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Health News News 12 August 2025 - 28 September 2025

‘Hoarse Voice’ Could Be COVID: “Stratus” Variant Surges—Symptoms Doctors Flag, Where It’s Rising, and What Still Works

‘Hoarse Voice’ Could Be COVID: “Stratus” Variant Surges—Symptoms Doctors Flag, Where It’s Rising, and What Still Works

What is the “Stratus” COVID variant? “Stratus” is the colloquial name for XFG, a recombinant Omicron descendant (from LF.7 and LP.8.1.2). WHO added XFG to its monitoring list in late June and, based on available evidence, concluded the “additional public‑health risk … is low.” WHO’s lab summary notes spike‑protein changes (e.g., at positions 478 and 487) that can modestly increase immune escape compared with earlier JN.1‑family strains. World Health Organization Globally, XFG gained speed over the summer. WHO’s dashboard reports XFG was ~67% of submitted sequences in the week ending 31 Aug 2025; the runner‑up, NB.1.8.1 (“Nimbus”), accounted for ~21%.
28 September 2025
Possible Life on Mars, ‘Black Hole Stars’ and a Global Diabetes Bombshell – Science News Roundup (Sept 15–16, 2025)

Possible Life on Mars, ‘Black Hole Stars’ and a Global Diabetes Bombshell – Science News Roundup (Sept 15–16, 2025)

NASA Rover Finds Possible Biosignature – Closest Hint Yet of Life on Mars In a sensational development for astrobiology, NASA announced that Perseverance has collected a Mars rock sample that “could preserve evidence of ancient microbial life” nasa.gov. The rover drilled the sample, nicknamed “Sapphire Canyon,” from an ancient riverbed formation rich in clay – exactly the kind of environment that on Earth traps and preserves organic remains nasa.gov nasa.gov. Inside the rock, scientists detected certain organic molecules and chemical patterns that are considered potential biosignatures, meaning they might be remnants of past life (though not yet proof of it)
16 September 2025
COVID Booster Shocker, Pharma Mega-Deals & Alzheimer’s Breakthroughs – Global Health Roundup (Aug 28–29, 2025)

COVID Booster Shocker, Pharma Mega-Deals & Alzheimer’s Breakthroughs – Global Health Roundup (Aug 28–29, 2025)

Drug Approvals & Clinical Trial Results Updated COVID Boosters Get Narrow Nod: The U.S. FDA approved new fall COVID-19 booster shots from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna on August 27 – but with strict eligibility limits. Only adults 65+ and younger people with certain medical conditions are cleared for the updated vaccines, and emergency use authorizations for routine use in healthy children were removed realeconomy.rsmus.com. Health experts immediately sounded alarms: the Infectious Diseases Society of America blasted the “narrowed” booster rollout as contrary to scientific guidance and a risk to lives cidrap.umn.edu. They warn these restrictions could hinder access, especially for children,
29 August 2025
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Breakthrough Drugs, Big Deals & Public Health Alerts – Biotech and Health News Roundup (Aug 22–23, 2025)

Breakthrough Drugs, Big Deals & Public Health Alerts – Biotech and Health News Roundup (Aug 22–23, 2025)

Regulatory Approvals & Clinical Milestones Pharma & Biotech Industry Moves Startups & Innovation Highlights Medical Research & Innovation Public Health & Policy Developments Sources: Ionis HAE drug approval pharmexec.com biopharmadive.com; BioPharmaDive on Dawnzera pricing and positioning biopharmadive.com biopharmadive.com; AbbVie Rinvoq AA trial via FiercePharma fiercepharma.com; Lancet Neurology SAPPHIRE trial results neurologylive.com neurologylive.com; Reuters – Kite/Gilead’s Interius acquisition reuters.com and Interius press release interiusbio.com; PharmExec on XOMA-Mural deal ts2.tech; Reuters – J&J $2B NC facility and quote ts2.tech ts2.tech; Reuters – Apollo Hospitals stake sale ts2.tech; BiopharmaTrend on Kyorin adopting Elix AI platform biopharmatrend.com biopharmatrend.com; Laotian Times – Amgen Golden Ticket
23 August 2025
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Biotech Breakthroughs, Pharma Shakeups & Health Alerts – Global News Roundup (Aug 19–20, 2025)

