Tag: statnews
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CDC approves updated Covid-19, chickenpox vaccine recommendations
CDC approves updated Covid-19, chickenpox vaccine recommendations WASHINGTON — A top federal health official has approved recommendations allowing anyone over the age of 6 months to receive an updated Covid-19 shot after discussing the risks and benefits with their provider. While the updated recommendation maintains insurance coverage for those who want the vaccine, it doesn’t…
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STAT+: TCGX closes $1.3 billion fund amid investor surge
STAT+: TCGX closes $1.3 billion fund amid investor surge 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. Today, we talk about the big regulatory changes afoot in Europe, how telehealth upended the drug market, and more. The need-to-know this morning …
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Acting CDC director calls for MMR vaccine to be broken up into three shots
Acting CDC director calls for MMR vaccine to be broken up into three shots Jim O’Neill, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called for drastic changes to the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine that aren’t supported by medical research, intensifying the Trump administration’s criticism of a shot that’s a cornerstone of…
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Opinion: Morgan ‘Dr. Noc’ McSweeney’s advice on becoming a science-based social media influencer
Opinion: Morgan ‘Dr. Noc’ McSweeney’s advice on becoming a science-based social media influencer Below is a lightly edited, AI-generated transcript of the “First Opinion Podcast” interview with Morgan McSweeney. 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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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about another generic abortion pill, pharma layoffs, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about another generic abortion pill, pharma layoffs, 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 we plan to indulge in…
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STAT+: A second generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone approved by FDA
STAT+: A second generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone approved by FDA Want to stay on top of the science and politics driving biotech today? Sign up to get our biotech newsletter in your inbox. Hullo! Today, we talk about Amgen’s positive new PCSK9 data, learn more about the new NIH office meant to reduce reliance…
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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+: Colorado board makes first-in-the-nation move by setting a payment limit on an Amgen drug
STAT+: Colorado board makes first-in-the-nation move by setting a payment limit on an Amgen drug In a first-in-the-nation move, a Colorado panel has voted to limit what health plans in the state will pay for a costly arthritis treatment, a step that may encourage other states to pursue similar strategies to contain spending on prescription…
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The NIH’s $50 million autism bet
The NIH’s $50 million autism bet Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. Sign up here. It’s October, which means it’s time to make hot apple cider and watch Over the Garden Wall. Potatoes and Molasses, anyone? Read the rest… O. Rose Broderick Go to statnews
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A pharma C-suite shakeup and Trump’s deal with Pfizer
A pharma C-suite shakeup and Trump’s deal with Pfizer How will we look back on Emma Walmsley’s tenure as GSK’s CEO? Why did one of the FDA’s top drug officials call out an obscure lupus drug on LinkedIn? And will we ever stop talking about the pharma patent cliff? We discuss all that and more…
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FDA approves another generic abortion pill, prompting outrage from conservatives
FDA approves another generic abortion pill, prompting outrage from conservatives WASHINGTON — Federal officials have approved another generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone, a regulatory formality that quickly triggered pushback from anti-abortion groups and politicians aligned with the Trump administration. Drugmaker Evita Solutions announced on its website that the Food and Drug Administration signed off on its low-cost form…
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STAT+: Which biotechs are affected by the government shutdown?
STAT+: Which biotechs are affected by the government shutdown? 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. I can’t believe it either, but we’re in the fourth quarter of the year. We’ve got a guide for you on the key…
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STAT+: UnitedHealth taps Duke scientist to lead AI efforts
STAT+: UnitedHealth taps Duke scientist to lead AI efforts UnitedHealth Group has tapped a Duke University artificial intelligence expert to be its chief AI scientist as the health care giant ramps up the use of the technology across its sprawling network of businesses, according to a memo obtained by STAT. Michael Pencina, chief data scientist…
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STAT+: The government is shut down. Now what?
