RFK Jr. adviser Calley Means and Kennedy’s son Finn attended the Enhanced Games, the pro-doping athletic competition and biohacking extravaganza that took place over the weekend in Las Vegas, according to The Washington Post. Send news tips and personal bests to John.Wilkerson@statnews.com or John_Wilkerson.07 on Signal.
Ripple effects
For weeks, Republicans have been preoccupied with an immigration funding bill that they’re pushing through Congress, without support from Democrats. I’ve no
RFK Jr. adviser Calley Means and Kennedy’s son Finn attended the Enhanced Games, the pro-doping athletic competition and biohacking extravaganza that took place over the weekend in Las Vegas, according to The Washington Post. Send news tips and personal bests to John.Wilkerson@statnews.com or John_Wilkerson.07 on Signal.
Ripple effects
For weeks, Republicans have been preoccupied with an immigration funding bill that they’re pushing through Congress, without support from Democrats. I’ve not been writing about that bill because it doesn’t include health care policies. But it’s now becoming relevant to health care, albeit indirectly.
Early last week, Republicans were expected to pass that budget reconciliation bill without much friction. By the end of the week, Senate Republicans adjourned for a week-long recess without voting on it due to an impasse over a new $1.8 billion settlement fund for Trump’s allies. They’d also butted heads with the president over his demands for $1 billion for a White House complex and ballroom.
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Good morning health tech readers!Read the rest…
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Hi! Hope you had a nice extended weekend.
Today: Eli Lilly’s gene-editing data seems promising for high cholesterol, an AI drug discovery CEO dispelled some AI drug discovery hype, and the new interim FDA chief is so far well received.Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…
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Hi! Hope you had a nice extended weekend.
Today: Eli Lilly’s gene-editing data seems promising for high cholesterol, an AI drug discovery CEO dispelled some AI drug discovery hype, and the new interim FDA chief is so far well received.
Rise and shine, everyone, another busy day is on the way. And it is getting off to a good start here on the Pharmalot campus, where we have clear blue skies and chilly breezes greeting us today. Who could ask for anything more? Actually, we could — it is time to reheat the coffee kettle for another cup of stimulation. Our choice today is strawberry creme, a pantry favorite. Please feel free to join us. Remember, no prescription is required and no rebates are involved. And now, here are your tidb
Rise and shine, everyone, another busy day is on the way. And it is getting off to a good start here on the Pharmalot campus, where we have clear blue skies and chilly breezes greeting us today. Who could ask for anything more? Actually, we could — it is time to reheat the coffee kettle for another cup of stimulation. Our choice today is strawberry creme, a pantry favorite. Please feel free to join us. Remember, no prescription is required and no rebates are involved. And now, here are your tidbits. Hope you have a productive and meaningful day, and, as always, please do keep in touch. We have adjusted our settings to accept postcards and telegrams. …
Eli Lilly reported that a high dose of its gene-editing therapy reduced cholesterol levels by 62% in participants in a Phase 1 clinical trial, an early but encouraging test of whether a one-time treatment may one day help people seeking to lower their LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, STAT writes. Lilly acquired the therapy in its $1 billion buyout of Verve Therapeutics last year. There were no treatment-related serious adverse events in the study, a notable finding given that Verve had to shelve its first candidate over safety concerns. Lilly now plans to begin a Phase 2 trial in an unspecified number of patients and will likely need to then run Phase 3 trials in thousands of patients for the treatment to earn approval.
Eli Lilly agreed to buy three early- and mid-stage vaccine developers in deals that could cost up to nearly $4 billion, STAT notes. The drugmaker, which is rich with cash from its booming GLP-1 business, in recent months has picked up companies working on cancer, autoimmune diseases, and sleep disorders, all for under $10 billion each. The new acquisitions — Curevo, LimmaTech Biologics, and Vaccine Company — will give Lilly a much larger footprint in infectious diseases, an area that has not recently been a priority for the company. Lilly framed the move as one that fit with a broader focus on preventing serious health problems.
Eli Lilly said Tuesday it would buy three early- and mid-stage vaccine developers, a boost for the field.
The deals — which together could cost up to nearly $4 billion — are the latest acquisitions from Lilly, a company rich with cash from its booming GLP-1 business. In recent months, it’s picked up companies working on cancer, autoimmune diseases, and sleep disorders, all for under $10 billion each.
