15 days in healthcare (September 1st-14th, 2025)

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Summary

The most impactful health news stories of the last two weeks were:

  • Biomedicine: The importance of prioritizing prevention in a disease as prevalent as heart failure.
  • Global Health: The decline in global fertility will cause the population to decrease significantly in the relatively short term.
  • International Health Policy: Evangelical Christians, Trump’s traditional partners, are lobbying Congress to restore USAID health aid.
  • National Health Policy: The proposed Tobacco Law bans smoking on terraces, prohibits smoking for minors, and limits vaping.
  • Business: The new Apple Watch includes notifications of possible hypertension.

Biomedicine

  • Heart failure: time to prioritize prevention. Heart failure is a major contributor to the global burden of cardiovascular disease. It affects 55 million people and is a common cause of hospital admissions. The prevalence has tripled in recent decades. Conventional pathophysiology previously emphasized myocardial abnormalities. It is now known that there are extra-myocardial factors, such as obesity, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Not all causes of myocardial disease can be prevented, but early detection and intervention are of great importance.
  • Exposure to air pollution increases the risk of dementia, according to scientists.
  • A large study confirms the relationship between following a planet-friendly diet and lower mortality.
  • Revolution in post-infarction therapy. The systematic prescription of beta-blockers after a heart attack is questioned. Study led by the CNIO and with the participation of more than 100 European hospitals.

Global Health

  • There is no need to fear the decline in global fertility, although humanity will decrease in size much sooner than we think, without necessarily negative consequences. In 1968, Paul Erlich, a biologist, published a book stating that humanity was growing so much that millions would perish from lack of food. This prediction has proven false. Two-thirds of the population lives in regions with fertility below replacement levels. It is believed that this can be partly offset by developments in artificial intelligence and the extension of working life.
  • The nuclear threat. On the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear weapons remain a threat. Although we have fallen from a peak of 70,000 in 1984 to 12,000 today, the downward trend is slowing, and even India, North Korea, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and possibly Russia are increasing their nuclear arsenals. The health community has an important role to play in building evidence about the threats and effects of nuclear weapons.
  • The negative effects of the Trump Administration’s denial of the negative effects of climate change. The impact of climate change is real. Denying it is self-destructive. The US administration is trying to minimize efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This will make the country and the world worse off. The situation is worrying, as the United States is the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after China. The Trump administration is pushing a dangerous agenda regarding solid fuels.

International Health Policy

  • Evangelical Christians, traditional partners of Trump, are lobbying Congress to restore USAID health aid. This surprising move reflects the growing discontent with some of Trump’s policies among Republicans.
  • Americans are facing the largest increase in health insurance costs in 16 years due to rising premiums. Insurance companies blame Trump’s tariff policy for this increase.
  • The United States is urging the United Kingdom to offer a better deal to pharmaceutical companies. The announcement follows the suspension of investment projects in the United Kingdom by AstraZeneca and Merck, which have caused great concern in the government.
  • The British Department of Health is exploring private investors to finance the new centers planned in the “10-Year Health Plan for England.” The move could boost investment, but it could reignite the debate over the controversial PFI (Private Finance Initiative) model.
  • NHS provider rankings are back. The measure bears a strong resemblance to the Blair-era star ratings. Minister of Health at the time (2000): Alan Milburn, Non-Executive Advisor to the current Minister of Health: Alan Milburn. A dose of transparency is undoubtedly good for the NHS, as it would be for our SNS.

National Health Policy (Spain)

  • The draft Tobacco Law bans smoking on terraces, prohibits smoking for minors, and limits vaping. The law will have to be debated in Congress, where the Ministry wants to reinstate plain packaging, which was dropped from the initial text. The measure has been poorly received by restaurateurs, but the benefits of increasing smoke-free public spaces have been proven, given the evidence of negative effects on passive smokers. Furthermore, the history of the same ban in British pubs shows that the measure did not have as many negative effects on these establishments as announced.
  • More than 25,000 NHS doctors will access training courses offered by scientific societies through FACME. The initiative is financed by Next Generation funds and consists of 20 free online courses. This measure is important, since until now the Ministry delegated the continuing education of professionals to companies (pharmaceutical and medical technology), a situation that could not continue. FACME’s involvement appears very positive.
  • SERGAS (Galician health system) is incorporating 33 new researchers with statutory staff positions. This is an important measure, as it normalizes the presence of researchers in the NHS, utilizing a previously underutilized option in the Science, Technology, and Innovation Law. These options are provided by Law 17/2022, in its First Final Provision, which broadly develops this issue, breaking new ground.
  • The unions do not rule out a general strike if the Ministry moves forward with its Framework Statute project. The Framework Statute needs reform (if not repeal), but the Ministry’s reform plan contains more negative elements than positive ones.
  • Farmaindustria proposes 7 new measures to attract pharmaceutical innovation to Spain.

