Inside the Collapse of the F.D.A.

A theatre company in Cornwall has scored almost £20,000 in funding to gather and share local women’s stories about menopause—turning personal experiences into art.

Editor’s Note: Menopause is often whispered about or ignored, but this project flips the script. By giving women a creative platform to share their stories, it not only validates their experiences but also helps break the stigma. Plus, it’s a win for local arts—proving small companies can tackle big, meaningful topics with the right support.

Big Pharma player Merck is shelling out around $10 billion to snap up Verona Pharma, a smaller biotech firm. This isn’t just a random shopping spree—Merck’s blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda is about to lose its patent protection in 2028, opening the floodgates to cheaper generics. The deal gives Merck a fresh pipeline of potential drugs to help fill that looming revenue gap.

Editor’s Note: When a drug as huge as Keytruda (which brought in $25 billion last year alone) faces generic competition, it’s a five-alarm fire for the company behind it. Merck’s move shows they’re not just sitting around waiting for the cliff—they’re betting big on new treatments to keep their edge. For patients, it could mean more options down the line, but for investors, it’s all about whether this $10B gamble pays off.

This piece is part of a regular health care market update, spotlighting key players like Chinese pharma firms and eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica. Think of it as a quick snapshot of who’s moving, shaking, or stumbling in the sector—no deep dives, just highlights for investors and industry watchers.

Editor’s Note: If you’re tracking health care stocks or global industry shifts, these bite-sized updates help connect dots without wading through dense reports. China’s pharma scene is always worth a glance (regulatory waves, innovation races), and EssilorLuxottica’s moves hint at broader trends in med-tech and consumer health. Handy for staying nimble in a fast-moving sector.

The national suicide prevention hotline is cutting ties with the Trevor Project, a major provider of LGBTQ+ youth counseling services. This move, pushed by the Trump administration, leaves queer advocates in Los Angeles—and across the country—grappling with concerns about where vulnerable young people will turn for support. It’s another blow to a community already facing heightened risks.

Editor’s Note: Suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth are alarmingly high, and specialized hotlines like the Trevor Project have been a lifeline. Losing this resource isn’t just bureaucratic—it’s a matter of life and death for kids who often lack safe spaces elsewhere. The decision signals a broader rollback of support systems, leaving advocates scrambling to fill the gap.

Lawmakers are trying to shield patients from shock ambulance bills—those nasty surprises when your insurance won’t cover the full cost of an emergency ride. But insurers are pushing back, arguing over what counts as a "fair" price, leaving the whole issue stuck in limbo.

Editor’s Note: Getting hit with a surprise ambulance bill can be financially devastating, and while everyone agrees it’s a problem, the fight over who pays—insurers or providers—means patients are still caught in the middle. This isn’t just bureaucratic squabbling; it’s about whether everyday people end up footing the bill for emergencies they can’t control.