7 days in healthcare (June 2nd-8th, 2025)

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Summary

The most impactful health news of the week were:

  • Biomedicine: The FDA authorizes the first test to diagnose Alzheimer’s.
  • Global Health: A new COVID variant is increasing infections.
  • International Health Policy: Trump’s tax law, which Musk criticizes for not being aggressive enough, threatens to leave 10.8 million people without health coverage.
  • National Health Policy: The Medical Forum supports the strike over the “insufficient” proposed Statute.
  • Business: E&Y publishes a report on the behavior of private capital in Spain in healthcare and life sciences.

Biomedicine

  • The FDA authorizes the first test to diagnose Alzheimer’s. On May 16, 2025, the FDA authorized the marketing of the first diagnostic device that analyzes blood to diagnose Alzheimer’s.
  • From innovation to impact on cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death and is on the rise, rising from 12.4 million in 1990 to 19.8 million in 2022. The WHO estimates that 75% of cardiovascular deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. There have been recent important discoveries related to cardiovascular disease. Little is known about many aspects of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, specifically heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, despite its frequency.
  • From hopelessness to potential cure for a deadly cancer, myeloma. Multiple myeloma was considered an incurable disease. However, a third of patients in a J&J clinical trial are living without detectable disease that would have led to certain death years ago.

Global Health

  • A new COVID variant is increasing infections, although the WHO considers the risk to the population “low.”

International Health Policy

  • Trump’s tax law, which Musk criticizes for not being aggressive enough, threatens to leave 10.8 million people without health coverage.
  • The United States is ceding leadership in creating the future. As the Trump Administration continues to dismantle basic science in the United States, opportunities are being offered to other countries to take the lead.
  • Synthetic drugs pose an unprecedented health risk in Europe, according to a report recently released by the EU Drug Agency.

National Health Policy (Spain)

  • The Ministry of Health opens the modernization of the Spanish Medicines Agency for public consultation.
  • The Medical Forum supports the strike over the “insufficient” proposed Statute.
  • The private sector (IDIS) calls for a European legal framework that improves the public/private partnership model, beyond the agreement.

Companies

  • International
    • BMS signs an $11 billion agreement for a drug deal with BioNTech.
  • National
    • E&Y publishes a report on the behavior of private capital in Spain in healthcare and life sciences. The subsectors expected to show the greatest growth include occupational risk prevention companies, dental clinics, dental technology companies, and medical technology. Healthcare distribution, animal health, nursing homes, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, OTC, and consumer healthcare.

Biomedicine

  • From innovation to impact on cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death and is on the rise, rising from 12.4 million in 1990 to 19.8 million in 2022. The WHO estimates that 75% of cardiovascular deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. There have been recent important discoveries related to cardiovascular disease. Little is known about many aspects of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, specifically heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, despite its prevalence (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01182-1/fulltext).
  • The FDA authorizes the first test to diagnose Alzheimer’s. On May 16, 2025, the FDA authorized the marketing of the first diagnostic device that analyzes blood to diagnose Alzheimer’s (https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-clears-first-blood-test-used-diagnosing-alzheimers-disease)
  • The pipeline of Alzheimer’s drugs is extensive. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. Between 1995 and 2021, $42 billion was spent on research in this field. 140 trials failed. There are currently 182 clinical trials underway in 2025 (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/06/03/the-alzheimers-drug-pipeline-is-healthier-than-you-might-think)
  • From hopeless to potential cure for the deadly cancer myeloma. Multiple myeloma was considered an incurable disease. However, one-third of patients in a J&J clinical trial are living without detectable disease, which would have led to certain death years ago (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/health/multiple-myeloma-car-t-immunotherapy.html)
  • A major meeting (the American Cancer Society) on advances in cancer (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2025-06-03/claves-de-la-gran-cita-de-la-oncologia-mundial-caballos-de-troya-y-un-analisis-de-sangre-para-guiar-el-futuro-del-paciente.html)
  • A study shows for the first time that exercise works as a medicine against cancer (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2025-06-01/un-estudio-muestra-por-primera-vez-que-el-ejercicio-funciona-como-medicina-frente-al-cancer.html). Access the original article: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2502760
  • The anti-obesity drugs Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Wegoby may increase the risk of unwanted pregnancy (https://www.expansion.com/directivos/estilo-vida/salud/2025/06/06/6842a76c468aeb003e8b456f.html)

