The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refused to review Moderna's application for an mRNA flu vaccine, a move that the company said blindsided them, according to a news release late Tuesday. This decision comes amid a backdrop of increasing scrutiny of vaccines and mRNA technology, particularly from the agency, which is overseen by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Moderna's announcement of the FDA's refusal was made public on Tuesday. The FDA's decision is the latest in a series of actions that have raised concerns about the agency's stance on vaccines. Kennedy, in his first year in office, has already reduced childhood vaccine recommendations and canceled $500 million in research funding for mRNA vaccines against potential pandemic threats, according to Ars Technica.
Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute is using federal funds to study whether ivermectin, a deworming drug, can cure cancer, according to Ars Technica. This study has drawn criticism, as large clinical trials have shown ivermectin is ineffective against COVID-19, and there is no scientific evidence to support its use for cancer treatment.
In other news, employees at Salesforce are circulating an internal letter to CEO Marc Benioff, urging him to denounce recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The letter specifically cites the recent killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis as catalysts, calling them the devastating indictment of a system that has discarded human decency, according to Wired. The letter also calls for a prohibition on the use of Salesforce software by immigration agents and support for federal legislation to reform the agency. The letter is being organized amid Salesforce's annual leadership kickoff event in Las Vegas.
Additionally, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is promoting a government website, Realfood.gov, which provides resources on new dietary guidelines released in January. The website encourages people to use Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok to get answers about real food, according to Wired. The new guidelines recommend getting 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, which is more than previously advised.
Finally, OpenAI is disputing an AI watchdog group's allegation that it violated California's new AI safety law with the release of its latest coding model, GPT-5.3-Codex, according to Fortune. A violation could lead to millions of dollars in fines. An OpenAI spokesperson told Fortune that the company was confident in its compliance with frontier safety laws, including SB 53. The controversy centers on GPT-5.3-Codex, which OpenAI released last week.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment