Category: STAT+
-
Private funder HHMI pauses postdoc fellowship
Private funder HHMI pauses postdoc fellowship Molecular biologist Chiara Masnovo spent weeks filling out an application for a research fellowship earlier this year — taking it over the finish line as she was 38 weeks pregnant and starting a new job. The chance of getting this fellowship was well worth the toil. The Hanna Gray fellowship,…
-
STAT+: Novavax wins narrowed approval for its Covid-19 shot after delay
STAT+: Novavax wins narrowed approval for its Covid-19 shot after delay The Food and Drug Administration has finally approved Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine, but in doing so has placed restrictions on it that its two competitors in the U.S. market do not face. The long-awaited license limits use of the vaccine to people 65 and older…
-
STAT+: Trump is moving to terminate hundreds of federal grants across Harvard
STAT+: Trump is moving to terminate hundreds of federal grants across Harvard In yet another escalation of its fight against higher education, the Trump administration has moved to terminate hundreds of research grants at Harvard University and its medical school, imperiling dozens of research projects and potentially upending the futures of young scientists. Harvard researchers studying cancer,…
-
STAT+: UnitedHealth’s Optum working on Medicare risk scoring system that would use AI
STAT+: UnitedHealth’s Optum working on Medicare risk scoring system that would use AI SAN DIEGO — Optum, the health data and care provider division of UnitedHealth Group, is developing a way to calculate how sick Medicare patients are through artificial intelligence, instead of relying solely on diagnosis codes submitted by physicians. Ken Cohen, a physician…
-
STAT+: At gene therapy meeting, no one wants to talk about the Vinay Prasad (not) in the room
STAT+: At gene therapy meeting, no one wants to talk about the Vinay Prasad (not) in the room NEW ORLEANS — Last year, hundreds of people poured in to see Peter Marks, the Food and Drug Administration’s head of biologics, speak at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy conference. The regulator was seen by…
-
STAT+: Day 3 at ASGCT: Vinay Prasad speculation, screening newborns, promising data
STAT+: Day 3 at ASGCT: Vinay Prasad speculation, screening newborns, promising data NEW ORLEANS — Greetings from the home stretch of American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy conference, where everyone is still talking about Baby KJ and no one wants to talk about Vinay Prasad. The Vinay Prasad in the room Last year, hundreds…
-
STAT+: MAHA has a new think tank. The Trump administration is listening
STAT+: MAHA has a new think tank. The Trump administration is listening The Make America Healthy Again movement is coalescing around a new effort to turn its goals into federal policy. The Trump administration is listening. The MAHA Institute, a policy center launched Thursday, is pushing to change the American health and food systems: from…
-
STAT+: Day 2 of ASGCT: Good news for Baby KJ and the dream of personalized gene editing
STAT+: Day 2 of ASGCT: Good news for Baby KJ and the dream of personalized gene editing NEW ORLEANS — Greetings from ASGCT, where the gene therapy field had some great news for once, about a highly photogenic infant. Baby KJ gets a custom CRISPR edit to his genome Kiran Musunuru, a researcher at the University of…
-
STAT+: Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca top a consultancy’s ranking of drug company R&D
STAT+: Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca top a consultancy’s ranking of drug company R&D A consultancy’s new ranking of drug company R&D shows Eli Lilly has risen to the top of the drug development heap — but when it comes to invention, AstraZeneca, with its wealth of experimental cancer and rare disease therapies, ranks above its…
-
STAT+: Day 1 at ASGCT: Missing scientists, a gene editing failure, and a gene editing first
STAT+: Day 1 at ASGCT: Missing scientists, a gene editing failure, and a gene editing first NEW ORLEANS — The mood at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cell and Gene Therapy isn’t amazing. The biotech market has been bad for years. The FDA and NIH are shrouded in uncertainty. But many researchers…
-
STAT+: In combative hearings, Kennedy defends HHS cuts, backtracks — and lashes out
STAT+: In combative hearings, Kennedy defends HHS cuts, backtracks — and lashes out WASHINGTON — In hours of combative congressional hearings Wednesday, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. swung between defending sweeping changes at his agency and backtracking on aspects of a reorganization he nevertheless said would be “painful.” He repeatedly cast doubts on reports about…
-
STAT+: Scientific societies call for a moratorium on using CRISPR to create genetically modified children
STAT+: Scientific societies call for a moratorium on using CRISPR to create genetically modified children Leading trade organizations representing the makers of cell and gene therapies are calling for a 10-year international moratorium on the use of CRISPR and other DNA-editing tools to create genetically modified children, according to a draft of the declaration provided…
