Weekly Health Digest: NIH Funding, Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine, Semaglutide Shortage, Foodborne Outbreaks

Judge extends temporary block to huge cuts in National Institutes of Health research funding

By Lauran Neergaard and Michael Casey, Washington Post

U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley blocked the Trump administration’s recent cuts in medical research funding at the NIH this week. This action was sparked by lawsuits filed by 22 states and their respective universities, hospitals, and research institutions, claiming the lack of funding would cause “irreparable harm”. 

Other critics also claim that the research cuts are illegal and openly defy bipartisan Congressional actions, as the $35 billion in NIH funding provides support for clinical trials and new treatments that serve as a “last hope” for many Americans. Research groups across the country continue to emphasize the importance of allocating for indirect costs and the immediate danger these policies may cause, in addition to thousands of Americans in this field losing their jobs. The Trump administration has claimed these expenses as “overhead” costs.

Kelley’s judicial black to the research cuts is, however, a temporary restraining order. This is not the end of the debate, and it will likely be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court.

— by Manju Karthikeyan

mRNA Vaccines Show Promise in Pancreatic Cancer in Early Trial

By Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News

Researchers from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center published early findings from a clinical trial using mRNA vaccines to treat pancreatic cancer earlier this week. 

Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest cancer mortality rates, with fewer than 13 percent of patients surviving more than five years after diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer spreads to other parts of the body earlier than other cancers but does not cause symptoms until later stages. By the time the cancer is detected, it has often spread, making the cancer much more difficult to treat. 

The results from the Memorial Sloan Kettering study show promise regarding the use of mRNA vaccines to treat pancreatic cancer. These types of vaccines became widely known in the COVID-19 pandemic, where researchers created a vaccine that taught the body to recognize and attack the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The vaccine needs to teach the body’s immune system to fight the cancer by producing T-cells that attack the tumor to treat patients. Approximately half of the study participants responded to the vaccine and produced durable T-cells that targeted their tumor. The results of this trial are very encouraging, according to oncologists, inspiring hope for clinicians and pancreatic cancer patients alike.

— by Harleigh Markowitz

The Ozempic Shortage is Over

By Kate Knibbs and Emily Mullin, Wired

Semaglutide, the active ingredient of weight-loss medications Ozempic and Wegovy, is no longer in shortage, per a new report from the FDA. 

The ingredient has been on the FDA’s shortage list since March 2022, while the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, could not keep up to the rising demands of Ozempic and Wegovy.  In the interim, telehealth companies, medical spas, and pharmacies started making and selling “compounded” drugs, versions of the original medications that can be sold to meet demand during a shortage. Compounded drugs offer semaglutide in the form of tablets, pills, gels, and drops to deliver the same benefits. A month’s supply costs a fraction of the original medication’s cost, though is not covered by insurance. 

Compounded versions of semaglutide offer ease of delivery with oral versions as compared to injectables. While injectables need refrigeration, the compounded oral drugs are not temperature-sensitive during shipping and storing. These drugs are not tested for efficacy in clinical trials by the FDA, however, despite their convenient use and transportation. In turn, there is not enough evidence to support that taking compounded drugs taken by mouth can be as effective as the injection-based approach. 

Reformulation of semaglutide from an injectable to an oral drug likely needs newer drug delivery technology to improve its absorption in the gut. 

– by Ananya Dash

Food recalls in the US were more widespread – and deadly – in 2024

By Deidre McPhillips and Annette Choi, CNN

Foodborne illness in the United States is rising. There were approximately 300 food recalls and 1,400 illnesses in 2024 alone, according to a report published last week by the Public Interest Research Group. Nearly 500 of these cases resulted in hospitalizations and 19 resulted in deaths. This means that more than twice as many cases of foodborne illnesses resulted in hospitalizations or deaths in 2024 than in 2023, despite having 5 percent fewer recalls than the previous year. 

All of last year’s cases stemmed from only 13 outbreaks, with the primary culprits being  contaminated produce such as cucumbers, onions, and carrots. Experts claim that uncooked foods create the biggest risk for disease, as heat from cooking can often kill the bacteria that cause illness. The leading contaminants in food recalls last year were undeclared allergens, Listeria, Salmonella, excessive lead, and E. coli.

The CDC is improving foodborne outbreak detection with advancements in technology. Experts emphasize, however, that food manufacturers hold the responsibility to ensure products are safe before they hit the market and recalls become necessary. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, has stated that reforming the food system is one of his top goals. Despite this, public health experts have expressed concern about his potential agenda. Experts recommend that consumers avoid leaving food out, regularly wash their hands and utensils when handling food, and stay informed about recent recalls.

–by Stephanie Oehler

Items summarized by: Manju Karthikeyan, Harleigh Markowitz, Ananya Dash, Stephanie Oehler