Trending News Today: US to Research 1 Million in Massive Study of DNA, Health Habits

CVS Health Corp is making progress on getting regulatory approval for its $68 billion deal to buy health insurer Aetna Inc, Bloomberg reported. According to the article, CVS’s proposed deal to buy Aetna would combine approximately 10,000 CVS stores and Aetna’s 22 million customers. CVS said Wednesday that its merger was moving ahead well on both the regulatory and integration planning fronts, according to Bloomberg.

The US government is opening nationwide enrollment for a large study of 1 million individuals willing to share their DNA and 10 years of health habits, the Associated Press reported. According to the article, Congress has authorized $1.45 billion over 10 years for the project, which will involve precision medicine. Researchers hope to learn why some escape illnesses and others don’t, and to better customize ways to prevent and treat disease, the article noted.

On Tuesday, the FDA and Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to 13 manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of e-cigarette liquid, NPR reported. According to the article, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, stated that the companies are endangering children by marketing products to resemble juice boxes, cookies, or candy. The warning letters are part of a larger push by the federal government to crack down on youth access to tobacco products, including vaping, according to NPR.