Companies

  • International
    • The new Apple Watch includes notifications for possible hypertension. This feature will also be incorporated into previous models. The development of useful wearables is part of the future. In his presentation, Tim Cook (Apple’s president) said that this feature will allow the diagnosis of more than 1 million people with high blood pressure in the first year in the United States alone. Hypertension is a silent disease that leads to serious complications that can be prevented with diagnosis and treatment.
    • How Novartis forged ahead with an incredible breakthrough in cancer, pioneering “radioligand” therapy, a new form of targeted therapy.
  • National
    • The oncology multinational Genesis Care is putting its subsidiary in Spain up for sale. The Australian giant has decided to divest from the Spanish market, no longer considering it strategic within its core business, following the recent global restructuring.

 

Biomedicine

  • The 2025 Lasker Awards, given to pioneers in cell biology and cystic fibrosis (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/health/lasker-awards-medicine.html)
  • The Lancet Editorial: Heart Failure: Time to Prioritize Prevention. Heart failure is a major contributor to the global burden of cardiovascular disease. It affects 55 million people and is a common cause of hospital admission. Its prevalence has tripled in recent decades. Conventional pathophysiology emphasized myocardial abnormalities. It is now known that there are extramyocardial factors, such as obesity, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Not all causes of myocardial disease can be prevented, but early detection and intervention are of paramount importance (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01775-1/fulltext?rss=yes)
  • According to the president of the Royal College of Radiologist, AI currently does not save radiologists time and can lead to overdiagnosis (https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj.r1840)
  • Prostate cancer can be detected with faster and cheaper scanners (https://www.ft.com/content/81665626-4519-4b99-9a96-39a324af2445). Original article in JAMA: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2838799
  • From immortal jellyfish to elephants, scientists are searching for the secrets of long life in animals. These creatures may hold clues about extending human lifespans (https://www.ft.com/content/72fe4b7d-c3c3-49b6-8315-6216ca7b3789)
  • Alzheimer’s disease: lithium gives hope (https://elpais.com/ciencia/materia-gris/2025-09-12/enfermedad-de-alzheimer-el-litio-da-esperanza.html). Original article in Nature Neuroscience: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02059-1
  • Scientists discover a powerful new way to prevent cancer. While cancer was once thought to be a mutation in a cell’s DNA that caused uncontrolled growth, it is now known that mutations that cause cancer are normal in healthy tissues, such as the esophagus and stomach, as well as in other tissues including the colon, lungs, and ovaries. Why these cells don’t grow into tumors is a mystery. It is known that the activity of nearby healthy cells can prevent the development of cancer. Stimulating the development of these cells can have a beneficial effect and opens up new opportunities for prevention (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/09/02/scientists-are-discovering-a-powerful-new-way-to-prevent-cancer)
  • Exposure to air pollution increases the risk of dementia, according to scientists (https://www.theguardicom/environment/2025/jul/24/air-pollution-raises-risk-of-dementia-say-cambridge-scientists). Access the original article in The Lancet Planetary Health: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00118-4/fulltext
  • A large study confirms the relationship between following a planet-friendly diet and lower mortality (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2025-09-05/un-gran-estudio-confirma-la-relacion-entre-seguir-una-dieta-respetuosa-con-el-planeta-y-una-menor-mortalidad.html). Access the original article in Science: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adq5147
  • The first global map of brain activity challenges the traditional view of the brain. The journal “Nature” publishes the first comprehensive map of brain activity that reveals how decision-making is distributed (https://www.abc.es/salud/enfermedades/primer-mapa-global-actividad-cerebral-desafia-vision-20250903141407-nt.html).
  • Revolution in post-infarction therapy: the systematic prescription of beta-blockers after a heart attack is questioned. Study led by the CNIO and with the participation of more than one hundred European hospitals (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/cardiologia/revolucion-en-la-terapia-post-infarto-la-cardiologia-reaccionara-rapido-5757
  • What tissues can be regenerated with stem cells? Currently, there are only three established advanced therapy treatments: the use of chondrocytes, corneal ligament cells, and engineered skin (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2025-09-12/que-tejidos-se-pueden-regenerar-con-celulas-madre.html)
  • The discovery of the “black box” of cancer opens the door to predicting the evolution of each tumor (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2025-09-10/el-hallazgo-de-la-caja-negra-del-cancer-abre-la-puerta-a-predecir-la-evolucion-de-cada-tumor.html). Access the original article in Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09374-4

