AGP Executive Report

Healthcare AI Partnership: Microsoft and Mayo Clinic are building a “safe and trusted” AI model for healthcare, using Mayo’s medical knowledge and anonymised data to support earlier diagnosis and more personalised treatment planning. Rheumatology Updates: New EULAR 2026 data on dapirolizumab pegol in systemic lupus erythematosus points to lower flare rates and reduced long-term steroid exposure. Rare Disease Drug Pathway: Pharming says the U.S. FDA has accepted its resubmitted application for Joenja (leniolisib) for children aged 4–11 with APDS, with a decision target set for October 2026. Care Delivery Tech Funding: UK-based Semble (outpatient care coordination) raised £30m/€34.7m Series C led by Revaia to expand across UK and France and grow its AI orchestration layer. Patient Support in Practice: An Italian real-world study finds treat-to-target strategies in inflammatory rheumatic disease are being implemented inconsistently, with especially low adherence in spondyloarthritis. Workplace Wellbeing Policy: Kenya’s KWAL introduces paid “feminine leave” (one day per month) to support menstrual health and inclusion. Public Health & Mental Health Link: A review reports chronic constipation is associated with a higher likelihood of depression, highlighting gut-brain connections. Health Equity in Germany: Germany’s anti-discrimination agency saw a record rise in counselling requests in 2025, underscoring gaps in legal protection and support. Regulation Watch: France moves to crack down on CBD foods and flowers under EU “novel food” rules, tightening enforcement after years of grey-market tolerance.

EU Tobacco Policy: Cyprus has pulled the tobacco taxation directive revision from Ecofin talks, citing Member State deadlock and leaving the file for Ireland. AI & Environment: A UN report urges AI firms to disclose environmental footprints, warning the AI boom is straining power grids, water and land. Mindfulness Across Borders: The Global Vipassana Network launched to expand Vipassana meditation cooperation across Asia and Europe, with programs planned in Hungary, Barcelona, Czechia and Finland. Public Health & Heat: Spain is preparing for a total solar eclipse with health authorities stressing eye safety and crowd risks; separately, Spain has recorded record heat-related deaths in May. Gout Care: New EULAR-linked trial data suggests many patients can stay flare-free even if urate-lowering therapy is discontinued after remission, challenging “lifelong” assumptions. Food & Cancer: A large EPIC study links one extra serving of processed meat daily to higher stomach and esophageal cancer risk. Ebola Disruptions: Congo’s World Cup warm-up against Chile was cancelled after a Spanish city blocked the match over Ebola concerns. Tech Sovereignty: The EU unveiled a package to cut dependence on foreign cloud, AI and semiconductors, aiming for “made-in-Europe” capacity. Mediterranean Health Access: A study in Spain’s Murcia region finds immigrants report fewer chronic illnesses and use less healthcare than native-born residents.

Public Health & Safety: Istanbul has designated 95 official swimming zones for summer, with water samples tested every 15 days and real-time updates online, while swimming is banned in non-designated areas. Nutrition & Metabolic Health: A BMJ study links eating three servings of French fries per week to a higher type 2 diabetes risk, while other potato preparations weren’t tied to the same increase. Mental Wellbeing Through Creativity: Bupa research across the UK and Spain finds most people aren’t using creative hobbies, yet creativity is strongly associated with feeling calmer and less stressed. Climate & Heat Risks: The UK Met Office warns hotter summers may bring more frequent heatwaves after record May temperatures. Ebola Response: EU health ministers are set for emergency talks as Ebola concerns continue to spread beyond the outbreak epicentre. Rare Disease Research: Chiesi will launch a new Find For Rare grant edition at the ERA Congress to support lysosomal storage disorder research. Animal Health & Food Security: Serbia’s first WOAH reference lab for lumpy skin disease is a boost for cattle health and food safety.

Public Health & Policy: Sweden’s public health agency urges parents to put phones away around children, including screen-free bedrooms and dining tables, citing research that kids mirror heavy parental use. Education & Youth Safety: Poland moves to ban mobile phones in all primary schools from Sept 1, 2026, with limited exceptions for teaching and safety. Ebola Watch: WHO reports suspected Ebola cases in DR Congo falling to 116 (with 330 confirmed), but experts warn the outbreak may be far worse than official figures; Spain’s La Línea de la Concepcion cancels a DR Congo pre-World Cup friendly over Ebola fears. Clinical & Medicines: UK MHRA authorises rilzabrutinib for adults with immune thrombocytopenia after insufficient prior treatments; Samsung Bioepis launches the aflibercept biosimilar Opuviz across Europe for retinal diseases. Nutrition & Prevention: A meta-analysis links higher legume intake (including soy foods) with lower hypertension risk. Digital Health & Wellness: Poland and Sweden both target smartphone habits as a child health issue, while an EU-wide debate continues on how to manage health risks and access.

