Merck Announces Expiration of Hart-Scott-Rodino Act Waiting Period to Acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Merck announced that the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino antitrust waiting period for its pending acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals expired at 11:59 p.m. ET on April 23, 2026. The company’s cash tender offer, launched on April 7, proposes to buy each Terns share for $53 in cash, less taxes. The expiration clears a key regulatory hurdle, but the deal will close only after shareholders tender more than 50% of Terns’ outstanding shares and other conditions are met. All tender‑offer documents have been filed with the SEC.
New Zealand Passed a Generational Smoking Ban in 2022, But Repealed It Before It Went Into Effect
New Zealand’s coalition government has scrapped a world‑first generational smoking ban that would have barred anyone born after January 2009 from purchasing cigarettes. The repeal, driven by a deal with New Zealand First, aims to preserve roughly $600 million USD in tobacco revenue for...
Health Literacy’s Impacts
A 2024 University of Michigan poll of adults 50 and older shows health providers remain the top source of medical information, with 81% turning to clinicians and 58% also searching the web. While most respondents feel confident handling health data,...
Preparing for Medicaid Cuts and the Imperial Health Boomerang
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act proposes sweeping Medicaid eligibility cuts that jeopardize the Ryan White Part A HIV safety‑net, which provides free care to low‑income and undocumented patients. Fixed federal funding for the program cannot absorb the expected surge in demand, leaving thousands at...
Avalyn Pharma (AVLN) IPO Deck
Avalyn Pharma, a clinical‑stage biopharmaceutical firm, unveiled its IPO deck on April 24, 2026, highlighting a pipeline of inhaled therapies for rare, high‑unmet‑need respiratory diseases. The company seeks to list on a U.S. exchange, positioning itself to raise capital for advancing Phase 2...
All of This Has Happened Before
The author compares four high‑profile digital‑health failures—Olive AI, IBM Watson Health, Carbon Health and Babylon Health—to reveal a repeatable playbook of overpromising and underdelivering. In each case, bold claims were funded before any independent proof, with elite investors and government...
Is Health Information Reaching the People Who Need It?
A door‑to‑door survey in the Mississippi Delta revealed that half of residents didn’t know a free‑clinic existed and 80% were unaware of its sliding‑fee scale, illustrating the inverse care law where the most vulnerable miss essential services. The author argues...
South Africa: Investor Consortium Backs Vertice MedTech
A consortium of Amethis, Proparco, ccap.ai and Vertice’s management has completed a new investment in Vertice MedTech Holdings, a South African firm that distributes specialised medical devices and builds digital health solutions. Founded in 2018, Vertice operates two arms—Vertice Healthcare...
G2 Speech Achieves Self-Certified Supplier Status on NHS England AVT Registry
G2 Speech has been accepted as a self‑certified supplier on the NHS England Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) Registry. The designation confirms that its SpeechAmbient platform meets NHS safety, data‑security and performance standards. By joining the registry, G2 Speech can more...
A Deeper Dive on the Cancelation of the Flu Shot Mandate in the Military—It’s Not All Roses and Champagne
The Pentagon has rescinded the mandatory flu‑shot policy for service members, but the cancellation order includes a 15‑day window for each branch to petition for exemptions. This means commanders could reinstate the requirement for specific units, such as ship crews...
The CMS-FDA RAPID Coverage Pathway Is a Capital Markets Event Disguised as a Coverage Policy: What the Regulatory-Reimbursement Clock Synch...
On April 23, 2026 CMS and the FDA unveiled the RAPID coverage pathway, a joint program that synchronizes Medicare reimbursement with FDA market authorization for breakthrough Class II and Class III devices. Under RAPID, a proposed national coverage determination is issued the...
Why Accountability in Medicine Must Guide Health Care AI
Healthcare AI is exploding, with ambient scribes and large‑language‑model chatbots promising faster documentation and patient interaction. Yet the authors argue that accuracy alone is insufficient; without built‑in accountability, harmful errors become opaque. They call for a shift from generative AI...
A Watershed Event.
