AGP Executive Report

Justice System Under Fire: France is reeling after the murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna, with protests demanding faster, better resourced prosecution of child sexual violence and a lawsuit planned against the state for “gross negligence.” Public Health & Care Access: A French justice row also echoes wider health-system strain as the case spotlights how delays can cost lives. Rare Disease Research: AB Science says new analyses from its phase 3 masitinib program in ALS have been accepted for presentation at ENCALS, highlighting longer-term survival and quality-of-life outcomes. Nutrition & Mental Health: A UK trial suggests counting 100% fruit juice toward “5-a-day” can raise fruit intake and may improve depression scores without short-term harm to blood markers. Nuclear Risk: New reports warn nuclear-armed states hit record spending near $119bn, with fears that an arms race and AI could raise the risk of use. Global Conflict & Displacement: UN findings describe civilians trapped between Israeli forces, settlers and Hamas, while Lebanon’s Tyre faces strikes that disrupt access to pharmacies and supplies.

Cross-border medical regulation: A French cardiologist struck off the Medical Council for sexually assaulting 14 patients is reported to be continuing to practise in Belgium, highlighting gaps in how disciplinary actions are shared across EU countries. Rare-disease pharma expansion: Avanzanite Bioscience expands into Spain and appoints María Baquerizo as country manager, aiming to speed access to innovative therapies for rare diseases. EU migration implementation: The EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact moves toward full rollout, with new “return hubs” agreed outside EU borders, as rights groups warn about migrant protections. Public health and diet: A small UK trial suggests that counting one daily serving of 100% fruit juice toward “5-a-day” can boost fruit intake and may improve depression scores without short-term harm to key blood markers. Healthcare system strain abroad: Switzerland backs a declaration warning Gaza’s healthcare system is near collapse, with most hospitals not fully functional and displaced people increasingly facing infections. Diagnostics innovation: ABL Diagnostics reports progress verifying its DeepChek workflow with Element Biosciences’ AVITI sequencing platform for infectious disease sequencing.

Cancer Care Breakthrough: Sanofi’s subcutaneous isatuximab (Sarclisa) has gained EU approval for multiple myeloma across existing intravenous indications, with trial data showing non-inferior response rates and fewer systemic infusion reactions. Precision Oncology: A large international study on the Prosigna genomic test suggests many breast cancer patients can safely skip chemotherapy, using gene activity to estimate recurrence risk and guide treatment. Public Health & Prevention: A new study links fruit juice counted toward “5-a-day” with higher fruit intake and improved depression scores, without short-term harm in blood markers. Digital Safety for Youth: Governments are accelerating bans and age limits on social media for minors, following Australia’s under-16 restrictions and with similar moves emerging across Europe and beyond. Health System & Society: France is facing renewed outrage after the murder of an 11-year-old schoolgirl, reigniting scrutiny of how police handled prior allegations. Infectious Disease Watch: An international salmonella outbreak tied to instant noodles has reached multiple countries, including France, with children and young people most affected.

EU Cancer Care: Sanofi’s Sarclisa (isatuximab) gets EU approval for subcutaneous use via an on-body injector, aiming to cut repeated clinic visits for multiple myeloma patients. Health Tech & Diagnostics: ABL Diagnostics plans HybridChek, bringing hybrid capture and amplicon sequencing under one platform for HIV and tuberculosis whole-genome sequencing. Clinical Innovation: A four-week UK trial finds that counting one daily serving of 100% fruit juice toward “5-a-day” can boost fruit intake without short-term worsening in blood markers, and may improve depression scores. Public Health & Food Safety: A French Caribbean legacy story highlights health impacts from chlordecone contamination, linking it to high prostate cancer rates. Digital Health Governance: EU moves to restrict US cloud providers from sensitive government contracts, with healthcare among the targeted critical workloads. Mental Health & Lifestyle: Research and commentary continue to spotlight diet, mood, and the role of accessible nutrition choices. France in the Spotlight: Ticketmaster pauses Céline Dion Paris ticket sales after “suspicious activity,” affecting fans’ access to events.

