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The first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second presidential term have been marked by the imposition of tariffs and heavy cuts across various US government agencies. Credit: Joshua Sukoff / Shutterstock

When Donald Trump descended a golden escalator at Trump Tower in New York City in 2015 to announce the launch of his first presidential campaign, it marked the beginning of a politically turbulent period.

In a statement released on April 29 to mark the Trump administration’s first 100 days, the White House highlighted inflation statistics claiming that prescription drug prices have decreased by more than 2% since President Trump took office.

On 2 April, the Trump administration announced that it would by imposing 10% tariffs on practically all countries from 5 April.

After an escalatory period, on 9 April, China announced 84% retaliatory tariff on all goods imported from the US, up from 34%, in response to Trump’s recent levy hikes. This action followed the US’ imposition of a 125% tariff on Chinese imports on 9 April 2025, up from 104%, further inflaming a trade war observers have deemed ‘nonsensical’. 

GE HealthCare is expecting its 2025 revenues to take a hit of around $500m due to the Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs.

Consequently, the imaging giant has adjusted its full-year guidance for the rest of the year to factor in the estimated tariff impact.

GE HealthCare has now put its earnings per share profit within the $3.90-$4.10 per share range, reflecting a tariff impact of around $0.85. Previous guidance fell in the $4.61-$4.75 range. Adjusted margin estimates, initially forecast at around 16.7%, have been revised down to 14.2% at the low end.

While the president has since stated that levies for goods imported from the country will “come down substantially” yet “won’t be zero”, they remain at 145% for now.

GE HealthCare’s vice president and CFO Jay Saccaro said: “We are expecting a total tariff impact for the year of around $500m for the year.” 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough device designation to Roche’s computational pathology companion diagnostic (CDx) VENTANA TROP2 (EPR20043) RxDx device.

Roche noted that this immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay is the first AI-driven companion diagnostic intended for use in determining non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 

The VENTANA TROP2 device aims to help identify NSCLC subjects who are likely to benefit from Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca’s Trop2-directed antibody drug conjugate, Datroway’s (datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk) treatment.

It is specifically indicated for patients with advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC without actionable genomic alterations.

The device comprises the TROP2 algorithm, Roche digital pathology scanners, navify Digital Pathology Image Management System, and the VENTANA TROP2 RxDx Assay.

A trio of US Democrats have penned a letter to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging the agency to address the potential risk of neural data misuse amid the “rapid” development and commercialisation of brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies.

Spearheaded by Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, the letter to FTC chair Andrew Ferguson stated that neural data is “extremely sensitive” and can, unlike other personal data, reveal mental health conditions, emotional states, and cognitive patterns, even when anonymised – realities that make the data ‘strategically sensitive’.

While acknowledging that BCI technology holds great potential in medical applications, the letter went on to point out that a 2024 review indicated that a “vast majority” of neurotech companies collect users’ brain data with “few limits, vague policies, and reserve sweeping rights to share it” without an individual’s clear knowledge or consent. 

Roche posted flat diagnostics sales in Q1 2025, impacted by recent healthcare pricing reforms in China. 

The pharma company’s sales for diagnostic products totalled $4.2bn in the first quarter this year, representing no increase over the $4.2bn brought in during the same period in 2024. 

Shares in Swiss-listed Roche opened 0.4% down at CHF 261.3 on 25 April following the Q1 results. The company has a market cap of $252bn. Investment research firm Zacks maintained a hold rating for the stock. 

Roche’s Core Lab, which includes products for clinical chemistry, clinical mass spectrometry, and urinalysis amongst others, was the unit’s best performing segment. 

Compared to the 8% growth seen in Roche’s pharmaceutical division, executives pointed to China’s pricing reforms as the reason for the diagnostics division’s flat performance.