News and Blog

At my last doctor’s appointment, I learned how to use my smartwatch to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to test for atrial fibrillation. Naturally, I found myself checking my ECG multiple times a day, curious about the fluctuations in my heart rate. Did I have cause for concern? Fortunately, my watch consistently reported no evidence of atrial fibrillation, while also issuing a clear disclaimer that it could not detect signs of a heart attack.

The term “digital twin” may evoke images straight from the pages of science fiction, such as Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro’s dystopian novel, Never Let Me Go, in which biological clones are raised solely for their organs. In reality, the concept of a digital twin in medicine—while still emerging—is no longer confined to fiction.

Last year, Berkley Life Sciences’ Blog featured an important post on Preventing Medical Device Shortages Through Improving the United States Sterilization Supply Chain. That article highlighted potential supply chain constraints caused in-part by sterilization facility shutdowns and regulatory requirements to install or upgrade emission control equipment. What that post did not address—and what this article will explore—is the nationwide litigation that has impacted the sterile medical device industry over the past five years.

In the life sciences industry, innovation does not stop at the lab bench—it extends across the entire supply chain. As companies develop increasingly complex and sensitive products such as biologics, vaccines, and cell and gene therapies, the challenge of safely transporting these high-value assets has never been more critical. The journey from manufacturing site to end-user is fraught with risk, and even a minor disruption can result in significant financial loss, regulatory complications, and—most importantly—threats to patient safety.

Not long ago, tariff classification and associated payments were accepted as the cost of doing business. Trade professionals have long navigated free trade agreements, customs codes, and supply chain disruptions—often without specialized tools. But today’s global economy demands more.

Through the month of June and into the week of July 4th, 2025, national attention was largely focused on a sweeping federal spending bill moving through Congress as part of the budget reconciliation process. But while media and public attention was centered on healthcare and social welfare funding, most Americans were not aware that the bill also briefly included a contentious litigation finance tax proposal.

In a time of advanced bioengineering and gene-editing technologies, it might seem surprising that one of the most important organisms in genetic research is the fruit fly. Drosophila melanogaster has been a popular model organism in laboratories for over a century, and despite advancements in CRISPR technology and new sequencing methods, the fruit fly has maintained a significant role in genetic research. But why?

Influencer and tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson set a bold goal four years ago: to redefine how we approach health and aging. He developed a system that radically alters his diet, sleep, and exercise routines in an effort to reverse his biological age. Johnson is now years into his one-man project, Blueprint, which includes taking over 110 pills per day, undergoing light and sound therapies, and following a strict sleep regimen—all guided by real-time data and a team of specialized doctors.

Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that slowly erodes memory and cognitive function, has long been one of the most formidable challenges in medicine. With a rapidly growing patient population in the U.S., the impact of Alzheimer’s disease is profound and far reaching.

Not long ago, few outside the medical community had heard of semaglutide and tirzepatide—two drugs in the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist class, approved for diabetes management. The medications work by decreasing caloric intake through mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1 normally released in the gut after eating. The GLP-1 agonists bind to receptors in the brain, pancreas and intestines, which helps to regulate insulin release, lower blood sugar levels, slow down digestion, and reduce appetite.