Tag: statnews
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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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Trump team takes aim at state laws shielding consumers’ credit scores from medical debt
Trump team takes aim at state laws shielding consumers’ credit scores from medical debt The Trump administration took another step Tuesday to weaken protections for Americans with medical debt, issuing new guidance that threatens ongoing state efforts to keep that debt off consumers’ credit reports. More than a dozen states, including Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado,…
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STAT+: Natera, known for spotting cancer recurrence, wades into early detection
STAT+: Natera, known for spotting cancer recurrence, wades into early detection Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today? Sign up to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox. Good morning. It seems everyone I know has been getting sick lately — hope you are all taking care of yourselves! Onto the news…
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STAT+: Will Optum Real really end the payer vs provider AI wars?
STAT+: Will Optum Real really end the payer vs provider AI wars? 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. Multiple people have told me they’re now planning to see “Doctor Moloch,” the…
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Texas lawsuit targets Tylenol
Texas lawsuit targets Tylenol Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. Sign up here. Remember Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse? A colleague in the newsroom said the name yesterday, and even though I hadn’t thought about it in decades, the smell instantly came back to me. Also, the talking…
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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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Texas lawsuit against companies behind Tylenol asserts unproven claims of autism risk
Texas lawsuit against companies behind Tylenol asserts unproven claims of autism risk Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday accused the companies behind Tylenol of deceptively marketing the pain reliever to pregnant mothers in a lawsuit that asserted unproven claims that early exposure to acetaminophen increased risk of autism and other disorders. Paxton, an ally of President…
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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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When SNAP benefits run out, ‘people can die,’ say health experts
When SNAP benefits run out, ‘people can die,’ say health experts Millions of Americans are set to lose access to food benefits starting Saturday because of the government shutdown, with at least 25 states telling recipients they won’t receive checks for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in November. Health care experts warn that families…
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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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Opinion: How much should healthy medical research volunteers get paid?
Opinion: How much should healthy medical research volunteers get paid? Below is a lightly edited, AI-generated transcript of the “First Opinion Podcast” interview with Jake Eberts and Jill Fisher. Be sure to sign up for the weekly “First Opinion Podcast” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get alerts about each new episode by…
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Opinion: Is new insurance company downcoding long overdue or a travesty? STAT readers weigh in
Opinion: Is new insurance company downcoding long overdue or a travesty? STAT readers weigh in 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…
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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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At a gathering of biopharma executives, a moment of wonder — and also of worry
At a gathering of biopharma executives, a moment of wonder — and also of worry Sometimes the biggest moments at a conference happen backstage. At the annual STAT Summit on Oct. 15-16, that kind of moment came when one of the top biopharmaceutical executives in the world met a toddler in a tuxedo. Read the…
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STAT+: Ro wants to measure ‘food noise’ in obesity care
STAT+: Ro wants to measure ‘food noise’ in obesity care Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today? Sign up to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox. Good morning, you’ve made it Friday! We’ve got some more news to get through before heading into the weekend. FDA delivers split decision on…
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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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Startups push the FDA and biotech booms in North Carolina
Startups push the FDA and biotech booms in North Carolina Can Trump take credit for North Carolina’s booming biopharma industry? Which drugs could get a shortcut to the market? And who wore a tuxedo to the STAT Summit? We discuss all that and more in the latest episode of “The Readout LOUD.” Read the rest……
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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+: 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+: 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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Anti-science bills hit statehouses, stripping away public health protections built over a century
Anti-science bills hit statehouses, stripping away public health protections built over a century More than 420 anti-science bills attacking longstanding public health protections — vaccines, milk safety and fluoride — have been introduced in statehouses across the U.S. this year, part of an organized, politically savvy campaign to enshrine a conspiracy theory-driven agenda into law. An Associated Press investigation found that the wave…
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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+: Anthropic’s biology head talks ‘Claude for Life Sciences’
