Means, tested

The surgeon general could be another public face for MAHA. On Thursday, the Senate health committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Casey Means, the president's pick for the role.

The surgeon general is considered a figurehead, albeit an influential one. Means would oversee members of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service, though she wouldn't directly supervise them. The role, which includes speaking for the government on public health, could be important in an administration keen on MAHA's promotion of good diet and exercise and its distrust of vaccines, corporate influence, and environmental chemicals.

President Trump tapped Means in May to replace his previous nominee, Janette Nesheiwat, based on the advice of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy adviser Calley Means is Casey Means' brother.

If you want to read up on Casey Means, here's an opinion piece on why she might be the right person for the job, and a story by Sarah Todd and Isabella Cueto about how Means has made hundreds of thousands of dollars promoting supplements and other health and wellness products. Isa and Chelsea Cirruzzo will be covering the hearing — stay tuned.

congress

The future of biotech

That's the name of a Senate health committee hearing on Wednesday that, according to a committee spokesperson, will focus on "how we can deliver more lifesaving cures to patients and maintain American dominance in medical innovation."

The hearing lands amid Trump administration announcements of drugmakers lowering prices to levels in other rich countries. Health committee chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.), is also interested in the most-favored nation policy, and last summer he floated legislation to tie brand U.S. drug prices to those abroad.

The hearing also comes as Congress considers legislation, called the BIOSECURE Act, to restrict U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies from doing business with certain Chinese companies.

Biotechnology Innovation Organization President John Crowley is among the scheduled witnesses. Crowley switched BIO's position on BIOSECURE from opposition to support when he took over at the trade group.

drug development

There's no stopping China

Despite U.S. threats of stifling business with China, the biotech deals keep coming, Brian Yang reports.

This year, there have been a string of deals between Chinese drugmakers and their international counterparts, dominated by licensing deals for biospecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and next-generation cancer treatments.

China has become the biggest threat to American medical innovation, former Trump FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said last month at the University of South California. Read more.

snap

Food assistance running out

Millions of Americans are set to lose government financial assistance for food starting Saturday due to the government shutdown, Sarah Todd reports.

Experts worry that even a short loss of money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will likely create really bad knock-on effects for people's physical and mental health. Some may skip medications to afford food. Others may risk eviction or having their power shut off.

Combined with the start of enrollment season for ACA health plans, the looming loss of food funds raises the pressure on lawmakers to reach a deal to fund the government.

Read more on the ways that the loss of SNAP funds could impact people's health.

fda

Applicants need not apply

Lizzy Lawrence contacted the nine drug companies that snagged priority review vouchers in the FDA's new program.

Vouchers are valuable to drugmakers because they significantly shorten FDA review times for new medicines. Lizzy wanted to learn what the companies had to do to win one.

Turns out, not much necessarily. Four companies were surprised to learn they'd received a voucher, and some didn't even apply for one. Read more to learn about the varied experiences of the recipients.

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What we're reading

For heart health, physical activity favors women, STAT
In his battle with doctors, RFK Jr.'s got GOP lawmakers on his side, Politico
Generic drugmakers seek to thwart a Connecticut law that would cap rising prices, STAT
A West Texas children's clinic where vaccine suspicion is encouraged, The New York Times
Blue Cross plans to target doctors for overcharging. Physicians are furious, Boston Globe