Public Safety & Justice: A silent march in Fleurance follows the murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna, after revelations that police failed to question the suspected killer over prior child sexual abuse allegations—sparking outrage and an “unacceptable” justice-system failure acknowledged by President Macron. Health Policy & Regulation: Ireland faces growing pressure to ban tobacco-free nicotine snus as doctors warn it is highly addictive and can act as a gateway to further nicotine and tobacco use; France has already moved to ban the product. Healthcare Innovation & Care Access: France is set to launch a rapid access system for youth mental health care, aiming to reduce delays for young people needing support. Medical Tech & Industry: Orange Business has been selected by a French hospital group to develop AI use cases supporting care for thousands of professionals. Demographics: A French demographic institute reports Morocco’s fertility rate fell below replacement level in 2024, a major shift that will reshape family structures and social behavior.

Contraception Crisis: A stranded shipment of contraceptives left women in Kenya without replacements after a US aid shutdown, leaving many with expired implants and limited family-planning options. Mental Health Access: France is moving to guarantee rapid mental health care for at-risk youth within two days, aiming to cut delays in support. Healthcare Innovation: An Indian-origin surgeon reportedly completed the world’s longest robot-assisted cardiac telesurgery between Guyana and India using a Made-in-India surgical robot, highlighting cross-border care potential. Public Health & Safety: FIFA softened its World Cup water-bottle rules, allowing one sealed disposable bottle per fan after backlash over refillable bans, as heat risks loom. Infectious Disease Watch: WHO reports an Ebola outbreak in Central Africa nearing 500 cases, keeping vaccination and containment efforts in focus. Health System Pressure: A new report ranks European countries by healthcare waiting times, spotlighting where access is most strained.

Ebola Watch: WHO reports nearly 500 confirmed Ebola cases in central Africa (452 in DR Congo, 19 in Uganda), with 82 deaths in DR Congo and fears the outbreak could rival the 2014 West Africa scale without stronger public health action. Cancer Breakthrough: New ASCO findings suggest precision-targeted pills could reduce tumors without traditional chemotherapy, including early results for an experimental drug (GRWD5769) and a daily pancreatic cancer pill (Darasxnorasib) that nearly doubles survival versus standard treatment. Cardio Nutrition: A French cohort study links eight common food preservatives to higher high-blood-pressure risk, with increased heart attack and stroke risk at higher intake levels. Mental Health Access: France plans a rapid access system for youth mental health care, aiming to speed support for at-risk young people. Aesthetic Medicine: A Dubai conference spotlighted Magnetic Tattoo Removal, positioning it as an option for patients who may not be good candidates for laser tattoo removal. Public Health & Safety: France is also facing heat-related health pressures, with alerts for ozone pollution in Paris and Lyon during the ongoing warm spell.

Cancer Care Innovation: A new “smart” tablet (GRWD5769) combined with immunotherapy (cemiplimab) showed tumour shrinkage in early trials, including patients across several cancers after immunotherapy failed. AI in Medicine: A large skin-lesion AI foundation model still lagged the best-performing dermatologists, reinforcing AI as support rather than a replacement in real-world diagnosis. Mental Health Access: France is pushing faster youth mental-health care, aiming to guarantee at-risk support within days. Healthcare Tech in France: RaySearch will showcase advances in particle therapy planning for reirradiation at PTCOG 64 in Deauville, highlighting better dose accumulation evaluation. Pharma & Regulation: CinnaGen became the first Iranian company to get EU approval for an osteoporosis medicine (teriparatide/Zandoriah). Public Health & Safety: FIFA banned refillable water bottles at World Cup matches citing injury risk, amid heat and hydration concerns.