World Cup Health & Safety: France’s William Saliba is a major fitness doubt after a back injury, with scans due Monday—raising concerns for his World Cup availability. Extreme Heat Watch: A record-breaking May heatwave pushed UK temperatures to 34.8°C and triggered heat-stroke deaths during sports in France, prompting fresh public health warnings. Ebola Response Tensions: US health officials urged Congress not to send Ebola-exposed Americans to overseas treatment/quarantine sites, warning it could undermine outbreak control and frontline response. Cancer Drug Updates: Greywolf Therapeutics reported durable responses from its oral ERAP1 inhibitor GRWD5769 plus cemiplimab in hard-to-treat cancers, with the trial ongoing. Rare Disease Access: Santhera’s AGAMREE (vamorolone) gained South Korea orphan and fast-track designations for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, aiming to speed patient access. Public Health Research: A new ICU brain-infection monitoring system targets earlier detection to cut complications and costs. Dengue Vaccine Push: KNUST joined a Europe-backed consortium to accelerate a single-dose dengue vaccine for Africa.

Ebola Response: EU health ministers will hold urgent talks on Friday over the fast-growing Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, as WHO warns the risk to Europeans is low but preparedness and coordination need tightening. Animal Testing Ban: The European Commission adopted a roadmap to phase out animal testing for chemical safety assessments across 15 sectors, aiming for “non-animal approaches” while keeping safety standards high. Screen-Time Guidance: Sweden’s public health agency urged parents to put phones away around children, pushing screen-free zones and “healthy screen habits” for adults. Youth Employment: Britain unveiled 300,000 new work placements for young people, including construction, health and social care, and hospitality, as NEET levels hit record highs. AI Age-Checks Backlash: UK plans to use AI for asylum-seeker age assessments drew sharp criticism from charities, warning vulnerable children could be misclassified. Active Nutrition Deal: France’s Lactalis bought Protein Works, betting on the fast-growing active nutrition market. Wellness in the City: Copenhagen is set to open a new Water Culture House with pools and community wellness facilities.

Illegal Cosmetics Crackdown: Spain’s Guardia Civil arrested nine people and seized 10,000 doses of Botox after raids on unlicensed cosmetic clinics, with investigators warning some products entered without authorization and were transported without proper refrigeration. Ebola Watch: Italy and Brazil are investigating suspected Ebola cases after travellers returned from the DRC; meanwhile, the DRC reports more recoveries as suspected cases are tracked. Medication Safety & Driving: Researchers question Europe’s DRUID medication-driving risk categories, arguing the system can’t reliably compare drugs within the same severity group. Mental Health Support: France’s psychiatric hospital unit near Paris is using therapy donkeys as a free, public-health-funded aid to help patients relax and break routine. Tobacco & Nicotine Concerns: Luxembourg data show smoking remains high among young people, and experts warn nicotine pouches may act as a faster addiction gateway. Clinical Research Update: UCB and Biogen report Phase 3 Lancet results for dapirolizumab pegol in systemic lupus, showing improved disease activity. Wellness & Environment: Venice’s lagoon is seeing record flamingo numbers, linked to wetland restoration and a healthier habitat.

Ebola Response: WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says stopping the DRC outbreak depends on community cooperation, urging people to seek care early as protests over burial rules follow attacks on health centres. Cancer Care Advances: ASCO 2026 data report ivonescimab (a bispecific antibody) cutting death risk by 34% in advanced squamous NSCLC, with benefits seen across PD-L1 levels. Urology Innovation: A first-in-human robotic approach aims to improve bladder tumour resection quality via en-bloc techniques, targeting better outcomes and potentially lower implantation risk. Prostate Radiotherapy Strategy: France’s PEACE-2 trial updates explore whether adding cabazitaxel to ADT and radiotherapy improves results in very high-risk localized prostate cancer. Public Health & Access: UK disability pass rules at Disneyland Paris highlight how proof requirements and long queues can strain families managing anxiety and hidden disabilities. Youth Employment: A UK review warns of a “lost generation” as NEET numbers top one million, with calls for action to keep young people in education and work. Wellness Safety: A viral weight-loss supplement (SlimTide) faces scrutiny over ingredient transparency, marketing claims, and counterfeit distribution.