STAT+: The government is shut down. Now what? 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. Are you in a betting pool for how long the government shutdown will last? Send your…
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STAT+: U.K. is urged to probe drugmakers for conspiring to scrap or halt investments amid pricing disputes
STAT+: U.K. is urged to probe drugmakers for conspiring to scrap or halt investments amid pricing disputes The U.K.’s antitrust regulator has been asked by patient advocacy groups to investigate several large drugmakers and their U.K. lobbying organization for “suspected” and “coordinated” efforts to drive up the prices of medicines. The backdrop to the complaint…
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Autoimmune responses found in ALS, pointing to a new way to view the deadly disease
Autoimmune responses found in ALS, pointing to a new way to view the deadly disease Researchers have found that patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have autoimmune responses, a finding with the potential to reshape how scientists think of the devastating and complex neurologic disorder. A team led by scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology…
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STAT+: Trump administration backs off 100% pharma tariffs threatened to start today
STAT+: Trump administration backs off 100% pharma tariffs threatened to start today WASHINGTON — President Trump told pharmaceutical companies last week that they should start building infrastructure in the U.S. — or face a 100% tariff, starting Wednesday. But a White House official told STAT on Wednesday that the tariffs have not gone into effect…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Trump’s drug-pricing plans, Medicare talks, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Trump’s drug-pricing plans, Medicare talks, and more Top of the morning to you. The middle of the week is upon us and, since you made it this far, why not forge ahead? After all, there is always light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. You never know what you…
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STAT+: How AI may create new battles over drug patents
STAT+: How AI may create new battles over drug patents 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. How AI may affect biotech patents While planning a road trip earlier this year, I…
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STAT+: Trump, Pfizer, and the art of a drug pricing deal
STAT+: Trump, Pfizer, and the art of a drug pricing deal Amid all the hand-shaking and back-patting, it was perhaps the word “friendship” that stood out the most when the CEO of Pfizer joined President Trump to address a drug pricing deal in the Oval Office. “But most of all, Mr. President, I want to…
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Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay
Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay Two weeks after a federal committee of vaccine advisers approved new recommendations for who should get Covid-19 shots, neither Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nor his deputy have signed off, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income children.…
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Trump strikes deal with Pfizer aimed at lowering prescription drug prices
Trump strikes deal with Pfizer aimed at lowering prescription drug prices WASHINGTON — President Trump announced on Tuesday that Pfizer has agreed to offer lower prices on its drugs to the Medicaid program and directly to patients, the first in what he said would be a series of deals intended to secure cheaper prescription medicines…
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Opinion: The Trump administration’s Soviet approach to autism policy
Opinion: The Trump administration’s Soviet approach to autism policy When it comes to developmental disability, the Kennedy legacy is as storied as anywhere else. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed the President’s Panel on Mental Retardation (PPMR), a blue-ribbon initiative designed to put forward a national plan of action for what we today refer…
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Home hospital programs in ‘terror’ as they grind to halt ahead of government shutdown
Home hospital programs in ‘terror’ as they grind to halt ahead of government shutdown On any given day, dozens of patients waiting for hospital rooms line the hallways of the emergency department at UMass Memorial Medical Center’s University Campus. It’s one reason the Worcester-based health system dove into delivering home hospital care four years ago. …
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STAT+: Top FDA drug regulator’s unusual criticism of a therapy gets Wall Street wagging
STAT+: Top FDA drug regulator’s unusual criticism of a therapy gets Wall Street wagging Is George Tidmarsh, the Food and Drug Administration’s top regulator, trying to exact revenge on a prominent Wall Street investor after a run-in with him six years ago? It’s the question biotech investors were wagging about all Monday after Tidmarsh used…
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Answering burning questions on MMR vaccines
Answering burning questions on MMR vaccines Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. Sign up here. Good morning. Outside of concerts, have you ever screamed at the top of your lungs with thousands of other people? Attendees at this year’s AAP National Conference let one out the…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a new GSK CEO, AstraZeneca’s stock listing, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a new GSK CEO, AstraZeneca’s stock listing, 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 deadlines, online meetings, and phone calls has predictably returned. But what can you do? The world, such…
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Warning: Serious cardiovascular events don’t come out of the blue
Warning: Serious cardiovascular events don’t come out of the blue Heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes don’t come out of nowhere, a new study concludes. The first time they strike, patients, clinicians, and researchers might think there were no red flags. But a prospective cohort study reports that more than 99% of people who experienced…
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Opinion: Celebrating mifepristone, a hero in modern abortion access, on its 25th anniversary in the U.S.
