The hottest Pharmaceuticals Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

With Kennedy on Board, This is What a Trump Win Will Mean for Democrats

Popular Rationalism • 1367 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. A Trump win could force the Democratic Party to rethink its ties with the pharmaceutical industry. This may lead to more transparency and accountability in health policies.
  2. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is seen as a potential leader who could push for a health agenda focused on questioning the status quo and prioritizing public health over profit.
  3. The public is becoming more aware of vaccine safety issues, and this awareness may change how health policies are formed and implemented in the future.

Ensitrelvir (Xocova®): Japanese Company Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Sets a Model for Success in Translational Research for the Coming Future of Ethical Science

Popular Rationalism • 455 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. Ensitrelvir, also known as Xocova, is a new antiviral pill that is 30 times more effective than a placebo. It was developed by a Japanese company called Shionogi & Co., which worked closely with researchers.
  2. This medication targets a key enzyme the virus needs to replicate, making it effective against COVID-19 symptoms, especially those caused by Omicron variants. It has shown a strong safety profile and fewer side effects compared to some other treatments.
  3. Xocova is easier to take than some alternatives because it requires only a once-daily dose and has fewer interactions with other medications. This makes it a more convenient option for many patients.

Anaphylaxis, allergens, immunogenicity, vaccines.

Bailiwick News • 3269 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. Vaccines and many biological products can cause allergic reactions like anaphylaxis. This means they can intentionally harm people while claiming to protect them.
  2. There are laws that make it hard to hold companies accountable for the negative effects of vaccines. These laws allow harmful practices to continue under the guise of vaccination programs.
  3. Congress is more focused on how effective these vaccines are at causing harm, rather than their safety. This reflects a deeper concern about managing public health costs rather than protecting individuals.

FDA's Straight Shooter: Don't Bring Crappy Data To A Gunfight

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 7619 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. The FDA, led by Vinay Prasad, refused to file Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine study because the trial didn’t meet the agency’s standards for being “adequate and well‑controlled.”
  2. Moderna’s study compared its shot to Fluarix, a vaccine that performs poorly in people 65+, which could falsely inflate the new vaccine’s benefit and raises ethical questions about informed consent for participants.
  3. Prasad’s move signals a tougher, less pharma‑friendly FDA stance that is drawing industry and media backlash but emphasizes stricter enforcement of trial and safety standards.

The drug that taught me how much I should suffer

Experimental History • 49247 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Pharmaceuticals
  1. Everyone has to figure out their own balance of suffering and gain in life. It's important to think about how much pain you're willing to accept for what you hope to achieve.
  2. When facing tough decisions, look at how happy others are after going through similar struggles. If they seem unhappy, it might be a sign to rethink your choices.
  3. Suffering can lose its sting when it has a clear purpose. If you're going through something difficult, make sure there's a good reason behind it.
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Consumptive Capitalism

Thinking about... • 675 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. Before antibiotics, diseases like tuberculosis spawned an expensive wellness industry that sold hope, routines, and costly treatments instead of cures.
  2. Nostalgia-driven and consumerist health movements promote distrust of medical science and steer money toward private wellness businesses rather than public health solutions.
  3. Protecting population health needs strong public health systems, vaccines, and affordable medicines—prioritizing profit over science risks renewed epidemics and worse access to care.

How Big Pharma Mixed Addiction With Social Justice

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 3638 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. Purdue ran a deliberate, identity-targeted marketing campaign to get doctors to start and keep patients on high-dose opioids, using fake patient profiles and other tactics that helped drive widespread addiction.
  2. They co-opted feminist and empowerment language to sell pills to women, planning to "educate women in their natural settings" — including things like Tupperware parties — to normalize and increase demand.
  3. After massive harm and lawsuits, bankruptcy deals offer modest payouts (often $3,500–$16,000) and let the company rebrand and move into addiction treatment, even as many clinicians were misled about how addictive modern opioid therapy really is.

