Trump Administration’s N.I.H. and F.D.A. Cuts Could Curtail New Drug Development, Budget Office Says

New data reveals that health insurance companies are increasingly rejecting claims for prescription medications, leaving more patients to shoulder the full cost. The trend appears to be accelerating, with denials spanning everything from routine drugs to life-saving treatments. Experts suggest insurers are tightening approval processes to cut costs, but critics argue it’s putting patients in impossible financial and medical binds.

A startup called Truemed, led by a former aide to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is offering tax breaks for unconventional purchases like meat and mattresses—claiming they qualify as medical expenses. The company argues these items are "health investments," but critics question whether this stretches IRS rules too far.

This piece rounds up the latest chatter in the healthcare sector, spotlighting big players like GSK and Novartis, as well as niche firms like Sarepta Therapeutics. It’s a snapshot of what’s moving the needle—whether it’s drug trials, earnings, or market shifts—without diving too deep into any one topic. Think of it as a quick coffee-break update for investors or industry watchers.

The Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts to the National Institutes of Health (N.I.H.) and the Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) could slow down the development of new drugs, according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office. These agencies play a key role in funding research and ensuring drug safety, so reducing their budgets might mean fewer breakthroughs and longer waits for life-saving treatments.

The FDA is taking another look at the warnings slapped on hormone therapy for menopause—warnings that, over the years, have scared many women away from a treatment that might actually ease their symptoms. The panel isn’t saying the warnings were wrong, but they’re questioning whether the risks were oversold, leaving some women to tough it out unnecessarily.

Editor’s Note: Menopause symptoms can be brutal—hot flashes, mood swings, sleep problems—and hormone therapy used to be a go-to fix. Then, decades ago, studies linked it to higher risks of cancer and heart disease, leading to strict warnings. But medicine evolves, and newer research suggests the risks might not be as dire for many women. If the FDA softens these warnings, it could mean more options (and relief) for women who’ve been hesitant—or even unaware—that hormone therapy might be a safe choice for them. It’s not a green light for everyone, but it’s a sign that the conversation is finally catching up to the science.