STAT+: Anthropic’s biology head talks ‘Claude for Life Sciences’ 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. I saw the Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter Broadway production of “Waiting for Godot” last week,…
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Opinion: The U.S. experiment with profit-driven health care has failed
Opinion: The U.S. experiment with profit-driven health care has failed Health care costs are surging. ACA Marketplace premiums will rise 18% next year— even more for the millions set to lose their enhanced federal subsidies without congressional action. Meanwhile, big employers expect their premiums — already about $25,000 for family coverage — to increase 9%…
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NEJM and public health group are launching rival to CDC’s MMWR publication
NEJM and public health group are launching rival to CDC’s MMWR publication In the latest bid to plug gaps in the federal government’s public health infrastructure, two institutions are coming together to create an alternative to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaunted Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — often called “the voice of the…
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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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Government shutdown means many CDC experts are skipping a pivotal meeting on infectious disease
Government shutdown means many CDC experts are skipping a pivotal meeting on infectious disease ATLANTA — CDC researchers are being forced to skip a pivotal conference on infectious disease this week due to the government shutdown, missing out on high-level discussions not long after surges in measles and whooping cough hit the U.S. IDWeek, the largest annual meeting…
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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+: 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…
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Opinion: Former acting CDC director calls public health cuts ‘absolutely heartbreaking’
Opinion: Former acting CDC director calls public health cuts ‘absolutely heartbreaking’ Below is a lightly edited, AI-generated transcript of the “First Opinion Podcast” interview with Richard Besser. Be sure to sign up for the weekly “First Opinion Podcast” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get alerts about each new episode by signing up…
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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+: Grail says new data on multi-cancer screening test show improved performance
STAT+: Grail says new data on multi-cancer screening test show improved performance As part of its bid to transform the future of cancer screening and seize control of a potentially vast and increasingly competitive market, Grail announced fresh data on Friday from a large U.S. study of its flagship blood-based test for detecting dozens of…
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STAT+: Turkey antitrust regulator fines several big drugmakers for ‘no-poach’ agreements
STAT+: Turkey antitrust regulator fines several big drugmakers for ‘no-poach’ agreements Antitrust regulators in Turkey have fined more than a dozen large pharmaceutical companies — including global drugmakers such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Novartis — for agreeing not to poach employees from one another, a move that disrupted the domestic labor market. The Turkish Competition…
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Some of CDC’s health statistics employees are still in the dark
Some of CDC’s health statistics employees are still in the dark Confusion rules in one corner of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where the purpose is the pursuit of certainty. The National Center for Health Statistics plans and disseminates research informing public health policies on everything from food to oral health to environmental…
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Watch: Joe Kennedy III explains his split with his uncle, health secretary RFK Jr.
Watch: Joe Kennedy III explains his split with his uncle, health secretary RFK Jr. BOSTON — Joe Kennedy III didn’t make the decision to split with health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lightly. At the STAT Summit in Boston, Kennedy said he has “great memories” of growing up with his uncle. But the younger Kennedy’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+: FDA announces first nine recipients of priority drug review vouchers
STAT+: FDA announces first nine recipients of priority drug review vouchers WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday announced the first nine recipients of the Commissioner’s National Priority Review vouchers, a program offering an expedited drug review to companies with products that align with the agency’s national health priorities. President Trump highlighted one…
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Former NIH leaders lament ‘constant chaos’ at the agency, and caution it’s not over
Former NIH leaders lament ‘constant chaos’ at the agency, and caution it’s not over BOSTON — Jeremy Berg walked on stage sporting a curious look: a red tie patterned with a word cloud drawn from the applications of 197 researchers who vied to be part of a National Institutes of Health initiative aimed at accelerating…
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Trump announces plan to expand fertility treatment coverage alongside latest pharma deal
Trump announces plan to expand fertility treatment coverage alongside latest pharma deal The Trump administration has struck a deal with EMD Serono to lower drug prices — part of a larger push from the administration to expand coverage and improve affordability for fertility services, officials announced at the White House on Thursday. The administration’s plan…
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STAT+: Biotech leaders say uncertainty at FDA threatens drug development