Opinion: Celebrating mifepristone, a hero in modern abortion access, on its 25th anniversary in the U.S. When the Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone, the abortion pill, on Sept. 28, 2000, none of us working on expanding access to reproductive health care could have imagined the future we find ourselves in 25 years later. From…
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STAT+: Unsealed court documents reveal a whistleblower suit over UnitedHealth use of an artery disease test
STAT+: Unsealed court documents reveal a whistleblower suit over UnitedHealth use of an artery disease test A law firm representing health care fraud whistleblowers is suing UnitedHealth Group over its use of a peripheral artery disease test, called QuantaFlo, to increase payments it received from the government Medicare program, after the Department of Justice declined…
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Opinion: STAT readers on gun silencers as public health measure, ‘lived experience,’ and more
Opinion: STAT readers on gun silencers as public health measure, ‘lived experience,’ 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…
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3 burning questions about the MMR vaccine, answered
3 burning questions about the MMR vaccine, answered On Friday, President Trump doubled down on calling for changes to the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. “BREAK UP THE MMR SHOT INTO THREE TOTALLY SEPARATE SHOTS (NOT MIXED!),” he wrote on his Truth Social account. Currently, parents are offered either the MMR vaccine or a one-shot…
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STAT+: Patients set to lose hospital care at home if government funding isn’t extended
STAT+: Patients set to lose hospital care at home if government funding isn’t extended WASHINGTON — If Congress doesn’t fund the government by the end of the day on Tuesday, patients across the country who have been receiving hospital-level care at home will be placed back in hospitals. The Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative…
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STAT+: Days before Trump deadline to lower prices, companies push a flurry of initiatives. Will it be enough?
STAT+: Days before Trump deadline to lower prices, companies push a flurry of initiatives. Will it be enough? Pharmaceutical companies are scrambling to make last-minute announcements ahead of a Trump administration deadline on Monday for the firms to lower U.S. drug prices. But it’s not clear if the initiatives — which include investments in the…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Trump’s drug pricing plans, pharma tariffs, and much more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Trump’s drug pricing plans, pharma tariffs, and much 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 we may rendezvous with…
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Kennedy launches abortion pill review
Kennedy launches abortion pill review Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. Sign up here. What a wild week to cover disability. On Wednesday, just before dinnertime, I finished my third story in three days in a daze. Not realizing I hadn’t eaten all day and desperate…
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STAT+: How the government establishes research grant overhead rates: ‘It’s not like buying a widget’
STAT+: How the government establishes research grant overhead rates: ‘It’s not like buying a widget’ For decades, the federal government has supported the infrastructure that makes biomedical breakthroughs possible at universities, academic hospitals, and other research institutions. But recent moves by the Trump administration and Congress reinforce that this system seems headed for a major…
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A gene therapy success in Huntington’s and Trump’s autism announcement
A gene therapy success in Huntington’s and Trump’s autism announcement Why were doctors and investors so excited about trial results of UniQure’s gene therapy for Huntington’s disease? Are autism rates actually rising? And what does the research tell us about Tylenol and autism? We discuss all that on this week’s episode of the “The Readout…
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STAT+: Crinetics wins FDA approval for acromegaly drug, faces competition with Novartis and Ipsen
STAT+: Crinetics wins FDA approval for acromegaly drug, faces competition with Novartis and Ipsen SAN DIEGO — Crinetics Pharmaceuticals won Food and Drug Administration approval on Thursday for a drug for a rare and debilitating hormonal disorder — the company’s first approved product. But the treatment faces competition from pharma giants with blockbuster medicines already…
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A new Ebola outbreak in Congo kills dozens as health officials warn of lack of funds
