Get caught up with Contemporary Pediatrics! This list helps you navigate our top stories from the week, all in one place.
Thank you for visiting the Contemporary Pediatrics® website. Take a look at some of our top stories from the week (Monday, July 7, to Friday, July 11, 2025), and click on each link to read and watch anything you may have missed.
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On July 7, 2025, multiple leading medical organizations—including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America—filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in response to recent changes in federal vaccine policy.
The legal action challenges the removal of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant individuals, as well as the dismissal of 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The plaintiffs allege that these actions were politically motivated and disregard established scientific standards, stating they “will make our children and communities more vulnerable to infectious diseases.”
On July 7, 2025, the FDA approved sebetralstat (Ekterly; KalVista Pharmaceuticals) as the first oral, on-demand treatment for acute hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks in patients aged 12 years and older.
Previously, all approved on-demand HAE therapies required injection. Sebetralstat’s approval was based on phase 3 KONFIDENT trial results, which showed faster symptom relief and attack resolution compared to placebo. The treatment was well tolerated and marks a significant advancement in improving patient autonomy and timely intervention.
As of July 4, 2025, the United States has reported 1,277 measles cases—surpassing the total from 2019 and marking the highest count since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.
Texas leads with 790 cases, including major outbreaks in Gaines, Terry, and Lubbock counties. CDC data show that 92% of infected individuals were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status, and 12% were hospitalized. Most cases (88%) are linked to outbreaks, with children under 19 accounting for 65% of infections. Experts attribute the surge to declining vaccination rates in certain communities, falling below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity.
On July 8, 2025, the FDA accepted Eton Pharmaceuticals’ New Drug Application for ET-600, an oral liquid formulation of desmopressin for treating central diabetes insipidus (AVP-D) in pediatric patients.
Assigned a target action date of February 25, 2026, ET-600 aims to improve dosing precision over current therapies, which often require tablet splitting or unapproved compounded liquids. If approved, it would become the first FDA-approved oral liquid desmopressin for children, addressing a significant unmet need in pediatric endocrinology.
On July 10, 2025, Pelthos Therapeutics launched berdazimer (Zelsuvmi) topical gel, 10.3%, marking the first FDA-approved at-home prescription treatment for molluscum contagiosum in patients aged 1 year and older.
Approved in January 2024, the nitric oxide–releasing gel demonstrated significant lesion clearance in the phase 3 B-SIMPLE4 trial. With once-daily application and broad access through pharmacies and support programs, Zelsuvmi offers a convenient alternative to in-office procedures for this highly contagious pediatric skin condition.
