Category: STAT+
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Medicare-negotiated drug prices, an FDA voucher program, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Medicare-negotiated drug prices, an FDA voucher program, and more Happy Thanksgiving Eve, Pharmalittle readers. This is Allison, filling in for Mr. Pharmalot. I recently hosted a mini Thanksgiving dinner for friends, and was stumped trying to pick music to play in the background. Why aren’t there any real Thanksgiving songs?…
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STAT+: Major health insurers like Humana, UnitedHealth are cutting broker commissions to avoid costly Medicare enrollees
STAT+: Major health insurers like Humana, UnitedHealth are cutting broker commissions to avoid costly Medicare enrollees Major health insurers are taking drastic steps to discourage older adults from signing up for their private Medicare plans as they seek to boost profits, drawing the ire of insurance brokers and state regulators. Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, and Centene,…
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STAT+: FDA approves Otsuka kidney disease therapy
STAT+: FDA approves Otsuka kidney disease therapy The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved the first drug from an emerging class of medicines for patients with chronic, autoimmune kidney disease, according to a notice on the agency’s website. The new drug, called Voyxact, is made by Otsuka, the Japanese pharmaceutical company. U.S. regulators cleared…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Novo next-gen diabetes drug, a Novartis gene therapy, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Novo next-gen diabetes drug, a Novartis gene therapy, and more Hello there and happy Tuesday from STAT’s London outpost, with Andrew Joseph here filling in for Mr. Pharmalot for the day. While it feels like things are slowing down stateside ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, this place is busy…
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STAT+: Trump weighs plan to extend extra ACA subsidies for two years
STAT+: Trump weighs plan to extend extra ACA subsidies for two years WASHINGTON — In an about-face, the White House is weighing a proposal to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies that Democrats have been clamoring for since last year. ACA health insurance enrollees face a spike in premium payments if Congress does not…
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STAT+: Medicare backs off plan for quicker clawback of $7.8 billion from hospitals
STAT+: Medicare backs off plan for quicker clawback of $7.8 billion from hospitals Hospitals scored a win in Medicare’s final outpatient payment rule for 2026, as they persuaded federal Medicare officials to back off a plan that would have clawed back $7.8 billion a decade sooner than originally planned. However, hospitals didn’t get everything they…
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STAT+: J&J’s novel Alzheimer’s drug fails in key trial, dimming hopes for a hot target
STAT+: J&J’s novel Alzheimer’s drug fails in key trial, dimming hopes for a hot target A promising Alzheimer’s disease treatment from Johnson & Johnson failed to slow the progress of the disease in a closely watched study, news that could dampen enthusiasm for a new class of potential medicines. J&J terminated its mid-stage study of…
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STAT+: Kidney cancer cases spiked in this town. Will residents find out why?
STAT+: Kidney cancer cases spiked in this town. Will residents find out why? After the largest ground water contamination in New Hampshire history, a state-commissioned study released this fall found significantly elevated rates of kidney cancer in the town of Merrimack. Residents fear that toxic “forever chemicals” are to blame. But to pin down a…
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STAT+: CDC moves to end telework for employees, including those with medical needs
STAT+: CDC moves to end telework for employees, including those with medical needs The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has ended full-time telework agreements for reasonable accommodations for many employees, according to multiple employees familiar with the policy. Supervisors in some centers have been told in recent days that they can no longer approve…
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STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings
STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us, and we’ll share it with others. That’s right. Send us your changes, and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Texas suit over Plavix labeling, Novo drugs and vision loss, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Texas suit over Plavix labeling, Novo drugs and vision loss, and more And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is still shaping up, but…
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STAT+: FDA review staff was excluded from voting on whether to approve first priority voucher drug
STAT+: FDA review staff was excluded from voting on whether to approve first priority voucher drug WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration has promised companies that earn a Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher a one- to two-month drug review, culminating in a one day “tumor board” style meeting where leaders decide whether to approve the drug. …
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STAT+: Cassidy and other Republicans have little to say about change to CDC’s position on vaccines and autism
STAT+: Cassidy and other Republicans have little to say about change to CDC’s position on vaccines and autism WASHINGTON — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. broke another promise to Senate health committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) this week. So far, there don’t seem to have been any consequences. To secure Cassidy’s decisive confirmation vote,…
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STAT+: South Africa is urged by advocates to issue a compulsory license for Gilead’s HIV prevention drug
STAT+: South Africa is urged by advocates to issue a compulsory license for Gilead’s HIV prevention drug Patient advocacy groups have urged the South African government to issue a compulsory license for a groundbreaking HIV prevention treatment after the Trump administration refused to include South Africa in a new program to distribute the drug to…
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STAT+: FDA approves Paradromics’ brain-computer interface trial for speech restoration
STAT+: FDA approves Paradromics’ brain-computer interface trial for speech restoration Paradromics announced Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration approved a clinical study to evaluate whether the company’s brain-computer interface for speech restoration is safe and capable of providing the ability to communicate via text or synthesized speech to someone with paralysis. The Austin-based company…
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STAT+: Trump administration lists 16 new CDC initiatives, from hepatitis B testing to bolstering workforce
STAT+: Trump administration lists 16 new CDC initiatives, from hepatitis B testing to bolstering workforce WASHINGTON — Trump administration officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laid out 16 strategic initiatives this week, many of them bolstering health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s priorities, according to an internal agency memo obtained by STAT.…
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STAT+: An extension of extra ACA health insurance subsidies looks increasingly unlikely
STAT+: An extension of extra ACA health insurance subsidies looks increasingly unlikely WASHINGTON — Prospects are not looking good for an extension of the extra tax credits that have helped more Americans buy insurance plans in the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces. Republicans don’t agree among themselves on a proposal, and Democrats don’t like any of…
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STAT+: Pfizer and Tris agree to $41.5 million settlement with Texas over ADHD drug for children
STAT+: Pfizer and Tris agree to $41.5 million settlement with Texas over ADHD drug for children Pfizer and Tris Pharma have agreed to pay $41.5 million to settle allegations by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that they provided an ADHD medicine to children on Medicaid while knowing about “flawed” manufacturing practices. The companies were accused…
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STAT+: Novo Nordisk’s $199 Ozempic deal shows what telehealth platforms can do for pharma
STAT+: Novo Nordisk’s $199 Ozempic deal shows what telehealth platforms can do for pharma On Monday, Novo Nordisk announced a discount on its popular drugs for diabetes and obesity, Ozempic and Wegovy, cutting prices for the lowest doses to $199 when patients pay cash through Novo’s pharmacy NovoCare. Patients searching for those deals online, though,…
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STAT+: A revelatory profile of RFK Jr.
STAT+: A revelatory profile of RFK Jr. You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I haven’t read Olivia Nuzzi’s new book, but I dare say my favorite line about her relationship…
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STAT+: FDA’s stronger warning on Sarepta gene therapy raises new questions about heart risk
STAT+: FDA’s stronger warning on Sarepta gene therapy raises new questions about heart risk New warnings and restrictions placed on Sarepta Therapeutics’ gene therapy last week by the Food and Drug Administration have cast a spotlight on an important but overlooked heart-safety risk. “Acute, serious, and life-threatening” cases of heart inflammation called myocarditis and elevations…
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STAT+: Many poor countries where experimental drugs are tested fail to benefit after approval, analysis finds
STAT+: Many poor countries where experimental drugs are tested fail to benefit after approval, analysis finds Numerous medicines are not accessible in many of the countries where they were tested before approval by the Food and Drug Administration, raising concerns about whether pharmaceutical companies are adhering to ethical standards, a new study finds. The researchers reviewed 172…
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STAT+: Cassidy pitches his alternative to extending extra ACA subsidies
STAT+: Cassidy pitches his alternative to extending extra ACA subsidies WASHINGTON — Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is pitching Democrats on his compromise to make Affordable Care Act marketplace plans affordable without extending the extra tax credits that currently lower premium payments. Cassidy, the chair of the Senate health committee, is among the team of Republican…
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STAT+: Johnson & Johnson acquires Halda Therapeutics for $3 billion, a big win for a buzzy new technology