A new Ebola outbreak in Congo kills dozens as health officials warn of lack of funds GOMA, Congo — As a deadly new Ebola outbreak kills dozens in southern Congo, health authorities and organizations are sounding the alarm, warning they lack the funds and resources to mount an effective response to the crisis. The World Health Organization…
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Why this week underscores the value of STAT’s journalism
Why this week underscores the value of STAT’s journalism Dear Readers, This week, like so many others, has demonstrated why I think STAT is so essential. Read the rest… Rick Berke Go to statnews
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STAT+: Pharmalitte: We’re reading about a Huntington’s gene therapy success, a low-cost HIV drug, and more
STAT+: Pharmalitte: We’re reading about a Huntington’s gene therapy success, a low-cost HIV drug, and more Good morning, this is Allison, substituting for Mr. Pharmalot. We may have three months left in the year, but I’m already starting to think about 2026, thanks to a handful of concert announcements and ticket sales opening up over…
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BMJ group retracts study on apple cider vinegar for weight loss
BMJ group retracts study on apple cider vinegar for weight loss Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. Sign up here. Good morning. Scroll down for a(nother) real show of strength from across the STAT newsroom. In the last 24 hours, I think we’ve published more than…
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STAT+: Veru update shows FDA still values weight loss over body composition
STAT+: Veru update shows FDA still values weight loss over body composition 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. We’ve got big news on a gene therapy for Huntington’s disease, so let’s get straight to it. Uniqure hails ‘groundbreaking’…
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STAT+: The ‘HIPAA-compliant’ myth and other health privacy fallacies
STAT+: The ‘HIPAA-compliant’ myth and other health privacy fallacies 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. This weekend I had my first apple cider of the season. It was (and is, I…
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STAT+: Anthony Letai of Dana-Farber is front-runner to lead National Cancer Institute
STAT+: Anthony Letai of Dana-Farber is front-runner to lead National Cancer Institute Anthony Letai, a cancer researcher and oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard University, has emerged as a leading candidate to be the next director of the National Cancer Institute, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation. The NCI…
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STAT+: With Trump’s anti-vaccine comments, Kennedy’s influence grows
STAT+: With Trump’s anti-vaccine comments, Kennedy’s influence grows WASHINGTON — President Trump’s anti-vaccine comments on Monday signal health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s growing influence — and raise new questions about how far the pair may go to upend vaccine policy. Standing with Kennedy beside him at the White House, Trump called the childhood vaccine…
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In dispensing advice on Tylenol and autism, Trump takes on a new role: doctor in chief
In dispensing advice on Tylenol and autism, Trump takes on a new role: doctor in chief He’s already the commander in chief, chief of state, chief diplomat, and chief legislator. But at his news conference Monday, President Trump ventured far beyond the usual responsibilities of the presidency and began to dispense medical guidance to the…
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STAT+: FDA’s leucovorin approval could be a boon for supplement makers
STAT+: FDA’s leucovorin approval could be a boon for supplement makers Parents may flock to a dietary supplement with the same key ingredient as leucovorin, which the FDA just approved for children with autism. But there are drawbacks. The Food and Drug Administration has reapproved GSK’s branded version of leucovorin to treat a neurological condition…
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Opinion: The U.S. government has jumped the public health shark
Opinion: The U.S. government has jumped the public health shark On Monday, President Trump, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Studies Administrator Mehmet Oz, and other top officials at the National Institutes for Health and the Food and Drug Administration presented their promised conclusions regarding the cause and treatment of…
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What the evidence tells us about Tylenol, leucovorin, and autism
What the evidence tells us about Tylenol, leucovorin, and autism Could Tylenol, one of the most ubiquitous medicines in the U.S., be linked to some cases of autism spectrum disorder when taken during pregnancy? And could leucovorin, a form of folic acid, improve the verbal ability of some people with autism spectrum disorder? Those are…
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STAT+: FDA brings back GSK’s leucovorin drug that RFK Jr. touted as autism treatment