Public Health & Travel: A Dutch-flagged cruise ship tied to a hantavirus outbreak in the Canaries has been cleared to resume sailing after cleaning and disinfection in Rotterdam, with the WHO noting 13 confirmed cases linked to the incident and no vaccine or specific treatment for hantavirus. Cancer Care: New Phase 3 data from SENOMAC suggest omitting axillary lymph node dissection can be non-inferior for survival while cutting arm complications in selected breast cancer patients. Oncology Trials: Orion Pharma reported early Phase 1/2 results for TEAD inhibitor ODM-212 in advanced solid tumours, while BioNTech and BMS shared interim ROSETTA Lung-02 findings for pumitamig plus chemotherapy in first-line NSCLC. Patient Quality of Life: Secondary COMPETE analysis reports better health-related quality of life with 177Lu-edotreotide versus everolimus in GEP-NETs. Wellness & Aging: A study links a more anti-inflammatory dietary pattern with lower colorectal cancer risk, and separate research points to a sleep “sweet spot” associated with healthier aging. Ebola Response: WHO chief Tedros visited Bunia in eastern Congo, urging community trust and safe burials as cases rise in a rare Ebola outbreak.

Ebola Response Under Strain: The DRC outbreak is worsening in Ituri and North Kivu, with WHO warning it will “get worse before it gets better” as funding cuts limit help on the ground. Infectious Disease Watch: Austria quarantined a suspected Ebola case after recent travel to Uganda, while Italy reports suspected Ebola cases linked to travel from Uganda. Heat & Health Risk: Europe’s record-breaking May heatwave continues to drive urgent public-health concerns, with France reporting deaths linked to the extreme weather and heat alerts extending across parts of the UK and Italy. Cardiovascular Nutrition: New research highlights garlic’s potential to improve blood pressure, cholesterol and inflammation, adding to the growing interest in affordable heart-health foods. Clinical Research Signals: Early results for elranatamab in high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma show strong response rates, while an ovarian cancer trial finds extra neoadjuvant chemotherapy cycles didn’t improve disease-free survival. Regulation & Medicines: The UK MHRA made its largest-ever seizure of unlicensed weight-loss medicines, and the FDA granted an appeal path for bevacizumab-vikg for neovascular AMD. EU Funding for Health & Services: Hungary secured release of €16.4bn in frozen EU funds, with healthcare and housing among the supported areas.

Heat & public health: Britain braces for another scorching weekend after record May temperatures, with experts urging practical steps to protect children and pets during heatwaves. Infectious disease response: UNICEF, the EU and WHO are airlifting over 100 tons of supplies into DR Congo as Ebola spreads, while Italy calls for stronger EU border vigilance as Ebola risks loom. Antibiotics for UTIs: A Spanish primary-care trial finds 5 days of nitrofurantoin works better than single-dose fosfomycin for uncomplicated lower UTIs in women. Diabetes tech: Abbott’s dual glucose-ketone monitor gets CE mark in Europe, aiming to flag rising ketones that can precede DKA. Women’s health & rights: Malta’s abortion laws remain criminalising in all cases except grave risk to life, with advocates warning of dangerous self-managed outcomes. Rehab capacity: Ireland’s National Rehabilitation Hospital plans extra beds, but waiting times still fall short of European norms. Mental load in care: New reporting highlights how better patient–nurse relationships can shorten hospital stays and improve mental health care. Medical innovation: Philips and Disney team up to make MRI scans less stressful for children.

Heat & Health Safety: Britain issued early 52-hour heat-health alerts as temperatures could hit 32C, warning of higher hospital admissions and risks for older people, children, and care homes. Climate Impact: Western Europe’s late-spring heatwave has been linked to deaths and drowning incidents, with Italy and France issuing red alerts as the “heat dome” intensifies. EU Health Preparedness: The EU secured experimental Hantavirus antivirals via cooperation with Japan, shipping favipiravir to member states and starting emergency procurement for more doses if needed. Food Safety & Regulation: Sri Lanka tightened agricultural export controls after EU concerns over excessive pesticide residues, requiring SL-GAP certification and authorised exporters for EU-bound produce. Medicines Access Gap: A survey found Cyprus lags on innovative medicine availability, with fewer new treatments reaching patients than the EU average. Public Health & Women’s Care: New research highlights menopause misinformation and dismissive healthcare, showing how women’s symptoms can be minimised or delayed in clinical care. Health Security & Pharma Independence (Poland): Poland is urged to reduce reliance on Asian APIs by treating drug production as national security and building domestic capacity.

