Axios

A next-generation obesity drug from Eli Lilly reached a new level of weight loss in a late clinical trial, matching levels generally seen in those who've had bariatric surgery, company officials said Thursday.

Why it matters: The results challenge assumptions of how much the drugs can achieve and could help Lilly reinforce its position at the front of an increasingly competitive market.

GHO Capital of London has agreed to merge with Singapore-based rival CBC Group, forming a dedicated health care investment firm with over $21 billion in assets under management.

Why it matters: This is about scaling for survival, as generalist PE giants have begun to crowd out smaller players in health care.

An Ebola outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa is fueling concern about another global health crisis.

Why it matters: WHO this week declared Ebola a public health emergency of international concern, but experts say the chances of a global pandemic remain slim.

Finding a new commissioner is only the beginning of what the Trump administration needs to do to rebuild the Food and Drug Administration — and none of it is easy.

Why it matters: More than a year of upheaval has left the agency's leadership decimated and its reputation for predictable, evidence-based decisions damaged.

Do you dread making small talk or getting drawn into a dull conversation about the weather?

• Buck up! Conversations about topics people think are boring typically wind up being enjoyable, according to an intriguing study recently published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Why it matters: Social interaction is good for you — plenty of research finds it enhances well-being and makes people feel happy.

The drug industry struck out at the Supreme Court on Monday in its ongoing efforts to scuttle Medicare drug price negotiations.

Why it matters: It's the latest rebuff to industry arguments that the talks with the government violate free speech protections and due process rights, among other complaints.

• The negotiated prices that took effect this year are expected to generate $1.5 billion in savings to patients and $6 billion to Medicare.

Hospitals are bracing for a sweeping rewrite of federal health privacy rules that could result in more penalties for cybersecurity breaches and add billions of dollars in costs.

Why it matters: Spurred by the massive Change Healthcare hack in 2024, the changes reflect a growing belief that at least some health care breaches are preventable and that hospitals should be required to meet baseline security standards.

In a polarized country, hope may be one of the few values Americans still share, and it's easier to find than most realize.

Why it matters: A new poll reveals that hope is less about optimism and more about what people do. That has real implications for how organizations and communities show up for one another.

President Trump said Monday that his direct-to-consumer drug website TrumpRx is expanding with the addition of more than 600 generic medicines.

Why it matters: Generic drugs tend to be cheaper — and the expanded offerings help fill a gap in the current version.

Senate health committee chair Bill Cassidy's defeat in Louisiana's GOP primary on Saturday could complicate Trump administration's efforts to fill top positions at the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the surgeon general post.

• In the long term, it opens the door for a new committee chair if Republicans hold the Senate in November, or a new ranking member if they don't.