The companies being bought are Curevo, LimmaTech Biologics, and Vaccine Company. Continu
Eli Lilly said Tuesday it would buy three early- and mid-stage vaccine developers, a boost for the field.
The deals — which together could cost up to nearly $4 billion — are the latest acquisitions from Lilly, a company rich with cash from its booming GLP-1 business. In recent months, it’s picked up companies working on cancer, autoimmune diseases, and sleep disorders, all for under $10 billion each.
The companies being bought are Curevo, LimmaTech Biologics, and Vaccine Company.
WASHINGTON — People in the food world didn’t know what to expect when the Trump administration appointed a little-known Florida attorney as the FDA’s top food official in 2025.
They knew Kyle Diamantas worked at Jones Day representing food, beverage, and tobacco-industry clients. They saw the picture of him and Donald Trump Jr. holding giant, dead wild turkeys after a hunt. He had no experience in public health, in medicine or science, or in government.
The credentials didn’t scream quali
WASHINGTON — People in the food world didn’t know what to expect when the Trump administration appointed a little-known Florida attorney as the FDA’s top food official in 2025.
They knew Kyle Diamantas worked at Jones Day representing food, beverage, and tobacco-industry clients. They saw the picture of him and Donald Trump Jr. holding giant, dead wild turkeys after a hunt. He had no experience in public health, in medicine or science, or in government.
The credentials didn’t scream qualified. And Diamantas was stepping into a center rocked by DOGE layoffs and a defiant resignation by former leader Jim Jones.
Sen. John Cornyn: How many patents do you [have?]AbbVie CEO Richard Gonzalez: … A hundred and thirty-six patents.Cornyn: A hundred and thirty-six patents on one drug?Gonzalez: But, well, remember, Humira is like nine different drugs, or 10 different drugs. So —Cornyn: I thought you said to Sen. [Debbie] Stabenow it was the samemolecule.Gonzalez: It is the same molecule, but it treats different conditions. And if you look at that patent portfolio —Cornyn: So you use the same molecule to treat dif
Sen. John Cornyn: How many patents do you [have?] AbbVie CEO Richard Gonzalez: … A hundred and thirty-six patents. Cornyn: A hundred and thirty-six patents on one drug? Gonzalez: But, well, remember, Humira is like nine different drugs, or 10 different drugs. So — Cornyn: I thought you said to Sen. [Debbie] Stabenow it was the same molecule. Gonzalez: It is the same molecule, but it treats different conditions. And if you look at that patent portfolio — Cornyn: So you use the same molecule to treat different conditions and you can get a patent on that treatment? Gonzalez: Certainly.
The above exchange comes from a 2019 congressional hearing. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, was asking AbbVie’s CEO, Richard Gonzalez, to explain to the Senate Committee on Finance how his company had amassed so many patents on this single drug called Humira. Gonzalez, who was no stranger to controversy, chose to respond by likening it to multiple drugs. After AbbVie had received the first regulatory approval for Humira to treat rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes inflammation of the joints, it thought the drug might also work on inflammatory bowel disease. In fact, AbbVie would eventually test, obtain patents for, and get FDA approval of the drug for several inflammation-related conditions. For Gonzalez, the 136 patents AbbVie had accumulated up until that point were justified. They were “innovations they had created,” he said. This would mean another 18 years of patent protection beyond the expiry of Humira’s original patent in 2016.
Eli Lilly said Monday that a high dose of its gene-editing therapy reduced cholesterol levels by 62% in participants in a clinical trial, an early but encouraging test of whether a one-time treatment may one day help people seeking to lower their LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol.
Lilly acquired the therapy, VERVE-102, in its $1 billion buyout of Verve Therapeutics last year. Executives tout it as a potential treatment to broadly prevent heart disease, the world’s leading killer, as many patients st
Eli Lilly said Monday that a high dose of its gene-editing therapy reduced cholesterol levels by 62% in participants in a clinical trial, an early but encouraging test of whether a one-time treatment may one day help people seeking to lower their LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol.
Lilly acquired the therapy, VERVE-102, in its $1 billion buyout of Verve Therapeutics last year. Executives tout it as a potential treatment to broadly prevent heart disease, the world’s leading killer, as many patients struggle to stay on existing, more conventional medicines for reducing cholesterol levels.