TrumpRx, Super Bowl commercials, flu B is here, and more

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1548 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. Respiratory illnesses are ticking up again — late-winter coughs, sore throats, and fevers are rising due to colds, RSV, and a second wave of flu B, while measles outbreaks (notably in South Carolina) are growing. Flu B often follows flu A and overall season severity is moderate so far, but local impacts vary.
  2. TrumpRx is mostly branding with limited impact — it mainly helps people who pay cash, often won’t count toward insurance deductibles, and can ignore cheaper generics; real, widespread price relief will require stronger policy changes.
  3. Be skeptical of flashy wellness ads — blood-based cancer screening tests can miss cancers and cause false alarms with unclear survival benefits, and shame-based diet messaging backfires; consumers deserve clear tradeoffs and empowering, realistic advice.

Medical Roundup #6

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1657 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Pharmaceuticals
  1. The apparent rise in autism is actually just more people being diagnosed under much broader criteria, not a real increase in prevalence, and the "autism spectrum" is now so wide it would be clearer to separate the very different ends.
  2. Doing even a small amount of regular exercise gives real health and cognitive benefits, and lowering psychological barriers (like free gym access) raises activity, though gains taper off once you become very fit.
  3. Regulatory and system problems — costly, slow clinical trials, restrictive FDA decisions, and workforce bottlenecks — are slowing drug development and harming care, so easing unnecessary barriers and better incentives would speed innovation and improve outcome access.

The Peptide Craze

Ground Truths • 12028 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Pharmaceuticals
  1. Peptides are increasingly used for various health and anti-aging claims, often pushed by celebrities, but many lack solid science backing their benefits.
  2. Some FDA-approved peptides are being prescribed for off-label uses, while many others aren't approved at all, raising safety concerns and potential side effects.
  3. There's a growing distrust of traditional medicine, which helps the popularity of these unregulated peptides, despite the risks involved and limited evidence of effectiveness.

Eight Years After Deposing Dr. Plotkin, the “Godfather of Vaccines,” He Sends Me a Letter

Injecting Freedom • 186 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. A prominent vaccine expert recontacted a longtime critic after a contentious deposition, focusing on procedural complaints and insisting he should be credited for protecting children while blaming the critic for harm to unvaccinated kids.
  2. The expert pushed post-deposition actions to defend vaccine orthodoxy—urging WHO/FDA/CDC changes and holding private meetings—but those efforts didn’t erase the admissions made in the deposition.
  3. The critic offered a redo deposition and constructive steps to help vaccine-injured children, received no engagement, and published the correspondence to push for transparency and public debate about vaccinology.

Nobody Wants to Hear Good News About Psychiatric Medicine

Freddie deBoer • 5940 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. A new study shows that withdrawal symptoms from SSRIs are actually rare and not as severe as many people think. Despite this good news, it hasn't gotten much coverage in the media.
  2. There are exciting developments in antipsychotic medications, which are becoming more effective and have fewer side effects. This is a positive change that is worth noticing.
  3. There seems to be a reluctance in the media to share good news about psychiatric medicine, possibly because it doesn't fit certain narratives. It's important for people to hear about the progress being made in mental health treatments.

Reading List 12/28/24

Construction Physics • 11065 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Pharmaceuticals
  1. China is planning to build the world's largest hydroelectric dam, which could produce a huge amount of electricity and help meet its environmental goals.
  2. Chinese manufacturing is becoming very competitive not just in cars, but also in pharmaceuticals, with Chinese companies now creating many new drugs.
  3. In manufacturing, new startups often struggle financially at first, facing a tough phase called the 'valley of death' before they start making profits.

URGENT: Big Pharma wins again

Unreported Truths • 44 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. A senior FDA medical official who publicly challenged certain mRNA vaccine makers is leaving their post amid intense pressure. Shares of the companies he criticized jumped after the announcement.
  2. Powerful industry and institutional forces pushed back on criticism and can derail internal reformers. That shows it’s very hard to change drug regulation from inside the current system.
  3. The market rewarded the outcome, signaling that investors favor moves that help pharmaceutical companies. This dynamic undermines confidence in regulatory independence and efforts to hold companies accountable.

