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The United States spends 17% of its gross domestic product on healthcare, about twice as much as the average OECD country, according to the Commonwealth Fund. Can weight loss drugs like Ozempic help shrink that? According to a recent study, the answer is probably no. But other medical breakthroughs have temporarily changed the course of U.S. spending. There’s hope that the fattest developed country in the world can stall growth for good. (Robert Cyran, 7/16)

Project NextGen plans to support trials assessing the safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of experimental Covid-19 vaccines. New platforms could also enable a rapid response to future health threats. (H. Cody Meissner, M.D., et al, 7/13)

The slow speed of science contributes to public concern about vaccines and reduced immunization coverage. Postauthorization safety research requires timely funding linked to the introduction of new vaccines. (Daniel A. Salmon, Ph.D., P.P.H., et al, 7/11)