Summary

The week’s most impactful health news stories were:

• Biomedicine: From genetic scalpel to cell shredder: this new CRISPR “annihilates” cancer.
• Global health: A WHO worth fighting for: the need for targeted reform.
• International health policy: Wes Streeting, the British Health Minister, has resigned after a brilliant tenure, in the battle to replace Starmer.
• National health policy: Green light given to limit public/private collaboration in healthcare to “exceptional cases”.
• Business: Bid for the UK’s largest private operator: Spire.

Biomedicine

• From genetic scalpel to cell shredder: this new CRISPR “annihilates” cancer. The Cas12a2 protein is a programmable system capable of identifying infected or cancerous cells and destroying them completely without damaging healthy tissue. This finding, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, is based on the use of a recently discovered protein called Cas12a2.
• Princess of Asturias Award for the developers of DNA sequencing technology: British chemists David Klenerman and Shankar Balasubramanian, and French biophysicist Pascal Mayer. These methods have boosted clinical diagnosis and research in biology, biomedicine, forensics, and ecology, according to the jury’s statement.
• A fiber optic laboratory for diagnosing cancers in vivo. These multifunctional sensors will allow for minimally invasive, real-time cell analysis.
• A drug nearing approval, daraxonrasib, is the first to substantially extend the lives of patients with pancreatic cancer. It works by acting on a cellular protein that activates not only pancreatic cancer, but also lung and colon cancer. These are the most frequent causes of cancer deaths.

Global Health

• A WHO worth fighting for: the need for targeted reform. According to an article in The Lancet, the WHO needs reform to address its lack of agility, insufficient transparency in key processes and decision-making, and the absence of a clear narrative about the benefits the Agency offers the world. These reforms are urgent, or the WHO risks decline and irrelevance.
• A group of experts warns the WHO about the climate crisis as a major public health emergency. The climate crisis should be declared a global emergency by the WHO, or millions of people will die unnecessarily.
• A new Ebola outbreak in Congo leaves more than 65 dead: the WHO mobilizes its experts. The main public health agency on the African continent confirmed on Friday a new Ebola outbreak in the remote Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far.

International Health Policy

• Wes Streeting, the British Health Secretary, has resigned in the battle to replace Starmer, following his electoral defeat. The King’s Fund analyzes his tenure, portraying him as a major reformer. Under the guidance of Alan Milburn, former Health Secretary during Blair’s administration, he launched the “10-Year Health Plan for England,” with the aim of “buying time,” as the NHS’s problems have no short-term solution.
• NHS hospitals met their waiting list targets during Wes Streeting’s tenure.
• The White House cuts $1.3 billion from Medicaid funding in California due to a dispute over the management of nursing homes.
• The Supreme Court allows the sale of abortion pills by mail indefinitely, overturning a previous federal judge’s decision.
• The head of the US FDA resigns following pressure from Trump to allow flavored e-cigarettes.

National Health Policy (Spain)

• Green light given to the bill limiting public-private partnerships in healthcare to “exceptional cases.” The law, which faces significant challenges, seeks to place every possible obstacle in the way of public-private collaboration.
• The Ministry of Health is reforming the pharmaceutical co-payment system with six income brackets and new monthly limits. The system introduces maximum spending limits for low- and middle-income patients with chronic illnesses.
• Professional associations are expected to evaluate the healthcare qualifications of foreigners, according to a Decree currently in the public comment phase at the Ministry of Universities, Science and Innovation.
• The new Hospital Clínic and the Girona Health Region’s Campus Salud are strategic national projects (Catalonia). The Catalan Government will declare the construction of both projects to be of general interest next Tuesday, giving them absolute priority.
• The People’s Party (PP) has registered a non-legislative motion (PNL) urging the government to activate three key measures within six months to address public health emergencies: approve the Preparedness and Response Plan, activate the Public Health Agency, and boost the strategic reserve following the hantavirus crisis.

Companies

• International
  • Offer for Spire, the largest private hospital operator in the United Kingdom. Spire’s shares rise to $1 billion following the takeover bid.

• National
  • Fenin promotes a major Ibero-American healthcare technology corridor to Europe in Madrid.

Biomedicine

• Princess of Asturias Award for the developers of DNA sequencing technology. British chemists David Klenerman and Shankar Balasubramanian and French biophysicist Pascal Mayer. These methods have boosted clinical diagnosis and research in biology, biomedicine, forensic medicine, and ecology, according to the jury’s statement (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/investigacion/premio-princesa-asturias-desarrolladores-tecnologia-secuenciacion-adn.html).
• Following the psychedelic renaissance, the US president has signed an executive order stimulating research into psychedelics for mental illness (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00969-4/fulltext). Access the executive order here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/04/accelerating-medical-treatments-for-serious-mental-illness/
• A fiber optic laboratory for diagnosing cancers in vivo. These multi-function sensors will allow for minimally invasive, real-time cell analysis (https://www.lemonde.fr/sciences/article/2026/05/15/un-laboratoire-sur-fibre-optique-pour-diagnostiquer-les-cancers-in-vivo_6689432_1650684.html)
• Research into the origins of cancer will be key to improved prevention. Research into the origins of cancer will change how we prevent and screen for the 20 million new cancers diagnosed worldwide each year. Forty percent of cases are preventable, with the causes being tobacco, infectious diseases, and alcohol (https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2026/05/14/la-recherche-sur-la-genese-des-cancers-sera-la-cle-d-une-meilleure-prevention_6689086_3232.html)
• How an impossible idea led to a breakthrough in pancreatic cancer. A drug about to be approved, daraxonrasib, is the first to substantially extend the lives of patients with pancreatic cancer. It works by acting on a cellular protein that activates not only pancreatic cancer, but also lung and colon cancer. These are the most frequent causes of cancer deaths (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/health/pancreatic-cancer-daraxonrasib-kras.html)
• A single infusion can suppress HIV for years. A study of a few patients, to be presented this week, shows the promise of a type of therapy that has already cured some hematological cancers (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/health/hiv-infusion-immunotherapy.html)
• A profound limitation in modern medicine. The kind of magic bullet many doctors seek is ill-equipped to address most of their patients’ problems. Many patients who exhibit pain, fatigue, and brain fog do not fit the patterns of modern medicine (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/05/medicine-magic-bullet/687145/)
• From genetic scalpel to cell shredder: This new CRISPR “annihilates” cancer. The Cas12a2 protein is a programmable system capable of identifying infected or tumor cells and destroying them completely without harming healthy tissue. This finding, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, is based on the use of a recently discovered protein called Cas 12a2. (https://www.abc.es/salud/bisturi-genetico-trituradora-celulas-nuevo-crispr-aniquila-20260506170000-nt.html)

Global Health

• Hantavirus: Surprise, complacency, and danger. According to The Lancet, this episode prompts reflection on whether the lessons of COVID-19 have been adequately assimilated by political leaders and even public health authorities. (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00963-3/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email)
• A WHO worth fighting for: The need for targeted reform. According to an article in The Lancet, the WHO needs reform to address its lack of agility, insufficient transparency in key processes and decision-making, and the absence of a clear narrative about the benefits the Agency offers the world. These reforms are urgent, or the WHO risks decline and irrelevance (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00805-6/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email)
• Why measles is returning to Latin America. Vaccine coverage failures are causing the deadly virus to return (https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/05/14/why-measles-is-returning-to-the-americas)
• A group of experts warns the WHO about the climate crisis as a major public health emergency. The climate crisis should be declared a global emergency by the WHO, or millions of people will die needlessly (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/16/who-should-declare-climate-crisis-global-public-health-emergency-experts-say). Access the original document: https://www.who.int/europe/groups/pan-european-commission-on-climate-and-health
• A new Ebola outbreak in Congo leaves more than 65 dead: the WHO mobilizes its experts. The main public health agency on the African continent confirmed on Friday a new Ebola outbreak in the remote Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far. (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2026/05/15/6a074b67e85ece7f4d8b457c.html)
• The WHO declares a public health emergency due to the new Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda. The office of the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a declaration of a “public health emergency of international concern” on Saturday due to the new Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which is affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda (https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia-y-salud/salud/2026/05/17/6a0958d8e85eceeb408b4577.html)
• Initial genetic analysis of the hantavirus from the cruise ship confirms that it is the Andes variant and rules out mutations. The hantavirus from the MV Honius has been sequenced from samples taken from one of the infected individuals. The results confirm that it is the Andean strain, the most virulent and contagious, but rule out that the virus has mutated. (https://elpais.com/ciencia/2026-05-11/un-primer-analisis-genetico-del-hantavirus-del-crucero-confirma-que-es-de-la-variante-andes-y-descarta-mutaciones.html)
• The WHO downplays the possibility of a larger hantavirus outbreak (https://elpais.com/expres/2026-05-13/se-suceden-las-dudas-sobre-el-hantavirus-con-el-recuerdo-de-la-covid-de-fondo.html)