Global Health

  • The Economist Editorial: There’s no need to fear a decline in global fertility, although humanity will shrink much sooner than we think, without necessarily negative consequences. In 1968, biologist Paul Erlich published a book stating that humanity was growing so much that millions would perish from lack of food. This prediction has proven false. Two-thirds of the population lives in regions with fertility below replacement levels. It is believed that this can be partly offset by developments in artificial intelligence and the extension of working life (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/09/11/dont-panic-about-the-global-fertility-crash)
  • The Lancet Editorial: The nuclear threat, politics, science, and public opinion. On the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear weapons remain a threat. Although we have fallen from a peak of 70,000 in 1984 to 12,000 today, the downward trend is slowing, and India, North Korea, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and possibly Russia are increasing their nuclear arsenals. The health community has an important role to play in building evidence about the threats and effects of nuclear weapons (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01817-3/fulltext?rss=yes)
  • Nature Editorial: The impact of climate change is real. Denying it is self-defeating. The US administration is trying to minimize efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This will make the country and the world worse off. The situation is worrying, as the US is the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after China. The Trump administration is pushing a dangerous solid fuels agenda (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02868-1)
  • The plastics treaty remains in limbo due to lack of agreement. A devastating missed opportunity, according to The Lancet (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01816-1/fulltext?rss=yes)
  • Ixchiq, the first authorized vaccine against the chikungunya virus (https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2025/09/03/chikungunya-ixchiq-le-premier-vaccin-autorise-contre-le-virus-sur-la-sellette_6638496_3244.html)
  • The use of water as a weapon of war. Water has been used as a weapon of war for millennia. But in the current conflicts in Gaza, Syria, and Ukraine, this is reaching significant proportions, as both acute and energy infrastructure have been repeatedly attacked, with very negative health consequences (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01087-6/fulltext)
  • EBOLA returns to the Congo (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/09/11/ebola-returns-to-congo)
  • According to UNICEF, obesity now exceeds malnutrition among children and adolescents (https://www.lemonde.fr/sante/article/2025/09/10/l-obesite-depasse-desormais-la-sous-nutrition-chez-les-enfants-et-ados-alerte-l-unicef_6640202_1651302.html)

International Health Policy

  • USA
    • The US Supreme Court authorizes the National Institute of Human Rights (NIH) to cut $2 billion in research funding. This will allow the Trump administration to continue cutting scientific research (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02721-5)
    • Evangelical Christians, traditional Trump partners, are lobbying Congress to restore USAID health aid (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/02/trump-evangelicals-foreign-humanitarian-aid-congress-00537322)
    • Article in the NEJM: The Corporatization of Health Institutions: Healthcare, Investors, and the Priority of Profit (https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMp2505258)
    • Kennedy is wrong: We should praise experts, not destroy them (https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj.r1863)
    • Trump wants to crack down on pharmaceutical company advertising. The administration is considering measures to require companies to include more information about medications (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/09/trump-announces-crackdown-on-pharmaceutical-advertising-00553814)
    • Americans face the largest increase in health insurance costs in 16 years due to rising premiums. (https://www.com/content/9af0c46d-4665-49ae-b153-15ce7d65ca55)
    • Florida backtracks on its vaccine policy and maintains most mandatory injections. Just days after announcing the vaccination mandate for children, the state government has limited the scope of the measure, although Governor De Santis assures that he is working to eliminate them altogether in the future (https://elpais.com/us/2025-09-10/florida-recula-en-su-politica-de-vacunas-y-mantiene-la-mayoria-de-las-inyecciones-obligatorias.html)
  • China
    • China will produce generic Ozempic and Wegovy starting in 2026, after the patents expire (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20250902/patentes-ozempic-wegovy-caducan-china-empresas-pais-preparan-lanzar-genericos/1003743907006_0.html)
  • United Kingdom
    • The United States urges the United Kingdom to offer better agreement with pharmaceutical companies. The announcement follows the suspension of investment projects in the United Kingdom by AstraZeneca and Merck (https://www.ft.com/content/a4dc3ba5-fc5b-4d51-8d5e-690ae7930391)
    • Government talks resume with pharmaceutical companies on drug prices for the NHS (https://www.ft.com/content/53543a40-a2ee-49a5-b395-9572a02120a8)
    • The Department of Health is exploring private investors to finance new centers in England, planned in the “10-Year Health Plan for England.” The move may boost investment, but it could reignite debate over the controversial PFI model (https://www.ft.com/content/91d0fb5d-1783-407f-8c00-c54e92412403)
    • Can the UK’s new, but old, provider ranking tables revitalize the NHS? The move bears a strong resemblance to the Blair-era star ratings. Health Minister at the time (2000): Alan Milburn, Non-executive advisor to the current Health Minister: Alan Milburn (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/sep/09/the-nhs-league-tables-resemble-blairs-star-ratings-of-2000-can-they-revive-the-health-service)
    • The waiting list is growing, but less than expected. Waiting lists rose from 4.5 million at the time of COVID-19 has reached 7.5 million. However, the National Audit Office’s forecasts were that we would now be around 12 million. There are several reasons that could explain this situation (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/blogs/missing-millions-nhs-waiting-list)
  • France
    • The increase in medical deductibles, a volatile measure on hold. Projects seeking to increase patient contributions for medications and medical consultations have been rejected by the advisory board of the CNAM (Caisse nationale d’assurance-maladie). (https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2025/09/04/le-doublement-des-franchises-medicales-une-mesure-inflammable-en-suspens_6638952_3224.html#:~:text=de%20la%20santé-,Le%20doublement%20des%20franchises%20médicales%2C%20une%20mesure%20inflammable%20en%20suspens,dont%20l’avis%20est%20consultative.)