STAT+: FDA brings back GSK’s leucovorin drug that RFK Jr. touted as autism treatment In a highly unusual move, the Food and Drug Administration reapproved a drug on Monday that stopped being sold more than 25 years ago, part of a push from the Trump administration to identify the causes of and potential treatments for…
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Citing possible link to autism, Trump urges limiting use of Tylenol during pregnancy
Citing possible link to autism, Trump urges limiting use of Tylenol during pregnancy President Trump announced on Monday that his administration has concluded that some cases of autism may be linked to pregnant women’s use of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, and said the medication should be used sparingly and only if absolutely needed…
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STAT+: Doctors are more tied to pharma as trust erodes
STAT+: Doctors are more tied to pharma as trust erodes 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 read about a big acquisition fueled by obesity, doctors shifting their views on biopharma marketing, see a rare disease drug win approval after…
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STAT+: As medical AI use grows, industry payments to providers remain opaque
STAT+: As medical AI use grows, industry payments to providers remain opaque Artificial intelligence has danced around the fringes of prostate cancer for years, but in 2024, it got a profile-raising boost: An AI tool that could use biopsy images and clinical data to predict therapy benefits and a patient’s prognosis was recommended in a…
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Opinion: Pro sports leagues should do away with injury reports
Opinion: Pro sports leagues should do away with injury reports The NFL’s 2025 season began with new kickoff rules, a new NFL Players Association executive director, and a new team for Aaron Rodgers. But one thing remains the same: All players’ injuries will still be reported to the public in detail. When a wide receiver tears his Achilles, the…
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In a chaotic meeting, RFK Jr.’s handpicked advisers begin altering the childhood vaccine schedule
In a chaotic meeting, RFK Jr.’s handpicked advisers begin altering the childhood vaccine schedule ATLANTA — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he wants his handpicked panel of vaccine advisers to restore declining public trust in vaccines. What that looked like was on full display on Thursday and Friday: The…
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Winner of mRNA Nobel Prize says ACIP member’s claim that Covid vaccines persist is “absolutely impossible”
Winner of mRNA Nobel Prize says ACIP member’s claim that Covid vaccines persist is “absolutely impossible” On Thursday and Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held a meeting of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a key panel that gives the CDC’s director guidance about what vaccines to recommend to the public. The…
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STAT+: ACA tax credits still in limbo after stopgap government funding bill fails
STAT+: ACA tax credits still in limbo after stopgap government funding bill fails WASHINGTON — Congress failed to pass stopgap government funding Friday due in large part to differences between the parties over health care policies. The two parties blocked each other’s temporary funding measures, increasing the chances of a government shutdown when funding expires…
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STAT+: FDA approves ultra-rare disease drug that became a symbol of uncertainty over regulatory standards
STAT+: FDA approves ultra-rare disease drug that became a symbol of uncertainty over regulatory standards After months of uncertainty, the Food and Drug Administration offered accelerated approval for an ultra-rare disease drug that had become a symbol of the fraught balancing act between upholding regulatory standards and accommodating desperate patients and their families. The agency…
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CDC reverses telework pause that sparked complaints over its impact on workers with disabilities
CDC reverses telework pause that sparked complaints over its impact on workers with disabilities The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has rescinded a policy issued on Monday that paused remote work for employees, including those with disabilities, according to emails obtained by STAT. “Please hold on taking any immediate action,” the acting director of…
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Federal vaccine panel remade by RFK Jr. votes to maintain insurance coverage for Covid shots
Federal vaccine panel remade by RFK Jr. votes to maintain insurance coverage for Covid shots WASHINGTON — A government advisory committee voted unanimously Friday to recommend that individuals 6 months and older should discuss the risks and benefits of Covid-19 vaccines with their health care providers before deciding whether to get vaccinated. The decision falls…
