HIV Initiative, GLP-1 Deal, and Coverage Gaps: The Week in Health

This week, Pfizer signed a partnership with YaoPharma to advance an oral GLP-1 candidate, PAHO’s launched a regional alliance to eliminate HIV by 2030, and a new study linked metal exposure to cognitive risks in children. Meanwhile, the latest UHC Global Monitoring Report warns of slowing progress and widening inequalities in health coverage, and Mexico prepares to vote on long-debated health reforms to strengthen e-cigarette oversight.

Ready? This is The Week in Health!

Pfizer, YaoPharma Sign Global Deal for Oral GLP-1 Candidate

Pfizer has signed an exclusive global collaboration and license agreement with YaoPharma, a subsidiary of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical, to advance the development of YP05002, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist in Phase 1 studies for chronic weight management.

PAHO Launches Regional Alliance to Eliminate HIV by 2030

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) launched a regional alliance to accelerate HIV elimination in the Americas, aiming to reduce new infections by 90% and reach zero AIDS-related deaths by 2030. The initiative seeks to strengthen political coordination, expand access to new prevention tools, and align national efforts with regional health goals.

Study Links Metal Exposure to Cognitive Risks

A recent study by Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health (INSP) reports a possible reduction in intellectual function among schoolchildren in rural communities of Molango, Hidalgo, an area with long-standing mining activity. The findings add new evidence to concerns about environmental exposures in regions where economic activity and public health are closely tied.

Global Report Signals Slowing Progress on Health Coverage

Global progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) has advanced over the past two decades, but the pace is slowing and inequalities are widening, according to the UHC Global Monitoring Report 2025 released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank Group. The report shows that although more people are gaining access to health services, millions continue to face financial hardship that undermines their ability to obtain care, a trend with direct implications for workforce stability and productivity.

Legislators Advance E-Cigarette Oversight in Health Reform

Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies plans to vote on a reform to the General Health Law before Dec. 15, 2025, the final day of the session. Ricardo Monreal, President of the Political Coordination Board, says that the General Health Law reform will be the first item taken up, after being postponed last week in favor of the Water Law discussion.