Time

• FDA advisers voted to ease restrictions on popular peptides, potentially allowing specialized pharmacies to produce these compounds within the United States. • The decision comes despite agency concerns that these peptides lack the large, well-controlled human clinical trials required to establish safety and effectiveness for formal drug approval.

• Researchers have identified a new compound that may enhance muscle regeneration in older adults, potentially offering a way to repair aging muscles. • In a separate study, scientists are investigating the role of GDF15 levels in determining why some women develop Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) while others do not.

• MannKind announced that the FDA has approved Furoscix ReadyFlow, an autoinjector form of the diuretic furosemide designed to provide IV-equivalent therapy for adults with chronic kidney disease or heart failure. • Merck agreed to permit the production of generics for alimatravir, an investigational once-monthly HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis pill, specifically for low-income nations that approve the drug.

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) delayed the enforcement of a critical policy intended to improve the tracking and removal of contaminated foods prior to a cyclosporiasis outbreak. • This policy failure specifically impacted the ability to monitor and recall dangerous produce, including iceberg lettuce, which is often linked to such outbreaks.

• The United States is experiencing its highest number of measles cases in decades, driven largely by a decline in vaccination rates. • Because the vaccine was historically so effective, there has been little medical or financial incentive to develop pharmaceutical treatments for the virus.

• Researchers have developed an experimental antiviral pill that successfully prevented a measles-like virus from spreading via air or close contact in ferrets. • The drug proved effective when administered shortly before or after exposure, while also reducing the duration of illness and the window of contagiousness.

• A new study suggests that lifestyle modifications, including regular exercise and healthy eating, may slow the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). • The research indicates that exercise and meal timing can protect the liver by switching off a harmful molecular pathway.

• A new drug called daraxonrasib has been shown to double survival rates for metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. • The drug reduces the risk of death by 60 percent for patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer, marking significant progress in treating the disease.

• Trust in key U.S. health agencies, including the NIH and FDA, has plummeted to all-time lows following the COVID-19 pandemic. • Confidence in the CDC's ability to perform its core responsibilities has dropped by nearly 40% since the start of the pandemic.

• On 28 April 2026, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Health Research Authority introduced the most significant package of clinical trial reforms in over 20 years. • The legislative changes aim to accelerate the setup of low-risk trials and streamline the process for making modifications to existing studies.

• Merck is establishing voluntary licensing agreements to enable the wide-scale production of its experimental HIV prevention pill in lower-income countries. • The company is pursuing these partnerships while the drug is still undergoing two late-stage clinical trials to accelerate future availability.