Energy Drinks and Blood Cancer; Groups Slam MAHA Report; FDA Warns of Falsified Data

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Health news and commentary gathered by MedPage Today staff

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MedPage Today Staff

May 23, 2025 • 2 min read

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Researchers linked taurine, an amino acid made by the body and found in food and energy drinks like Red Bull, to the growth of leukemia. (The Hill)

President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “are pushing policies that will make Americans sicker,” the Center for Science in the Public Interest said in reaction to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report.

And the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America called out “several untrue or misleading claims” about vaccines and drugs used to treated chronic illness in the MAHA report.

Meanwhile, health experts spoke out against the report’s claim that Americans are sicker than ever before. (New York Times)

Though, American breakfast cereals are becoming less healthy and filled with increasing amounts of sugar, fat, and sodium. (JAMA Network Open)

Congress voted to undo a Clean Air Act regulation that tightly controls the amount of toxic air pollutants emitted by industrial facilities. (NPR)

The CDC warned that using imported metalware for meals can be a source of lead exposure. (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Genentech announced FDA approval of ranibizumab injection (Susvimo) for diabetic retinopathy — the continuous delivery treatment is for patients who have already responded to anti-VEGF injections.

And Arcutis Biotherapeutics announced approval of roflumilast (Zoryve) topical foam 0.3% for plaque psoriasis of the scalp and body in patients 12 years and older.

In other agency news, FDA is cracking down on two Chinese third-party testing companies after discovering falsified data used for medical device applications.

Researchers estimated that introducing rubella vaccines over the next 30 years in the 19 countries without it could avert 986,000 congenital rubella syndrome cases and accelerate progress toward global elimination. (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Transgender and gender-diverse patients were 50% less likely than cisgender patients to receive endocrine therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and had inferior 5-year survival. (JAMA Oncology)

A testing method called nanopore sequencing can identify a tumor type within hours. (Neuro-Oncology)

Pope Leo XIV’s workout routine mimics that of a younger man, according to his personal trainer. (AP)

Gaza’s main hospital is overwhelmed with malnourished children as aid remains blocked. (AP)