Dec 18, 2025

1. Subject: Cell and gene therapy outlook | Wellington Hospital installs new SPECT-CT | HK hospital dental clinics join OMSs

   Contents:

2. Cell and gene therapy market sees major investor commitment of over $3.5 billion across deals.
3. Wellington Regional Hospital in New Zealand installs a new SPECT-CT scanner replacing an older model, complementing a recently installed unit.
4. Hong Kong hospital dental clinics will integrate with the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) service starting in 2026, covering seven HDS clinics.
5. IHH Healthcare is expanding in India with increasing stakes in Fortis and Malar.
6. Perennial Holdings launches Healthcare City in Chongqing, China with an investment of approximately $212.8 million.
7. St. Luke’s in the Philippines adopts real-time discharge tracking through its eHealth Hub for improved patient experience.
8. Australian government invests $49.72 million in health projects for Victoria under the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.
9. The global wearable medical device market is projected to reach $143.7 billion by 2034, with Asia Pacific as the fastest-growing region.

10. Upcoming events include the Healthcare Asia Summit and a series of awards in March 2026.

11. Subject: Why some scientists are leaving the U.S.

    Contents:

12. Despite changes at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Secretary RFK Jr., including a 20% workforce reduction and an overhaul focused on chronic disease, legal and legislative hurdles remain.
13. Two rare diseases, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and metachromatic leukodystrophy, were added to newborn screening recommendations aiding early diagnosis.
14. Approval of two new first-in-class antibiotics for gonorrhea marks a breakthrough in fighting drug-resistant STIs, developed through a novel nonprofit R&D model by GARDP.
15. Concerns about a “brain drain” are rising as some scientists leave the U.S. due to funding pessimism and immigration anxieties, reflecting ongoing impacts from administrative policies.
16. Research links combined anxiety and depression to a 32% higher risk of cardiovascular disease, highlighting the need for integrated emotional and heart health strategies.

17. Science whistleblower Sholto David received $2.63 million in settlement related to misconduct at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, spotlighting issues of research integrity.

18. Subject: 📈 Why premiums spikes

    Contents:

19. Health insurance premiums are rising sharply across the U.S., including a projected 26% increase for ACA plans due to hospital costs, demand for expensive drugs like GLP-1s, and tariffs.
20. When factoring in expiring subsidies, some ACA enrollees could see premium increases exceeding 100%.
21. Employer-sponsored insurance premiums are also up by around 11%, but still provide good ROI to employers via improved productivity, tax benefits, and staff retention.
22. Average employer premiums in 2025 are $9,325 for individual coverage and $26,993 for families, with employers paying most but shifting costs to employees.
23. Political battles over ACA subsidy extensions continue in the House, with GOP moderates frustrated by leadership refusal to allow votes; discharge petitions seek to force votes on clean extensions.

24. Additionally, the House plans votes on bills targeting gender-affirming care for transgender youth, with significant political and social implications ahead of midterms.

25. Subject: You deserve a gift too 🎁 25% off STAT+s

    Contents:

26. STAT+ holiday limited-time offer: 25% discount on first-year subscription.
27. STAT+ provides unlimited access to in-depth investigative journalism, scientific analysis, subscriber-only newsletters, special discounts on reports, events, and merchandise.
28. Emphasizes the importance of staying informed with up-to-the-minute life sciences news delivered directly to subscribers.

29. Offer valid through December 23, 2025.

30. Subject: Influenza: how scientists are fighting one of the most harmful viruses in history

    Contents:

31. Nature’s highlights for 2025 include positive science stories such as recovery of endangered Australian marsupials, Antarctic ozone layer repair, and containing an Ebola outbreak quickly in DRC.
32. Researchers have innovatively used a 4,400-km undersea telecom cable as a vast seismic detector by analyzing optical signal reflections, enhancing earthquake monitoring.
33. The unexpected death of MIT’s fusion lab head Nuno Loureiro is mourned by the scientific community.
34. Features explore AI’s societal impacts and career dilemmas faced by newly minted PhD holders.
35. Influenza research focuses on ‘original antigenic sin,’ where childhood exposure shapes lifelong antibody responses.
36. Efforts to develop vaccines against dangerous avian influenza strains like H5N1 continue amid political and research challenges.
37. The newsletter includes multimedia content such as videos discussing the pandemic potential of bird flu and addresses concerns about AI conference review processes being compromised by AI-generated submissions.

Stay Well!