• Maryland: FDA has approved Kenvue's Tylenol with Naproxen as the first over-the-counter single formulation of acetaminophen and naproxen sodium. The drug contains 650 milligrams of acetaminophen and 220 milligrams of naproxen sodium. FDA granted Kenvue three years of exclusivity for the combination pill. According to Kenvue, the approval was based on eight clinical trials that found that the combination pill provided greater pain relief than either acetaminophen or naproxen sodium alone. The company also cited a March 2026 survey of over 6,000 people that found that 75% of people suffering from persistent pain were dissatisfied with their current pain relief options. (Jeffries, Becker's Hospital Review, 7/27)
• Massachusetts: BioNTech has named Guido Oelkers as its new CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2027. Oelkers has over 30 years of biopharma experience and is currently CEO of Sobi. Before that, he held positions at BSN Medical Holding, Gambro, and Invidia. "I am deeply honored to be leading BioNTech and prioritizing its evolution into a global biopharmaceutical company with multiple approved products by 2030, while continuing to advance its innovative pre-clinical and clinical portfolio in line with the company' strategy," Oelkers said. Oelkers replaces BioNTech's current CEO and cofounder Ugur Sahin. In March, Sahin and his wife Özlem Türeci, BioNTech's cofounder and current CMO, announced that they planned to leave the company to lead a new biotechnology company focused on mRNA vaccines. "BioNTech is in a pivotal phase as the company focuses on advancing its diversified pipeline into approved products and sustainable medical benefits for patients," Sahin said. With Oelkers taking over as CEO, "I feel confident that BioNTech is in a strong position to realize its vision." Although the company has appointed a new CEO, it is still searching for a new CMO to replace Türeci. (Joseph, STAT+ [subscription required], 8/3; Waldron, Fierce BioTech, 8/3)
• Pennsylvania: According to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, it cost almost $5.4 million to contain the U.S. measles outbreak that occurred in 2025. For the study, researchers analyzed data from 133 health responders, 100 patients with confirmed measles cases, and 205 exposed contacts. Overall, $53,533 was spent per measles case, or $1,817 per person who came in contact with the illness. Of the costs, $290,000 was spent on direct medical costs, $32,000 went to outpatient visits, and $20,000 was spent on 1,286 commercial laboratory tests. "The largest component of the public health response to the outbreak (about $3.2 million) was costs from vaccination-related activities (about $2.1 million), " the researchers wrote. They also noted that incomplete reporting may have led them to over- or underestimate the costs associated with the outbreak. They also excluded certain direct medical costs and made assumptions about the costs associated with productivity losses. So far this year, there have been 2,295 measles cases, already surpassing 2025's total and reaching a 35-year high. (Fields, The Hill, 8/4)

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