Medical Innovation: A wearable ultrasound patch (“UPatch”) is showing promise for earlier detection of pregnancy complications, with a small trial of 52 women linking the device to identifying a case of preeclampsia and severe growth restriction before a preventive caesarean. Rare Disease & Care Pathways: A man who thought his hearing loss was just aging was later diagnosed with NF2, a rare genetic brain tumor—highlighting how neurological causes can hide behind everyday symptoms. Justice & Human Rights: France has opened a probe into alleged war crimes and torture tied to Israel’s treatment of French activists involved in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, after accounts of mistreatment during detention. Public Health Policy: Indonesia is drafting rules for plain packaging of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, citing evidence that it can reduce youth appeal and strengthen health warnings; France is listed among countries already using similar approaches. Workforce & Health Context: Reports from a French automotive supplier’s UK site describe wage cuts and potential strike action, a reminder of how labor stress can spill into wellbeing.

Psoriatic Arthritis Drug Update: Bimekizumab showed sustained improvements over two years in pain, fatigue, physical function and overall disease impact for psoriatic arthritis patients, with swollen-joint resolution linked to the biggest patient-reported relief. Hospital GenAI in France: Rouen University Hospital (CHU de Rouen) has chosen Orange Business’s Live Intelligence to deploy a secure, sovereignty-focused generative AI platform across its public-hospital network, including faster research grant workflows. Rare Disease Pharma: Chiesi Global Rare Diseases says the European Commission approved lomitapide capsules for children aged 5+ with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, expanding an existing adult indication. Climate & Health Funding: France’s dwindling climate funding is under scrutiny after record May heat, with experts warning heatwaves are getting hotter, longer and more frequent. Food Safety & Climate: An EU-funded project (HOLiFOOD) launches a digital campaign for World Food Safety Day to explain how climate change can raise risks like Salmonella, Campylobacter and crop toxins. Mental Health Care Innovation: A French psychiatric hospital is using therapy donkeys to support patients, with reported positive reception.

Food Safety: WHO warns unsafe food kills 1.5 million people worldwide each year, with young children hit hardest, after analysing 194 countries from 2000-2021. Mental Health Care: A French psychiatric hospital near Paris is treating PTSD patients with animal-assisted therapy using donkeys, reporting reduced anxiety and loneliness. Hospital & Emergency Preparedness: UK hospitals are on red alert for a possible Ebola outbreak, with staff told to spot and isolate suspected cases fast. Clinical Research & Pharma: Oncovita says its modified measles-virus cancer immunotherapy (MVdeltaC) has strong preclinical results and will be presented at EACR in Budapest. Reproductive Health Research: A study links anti-HLA antibodies to fetal growth restriction, raising new questions for pregnancy monitoring. France Health Policy: France becomes the first EU country to fund weight-loss drugs, marking a major shift in obesity treatment access. Public Health & Travel: UK keeps a ban on travellers bringing personal meat and dairy imports from the EU into Great Britain through 2026.

Food Safety Watch: The WHO says unsafe food still sickens 886 million people a year and kills 1.5 million globally, with under-fives hit hardest and big regional gaps in Africa and southeast Asia. Healthcare Tech Funding: Semble, a UK-based platform for outpatient care coordination, raised €34.7m Series C led by Revaia, aiming to expand in the UK and France and position AI orchestration for patient journeys. Obesity Care Gap: Sweden’s first national obesity review warns many people are undiagnosed or under-treated, urging stronger primary-care action and access to effective medication, surgery and support. AI Security in Healthcare: Anthropic expanded Project Glasswing to about 150 new organisations across 15+ countries, including France, to scan code for vulnerabilities using Claude Mythos Preview. Regulation & Public Health: France moves to tighten CBD food rules as EU countries restrict non-psychoactive cannabis products, ending years of tacit tolerance. Climate & Health Policy Vision: A World Inequality Lab report argues that wealth taxes, shorter working hours, diet shifts and more investment in education and health could both cut inequality and keep warming below 2C.

