U.S. Fertility Rates Near Historic Lows
Fertility rates in the United States are now among the lowest levels ever recorded, based on provisional data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier this month. According to the CDC report, the general fertility rate declined to 53.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15-44, down 23 percent since 2007, […]
Pfizer, BioNTech End mRNA COVID-19 Biologic Trial Early
After failing to recruit enough eligible volunteers to generate enough data in the U.S. to meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) post-marketing evidence requirements, Pfizer, Inc. and BioNTech SE have halted a large clinical trial of their updated mRNA COVID-19 biologic. The study targeted healthy adults 50 to 64 years of age but fell […]
Moderna’s mNEXSPIKE mRNA COVID-19 Shot Approved by European Commission
The European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for Moderna’s mNEXSPIKE mRNA COVID-19 shot, allowing it to be marketed across the European Union (U.N.). The authorization follows a regulatory review and permits all 27 E.U. Member States, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, to consider the shot for use within their vaccination programs. It […]
NC Court Upholds Decision to Deny Access to COVID-19 Origins
The North Carolina Court of Appeals has sided with the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill allowing the university to withhold thousands of pages of genetic engineering research pertaining to the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The three-judge panel upheld the lower court’s decision to deny the public health interest group, U.S. Right […]
The Third Rail: Covid-19 Vaccines and Cancer
I’m going to touch on a highly controversial subject, one that has become the third rail among cancer biologists and the broader medical community: the possible link between Covid-19 vaccination and cancer. Because my laboratory’s mission is centered on cancer prevention, I cannot in good conscience ignore the elephant in the room. As my colleague, […]
CDC’s ACIP: The Next Generation
On Sept. 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced the appointment of five additional members to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The new members—Catherine Stein, PhD; Evelyn Griffin, MD; Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBA; Kirk Milhoan; MD, PhD; and Raymond Pollak, MD—bring […]