The administration of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is actively reshaping public health policy, most notably by undermining confidence in vaccines and altering official CDC guidance to reflect fringe theories about their safety. Recent changes to the agency’s website now state that studies have not ruled out a link between vaccines and autism, reversing decades of scientific consensus. This shift follows the appointment of Dr. Ralph Lee Abraham—a proponent of unapproved COVID-19 treatments and a former state official who discouraged vaccination—as the CDC’s second-in-command.
The move bypasses normal vetting procedures, raising alarm among medical experts who fear it will fuel vaccine hesitancy, leading to preventable outbreaks. The American Medical Association has warned this could create “dangerous consequences,” while infectious disease specialists predict increased illness and deaths, particularly among children.
Kennedy’s actions extend beyond website edits. He has purged the CDC’s vaccine advisory group and replaced it with individuals lacking expertise, and the Indian Health Services, under HHS oversight, has reportedly curtailed vaccine promotion. Public health officials are already noting a decline in vaccine uptake, potentially setting the stage for a resurgence of diseases like measles—which has seen 1,753 infections and three deaths in the U.S. this year, almost entirely among the unvaccinated.
Abbott’s $21 Billion Cancer Play
Amid these policy shifts, Abbott Laboratories has made a massive investment in cancer diagnostics, acquiring Exact Sciences for $21 billion. This deal is driven by the growth potential of early cancer detection and will fill a gap left by declining COVID-19 testing revenue. The acquisition positions Abbott to compete with companies like Grail and Guardant Health in a rapidly expanding market.
This move is strategic. Abbott’s diagnostics division faced headwinds from both the decline in pandemic testing and cuts to USAID contracts under the Trump administration, which forced the company to seek new growth avenues. Exact Sciences, with its Cologuard stool-based test, offers immediate revenue potential, expected to exceed $3 billion this year.
Vivek Ramaswamy’s Fortunes Rise
Meanwhile, former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has seen his net worth surge by 80% in nine months, reaching $1.8 billion. This increase is tied to the success of Roivant Sciences, the pharmaceutical company he founded, which has seen its stock soar on positive trial results for new therapies. The gains highlight how quickly fortunes can shift in the biotech sector, even after failed political bids.
Other Developments
- Merck KGaA and Valo Health have partnered on a $3 billion deal to develop treatments for Parkinson’s disease using AI-driven drug discovery.
- Legal battles are erupting between GSK and AnaptysBio over a licensing agreement for the cancer drug Jemperli.
- Botulism cases linked to recalled ByHeart infant formula continue to rise, with contaminated product still reportedly on store shelves.
- Novo Nordisk’s Alzheimer’s trial for semaglutide failed, causing a dip in its stock price.
The current landscape reveals a volatile mix of political interference in public health, strategic corporate acquisitions, and financial gains for those positioned in the right sectors. These trends suggest that while science and business continue to advance, the direction of public health may increasingly depend on political agendas rather than evidence-based policy.
