Summary

Biomedicine

• Anniversary of IVF. The first in vitro baby turns forty years old, with the technique becoming the new normal. After 40 years of development and 12 million children born thanks to it, the technique has reached maturity, with less invasive techniques, more effective procedures and a change in the patient profile.
• “Common Sense Oncology”. This association wants to provoke a public debate about a worrying trend in oncology. Although many cancer treatments have saved the lives of many patients or have prolonged their lives with well-being, there are more and more that offer small benefits for a very high price, a lot of toxicity and keeping patients in the hospital for a long time. time at the end of life.
• Not everything is good at Ozempic. Harvard researchers link it to an increased risk of blindness.

Global Health

• Political courage needed to prevent the next pandemic. In May 2021, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response recommended a set of actions to make Covid-19 the latest pandemic with similar devastation. Three years later, progress is very limited, even though the threats are there.
• 50% of the population will have myopia in 2050. Experts say that the abuse of screens and little outdoor activity favor this pathology.
• The approval of a vaccine does not necessarily mean its dissemination. Although the malaria vaccine was approved in 2015, it was not included in vaccination programs in Africa until 2024.

International health policy

• Biden calls on NovoNordisk and Lilly to lower the price of their slimming products. Both the President and Senator Bernie Sanders ask these companies to lower the price in a joint article published in USA Today, since they estimate that the cost is $1,100 per month.
• Labour considers strengthening Whitehall (government) control over the NHS. It seems that Alan Milburn, former Minister of Health (1999-2003) under Tony Blair, who defends a greater role for the private sector, is playing an active role in the NHS plans. We will have to be very attentive from Spain to the movements in the NHS.
• Australia against recreational vaping. In this pioneering country in the fight against smoking, vapes can only be purchased in pharmacies.
• Thailand: the successes of universal coverage in a developing country. Life expectancy is 80 years (which must be compared with 73 in South East Asia). Last year 99.5% of the population of 72 million people was covered by health insurance. The GDP per capita is 11 times less than that of the USA.

National Health Policy (Spain)

• The government approves the specialty of Urgencies and Emergencies. This ends an unprecedented situation in Europe. Currently, most of these professionals came from Primary Care, aggravating the crisis that this specialty is experiencing. The training of the new four-year specialty will be done in accredited teaching units. Infectious and Genetics are now the specialties awaiting recognition.
• A Pact for Health is in sight in Balares and the Basque Country. In the absence of progress on a national plan, these regional pacts are welcome.
• Health barometer (April-May 2024). Citizens’ assessment of public health has improved in the last year, although it is still below what it was before the pandemic. The grade for primary care is 6.29, compared to 6.19 a year ago, while hospitals and the care received in them continue to be the most valued by citizens: 7.51 points for emergencies and 7 .14 ​​points for “hospital care”. Regarding waiting lists, the percentage of citizens who consider that they have worsened is reduced by more than four points, from 39.2% to 34.6%.

Companies

• International
  • Aging is the new horizon for investors. In 2050, 16% of the population will be over 65 years old, up from 9% today. In the United States and Europe this figure will be 27%. Healthcare is an obvious beneficiary. The universe reaches to pharma, implants and devices and services related to dental and eye care. Aside from treatments, financial services and hospital providers will play a greater role.
  • The FDA approves Lilly’s new drug (Kinsula, scientifically donanemab) against early Alzheimer’s. Lilly enters that market after Biogen and Eisai. The drug slows the development of Alzheimer’s, which causes memory loss, dementia and other cognitive impairments. The price will be $32,000 per year of treatment, 20% more than its rival Leqembi. Both treatments act on amyloid plaque in the brain.

• National
  • Two new biopharmaceutical companies will operate in España. These are the American Dr. Ferrer and the German Bionorica.
  • HM hospitals increase their billing significantly. HM hospitals grow by 50% in billing in 2023 and exceed 650 million.