-
STAT+: State AI laws would be banned under clause buried in House budget bill
STAT+: State AI laws would be banned under clause buried in House budget bill A small but powerful nugget is buried in the text of the House budget reconciliation bill released this week: a clause that would ban state and local governments from enforcing any laws on AI, even ones that have already been put…
-
STAT+: Trump order on drug pricing appears to issue subtle threat to pharma
STAT+: Trump order on drug pricing appears to issue subtle threat to pharma File this under “Lower your price — or else!” Tucked inside the executive order on drug pricing from President Trump is a sentence that appears to threaten pharmaceutical companies that their medicines may be withdrawn if they do not lower prices. Specifically,…
-
STAT+: Our biggest burning questions on Trump’s order to bring down drug prices
STAT+: Our biggest burning questions on Trump’s order to bring down drug prices WASHINGTON — President Trump’s executive order to lower drug prices through sweeping, cross-agency action left leaders in the pharmaceutical industry scrambling Monday to make sense of what may be ahead — and how to respond. The announcement was long on messaging, but…
-
STAT+: Trump’s drug-pricing order takes a hard line against pharma. Investors shrugged
STAT+: Trump’s drug-pricing order takes a hard line against pharma. Investors shrugged President Trump on Monday unveiled his plan to dramatically overhaul the way the U.S. pays for drugs by lowering what he calls “inflated” prices to those paid by other countries. Pharma investors didn’t seem to care. The XBI, a closely tracked index of…
-
STAT+: OpenAI leaps into health care with AI benchmark to evaluate models
STAT+: OpenAI leaps into health care with AI benchmark to evaluate models OpenAI on Monday released a large dataset for evaluating how well large language models answer questions related to health care. Experts lauded the open-source data and detailed evaluation rubrics, calling them “unprecedented” in scale and breadth. The project, HealthBench, marks OpenAI’s first foray…
-
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Trump drug-pricing plan, an AstraZeneca court loss, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Trump drug-pricing plan, an AstraZeneca court 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 involves saluting our shortest person — aka the…
-
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…
-
STAT+: More Medicare plans cover Humira biosimilars, but do little to encourage patient use
STAT+: More Medicare plans cover Humira biosimilars, but do little to encourage patient use Medicare drug plans significantly boosted coverage of biosimilar versions of the Humira rheumatoid arthritis medicine this year, but nearly all of them failed to take steps that would encourage greater use of these alternative treatments, a new government watchdog report finds.…
-
STAT+: Insitro, an AI biotech founded by Daphne Koller, lays off staff
STAT+: Insitro, an AI biotech founded by Daphne Koller, lays off staff Insitro, the closely watched AI biotech founded by the Stanford professor and entrepreneur Daphne Koller, said Thursday it was laying off 22% of its staff, or around 60 people. It’s part of a series of cuts that have hit well-backed startups over the…
-
STAT+: 5 burning questions about FDA’s ‘aggressive’ deployment of AI for scientific review
STAT+: 5 burning questions about FDA’s ‘aggressive’ deployment of AI for scientific review The Food and Drug Administration said it will rapidly roll out a generative artificial intelligence model to assist scientific reviews across the agency, setting up a high-stakes test of the technology’s use in vetting products used in the care of millions of…
-
STAT+: Trump nominates Casey Means, entrepreneurial doctor and MAHA leader, for surgeon general
STAT+: Trump nominates Casey Means, entrepreneurial doctor and MAHA leader, for surgeon general The health entrepreneur and “Make America Healthy Again” leader Casey Means has been nominated to be the U.S. surgeon general after President Trump pulled his prior nominee suddenly on Wednesday. Means, an M.D. and author who runs a holistic wellness blog and…
-
STAT+: The state of antibiotic development: ‘Deplorable comes to mind’
STAT+: The state of antibiotic development: ‘Deplorable comes to mind’ Four years ago, an ambitious pharmaceutical industry venture to tackle antibiotic resistance launched to invest in small companies that can develop two to four novel antibiotics by 2030 — and replenish the global supply chain with needed treatments. The effort began with $1 billion in backing…
-
STAT+: Compounders lose legal battle with FDA over removal of Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug from a shortage list
STAT+: Compounders lose legal battle with FDA over removal of Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug from a shortage list A federal judge has sided with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over a decision last year to remove two Eli Lilly drugs — the Zepbound weight loss medicine and the Mounjaro diabetes treatment — from…
-
STAT+: Vinay Prasad tapped to run FDA center that regulates vaccines, gene therapies