International Health Policy

• USA
  • The Trump Administration cuts the CDC’s global program to stop HIV. The Administration will send the money directly to countries, which can then pay the CDC fees for the assistance (https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-administration-cuts-cdc-s-key-role-global-program-stop-hiv)
  • With Trump as a friend, the tobacco industry secures a lucrative initiative. After meeting with a group of tobacco executives at one of his golf clubs, they complained about FDA regulations, and after a phone call, the FDA director resigned and flavored vapes were authorized (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/us/politics/trump-vapes-cigarettes-big-tobacco.html)
  • The White House cuts $1.3 billion for Medicaid in California due to a dispute over nursing home management (https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/13/white-house-cuts-billions-california-medicaid-00919351)
  • The Supreme Court allows the sale of abortion pills by mail indefinitely, which had been blocked by a federal judge (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/us/politics/supreme-court-abortion-pill.html)
  • RFK, Jr. pushes for a broad study on vaccines, despite his silence (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/health/kennedy-vaccine-safety.html)
  • US FDA chief resigns after Trump pressures to allow flavored e-cigarettes (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2026-05-12/el-jefe-de-la-agencia-del-medicamento-de-estados-unidos-dimite-tras-las-presiones-de-trump-para-autorizar-los-cigarrillos-electronicos-con-sabores.html)

• United Kingdom
  • Wes Streeting, the British Health Secretary, has resigned in the battle to replace Starmer after his electoral defeat. The King’s Fund analyzes Wes Streeting’s tenure, portraying him as a great reformer. Under the guidance of Alan Milburn, former Health Minister under Blair, he launched the “10-Year Health Plan for England,” with the aim of “buying time,” as the NHS’s problems have no short-term solution (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/blogs/wes-streeting-has-gone)
  • NHS hospitals meet waiting list targets during Wes Streeting’s term (https://www.ft.com/content/61d8217a-1e30-4a96-9fbe-e8536827a3f9?syn-25a6b1a6=1)

• France
  • Why the Senate has rejected the new assisted dying bill for the tenth time (https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2026/05/13/pourquoi-le-senat-a-rejete-a-nouveau-le-texte-sur-l-aide-a-mourir_6688635_3224.html)
  • Asthma, a trivialized disease, still kills, despite the therapeutic arsenal. Between 700 and 1,000 people die each year in France from this respiratory condition. Preventable deaths with available treatments (https://www.lemonde.fr/sciences/article/2026/05/11/l-asthme-cette-maladie-banalisee-qui-tue-encore-malgre-l-arsenal-therapeutique_6688143_1650684.html)

• European Union
  • The European Union is stockpiling key medicines to avoid a repeat of what happened during the pandemic. Member states want to pass the Critical Medicines Act, which incentivizes domestic production (https://www.ft.com/content/7c07683d-6b41-4213-859e-6e1d8e96ff32?syn-25a6b1a6=1)

National Health Policy

• Central Administration
  • Green light for the bill limiting private healthcare management to “exceptional cases.” The law, which faces significant challenges, seeks to place every obstacle in the way of public-private partnerships (https://www.elconfidencial.com/salud/2026-05-12/luz-verde-a-la-ley-que-limita-la-gestion-privada-de-la-sanidad_4353875/)
  • The Ministry of Health reforms the pharmaceutical co-payment system with six income brackets and new monthly limits. The system introduces maximum spending limits for low- and middle-income working patients with chronic illnesses (https://diariofarma.com/2026/05/12/sanidad-reforma-el-copago-farmaceutico-con-seis-tramos-de-renta-y-nuevos-topes-mensuales)
  • Professional associations are expected to evaluate the healthcare qualifications of foreigners, according to a Decree currently in the public comment phase from the Ministry of Universities, Science and Innovation (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260516/gobierno-planea-colegios-profesionales-evaluen-titulos-sanitarios-extranjeros-homologacion/1003744246472_0.html)
  • The Ministry of Health has opened the reference pricing order for 2026 to public consultation. For the first time, it includes a specific annex with medications. Exempt from the Reference Pricing System (RPS) by decision of the Interministerial Commission on Drug Prices (CIPM) (https://elglobalfarma.com/politica/sanidad-audiencia-publica-orden-precios-referencia-2026-claves/)