There were no treatment-related serious adverse events in the Phase 1 study — a notable finding, given that Verve had to shelve its first candidate due to safety concerns.
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Merck’s bet on an antibody-drug conjugate developed in China has paid off in a major Phase 3 lung cancer study, where sacituzumab tirumotecan paired with Keytruda sharply outperformed Keytruda alone in a subset of lung cancer patients.
Also, the NIH is down another leader, and Sam Altman-backed longevity startup Retro Biosciences raises more funds.Continue to STAT+ to
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Merck’s bet on an antibody-drug conjugate developed in China has paid off in a major Phase 3 lung cancer study, where sacituzumab tirumotecan paired with Keytruda sharply outperformed Keytruda alone in a subset of lung cancer patients.
Also, the NIH is down another leader, and Sam Altman-backed longevity startup Retro Biosciences raises more funds.
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 unusually busy thanks to a lengthy to-do list that must be tackled before we walk one of the no-longer-so-short people down the aisle. What else? Hard to keep track, but once the chaos subsides, we hope to settle in for another listening party, where the rotation will likely include this, this, this, this and this. And wh
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 unusually busy thanks to a lengthy to-do list that must be tackled before we walk one of the no-longer-so-short people down the aisle. What else? Hard to keep track, but once the chaos subsides, we hope to settle in for another listening party, where the rotation will likely include this, this, this, this and this. And what about you? Spring is in the air, so perhaps this is time to hike a trail, stroll through a park, or take a long drive to nowhere. You could also plan a summer getaway (book now before those fuel costs rise again) or clear out the perennial clutter. If all this is too much or the weather fails to cooperate, you could simply go into zen mode and plan the rest of your life. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you on Tuesday, since there is a long weekend due to a holiday on this side of the pond. …
Biogen and Denali Therapeutics said Thursday that their experimental therapy for Parkinson’s disease failed to slow the degenerative brain disorder in a randomized trial, dealing a substantial blow to a scientific approach that stoked excitement among advocates and academics, STAT explains. In the study, 648 adults with Parkinson’s were randomized to receive either a placebo or a pill targeting a protein called LRRK2. In 2004, researchers discovered that mutations in the LRRK2 gene can cause a rare, inherited form of Parkinson’s. And in 2018, another group of scientists showed that blocking the protein might actually benefit all patients with the disease. The results are a significant setback to the latter idea.
Earlier this month, Genentech offered countless academics and other researchers up to $125,000 in grants to generate papers about several topics that read like key talking points for a trip to Capitol Hill,STAT reports. The company is seeking “rigorous, independent” work that focuses on the potential consequences of U.S. pricing policies on future innovation, the idea that pharmaceutical discovery is a strategic national asset, and the risks surrounding R&D, according to a request for proposals that came with a June 30 deadline for submissions. Such overtures are hardly new, but this particular solicitation appears notable partly because the company is being very direct about seeking research that is designed to address specific points, rather than solicit topics that may — or may not — dovetail with corporate goals.
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday rejected — again — an experimental treatment for advanced skin cancer developed by Replimune Group.
Replimune’s treatment, an engineered virus designed to rev up the immune system against melanoma, has been a flashpoint in a simmering debate over shifting standards at the agency.
The drug was initially rejected in July, just two months after Vinay Prasad was appointed the FDA’s head of biologics. As an academic oncologist, Prasad criticized regul
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday rejected — again — an experimental treatment for advanced skin cancer developed by Replimune Group.
Replimune’s treatment, an engineered virus designed to rev up the immune system against melanoma, has been a flashpoint in a simmering debate over shifting standards at the agency.
The drug was initially rejected in July, just two months after Vinay Prasad was appointed the FDA’s head of biologics. As an academic oncologist, Prasad criticized regulators for approving drugs with limited data, and the Replimune decision was viewed as a possible sign of the stricter stance he might take at the agency.
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CAR-T therapies are continuing to gain traction in autoimmune disease, with a notable new case.
Also, the FDA has withdrawn approval of GSK’s leucovorin for a rare brain disorder tied to autism, closing out an unusual episode shaped in part by political pressure.Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…
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CAR-T therapies are continuing to gain traction in autoimmune disease, with a notable new case.
Also, the FDA has withdrawn approval of GSK’s leucovorin for a rare brain disorder tied to autism, closing out an unusual episode shaped in part by political pressure.
