Cardinal Health commits $1.9 billion cash for deal to buy Solaris Health
Cardinal's specialty business includes costly medicines to treat complex conditions such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, and the deal gives it access to a network of community urologists spread across 14 states.
Solaris Health provides administrative and management support services to healthcare providers in the urological field.
Cardinal said it would buy Solaris from private equity firm Lee Equity Partners and the deal is expected to close by the end of the year.
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Sam Altman and Elon Musk face off in race to link our brains with AI
The rivalry between two of the world's most powerful technology billionaires is moving into a new arena — the race to link human minds directly with machines. Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, was once an ally of Elon Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX boss. Now the former partners are preparing to face off in the fast-developing field of brain–computer interfaces (BCIs). These systems typically use artificial intelligence to translate brain activity into commands a computer can follow. They have enabled people with paralysis to control devices using only their thoughts. Advocates believe BCIs will one day allow humans to merge with advanced AI. Musk's company, Neuralink, began testing its technology on patients in the US last year and recently gained approval for a trial in Britain, its first in Europe. Altman is now backing a rival, Merge Labs, which aims to harness recent advances in AI to make BCIs faster and more capable, according to the Financial Times. In 2015 the pair launched OpenAI together when Musk provided much of the capital to launch the venture. They fell out three years later when Musk quit the board after disputes over how it would operate. Since then, they have built competing AI empires while publicly trading barbs Musk attempted to block OpenAI's transformation from a non-profit entity to a profit-seeking business. BCIs are drawing interest from governments as well as tech moguls. In the UK, the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria), a government body, is exploring their potential as part of a broader mission to fund science that could change the world. In China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has unveiled its own BCI device, Neo, intended to restore hand movement in paralysed patients. Neuralink is widely seen as being at the forefront of the field. Its coin-sized implant is designed to sit inside a small opening in the skull, with flexible electrode 'threads' extending into the brain to monitor the electrical activity of cells. An AI system then decodes those signals into information that can be used to control external devices. The company is also developing a surgical robot to carry out the procedure. Last year it implanted a device in its first human volunteer, Noland Arbaugh, who was paralysed from the shoulders down in a diving accident. Using the implant, he was able to move a computer cursor and play video games, an experience he likened to 'using the force' in a nod to Star Wars. While striking, this was not the first demonstration of a mind-driven technology. In the early 2000s, American scientists showed that monkeys implanted with neural interfaces could control robotic limbs through their thoughts. Human trials since then have allowed paralysed people to send emails, make purchases online and operate robotic devices — all without physical movement. In some cases, BCIs have been used to send information back towards the brain — allowing, for instance, a paralysed person to regain a sense of touch through a robotic hand. Musk said he wanted to go much further, including restoring sight to the blind and enabling quadriplegics to regain 'full-body functionality' — goals many researchers say could be decades away, if they are achievable at all. His ultimate ambition is a mass-market 'general population device' linking human minds directly to powerful computers, allowing 'symbiosis with artificial intelligence'. One industry figure who has discussed the matter with Musk said he viewed this as necessary to prevent superhuman AI from running out of control. Altman seems to share a similar long-term vision. In a blog post this year he wrote that 'high-bandwidth brain–computer interfaces' were on the horizon. Neuralink, which was founded in 2016, recently raised $650 million in a deal that valued the company at $9 billion. Altman, who had previously invested in the company, now appears to be positioning Merge Labs to challenge it directly. According to the Financial Times, Merge Labs is seeking funding at a valuation of about $850 million, with OpenAI's ventures arm expected to provide a large portion of an initial $250 million round. Altman is expected to help launch the project alongside Alex Blania, who runs Worldcoin, an eyeball-scanning digital ID project also backed by the OpenAI chief Neuralink said last month that it had received regulatory and ethics approvals to begin its first clinical study in the UK. The GB-Prime trial will be run at University College London Hospitals and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It will test the company's BCI in people with severe paralysis. The trial will involve patients with conditions such as motor neurone disease, spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders, assessing whether they can use the device to control computers and other digital systems by thought alone.
