Month in pharma news, explained – May 2026 - EMJ GOLD

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently operating the RECOVER initiative to understand, prevent, and treat long COVID. • The program uses observational studies tracking thousands of people and clinical trials to test interventions for cognitive issues, severe fatigue, and sleep abnormalities.

• Stuff analyzed government policy documents and coalition agreements to track which health system promises were kept, partially kept, or broken. • The government achieved its goal to require the Ministry of Health to publish a new Medicines Strategy every three years.

• The CEO of Helus Pharma will participate in a virtual mental-health summit on September 23. • The event will be a fireside chat webcast live at 9 a.m. EDT and later posted to the company's investor relations website.

• Helus Pharma presented new analyses of its HLP003 drug candidate for Major Depressive Disorder at Psych Congress 2026. • The company used poster presentations to detail the clinical profile of HLP003 and its Phase 3 PARADIGM program for adjunctive treatment.

• Helus Pharma presented new Phase 1/2a study data for its major depressive disorder candidate, HLP003, at Psych Congress 2026. • The company shared results regarding HLP003 and its broader program of NSAs, which are non-selective antidepressants.

• Zealand Pharma received a positive recommendation from the European Union's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use on Friday for its drug candidate Zeydovio. • The drug is designed to treat short bowel syndrome, a condition where the intestines are too short to absorb enough nutrients.

• Replimune received approval for Tudriqev, a medication delivered directly to tumors to treat cancer. • This localized delivery approach is also used by Amgen’s Imlygic to target therapeutics specifically at tumor sites.

• Cue Biopharma announced positive results from a Phase 2 clinical trial of its CUE-221 treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria, a condition causing chronic hives. • The trial results demonstrated that the drug achieved significant efficacy and maintained a favorable safety profile for patients.

• Clinicians are raising alarms over the sale of direct-to-consumer emergency kits that contain prescription drugs and antibiotics. • These kits allow individuals to purchase potent medications without a doctor's oversight or a valid prescription.

• A survey of Alberta healthcare workers revealed that many staff members experienced coercion and moral injury resulting from COVID-19 vaccine mandates. • The findings highlight the psychological impact on medical professionals who felt forced to comply with mandates to maintain their employment.

• The World Health Organization recognized a historic achievement in the global effort to stop dog-transmitted rabies through vaccination and surveillance. • WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus credited the success to more than five decades of sustained investment in public health.

• Xenon Pharmaceuticals paused new patient enrollment in clinical trials for its experimental major and bipolar depression drug on Thursday. • The company halted the studies following reports of side effects related to the mental and nervous system.