Biomedicine

• The first in vitro baby turns forty years old, with the technique becoming the new normal. After 40 years of development and 12 million children born thanks to it, the technique has reached maturity, with less invasive techniques, more effective procedures and a change in the patient profile (https://elpais.com/salud-y-wellbeing/2024-07-04/when-the-stork-comes-from-the-laboratory-anatomy-of-the-science-that-delivered-the-first-test-tube-babies.html)
• Rethinking research and generative AI. The danger of AI making articles has been pointed out at the 8th World Conference on Research Integrity, held in Athens, last June. Researchers need to know the limitations and potential flaws of generative AI (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01394-1/fulltext)
• The acute abdomen in the new era. Review of the New England Journal of Medicine, with progress since Cope’s initial work 100 years ago. Advances in imaging are the main change, as will artificial intelligence in the future (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra2304821#:~:text=Acute%20abdominal%20pain%20can%20be,perforated%20viscus%2C%20peptic%20ulcer%20disease%2C)
• A new technique can analyze a tumor during surgery, allowing brain tumors to be diagnosed in two hours or less, through DNA or RNA sequencing (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/07/03/a-new-technique-could-analyse-tumours-mid-surgery)
• A bionic leg can be controlled only by the brain. Although prostheses controlled by nervous signals had been described, these are controlled only by the patients’ brain. The performance is equivalent to that of people with intact legs (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/07/01/a-new-bionic-leg-can-be-controlled-by-the-brain-alone)
• Powerful overdose treatment raises hopes of combating opioid crisis. The chemical compound improves the potency of naloxone more than seven times (https://www.ft.com/content/2dd3abbc-e7e3-4178-8fc0-64094a225111)
• Chris Booth talks about “Common Sense Oncology”. This association wants to provoke a public debate about a worrying trend in oncology. Although many cancer treatments have saved the lives of many patients or have prolonged their lives with well-being, there are more and more that offer small benefits for a very high price, a lot of toxicity and keeping patients in the hospital for a long time. time at the end of life (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2024-07-03/chris-booth-oncologo-la-narrativa-belica-del-cancer-lleva-a-algunos-pacientes-to-receive-treatments-that-otherwise-they-wouldn’t-have-wanted.html)
• mRNA vaccines: potential opportunity against cancer relapses. Studies seek to reduce the risk of relapses with mRNA vaccines in patients undergoing surgery for melanoma, lung or bladder cancer (http://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/oncologia/vacunas-arnm-potential-oportunidad-evitar-relapses-cancer.html)
• Hit to Ozempic, Harvard researchers link it to a greater risk of blindness (https://www.elespanol.com/ciencia/salud/20240707/golpe-ozempic-investigadores-harvard-relacionan-mayor-riesgo-ceguera/867913637_0 .html). Access to the original article: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2820255#:~:text=The%20cumulative%20incidence%20of%20NAION,%3B%20P%20%3C%20.001).

Global Health

• Political courage needed to prevent the next pandemic. In May 2021, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response recommended a set of actions to make Covid-19 the latest pandemic with similar devastation. Three years later, progress is very limited, even though the threats are there (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01260-1/abstract)
• Germany’s role in global health at a critical time. Germany has been a global health leader since Angela Merkel and this role continues, even though it is threatened by financial pressures. At the same time, Germany is one of the strongest defenders of intellectual property rights through patents (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00936-X/fulltext)
• The WHO declares talc “probably carcinogenic” to humans. Although there is limited evidence of the production of cancer in humans (specifically ovarian), there is certainty in experimental animals (https://elpais.com/expres/2024-07-06/la-oms-declara-el-talc-as-probably-known-carcinogen.html#:~:text=The%20World%20Organization%20that%20generates%20in%20animals.)
• Mpox resurfaces in Africa due to lack of access to vaccines, which is a problem in South Africa and, above all, in the DR Congo, where 384 deaths were reached in 2024 alone (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01393-X/abstract#:~:text=Experts%20say%20that%20outbreaks%20in,Democratic%20Republic%20of%20the%20Congo.)
• 50% of the population will have myopia in 2050. Experts say that the abuse of screens and little outdoor activity favor this pathology (https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2024-07-02/the-planet-is-increasingly-blurred-the-50th-of-the-population-will-have-myopia-in-2050.html)
• Although the malaria vaccine was approved in 2015, it was not included in vaccination programs in Africa until 2024 (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/health/malaria-vaccine-delay.html )