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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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Trump administration to close Miami organ donation group it calls ‘failing’
Trump administration to close Miami organ donation group it calls ‘failing’ WASHINGTON — The Trump administration moved Thursday to shut down a Miami organ donation group, calling it “failing” because of underperformance, unsafe practices and paperwork errors. The Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency is one of 55 organ procurement organizations, or OPOs, nonprofit agencies around…
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Pharma sours on the U.K., plus biotech M&A’s quiet roll
Pharma sours on the U.K., plus biotech M&A’s quiet roll Are pharmaceutical companies pulling their money out of the United Kingdom because of Trump? How is biotech M&A pacing this year? And what will vaccine advisors discuss at their closely watched meeting this week? We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of…
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Trump administration’s new global health aid strategy focuses on bilateral deals with countries
Trump administration’s new global health aid strategy focuses on bilateral deals with countries NEW YORK — The State Department on Thursday announced it will refocus its foreign health assistance strategy around multiyear bilateral deals with recipient countries, making aid dependent on negotiations that officials say will help reduce waste and advance American priorities. “We must…
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Key federal vaccine panel debates delay to newborn hepatitis B shot, risking resurgence
Key federal vaccine panel debates delay to newborn hepatitis B shot, risking resurgence A key government advisory committee discussed on Thursday whether to recommend delaying the first hepatitis B vaccine shot, currently given at birth, by at least one month for babies who are born to mothers that test negative for the virus. Experts fear…
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Cassidy invites RFK Jr. to testify before Senate health panel
Cassidy invites RFK Jr. to testify before Senate health panel WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate health committee, Bill Cassidy (R-La.), on Thursday invited health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to testify before the panel, part of a series of oversight hearings to make sense of the recent upheaval at the Centers for Disease…
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STAT+: Democrats introduce bill to break up health care conglomerates like UnitedHealth Group
STAT+: Democrats introduce bill to break up health care conglomerates like UnitedHealth Group Democrats in Congress are proposing legislation that would bar health insurers from buying medical practices through their subsidiaries and require them to separate their insurance and provider businesses. Filed by Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), the bill is aimed at breaking up companies…
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STAT+: HHS abruptly cancels CDC meeting with RFK Jr., anti-vaccine activist as scrutiny mounts
STAT+: HHS abruptly cancels CDC meeting with RFK Jr., anti-vaccine activist as scrutiny mounts A meeting of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., anti-vaccine campaigner David Geier, and leaders of the country’s most robust vaccine safety database was abruptly canceled Wednesday, just hours before they were likely to discuss using the data to investigate whether…
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STAT+: Amid industry headwinds, Biogen breaks ground on new headquarters
STAT+: Amid industry headwinds, Biogen breaks ground on new headquarters CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Biogen on Tuesday held a ceremonial groundbreaking of its 16-story headquarters in Kendall Square, ushering in the latest phase of the neighborhood’s transformation from “Nowhere Square” to what its backers like to call “the most innovative square mile on the planet.” Nobel laureates Walter…
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Fear and politics pervade Kennedy’s CDC, former leaders testify
Fear and politics pervade Kennedy’s CDC, former leaders testify The nation’s top health agency is not well, according to a portrait that emerged in testimony Wednesday by two of its former leaders. Susan Monarez, abruptly fired 29 days into her tenure as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Debra Houry, who…
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3 key takeaways from the Senate hearing on CDC director’s firing and RFK Jr.’s vaccine agenda
3 key takeaways from the Senate hearing on CDC director’s firing and RFK Jr.’s vaccine agenda WASHINGTON — A Wednesday Senate hearing aimed to answer questions about the exodus of top leaders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month. Instead, it raised a host of new ones. Former CDC Director Susan Monarez…
