In this edition: Humana's break with the insurance industry, lowering the risk of cancer recurrence and ranking embryos for longevity

The spectacular downfall of UnitedHealth and its CEO. Andrew Witty, who largely led the U.S. healthcare giant from the U.K., made big bets on Medicare enrollees that backfired.

How Moderna went from pandemic hero to vaccine loser. The biotech firm—once a darling of the first Trump administration—is caught in the crossfire of Trump 2.0 as vaccine-making comes under fire.

Humana breaks with industry to support Medicare billing changes. The second-biggest Medicare insurer said it will support moves to curtail billing practices worth billions in extra payments to the insurance industry.

Vaccine opponent hired by RFK Jr. looks for link to autism. David Geier, an antivaccine activist recently hired by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has started hunting for proof that federal officials hid evidence that inoculations cause autism.

Facing a cancer diagnosis? Data increasingly show that exercise and a good diet lower the risks of death and cancer recurrence after treatment.

Why ultra-processed foods go down so easy. Their weight and texture make many of them them quick to swallow. Study participants consumed nearly 400 more calories per day when they had a diet of quick-to-eat foods, such as commericially made smoothies and soft breads.

The latest criteria for picking an embryo. Prospective parents using IVF will soon be able to rank embryos using genetic and other information in the hopes of extending the longevity of their offspring. 

Campbell’s snack business struggles. Consumers are becoming choosier, cutting back on discretionary snack purchases and cooking more meals at home. 

Ray-Ban maker to buy Optegra in medical AI push. EssilorLuxottica said the deal expands the company’s frames and lens offering to include AI-powered technologies, wearables, medical instruments and science-backed eyecare solutions.

Cancer and respiratory drug trials. Late-stage trials showed Roche’s Tecentriq with Lurbinectedin reduced the risk of death from small-cell lung cancer by 27%. A Phase 3 trial of Novartis’s Pluvicto, already approved for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, showed potential in earlier stages. Late-stage trials to evaluate Sanofi and Regeneron’s Itepekimab to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease delivered mixed results.

This newsletter was compiled by the WSJ’s Health & Science team. Follow us on X @WSJHealth and @WSJScience. Email us by replying to this newsletter.