life” tobacco-prevention initiative for LGBTQ+ young adults, Brandon will discuss how audience insights, storytelling, and authentic creator partnerships can help public health messages connect with intended audiences.
The conversation will explore practical lessons public health communicators can borrow from the creator world, including strategies for building trust, reaching specific communities, and developing content that inspires engagement and action. Register here.
FEATURED TOPICS
Survey Highlights Persistent Uncertainty on STI Vaccines
A nationally representative Annenberg Public Policy Center survey found that while most U.S. adults understand core STI transmission routes, knowledge gaps persist around less common pathways and vaccine availability.
Majorities correctly identified gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HPV, and genital herpes as sexually transmitted, but far fewer recognized mpox (35%) or Zika (13%) as sexually transmitted infections.
Misconceptions included 20% believing STI transmission can occur via toilet seats and only 33% identifying breastfeeding as a possible HIV transmission route. While 68% recognized an HPV vaccine, only 42% were aware of an mpox vaccine, and most respondents were uncertain about vaccine availability for other STIs. Read the survey here.
Fake References in Medical Papers are Skyrocketing
A reference-integrity audit of 2.5 million biomedical papers and 125.6 million references in PubMed Central identified 4,046 fabricated references across 2,810 papers after multi-database verification and filtering.
Fabrication rates rose markedly, from 1 in 2,828 papers in 2023 to 1 in 458 in 2025, a more than 12-fold increase overall. Most affected papers contained one or two fabricated references, and review articles showed higher fabrication rates than other article types.
Notably, 98.4% of affected papers had received no publisher action at the time of the audit, highlighting gaps in oversight. Read the study in Lancet here.
The Condition PCOS is Now Called PMOS
Researchers and clinicians have renamed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) to better reflect the condition’s broader hormonal and metabolic impacts and improve patient care.
Affecting an estimated 1 in 8 women worldwide, the condition is associated with irregular menstrual cycles, elevated androgen levels, infertility, and increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Experts say the previous name contributed to confusion, missed diagnoses, and limited understanding of the disorder beyond ovarian symptoms.
The updated terminology follows 14 years of collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and patients and is intended to support more comprehensive diagnosis and treatment approaches. Learn more from AP here.
Fruit-Flavored E-cigarettes for Adults OK'd By FDA
The FDA authorized its first fruit-flavored e-cigarettes for adult smokers, marking a significant shift in federal vaping policy amid declining youth vaping rates, which are now at a 10-year low. The newly authorized products include mango and blueberry flavors and incorporate smartphone-based age verification and Bluetooth access controls intended to reduce youth access.
FDA officials emphasized that authorization is not an endorsement and stated the agency will monitor youth uptake and marketing practices closely.
The decision follows years of FDA denials for flavored products and ongoing concerns that fruit and candy flavors remain widely used in unauthorized products popular among U.S. teens. Read more from CBS News here.