National Health Policy

  • Central Administration Initiatives
    • The draft Tobacco Law bans smoking on terraces, prohibits minors from smoking, and limits vaping. The law will have to be debated in Congress, where the Ministry wants to reinstate plain packaging, which was dropped from the initial text (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-09-09/el-proyecto-de-ley-del-tabaco-veta-el-humo-en-las-terrazas-prohibe-fumar-a-los-menores-y-limita-el-vapeo.html)
    • The Ministry of Health opens the Preliminary Draft Law on Patient Organizations for public consultation, open until September 23, 2025 (https://gacetamedica.com/politica/sanidad-consulta-publica-ley-organizaciones-pacientes/)
    • The issues that will mark the new political course in healthcare. The configuration of the foundations of the already approved State Public Health Agency, and the pending approvals of the Drug Law and the Anti-Tobacco Law (https://gacetamedica.com/politica/temas-nuevo-curso-politico-sanidad/)
    • Spain and the United Kingdom agree to include healthcare innovation in their bilateral agreement (https://diariofarma.com/2025/09/04/espana-y-reino-unido-incluyen-potenciar-la-innovacion-sanitaria-en-su-acuerdo-bilateral)
    • The Ministry of Health promotes a new pact to renew the high-tech features of the NHS. The first agreement focuses on neonatal equipment (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/ministerio-sanidad/sanidad-impulsa-un-nuevo-pacto-para-renovar-la-alta-tecnologia-del-sns-8895)
    • More than 25,000 NHS physicians will have access to training courses offered by scientific societies, through FACME. The initiative is funded by Next Generation funds and consists of 20 free online courses (https://www.sanidad.gob.es/gabinete/notasPrensa.do?id=6741)
  • Autonomous community initiatives
    • Castilla y León launches a new MIR loyalty program with attractive spots and improvements (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/castilla-y-leon/castilla-y-leon-abre-una-segunda-convocatoria-de-fidelizacion-mir.html)
    • All the health measures Ayuso announced during the debate on the State of the Region. The Plan to Combat Public Health Threats, the Center for the Production of Advanced Therapies, and the new neonatal screening for critical congenital heart disease are among the projects that the Ministry headed by Matute will promote (https://gacetamedica.com/politica/medidas-sanitarias-ayuso-debate-estado-region/).
    • The Autonomous Communities are calling for regulations on the purchase of medicines and greater participation (https://diariofarma.com/2025/09/09/las-ccaa-piden-una-normativa-de-compra-de-medicamentos-y-mayor-participacion).
    • The SERGAS (National Service of Gas Natural Fenosa) is incorporating 33 new researchers with statutory staff positions. (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/galicia/caamano-destaca-la-incorporacion-de-los-primeros-33-investigadores-con-plaza-de-personal-estatutario.html#:~:text=El%20consejero%20de%20Sanidad%20de,sitúa%20Galicia%20a%20la%20vanguardia.)
    • The HUCA (Central University Hospital of Asturias) opens an office for the Center for Biomedical Engineering (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/asturias/el-huca-inaugura-una-oficina-del-centro-de-ingenieria-biomedica-para-impulsar-la-innovacion-sanitaria.html)
  • Reactions to the Tobacco Bill
    • Restaurant owners react against it: “It’s against restaurant owners, not against tobacco” (https://www.elmundo.es/economia/2025/09/09/68c0453621efa0304b8b45b6.html)
    • The government’s inconsistency regarding vaping, equating it with tobacco, but its sale is free. There is no control over the sale of these products to minors (https://theobjective.com/economia/2025-09-10/incoherencia-gobierno-vapeo-equipara-tabaco-vendera-bazares/)
  • Framework Statute
    • Unions do not rule out a general strike if the Ministry moves forward with its Framework Statute project (https://www.larazon.es/sociedad/sindicatos-descartan-huelga-general-sanidad-sigue-adelante-estatuto-marco_2025091068c1bb81bf88027389797750.html)
  • Black August of heat-related deaths
    • 2,170 deaths, the highest number on record (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2025/09/10/68c183ff21efa0a3528b459a.html)
  • Pharmacy Faculties
    • 6 new Pharmacy Faculties, which are planned to be added to the current 28 (https://www.diariomedico.com/farmacia/farmaceutico-joven/grado/seis-facultades-farmacia-mas-vista-cifra-preocupa-medicina.html#:~:text=de%20centros%20académicos-,Seis%20Facultades%20de%20Farmacia%20más%20a%20la%20vista%2C%20pero%20la,con%20tu%20email%20y%20contraseña.)
  • Pharmaceutical Innovation
    • 7 new measures proposed by Farmaindustria to attract Pharmaceutical innovation in Spain (https://elglobalfarma.com/industria/7-medidas-industria-innovacion-biofarmaceutica-espana/)
  • Life expectancy
    • Spain is no longer the European country with the highest life expectancy: Italy and Sweden are ahead. Spain stagnates at 84, while in those countries it reaches 84.1 (https://www.vozpopuli.com/economia/macroeconomia/espana-ya-no-es-el-pais-con-mas-esperanza-de-vida-de-la-ue-italia-y-suecia-le-adelantan.html#:~:text=España%20ha%20dejado%20de%20ser,así%20los%20niveles%20de%20España.)