STAT+: Johnson & Johnson acquires Halda Therapeutics for $3 billion, a big win for a buzzy new technology Johnson & Johnson said Monday it will purchase Halda Therapeutics and its experimental prostate cancer drugs for $3.05 billion, marking the first major buyout for a startup built around a field that has attracted significant investment but not…
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STAT+: Medicare premiums to jump 10% heading into 2026
STAT+: Medicare premiums to jump 10% heading into 2026 Most Medicare enrollees will face premiums that are 10% higher next year, creating budget anxiety for millions of seniors. Older adults and people with disabilities will pay almost $203 per month in 2026 for their Medicare Part B premium, the Trump administration said late Friday. That’s…
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STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings
STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us, and we’ll share it with others. That’s right. Send us your changes, and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is…
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STAT+: GOP ACA proposal complicates negotiations
STAT+: GOP ACA proposal complicates negotiations You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Packing “longevity” items for a flight to a MAHA event in Washington was such a pain that it…
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STAT+: Kura Oncology secures approval for leukemia drug, its first
STAT+: Kura Oncology secures approval for leukemia drug, its first The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a drug made by Kura Oncology to treat patients with a certain type of genetically altered leukemia. The medicine will be sold under the brand name Komzifti. The FDA cleared the drug to treat patients with relapsed…
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STAT+: AbbVie cuts ties with Google-backed longevity company, lays off scientists
STAT+: AbbVie cuts ties with Google-backed longevity company, lays off scientists AbbVie is ending a decade-long partnership with Calico Life Sciences, an Alphabet-funded biotech company focused on aging research, and laying off chemists working on discovering new drugs. The moves, detailed in internal emails sent Tuesday and viewed by STAT, come as the pharmaceutical giant…
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STAT+: FDA chiefs offer roadmap to expand custom gene-editing treatments like Baby KJ’s
STAT+: FDA chiefs offer roadmap to expand custom gene-editing treatments like Baby KJ’s Top Food and Drug Administration officials on Wednesday detailed a roadmap for approving the world’s first personalized gene-editing treatments. The perspective, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, comes six months after researchers announced they had crafted a custom gene-editing treatment…
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STAT+: Richard Pazdur, longtime cancer regulator, named drug center director at FDA
STAT+: Richard Pazdur, longtime cancer regulator, named drug center director at FDA WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday named Richard Pazdur, its longtime overseer of cancer therapies, as its top drug regulator. Pazdur replaces former Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Director George Tidmarsh, who exited the agency earlier this month amid…
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STAT+: At ‘hush-hush’ MAHA summit, RFK Jr. and deputies to mix with biotech leaders
STAT+: At ‘hush-hush’ MAHA summit, RFK Jr. and deputies to mix with biotech leaders WASHINGTON — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and many top deputies are scheduled to speak alongside industry executives and health activists at a daylong MAHA event on Wednesday that has not been publicly disclosed by administration officials or event organizers.…
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STAT+: The $10 billion question: Will Pfizer hit it big with Metsera, or have regrets?
STAT+: The $10 billion question: Will Pfizer hit it big with Metsera, or have regrets? At a price of up to $10 billion, Pfizer has claimed victory in its bidding war against Novo Nordisk to acquire Metsera and its investigational obesity treatments. But in doing so, the company has also taken on significant risks. Will…
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STAT+: Fate of ACA subsidies still clouded after deal to reopen the government
STAT+: Fate of ACA subsidies still clouded after deal to reopen the government WASHINGTON — Democrats failed to achieve their main objective of extending enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits in return for reopening the government. The result is that ACA subsidies will remain front and center into December and possibly next year. With a key…
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STAT+: Does coffee mix with AFib, and other new data from heart meeting
STAT+: Does coffee mix with AFib, and other new data from heart meeting This is the online version of AHA in 30 Seconds, the latest from the American Heart Association’s scientific sessions. Hello from New Orleans. Coming from Boston, running on the River Walk this morning felt balmy, not as shockingly hot and humid…
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STAT+: Trump renews a Republican battle cry: Repeal Obamacare