Rating Trump's FDA's "Top 10" Year-1 Reforms

Cremieux Recueil • 229 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. The FDA published a top-10 list of first-year reforms covering things like a food supply reset, eliminating unnecessary animal testing, public decision letters, priority vouchers, HRT, tighter pharma ad rules, agency-wide AI, easier biosimilars, expanded cell and gene therapies, and more domestic manufacturing.
  2. The piece focuses on what the FDA actually accomplished with these initiatives and whether those changes matter in practice.
  3. Each of the ten items is rated individually, and the FDA receives an overall pass-or-fail grade for its first year based on those ratings.

Drug regulators - the revolving door keeps revolving

Maryanne Demasi, reports • 2692 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. A former TGA boss has been appointed to the board of Medicines Australia to advance mRNA technology in Australia.
  2. John Skerritt, previously with TGA, reflects on his achievements in speeding up drug approvals during his time there.
  3. Concerns are raised about the 'revolving door' practice where agency officials end up working for industries they once regulated.

Johnson & Johnson to acquire $2 billion drug developer "Ambrx Biopharma" to treat Turbo Cancers with same tech as Pfizer's $43 billion Seagen acquisition. Both set their sights on 2025 Cancer TSUNAMI

COVID Intel - by Dr.William Makis • 2731 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Pharmaceuticals
  1. Johnson & Johnson is acquiring a $2 billion drug developer to focus on treating aggressive cancers.
  2. This acquisition uses technology similar to Pfizer's $43 billion purchase of Seagen.
  3. Both companies are aiming to address the anticipated increase in cancer cases by 2025.

URGENT: Poll, reader thread, and podcast discussion today on what the ouster of Vinay Prasad means for the FDA and the future of medical reform in the United States

Unreported Truths • 24 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. The U.S. spends about $5 trillion a year on healthcare but still has poor outcomes, which has helped fuel the grassroots MAHA movement focused on personal responsibility and questioning the medical establishment.
  2. Political answers are unclear: Democrats mostly push more government-funded coverage that could raise costs, while Republicans lack a unified reform plan and many policymakers are tied to industry interests.
  3. The ouster of Vinay Prasad from the FDA feels like a pivotal setback for aggressive medical reform, suggesting big pharma influence remains strong as promised changes to drug advertising and other reforms stall.

I Tried Wall Street’s Famous Brain Drugs

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1242 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Pharmaceuticals
  1. Many professionals are turning to productivity-enhancing drugs to help them focus and get their work done. These drugs include supplements, nootropics, and even prescription medications.
  2. The pressure to perform and stay alert in a demanding work environment can lead people to seek chemical assistance, especially when they feel bored or distracted.
  3. Personal experiences with prescription stimulants can vary widely; while some may find them helpful for work, others may struggle with side effects or the stigma around their use.

How a small journalism nonprofit is holding the largest pharma companies to account

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 24 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Pharmaceuticals
  1. A nonprofit newsroom is applying consumer-protection journalism to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, digging into hidden ingredients and undisclosed side effects.
  2. It mixes investigative reporting, social video, and advocacy to shine light on the “shadow” side of medicine and hold large drug companies accountable.
  3. The group aims to be donor-supported and to use independent, testing-style journalism to publish findings that push for safer products and regulatory change.

Why the FDA Is Slow to Remove Drugs

Asimov Press • 296 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. The FDA took 50 years to evaluate the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine before finally announcing it was ineffective. This long process raised questions about the agency's reliance on industry-funded studies.
  2. Drugs like phenylephrine stay on the market for years, even if they don't work well, because of their profitability for companies and the FDA's slow review process. This can leave consumers using products that have questionable benefits.
  3. The FDA has made efforts to improve its drug review processes, especially in terms of removing ineffective drugs, but challenges remain. The balance between ensuring safety and efficacy is still a difficult task for the agency.