STAT+: Biotech leaders say uncertainty at FDA threatens drug development BOSTON — Replimune Group and Capricor Therapeutics both seemed on track to receive long-awaited drug approvals from the Food and Drug Administration earlier this year. Then, amid tumult at the agency as the Trump administration took power, their applications were rejected. The companies’ CEOs talked…
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STAT+: Medicare payments to doctors paused as government shutdown drags on
STAT+: Medicare payments to doctors paused as government shutdown drags on The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is pausing Medicare payments to doctors, as negotiations tied to the government shutdown drag on. CMS announced the pause in a notice on its website but didn’t say when it would end. It’s happening because Congress needs…
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Doctor groups need to ‘step up to the plate’ as CDC guidance becomes harder to trust, former leaders say
Doctor groups need to ‘step up to the plate’ as CDC guidance becomes harder to trust, former leaders say BOSTON — It’s getting harder to trust guidance coming out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, creating an opening for physician groups to step up and fill the void, two former top agency officials…
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Democratic governors form a public health alliance in rebuke of Trump administration
Democratic governors form a public health alliance in rebuke of Trump administration A group of Democratic state governors has launched a new alliance aimed at coordinating their public health efforts. They’re framing it as a way to share data, messages about threats, emergency preparedness and public health policy — and as a rebuke to President…
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‘Doctor Mike,’ the popular YouTube creator, faults AMA communication strategies to counter misinformation
‘Doctor Mike,’ the popular YouTube creator, faults AMA communication strategies to counter misinformation BOSTON — Mike Varshavski, a family physician and content creator who goes by Doctor Mike on YouTube, has made it his mission to combat medical misinformation. He’s attracted 14 million followers by communicating both clearly and entertainingly. He wishes leaders in medicine…
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STAT+: CEO of GSK plays down its role in FDA effort to approve therapy for autism-related condition
STAT+: CEO of GSK plays down its role in FDA effort to approve therapy for autism-related condition BOSTON — The CEO of the drugmaker GSK on Wednesday said the company has had a minimal role in the Food and Drug Administration’s effort to update the prescribing information of a long-shelved drug so that it can…
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CDC team running top survey on health and nutrition is laid off
CDC team running top survey on health and nutrition is laid off Protecting the nation’s public health demands data, whether it be new measles cases, a surge in ER visits, or shifting patterns in obesity. The most recent job cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention threaten the mostly unseen foundation of that…
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STAT+: J&J reportedly in talks to buy Protagonist
STAT+: J&J reportedly in talks to buy Protagonist Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today? Sign up to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox. Good morning. My colleagues were hard at work throughout the weekend reporting on major firings across the CDC. We’ve also got a ton of biopharma news…
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STAT+: Kailera Therapeutics, an obesity drug startup, raises $600 million
STAT+: Kailera Therapeutics, an obesity drug startup, raises $600 million Investors announced one of the biggest private financing rounds of the year for a biotech company Tuesday, pouring $600 million into obesity startup Kailera Therapeutics. Bain Capital’s private equity group led the financing, which also included Royalty Pharma, the sovereign wealth fund in Qatar, and the…
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LGBTQ+ clinicians hold the line, plan for future
LGBTQ+ clinicians hold the line, plan for future Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. Sign up here. Happy STAT Summit week! Excited to see y’all in Boston. Still planning to come but don’t have tickets? Click here. Read the rest… O. Rose Broderick Go to statnews
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a troubled Novo plant, pressure on the Novavax board, and much more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a troubled Novo plant, pressure on the Novavax board, and much more Top of the morning to you. Gray skies are hovering overhead right now, but our spirits remain sunny, nonetheless. Why? We will trot out a bit of insight from the Morning Mayor, who would say, “Every new day…
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STAT+: Medicare Advantage insurers still in retreat as annual enrollment kicks off
STAT+: Medicare Advantage insurers still in retreat as annual enrollment kicks off Medicare Advantage has skyrocketed in popularity over the past decade, reeling in new members with zero-dollar premiums and generous benefits. But the rate of growth has slowed in recent years, and in 2026, there’s a decent chance enrollment will contract for the first…
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STAT+: FDA declares Novo Nordisk plant, key to drug manufacturing for some biotechs, out of compliance
STAT+: FDA declares Novo Nordisk plant, key to drug manufacturing for some biotechs, out of compliance A troubled Indiana contract manufacturing plant recently acquired by Novo Nordisk is considered to not be in compliance with the Food and Drug Administration standards, a serious designation that could further delay the approval of drugs made in the…
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Opinion: STAT+: Why this cardiologist is cautious about the Apple Watch’s blood pressure feature
Opinion: STAT+: Why this cardiologist is cautious about the Apple Watch’s blood pressure feature Welcome to The Workup, a First Opinion column from Vishal Khetpal. As a physician in the age of wearables, glancing at a patient’s wrist has become a natural, unspoken part of the physical exam. In most cases, finding an Apple Watch doesn’t…
