Viewpoints: Stop Tiptoeing Around It — The US Has Already Lost Its Measles Status; Despite Fearmongering, Sunscreen Is Safe - KFF Health News

• On June 22, the FDA announced several initiatives to accelerate both early- and late-stage drug development as part of the Department of Health and Human Services' "Operation TrailBlazer." • A key component is a new drug pilot program designed to shorten the timeline between initial drug identification and first-in-human clinical studies.

• The FDA has placed psilocybin and an MDMA-like drug on an accelerated 1-to-2 month approval track, potentially making psilocybin the first FDA-approved psychedelic therapy. • This fast-track process follows a Trump executive order and the use of priority review vouchers, with full approval possible by late 2026.

• A Salmonella outbreak linked to moringa leaf supplements has expanded to 119 reported cases across 36 U.S. states as of May 2026. • Health officials have issued warnings and multiple brands have recalled affected products to prevent further infections.

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a policy direction to reclassify 14 specific peptides, though the exact regulatory mechanics are still being finalized. • The current challenge is that none of these 14 peptides have undergone the formal FDA approval process, which requires phase 1 through 3 clinical trials and manufacturing validation.

• Early-stage research indicates that GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro, may reduce the risk of developing certain cancers. • Data shows that patients with liver, breast, colorectal, or lung cancer using these drugs were 38% to 50% less likely to progress to stage 4 disease.

• A new four-week clinical trial has established that daily L-tyrosine supplementation is safe and well-tolerated for healthy adults. • Researchers monitored a comprehensive range of health markers, including liver and kidney function, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and blood amino acid concentrations.

• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed making Medicare drug price negotiations permanent starting June 12, 2026, to lower prescription costs for Americans. • Separate health data from FAIR Health for Q1 2026 reveals that mental health is the leading telehealth diagnosis across all U.S. age groups and regions, affecting 52.1% of patients.

• Biotech companies including Soligenix, Moderna, Regeneron, and Aethlon Medical are accelerating the development of vaccines and therapeutics to combat a global outbreak of Bundibugyo ebolavirus in 2026. • Regeneron's maftivimab, a potent antibody found in the FDA-approved Inmazeb, has been recommended by the WHO's Therapeutics Advisory Group for use in clinical trials.

• CMS has released new physician guidance regarding the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program, creating a potential pathway for weight management medication coverage. • This program bypasses the long-standing federal law that has excluded Medicare Part D coverage for drugs used solely for weight loss.

• On June 2, 2026, the FDA approved ensitrelvir for the post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in patients aged 12 years and older. • The regulatory decision follows positive results from phase 3 clinical trials, confirming the drug's efficacy in this demographic.

• The CDC is currently responding to Ebola disease outbreaks occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. • The agency has issued specific health guidance and monitoring information for travelers returning to the United States from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan.