Health

According to the FDA, there is no longer a shortage of semaglutide, the active ingredient in the wildly popular Ozempic and Wegovy — a very bad omen for the countless telehealth and pharmacy businesses selling “compounded” versions of the diabetes and weight-loss drug. The FDA has clarified that state-licensed and out-sourcing operations have to cease production of the “compounded” medication by April 22nd and May 22nd, respectively.

It’s part of the Human Virome Program, an effort to better understand the many viruses that invade our bodies without making us sick. The researchers plan to collect samples from thousands of volunteers this year to analyze using AI.

Reuters reports that roughly 20 people in the FDA’s office of neurological and physical medicine devices were let go over the weekend. Including staffers overseeing clinical trial applications from Neuralink, Elon Musk’s company developing a brain-computer interface. The report states the firings also affect the FDA’s ability to ensure safe trials for other companies exploring the tech.

The company completed its acquisition of meal-planning software startup Intent and plans to launch personalized meal features to fit users’ dietary needs, make nutrition logging easier, automate grocery lists, and even add ingredients to online store carts.

I tried out the Feno toothbrush: a full-mouth, U-shaped toothbrush. It brushes your entire mouth in 20 seconds as opposed to the typical 2-minute brush time recommended for standard toothbrushes. The Feno toothbrush seemingly did a pretty thorough job of brushing my teeth and was quick and comfortable.

That includes at least 168 employees at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who worked in its Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. The Trump administration is following a play out of Project 2025, which calls for “eliminating” the office.

I got to try out EssilorLuxottica’s Nuance Audio glasses last month at CES 2025. They look like normal glasses, but can amplify the voice of whoever you’re speaking to while also dampening noisy environments. Plus, since it can handle prescription lenses, it’s sort of like killing two birds with one stone. Now that they’ve got FDA clearance, the glasses are set to launch in the US in Q1 this year and the first half of 2025 in Europe.

After studying Apple Watch noise data from the past four Super Bowl Sundays, we have quantifiable data showing that people get 1.5 to 3 decibels louder in the three hours before and after the game compared to the following Sunday. And yes, folks in game states are indeed louder than those in non-game states. Are we surprised at these findings? No, but it’s kind of fun to have data to point to.

Android Authority reports that Samsung may be the first to noninvasive blood glucose monitoring in the Galaxy Watch, citing comments from Samsung senior vice president Hon Park saying the tech will be a “game-changer.”

National Institutes of Health is reportedly reeling from canceled meetings and a communications and hiring freeze under the new Trump administration.

The company, whose patent infringement claim led Apple to remove blood oxygen sensing tech from newer Apple Watches, has named Katie Szyman, worldwide president of Advanced Patient Monitoring at Becton Dickinson, for the role, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The move is part of the Biden Administration’s initiative to lower prescription drug prices — particularly for medications needed by elderly and disabled citizens. Drug companies will have until February 28th to decide whether they want to negotiate. Ozempic and Wegovy, which are also used to treat diabetes, aren’t the only drugs on the list either. There are 15 total, and you can find the total list here.

The government has ripped out “pointless regulation” that prevented Apple and other companies from including hearing tests and assistance in earbuds. Apple added the feature to its 2nd-gen AirPods Pro last fall, and told The Telegraph it will be enabled for UK users “in the coming weeks.”

The covid pandemic saga of Razer’s RGB-lit Zephyr face mask is probably ending now that checks and PayPal payments are giving money back to the 6,764 buyers.

I got to try out Eli Health’s Hormometer in person last night. I was fully expecting it to say my stress levels were high but my cortisol levels were apparently within range. Maybe my body is just used to all that CES adrenaline after all these years. In any case, here’s what using an at-home, portable hormone test is like.

I ranked the Circular Ring Slim dead last in my smart ring battle royale. When I heard their CES 2025 announcement, I was cautiously optimistic that a redemption arc was in the making with the Circular Ring 2. Now that I’ve seen and tried it, I’m even more hopeful. The hardware is such an improvement — all that’s left to see is if the software is too when it launches.

I’m here at CES Unveiled trying out Eli Health’s Hormometer. I had to do it twice because this dry desert air makes it hard to generate a lot of spit. Here I am taking the cortisol (stress) test.

Sure, booze is fun but it’s also poison. Anyway, the Surgeon General has said alcohol should be labeled for its cancer risk. If you’re sober-curious, join me for a Dry January — a ritual in which I get a month of great sleep.