Medical Bulletin 14/August/2026

• The FDA has approved mFLUSIVA, a new mRNA-based flu vaccine designed to provide enhanced protection for older adults. • Clinical trials demonstrated the vaccine is highly effective in preventing serious illness for adults aged 50 to 64, with accelerated approval granted for those 65 and older.

• Helus Pharma reported its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, ending June 30, 2026, alongside key business updates. • The company appointed former Intra-Cellular Therapies President Michael Halstead as CEO to oversee late-stage development and future commercialization efforts.

• A new executive order regarding childhood vaccines has been issued, alongside the appointment of a permanent director for the CDC to fill a year-long vacancy. • The FDA has approved the first mRNA-based flu vaccine, while the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its official recommendations for the upcoming flu season.

• Associate Professor Damali Campbell-Oparali of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is addressing the systemic drivers behind maternal health disparities affecting Black mothers. • The discussion focuses on the specific challenges Black women navigate during pregnancy and the postpartum period to identify gaps in care.

• A new study published June 2, 2026, reveals that the type of dietary fat consumed significantly impacts pancreatic cancer progression. • Researchers discovered that oleic acid, primarily found in olive oil, helped reduce the disease by half, while other fats promoted tumor growth.

• Prescriptions for leucovorin surged in the US following a September 2025 White House press conference that suggested the drug as a treatment for autism. • A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) highlights that this increase occurred despite a lack of supporting clinical data for such use.

• New research from France suggests that stopping cholesterol-lowering statins at age 75 may be harmless for patients with no history of cardiovascular disease. • A separate Duke University study confirms that the real-world safety and effectiveness of the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab (Leqembi) align with its original clinical trial data.

• Helus Pharma has released its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 and shared recent business updates. • The company appointed Michael Halstead, the former President of Intra-Cellular Therapies, as its new Chief Executive Officer.

• Donald Trump has issued orders directing the Department of Justice to target states and localities whose childhood immunization rules conflict with parental authority, religious freedom, and medical exemptions. • The orders include a call for the CDC to revise its vaccine recommendations to align with those of other developed nations and revive claims linking vaccines to autism, despite scientific refutation.

• Indian scientists have developed light-driven nanobots designed to enhance the treatment of breast cancer. • These nanobots are activated by near-infrared (NIR) light and respond to specific biological triggers, including glutathione levels and pH.

• The CDC has reported over 24,000 cases of cyclosporiasis across 47 states, linked to an outbreak caused by contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce. • The illness is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a unicellular parasite that leads to an intestinal infection in humans.