International health policy

• USA
  • Will IVF (in vitro fertilization) be the next frontier of the culture war in the USA? Although most Americans support access to this technology, many have problems with the destruction of embryos. Although 82% consider IVF morally acceptable, only 49% agree with the destruction of excess embryos (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/07/04/will-ivf-really-be-the-next-frontier-in-americas-culture-wars)
  • Biden calls on NovoNordisk and Lilly to lower the price of their slimming products. Both the President and Bernie Sanders ask these companies to lower the price in a joint article published in USA Today, since they estimate that the cost is $1,100 per month (https://www.plantadoce.com/publico/joe-biden-calls-on-novo-nordisk-and-eli-lilly-to-lower-the-price-of-their-slimmingmedicines). Access to the original document: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2024/07/02/biden-sanders-prescription-drug-cost-ozempic-wegovy/74232827007/

• United Kingdom and the National Health Service
  • The recent election campaign leaves an uncertain future for the NHS. It is surprising how little has been said about the NHS and social services in the six weeks of the campaign. (https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/this-campaign-will-leave-an-uncertain-dawn-for-the-nhs)
  • NHS leaders call for public/private partnership to build new hospitals (https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/04/nhs-leader-calls-for-partnership-with-private-sector-to-build-new-hospitals)
  • Labour considers strengthening Whitehall (government) control over the NHS. It seems that Alan Milburn, former Minister of Health (1999-2003) under Tony Blair, who defends a greater role for the private sector, is playing an active role in the NHS plans (https://www.ft.com/content/f1221e7b-758c-43c8-98b9-18f5351a737f)

• Brazil
  • New abortion law in Brazil. Thousands of protesters have protested against what they consider an attack on women’s rights. The new law makes abortion after 22 weeks equivalent to homicide. In Brazil there are three situations in which abortion is permitted by law: fetal anencephaly, life-threatening pregnancy for the mother, and pregnancy resulting from rape (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01392-8/abstract)

• Australia
  • Australia against recreational vaping. In this pioneering country in the fight against smoking, vapes can only be purchased in pharmacies (https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2024/07/03/l-australie-a-l-assaut-du-vapotage-recreatif_6246173_3210.html#:~:text=Pour%20les%20experts%20en%20santé,en%20moins%20de%20quatre%20ans.)

• Thailand
  • The successes of universal coverage in a developing country. Life expectancy is 80 years (which must be compared with 73 in South East Asia). Last year 99.5% of the population of 72 million people was covered by health insurance. The GDP per capita is 11 times less than that of the USA (https://www.economist.com/asia/2024/07/04/why-is-thai-health-care-so-good#)

• European Union
  • Valneva gets the green light to market its chikungunya vaccine in the European Union (https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2024/07/01/valneva-obtient-le-feu-vert-pour-commercialiser-son-vaccin-contre-le-chikungunya-dans-l-union-europeenne_6245900_3234.html#:~:text=La%20Commission%20européenne%20a%20donné,prévenir%20les%20infections%20de)

