FDA Clears First Generic Baloxavir for Influenza Treatment, Postexposure Prophylaxis

• On April 1, 2026, the FDA approved Foundayo (orforglipron) for adults struggling with obesity or overweight conditions associated with medical problems. • Developed by Eli Lilly and Co, Foundayo is the first non-peptide oral GLP-1 receptor agonist approved by the FDA for this indication.

• Researchers have identified specific blood biomarkers that can indicate the metabolic impact and consumption levels of ultra-processed foods. • A separate study highlights that moderate, chronic sleep deprivation significantly contributes to weight gain and increases the risk of obesity-related conditions.

• The PARTNERS trial has begun enrolling patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to scientifically determine effective treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease. • This initiative is a joint collaboration between the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, and Oxford's Pandemic Sciences Institute.

• GlobalRPH has released a medical news summary for clinicians covering the period from June 29 to July 5, 2026. • A primary focus of this week's update is the shifting geography of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across the United States.

• The Department of Health and Social Care is launching pioneering pilot schemes to allow NHS patients to access cutting-edge medicines months earlier than previously possible. • New funding and a dedicated commissioner have been appointed to improve the safety, fairness, and consistency of maternity and neonatal care across England.

• Stanford Medicine specialists have issued a warning regarding the rising use of cannabis among adults over 65, noting that modern marijuana is significantly more potent than in the past. • The experts highlighted five specific risks associated with cannabis use in older populations, suggesting that the potential dangers may currently be underestimated.

• Health Canada has issued a warning to physicians advising them not to start new patients on the prescription medication TAVNEOS. • The agency is currently reviewing the drug's evidence after concerns were raised regarding the integrity of data from its key clinical trial.

• A federal judge has issued a temporary block on Colorado's first-in-the-nation prescription drug payment cap. • The ruling provides an early legal victory for the pharmaceutical company Amgen, which challenged the policy.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched participant enrollment for the PARTNERS clinical trial to investigate targeted treatments for the Bundibugyo virus. • This specific strain of the Ebola virus is responsible for the current outbreak, yet there are currently no approved preventive vaccines or targeted treatments available.

• An international clinical trial has launched to evaluate potential treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) as patient enrollment begins. • Sponsored by the WHO and coordinated by partners in the DRC, Belgium, and the UK, the study responds to an outbreak in the DRC where over 1,400 people have been diagnosed.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the end of the hantavirus outbreak that was linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. • While the hantavirus threat has subsided, the WHO issued a critical warning regarding an escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).