‘Not another Trump sycophant’: Democrats blast Trump’s nomination of Heidi Overton for FDA chief – live | US politics

• Merck and Moderna announced that their Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial met primary endpoints for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in patients with completely resected stage IIB-IV melanoma. • The study found that combining KEYTRUDA with intismeran autogene—an mRNA-based individualized neoantigen therapy tailored to a patient's specific tumor mutations—provided statistically significant improvements over using KEYTRUDA alone.

• NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE American: NNVC) announced on August 18, 2026, that it will soon begin a Phase II clinical trial for NV-387 oral gummies. • The trial aims to treat the Bundibugyo Ebola virus during what is described as the largest and most rapidly expanding outbreak to date in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• The FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health released a discussion paper on Tuesday regarding the future of generative AI-enabled medical devices. • The agency is seeking early input from stakeholders to inform potential regulatory frameworks for these emerging technologies.

• Saloni Dattani and Works in Progress examine the current state of medical progress and the systemic barriers hindering the development of new treatments. • The authors highlight that the process of running clinical trials has become increasingly slow and complicated, requiring rigorous successive stages of data collection.

• NanoViricides, Inc. (NASDAQ:NNVC) has announced the launch of a Phase II clinical trial for NV-387, an oral gummy treatment designed to combat Ebola viruses. • The trial is being conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and is led by Prof. Patrick Katoto, a distinguished researcher and Fogarty Fellow.

• Measles cases are reaching record highs as immunization rates drop across various parts of the United States. • Health officials warn that measles is one of the most contagious diseases in history and is typically the first to resurface when vaccine coverage declines.

• The FDA has approved a novel regimen featuring iberdomide, a cereblon E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD), for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). • The treatment, used in combination with daratumumab and dexamethasone, is specifically effective for patients who have previously failed immunomodulatory drugs like lenalidomide and pomalidomide.

• NanoViricides has received regulatory approval to launch a Phase II clinical trial for NV-387 oral gummies to treat Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. • The trial aims to combat the current outbreak, which is described as the largest and most expanding in the region's history.

• A new systematic review and meta-analysis of 720,000 adults has linked the consumption of artificial sweeteners to an increased risk of developing diabetes. • Separately, a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition indicates that cocoa polyphenols may enhance brain health by improving mood, blood flow, and the gut-brain axis.

• Recent research highlights the efficacy of GLP-1 medications, specifically semaglutide, in improving liver scarring for patients with advanced MASH and early cirrhosis. • A Mayo Clinic study identified a distinct biological subtype of obesity that responds more effectively to tirzepatide, a medication mimicking two appetite and blood sugar hormones.

• Doctors are distancing themselves from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to an ethics dispute regarding drug trial designs during an Ebola emergency. • The outbreak in eastern DRC since April has infected over 4,587 people and caused 2,130 deaths, including at least 151 healthcare workers by August 1.