National health policy

• Central government initiatives
  • The government approves the specialty of Emergencies and Emergencies. This ends an unprecedented situation in Europe. Currently, most of these professionals came from Primary Care, aggravating the crisis that this specialty is experiencing. The training of the new four-year specialty will be done in accredited teaching units. Infectious and Genetics are now the specialties awaiting recognition (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2024-07-02/el-gobierno-aprob-la-nueva-especialidad-de-medicina-de-urgencias-y-emergencies-why-now-and-why-it-is-important.html)
  • Health excludes Primary Care doctors who work in emergencies from the new specialty of Emergency Medicine, which the CSIF complains about (https://www.larazon.es/sociedad/sanidad-excluye-medicos-atencion-primary-new-specialty-emergency-medicine_20240703668568c2855de900016f7eeb.html)
  • The laws creating the Public Health and Universality Agency, “sleeping” until September (https://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/leyes-creacion-agencia-salud-publica-universalidad-dormidas-septiembre.html?cid=BESOCYDM01&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_besocy&utm_campaign=BESOCYDM01)
  • The Government finalizes its big data plan in health (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/secciones/sanidad-hoy/el-gobierno-ultima-su-plan-de-big-data-que-mejorara-la-population-health-4371)

• Initiatives and news from the autonomous communities
  • The Balearic Health Pact will make official the conclusions of its first semester of work (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/baleares/el-pacto-por-salud-baleares-oficializara-conclusiones-su-primer-semester-work_146104_102.html)
  • Pradales (Basque Lendakari) begins contacts for the health pact on July 11 (https://www.consalud.es/autonomias/pais-vasco/pradales-arranca-11-julio-ronda-contactos-impulsar-pact-country-in-health_146187_102.html)
  • The Generalitat Valenciana will create new heads of Service and Section in Primary (https://www.redaccionmedica.com/autonomias/valencia/la-generalitat-valenciana-creara-jefes-de-servicio-y-de-seccion-en-primary-5549)
  • The healthcare exams will be held in the Community of Madrid every two years. The community mandate requires reducing temporary employment to 8%. The exams will begin on December 24 and will be repeated every two years (https://www.elespanol.com/madrid/comunidad/20240706/opuestas-sanidad-educacion-anos-mismos-parametros/867163823_0.html#:~:text=The%20advisor%20of%20Health%2C%20Fátima,always%20with%20the%20same%20parameters.)
  • The unfinished Andalusian Plan to replace doctors in the summer by MIR raises doubts, with the sectoral table and professionals against it. The Ministry questions its legality (https://www.eldiario.es/andalucia/plan-andaluz-suplir-medicos-verano-mir-terminar-formacion-desata-dudas-no-firmar_1_11502514.html)

• Health barometer
  • Citizens’ assessment of public health has improved in the last year, although it is still below what it was before the pandemic. The grade for primary care is 6.29, compared to 6.19 a year ago, while hospitals and the care received in them continue to be the most valued by citizens: 7.51 points for emergencies and 7 .14 ​​points for “hospital care”. Regarding waiting lists, the percentage of citizens who consider that they have worsened is reduced by more than four points, from 39.2% to 34.6% (https://elpais.com/sociedad/2024-07- 04/citizens’ assessment of public health has improved in the last year, although it is still below what it was before the pandemic.html# )
  • Only 26% of those who consult for mental health problems get an appointment in less than a month. For the first time the CIS asks about this care (http://diariomedico.com/medicina/politica/barometro-sanitario-26-consultan-problemas-salud-mental-logran-cita-mes.html)
  • Access to the original document: Health Barometer; First Wave, April-May 2024: https://www.cis.es/documents/d/cis/es3455mar-pdf

• Primary Care
  • The vacancies and resignations of the MIR leave 400 Family positions vacant (https://www.abc.es/sociedad/vacantes-renuncias-mir-dejan-desiertas-400-plazas-20240705040605-nt.html)

• Health professions
  • SESPAS insists on good planning to alleviate the shortage of toilets (https://gacetamedica.com/profesion/sespas-insiste-en-una-buena-planificacion-para-paliar-la-escasez-de-sanitarios/)
  • Health employment exceeds 2.1 million for the first time in its history (https://www.plantadoce.com/entorno/el-empleo-en-salud-supera-los-21-millones-de-afiliados- for the first time in its history 20and%20of%20attend)

