Tag: statnews
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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…
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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…
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Assessing the impact of Trump’s first 100 days on science and health policy
Assessing the impact of Trump’s first 100 days on science and health policy On this week’s episode of the Readout LOUD, we review President Trump’s first 100 days, the return of biotech M&A, strong drug launches, and Eli Lilly’s PBM problem. The first 100 days of the Trump administration have had a profound impact on…
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STAT+: Autism evaluations are being canceled over fears about a national registry
STAT+: Autism evaluations are being canceled over fears about a national registry SEATTLE — Michael VanPelt spent several weeks recently glued to his telephone, dialing doctors who might be able to get his 3-year-old son in for an autism evaluation. The music teacher ran out of providers who took his health insurance, but luckily the…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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NIH cancels participation in Safe to Sleep campaign that decreased infant deaths
NIH cancels participation in Safe to Sleep campaign that decreased infant deaths WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has cancelled federal participation in Safe to Sleep, a 30-year campaign to prevent babies from dying in their sleep, STAT and the Medill News Service have learned. The elimination of the National Institutes of Health’s role in the…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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U.S. government researchers present ‘phenomenal’ new data on HPV vaccines
U.S. government researchers present ‘phenomenal’ new data on HPV vaccines CHICAGO — A clinical trial run by the National Cancer Institute seems to confirm that a single dose of the vaccine used to prevent infection with the human papilloma virus is just as effective as two — and, therefore, also helps to prevent cancer. The result…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Opinion: STAT readers on the animal wellness industry, drug price floors, and more
Opinion: STAT readers on the animal wellness industry, drug price floors, and more First Opinion is STAT’s platform for interesting, illuminating, and provocative articles about the life sciences writ large, written by biotech insiders, health care workers, researchers, and others. To encourage robust, good-faith discussion about issues raised in First Opinion essays, STAT publishes selected…
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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…
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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,…
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Rural health study is told it’s losing federal funds, and other major heart studies are worried
Rural health study is told it’s losing federal funds, and other major heart studies are worried Vasan Ramachandran is baffled. A cardiologist and veteran of the famed Framingham Heart Study, he is struggling to understand why a similar study he brought to life in 10 rural counties across four Southern states is facing elimination. The…
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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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Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to federal death penalty charge in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing
Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to federal death penalty charge in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione pleaded not guilty Friday to a federal murder charge in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as prosecutors formally declared their intent to seek the death penalty and the judge warned the Justice Department to stop making…
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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…
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Pharma tariffs, and a ‘sunshine day’ for biotech stocks
Pharma tariffs, and a ‘sunshine day’ for biotech stocks How did Ireland become a hotspot for pharmaceutical manufacturing? What are the products that will come out of Flagship’s latest startup centered around “preemptive medicine”? And who among the co-hosts is the best singer? We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of “The…
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RFK Jr. faces mixed reception, unruly crowd at major addiction conference
RFK Jr. faces mixed reception, unruly crowd at major addiction conference NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appearance at a major addiction and drug policy conference was marked by repeated interruptions on Thursday, as protesters and jeers forced him to pause and wait for noise to subside at least five times during his 36-minute…
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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…
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Day by day, how Trump is roiling science and health
Day by day, how Trump is roiling science and health It’s hard to remember all the earthshaking decisions and events that have transpired with unprecedented speed in the first few months of the Trump administration. We’re tracking, day by day, what’s happened in the worlds of science and health. Key Legal action Covid DEI and…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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Studies zoom in on clues to why Lyme disease persists and which antibiotic to prescribe
Studies zoom in on clues to why Lyme disease persists and which antibiotic to prescribe It starts with the ticks. These insects infect people with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, microbes that are complicated to study, difficult to detect when they cause illness, and challenging to treat so they don’t linger in the human…
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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…
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Food companies agree to phase out synthetic dyes, handing MAHA a victory
Food companies agree to phase out synthetic dyes, handing MAHA a victory Food manufacturers will phase out eight synthetic dyes from all U.S. products by the end of 2026, the federal government announced today in a move that reflects the growing reach of the Make America Healthy Again movement. Decrying the “toxic soup of synthetic…
