In a significant medical breakthrough, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new treatment for schizophrenia. Cobenfy, developed by Karuna Therapeutics and later acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb, represents the first new class of treatment for the disorder in nearly three decades.

A Novel Approach to Targeting Schizophrenia

Unlike existing schizophrenia medications, which primarily target dopamine receptors, Cobenfy operates through a novel mechanism, regulating brain pathways to reduce dopamine levels and alleviate symptoms. This new approach has generated excitement and hope among both doctors and patients.

Addressing the Limitations of Existing Treatments

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thoughts. While existing antipsychotics can help manage symptoms, they often come with significant drawbacks, such as weight gain, which can increase the risk of heart disease and premature death. Additionally, many patients stop using these medications due to side effects like sluggishness and lack of motivation.

Cobenfy: A Promising New Option

Cobenfy offers a potential solution to these challenges. By indirectly affecting dopamine levels through a different neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, researchers hope it can address some of the most challenging symptoms of schizophrenia, such as lack of motivation and inability to experience pleasure.

Availability and Cost

The FDA has approved Cobenfy as a monotherapy, meaning it is intended to be taken on its own, without other medications. However, further research is needed to understand how it interacts with existing treatments and whether combining it with them would offer any additional benefits or risks.

One of the most promising aspects of Cobenfy is its side effect profile. Unlike traditional dopamine-based therapies, the side effects reported in trials were mostly mild to moderate, such as nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort, which tended to subside over time. While there are warnings related to urinary retention, increased heart rate, and facial swelling in rare cases, the medication is not recommended for people with a history of liver or kidney disorders.

Bristol Myers Squibb is continuing to investigate Cobenfy’s long-term effects and how dosage adjustments can be made as patients' symptoms change. The drug's success in treating schizophrenia may open doors to its use in other conditions as well.

Cobenfy is expected to be available in the U.S. by late October. Bristol Myers Squibb estimates the wholesale price for a month’s supply will be $1,850. However, the actual cost for patients may be lower depending on their insurance coverage. The company estimates that 80% of people with schizophrenia in the U.S. have coverage through Medicare or Medicaid, potentially making the treatment more accessible to a broader range of patients.

On July 17, the U.S. government will end LGBTQ+-specific services on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — a decision that has drawn deep concern from mental health professionals, advocacy groups, and LGBTQ+ communities alike. The move, quietly announced on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, means LGBTQ+ youth will no longer have access to the dedicated “Press 3” support option they have relied on since 2022.

A Lifeline for Many, Now Being Taken Away

Since its launch in September 2022, the LGBTQ+ option on the 988 hotline has served nearly 1.3 million callers. Whether through a phone prompt or texting “PRIDE,” this specialized service offered affirming care to LGBTQ+ youth and young adults in distress — a group already at higher risk for suicide, isolation, and discrimination.

Despite its demonstrated reach and efficacy, the program is being phased out under the reasoning that services should no longer be “siloed,” and instead aim to serve all callers equally. But many believe that “equal” does not always mean “equitable.”

“People, Not Politics”

The Trevor Project — one of seven organizations providing LGBTQ+-focused crisis response through 988 — confirmed that it was notified of the shutdown earlier this week. The organization currently supports nearly half of all LGBTQ+ callers to the hotline.

“Suicide prevention is about people, not politics,” said Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black, as reported by US News and Associated Press, criticizing the administration’s move as “incomprehensible” and dangerously out of touch with the realities LGBTQ+ youth face.

In SAMHSA’s official communication, the agency notably referred to “LGB+ youth services,” leaving out transgender individuals. Black called this omission “callous,” reinforcing that “transgender people can never, and will never, be erased.”

The hotline itself will remain operational for all callers, and The Trevor Project and other mental health organizations have affirmed they will continue offering their 24/7 support services.

Cuts Go Deeper Than a Hotline

This decision comes just as the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors — another blow for trans rights. Simultaneously, the Trump administration’s proposed 2026 federal budget not only maintains funding for 988 at $520 million but eliminates the $33 million specifically allocated for LGBTQ+ services.

In addition, the administration had already terminated 68 grants—amounting to $40 million—that supported LGBTQ-related health research, including studies on HIV prevention, youth suicide, cancer, and bone health. At least $1.36 million in future funding has already been withdrawn, with researchers warning that these figures are likely an undercount. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), which originally awarded these grants, is part of the same Health and Human Services (HHS) department overseeing the 988 changes.