The FDA approved Regeneron’s gene therapy that restores hearing in children born deaf, with the company pledging free access. At the same time, Anthropic unveiled Mythos, an AI model that autonomously discovers and exploits software vulnerabilities, prompting the U.S. to...
The Long Wait for Rare Disease Treatment Approval: Q&A with Dr. Patricia E. Greenstein
In early 2026 the FDA issued draft guidance that elevates real‑world data (RWD) to a primary evidentiary role in rare and ultra‑rare disease drug approvals. The agency now accepts a single pivotal trial supported by high‑quality RWD, reducing the need...
The Nerve-Damage Epidemic
A retired British physician reported that topical Arnica montana provided notable relief from small‑fiber neuropathy symptoms she attributed to an mRNA COVID‑19 vaccine. The anecdote, shared by Dr. Peter A. McCullough, highlights twice‑daily application of Arnica gel as an alternative...
Marijuana Reclassified To Schedule III
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order on April 24, 2026 that moves FDA‑approved and state‑licensed medical marijuana products to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, fulfilling President Trump’s 2025 executive order. The decision removes a key barrier to...
Week in Review
President Trump signed an executive order allocating $50 million to accelerate state‑led psychedelic research and to streamline FDA, DEA and DOJ reviews of ibogaine‑based therapies. A federal appeals court vacated a halt on the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center, while a...
Kennedy’s CDC Blocks Publication of Study that Shows Vaccines Reduce Hospitalizations by 50%, Then Misrepresents Why
The CDC’s flagship Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) blocked a study that found COVID‑19 vaccines cut emergency‑room visits and hospitalizations by roughly 50% among healthy adults last winter. The paper had cleared internal scientific review but was halted after...
Viewpoint: ‘Make America Pregnant Again’ — Trump Guts Support for Birth Control to Placate the Right’s Birth Obsession
President Trump’s administration has quietly released new Department of Health and Human Services funding guidelines that effectively dismantle the Title X family‑planning program. The rules restrict the use of federal dollars for affordable contraception, aligning the program with anti‑abortion and pronatalist...
In Zimbabwe, an Almost-Deadly Collision Between Fake News and a Real Virus
In early 2023 Zimbabwe detected circulating vaccine‑derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Harare, prompting a national emergency and the import of 10.5 million doses of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). A parallel wave of WhatsApp misinformation—claiming the vaccine causes infertility and...
Results May Vary, But Reporting Shouldn’t: FDA Sends a Not-So-Gentle Reminder on ClinicalTrials.gov Compliance
On March 30, 2026, the FDA emailed more than 2,200 sponsors and investigators linked to over 3,000 clinical trials that have not posted required results on ClinicalTrials.gov or failed quality‑control review. The agency reminded that results must be posted within...
The Horrors That Could Lie Ahead if Vaccines Vanish
Stanford researchers modeled the health impact of a complete loss of childhood vaccines for polio, measles, rubella and diphtheria over the next 25 years. Their simulations show that even at today’s vaccination levels the U.S. is on the brink of...
United Kingdom to Enact Smoking Ban Only for Those Who Are Not Yet Legal Adults
The UK Parliament approved a bill that will permanently prohibit the sale of tobacco to anyone born in 2009 or later, effectively creating a “smoke‑free generation.” The measure applies to all four nations of the United Kingdom and will take...
Are Labor’s NDIS Reforms Too Good to Be True?
The Australian government will overhaul the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) by introducing stricter eligibility criteria, announced by Health Minister Mark Butler. All 760,000 current participants will be reassessed, with a goal of removing 160,000 people from the program by...
The BALANCE Model Pause, the GLP-1 Bridge Extension Thru Dec 2027 & What the 80% Part D Participation Threshold Miss...
CMS announced on April 21, 2026 that the Medicare Part D component of the BALANCE anti‑obesity drug model is paused for calendar year 2027 after the required 80 percent NAMBA‑weighted enrollment threshold was not met. The GLP‑1 Bridge demonstration, which provides $50‑per‑month access outside the...
![Silence at the Chessboard Changed How I Talk to Patients [PODCAST]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://kevinmd.com/wp-content/uploads/b664dfaa-d79f-41b8-9445-d43d50340ea4.png)
Silence at the Chessboard Changed How I Talk to Patients [PODCAST]
KevinMD’s podcast features medical students Jay Pendyala and Jonathan Berg discussing how chess shaped their clinical reasoning and humanism. They recount founding a chess club at Jefferson Medical College, using puzzles and tournaments to practice pattern recognition, foresight, and resilience....
RFK Jr. Clashes With Lawmakers Over Measles, COVID and Chronic Disease
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced back‑to‑back Senate hearings focused on measles outbreaks, declining vaccination rates, and the nation’s chronic‑disease burden, which he said drives $4.9 trillion in annual health costs. Kennedy defended the MMR vaccine, questioned flu‑shot efficacy,...
Thursday April 23, 2026 — Field Note
Stereotaxis announced a deal to acquire robotic PCI developer Robocath for up to $45 million, including a $20 million cash upfront payment and up to $25 million in milestone‑based earn‑outs tied to regulatory and commercial progress. The acquisition brings Robocath’s R‑One+ platform—currently CE‑marked...
Brad Stanfield Rapamycin Trials
Brad Stanfield’s recent clinical study found that participants receiving a placebo performed better than those given rapamycin, a drug touted for its anti‑aging potential. The unexpected outcome was reported within hours of the trial’s completion, prompting immediate scrutiny from the...
Now Here’s a Twist: Senator Bernie Sanders and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Agree Television Ads for Junk Food...
Senator Bernie Sanders and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. found common ground during an April 22 Senate Health Committee hearing, both endorsing a ban on television advertisements for junk food. Kennedy echoed Surgeon General nominee Dr. Casey Means' opposition,...
NeurAxis (NRXS): The Pieces Are Lining Up
NeurAxis (NRXS) released preliminary Q1 data showing the first full quarter under the new Category I CPT code and expanded insurance coverage that took effect at the end of 2025. The results exceeded the analyst’s expectations, prompting a renewed bullish stance...
Why Experiential Consent Is Replacing Traditional Medical Consent Forms
Traditional medical consent forms are written at a 15th‑grade level, creating a comprehension gap that courts increasingly deem ineffective. Recent audits in ophthalmology show over 500 of 3,400 post‑operative reviews cite misunderstanding of visual outcomes. The legal shift to the...
How to Promote an Unproven Cancer Cure
A Florida‑based Wellness Company is financing sponsored posts on conservative websites and X accounts that promote a self‑reported survey claiming its ivermectin‑mebendazole pill treats cancer. The study, which surveyed 197 customers, reported 84.4% clinical benefit and 48.4% tumor reduction, but...
RAS Cracked… yet the Hard Part Starts Now
A new RAS‑targeted therapy delivered a 58% overall response rate and a hazard ratio of 0.40 in previously treated pancreatic cancer, data unveiled at AACR in San Diego and slated for full presentation at ASCO. These outcomes, once thought impossible,...
OK, Kennedy and Hegseth Can Take a Victory Lap for This One—The Mandate to Take a Flu Shot in the...
The U.S. Department of Defense announced the cancellation of the flu‑shot mandate for active‑duty, reserve, and civilian personnel. Children’s Health Defense (CHD) claims credit for the policy shift, framing it as a win for individual liberty. The blog’s author predicts...
SurGenTec Adds Navigation Option to FDA-Cleared SI Joint Fusion System
SurGenTec received FDA 510(k) clearance for its TiLink navigation instruments, which integrate with Medtronic’s StealthStation platform to provide real‑time guidance during minimally invasive sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion. The new tools are designed to help surgeons locate, access, and prepare the...
Is Ozempic Conversion Therapy?
The author provocatively equates Ozempic, a GLP‑1 weight‑loss drug, with conversion therapy, arguing that both aim to change a person's physical or identity traits. The piece references the Human Rights Campaign’s condemnation of conversion therapy while questioning whether weight‑loss interventions...