Mental Health Access: France’s health minister says youth mental health care will be fast-tracked, aiming to get support to at-risk young people within days. Obesity Drugs: France becomes the first EU country to reimburse anti-obesity weight-loss drugs for severely obese patients, with coverage starting mid-June—an important shift for long-term care and access. AI & Environment: A UN report urges AI firms to disclose carbon, water and land footprints, warning the AI boom is stressing power grids and resources. AI Misinformation: A new test finds pro-Russian narratives can still slip into chatbot answers, with some tools repeating false claims as fact. Tech Sovereignty: The EU unveils a package to reduce dependence on US and Asian cloud/AI, including favouring European firms in sensitive public contracts. Public Health & Safety: Kuwait’s airport was hit by Iranian drones, injuring dozens and suspending traffic—raising concerns about medical response capacity during attacks. Ebola Watch: Congo’s World Cup warmup in Spain was cancelled over Ebola-related health risks. Sports & Wellbeing: Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté speaks openly about depression after personal tragedies, adding to the push for mental health conversations in sport.

Mental Health Policy: France’s health minister says youth mental health care will be fast-tracked, aiming to cut delays for at-risk young people. Obesity Drugs Reimbursement: France becomes the first EU country to reimburse anti-obesity weight-loss drugs for severely obese patients, with coverage starting mid-June. Cancer Research Updates: Final SERENA-6 trial data show that switching to camizestrant after emergent ESR1 mutation detection improves time to second progression in ER+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. Rare Disease & Pharma: Chiesi will highlight real-world outcomes in Fabry disease and nephropathic cystinosis at ERA 2026 and launch the second edition of its Find For Rare research grants. Public Health & Prevention: New research suggests mosquitoes can be conditioned to be attracted to DEET, raising fresh questions about how the repellent works and where vulnerabilities may lie. Clinical Trial Watch: Abivax reports Phase 3 ABTECT maintenance trial results for obefazimod in ulcerative colitis. Care Access: A petition in New Zealand calls for bereavement leave to rise from three to 10 days as lawmakers rewrite employment leave rules.

Mental Health Access in Schools: France will let school staff connect students in distress with local mental-health professionals for an appointment within 48 hours, aiming to reduce emergency psychiatric referrals as hospital beds remain scarce. Obesity Drugs Reimbursement: France is set to become the first EU country to reimburse anti-obesity weight-loss drugs for severely obese patients, with coverage starting mid-June. Ebola Update: WHO reports suspected Ebola cases in DR Congo have fallen sharply to 116 suspected (with 330 confirmed), as many “suspected” alerts are cleared after testing. Cancer Breakthrough: An Oxford-led international early trial reports a new experimental cancer drug (GRWD5769) shrinking tumours by at least 30% in a subset of patients across several common cancer types. Hearing Loss Health Link: A new focus on hearing loss highlights its broader risks for heart health and dementia, alongside emerging treatment approaches. Youth Mental Health Fast-Track: The health ministry’s push to speed mental-health care for young people ties into the school referral plan. Elderly Care Funding Rules: CareContinuity.eu calls for EU rules linking elderly-care funding to measurable delivery of services.

Obesity Drug Reimbursement in France: France is set to become the first EU country to reimburse anti-obesity weight-loss drugs (including Wegovy and Mounjaro) for severely obese patients from mid-June, a major shift for access and affordability. Heatwave Health Risks: Europe’s unusually early May heatwave is already stressing public health systems, with France and the UK reporting heat-related deaths and calls for tighter vigilance during outdoor activity and heat alerts. Cancer Care Breakthrough: Greywolf Therapeutics reported early clinical results for an oral ERAP1 inhibitor (GRWD5769) with cemiplimab, showing objective response rates across multiple hard-to-treat cancer settings. Pharma Deal Watch: Servier is expanding into neuromuscular disorders by acquiring Edgewise Therapeutics’ sevasemten program, targeting rare muscular dystrophies. Ebola Update (DRC/Uganda): Africa CDC says suspected Ebola cases are still high (over 1,100 under investigation) as response plans roll out amid concerns about reliance on external funding. Digital Safety for Youth: Malaysia introduced a ban on social media accounts for under-16s with age verification and platform fines, adding pressure for similar rules across Europe. Climate + Cities: A study links vehicle traffic to extra urban heat in city centers, showing that exhaust and road friction can worsen heat exposure beyond buildings and air conditioning.