A spokesperson from HHS defended the decision, claiming it was in the interest of promoting “gold-standard, evidence-based science.” However, the abrupt and political nature of the cancellations has caused outrage in the research community, particularly among scientists working on sexual and gender minority health.

Research Silenced, Progress Halted

One of the most affected efforts is a long-term health study from Vanderbilt University, tracking over 1,200 LGBTQ+ individuals aged 50 and older. Spearheaded by Dr. Tara McKay, the project has already resulted in dozens of publications and tangible healthcare improvements. With its funding now uncertain, the future of the research — and the communities it benefits — hangs in the balance.

In Minnesota, another study on cancer among gay and bisexual men was abruptly halted. Experts warn that these cuts may discourage young scientists from entering LGBTQ+ health research, slow innovation, and erase years of community-based progress.

A Broader Pattern of Rollbacks

These changes are not isolated. Since taking office, the Trump administration has chipped away at healthcare protections for transgender and non-binary people. In 2020, it reversed an Obama-era provision under the Affordable Care Act that prohibited discrimination based on gender identity, allowing providers to legally refuse treatment to trans patients. Redefining “sex” in federal policies to exclude gender identity has made accessing gender-affirming care even more difficult.

At a time when suicide rates are among the highest in U.S. history, and LGBTQ+ youth continue to face heightened risk, dismantling targeted support services may prove not only short-sighted — but deadly.

Every year on June 19, World Sickle Cell Day is observed to raise awareness about sickle cell disease (SCD). This is a genetic blood disorder. This day marks a day for global health observance and aims to educate the public about SCD, its impacts and the need for early diagnosis.

World Sickle Day 2025 Theme:

The theme for this year's sickle cell day is "Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self-Advocacy". This year’s theme emphasizes the power of unity—bringing together local communities and the global network to stand in support of individuals living with sickle cell disease. It encourages people at the grassroots level to speak up, spread awareness, and advocate for better care and support systems. The aim is to foster stronger connections, promote knowledge-sharing, and ensure that those affected by the condition have the resources they need to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives while remaining active, valued members of their communities.

This theme also puts light on the need to enhance healthcare services and community support for those diagnosed with the disease.

Many SCD patients also require regular blood transfusions to manage symptoms and prevent severe complications like stroke or organ damage.

SCD is more prevalent in ethnicity like African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Indian descent, thus this day also highlights the urgent need for ethnically matched blood.

What Is The Significance of This Day?

World Sickle Cell Day serves as a crucial platform to raise awareness about one of the most widespread yet often overlooked genetic blood disorders. It highlights the global impact of SCD and stresses the importance of early diagnosis, consistent care, and continued research.

The day also works to break the stigma surrounding the condition by educating people about its hereditary roots and the everyday struggles faced by those living with it. It draws attention to the urgent need for better healthcare access and infrastructure, especially in regions where the disease is most common.

Beyond awareness, this observance advocates for inclusive healthcare policies and stronger community support systems to enhance the lives of those affected. At its core, World Sickle Cell Anemia Day is a call for solidarity—driving change through understanding, compassion, and collective action.

History Of Sickle Cell Day

The SCD evolved in Africa some thousands of years ago as a means to fight malaria, which had been, historically, the region's leading cause of death. Long before the West knew about it, SCD became known by various names in tribal language, throughout the continent.

It was in 2008, when the United Nations recognized the need to promote awareness for this disease, nationally and internationally. Thus on December 22, a resolution was passed that recognized SCD as a public health hazard. It was called "one of the world's main genetic illness".

The resolution calls on members to raise sickle cell disease awareness on a national and international scale on the 19th of June each year.

What Is SCD?

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder where red blood cells become stiff and shaped like a sickle, instead of being soft and round. These misshapen cells can block blood flow, causing pain, organ damage, and other serious problems. While it's a lifelong condition, the right treatments and care can help manage symptoms and improve daily life.

The United States is having its worst year for measles since 2019, with almost 1,200 cases reported in 35 states so far in 2025. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 29 new cases in the most recent weekly report, bringing the country total to 1,197—just short of overtaking the 2019 high point, which itself was the highest since the disease was officially declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.

Although the outbreak is still predominantly among those who are unvaccinated, what is making headlines is that at least 3% of all confirmed cases have been among those who were fully vaccinated, having completed two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. This new trend is putting vaccine effectiveness, breakthrough infections, and public health readiness into question.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known to humans. Before the vaccine era, it infected millions annually. Today, while vaccines offer strong protection—estimated at 97% effectiveness after two doses—the latest data reminds us that no vaccine offers absolute immunity.