Biotech Breakthroughs, Pharma Shakeups & Health Alerts – Global News Roundup (Aug 19–20, 2025)

Major Corporate & Industry Announcements Clinical Trials & Drug Regulatory Updates Scientific & Medical Research Breakthroughs (Note: The above research highlights were reported in peer-reviewed journals and scientific news outlets around this time, underlining the broader scientific context during the news cycle.) Public Health & Policy Highlights Sources: Key information in this report is drawn from reputable industry and news outlets including Reuters reuters.com reuters.com, Fierce Biotech/Pharma fiercebiotech.com fiercebiotech.com, Endpoints News, STAT, and official statements from organizations like the FDA, EMA, WHO, and leading medical journals. For full details and additional context, please refer to the cited sources inline.
20 August 2025
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Miracle Drugs, Mega Mergers & Outbreak Alerts – Biotech & Health News Roundup (Aug 15–16, 2025)

Miracle Drugs, Mega Mergers & Outbreak Alerts – Biotech & Health News Roundup (Aug 15–16, 2025)

Wegovy (semaglutide) received FDA accelerated approval to treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), becoming the first GLP-1 therapy cleared for MASH in a patient population estimated at about 5% of U.S. adults, based on part 1 of an ongoing trial showing liver health improvement. Tonix Pharmaceuticals’ Tonmya, or TNX-102 SL, was approved August 15 for fibromyalgia, the first new fibromyalgia therapy in 15 years, with two Phase 3 trials showing significantly reduced daily pain versus placebo at 14 weeks and a potential peak U.S. sales of about $800 million. Pfizer’s inclacumab, a P-selectin inhibitor acquired via the 2022 $5.4 billion Global
16 August 2025
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Blockbuster Breakthroughs, Setbacks & Surges: Biotech and Health News Roundup (Aug 11–12, 2025)

Blockbuster Breakthroughs, Setbacks & Surges: Biotech and Health News Roundup (Aug 11–12, 2025)

IO Biotech’s Phase 3 melanoma vaccine Cylembia added to Merck’s Keytruda narrowly missed statistical significance, with median progression-free survival of 19.4 months versus 11 months for Keytruda alone. Fosun Pharma’s deal with Expedition Therapeutics grants rights outside Greater China to XH-S004, a first-in-class oral DPP-1 inhibitor for chronic respiratory diseases, in a pact potentially worth up to $645 million including $120 million upfront and up to $525 million in milestones. NextRNA Therapeutics announced on August 11 it is winding down operations after cash constraints, leaving about 27 employees. FDA approved ketamine (brand name KETARx) from PharmaTher Holdings for surgical anesthesia
12 August 2025
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Stock Market Today

Seagate (STX) stock jumps nearly 6% as Citi hikes target — what to watch next week

Seagate (STX) stock jumps nearly 6% as Citi hikes target — what to watch next week

7 February 2026
Seagate shares rose 5.9% to $429.32 Friday after Citigroup raised its price target to $480 and reiterated a buy rating. The gain ended a two-day slide but left the stock 6.6% below its Feb. 3 high. CEO Dave Mosley sold 20,000 shares on Feb. 2 under a pre-arranged plan, SEC filings show. U.S. jobs and inflation data next week are seen as key tests for tech stocks.
Cummins (CMI) stock price rebounds after earnings whipsaw as investors eye data-center power demand

Cummins (CMI) stock price rebounds after earnings whipsaw as investors eye data-center power demand

7 February 2026
Cummins shares jumped 6.8% to $577.73 Friday, recovering from a nearly 9% post-earnings drop the day before. The company reported Q4 revenue up 1% to $8.54 billion, took a $218 million charge tied to its hydrogen business, and guided for 2026 EBITDA of 17–18% of sales. Demand for data center generators offset weakness in North American truck markets. Analyst reaction was mixed; Truist raised its price target.
Corning stock hits first record close since 2000 as jobs, CPI data loom

Corning stock hits first record close since 2000 as jobs, CPI data loom

7 February 2026
Corning shares surged 8.3% to $122.16 Friday, their highest close since the dot-com era, after Meta agreed to buy up to $6 billion in fiber-optic cables. The stock is up 40% since late 2025, fueled by strong first-quarter guidance and AI data-center demand. Insiders sold shares following the rally, SEC filings show. Investors await next week’s U.S. jobs and inflation data for rate signals.
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