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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,…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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U.S. Supreme Court appears likely to uphold ACA preventive care coverage mandate
U.S. Supreme Court appears likely to uphold ACA preventive care coverage mandate WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court seemed likely to uphold a key preventive-care provision of the Affordable Care Act in a case heard Monday. Conservative justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett appeared skeptical of arguments that Obamacare’s process for deciding which services must be fully…
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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”…
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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…
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White House trumpets Covid lab leak theory on web page that was devoted to health information
White House trumpets Covid lab leak theory on web page that was devoted to health information A government website long used to provide the latest guidelines on managing Covid-19, as well as information on how to receive tests, vaccines and treatments has now been replaced with a page proclaiming the virus emerged from a lab…
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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+: 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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The latest news from Harvard Yard
The latest news from Harvard Yard Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. Sign up here. Good morning. A Trump administration draft budget for HHS was leaked yesterday, and STAT reporters have the details. For NIH, the document proposes a $20 billion cut in 2026 — roughly a…
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More proposed cuts to the NIH
More proposed cuts to the NIH Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today? Sign up to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox. Morning. Today, we talk about Arkansas making a bold move to curb PBM power, analyze Trump’s executive order in regards to drug prices, and more. Read the rest… Meghana…
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Vaccine advisory panel recommends expanded RSV use, and two new vaccines
Vaccine advisory panel recommends expanded RSV use, and two new vaccines A committee of independent vaccine experts voted Wednesday to recommend lowering the age at which adults can get a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, potentially opening up access to these vaccines for adults in their 50s who are at high risk of severe illness…
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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,…
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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…
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‘The same Bobby Kennedy’: How RFK Jr.’s vaccine criticism came rushing back
‘The same Bobby Kennedy’: How RFK Jr.’s vaccine criticism came rushing back WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. downplayed his past criticism of vaccines as he sought to become the nation’s health secretary. Now, just two months after winning confirmation, he’s frequently returning to rhetoric from his time as perhaps the most prominent vaccine critic…
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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…
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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…
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STAT+: Harvard funding cuts will largely spare affiliated hospitals, Trump administration says
STAT+: Harvard funding cuts will largely spare affiliated hospitals, Trump administration says Teaching hospitals affiliated with Harvard University will not be affected by the federal government’s decision this week to freeze $2.2 billion in funding to the university, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education. The spokesperson, Madison Biedermann, said Tuesday morning in a…
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RFK Jr. plans changes to vaccine injury reporting system
RFK Jr. plans changes to vaccine injury reporting system WASHINGTON — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that he plans to roll out changes to the vaccine injury monitoring system that would automate and increase data collection as well as look for negative impacts of the shots. Reforming the current Vaccine Adverse Event…
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RFK Jr calls rising autism rates an ‘epidemic.’ Autistic people call it a condition to live with
RFK Jr calls rising autism rates an ‘epidemic.’ Autistic people call it a condition to live with A new federal report suggests that U.S. autism rates are rising modestly, an increase that health researchers said reflected expanded diagnostic tools and access to care, among other factors. But health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. instead has…
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FDA OKs trial of pig livers as dialysis-like treatment for liver failure
FDA OKs trial of pig livers as dialysis-like treatment for liver failure WASHINGTON — U.S. researchers will soon test whether livers from a gene-edited pig could treat people with sudden liver failure — by temporarily filtering their blood so their own organ can rest and maybe heal. The first-of-its-kind clinical trial has been cleared by the Food…
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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…
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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…
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Pfizer discontinues its experimental GLP-1 pill
Pfizer discontinues its experimental GLP-1 pill Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today? Sign up to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox. Morning. Today, we discuss interesting new gene-editing data from Verve, see the NIH starting to convene advisory councils again, and more. Read the rest… Meghana Keshavan Go to statnews
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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…
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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…
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Trump is ‘fully fit’ to serve as commander in chief, his doctor says after recent physical