• MUFACE
  • The government lowers the agreement with MUFACE to two years. Of the few things that are known is that the next contract will have a duration of two years, instead of the current three (https://www.eleconomista.es/salud/noticias/12894855/07/24/el-gobierno-lowers-the-muface-agreement-to-two-years-and-revolts-the-insurers.html)

• Private healthcare
  • Established the National Forum of doctors in private practice (https://gacetamedica.com/profesion/constituido-el-foro-nacional-de-medicos-en-ejercicio-privado/#:~:text=El%20Foro%20Nacional %20of%20doctors%20in%20exercise%20private%20has%20stayed,and%20of%20action%20of%20Forum.)

Companies

• International News
  • Aging is the new horizon for investors. In 2050, 16% of the population will be over 65 years old, up from 9% today. In the United States and Europe this figure will be 27%. Healthcare is an obvious beneficiary. The universe reaches to pharma, implants and devices and services related to dental and eye care. Aside from treatments, financial services and hospital providers will play a greater role. (https://www.ft.com/content/380ccba9-1801-4be5-9d33-e46abab6ec15)
  • The FDA approves Lilly’s new drug (Kinsula, scientifically donanemab) against early Alzheimer’s. Lilly enters that market after Biogen and Eisai. The drug slows the development of Alzheimer’s, which causes memory loss, dementia and other cognitive impairments. The price will be $32,000 per year of treatment, 20% more than its rival Leqembi. Both treatments act on amyloid plaque in the brain (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/health/alzheimers-treatment-kisunla-donanemab.html)
  • Moderna secures a partial victory in the patent fight for the covid vaccine. According to the ruling of a London court, both Pfizer and BioNTech infringed intellectual property. The three companies disagree with the ruling and are going to appeal (https://www.ft.com/content/c57bc08f-50b3-42ef-ad44-4d592b189ce7)
  • MSD obtains a new indication in the USA for the best-selling drug in the world (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/msd-obtiene-una-nueva-indicacion-en-estados-unidos-para-el-farmaco-best-seller-in-the-world#:~:text=from%20mundo%20%7C%20PlantaTwelve-,MSD%20gets%20a%20new%20indication%20in%20States%20United%20for%20the,endometrium%20p)
  • GSK signs $1.4 billion mRNA vaccine deal with Curevac (https://www.ft.com/content/9974696e-ab2c-497b-853a-ee81f949e356)

• National
  • Rovi will manufacture Moderna’s respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/observatorios/sanidad/20240702/rovi-fabricara-vacuna-virus-respiratorio-sincitial-moderna/867163391_0.html#:~:text=The%20agreement%20signed%20between%20both,Moderna%20a%20EL%20ESPAÑOL%2DInvertia.)
  • The American biopharmaceutical company Dr. Ferrer arrives in Spain (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/la-biofarmaceutica-americana-dr-ferrer-desembarca-en-espana#:~:text=La%20filial%20en%20Spain%20de,de%20Salamanca%20de%20the%20capital.)
  • HM Hospitals grows 50% in billing in 2023 and exceeds 650 million (http://www.diariomedico.com/medicina/empresas/hm-hospitales-crece-cerca-50-facturacion-2023.html#:~:text=The%20group%20grows%20in%20activity,the%20University%20Camilo%20José%20Cela.)
  • Bionorica, a leading German pharmaceutical company, arrives in Spain (https://www.consalud.es/consalud-tv/bionorica-farmaceutica-alemana-lider-espana-entrevista-marco-linari_145939_102.html)
  • Mutual Médica records 8 million euros of net profit (https://www.plantadoce.com/empresa/mutual-medica-anota-8-millones-de-euros-de-beneficio-neto#:~:text=Mutual%20Medical%20has%20obtained%20one,two%20million%20regarding%20a%202022.)