STAT+: Vinay Prasad tapped to run FDA center that regulates vaccines, gene therapies WASHINGTON — Vinay Prasad, an academic and fierce critic of the medical mainstream, will be the next director of the Food and Drug Administration center that oversees the regulation of vaccines, gene therapies, and the blood supply. Prasad, previously an epidemiology professor at…
-
STAT+: Few drugmakers embrace a newer test for contamination, placing horseshoe crabs at risk
STAT+: Few drugmakers embrace a newer test for contamination, placing horseshoe crabs at risk Many large drugmakers are still using a decades-old test — derived from horseshoe crabs — as a go-to tool for detecting contamination in medicines and vaccines, rather than switching to a cheaper and equally effective alternative, according to a survey by…
-
STAT+: Vinay Prasad, in his own words, outlines the philosophy he’ll bring to the FDA
STAT+: Vinay Prasad, in his own words, outlines the philosophy he’ll bring to the FDA People seeking roles in government are often careful about what they say in public, or at least somewhat hesitant to freely share their opinions. It’s difficult to know exactly what’s going on in their heads. Not Vinay Prasad. The new…
-
STAT+: GOP hits resistance on Medicaid cuts, and a brewing plan to lower drug prices
STAT+: GOP hits resistance on Medicaid cuts, and a brewing plan to lower drug prices 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. A horse named Journalism was favored to win the…
-
STAT+: Trump signs order in bid to boost pharma manufacturing in the U.S.
STAT+: Trump signs order in bid to boost pharma manufacturing in the U.S. Amid ongoing anticipation over tariffs on pharmaceuticals, President Trump on Monday signed an executive order designed to lower regulatory hurdles and make it faster for drug companies to manufacture their products in the U.S. The move also includes plans to place more…
-
Opinion: STAT+: Bristol Myers Squibb CEO: Pharmaceutical innovation requires bold yet predictable U.S. policy
Opinion: STAT+: Bristol Myers Squibb CEO: Pharmaceutical innovation requires bold yet predictable U.S. policy Having grown up in rural Arkansas, I have an acute awareness of the challenges many in our country face when it comes to health care. Quality care wasn’t always accessible, and the decision of whether to pay medical or utility bills…
-
STAT+: Charles Lieber, ex-Harvard chemist convicted of lying about ties to China, joins faculty of Chinese university
STAT+: Charles Lieber, ex-Harvard chemist convicted of lying about ties to China, joins faculty of Chinese university Charles Lieber, the former chair of Harvard’s chemistry department and renowned nanoscientist who was convicted of lying to federal agents about his ties to China, was recently announced as a new professor at a Chinese university. Lieber joined the…
-
STAT+: Vertex reports an earnings miss and pause on cystic fibrosis trial
STAT+: Vertex reports an earnings miss and pause on cystic fibrosis trial Vertex Pharmaceuticals on Monday reported disappointing first-quarter earnings impacted by weaker-than-expected sales of its drugs for cystic fibrosis, and little or no contributions from a gene therapy for sickle cell disease and a recently launched pain medicine. A “tolerability issue” caused a temporary…
-
STAT+: AACR Recap: Excitement about cancer prevention, new immunotherapies and advocacy
STAT+: AACR Recap: Excitement about cancer prevention, new immunotherapies and advocacy CHICAGO — With thousands of abstracts presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, it’s hard to keep up with all the latest advances and data. Like every meeting, this year’s conference was full of presentations and posters detailing new innovations in…
-
STAT+: At AACR, leading cancer researchers urge colleagues to ‘fight for your science’
STAT+: At AACR, leading cancer researchers urge colleagues to ‘fight for your science’ CHICAGO — In the first few weeks of President Trump’s second term, many leaders and top scientists in cancer research found themselves questioning if they could have communicated better to the public. After all, experts told STAT, maybe if people understood how…
-
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…
-
STAT+: Overseas grants could be ‘closed down’ by NIH under new policy, internal email suggests
STAT+: Overseas grants could be ‘closed down’ by NIH under new policy, internal email suggests A National Institutes of Health policy change on funding of foreign scientists is far more sweeping than described in a Thursday announcement, according to an internal email that indicates international clinical trials and other research will be strictly vetted going…
-
STAT+: Trump proposes billions in cuts to federal health agencies from NIH to CDC
STAT+: Trump proposes billions in cuts to federal health agencies from NIH to CDC WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday proposed massive cuts to the federal government’s health agencies in his 2026 budget request, arguing that Congress should reduce spending by tens of billions from current levels. The request would be a 26% cut to…
-
STAT+: MilliporeSigma will add temporary tariff surcharges on products shipped to the U.S.