STAT+: Trump renews a Republican battle cry: Repeal Obamacare Over the weekend, in the face of the longest federal government shutdown in history, a familiar refrain has arisen from President Trump and other Republicans: Repeal Obamacare. Republicans have long said Democrats’ Affordable Care Act is to blame for skyrocketing health care costs and what they…
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STAT+: Cassidy drops into Liver Meeting to talk of shutdown, insurance overhaul and vaccines
STAT+: Cassidy drops into Liver Meeting to talk of shutdown, insurance overhaul and vaccines WASHINGTON — On day 39 of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said he is still working toward finding bipartisan compromise on health care costs. In a surprise appearance Saturday at the annual American Association for…
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STAT+: Francis Collins issues call to action at Liver Meeting
STAT+: Francis Collins issues call to action at Liver Meeting Francis Collins, the former NIH director, tells liver researcher that the partisanship that has pervaded science “is really a dangerous sign for the future of our society.” Isabella Cueto and Katherine MacPhail Go to statnews
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STAT+: Merck’s pill to reduce cholesterol on top of statins matches results from injectables
STAT+: Merck’s pill to reduce cholesterol on top of statins matches results from injectables NEW ORLEANS — A pill designed to further lower cholesterol in people already on statins but at risk of a serious cardiovascular event — their first or a recurrence — reduced LDL cholesterol by up to 60%, a new late-stage trial…
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STAT+: Amgen’s cholesterol shot prevented first heart attacks and strokes, more detailed data affirm
STAT+: Amgen’s cholesterol shot prevented first heart attacks and strokes, more detailed data affirm NEW ORLEANS — A cholesterol-lowering injection that’s been on the market for nearly a decade has now shown its power to cut cardiovascular events in people considered at high risk but who haven’t yet suffered a heart attack or stroke. A…
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STAT+: How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr.
STAT+: How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr. WASHINGTON — Children’s Health Defense, the vaccine-skeptical organization once led by now-health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is playing the long game. The group has more power in Washington than the group’s CEO, Mary Holland, imagined possible in her lifetime. In an…
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STAT+: CRISPR-based treatment cuts cholesterol and triglycerides in early study
STAT+: CRISPR-based treatment cuts cholesterol and triglycerides in early study A CRISPR-based gene editing therapy dramatically reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein, often called “bad cholesterol,” and triglycerides in patients with heart disease, a new study found. Some researchers said that the treatment, developed by the biotech CRISPR Therapeutics and so far tested in just 15…
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STAT+: States might not get cheaper drugs in Trump’s most-favored nation Medicaid pilot program
STAT+: States might not get cheaper drugs in Trump’s most-favored nation Medicaid pilot program WASHINGTON — When President Trump announced the administration’s deal to cut prices for weight-loss drugs, he proclaimed that “you will pay the lowest price anywhere in the world.” But state Medicaid programs might already be getting lower prices, according to a research…
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STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings
STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us, and we’ll share it with others. That’s right. Send us your changes, and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is…
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STAT+: UnitedHealthcare drops remote monitoring coverage in defiance of Medicare policies
STAT+: UnitedHealthcare drops remote monitoring coverage in defiance of Medicare policies Beginning in January, UnitedHealthcare will no longer pay physicians to remotely monitor the data that patients collect at home about chronic conditions like hypertension. The updated medical policies for both Medicare and commercial health plans from the country’s largest insurer were posted in September…
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STAT+: FDA broadens search for new top drug regulator after early setbacks
STAT+: FDA broadens search for new top drug regulator after early setbacks WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration is struggling to select a new head of its drug center after the sudden and chaotic exit of the previous director, George Tidmarsh. Richard Pazdur, the director of the FDA’s Oncology Center for Excellence, was approached about…
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STAT+: Seven burning questions about Trump’s big deal for cheaper weight loss drugs
STAT+: Seven burning questions about Trump’s big deal for cheaper weight loss drugs WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s deal to expand access to and lower the cost of weight loss drugs has left industry leaders, public health experts, and patients with a host of open questions. The administration’s agreements with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk…
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STAT+: Kennedy, a longtime pharma critic, embraces Trump deal to expand access to obesity drugs
STAT+: Kennedy, a longtime pharma critic, embraces Trump deal to expand access to obesity drugs WASHINGTON — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was uncharacteristically chummy with pharma executives at the White House on Thursday as he cheered the Trump administration’s plan for lowering obesity medication prices. Kennedy has railed against drugmakers in the past, and…
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STAT+: FDA announces next round of priority review vouchers
STAT+: FDA announces next round of priority review vouchers WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday announced the second batch of companies being granted a “Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher,” a ticket to speedier reviews of drug candidates aligned with U.S. priorities. The announcement came as the Trump administration unveiled agreements with Eli Lilly and…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Trump deal with Lilly and Novo, fewer U.S. generic drug plants, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Trump deal with Lilly and Novo, fewer U.S. generic drug plants, and more Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the middle of the week. Congratulations on making it this far, and remember there are only a few more days until the weekend arrives. So keep plugging away. After all,…
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STAT+: FTC raises concern about Novo Nordisk attempt to acquire obesity startup Metsera
STAT+: FTC raises concern about Novo Nordisk attempt to acquire obesity startup Metsera The Federal Trade Commission has raised concerns about Novo Nordisk’s attempt to outbid Pfizer to acquire obesity startup Metsera, the latest complication in a dramatic bidding war between two pharma giants. Companies normally have to seek FTC review for acquisitions under a…
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STAT+: Trump administration nears deals for cheaper weight loss drugs with Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly
STAT+: Trump administration nears deals for cheaper weight loss drugs with Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is nearing deals with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to lower the prices of their weight loss drugs and expand access to them, people familiar with the talks told STAT. The companies have been close to…
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STAT+: Children’s hospital lobby shifts strategy amid MAHA’s rise in Washington
STAT+: Children’s hospital lobby shifts strategy amid MAHA’s rise in Washington WASHINGTON — As long-revered health institutions come under new scrutiny in President Trump’s Washington, one powerful group is shifting its strategy. The Children’s Hospital Association, which represents more than 200 hospitals and spends millions on lobbying each year, announced Tuesday a new messaging approach…
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STAT+: Arena BioWorks, an ambitious biomedical institute backed by billionaires, abruptly shuts down
STAT+: Arena BioWorks, an ambitious biomedical institute backed by billionaires, abruptly shuts down Arena BioWorks, the buzzy research institute that launched nearly two years ago with $500 million to support a decade of scientific R&D, is abruptly shutting down, the institute confirmed to STAT. Approximately 50 staff members, including co-founder Stuart Schreiber and CEO Harvey…
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STAT+: UnitedHealth pays its own physician groups 17% more than outside ones, study shows
STAT+: UnitedHealth pays its own physician groups 17% more than outside ones, study shows UnitedHealth Group pays its own physician practices much more than it pays competing practices, a new study finds, reinforcing STAT’s own analysis on the subject and presenting fresh evidence that the conglomerate may be skirting a rule designed to curb health…
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STAT+: Lawsuit against top FDA drug regulator is packed with incendiary texts, emails
STAT+: Lawsuit against top FDA drug regulator is packed with incendiary texts, emails On the day the top drug regulator at the Food and Drug Administration resigned amid an investigation into his conduct, he also faced an explosive lawsuit that includes a series of incendiary texts and emails he is said to have sent to…
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STAT+: Novo Nordisk spent millions on weight loss searches that took people to its Ozempic website, analysis found
STAT+: Novo Nordisk spent millions on weight loss searches that took people to its Ozempic website, analysis found Over a recent two-year period, Novo Nordisk spent an estimated $7.5 million on more than 15,000 paid keywords related to weight loss searches and generated more than 2.4 million visits to Ozempic.com, even though the medicine is…
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STAT+: FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation
STAT+: FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation WASHINGTON — George Tidmarsh, the Food and Drug Administration’s top regulator of drugs, has been placed on administrative leave after being accused of using his regulatory authority to inflict financial harm on a former business associate, STAT has learned. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary relieved Tidmarsh of…
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STAT+: Medicare finalizes rule to lower payments for surgeries