Companies

  • International
    • The new Apple Watch includes notifications for possible hypertension. This feature will also be incorporated into previous models (https://www.applesfera.com/apple-watch/que-apple-watch-detecten-hipertension-importante-mejor-que-solo-paso-ambicioso-plan-salud-apple)
    • How Novartis advanced an incredible discovery against cancer, pioneering “radioligand” therapy, a new form of targeted therapy (https://www.ft.com/content/a955b66c-89ac-4d2f-83dc-2b93baa4d56a)
    • The American regulator approves a version of the Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi, from Eisai and Biogen (https://www.ft.com/content/4147b61e-6cc9-40c2-adb0-18ff97d1c878)
    • The CapVest fund acquires the European generics giant Stada (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20250901/fondo-capvest-compra-gigante-medicamentos-genericos-europeo-stada/1003743906823_0.html)
    • Abbvie to pay $1.2 billion for Gilgamesh’s psychedelic development (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/empresas/abbvie-pagara-1200-millones-dolares-psicodelico-desarrollo-gilgamesh.html)
    • Permira seeks $4 billion to acquire contract drugmaker Cambrex (https://www.ft.com/content/9395570c-da42-4b89-84fb-7a28a76b247c)
    • NovoNordisk to lay off 9,000 employees with the goal of save more than €1 billion a year (https://cincodias.elpais.com/companias/2025-09-10/novo-nordisk-despedira-a-9000-empleados-el-11-de-la-plantilla-ante-el-aumento-de-la-competencia-en-los-tratamientos-de-obesidad.html#:~:text=La%20compañía%20danesa%2C%20fabricante%20de,que%20ronda%20los%2078.400%20trabajadores.)
  • National
    • The multinational oncology company Genesis Care puts its subsidiary in Spain up for sale. The Australian giant has decided to divest from the Spanish market, no longer considering it strategic within its core business, following the recent global restructuring (https://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2025-09-02/multinacional-oncologia-genesiscare-kpmg-venta-filial-espana_4200352/).
    • Ribera has expanded its influence in Central Europe with the acquisition of Multi Med in Poland. This is a medical company dedicated to diagnostic imaging and outpatient rehabilitation care (https://www.consalud.es/salud35/internacional/ribera-entra-en-polonia-con-multi-med-y-consolida-su-presencia-en-centro-europa.html)
    • Vithas reaccredits four of its hospitals with the world’s most demanding quality seal (https://www.consalud.es/industria/sanidad-privada/vithas-reacredita-cuatro-de-sus-hospitales-con-el-sello-de-calidad-mas-exigente-del-mundo.html)
    • FAES strengthens its licensing business with acquisitions (https://www.expansion.com/empresas/2025/09/12/68c35ccd468aeb8f188b458d.html)