Reuters
20 minutes ago
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Botanic Tonics, Maker of feel free, Applauds Florida's Historic Ban on Synthetic 7-OH Drug Products
BROKEN ARROW, OK, August 13, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- Botanic Tonics, opens new tab, maker of feel free, today applauded Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's announcement making Florida the first state to ban the sale of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products. The historic action, announced at Tampa General Hospital alongside FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD, and other medical and enforcement officials, targets synthetic drug compounds that can be "more potent than morphine" while preserving access to traditional botanical products. Florida Targets Synthetic Drug, Not Natural Kratom Leaf Florida's ban specifically addresses concentrated 7-OH products that cause serious side effects including liver toxicity and seizures. These synthetic compounds are chemically distinct from the trace amounts that occur naturally in traditional kratom leaf through centuries-old drying processes. The FDA has expressed concern about widespread availability of concentrated 7-OH products in gas stations, corner stores, and vape shops — products that contain synthetic levels far exceeding what occurs in nature. Commissioner Makary previously stated that kratom leaf poses no significant public risk, while concentrated 7-OH represents an entirely different safety profile. feel free CLASSIC: Setting the Safety Standard Botanic Tonics' feel free CLASSIC exemplifies the clear distinction Florida's action reinforces. The product does not contain synthetic 7-OH, the compound now banned in Florida. Instead, feel free CLASSIC contains only whole kratom leaf sourced from noble varieties traditionally consumed for centuries in Pacific Island cultures, combined with kava root in water. With over 129 million servings sold since April 2020 and fewer than 0.001% complaints, feel free CLASSIC maintains the strongest safety record of any kratom leaf product on the market. The product contains no synthetic ingredients, no alcohol, and no concentrates — only natural botanical ingredients with every batch tested to ensure safe alkaloid levels. Clinical Validation Demonstrates Safety feel free CLASSIC remains the only product of its kind with proper clinical validation through a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Cureus. The research found no significant adverse effects across all dose ranges, confirming the safety profile of traditional botanical ingredients when properly manufactured and tested. Independent toxicologists from the University of Florida have reviewed all evidence and confirm the product presents no unreasonable health risks. The FDA conducted its own clinical trial using the exact same kratom leaf found in feel free CLASSIC and concluded the product shows no evidence of significant risk to consumers. Regulatory Leadership Creates National Framework Florida's decision creates a framework that other states may follow, with lawmakers set to codify the ban during the January 2026 legislative session. The action builds upon the FDA's July recommendation to schedule synthetic 7-OH under the Controlled Substances Act and June warning letters to seven companies illegally distributing these products. Botanic Tonics has consistently advocated for regulatory frameworks that distinguish between synthetic derivatives and traditional kratom leaf ingredients with documented safety profiles. The company manufactures all products in its FDA-registered, cGMP-certified facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, using rigorous testing protocols that confirm product purity and natural alkaloid profiles. Consumer Education Remains Critical Florida's historic action validates the importance of consumer education about product distinctions in the marketplace. The difference between feel free CLASSIC and the synthetic 7-OH products now banned in Florida demonstrates why clear regulatory boundaries protect consumers while preserving access to traditional kratom leaf botanicals with proven safety records. Botanic Tonics remains committed to working with authorities at all levels to ensure consumers have access to safe, properly regulated botanical products backed by clinical evidence and manufacturing excellence. About Botanic Tonics Botanic Tonics is a plant-based, herbal supplement company headquartered in Broken Arrow, OK. Established in 2020, we produce kava-centric tonics under our feel free brand. Our signature product, feel free CLASSIC, is crafted with ancient functional plants to provide mood lift, chilled energy, and enhanced focus. Botanic Tonics' products are manufactured in an FDA-registered, cGMP-certified facility, and we actively support consumer safety regulations through transparent labeling and educational resources. Learn more at opens new tab. Disclaimer Warning: This product contains natural kratom leaf which, like caffeine and alcohol, may be habit-forming and harmful if consumed irresponsibly. Avoid if you have a history of substance abuse. When consumed as recommended, feel free CLASSIC has not been shown to cause any serious physical or social harm. Caution: Not for consumption by or sale to persons under the age of 21. May interact with certain medications — consult a licensed, qualified healthcare professional before use. Do not consume with excessive alcohol. This product is not intended for those who are sensitive to the active ingredients or women who are pregnant, nursing, or trying to become pregnant. To learn more, visit our Consumer Education page, opens new tab. Media Contact Botanic Tonicsmedia@ ### SOURCE: Botanic Tonics Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
Reuters
20 minutes ago
- Reuters
US proposes nearly $1 billion in funds for critical minerals, materials
Aug 13 (Reuters) - The Trump administration is proposing nearly $1 billion in funding to speed the development of U.S. critical minerals and materials, used in everything from electric vehicle batteries to semiconductors, the Energy Department said on Wednesday. The department intends to offer funding to advance and scale up mining, processing and manufacturing technologies in the critical minerals and materials supply chains, sectors that have been dominated by China and other countries, the statement said. "For too long, the United States has relied on foreign actors to supply and process the critical materials that are essential to modern life and our national security," said Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The department said the move is aligned with President Donald Trump's executive order on maximizing energy development. The department's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) intends to offer up to $500 million in funding to expand U.S. critical minerals and materials processing and battery manufacturing and recycling. MESC also intends to offer up to $135 million in funding to support the domestic supply chain for rare earth elements, by demonstrating the commercial viability of methods to refine and recover the minerals from mining tailings. The department's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management also intends to announce about $250 million in financial assistance for plants, including coal facilities, that have the potential to produce mineral byproducts from industrial processes. Other funding includes up to $50 million to support processes in the rare earth magnet supply chain, such as refining and alloying gallium, germanium and silicon carbide for use in semiconductors.
