Vinay Prasad: Public health in this country is so broken

• The rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is influencing the food industry, prompting restaurants to adjust both food and beverage offerings to meet changing consumer habits. • Health officials are tracking a growing outbreak of Cyclosporiasis, which has already resulted in hundreds of hospitalizations across the United States.

• Moderna and Merck announced on August 19, 2026, that their personalized mRNA vaccine, intismeran autogene, successfully passed a late-stage clinical trial. • The vaccine was used in combination with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda to effectively reduce the recurrence of melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

• Preparations for the 2026-2027 vaccine season are underway, marked by major industry acquisitions and a critical upcoming FDA panel vote. • New data on influenza vaccine effectiveness is being analyzed, though experts warn that real-time tracking of variant evolution is becoming increasingly difficult.

• Merck and Moderna reported that their experimental cancer "vaccine" successfully slowed the progression of melanoma. • The report also examines and dissects the trial strategies employed by Chinese researchers following recent patient deaths.

• A New York Times report highlights that the rise of cheap, potent synthetic drugs like fentanyl has significantly increased dealer profits and heightened risks for drug users. • A cross-sectional study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that the way patients phrase messages in patient portals may trigger clinician bias.

• Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine found that a 4-day course of a mycelium-based fungal supplement reduced adverse reactions in COVID-naive vaccine recipients. • According to a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT04951336) published in BMC Immunology, the supplement also helped sustain antibody levels for up to 6 months.

• A multinational study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases reveals that drug-resistant hospital infections in Asia are substantial and likely underestimated, especially in low- and middle-income countries. • The report highlights a critical public health crisis where antimicrobial resistance complicates treatment and increases mortality rates across the region.

• President Trump and HHS Secretary Kennedy have implemented sweeping health policy reforms over the last 555 days to combat the chronic disease epidemic and revitalize public health. • Key achievements include securing pledges from insurers, medical societies, and providers to improve national behavioral health quality and best practices.

• The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has issued a new position statement urging specialist medical colleges to increase the transparency of their fees. • This move aims to provide patients with clearer information regarding the costs associated with specialist medical services.

• Pulnovo Medical has enrolled the first two U.S. patients in its PULSE-LHD clinical trial at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. • The trial is conducted under an FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) to evaluate pulmonary artery denervation for treating pulmonary hypertension associated with left heart disease.

• Medical experts are highlighting that knee osteoarthritis is not inevitable and can be prevented or managed through specific everyday lifestyle adjustments. • Researchers have identified a metabolic pathway involving the conversion of isoleucine and valine into propionyl-CoA that may contribute to hormone therapy resistance in prostate cancer.