STAT+: MilliporeSigma will add temporary tariff surcharges on products shipped to the U.S. MilliporeSigma, one of the largest suppliers of medical research products, will start adding a temporary tariff surcharge to all product orders shipped to the United States. The company, which sells a wide array of items from chemical reagents to centrifuges and syringe…
-
STAT+: At Stanford conference, typically guarded biotech leaders share their concerns about Trump policies
STAT+: At Stanford conference, typically guarded biotech leaders share their concerns about Trump policies PALO ALTO, Calif. — At an annual meeting usually focused on the industry’s future, life science leaders couldn’t help but grapple — 100 days into President Trump’s second term — with a present clouded by uncertainty. At Stanford’s Drug Discovery Symposium, biotech…
-
STAT+: Justice Department sues Medicare Advantage insurers and brokers, alleging kickbacks
STAT+: Justice Department sues Medicare Advantage insurers and brokers, alleging kickbacks The Department of Justice has sued three of the largest Medicare Advantage insurers and three dominant insurance brokerages, alleging a scheme in which the health insurers bribed the brokers to steer older adults into their policies. The lawsuit targets CVS Health’s Aetna, Elevance Health’s…
-
STAT+: Doctors didn’t catch AI’s mistakes. What does that mean for human-in-the-loop?
STAT+: Doctors didn’t catch AI’s mistakes. What does that mean for human-in-the-loop? You’re reading the web edition of STAT’s AI Prognosis newsletter, our subscriber-exclusive guide to artificial intelligence in health care and medicine. Sign up to get it delivered in your inbox every Wednesday. The entire time I’ve covered AI in health care, companies developing and selling…
-
STAT+: Lack of access to antibiotics for drug-resistant infections often blamed on poor care, study says
STAT+: Lack of access to antibiotics for drug-resistant infections often blamed on poor care, study says Only 6.9% of people with drug-resistant infections in eight large, low- and middle-income countries received an appropriate antibiotic in 2019 and the lack of access was largely attributed to insufficient care, according to a new analysis. The researchers examined…
-
STAT+: Collins and fellow GOP senators speak out in opposition to Trump’s cuts to biomedical research
STAT+: Collins and fellow GOP senators speak out in opposition to Trump’s cuts to biomedical research WASHINGTON — There was broad bipartisan support at a Senate hearing Wednesday to reverse course on the Trump administration’s cuts to federally funded biomedical research. Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, kicked off…
-
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Makary rejecting a reorganization, pharma lobbying against PBMs, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Makary rejecting a reorganization, pharma lobbying against PBMs, and more Hello, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you, especially since the middle of the week is upon us. After all, we have made it this far so we are determined to hang on for…
-
STAT+: Gilead will pay $202 million to settle charges of paying kickbacks to docs for boosting HIV drug sales
STAT+: Gilead will pay $202 million to settle charges of paying kickbacks to docs for boosting HIV drug sales Gilead Sciences agreed to pay $202 million to settle allegations of paying kickbacks to doctors in exchange for prescribing several of its HIV medicines, the latest example of a controversial practice that has come back to…
-
STAT+: Sales of BridgeBio’s new heart drug blow past expectations
STAT+: Sales of BridgeBio’s new heart drug blow past expectations BridgeBio’s recently approved heart drug brought in $36.7 million in sales in the first quarter, blowing past expectations as the biotech continues to see a strong demand for its first major commercial product. Analysts had estimated that the treatment, called Attruby, would bring in sales…
-
STAT+: Supreme Court sides with HHS on formula used to pay hospitals for treating low-income patients
STAT+: Supreme Court sides with HHS on formula used to pay hospitals for treating low-income patients The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected hospitals’ argument that the federal government doesn’t pay them enough for treating low-income patients. The seven-justice majority instead sided with the Department of Health and Human Services’ interpretation of the law concerning disproportionate…
-
STAT+: What was big at AACR? A drug, a diagnostic, and a dog. Oh and a vaccine, too.
STAT+: What was big at AACR? A drug, a diagnostic, and a dog. Oh and a vaccine, too. You’re reading the web edition of AACR in 30 Seconds, STAT’s guide to the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting. We’d like to introduce you to the fellow above, whose name is Jae. When asked what…
-
STAT+: Despite Kennedy’s stated support, funding for Women’s Health Initiative remains in limbo
STAT+: Despite Kennedy’s stated support, funding for Women’s Health Initiative remains in limbo The word came down at 9 a.m. Pacific on April 14 that they were done. Marcia Stefanick of Stanford and three other leaders of regional centers that for decades have researched women’s health heard from their study’s national leaders that their funding…
-
STAT+: HPV vaccine news ‘that will save millions of lives’ from cancer, and other AACR news
STAT+: HPV vaccine news ‘that will save millions of lives’ from cancer, and other AACR news You’re reading the web edition of AACR in 30 Seconds, STAT’s guide to the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting. There’s one more day: sign up for email here. Despite the shadow cast over cancer research by recent…
-
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about tariffs increasing U.S. drug costs, Trump cuts on drug safety, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about tariffs increasing U.S. drug costs, Trump cuts on drug safety, and more Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another working week. We hope the weekend respite was relaxing and invigorating, because that oh-so-familiar routine of meetings, deadlines, and messages has returned. But what can you do? There is no pause…
-
STAT+: Capricor Therapeutics forges ahead with FDA on Duchenne drug, despite political tumult
STAT+: Capricor Therapeutics forges ahead with FDA on Duchenne drug, despite political tumult The Food and Drug Administration is nearly halfway through a review of Capricor Therapeutics’ cell therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Even with the tumult inside the agency, interactions between the company and the agency staff have been unaffected, according to the company’s…
-
STAT+: ‘Fight for your science’: Researchers urged to speak out at AACR
STAT+: ‘Fight for your science’: Researchers urged to speak out at AACR You’re reading the web edition of AACR in 30 Seconds, STAT’s guide to the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting. Sign up for email here. AACR’s big annual meeting began as usual with its large opening ceremony, but AACR CEO Margaret Foti’s closing…
-
STAT+: Taking science’s temperature at the annual AACR meeting
STAT+: Taking science’s temperature at the annual AACR meeting You’re reading the web edition of AACR in 30 Seconds, STAT’s guide to the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting. Sign up for email here. Welcome to STAT’s annual newsletter covering the meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. We’re glad you’re here. AACR…
-
STAT+: NIH announces six new acting institute directors, many of them filling posts of ousted predecessors
STAT+: NIH announces six new acting institute directors, many of them filling posts of ousted predecessors The National Institutes of Health on Friday announced six acting directors to run institutes, many to fill vacancies created by the ouster of predecessors as part of the Trump administration’s unprecedented reshaping of federal scientific agencies. In an email…
-
STAT+: Sutter Health will pay nearly $230 million to settle class-action antitrust case
STAT+: Sutter Health will pay nearly $230 million to settle class-action antitrust case Sutter Health has agreed to pay about $230 million to settle a federal class-action lawsuit accusing the Northern California health system of anticompetitive behavior that raised costs for millions of Californians. Both sides agreed to settle the case, originally filed in 2012,…
-
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…
-
STAT+: Caribou delays readout, discontinues programs, betting on off-the-shelf CAR-T therapies
STAT+: Caribou delays readout, discontinues programs, betting on off-the-shelf CAR-T therapies Caribou Biosciences is delaying the readout of clinical trials involving its CRISPR T-cell therapies for blood cancer — hoping that longer follow-up will deliver enough positive data to keep the programs and the struggling biotech company alive. The company’s decision, announced Thursday, amounts to…
-
STAT+: No new autism registry, HHS says, walking back NIH director’s claim
STAT+: No new autism registry, HHS says, walking back NIH director’s claim The federal health department is not creating a new registry of Americans with autism, a Department of Health and Human Services official said in a written statement Thursday. Instead, the official said, HHS will launch a $50 million research effort to understand the…
-
STAT+: New England Journal of Medicine gets swept up in U.S. attorney inquiry into alleged bias
STAT+: New England Journal of Medicine gets swept up in U.S. attorney inquiry into alleged bias Last week, at least one scientific journal received a letter from a top U.S. attorney asking it to respond to alleged bias. Now, one of the world’s leading medical journals, has received a similar inquiry as well. The New…
-
STAT+: NIH chief voices support for Nora Volkow, head of drug addiction research institute
STAT+: NIH chief voices support for Nora Volkow, head of drug addiction research institute The director of the National Institutes of Health gave a ringing endorsement to the nation’s top addiction researcher, Nora Volkow, this week in his first public remarks on the drug overdose crisis — a potential signal that her position as leader…
-
STAT+: What’s an AI scaling law? We’ve found biology’s, says Profluent
STAT+: What’s an AI scaling law? We’ve found biology’s, says Profluent You’re reading the web edition of STAT’s AI Prognosis newsletter, our subscriber-exclusive guide to artificial intelligence in health care and medicine. Sign up to get it delivered in your inbox every Wednesday. We’re going to dive into a wonky one today. As Ms. Frizzle would say,…
-
STAT+: Former Trump official warns president he’s at risk of ruining his legacy on ending HIV
STAT+: Former Trump official warns president he’s at risk of ruining his legacy on ending HIV WASHINGTON — The health official who helped convince President Trump during his first term that it’s possible to end the HIV epidemic in the United States is now imploring the president to stay the course, as funding cuts threaten…
-
STAT+: Bristol’s Cobenfy disappoints as supplemental antipsychotic drug
STAT+: Bristol’s Cobenfy disappoints as supplemental antipsychotic drug A landmark new treatment for schizophrenia didn’t provide additional benefits to patients when given on top of standard-of-care therapy, Bristol Myers Squibb announced Tuesday. The drug, Cobenfy, was approved last year based on data from three randomized studies comparing the drug to placebo. It was the first…
-
STAT+: Biotech entrepreneur Sam Waksal accused of ‘reckless conduct’ in new lawsuit
STAT+: Biotech entrepreneur Sam Waksal accused of ‘reckless conduct’ in new lawsuit Sam Waksal is once again in legal trouble. The biotech entrepreneur, who was famously convicted of insider trading in 2003, allegedly breached his fiduciary duties and engaged in “grossly negligent and reckless conduct” as the chairman, CEO, and largest shareholder of Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals,…
-
STAT+: Research grants as political ammo; Death to dyes?
STAT+: Research grants as political ammo; Death to dyes? 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. STAT won its first National Magazine Award for General Excellence. Not bad, huh? Help us…
-
STAT+: Women’s Health Initiative, known for hormone therapy trials, to lose federal funding
STAT+: Women’s Health Initiative, known for hormone therapy trials, to lose federal funding Federal funding for the Women’s Health Initiative, which as one of the largest research projects in women’s health has shaped treatment of menopause, osteoporosis, and nutrition, will stop in September, the program said Tuesday in a message to its 40 regional centers.…
-
STAT+: NIH bans all future grants to universities with DEI programs or Israel boycotts
STAT+: NIH bans all future grants to universities with DEI programs or Israel boycotts The National Institutes of Health will begin prohibiting the awarding of new grants to any institutions that have DEI programs or boycott Israeli companies, in an escalation of the Trump administration’s use of research funding as leverage to dismantle activities at…
-
STAT+: Harvard sues Trump administration over funding freeze
STAT+: Harvard sues Trump administration over funding freeze Harvard University sued the Trump administration on Monday, alleging that the government’s campaign to alter the school’s policies while cutting off research funding is unconstitutional. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Boston, the university’s lawyers argued that the government’s “attempt to coerce and control Harvard”…
-
STAT+: NIH director calls Trump’s anti-DEI orders ‘misunderstood,’ downplays reorganization plans
STAT+: NIH director calls Trump’s anti-DEI orders ‘misunderstood,’ downplays reorganization plans National Institutes of Health director Jay Bhattacharya on Monday asserted that the agency remains committed to research that advances the health of minorities — despite the Trump administration’s sharp focus on rolling back programs dealing with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Bhattacharya said that President…
-
STAT+: UnitedHealth discloses $1.7 million in security spending after slaying of top exec
STAT+: UnitedHealth discloses $1.7 million in security spending after slaying of top exec UnitedHealth Group spent nearly $1.7 million on security for its top executives last year, and it appears the expenses all occurred in the final weeks of 2024, after top executive Brian Thompson was killed, new filings show. Thompson was the CEO of…
-
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…
-
STAT+: Medical journal receives U.S. attorney letter seeking information about alleged bias
STAT+: Medical journal receives U.S. attorney letter seeking information about alleged bias This week, at least one scientific journal has received an unexpected inquiry from a top government official requesting that it detail some of the thinking behind its editorial practices. “It has been brought to my attention that more and more journals and publications…
-
STAT+: NIH said to have halted awarding of new grants to top universities
STAT+: NIH said to have halted awarding of new grants to top universities Embattled universities whose funding from the National Institutes of Health has been frozen may face further financial strain as the agency holds off awarding new grants to at least half a dozen of them, according to an email obtained by STAT. The…
-
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about FDA layoffs hurting user fee programs, pharma tariffs, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about FDA layoffs hurting user fee programs, pharma tariffs, 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. We expect to promenade with…
-
STAT+: GSK blood cancer therapy, once pulled from the market, is approved in the U.K.
STAT+: GSK blood cancer therapy, once pulled from the market, is approved in the U.K. GSK’s blood cancer drug Blenrep won regulatory approval in the U.K. on Thursday, marking the medicine’s return to the market after it was withdrawn several years ago. The drug, which treats multiple myeloma, will be used in combination with other…
-
STAT+: RFK Jr. is back to criticizing vaccines, and Trump’s new drug-cost plan
STAT+: RFK Jr. is back to criticizing vaccines, and Trump’s new drug-cost plan 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 cast my leafy-green seeds already, and my mint, chives and…
-
STAT+: Trump’s plans to lower drug prices have echoes of past efforts
STAT+: Trump’s plans to lower drug prices have echoes of past efforts WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has an expansive view for how it can lower drug prices for Americans. It has been here before. The question is whether this time will be different. During his first term, President Trump tried to tie U.S. drug…
-
STAT+: Arkansas adopts first-in-the-nation law forcing companies to choose between running a PBM or pharmacies
STAT+: Arkansas adopts first-in-the-nation law forcing companies to choose between running a PBM or pharmacies Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders has signed a first-in-the-nation law that prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from operating both retail and mail-order pharmacies, a move designed to eliminate a conflict of interest that has been blamed for boosting the price of medicines…
-
STAT+: Leaked budget document outlines how Kennedy may cut up HHS to build new AHA
STAT+: Leaked budget document outlines how Kennedy may cut up HHS to build new AHA An internal budget document leaked to the press on Wednesday gives the clearest vision yet of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s planned chronic disease-fighting agency, the Administration for a Healthy America. The Office of Management and Budget document, which STAT obtained,…
-
STAT+: Harvard scientist ordered to halt multicenter TB trial in funding freeze
STAT+: Harvard scientist ordered to halt multicenter TB trial in funding freeze A top scientist at Harvard who has spent years unraveling the mysteries of tuberculosis woke up Tuesday morning and discovered an order from the federal government telling her to halt her research. The stop-work order from the National Institutes of Health arrived hours…
-
STAT+: Trump administration launches probe into pharmaceutical imports
STAT+: Trump administration launches probe into pharmaceutical imports The Trump administration disclosed it formally opened an investigation into the extent to which the importation of certain pharmaceuticals may threaten national security, a move that is a widely anticipated prelude to imposing tariffs on a potentially large number of medicines. In a Federal Register notice published…
-
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Pfizer halting GLP-1 work, FDA use of contractors, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Pfizer halting GLP-1 work, FDA use of contractors, and more Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another working week. We hope the weekend respite was relaxing and refreshing because, once again, that predictable routine of meetings, deadlines, and the like has returned. After all, the world keeps spinning. And to…
-
STAT+: Canada advances an antitrust probe into Express Scripts over ‘patient steering’ and pharmacy fees
STAT+: Canada advances an antitrust probe into Express Scripts over ‘patient steering’ and pharmacy fees Canadian officials have obtained a court order that requires Express Scripts to produce documents in connection with an investigation into whether the pharmacy benefits manager violated antitrust laws. The Competition Bureau is examining whether the company forced or induced Canadians…
-
STAT+: Tennessee officials find Express Scripts violated law governing commercial pharmacy claims
STAT+: Tennessee officials find Express Scripts violated law governing commercial pharmacy claims In an unusual move, an audit of commercial health plans by Tennessee officials found that Express Scripts, one of the largest pharmacy benefit managers in the United States, violated state laws in its dealings with pharmacies, according to newly released documents. Specifically, the…
-
STAT+: Trump to end federal funding of certain non-medical services in Medicaid
STAT+: Trump to end federal funding of certain non-medical services in Medicaid WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said Thursday that it will no longer help states fund non-medical services that often are aimed at improving housing and nutrition for people in the Medicaid program. The change is a departure from the Biden administration’s efforts to…
-
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…
-
STAT+: Key NIH grant review panels resume meeting, but are not ‘back to normal’
STAT+: Key NIH grant review panels resume meeting, but are not ‘back to normal’ After being indefinitely suspended in the first days of the Trump administration, key National Institutes of Health committees that approve research grants resumed meeting this week. It appears to be a positive step toward restoring the flow of billions of dollars…
-
STAT+: FDA plans to phase out animal testing in drugs in what it calls a ‘paradigm shift’
STAT+: FDA plans to phase out animal testing in drugs in what it calls a ‘paradigm shift’ In an unexpected move, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced plans this week to reduce — and possibly replace — animal testing with other methods for developing certain medicines in a bid to lower R&D costs and,…
-
STAT+: Arkansas may force companies to choose between running a PBM or pharmacies
STAT+: Arkansas may force companies to choose between running a PBM or pharmacies File this under “You can’t have it both ways.” An Arkansas bill that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from operating retail and mail-order pharmacies was passed by the state senate and is now headed to Gov. Sarah Sanders, the first time such…
-
STAT+: Why the closure of an FDA office may impact generics manufacturers — and everyday Americans
STAT+: Why the closure of an FDA office may impact generics manufacturers — and everyday Americans Amid the hard-to-follow cutbacks at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a little-known but important office was eliminated — and the implications will be felt not only by drugmakers, but consumers. The Division of Policy Development in the Office…
-
STAT+: What’s new in STAT’s Generative AI Tracker? (spoiler: AI agents)
STAT+: What’s new in STAT’s Generative AI Tracker? (spoiler: AI agents) You’re reading the web edition of STAT’s AI Prognosis newsletter, our subscriber-exclusive guide to artificial intelligence in health care and medicine. Sign up to get it delivered in your inbox every Wednesday. As a STAT+ subscriber, you have access to our STAT trackers — including our…
-
STAT+: HHS firings could face legal challenges over inaccuracies, process used to make cuts
STAT+: HHS firings could face legal challenges over inaccuracies, process used to make cuts WASHINGTON — A week after widespread cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services, many workers are left wondering: Was that legal? Some lawyers and labor experts say errors in termination notices and the swift speed and scale of the…
-
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a plan to boost U.S. biotech funding, FDA user fees, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a plan to boost U.S. biotech funding, FDA user fees, 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 in their respective corners and assorted wildlife can be seen…
-
STAT+: As more patients get automated test results, researchers seek ways to calm their nerves
STAT+: As more patients get automated test results, researchers seek ways to calm their nerves Editor’s note: This story contains a description of self-harm. Oncologist Mark Lewis has never had much of a poker face. When he walked into his cancer patient’s visit in 2022, he was wearing a big smile: The nodules in his…