Morning NOISE

FDA approves daraxonrasib, extending survival for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

The FDA approved Revolution Medicines’ daily pill daraxonrasib, sold as Rasonque, for advanced pancreatic cancer after prior treatment has failed. In a randomized, company-funded trial of 500 patients with metastatic disease, median survival was 13.2 months with daraxonrasib versus 6.7 months with chemotherapy, though side effects include digestive problems, rash and fatigue. NPR reported a one-month price of about $39,800 and expedited approval, while The Washington Post emphasized the pill’s more convenient administration and generally lower burden than IV chemotherapy.

Follow-up to FDA approves pancreatic cancer pill that nearly doubles average survival · 20260826

CIA director held secret Moscow talks with Russian intelligence counterpart

CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian intelligence officials, according to the Associated Press, in a rare contact amid strained US-Russia relations and the war in Ukraine. CNBC, citing multiple reports, said Ratcliffe warned Russia against attacking NATO and also raised Iran-related concerns. The Kremlin said Ratcliffe did not meet President Vladimir Putin, while President Donald Trump described the visit as “semi-routine.”

US weighs broader semiconductor tariffs covering servers, laptops and gaming hardware

The Trump administration is reportedly considering expanded tariffs on semiconductors and related products, including laptops, data-center servers and gaming hardware, CNBC reported, citing Politico and people familiar with the matter. The proposal remains in its early stages and could be introduced through a staggered rollout. The White House said reshoring semiconductor manufacturing is a top priority, while existing measures include a 25% tariff on certain AI chips.

Meta agrees to up to $17.1 billion child safety settlement

The New York Times reports that Meta agreed to a landmark settlement over claims that Facebook and Instagram were designed to addict children. NPR details proposed changes including a two-hour default daily limit for users under 18, nighttime blocking, and removal of like and reaction counts. Meta denies the allegations, while settlement funds are expected to support youth mental health programs, after-school activities, and crisis intervention.

Yankees place Fernando Cruz on IL, add Michael Fulmer

The Yankees placed reliever Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort after his post-All-Star-break struggles, while imaging results remained pending. New York signed Michael Fulmer to a major league contract, recalled Elmer Rodríguez, optioned Bradley Hanner and moved Kervin Castro to the 60-day injured list. Cruz is 4-6 with a 3.13 ERA in 61 appearances this season, but has posted a 5.52 ERA in 17 outings since the All-Star break.