In April 2025, announcements from the two most influential biomedical agencies in the US, the FDA and the NIH, declared that both will seek to reduce and minimize animal-based testing and experimentation. These declarations sparked joy in some circles, and deep concern in others that was reflected in a 28% fall in the share price of Charles River Labs (NYSE: NYSE:CRL).
Bowing to the growing animal rights movement, FDA and NIH have made policy changes to discourage animal testing, instead favoring alternative research models.
FDA has received reports of immune effector cell-associated enterocolitis in patients who received treatment with Carvykti.
FDA has granted a approval for Zepzelca (lurbinectedin) in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq) or atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs (Tecentriq Hybreza) as a maintenance treatment for adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer whose disease has not progressed after first-line induction therapy with atezolizumab, carboplatin and etoposide.
FDA has approved Inluriyo (imlunestrant, 200 mg tablets), an oral estrogen receptor antagonist, for the treatment of adults with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose disease progressed after at least one line of endocrine therapy.
FDA has granted Fast Track designation to UB-VV111 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma following two or more lines of prior therapy and relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia following two or more lines of prior therapy.
FDA has published a new guidance for the development of non-opioid pain treatments in the Federal Register.
With little fanfare, Anthony Letai, a highly respected physician-scientist, was sworn in as the 18th director of the National Cancer Institute on Sept. 29. Then, two days later, on Oct. 1, the government shut down.
FDA has initiated the approval of leucovorin calcium tablets, rushing them to market as part of a push from the Trump administration to identify potential treatments for autism spectrum disorder.
In a press conference on Sept. 22, President Donald Trump, flanked by NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, touted that Tylenol use while pregnant is “probably” the cause of autism.