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STAT+: With Trump in the U.K., GSK touts $30 billion investment in U.S. over 5 years
STAT+: With Trump in the U.K., GSK touts $30 billion investment in U.S. over 5 years LONDON — The U.K.-based drugmaker GSK said early Wednesday that it planned to invest $30 billion in the U.S. over five years, an announcement timed to this week’s state visit here by President Trump. The company, which said the…
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STAT+: Surgeon general nominee Casey Means discloses financial ties to supplement industry
STAT+: Surgeon general nominee Casey Means discloses financial ties to supplement industry WASHINGTON — New financial disclosures from surgeon general nominee Casey Means show that she’s made hundreds of thousands of dollars promoting supplements and other health and wellness products, details likely to invite new scrutiny about potential conflicts of interest for the author and…
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STAT+: House GOP doesn’t include health insurance subsidies in stopgap government funding bill
STAT+: House GOP doesn’t include health insurance subsidies in stopgap government funding bill WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Tuesday introduced a bill to fund the government at current levels until Nov. 21. It would include extensions of several health programs, but not the enhanced tax credits that have significantly lowered premiums for Affordable Care Act…
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CDC temporarily revokes remote work approvals for employees with disabilities
CDC temporarily revokes remote work approvals for employees with disabilities The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revoked permission for employees with disabilities to work from home, at least temporarily, and paused approving reasonable accommodations for new applicants seeking to work from home, according to a Sept. 15 email obtained by STAT. The agency’s…
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RFK Jr. adds five members to ACIP, key vaccine panel, days ahead of meeting
RFK Jr. adds five members to ACIP, key vaccine panel, days ahead of meeting WASHINGTON — Federal health officials announced the appointment of five new members to a panel of vaccine advisers handpicked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday, just days ahead of the group’s next meeting. They include…
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STAT+: Hill staff gets briefed on implications of Trump’s drug pricing plan
STAT+: Hill staff gets briefed on implications of Trump’s drug pricing plan WASHINGTON — Congress is again discussing the Trump administration’s plan to force drug companies to lower their U.S. prices, at least behind the scenes. Congressional staffers and health policy experts from major think tanks held a closed-door meeting to discuss policy options that…
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As gun violence persists, CDC research is hamstrung
As gun violence persists, CDC research is hamstrung Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. Sign up here. Good morning. How many pizza rolls is too many pizza rolls to eat on a Sunday? Never mind, don’t worry about it. Here’s the news. Read the rest… Theresa…
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about FDA targeting Hims & Hers, AstraZeneca halting U.K. investment, and more
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about FDA targeting Hims & Hers, AstraZeneca halting U.K. investment, 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 deadlines, online meetings, and phone calls has predictably returned. But what can you do? The world,…
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STAT+: U.S. pressures U.K. as pharma pauses investments there
STAT+: U.S. pressures U.K. as pharma pauses investments there 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 see moves to potentially dismantle FDA ad comms, see the U.S. pressuring the U.K. over its stringent drug-pricing policy, and more. The…
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Opinion: 9 answers to burning questions about pharmaceutical ads
Opinion: 9 answers to burning questions about pharmaceutical ads This article first appeared in the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist.Pharmaceutical ads in the United States are annoying. Absurd. And almost uniquely American. In fact, only one other high-income country in the entire world — New Zealand — allows prescription drug companies to advertise directly to consumers.…
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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+: HHS to have Rensselaer investigate question of autism-vaccine link
STAT+: HHS to have Rensselaer investigate question of autism-vaccine link WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Thursday its intent to fund among the first Trump administration-solicited research on a debunked link between vaccines and autism. The contract — which supports research to “investigate the association between vaccination and autism prevalence”…
