Health Equity & Access Weekly Roundup: June 5, 2026

• Former President Trump signed an executive order in April titled “Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness” to fast-track research and drug approvals for psychedelic-assisted therapy. • The order aims to increase clinical trial participation and explore innovative research models to treat serious mental health conditions.

• A landmark week in oncology saw pivotal data released for lung, prostate, bladder, and haematological cancers, alongside major capital investments in AI drug discovery, RNA therapeutics, and gene editing. • New data for embolisation-eligible hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) showed a 30% incremental improvement over TACE, though overall survival (OS) data remains immature.

• An experimental drug called daraxonrasib demonstrated a significant survival benefit for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer in a global Phase 3 clinical trial. • The study involving 500 patients showed that those receiving daraxonrasib had a median overall survival of 13.2 months, nearly double the 6.7 months seen in the standard chemotherapy group.

• Merck & Co. is considering the use of molnupiravir, an antiviral drug previously authorized for COVID-19 treatment, to combat a worsening Ebola outbreak in central Africa. • The move comes as governments and health authorities struggle to respond to the escalating public health crisis in the region.

• The Africa CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a joint continental response plan to combat an Ebola outbreak. • Running from June to November 2026, the initiative seeks to raise US$ 518 million to fund rapid detection, clinical care, and emergency coordination.

• UK scientists from the University of Oxford and biotechnology firm Basecamp Research have launched human trials for the world's first AI-designed vaccine. • The vaccine targets Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a potentially fatal viral disease primarily transmitted to humans via tick bites.

• A rapidly widening epidemic of the Bundibugyo virus, a rare type of Ebola, is currently spreading across Africa. • A World Health Organization (W.H.O.) expert panel has recommended two monoclonal antibodies, maftimivab (by Regeneron) and MBP-134 (by Mapp Bio), for urgent clinical trials.

• A proposed White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rule threatens research by using PEPFAR as a justification to increase political oversight of federal grantmaking. • Vaccine development is accelerating in response to the growing Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak to mitigate the spread of the virus.

• Exelixis, Inc. announced positive results from a subgroup analysis of the phase 3 CABINET pivotal trial on May 30, 2026. • The trial demonstrated that CABOMETYX (cabozantinib) provided significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to a placebo for patients treating neuroendocrine tumors (NET).

• The FDA has approved the oral antiviral ensitrelvir (Xocova), developed by Shionogi & Co, Ltd, for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) of COVID-19. • The treatment is authorized for use in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older to prevent symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Researchers, including Dr. Paul Bollyky of Stanford Medical Center, are struggling to secure funding and infrastructure to develop vaccines and treatments for the hantavirus. • The lack of medical countermeasures was highlighted during a recent hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, where no preventative tools were available.