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Opinion: Drug developers shouldn’t shortchange the autoimmune community
Opinion: Drug developers shouldn’t shortchange the autoimmune community My teenage years were ravaged by severe autoimmune disease. In that era, the burdens of treatment for Crohn’s disease rivaled the misery of the affliction. My illness brought searing stomach pain, fatigue, and fistulas. The steroids my physician prescribed caused breakouts of cystic acne all over my…
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Biden is receiving radiation and hormone therapy to treat his prostate cancer
Biden is receiving radiation and hormone therapy to treat his prostate cancer WASHINGTON — Former President Joe Biden is receiving radiation and hormone therapy as part of a new phase of treating the aggressive form of prostate cancer he was diagnosed with after leaving office, a spokesperson said Saturday. “As part of a treatment plan for prostate cancer, President…
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‘It’s a massacre’: CDC battered by government shutdown firings
‘It’s a massacre’: CDC battered by government shutdown firings WASHINGTON — The White House’s mass firing of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff on Friday has decimated offices related to injury prevention, respiratory disease surveillance, and chronic disease, according to four people familiar with the cuts. Overall, the White House is expected to cut…
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STAT+: Deep cuts made to CDC’s flagship MMWR publication, a cornerstone of public health
STAT+: Deep cuts made to CDC’s flagship MMWR publication, a cornerstone of public health WASHINGTON — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff behind the agency’s flagship publication have suffered deep cuts as part of the firings the Health and Human Services Department has blamed on the government shutdown, according to five people familiar with the situation. Almost the…
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President Trump is in ‘exceptional health,’ his doctor says, after visit to Walter Reed
President Trump is in ‘exceptional health,’ his doctor says, after visit to Walter Reed WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is in “exceptional health,” his physician said Friday after he underwent a checkup that included lab tests and preventive health assessments at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Trump spent roughly three hours at the Bethesda, Maryland, hospital…
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Opinion: When patients don’t want to treat their cancer
Opinion: When patients don’t want to treat their cancer Below is a lightly edited, AI-generated transcript of the “First Opinion Podcast” episode with Joy Lisi Rankin and Samyukta Mullangi about decision-making around breast cancer treatment. Be sure to sign up for the weekly “First Opinion Podcast” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get alerts…
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STAT+: Canadian lawmakers urge the government to suspend imports of long-tailed macaques
STAT+: Canadian lawmakers urge the government to suspend imports of long-tailed macaques A half-dozen members of the Canadian parliament are urging the government to immediately suspend imports of long-tailed macaques into the country over concerns the monkeys may be infected with tuberculosis and pose a biosecurity risk. In their Oct. 1 letter, the lawmakers cite…
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STAT+: Sarepta to seek approval for gene therapy in rare form of muscular dystrophy
STAT+: Sarepta to seek approval for gene therapy in rare form of muscular dystrophy An experimental gene therapy from Sarepta Therapeutics increased levels of the gene missing in an ultra-rare form of muscular dystrophy, according to data the company presented Friday. The company has said it plans to file for approval in the disease, known…
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STAT+: HHS employees to be fired as White House enacts mass terminations it blames on shutdown
STAT+: HHS employees to be fired as White House enacts mass terminations it blames on shutdown WASHINGTON — Federal health employees on Friday were being fired as the White House followed through on its threat to terminate federal employees en masse as the second week of the government shutdown drags to a close. Between 1,100…
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STAT+: Roche suffers setback as court allows generic version of its rare disease drug to be sold in India
STAT+: Roche suffers setback as court allows generic version of its rare disease drug to be sold in India In the latest tussle over access to medicines, an Indian court has upheld a ruling that found it would be in the public interest to allow a generic company to sell a lower-cost version of a…
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STAT+: AstraZeneca strikes drug pricing deal with Trump
STAT+: AstraZeneca strikes drug pricing deal with Trump WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday said he struck a drug pricing deal with AstraZeneca aimed at fulfilling his plan to bring U.S. drug prices in line with what other countries pay, the second agreement after Pfizer’s last week. Similar to Pfizer’s deal, the British pharma company…
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STAT+: Blue Cross of Mass. offers buyouts to hundreds of employees amid financial struggles
STAT+: Blue Cross of Mass. offers buyouts to hundreds of employees amid financial struggles Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has offered buyouts to hundreds of employees as it seeks to cut its workforce amid soaring health care costs and steep losses. Blue Cross, the state’s largest health insurer, told employees of the voluntary buyouts…
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STAT+: Key GOP lawmaker tones down rhetoric on medical care for immigrants
STAT+: Key GOP lawmaker tones down rhetoric on medical care for immigrants 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. Three cheers for Johns Hopkins epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers, who spent her Saturday…
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Party in biotech land and AstraZeneca’s miscalculation