The Medicare Price Caps are the Moral Equivalent of Genocide

Something to Consider • 239 implied HN points • 01 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. Medicare price caps could lower investment in new drugs, as they cut profits for pharmaceutical companies. Less investment might mean fewer new medicines in the future.
  2. Reducing drug prices could result in significant loss of life, as fewer new drugs mean fewer treatments for diseases. This effect is not just for the U.S., but could impact people globally.
  3. Instead of cutting prices, the focus should be on finding ways to help people afford medications. It's important to invest in pharmaceuticals to save lives rather than trying to cut costs at the expense of future health advancements.

When the Sackler Brothers studied LSD

Res Obscura • 2799 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
💾 History Pharmaceuticals
  1. The Sackler brothers, known for their later role in the opioid crisis, initially explored the potential of LSD and other psychedelic treatments in the 1950s. They even attended early scientific discussions about LSD.
  2. Despite their good intentions to improve mental health treatments, the Sacklers also recognized the financial gains from pharmaceuticals. This shift in focus highlights how idealistic motives can change when wealth is involved.
  3. The ongoing debate about psychedelics mirrors this historical pattern. As society cautiously opens up to these substances for therapy, there are concerns about commercialization, addiction, and the potential for harm.

Your top 10 FAQ on drug prices

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1591 implied HN points • 15 May 25
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. Drug prices in the U.S. are much higher than in other countries because drug companies set their own prices, and patents keep competition away for many years. This results in Americans paying more for medications.
  2. High drug prices lead people to skip doses or avoid taking medicine altogether, which can result in serious health issues. Many people can't afford their medications, causing preventable health problems.
  3. There are possible solutions to lower drug prices, like the government negotiating prices and reforming patents to allow generics more quickly. However, it requires public pressure and political will to make these changes happen.

Sleep, Diet, Exercise and GLP-1 Drugs

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2688 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Pharmaceuticals
  1. GLP-1 drugs can be very effective for weight loss, and many people are seeing good results from them. They have contributed to a noticeable drop in obesity rates among those who use them, especially college graduates.
  2. Willpower plays an important role in personal fitness and dieting. While using willpower can be tough, it also has positive effects on self-discipline and can lead to healthier habits over time.
  3. It's vital to find joy in exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Enjoyable activities make it easier to stick to fitness routines and achieve overall well-being.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla Claims They ‘Saved The World’ From COVID Despite Past Blatant Inaccuracies

Unmasked • 31 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. Pfizer's CEO has publicly claimed the company "saved the world" from COVID while the company made billions in profit, a statement many see as an attempt to rewrite the pandemic’s history.
  2. Pandemic-era policies — lockdowns, school closures, mask mandates, vaccine passports, and aggressive economic measures — caused widespread and long-lasting social and economic harm.
  3. By the mid-2020s most places had largely returned to normal, but some political leaders still threatened to reinstate mandates, showing the debate over pandemic responses continues.

Disease X - Turns Out Death Is Profitable

AND Magazine • 1061 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Pharmaceuticals
  1. Lab leaks and mishaps involving dangerous viruses are increasing worldwide post COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. Scientists are creating highly lethal viruses through experiments, raising concerns about potential future pandemics.
  3. There is a focus on preparing for 'Disease X' which may lead to profit-making opportunities and increased restrictions.

The PBM-insurer mafia comes for community pharmacies

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 579 implied HN points • 20 Mar 24
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. Big Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) like UnitedHealth and Cigna are pushing independent pharmacies out of business. They drop reimbursement rates, making it harder for these smaller pharmacies to survive.
  2. The financial troubles for independent pharmacies are linked to complex fees and lack of transparency from PBMs. Many pharmacies are struggling with fees that keep rising unexpectedly.
  3. Without independent pharmacies, people might face longer waits for medications and less personalized care. It's important for lawmakers to step in and make changes to support these community pharmacies.

mRNA: Deliverance, Dud, or Danger?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 621 implied HN points • 20 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. mRNA technology was once seen as a breakthrough for fighting diseases with vaccines, especially during the Covid pandemic. Now, it's facing skepticism and challenges.
  2. Due to growing criticism, including claims that the Covid vaccine is harmful, funding for mRNA research has been significantly cut. This has hurt companies that develop mRNA-based treatments.
  3. Many supporters of mRNA believe attacks on it prevent progress in medicine, much like historical events where new scientific ideas were initially rejected. The situation is complex and evolving.