Trump is ‘fully fit’ to serve as commander in chief, his doctor says after recent physical WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Donald Trump’s doctor says the oldest man elected president is “fully fit” to serve as commander in chief as the White House released results Sunday of Trump’s recent physical exam. The 78-year-old Trump is 20 pounds…
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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…
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Doctors remove pig kidney from an Alabama woman after a record 130 days
Doctors remove pig kidney from an Alabama woman after a record 130 days WASHINGTON — An Alabama woman who lived with a pig kidney for a record 130 days had the organ removed after her body began rejecting it and is back on dialysis, doctors announced Friday — a disappointment in the ongoing quest for animal-to-human transplants.…
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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…
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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+: 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,…
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RFK Jr. says HHS will determine the cause of autism by September
RFK Jr. says HHS will determine the cause of autism by September WASHINGTON — The nation’s top health agency will undertake a “massive testing and research effort” to determine the cause of autism, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Thursday. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic who has pushed a discredited theory that routine…
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CDC officials plan for the agency’s splintering, but questions remain
CDC officials plan for the agency’s splintering, but questions remain NEW YORK — A top Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official told staff this week to start planning for the agency’s splintering. Several parts of CDC — mostly those devoted to health threats that aren’t infectious — are being spun off into the soon-to-be-created Administration for…
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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…
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Health secretary RFK Jr. declares certain vaccines have ‘never worked,’ flummoxing scientists
Health secretary RFK Jr. declares certain vaccines have ‘never worked,’ flummoxing scientists Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed another unorthodox view on vaccines, with the long-time vaccine critic declaring that vaccines for respiratory bugs that target a sole part of the pathogen they are meant to protect against do not work. The claim…
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BIO’s John Crowley on RFK Jr. and tariffs, plus calls for more federal biotech funding
BIO’s John Crowley on RFK Jr. and tariffs, plus calls for more federal biotech funding Is there more funding coming for the biotech industry? Will the pharmaceutical industry be hit with tariffs? And is it possible to reason with RFK Jr.? We talk about all that and more on this week’s episode of “The Readout…
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On an RFK Jr. road show, MAHA goals take precedence. Measles prevention less so
On an RFK Jr. road show, MAHA goals take precedence. Measles prevention less so GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY, Ariz. — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaking Tuesday morning at a conference on Native American tribal self-governance, was working hard to win his audience’s affection. But amid a measles outbreak linked to the deaths of two children…
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National public health group calls for RFK Jr. to resign, citing ‘complete disregard for science’
National public health group calls for RFK Jr. to resign, citing ‘complete disregard for science’ A national public health organization is calling for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign the federal post he assumed just weeks ago, citing “implicit and explicit bias and complete disregard for science.” Georges Benjamin, executive director of the…
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U.S. maternal mortality rate increased 27% over five years, NIH study finds
U.S. maternal mortality rate increased 27% over five years, NIH study finds A new U.S. government paper documenting an increase in maternal mortality from 2018 to 2022 does not hedge in its conclusion, calling the issue “an urgent public health priority.” That it was published amid massive job and funding cuts at federal health agencies…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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STAT+: RFK Jr.’s Senate hearing delayed, living with more measles
STAT+: RFK Jr.’s Senate hearing delayed, living with more measles 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 is cutting the price of an annual subscription in half. Click here for…
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STAT+: Study shows how UnitedHealth uses coding to rake in extra cash from Medicare Advantage
STAT+: Study shows how UnitedHealth uses coding to rake in extra cash from Medicare Advantage Health insurers in the private Medicare business have a big incentive to diagnose their members with lots of health conditions: The government pays them more money. A new study shows the extent to which the biggest player in that business,…
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RFK Jr. says he plans to tell CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water
RFK Jr. says he plans to tell CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday said he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention soon to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide. Kennedy also said he’s assembling a task…
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STAT+: Trump gives major lift to 2026 Medicare Advantage payments
STAT+: Trump gives major lift to 2026 Medicare Advantage payments Health insurers that sell Medicare Advantage plans are going to get about $30 billion more in taxpayer money next year. President Trump’s Medicare agency finalized a rule Monday that would raise benchmark payment rates to privatized Medicare plans by 5.1% for 2026. That was higher…
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Weedkiller maker asks U.S. Supreme Court to block lawsuits claiming it failed to warn about cancer
Weedkiller maker asks U.S. Supreme Court to block lawsuits claiming it failed to warn about cancer JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Global agrochemical manufacturer Bayer has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether federal law preempts thousands of state lawsuits alleging it failed to warn people that its popular weedkiller could cause cancer. Bayer’s new…