Global Health

International Health Policy

  • USA
    • Science article: The US is ceding leadership in shaping the future. As the Trump Administration continues to dismantle basic science in the US, opportunities are being offered to other countries to take the lead (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adz3915)
    • NEJM article: US leadership in research at an uncertain point. In February 2025, the NHI announced that all research grants would be cut by 15%. By conducting medical research, the US has strengthened its strategic advantage for many years. NHI funding systems have been developed judiciously and with bipartisan agreement (https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMp2502451)
    • Robert D. Kennedy’s statement on vaccines contradicts all decision-making conventions. His recommendation to withhold the COVID vaccine from pregnant women and children surprised experts and prevented committee pronouncements (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01180-8/fulltext)
    • Trump’s tax law, which Musk criticizes for not being aggressive enough, threatens to leave 10.8 million people without health coverage (https://elpais.com/internacional/2025-06-04/la-ley-fiscal-de-trump-que-critica-musk-amenaza-con-dejar-sin-cobertura-sanitaria-a-109-millones-de-personas.html)
  • European Union
    • Synthetic drugs pose an unprecedented health risk in Europe, according to a report recently released by the EU Drug Agency (https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2025/06/05/les-drogues-de-synthese-font-peser-un-risque-sanitaire-inedit-sur-l-europe_6610648_3224.html). Access the original EU document, European Drug Report 2025, Trends and Developments: https://www.euda.europa.eu/publications/european-drug-report/2025_en
    • The EU Council approves its negotiating mandate for the Pharmaceutical Package (https://diariofarma.com/2025/06/05/el-consejo-de-la-ue-aprueba-su-mandato-negociador-para-el-paquete-farmaceutico)

National health policy

  • Central government initiatives
    • €10 million in bridging aid until the financial provisions of the ALS Law come into force (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/10-millones-medida-puente-ela-avanzada-desarrolle-ley.html)
    • €229 million in government funding to strengthen primary care and mental health (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2025-06-03/el-gobierno-aprueba-229-millones-de-euros-para-reforzar-la-atencion-primaria-y-la-salud-mental.html)
    • The Ministry of Health opens the modernization of the Spanish Medicines Agency for public consultation (https://www.consalud.es/politica/sanidad-consulta-publica-modernizacion-agencia-espanola-medicamento-aemps.html)
  • Initiatives from the Autonomous Communities
    • Osakidetza will establish 24-hour assistance for pediatric palliative care at home (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/osakidetza-establecera-asistencia-24h-cuidados-paliativos-pediatria-domicilios.html)
    • The Catalan government approves the creation of the Ethics Committee on Regenerative Medicine (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/gobierno-catalan-aprueba-creacion-comite-etica-medicina-regenerativa.html)
    • Illa will force private healthcare to appoint “language commissioners” to enforce Catalan (https://www.vozpopuli.com/espana/cataluna/illa-obligara-a-la-sanidad-concertada-a-nombrar-comisarios-lingisticos-para-imponer-el-catalan.html)
    • The CAR-T network of centers will incorporate Navarra, Vigo, and Zaragoza (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/hematologia/red-centros-car-t-incorporara-navarra-vigo-zaragoza.html)
  • Medical Forum
    • The Medical Forum supports the strike over the “insufficient” Statute proposal (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/medicina/el-foro-medico-apoya-la-huelga-por-la-insuficiente-propuesta-de-estatuto-2623)

Companies

  • International
    • AstraZeneca unveils a drug to treat breast cancer that has begun to spread (https://www.ft.com/content/9c3b90ba-862e-4249-b07d-d63838956fda)
    • The biotech company behind Lilly’s obesity pill calls for new standards of care (https://www.ft.com/content/4fd1fd94-0b70-48fb-861b-3bad6286ebae)
    • BMS signs an $11 billion drug deal with BioNTech (https://www.ft.com/content/6acff1e0-e23e-4a46-a232-9da44ef2d5dd)
    • Hims & Hers seeks to offer a replica of obesity drugs in the UK and Europe (https://www.ft.com/content/9c6d66da-c8c1-444e-b279-ae619689a3fa)
  • National
    • Dutch giant IMCD buys Catalan company Ferrer’s food business (https://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2025-06-06/imcd-compra-catalana-ferrer-negocio-alimentacion_4145633/)
    • Lilly invests €153 million in the Spanish subsidiary to expand production capacity in anticipation of the arrival of new medicines (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2025/06/05/68416687e4d4d8d8388b45c4.html)
    • MSD inaugurates its new headquarters with a renewed commitment to science and sustainability (https://diariofarma.com/2025/06/05/msd-inaugura-su-nueva-sede-con-un-compromiso-renovado-con-la-ciencia-y-la-sostenibilidad)
    • FAES closes the purchase of the Portuguese company Edol to expand its ophthalmology business (https://cincodias.elpais.com/companias/2025-06-04/faes-farma-cierra-la-compra-de-la-portuguesa-edol-y-refuerza-su-presencia-en-oftalmologia.html)
    • Prim prepares a new strategic plan with internationalization as its focus (https://cincodias.elpais.com/companias/2025-06-04/prim-prepara-un-nuevo-plan-estrategico-con-la-internacionalizacion-la-rentabilidad-y-el-dividendo-como-ejes.html)
    • E&Y has released a report on the performance of private equity in Spain in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. The subsectors expected to show the greatest growth include occupational risk prevention companies, dental clinics, dental technology companies, and medical technology. Healthcare distribution, animal health, nursing homes, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, OTC, and consumer healthcare (https://www.ey.com/content/dam/ey-unified-site/ey-com/es-es/insights/ey-insights/documents/ey-informe-capital-privado-salud-health-life-sciences.pdf)

This post is also available in: Spanish