Party in biotech land and AstraZeneca’s miscalculation Where did former vaccine regulator Peter Marks find a new job? How did a math error cost AstraZeneca a rare disease candidate? And is biotech back? We discuss all that on this week’s episode of the “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. We bring on Mizuho health care…
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STAT+: Top Democrat demands more detail from Medicare insurers about their use of AI
STAT+: Top Democrat demands more detail from Medicare insurers about their use of AI Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is pressing the nation’s largest Medicare Advantage insurers to provide more detail about their use of artificial intelligence tools amid reports that these companies are rapidly increasing their reliance on the technology to help make decisions about…
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STAT+: Coalition for Health AI faces escalating attacks by Trump officials, loss of founding member Amazon
STAT+: Coalition for Health AI faces escalating attacks by Trump officials, loss of founding member Amazon The Trump administration is escalating its efforts to weaken a tech industry-funded group seeking to help shape the nation’s use of artificial intelligence in health care. The Coalition for Health AI, or CHAI, is made up of some of…
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STAT+: Metal-organic frameworks win chemistry Nobel
STAT+: Metal-organic frameworks win chemistry Nobel Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. Sign up here. Good morning. We are officially one week out from the STAT Summit. I’m excited to see my colleagues IRL, to eat great snacks, and of course, to experience amazing live journalism.…
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STAT+: Billionaire-backed VC firm launches, led by former Flagship associate
STAT+: Billionaire-backed VC firm launches, led by former Flagship associate Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today? Sign up to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox. Good morning. At the start of this week, my editor said the news flow was looking slow. He’s jinxed us yet again. Let’s get…
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More people with psychosis are using cannabis. Medical professionals are worried
More people with psychosis are using cannabis. Medical professionals are worried Cannabis use rates among people with psychosis have surged in states that have legalized the drug, according to a new study. Medical professionals say the trend — especially when combined with more potent variants of the drug available on the market — could worsen…
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STAT+: House speaker backs emergency care law as GOP targets immigrant medical treatment in shutdown fight
STAT+: House speaker backs emergency care law as GOP targets immigrant medical treatment in shutdown fight WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Wednesday that Republicans don’t want to change a law requiring hospitals to provide care to any individual experiencing a medical emergency, including immigrants without legal status. His remarks capped off more…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Trump and BlinkRx conflicts, a setback for Sarepta, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Trump and BlinkRx conflicts, a setback for Sarepta, and more Hello, everyone, and welcome to the middle of the week. Congratulations on making it this far. It is an accomplishment, after all. The next step is to forge ahead. And why not? Just consider the alternatives. On that optimistic note,…
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STAT+: Pharma companies scramble to make deals with Trump after Pfizer scored White House praise
STAT+: Pharma companies scramble to make deals with Trump after Pfizer scored White House praise WASHINGTON — The agreement between Pfizer and the Trump administration to lower drug prices has sent other companies scrambling to make a deal. Several major pharmaceutical firms that received letters from President Trump demanding lower prices have been hustling to…
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STAT+: Orca submits T cell therapy for FDA approval
STAT+: Orca submits T cell therapy for FDA approval Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today? Sign up to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox. We’ve got some exciting news of our own this morning: the return of Damian Garde, who once authored this very newsletter and who is coming…
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STAT+: Who is winning the government shutdown?
STAT+: Who is winning the government shutdown? 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. Thankfully, this year the saltwater cowboys of Virginia’s Eastern Shore rounded up wild ponies for their horsy…
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STAT+: Peter Marks, FDA vaccine regulator ousted by RFK Jr., joins Eli Lilly
STAT+: Peter Marks, FDA vaccine regulator ousted by RFK Jr., joins Eli Lilly WASHINGTON — Peter Marks, the former top vaccine regulator at the Food and Drug Administration, has joined Eli Lilly to oversee molecule discovery and infectious diseases — a move that quickly drew criticism for the revolving door between the agency and industry. Marks confirmed…
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As Supreme Court weighs conversion therapy, conservative justices question medical authority
As Supreme Court weighs conversion therapy, conservative justices question medical authority At the Supreme Court on Tuesday, a majority of justices seemed poised to rule against a Colorado law banning licensed mental health practitioners from engaging in any therapy that tries to change a young person’s sexual or gender identity. The justices have until the…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about the telehealth boom, EU pharma policy and much more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about the telehealth boom, EU pharma policy and much 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 deadlines, online meetings and phone calls has predictably returned. But what can you do? The world, such…