US Judge Blocks Kennedy's Vaccine Overhaul

A U.S. judge blocked parts of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine policy overhaul, siding with medical groups warning that changes could harm public health. Structure's obesity pill shows promise. Rhythm Pharma's drug trials fail. A Middle East war affects drug supply. Genentech aims for affordable obesity drugs.

In a significant judicial decision, a federal judge has obstructed efforts by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to revamp the U.S. vaccine policy. The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, favored medical groups who argued that Kennedy's proposals could detrimentally impact public health by reducing vaccination rates among children.

Meanwhile, Structure Therapeutics has announced promising results for its obesity pill, showing up to a 16.3% weight loss in a trial, setting the stage to rival industry giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Rival company Rhythm Pharmaceuticals faced setbacks with its experimental drug failing key genetic obesity trials.

Additionally, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are disrupting pharmaceutical supply chains, crucially affecting the availability of cancer medications. On a related note, Genentech's CEO highlighted their commitment to developing cost-effective obesity treatments amid challenges in long-term patient adherence to therapies.

(With inputs from agencies.)