• Regional Administrations
  • Madrid launches the bidding process for the new Neurorehabilitation Center at Isabel Zendal Hospital (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/c-madrid/madrid-inicia-la-licitacion-para-construir-el-nuevo-centro-de-neurorrehabilitacion-del-hospital-isabel-zendal.html)
  • This is how the Asturian healthcare system is preparing to manufacture its own immunotherapy drugs (https://www.elcomercio.es/asturias/prepara-sanidad-asturiana-fabricar-propios-tratamientos-inmunoterapia-20260516182605-nt.html)
  • The new Clínic Hospital and the Girona Health Region’s Campus Salud, strategic projects for the country (Catalonia). The Catalan government will declare the construction of both hospitals to be of general interest next Tuesday, giving them absolute priority (https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2026-05-17/el-nuevo-hospital-clinic-y-el-campus-salud-de-la-region-sanitaria-girona-proyectos-estrategicos-de-pais.html)

• Healthcare spending
  • According to AIREF (Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility), healthcare spending will grow by 4.5% this decade to address chronic conditions (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/sanidad-hoy/el-gasto-sanitario-crecera-un-4-5-esta-decada-para-enfrentar-la-cronicidad-8666)

• PP initiatives

• Framework Statute and the Medical Strike
  • This marks the fourth week of the medical strike. More than 2 million canceled appointments and “far apart” positions mark the start of the May doctors’ strike, following the announcement of Mónica García’s candidacy and the failure of the mediator, which have destroyed any possibility of negotiation (https://gacetamedica.com/profesion/estatuto-marco-cuarta-semana-huelga-medica/)

• Intense surge in silicosis
  • Silicosis continues to spread rapidly in Spain with more than 600 new cases in 2025. This progressive and incurable occupational disease is skyrocketing, with a high incidence among workers in the quartz agglomerate industry, generating intense debate about this material (https://www.eldiario.es/economia/silicosis-sigue-plena-explosion-espana-600-nuevos-casos-2025-trunca-27-anos_1_13204965.html)

• Sick leave
  • The Absenteeism spirals out of control and drives up costs for companies in 2026. The bill for the productive sector is approaching 2.5 billion euros in the first quarter, 7% more year-on-year, while the average duration of processes jumps by 22.5% and approaches 49 days (https://www.expansion.com/economia/2026/05/15/6a061c4c468aeb7b018b457a.html)

Companies

• International
  • Spire shares rise to $1 billion in takeover bid. Bid for the UK’s largest private hospital operator (https://www.ft.com/content/97c78168-bb92-4039-ba5f-38f03b2a7bde?syn-25a6b1a6=1)
  • Lilly will launch a weight-loss pill at a lower price than Mounjaro and is already testing it on 7 other diseases (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260513/lilly-lanzara-pildora-sobrepeso-menor-precio-mounjaro-prueba-enfermedades-diferentes/1003744242884_0.html)
  • Donte Group exceeded €437 million in revenue in 2025: 11% more than the previous year. Most of the revenue corresponds to Vitaldent (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20260512/donte-group-supero-millones-euros-facturacion-ano-anterior/1003744242090_0.html)

• National
  • Natural viruses to kill superbugs. The Valencian company Evolving Therapeutics is developing phage-based solutions to combat these pathogens that killed 24,000 Spaniards in 2023 (https://elpais.com/economia/negocios/2026-05-14/virus-naturales-para-matar-superbacterias.html)
  • Fenin is promoting a major Ibero-American healthcare technology corridor to Europe in Madrid (https://www.consalud.es/tecnologia-sanitaria/fenin-organiza-la-i-cumbre-iberoamericana-de-la-industria-de-tecnologia-sanitaria.html)

This post is also available in: Spanish