Building the mRNA Empire

Break Free with Karen Hunt • 1454 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Pharmaceuticals
  1. The world is seeing the rise of mRNA vaccine production facilities globally.
  2. Billions of people have been conditioned to believe the narrative around mRNA vaccines, despite their actual effectiveness.
  3. The story of Katalin Karikó exemplifies the push for mRNA technology, despite past ethical concerns in vaccine development.

We Must Pay More for Drugs

Something to Consider • 79 implied HN points • 27 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. Patents help inventors protect their ideas, but they alone can't ensure fair profits from innovations. We need more support to make sure inventors get what they deserve.
  2. In a monopoly, the price of goods reflects production costs, not research costs. This can lead to less innovation if prices don't encourage investment.
  3. To encourage more drug discoveries, we might need to pay higher prices or create subsidies and prizes for medical breakthroughs. It’s a tough choice, but necessary for progress.

Biotech

ChinaTalk • 681 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Pharmaceuticals
  1. China's biotech industry has transformed from copying foreign drugs to developing innovative medications that compete globally. This shift shows that they are now making significant progress in drug discovery.
  2. Companies like BeiGene and Legend Biotech have successfully created cancer therapies that are approved internationally, demonstrating China's growing capability in biopharmaceuticals and bringing new options to cancer patients worldwide.
  3. New drugs from Chinese companies like Akeso are showing promise in clinical trials, potentially leading to breakthroughs in cancer treatment. This trend attracts global attention and investments, signaling a bright future for China's biotech sector.

Novo Nordisk's Ethically Questionable Wegovy Publicity Stunt

Weight and Healthcare • 1078 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Pharmaceuticals
  1. Novo Nordisk released a press release touting study results that were not peer-reviewed or published, raising ethical concerns.
  2. The study population in the trial for the weight loss drug Wegovy was limited to specific criteria, excluding certain groups for evaluation of benefits and risks.
  3. The publicity stunt around the drug's benefits showcases the pharmaceutical company's marketing tactics that may manipulate perceptions and stock prices.

Beware STAT News and Other Pharma-Sponsored Media Outlets

The DisInformation Chronicle • 415 implied HN points • 22 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. Watch out for news sources like STAT News that may be influenced by pharmaceutical companies. They might not tell the full story about drug safety.
  2. The FDA stopped the use of a gene therapy called ELEVIDYS after serious issues arose, including participant deaths. It's important to question how such treatments got approved in the first place.
  3. There may be a conflict of interest when media outlets promote certain drug companies. It's wise to consider who funds the news and the motivations behind it.

Once Upon a Time in the Green Valley

Pekingnology • 60 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
💼 Business Pharmaceuticals
  1. Fosun Pharma is paying 1.4 billion yuan to buy control of Green Valley and try to revive GV-971, a touted Chinese Alzheimer’s drug. Many experts doubt the drug’s effectiveness and its international Phase III trial failed for poor enrollment.
  2. Green Valley has a long history of promoting anti-cancer products with false or exaggerated claims, repeatedly rebranding products and breaking advertising rules. Desperate patients were misled, spent money, and sometimes lost the chance for effective treatment.
  3. The acquisition carries legal and reputational risk because regulators have challenged Green Valley’s approvals and its Chinese license has lapsed, while the company’s past leadership and brand links keep public distrust alive. People worry that continuity could mean repeating past harms even as new confirmatory trials move forward.

💊💉 Will the anti-obesity wonder drugs work wonders for the US economy?

Faster, Please! • 1553 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals
  1. GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could change the way we treat obesity and have a huge positive impact on health. They work by helping individuals lose weight and may also lower the risk of serious diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer's.
  2. These medications could boost the US economy significantly. Estimates suggest that by improving health and productivity, they might help increase the GDP by about 0.5 to 1 percent in rich countries.
  3. The overall benefits of health innovations, including GLP-1 drugs, aren't fully captured in traditional economic measures. They can lead to a better quality of life and longer life expectancy, which is valuable beyond just the numbers.