'Don't use them': Tanning beds triple skin cancer risk, study finds

medicalxpress - When Heidi Tarr was a teenager, she used a tanning bed several times a week with her friends because they all wanted to glow like a celebrity.

AI Summary: Recent studies warn that using tanning beds dramatically increases skin cancer risk—one report shows a threefold surge in risk while another links tanning to significant skin mutations and melanoma. Experts urge consumers to steer clear and embrace safer alternatives.

HHS targets information-blocking, certification cuts in new rule

Naomi Diaz / beckershospitalreview - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Dec. 22 proposed a rule that would significantly reduce federal health IT certification requirements, revise information-blocking policies and establish a framework to support AI-enabled interoperability…

AI Summary: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has proposed a sweeping new rule aimed at slashing nearly 34 of the existing 60 health IT certification requirements. The move is designed to curb information blocking and reduce administrative burdens, signaling a major policy shift for healthcare technology.

19 states, DC sue HHS over gender-affirming care restrictions

Kristin Kuchno / beckershospitalreview - A coalition of 19 states and Washington, D.C., have filed a lawsuit challenging a declaration from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that threatens to cut off federal funding to hospitals that provide certain gender-affirming care to minors. Here are se…

AI Summary: A coalition of 19 states and Washington D.C. has filed lawsuits against HHS, challenging recent regulatory moves that could restrict access to gender‑affirming care for youth. The legal battle highlights rising state-level resistance aimed at protecting transgender healthcare rights amidst intense political debate.

Sanofi buys hepatitis B vaccine maker Dynavax for $2.2B; gets CRL for MS drug

Elizabeth Cairns / endpoints - Sanofi is set to supplement its vaccine offering with the acquisition of Dynavax Technologies for $2.2 billion in cash, the companies said Wednesday. Separately, Sanofi said the ...

AI Summary: Two separate reports confirm that Sanofi has completed a $2.2 billion deal to acquire Dynavax Technologies. This strategic move strengthens Sanofi’s vaccine lineup by adding a commercially proven hepatitis B vaccine and a clinical‐stage shingles candidate, positioning the company for enhanced market competitiveness amid global pressures.

Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy Pill Becomes First FDA-Approved Oral GLP-1 Drug for Weight Loss

Frank Vinluan / medcitynews - Beyond weight reduction and long-term maintenance of weight loss, the FDA decision for oral Wegovy covers use of the once-daily pill for reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events. Novo Nordisk expects the Wegovy tablet will launch in early January.…

AI Summary: The FDA has given its nod to Novo Nordisk’s oral GLP‑1 receptor agonist for chronic weight management – a historic first for an anti‑obesity pill. The approval offers patients a non‑injectable alternative, potentially transforming obesity care in a market hungry for innovation.

Medline raises IPO to $6.3B

Ella Jeffries / beckershospitalreview - Medline priced its upsized initial public offering at $29 per share for 216,034,482 shares of Class A common stock, according to a Dec. 16 news release from the company. Shares are expected to begin trading Dec. 17 on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under…

AI Summary: Medline’s initial public offering has burst onto the market with a valuation around $6.3B, making it one of the year’s largest healthcare IPOs. The debut has generated significant investor buzz and underscores a strong current of market confidence in the company’s prospects.

FDA Approved Rucaparib for BRCA-Mutated Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

oncodaily - On December 17, 2025, the FDA issued a regular approval for rucaparib (Rubraca®), marking the formal conversion of its earlier accelerated authorization into full approval for BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate […]

AI Summary: The FDA has granted full approval to rucaparib (Rubraca®) for treating adults with BRCA‐mutated metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer, converting its prior accelerated approval into standard approval. This landmark decision offers a new treatment option for patients with this genetic profile.

FDA Removes Key Limitation on the Use of Real-World Evidence in Regulatory Reviews

oncodaily - On December 15, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a significant update to its regulatory approach regarding the use of real-world evidence (RWE) in drug and medical […]

AI Summary: The FDA has dramatically loosened its long‐standing limitations on the use of real‐world evidence in regulatory reviews, signaling an era where big data may facilitate quicker approvals for innovative drugs. Officials are also urging early-phase trials reform to better capture real‐world outcomes.

House floats new healthcare bill after Senate proposals fail

Andrew Cass / beckershospitalreview - House Republicans have unveiled new healthcare legislation in the wake of votes in the Senate that failed to pass bills addressing expiring ACA enhanced subsidies. Seven things to know: 1. The House Republicans’ proposal does not extend the subsidies that…

AI Summary: House Republicans have introduced new legislation aimed at containing rising healthcare costs after recent Senate proposals failed. Notably, the bill deliberately excludes any extension of ACA subsidies or changes to health savings accounts, signaling a distinctly partisan approach that is already stirring debate on its future impact.