STAT+: Medicare finalizes rule to lower payments for surgeries Medicare on Friday followed through with its earlier proposal to reduce payment for surgeries, outpatient procedures, and other services it believes can be done more efficiently starting in 2026. The controversial move represents a significant change to how thousands of physician services are priced under Medicare.…
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STAT+: States reject Dr. Oz’s claims of Medicaid spending on undocumented immigrants
STAT+: States reject Dr. Oz’s claims of Medicaid spending on undocumented immigrants WASHINGTON — Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz said Friday that “more than $1 billion of federal taxpayer dollars were being spent on funding Medicaid for illegal immigrants” by five states and the District of Columbia in recent months. But…
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STAT+: Pfizer sues Novo Nordisk, Metsera for breach of merger agreement
STAT+: Pfizer sues Novo Nordisk, Metsera for breach of merger agreement Pfizer said Friday it’s suing Novo Nordisk and obesity biotech Metsera, a day after Novo set off a bidding war against Pfizer to acquire Metsera. A month ago, Pfizer said that it would acquire Metsera for $4.9 billion. But Novo on Thursday launched a…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about feuds at FDA’s CBER, an antibiotic warning in Europe, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about feuds at FDA’s CBER, an antibiotic warning in Europe, and more And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is still coming into focus, but we…
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STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings
STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us, and we’ll share it with others. That’s right. Send us your changes, and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is…
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STAT+: Cigna stock nosedives on news that ending PBM rebates will lower that segment’s profit
STAT+: Cigna stock nosedives on news that ending PBM rebates will lower that segment’s profit The stock market pummeled Cigna on Thursday after the company’s leaders revealed that their new plan to ditch pharmacy benefit rebates will lower that segment’s profit in the coming years. By midmorning, the company’s stock had plunged more than 15%. …
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a bidding war for Metsera, HHS plans for speeding biosimilars, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a bidding war for Metsera, HHS plans for speeding biosimilars, and more Hello, everyone, and how are you today? We are just fine, thank you, despite the steady rain drenching the sleepy Pharmalot campus. Our spirits remain sunny thanks, in part, to sage advice from the Morning Mayor: “Every new…
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STAT+: FDA moves to ease path for biosimilars as Trump seeks to cut drug costs
STAT+: FDA moves to ease path for biosimilars as Trump seeks to cut drug costs WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced a draft framework Wednesday that officials say will speed cheaper versions of biologic drugs to market with the aim of making medicine more affordable and accessible for patients. The framework will shorten the path…
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STAT+: UnitedHealth wants to employ more of its doctors
STAT+: UnitedHealth wants to employ more of its doctors After assembling the largest collection of doctors in the U.S., UnitedHealth Group is switching strategies in an effort to improve its financial performance. The company plans to revamp its enterprise of 90,000 clinicians into one more heavily weighted toward employed physicians, rather than affiliated doctors, executives…
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STAT+: Eli Lilly, NVIDIA team up to build pharma’s biggest AI supercomputer
STAT+: Eli Lilly, NVIDIA team up to build pharma’s biggest AI supercomputer Eli Lilly announced a partnership with chipmaker NVIDIA on Tuesday to build what it claims will be the “most powerful supercomputer owned and operated by a pharmaceutical company.” Lilly’s technology investment is meant to help the drugmaker tap into the potential of artificial…
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STAT+: Casey Means faces confirmation hearing for surgeon general
STAT+: Casey Means faces confirmation hearing for surgeon general You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The wife and I went to the Rehoboth Beach Sea Witch Festival dressed as a…
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STAT+: Bausch Health leaves Medicaid and 340B programs as drugmakers face changing calculus on pricing
STAT+: Bausch Health leaves Medicaid and 340B programs as drugmakers face changing calculus on pricing In an unexpected move, Bausch Health recently stopped participating in Medicaid and a federal government drug discount scheme known as 340B, a step that suggests more drugmakers may rethink decisions to provide their medicines to these widely used programs. Bausch…
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STAT+: Hope and ‘no regrets’: How pancreatic cancer surgeon Dr. Michael Zinner faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis
STAT+: Hope and ‘no regrets’: How pancreatic cancer surgeon Dr. Michael Zinner faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis “The irony’s not lost — going from the physician to the caregiver to the patient,” Michael Zinner mused in June. He was speaking by phone from his Florida home about the unusual and heart-rending way his professional life…
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STAT+: For heart health, physical activity favors women
STAT+: For heart health, physical activity favors women When it comes to reaping heart health benefits from physical activity, women saw bigger drops than men in their risk of developing coronary heart disease when they followed or exceeded weekly exercise recommendations. And as a new study published Monday in Nature Cardiovascular Research reports, they needed…
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STAT+: Blue Cross plans to target doctors for overcharging. Physicians are furious
STAT+: Blue Cross plans to target doctors for overcharging. Physicians are furious With the help of a computer algorithm, the state’s biggest health insurer says it will scrutinize doctors who frequently bill it for the most expensive patient visits. It will then unilaterally cut payments to physicians it concludes charged too much. Targeting what it…
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STAT+: Novartis to buy RNA-focused Avidity in $12 billion deal
STAT+: Novartis to buy RNA-focused Avidity in $12 billion deal LONDON — Novartis said Sunday it would buy Avidity Biosciences, which is developing RNA-based therapies for neuromuscular diseases, for roughly $12 billion in cash. The deal, at $72 a share, represents a 46% premium on Avidity’s closing share price on Friday of $49.15. With the…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a GSK drug’s comeback, a buyer’s club for a Vertex drug, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a GSK drug’s comeback, a buyer’s club for a Vertex drug, and more And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is still shaping up, but…
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STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings
STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us, and we’ll share it with others. That’s right. Send us your changes, and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is…
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STAT+: How the first nine drug companies won priority review vouchers from Marty Makary’s FDA
STAT+: How the first nine drug companies won priority review vouchers from Marty Makary’s FDA WASHINGTON — Commissioner Marty Makary wants the Food and Drug Administration to move more quickly. The launch of a new priority review voucher program in June was no exception. The agency promised winners a one- to two-month review of their drug…
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STAT+: FDA delivers split decision on GSK’s blood cancer drug Blenrep, approving its use in some cases
STAT+: FDA delivers split decision on GSK’s blood cancer drug Blenrep, approving its use in some cases The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday delivered a split decision on a blood cancer drug from GSK, approving its use in one combination regimen but rejecting another. The mixed ruling is the latest twist in the turbulent…
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STAT+: Trump’s IVF deal spurs hopes — and adjustments — across fertility sector
STAT+: Trump’s IVF deal spurs hopes — and adjustments — across fertility sector WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s push to make in vitro fertilization more affordable is changing the outlook and offerings in the fertility sector, even as some details of its policies remain confidential and others have yet to be released. The administration’s changes…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Moderna setback, CVS playing hardball with Gilead, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Moderna setback, CVS playing hardball with Gilead, and more Top of the morning to you, and a fine one it is. Blue skies and comfortable breezes are enveloping the Pharmalot campus, where the official mascots are dozing after chasing varmints. As for us, we are engaged in the usual…
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STAT+: DeSantis downplays importance of health insurance as the government shutdown drags on
STAT+: DeSantis downplays importance of health insurance as the government shutdown drags on You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You might have noticed that the subject line of Tuesday’s newsletter…
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STAT+: Moderna says key study of its CMV vaccine, expected to be its next big win, failed
STAT+: Moderna says key study of its CMV vaccine, expected to be its next big win, failed Moderna said Wednesday afternoon that its experimental vaccine for cytomegalovirus, a cause of disability in newborns, failed in a Phase 3 trial, a significant setback for a company already facing pressure from Wall Street and the federal government.…
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STAT+: CVS Caremark tells AIDS activists Gilead needs to lower the price of its new HIV drug to get on formularies
STAT+: CVS Caremark tells AIDS activists Gilead needs to lower the price of its new HIV drug to get on formularies For the past three months, CVS Caremark has resisted adding a new Gilead Sciences HIV prevention drug to its formularies, repeatedly explaining there are “clinical, financial, and regulatory considerations” that must be reviewed before…
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STAT+: European oncology experts roll out guidance for use of large language models in clinical care