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FDA leaders moving to abandon advisory committee reviews of specific new drugs
FDA leaders moving to abandon advisory committee reviews of specific new drugs FDA leaders under President Donald Trump are moving to abandon a decades-old policy of asking outside experts to review drug applications, a move critics say would shield the agency’s decisions from public scrutiny. The agency “would like to get away” from assembling panels…
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As U.S. faces deadly week, gun violence experts lament end of prevention research
As U.S. faces deadly week, gun violence experts lament end of prevention research Two violent acts on Wednesday — the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the shooting of two high school students in Colorado — crystallize the threat gun violence poses to public health. Yet the Trump administration just shut down its biggest…
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FDA eyes tighter regulations on chatbots for mental health
FDA eyes tighter regulations on chatbots for mental health Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. Sign up here. Good morning. What’s your go-to karaoke song? I’ve always been partial to pop-punk, especially Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle.” But I’m open to suggestions! The newsroom’s annual karaoke…
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STAT+: Fifty cancer types in one liquid biopsy test: Exact Sciences enters early-detection market
STAT+: Fifty cancer types in one liquid biopsy test: Exact Sciences enters early-detection market Consumers can now purchase Exact Sciences’ liquid biopsy early detection test, Cancerguard, and get an indication of whether they might have one of 50 different cancers included in the test’s analysis. The biotechnology company launched the test on Wednesday, and Tom…
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STAT+: Scientists who revolutionized cystic fibrosis treatment win prestigious Lasker Award
STAT+: Scientists who revolutionized cystic fibrosis treatment win prestigious Lasker Award Three scientists who revolutionized the treatment of cystic fibrosis and prolonged the lifespan of patients with the deadly disease have won the Lasker Award, one of the most prestigious awards in medicine. Vertex Pharmaceuticals researcher Paul Negulescu, former Vertex researcher Jesús (Tito) González, and…
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Trump, Chinese biotech, and an industry career reshaped by illness
Trump, Chinese biotech, and an industry career reshaped by illness On this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD”: a drug-industry career reshaped by illness, and the potential for political blowback against Chinese biotech. Listeners of this podcast probably know pharma consultant Mike Rea for his annual ranking of drug company R&D productivity. But this week,…
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STAT+: FDA will convene an advisory committee to tackle AI mental health device regulation
STAT+: FDA will convene an advisory committee to tackle AI mental health device regulation The Food and Drug Administration will convene experts to discuss challenges around regulating mental health products that use artificial intelligence, as a growing number of companies release chatbots powered by large language models whose output can be unpredictable. The move suggests…
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STAT+: FDA pushing non-opioid path for chronic pain
STAT+: FDA pushing non-opioid path for chronic pain 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 note that psychedelics are suddenly a hot topic for larger pharmaceutical companies, dissect Patrick Soon-Shiong’s claims on his lung cancer drug, and more.…
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STAT+: Harvard federal funding set to resume — at least for now
STAT+: Harvard federal funding set to resume — at least for now Federal agencies have begun to inform Harvard that it is in the process of restoring at least some of its previously canceled research funding. The notices come a week after a federal judge in Boston said the Trump administration illegally canceled nearly $3…
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Risk of dying from chronic disease in the U.S. declined, but there are caveats, study says
Risk of dying from chronic disease in the U.S. declined, but there are caveats, study says The popular sentiment that Americans’ health is on a hellish downward spiral may not be true — or at least not entirely — according to a new study of global death data. From 2010 to 2019, the risk of…
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STAT+: Merck halts U.K. research operations and bails on new facility in London
STAT+: Merck halts U.K. research operations and bails on new facility in London LONDON — In a blow to the U.K., Merck said Wednesday it was halting research operations in the country and bailing on a major London research center, in part to protest how the U.K. pays for medicines. The U.K. has been trying…