Diarrhea and stomachaches plagued Roman soldiers stationed at Hadrian's Wall, discovery of microscopic parasites finds

livescience - Analysis of latrine sediments at the Roman fort of Vindolanda has revealed that at least three parasites were widespread among Roman soldiers.

AI Summary: Archaeologists analyzing latrine sediments at Hadrian’s Wall have uncovered clear evidence that Roman soldiers suffered from parasitic infections which led to diarrhea and stomach pain. These findings illuminate the daily sanitary challenges of ancient military life and underscore the hardships of maintaining health in large, mobile armies.

CMS proposes new price transparency rules

Madeline Ashley / beckershospitalreview - President Donald Trump’s administration proposed significant updates Dec. 19 to healthcare price transparency rules to help make costs more “clear, accurate and actionable for Americans.” The proposal, shared by CMS, in partnership with the labor and the …

AI Summary: The Trump administration has proposed significant updates to CMS’s price transparency regulations, aiming to make healthcare pricing data more accessible and actionable for patients and payers by enforcing clearer disclosures and enhanced oversight.

CMS creates office to oversee rural health funding

Andrew Cass / beckershospitalreview - CMS has created an office focused on rural health transformation initiatives. The Office of Rural Health Transformation will oversee the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, according to an announcement published in the Federal Register. The p…

AI Summary: CMS has established a dedicated office to oversee rural health transformation initiatives—including managing a $50 billion funding program—to improve healthcare access in underserved areas through targeted policy reforms and more effective oversight.

ChristianaCare, Virtua Health call off $6.3B merger plans

fiercehealthcare - ChristianaCare and Virtua Health have pulled the plug on their merger plans, jettisoning a deal that would have created a health system with a combined $6.3 billion in annual revenue.

AI Summary: Providers ChristianaCare and Virtua Health have abruptly halted merger discussions for a deal valued at $6.3 billion. Officials argue that operating independently will better serve their local communities, even if joining forces might have promised a blockbuster scale – proving once again that sometimes size isn’t everything.

Pakistan begins last anti-polio vaccination drive of the year after surge in new cases

medicalxpress - Pakistani authorities on Monday launched the final nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign of the year, aiming to protect 45 million children after more than two dozen cases of the potentially paralyzing disease were reported, officials said.

AI Summary: Pakistani authorities have launched the final nationwide anti‐polio vaccination campaign of 2025, aiming to protect 45 million children after a recent surge in cases. Despite longstanding debates about booster efforts, officials insist it’s high time to stamp out the poliovirus once and for all.

Optum Rx: 100% of network community pharmacies shift to cost-based model

fiercehealthcare - Earlier this year, Optum Rx announced that it would shift to a cost-based model, which would boost reimbursements for brand-name drugs at community pharmacies.

AI Summary: In a significant payment model overhaul, Optum Rx has moved 100% of its community and independent pharmacies to a cost‐based model, a change aimed at aligning reimbursements with actual expenses and enhancing pharmacy viability in a challenging market.

CDC Ends Universal Hepatitis B Newborn Vaccination

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has officially rescinded its long‐standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth. The change reflects new evidence and a shift toward individualized risk‐based immunization protocols, prompting hospitals and pediatricians nationwide to adjust their preventive strategies accordingly.

Ronan Kelly: Christine Handy’s Award-Winning Breast Cancer Film Premieres in Dallas

oncodaily - Ronan Kelly, Director of Precision Medicine and Scientific Discovery at Baylor University Medical Center, shared a post on LinkedIn: “It was a privilege to meet Christine Handy, executive producer of […]

AI Summary: A recent CDC analysis has reinforced the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in pediatric care, demonstrating a significant reduction in emergency department and urgent care visits among vaccinated children during the first six months post-vaccination. These findings underscore the critical role of vaccines in safeguarding child health and supporting public health policy.

Carolyn Bertozzi Returns to Eli Lilly and Company Board of Directors 2025

oncodaily - Eli Lilly and Company has announced the election of Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Ph.D., as a returning member of its Board of Directors, effective December 8, 2025. In her renewed role, […]

AI Summary: Eli Lilly has announced the return of renowned scientist Carolyn Bertozzi to its Board of Directors. Her comeback underscores the company’s commitment to a research‐intensive strategy and reinforces its focus on cutting–edge oncology and other therapeutic innovations.

FDA approves 1st gene therapy for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

Ella Jeffries / beckershospitalreview - The FDA has approved Waskyra (etuvetidigene autotemcel), the first gene therapy for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare and life-threatening immune disorder. Waskyra is indicated for pediatric patients 6 months and older, as well as adults with Wiskott-Aldri…

AI Summary: In a landmark decision, the FDA approved Waskyra – the first gene therapy for Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome – offering new hope for patients with this rare and life‐threatening immune disorder. The agency’s flexible approach in handling rare disease treatments marks a turning point in precision medicine.