Recon: J&J boosts cancer portfolio with $3.05B Halda acquisition; RFK Jr. reportedly discussed scaling back Makary’s role at FDA

• RFK Jr. Discussed Curbing FDA Head’s Role After Complaints About Management Style (WSJ) (Reuters)
• FDA unveils new path to speed personalized therapies, inspired by Baby KJ (Endpoints)
• Novo Nordisk rolls out $349 Wegovy cash price ahead of plan (Reuters)
• US appeals court to weigh reviving cases over Tylenol and autism (Reuters)
• Johnson & Johnson acquires Halda Therapeutics for $3 billion, a big win for a buzzy new technology (STAT) (Reuters)
• FDA’s Plan To Boost Biosimilar Drugs Could Stall at the Patent Office (KFF)

• China’s WuXi AppTec, after evading threat of U.S. restrictions, comes out ahead (STAT)
• DKSH Said to Bid for Swiss Drug Distributor Swixx Biopharma (Bloomberg)
• Ethiopia Confirms First Outbreak of Marburg Virus After Testing (Bloomberg)
• Leaked Digital Omnibus Draft: Will EU’s Push For Simplification Help Medtech? (MedTech Insight)
• German Medtech Faces 2026 In Better Shape Vs Economic and Operational Pressures (MedTech Insight)
• New UK VPAG Extension Means Pharma Can Make Informed Decision For The First Time (Pink Sheet)
• UK MHRA Could ‘Evolve’ Its ‘Clunky’ Early Access To Medicines Scheme (Pink Sheet)
• Sanofi's type 1 diabetes drug recommended for EU approval (Reuters)

• Brain organoid pioneers fear inflated claims about biocomputing could backfire (STAT)
• Nuvalent sees success for its second genetically targeted lung cancer drug (STAT)
• Hims & Hers names ex-FDA official Deb Autor as first policy chief (Reuters)
• US FDA adds strongest warning to Sarepta's Elevidys after fatal liver injuries (Reuters)
• Sanofi CEO: How we’re measuring AI success (STAT)
• Novo Nordisk has stocked up for aggressive launch of Wegovy pill (Reuters)
• Activist Starboard sells Pfizer stake after pushing for changes (Reuters)
• Five takeaways after Merck's $9.2B Cidara deal: More M&A, 'diversified' growth, shifting production to the US (Endpoints)
• Jeffrey Bluestone hands Sonoma CEO post to Stephen Dilly (Endpoints)

• I spent two hours telling a chatbot about mental health problems. Its responses scared me (STAT)
• Resmed CEO Mick Farrell on new technologies, tariffs and AI (MedTech Dive)
• Zimmer wins FDA clearance for updated knee robot (MedTech Dive)

• ByHeart’s ‘bizarre’ response to infant botulism outbreak worries food safety experts (STAT)
• Congress appears unwilling to stop state ingredient bans in blow to food industry (Food Dive)

• Judge says he’ll approve opioid settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue and Sackler family (STAT)
• Medicare premiums to jump 10% heading into 2026 (STAT)
• Texas judge in Tylenol case won't block Kenvue's $398 million dividend payment (Reuters)
• Texas Measles Outbreak Prompted Surge in Early Vaccination (MedPage Today)
• Conflicting COVID Shot Advice Likely to Push Vaccine Uptake Even Lower, Experts Warn (MedPage Today)