Topic: Oncology

The FDA is reportedly facing significant internal upheaval, with a loss of nearly half of its medical reviewers in key divisions like oncology and hematology. Dr. Scott Gottlieb noted that the departure of career experts and the influx of political appointees are damaging the agency's ability to regulate 20% of the US economy effectively.

Oncologists are reporting a dramatic increase in colorectal cancer deaths among men and women under the age of 50. While experts point to environmental factors, obesity, and changes in the microbiome, the hosts suggest that the medical community is ignoring a potential link to COVID-19 vaccines. The American Cancer Society has lowered the recommended screening age from 50 to 45 in response to the trend.

Dr. William Makis reports on an aggressive phenomenon labeled "turbo cancer" appearing in vaccinated individuals, including young Canadian doctors. Meanwhile, Pfizer's stock has declined as the company faces "vaccine fatigue" and lower-than-expected uptake for its latest boosters.

An oncology nurse raised concerns via a producer note regarding the long-term cancer risks associated with high-dose hormone replacement therapy (HRT). While HRT has been linked to non-genetic cancers in menopausal women, the note suggests that the "unprecedented" quantities used for gender transition could lead to a future epidemic of terminal cancers. There is currently a lack of long-term studies on the safety of these specific medical protocols.

Merck reported a strong fiscal quarter, exceeding expectations by $1 billion, driven by growth in its oncology business and a 68% increase in Gardasil sales. CEO Robert Davis discussed the upcoming launch of Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral pill intended for home use, with an advisory committee meeting scheduled for late November. Merck plans to produce 10 million courses of the drug by the end of the year, with pricing estimated by some analysts at up to $2,000 per course.

Internal documents reveal that IBM's Watson for Oncology often provided "unsafe and incorrect" treatment recommendations. Despite marketing claims that the AI was trained on real patient data, it was actually programmed using hypothetical scenarios created by doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering. In one instance, the system recommended a drug that could cause fatal hemorrhaging in a bleeding patient, leading to accusations that IBM is experimenting with human health in real-time.