CDC states that approximately three dozen of the close to 1,200 infections were among fully vaccinated individuals. Another 2% of infections were seen in individuals who had received one dose of the MMR vaccine. The importance of these breakthrough cases is not in the failure of the vaccine per se, but in learning how waning immunity, timing of vaccination, and intensity of exposure affect risk of infection.

Although these breakthrough cases are uncommon, they do happen, especially in settings with high viral load or prolonged exposure," said Brian Wakeman, deputy task leader of the CDC's measles laboratory task force.

Through the first half of 2025, measles has affected 35 states. Texas continues to be one of the most challenging, with at least 21 cases among fully vaccinated individuals. While activity associated with the West Texas outbreak has begun decreasing, new clusters are arising in Dallas County and elsewhere. Dallas recently reported its first case since 2019—a fully vaccinated adult woman in her 20s with no travel history.

The CDC verifies that 90% of measles cases for this year are linked to outbreaks, rather than to sporadic or unassociated infection. To put this in perspective, a mere 69% of last year's cases were outbreak-related. The total for national outbreaks has risen to 21, already well above 16 for all of 2024.

International and local travel have been one of the major forces causing these epidemics. "Further cases have been seeded from the Texas outbreak, as well as related outbreaks in Mexico and Canada," Wakeman said. "Importation of measles due to international travel persists, particularly as the peak summer season picks up."

This spread that is caused by travel has prompted the CDC to release fresh guidelines, especially for those visiting summer camps and mass gatherings. Camp operators are encouraged to review staff and child vaccine history and adopt response plans in the event of exposure.

The greatest percentage of this year's cases has been in school-age children (37%), then adults aged 20 and older (33%), and children under five years of age (29%). The coincidence with school schedules, daycare centers, and camps has highlighted the renewed focus on vaccine coverage in these groups.

Most of those who were infected were either unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. But the few cases among fully vaccinated persons raise significant questions regarding how immunity works in the real world.

Has the Vaccine Effectiveness Declined?

The MMR vaccine remains among the most useful devices in contemporary medicine. It has 93% protection following one dose and 97% following two, as reported by the CDC. Yet vaccine-induced immunity does slowly decrease over time, especially in people vaccinated many years ago with older versions.

Health authorities are currently advising older persons, particularly those who were vaccinated prior to 1968, to seek consultations with their healthcare providers to find out if they will require a booster. Such advice is most crucial for older persons traveling abroad or engaging in high-risk group activities.

Post-Exposure Protocols and Booster Recommendations

The CDC also reminds the public that post-exposure prophylaxis can decrease infection probability or severity. It is an intervention that includes vaccinating or treating someone within 72 hours of confirmed exposure. But note that in the 21 Texas breakthrough infections among vaccinated individuals, none had received a second dose as part of post-exposure prophylaxis—emphasizing that breakthrough infections still happened despite full initial immunization.

For exposed individuals, particularly in groups or while traveling, prompt response can be the difference between life and death. Early vaccination or immunoglobulin therapy is still the gold standard for risk reduction after exposure.

How To Prepare Kids for Summer?

With summer already underway, the CDC is proactively preparing institutions serving children and adolescents. Summer camps are being encouraged to verify records of immunity among staff and visitors, keep isolation facilities in place, and immediately report suspected cases to local health authorities.

Parents should also check their children's vaccination status, especially if they are going to sleepaway camps or group programs. Although schools generally impose vaccine mandates, there are still exceptions and loopholes in most jurisdictions based on non-medical exemptions or incomplete records.

The text of increased cases of measles—coupled with breakthrough infections among fully vaccinated populations—underscores the necessity of straightforward, open public health messaging around vaccines. Officials acknowledge efforts to reassure vaccine efficacy even as they recognize that the vaccine has limitations.

"Breakthrough cases do not represent a failure of the vaccine," CDC officials point out. "They remind us that high community coverage, awareness about travel, and management of outbreaks remain key to containment."

Measles may have been declared eliminated in the U.S. two decades ago, but the virus is proving that it still poses a threat in a globally connected world. The vast majority of cases are still among unvaccinated populations, yet even fully vaccinated individuals aren’t entirely immune in the face of intense exposure and declining community immunity.