Medical Bulletin 03/August/2026

• The FDA has approved Moderna’s mFlusiva, marking the first time a licensed influenza vaccine has been developed using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. • This approval represents a significant milestone for mRNA, a platform that gained global prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic but has faced scrutiny from vaccine skeptics.

• An FDA advisory panel has recommended the use of an experimental Replimune treatment for advanced melanoma, despite the agency having rejected the drug twice previously. • Rising oil prices driven by the conflict with Iran have sparked industry concerns regarding the vulnerability of essential medicine supply chains to price volatility.

• Gilead Sciences has successfully won a legal case regarding its HIV medication, securing a favorable ruling for the company. • Eli Lilly announced plans to expand patient access to retatrutide, a promising weight-loss and metabolic drug currently in development.

• The FDA has proposed a new hub-and-spoke manufacturing registration rule and approved three new drugs targeting bladder cancer, IgA nephropathy, and multiple myeloma. • A key industry trend highlighted is the shift from intravenous biologics to subcutaneous injectables to reduce patient infusion times and increase clinic capacity.

• Researcher Eric Verdin is studying experimental drugs, specifically GLP-1 medications, to determine if they can extend human life and mimic the benefits of calorie restriction. • While calorie restriction is known to improve lifespan and reduce age-related diseases, many individuals struggle to maintain the strict diets required to achieve these results.

• Two people in Michigan have died following a cyclospora outbreak, marking the first confirmed fatalities related to the microscopic parasite in the United States. • State health officials noted that while cyclosporiasis is rarely life-threatening, these deaths involved individuals with significant underlying health conditions.

• Pharmacy Times and the American College of Physicians have introduced new digital tools, including a dedicated iPad app for the internal medicine journal. • The Annals of Internal Medicine app provides practitioners with research, guidelines, and access to 12 months of archived journal issues.

• Since the initial reporting of the novel coronavirus, medical understanding of Covid-19 has evolved significantly regarding transmission and prevention. • In December 2020, the US FDA granted emergency use authorization to Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines after clinical trials showed over 90% effectiveness.

• Researchers have discovered that genetic factors may determine why certain individuals suffer more significant brain damage from chronic sleep deprivation than others. • A preliminary study suggests that the lycopene and antioxidants in tomatoes may reduce oxidative stress and improve liver fat metabolism in people with MASLD.

• Betting platforms Kalshi and Polymarket now allow users to wager on whether the FDA will approve treatments for lung, breast, pancreas, and blood cancers this year. • Kalshi intends to expand its offerings by allowing users to bet on the specific outcomes of clinical drug trials.

• Since the initial reporting of Covid-19, medical understanding has evolved significantly regarding the virus's behavior and the effectiveness of countermeasures. • In December 2020, the US FDA granted emergency use authorization to Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines after clinical trials demonstrated over 90% efficacy in preventing symptomatic disease.