Heatwave Health Alerts: Italy issued a red alert for Rome plus Florence, Bologna, Brescia and Turin as Europe sweltered under a “heat dome,” with Portugal hitting 40.3C and Britain/France reporting deaths linked to extreme conditions. Public Health Preparedness: The UKHSA activated heat health alerts for London, South East and East of England as temperatures topped 32C, warning vulnerable groups to take precautions. Obesity Treatment Access: France moved to reimburse anti-obesity GLP-1 drugs (Wegovy and Mounjaro) from mid-June, covering eligible patients with BMI thresholds and comorbidities. Ebola Response in Europe-Africa Links: Aid deliveries and containment efforts continued in DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak, while Kenya approved a US plan for an Ebola quarantine facility to isolate exposed Americans. AI & Health Equity: A new discussion highlights how AI bias could worsen health inequalities unless healthcare systems actively mitigate skewed outcomes. Menstrual Health Coverage: Germany’s private insurer SDK agreed to cover Clue, making it the first period tracker covered by health insurance. Youth Wellbeing & Work: Britain faces a “lost generation” risk as NEET numbers rise, alongside broader debate on youth health and support.

Food security push: Ireland’s EU presidency agenda flags competitiveness, security and energy, with food and nutrition security highlighted as a key contribution—amid warnings of hunger, a slow slide toward broader food crisis, and El Niño risks. Heat and health risk: Britain is “sleepwalking into a food crisis” as extreme weather and high costs hit crops and livestock, while record-breaking spring heat across Western Europe is linked to deaths and fresh alerts. Household food waste: A new analysis says European households discard over 70kg of food per person each year, with 69m tonnes wasted in 2025—raising costs, emissions and dignity concerns. Liver disease treatment: Ipsen reports late-breaking and real-world data for IQIRVO in primary biliary cholangitis, showing robust ALP reduction plus fatigue and pruritus improvements. Postpartum mental health: A fundraiser follows the death by suicide of a parent in B.C., spotlighting systemic gaps in pregnancy and postpartum mental health support. Privacy breach: New Zealand’s privacy watchdog finds breaches at a patient portal vendor and Health NZ after a cyber incident exposed records of nearly 100,000 people. Antibiotic funding: Basilea wins further BARDA support for an oral antibiotic candidate targeting complicated UTIs. AI governance: The EU’s AI regulatory sandboxes aim to test systems under supervision, but critics question whether they can protect health and rights.

Ebola Preparedness: WHO warns DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is colliding with conflict, while countries tighten travel rules and Kenya confirms talks with the US and partners to boost readiness. Infectious Disease Watch: WHO says Spain’s hantavirus cruise outbreak has risen to 13 cases, with the situation stable and no new deaths since May 2. Pediatric Care & Antibiotics: A study in Italy links rapid RSV antigen tests in primary care to fewer unnecessary antibiotics for young children with viral lower respiratory infections. Emergency Medicine: A meta-analysis reports that faster sodium correction in hyponatremia is tied to lower mortality than slower correction. Heat & Public Health: Record-breaking May heatwave conditions across Europe are driving health warnings and deaths, with the UK and France among the hardest hit. Obesity Treatment Access: France plans to expand access to weight-loss drugs for obesity patients. Nutrition & Prevention: ECDC reports record STI levels in Europe, with Spain seeing sharp rises in gonorrhoea and syphilis tied to gaps in testing and prevention. Wellbeing & Activity: A review suggests cycling can support brain health and mood, especially when done outdoors and consistently.

Heatwave Emergency: Western Europe is baking early. London hit 35.1°C at Kew Gardens, smashing a century-old May record, with a rare “tropical night” (no drop below 20°C). France saw 36°C and reported heat-linked deaths, while Spain braces for an “extremely high” late-May spell with some areas nearing 40°C and possible tropical nights—conditions that can turn deadly fast. Infectious Disease Watch: Italy issued an Ebola alert in Lombardy after two suspected cases linked to travel from Uganda; both tests came back negative, but airport screening is stepped up. Policy & Health Tech: Spain approved a draft organic law for AI governance, aiming for “reliable” use while backing competitiveness. Sports & Recovery: Spain named a World Cup squad with a Barcelona-heavy look and no Real Madrid players, while New Zealand’s All Blacks captain Scott Barrett faces surgery and could miss up to five months. Environment & Health: The EU reaffirmed support for Ogoniland cleanup in Nigeria, citing long-running oil contamination harms to soil, groundwater and mangroves.