STAT+: European oncology experts roll out guidance for use of large language models in clinical care BERLIN — The leading professional organization for European oncologists has rolled out its first set of guidance on how its members should use large language models, a type of artificial intelligence, in cancer medicine. “The oncology community cannot ignore…
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STAT+: Alector’s dementia drug fails to slow patient decline in late-stage trial
STAT+: Alector’s dementia drug fails to slow patient decline in late-stage trial An experimental drug from Alector Inc. failed to slow the decline of patients with frontotemporal dementia in a late-stage study, the company announced Tuesday. Alector said it would lay off 49% of its employees as a result. The company employed 238 people as…
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STAT+: Effort to guide treatment of cancer with novel blood tests may get boost from new research
STAT+: Effort to guide treatment of cancer with novel blood tests may get boost from new research BERLIN — For years, scientists have held out hope that tests that look for the molecular fingerprints of a cancer’s presence could help clinicians determine which patients need further treatment after surgery, and which can be considered truly…
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STAT+: Gilead agrees not to raise prices on HIV medicines for state AIDS drug programs
STAT+: Gilead agrees not to raise prices on HIV medicines for state AIDS drug programs After months of tense negotiations, Gilead Sciences has agreed not to boost prices next year for HIV medicines that are sold to state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, an outcome that lessens the financial strains for agencies that are relied on…
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STAT+: CBO says revised cost of orphan drug exemptions will add $3.9 billion to Medicare
STAT+: CBO says revised cost of orphan drug exemptions will add $3.9 billion to Medicare The Congressional Budget Office has revised its forecast showing the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act will cost taxpayers as much as $8.8 billion — up from earlier estimates of $4.9 billion — over 10 years thanks to provisions…
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STAT+: FDA review of drugs is slowing while application delays are growing, analysis finds
STAT+: FDA review of drugs is slowing while application delays are growing, analysis finds The upheaval at the Food and Drug Administration appears to be taking a toll on the pharmaceutical industry, according to a new analysis of key agency metrics. There was a significant drop in drug approvals in the recently ended third quarter,…
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STAT+: Kaiser Permanente, DOJ nearing resolution in $1 billion Medicare fraud case
STAT+: Kaiser Permanente, DOJ nearing resolution in $1 billion Medicare fraud case The Justice Department and Kaiser Permanente are nearing a deal in their behind-the-scenes negotiations over the government’s claim that the California health care giant bilked Medicare out of $1 billion. The federal judge overseeing the DOJ’s long-running case against Kaiser on Friday granted…
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STAT+: At ESMO, AstraZeneca and Gilead square off in triple-negative breast cancer
STAT+: At ESMO, AstraZeneca and Gilead square off in triple-negative breast cancer BERLIN — Patients with a highly aggressive form of breast cancer will likely have new treatment options for the first time in years after AstraZeneca and Gilead Sciences both presented successful trial results here Sunday, dual achievements that will also leave clinicians having…
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STAT+: mRNA Covid shots may boost the effects of certain cancer treatments, study suggests
STAT+: mRNA Covid shots may boost the effects of certain cancer treatments, study suggests mRNA-based Covid vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna may have an unexpected benefit for cancer patients who undergo immunotherapy. A new study suggests that these vaccines might boost the effects of immunotherapy drugs, perhaps by alerting the immune system and helping direct…
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STAT+: Roche suffers a fresh blow as India’s Supreme Court allows generic sales of its pricey rare disease drug
STAT+: Roche suffers a fresh blow as India’s Supreme Court allows generic sales of its pricey rare disease drug In a case that was billed as profits versus patients, India’s Supreme Court dismissed a petition in which Roche sought to prevent a generic drugmaker from selling a lower-cost version of a pricey rare disease medication.…
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STAT+: Enhertu pushes into early breast cancer, as antibody-drug conjugates move up the line
STAT+: Enhertu pushes into early breast cancer, as antibody-drug conjugates move up the line BERLIN — Enhertu has become a staple treatment in advanced breast cancer, but new data presented Saturday at the European Society for Medical Oncology’s annual conference show the drug can have powerful benefits for patients when given earlier in the disease,…
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STAT+: Roche, Celcuity detail successful advanced breast cancer studies
STAT+: Roche, Celcuity detail successful advanced breast cancer studies BERLIN — They may be working on vastly different scales — the biotech Celcuity has a market cap of about $2 billion, while Roche reaped more than $60 billion in sales last year — but both companies unveiled data here Saturday that they hope will win…