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Democratic Women's Caucus Urges HHS and FDA to Address Estradiol Patch Shortage

Democratic Women's Caucus Urges HHS and FDA to Address Estradiol Patch Shortage

The Democratic Women's Caucus (DWC), led by Senate Liaison and Caregiving Task Force Co-Chair Debbie Dingell (MI-06), DWC Member Val Hoyle (OR-04), DWC Reproductive Task Force Co-Chair and Liaison Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and DWC Member Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), has sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas and Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.). The letter, signed by 44 DWC members including Laura Friedman, demands immediate action to resolve the ongoing shortage of estradiol transdermal patches, also known as estrogen patches. These patches are crucial for managing menopause symptoms and protecting women's long-term bone and cardiovascular health. The DWC highlighted that prescriptions for estrogen patches have increased by 162% over the past two years, partly due to the removal of a black box warning label. This surge in demand, coupled with a lack of manufacturing capacity and perceived inaction from the FDA, has left mil...

Experimental Drug Retatrutide Shows Significant Weight Loss and Blood Sugar Improvement in Type 2 Diabetes Trial

Experimental Drug Retatrutide Shows Significant Weight Loss and Blood Sugar Improvement in Type 2 Diabetes Trial

A new experimental drug, retatrutide, has demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing weight and improving blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. The drug, a triple-agonist medication, acts on three different hormone receptors: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon (GCG). This mechanism distinguishes it from existing GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), which act on one or two receptors, respectively. The latest clinical trial, published in The Lancet, involved nearly 1,200 participants who were randomly assigned to receive weekly doses of retatrutide (4 mg, 9 mg, or 12 mg) or a placebo. After 80 weeks, participants on retatrutide experienced substantial weight loss, with those on the 12 mg dose losing an average of 18.8 percent of their starting weight. Almost half of the participants on the highest dose lost 20 percent of their starting weight, and about 30 percent lost at least 25 pe...

Representative Clarke Leads Congressional Letter to Revlon Demanding Answers on Cosmetic Contaminants

Representative Clarke Leads Congressional Letter to Revlon Demanding Answers on Cosmetic Contaminants

Representative Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), along with eight other Members of Congress, has sent a letter to Michelle Peluso, CEO of Revlon Group Holdings LLC. The letter follows recent findings by the FDA indicating that Revlon failed to adequately test its cosmetic products for dangerous contaminants, including cancer-causing chemicals and mold. The congressional members expressed serious concern that these findings put the health of Revlon's customers at risk, particularly Black consumers who are disproportionately represented in the beauty and personal care market. In 2026, beauty spending among Black consumers reached $16.2 billion, marking a 9 percent increase from the previous year. The letter emphasizes that products posing a risk to consumers should not be in the market and that Black women and girls should be able to use beauty and personal care products without concerns about exposure to harmful chemicals. The letter was signed by Representatives Clarke, Carson, Crockett, DeLauro, Grijalva, Holmes ...

Congresswoman Kelly Morrison Urges Federal Action on Estrogen Patch Shortage

Congresswoman Kelly Morrison Urges Federal Action on Estrogen Patch Shortage

Minnesota Congresswoman Kelly Morrison, an OB-GYN, has joined fellow members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus in sending a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas and Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The letter calls for immediate intervention to address a nationwide shortage of estradiol transdermal patches, commonly known as estrogen patches, which are used to manage menopause symptoms. Lawmakers highlight that the demand for these patches has significantly increased in recent years, leading to many women being unable to fill their prescriptions. The shortage is causing interruptions in treatment, which Morrison emphasizes can negatively impact patients' quality of life and potentially lead to long-term health complications, including bone and cardiovascular problems.

Study Links Oral Menopausal Hormone Therapy to Increased Thrombotic Risk

Study Links Oral Menopausal Hormone Therapy to Increased Thrombotic Risk

A recent nationwide nested case-control study published in BMJ has linked oral menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) to an increased risk of thrombotic events, including venous thromboembolism (VTE), ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI). The study found that high-dose oral estradiol (more than 1 mg daily) carried a higher risk for VTE (HR 1.8), ischemic stroke (HR 1.5), and MI (HR 1.4). Low-dose oral therapy (1 mg or less daily) also showed an increased VTE risk (HR 1.3) but no significant increase for stroke or MI. The risk for VTE was highest during the first year of high-dose oral therapy. In contrast, transdermal therapy was not associated with higher rates of VTE, ischemic stroke, or MI, with the exception of MI with transdermal combined cyclic therapy, which was based on sparse data. The study's authors noted limitations, including its observational nature and lack of data on BMI, smoking status, and age at menopause onset.

Representative Val Hoyle and Colleagues Urge FDA Action on Estrogen Patch Shortage

Representative Val Hoyle and Colleagues Urge FDA Action on Estrogen Patch Shortage

Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) has joined the Democratic Women’s Caucus in sending a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), demanding urgent action regarding the ongoing shortage of Estradiol patches. The letter, co-signed by 44 other lawmakers including Representative Kelly Morrison, highlights that women across the country are unable to fill their prescriptions, posing a direct threat to their long-term health. Representative Hoyle emphasized that this is not merely an inconvenience but a serious health concern that the administration should address immediately. The shortage stems from a significant increase in prescriptions following the removal of a black box warning on menopausal hormone therapy products in 2025, which outpaced the manufacturing capacity and supply chain's ability to keep up.

Food Safety Becomes Key Midterm Election Issue Amid Cyclospora Outbreak and Trump Administration Policies

Food Safety Becomes Key Midterm Election Issue Amid Cyclospora Outbreak and Trump Administration Policies

Food safety has emerged as a significant 'kitchen-table' political issue in the run-up to the midterm elections, following a summer marked by a massive cyclospora outbreak and numerous food recalls. The outbreak, linked to lettuce, sickened nearly 20,000 people from May to August 2026, a substantial increase from the previous year. Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Representative Gabe Amo (D-R.I.), and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.), are criticizing the Trump administration, alleging that budget cuts to federal food safety agencies and specific policy decisions have compromised the safety of the U.S. food supply. The administration, however, asserts it has mounted a robust response to outbreaks and that recalls are at a decade-low, a claim disputed by some food safety experts who point to misleading data that includes non-food recalls. Concerns are also rising over the administration's initiatives to ease regulations on small livestock operations, import more beef from countries ...

NAD IV Therapy Lacks Scientific Evidence for Health Benefits, Poses Risks and High Costs

NAD IV Therapy Lacks Scientific Evidence for Health Benefits, Poses Risks and High Costs

NAD IV therapy, promoted on social media for increased energy, sharper focus, and anti-aging, lacks strong scientific evidence to support its claimed health benefits, according to Dr. Zachary Mulvihill, an integrative health and well-being physician at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. While nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is an essential molecule derived from vitamin B3, crucial for over 400 enzyme reactions and cellular energy, its intravenous administration is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any medical condition. Animal studies suggesting NAD's role in metabolic health and age-related cellular function have not been replicated in humans, and much of that research focused on NAD precursors, not IV infusions. Treatments can cost hundreds of dollars per session, are rarely covered by insurance, and carry substantial side effects, including abdominal cramping, nausea, increased heart rate, and chest pressure. Concerns also exist regarding product quali...

The FDA Got Its Familiar Name in 1930

The FDA Got Its Familiar Name in 1930

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stands as a pivotal federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services, tasked ...

Mayo Clinic Names New Downtown Rochester Entrance 'Penske Arrival Building' Following Foundation Gift

Mayo Clinic Names New Downtown Rochester Entrance 'Penske Arrival Building' Following Foundation Gift

Mayo Clinic has announced that the new entrance to its downtown Rochester campus will be named the 'Penske Arrival Building.' This naming recognizes a significant gift from the Penske Foundation, which supports Mayo Clinic's 'Bold. Forward. Unbound.' initiative. The new 15,000-square-foot building is designed to serve as a gateway to the campus, aiming to integrate transportation, navigation, hospitality, and human support to streamline the arrival and departure experience for patients and their families. The goal is to reduce logistical burdens, allowing patients to focus on their health. Blair Penske Hall, president of the Penske Foundation, expressed pride in supporting Mayo Clinic's vision for transforming the patient experience and emphasized the foundation's long-standing partnership with the healthcare provider. The Penske Arrival Building is scheduled to become operational on October 8, offering valet and drop-off services. A new 500-space parking ramp for Mayo Clinic patients is also slated to ope...

Blood pressure medication recalled nationwide. See affected drug

Blood pressure medication recalled nationwide. See affected drug

More than 25,000 bottles of this blood pressure medication has been recalled. Here's the affected drug and reasoning behind the recall.

Senator Hawley Calls for National Ban on Abortion Drug Mifepristone, Citing Safety Concerns and Increased Abortions

Senator Hawley Calls for National Ban on Abortion Drug Mifepristone, Citing Safety Concerns and Increased Abortions

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is advocating for a national ban on the abortion drug mifepristone, asserting that it is unsafe for both the unborn and the mother. He has introduced the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act, which aims to revoke the FDA's approval of the drug. According to Senator Hawley, mifepristone is responsible for a significant increase in abortions, with more abortions occurring now than when Roe v. Wade was in effect. He claims that the drug leads to hospitalization for 11% of expectant mothers who use it, citing life-threatening conditions such as hemorrhaging, infections, and sepsis. Senator Hawley argues that pharmaceutical companies profit from the increased number of abortions facilitated by the drug. He also stated that the drug has turned 'every mailbox in America into a Planned Parenthood clinic,' making it accessible regardless of local regulations. The legislation has garnered seven Senate co-sponsors.