FDA mandates major opioid label overhaul; Trump revives the Presidential Fitness test, aims to make fitness ‘fun, competitive and cool again’; gene therapy could block HIV transmission during breastfeeding – Morning Medical Update

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FDA mandates major opioid label overhaul, emphasizing long-term risks

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring major safety label updates for all opioid pain medications, citing new data showing the dangers of long-term use. The changes, which follow a public advisory meeting and two large postmarketing studies, aim to better inform physicians and patients about addiction, overdose and misuse risks. Labels will now include warnings about high doses, drug interactions and withdrawal harm. They will remove language implying indefinite use is safe. The American Medical Association (AMA) endorsed the revisions, calling them a necessary reinforcement of individualized, evidence-based care.

Trump revives Presidential Fitness test, vows to tackle youth health crisis

President Trump has signed an executive order reestablishing the Presidential Fitness Test and revitalizing the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, aiming to combat rising childhood obesity and chronic disease. Joined by Vice President JD Vance and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump pledged to make fitness “fun, competitive and cool again” while emphasizing physical education, civic pride and national strength. The Council will develop school-based programs and fitness awards and play a role in college sports reform. The move coincides with the lead-up to the U.S. hosting the 2026 Olympics and other major global sporting events.

Gene therapy shows promise for blocking HIV transmission during breastfeeding

A single gene therapy injection at birth may shield newborns from HIV transmission during breastfeeding, according to a new study from the University of Florida’s Wertheim UF Scripps Institute. In primate models, the therapy prompted long-lasting production of a potent HIV-neutralizing antibody, offering years of protection without side effects. The strategy, published in Nature, could be a game-changer for sub-Saharan Africa, where access to daily antiretrovirals is limited. Researchers say the stability and simplicity of the treatment make it ideal for low-resource settings, with human trials anticipated.