Cannabis Rescheduling Is Not the Story People Think It Is
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed a directive reclassifying state‑licensed medical cannabis as a Schedule III substance, marking the first federal acknowledgment of its medical use since 1970. The move overturns the longstanding classification of cannabis as having no accepted medical...
Pharmaceutical Executive Daily: FDA Expands Approvals for Tzield and Dupixent
The FDA broadened Tzield’s approval to treat children as young as one year with stage 2 type 1 diabetes, aiming to delay progression to stage 3 disease. It also expanded Dupixent’s label to cover young patients with uncontrolled chronic spontaneous urticaria, adding another...
Self-Inflicted Wounds
CMS has proposed CJR‑X, a mandatory, nationwide bundled‑payment model for all Medicare joint replacements effective October 2027. The original CJR program saved roughly $112 million over two years, mainly by reducing post‑acute care, but CJR‑X projects only $725 million in savings over five...
Really Need Long Pedicle Screws in Good Bone? Ever?
A cadaveric biomechanical study compared 35 mm “short” pedicle screws with the longest possible screws in lumbar vertebrae under cyclic fatigue loading. In vertebrae with normal bone density, both screw lengths endured similar fatigue loads (~315 N), indicating the pedicle alone provides...
Publisher’s Platform: Hepatitis A and the Food Service Industry: A Case for Universal Vaccination
Bill Marler’s op‑ed urges universal Hepatitis A vaccination for food‑service workers, noting that the CDC removed the vaccine from the routine childhood schedule. He stresses that the virus spreads during the two weeks before symptoms appear, turning a single unvaccinated employee...
Adrian Owen & Faraz Shafaghi, Creyos
Creyos, a neurological testing firm co‑founded by neuroscientist Adrian Owen and product leader Faraz Shafaghi, offers a cognitive assessment platform that delivers objective baseline data at the point of care. The tool is now incorporated into annual wellness visits and...
DEBATE Today: Trump’s Psychedelic Order
Rav Arora announced on X that two leading drug‑policy experts, Kevin Sabet and Matthew Johnson, will join his Illusionist podcast to debate President Trump’s newly issued executive order on psychedelics. The order, released in early April, directs federal agencies to accelerate...
Feeling Stuck with MCAS because of Finances? Here’s What You Need to Know.
A recent MC360 survey revealed finances and lack of knowledgeable help as the top barriers for people with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). To address this, the MC360 Clinic rolled out three tiered services: a $299 Strategy Session, a $499...
Department of Justice Officially Reschedules Marijuana: What Truckers Need to Know
The U.S. Department of Justice officially moved state‑licensed marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, allowing only FDA‑approved products and those tied to state medical licenses to benefit. The change acknowledges medical value but does not legalize cannabis federally and leaves commercial...
Zotatifin
Effector Therapeutics and Switzerland’s SJP Biotec have entered Phase 2 trials of zotatifin, an intravenous eIF4A inhibitor, in selected advanced solid tumors. The study targets cancers such as breast, lung and pancreatic that rely heavily on dysregulated protein translation. Early Phase 1...
The COVID Amnesia Project III: The Plot to Erase Who Ordered Lockdowns in 2020
The third installment of the COVID Amnesia Project (CAP) argues that prominent COVID‑19 pundits, especially Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, are rewriting history to hide who actually ordered the 2020 lockdowns. The piece highlights that President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis were...
Is the Vitamin K Shot Necessary for Newborns?
The vitamin K injection given at birth remains the standard defense against a rare but potentially fatal bleeding disorder in newborns. Between 2017 and 2024, parental refusal of the shot grew from 3% to over 5%, driven by broader medical mistrust...
Advancing Drug Discovery with Cell Line Development: Past, Present and Future
Cell line development underpins biologics manufacturing and drug discovery, from historic HeLa and CHO lines to modern CRISPR‑engineered clones. Recent advances in automation, artificial intelligence, and gene editing have accelerated clone selection, improved monoclonality verification, and increased protein yields. Tools...