Kennedy announces massive cuts, centralization at HHS—NCI and FDA hit Also this week: Columbia yields, Makary and Bhattacharya confirmed, tariffs on pharmaceuticals, and more changes impacting oncology

Premarin’s 84-year hold on the market ends as FDA approves a generic version
Trade secret protections helped the hormone drug resist generic entry and outlast safety controversies—including link to cancer

A story is told that after first obtaining approval for marketing Premarin in 1942, Wyeth Laboratories didn’t lock up the secret recipe for making the hormonal drug in a company safe, to be guarded by patent lawyers.

January 23, 2026

Vol.52 No.03

By Claire Marie Porter

Capitol Hill

Spending bill passed by the House gives NIH $415M raise, NCI gets $128M
Legislation caps proportion of NIH grants to receive multiyear funding; indirect costs remain untouched

The U.S. House of Representatives Jan. 22 passed a three-bill minibus package that is expected to be the grand finale of the drama of the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process. The package, which funds the HHS as well as the departments of Defense, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and Education, gives NIH and NCI modest raises over FY25, and nullifies several aggressive cuts the White House had proposed for NIH.

Fifth time’s a charm? Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act is included in FY26 spending bill

Sometime next week, the Senate is expected to vote on a legislative package that would determine the fiscal year 2026 spending levels for much of the federal government. xxx:moreReaders of The Cancer Letter may be breathing a sigh of relief that NIH seems like

Bernie Lewinsky’s collection of artifacts captures “the learning curve” of radiation oncology

Over his five decades as a radiation oncologist, Bernie Lewinsky has been collecting the relics of radiotherapy.

FDA issues draft guidance on MRD and CR as primary endpoints in MM drug trials to support accelerated approval

FDA has issued a draft guidance for industry that provides recommendations to sponsors about using minimal residual disease and complete response as primary endpoints in trials evaluating drugs and biologics intended to treat patients with multiple myeloma to support approval under the accelerated approval regulations.

January 23, 2026

Vol.52 No.03

Podcast

With five-year cancer survival at an all-time high, does this mean people are living longer?

“It's really, really important that every year since 1991, cancer mortality has dropped by a little bit, and it did again!” said Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter. “Now, mortality is a good metric, age-adjusted mortality. As far as survival, well, that's not so good.”

January 21, 2026

Kennedy announces massive cuts, centralization at HHS—NCI and FDA hit

Also this week: Columbia yields, Makary and Bhattacharya confirmed, tariffs on pharmaceuticals, and more changes impacting oncology

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

Premarin’s 84-year hold on the market ends as FDA approves a generic version
Trade secret protections helped the hormone drug resist generic entry and outlast safety controversies—including link to cancer

Spending bill passed by the House gives NIH $415M raise, NCI gets $128M
Legislation caps proportion of NIH grants to receive multiyear funding; indirect costs remain untouched

Fifth time’s a charm? Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act is included in FY26 spending bill

Bernie Lewinsky’s collection of artifacts captures “the learning curve” of radiation oncology

FDA issues draft guidance on MRD and CR as primary endpoints in MM drug trials to support accelerated approval

With five-year cancer survival at an all-time high, does this mean people are living longer?

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Kennedy announces massive cuts, centralization at HHS—NCI and FDA hit

Also this week: Columbia yields, Makary and Bhattacharya confirmed, tariffs on pharmaceuticals, and more changes impacting oncology

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

Premarin’s 84-year hold on the market ends as FDA approves a generic versionTrade secret protections helped the hormone drug resist generic entry and outlast safety controversies—including link to cancer

Spending bill passed by the House gives NIH $415M raise, NCI gets $128MLegislation caps proportion of NIH grants to receive multiyear funding; indirect costs remain untouched

Fifth time’s a charm? Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act is included in FY26 spending bill

Bernie Lewinsky’s collection of artifacts captures “the learning curve” of radiation oncology

FDA issues draft guidance on MRD and CR as primary endpoints in MM drug trials to support accelerated approval

With five-year cancer survival at an all-time high, does this mean people are living longer?

Never miss an issue!

Login

Premarin’s 84-year hold on the market ends as FDA approves a generic version
Trade secret protections helped the hormone drug resist generic entry and outlast safety controversies—including link to cancer

Spending bill passed by the House gives NIH $415M raise, NCI gets $128M
Legislation caps proportion of NIH grants to receive multiyear funding; indirect costs remain untouched