COVID-19 hospitalizations among Americans under the age of 50 have reached a new pandemic high, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of children and young adults hospitalized with the virus has similarly increased. (The New York Times)
Pfizer and BioNTech have submitted initial clinical data to the Food and Drug Administration for their COVID-19 vaccine booster application. The data show that a booster shot created more antibodies against the original, Beta and Delta strains of the virus. (CNBC Weekly)
The FDA has approved Merck’s belzutifan for treatment of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)-associated renal cell carcinoma. The drug will be the first therapy of its kind for VHL. (Endpoints News)
Researchers and psychiatrists are slowly shifting away from the “monoamine hypothesis” of depression and embracing new therapy pathways. A previous focus on neurotransmitters and antidepressants has expanded to a more complex understanding of depression, as well as new treatments like ketamine, psychedelics and magnetic stimulation. (STAT)
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed a broken system for collecting and analyzing data at the state level. A systemic failure to track the spread of the virus prevented health officials from stemming outbreaks, an issue that continues as Delta spreads. (Politico)
