ScioScientific LLC

03/14/2026

The FDA is reducing the number of expert advisory committee meetings it holds, even as more controversial or high‑impact decisions go forward without that outside expert input. The move has sparked discussion about transparency, public trust, and how medical and scientific expertise should inform regulatory decisions. Here's more on this.

https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/09/fda-cuts-back-advisory-meetings-controversial-decisions-grow/

03/13/2026

Novo Nordisk is actively defending patents on Ozempic and Wegovy as generic makers push to enter the GLP‑1 market. The outcome could shape how quickly lower‑cost versions of these blockbuster drugs become available. Read more.

Generic versions of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic medications could be mass produced for about $3 per person a month, according to a new analysis.

03/12/2026

Discussions about religious exemptions often focus on communities like the Amish, but experts say there is no formal religious rule against vaccination. Instead, hesitancy can stem from cultural traditions, trust in community advice, and concerns about modern medical systems. Understanding these perspectives may help improve public health outreach. Here's more on this.

What, exactly, is “religious” about refusing vaccination?

03/11/2026

More than 50 U.S. medical schools have agreed to expand nutrition education in their curricula, with plans to provide about 40 hours of training on diet and health as part of the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. Supporters say it could better equip doctors to address chronic disease through prevention and nutrition. Here's more on this.

At a time when his vaccine policies are causing pushback from doctors, Kennedy's allies push nutrition education as an area of common ground.

03/10/2026

Gilead and the South African government are negotiating a deal that could allow local companies to manufacture the HIV prevention drug lenacapavir, a groundbreaking injectable that may offer protection with just two shots a year. The move could help expand access in a country with the world’s largest HIV burden.

South Africa has the world’s highest HIV burden, with about 8 million HIV-positive people, or 1 in 5 adults, as of last year.

03/09/2026

Pediatricians are challenging recent vaccine policy changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., arguing the moves were unlawful and could undermine public health protections. Government lawyers say the health secretary has broad authority to make such decisions. Here's more on this.

A Justice Department lawyer argued that the HHS secretary has broad discretion to issue vaccine guidance and choose what evidence to consider.

03/08/2026

A group of leading autism researchers and advocates has formed an independent advisory group to help guide the scientific agenda for autism research, pushing back against changes to a federal advisory panel and emphasizing evidence-based priorities for the field.

A group of autism researchers and advocates are forming an independent advisory body to develop a scientific agenda for the autism community.

03/07/2026

The MAHA (“Make Europe Healthy Again”) public‑health movement is gaining traction in parts of Europe, borrowing strategies from past anti‑tobacco efforts to push for stronger policies on food, marketing, and prevention. What do you think about public‑health movements that aim to shift how communities think about nutrition and health?

A new "Make Europe Healthy Again" movement ties U.S. MAHA figures to European anti-vaccine and far-right networks, raising public health concerns.

03/06/2026

People on Reddit are talking about using ketamine therapy through telehealth, but clinicians are urging caution, emphasizing the importance of safety, proper supervision, and evidence-based care when it comes to treatments that affect the brain. Read more on this.

“Telehealth ketamine has crossed the line from innovation to abdication of care,” writes Michael Alvear.

03/06/2026

A recent HHS audit found that Colorado’s Medicaid program overpaid tens of millions for autism therapy services, prompting questions about payment accuracy and the need for stronger safeguards to ensure funds support high-quality care.

HHS's OIG uncovered $285.2 million in improper and potentially improper payments to clinicians of an autism therapy called applied behavior analysis, it said.

03/05/2026

Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams argues the Senate should carefully consider whether Surgeon General nominee Casey Means, a wellness influencer with an inactive medical license and non-traditional clinical background meets the qualifications to be the nation’s “top doc,” sparking discussion about experience, credibility, and scientific leadership in public health. Read more on this.

“The surgeon general is not a wellness influencer,” writes former Surgeon General Jerome Adams of Casey Means.

03/04/2026

New reporting highlights key barriers to rigorous clinical trials for nutraceuticals and dietary supplements from inconsistent regulation to challenges designing strong studies, which can make it hard to know what really works versus what’s just marketed well. What do you think should change in how supplements are tested and regulated?

When Elise Felicione tried to design a clinical trial for a supplement, 5 things got in the way. It’s a lesson for the industry.