After a courtroom defeat, Trump administration health officials have revised the governing documents for a key federal vaccine panel to broaden its membership, increase its focus on potential harms of vaccines, and empower allies of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The new charter for the committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine use appears aimed at trying to evade the type of legal challenge that has left the currently appointed body in limbo. In
After a courtroom defeat, Trump administration health officials have revised the governing documents for a key federal vaccine panel to broaden its membership, increase its focus on potential harms of vaccines, and empower allies of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The new charter for the committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine use appears aimed at trying to evade the type of legal challenge that has left the currently appointed body in limbo. In addition, the document puts greater emphasis on the role of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in studying injuries possibly linked to vaccination — though the committee has always paid close attention to any emerging evidence that called into question the safety of individual vaccines.
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In which RFK Jr. says the “government lies to us” while sitting in front of an HHS seal. Send news tips and podcast recommendations to John.Wilkerson@statnews.com or John_Wilkerson.07 on Signal.
First, control health care costs
Last month, a group of 12 Senate Democrats proposed a framew
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.
In which RFK Jr. says the “government lies to us” while sitting in front of an HHS seal. Send news tips and podcast recommendations to John.Wilkerson@statnews.com or John_Wilkerson.07 on Signal.
First, control health care costs
Last month, a group of 12 Senate Democrats proposed a framework for rebuilding the health care system. The idea was to spur input from others ahead of when Democrats might get a chance to act on those plans.
Georg Schett had two things: a young patient deathly ill with lupus, and a couple of mouse studies raising the possibility that special T cells could tame the condition.
The German physician-scientist could produce the cells — chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs — at his institution, which was half the battle. Another hurdle: The patient’s parents. “They were like, ‘Don’t do that. You’re crazy,’” recalled Fabian Müller, Schett’s collaborator at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. A widespre
Georg Schett had two things: a young patient deathly ill with lupus, and a couple of mouse studies raising the possibility that special T cells could tame the condition.
The German physician-scientist could produce the cells — chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs — at his institution, which was half the battle. Another hurdle: The patient’s parents. “They were like, ‘Don’t do that. You’re crazy,’” recalled Fabian Müller, Schett’s collaborator at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. A widespread fear at the time was that T cells would trigger or worsen autoimmune disease.
The rest of the story is the rare scientific fairy tale: The patient got better. Five years on, she is still in remission, and working in the very clinic where she was treated. Her case upended the world of autoimmune disease, driving a flood of experimentation and investment and offering new hope to millions of patients.
You’re reading the web edition of STAT’s Health Tech newsletter, our guide to how technology is transforming the life sciences. Sign up to get it delivered in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday.
Good morning health tech readers!
Everyone told us the Trump administration was going to deregulate medical AI and let developers do whatever they want. And yet, there are some ideas that go too far, it seems.Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…
You’re reading the web edition of STAT’s Health Tech newsletter, our guide to how technology is transforming the life sciences. Sign up to get it delivered in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday.
Good morning health tech readers!
Everyone told us the Trump administration was going to deregulate medical AI and let developers do whatever they want. And yet, there are some ideas that go too far, it seems.
Top of the morning to you, and a fine one it is. Sunny skies and mild breezes are enveloping the Pharmalot campus once again. And to celebrate, we are brewing still more cups of stimulation and inviting you to join us. Our choice today is Jack Daniel’s. Yes, this is a real thing. And remember, a prescription is not required. So no need to mess with rebates, coupons, or TrumpRx. Meanwhile, here are a few items of interest. Hope you have a smashing day and conquer the world. And of course, do stay
Top of the morning to you, and a fine one it is. Sunny skies and mild breezes are enveloping the Pharmalot campus once again. And to celebrate, we are brewing still more cups of stimulation and inviting you to join us. Our choice today is Jack Daniel’s. Yes, this is a real thing. And remember, a prescription is not required. So no need to mess with rebates, coupons, or TrumpRx. Meanwhile, here are a few items of interest. Hope you have a smashing day and conquer the world. And of course, do stay in touch. We appreciate feedback, criticism and tips. …
Steve Ubl, the chief executive of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, plans to step down at the end of the year, after more than a decade of leading the main trade group for brand-name drug makers, STAT notes. Ubl led the organization during tumultuous times that included the Covid-19 pandemic and aggressive political attacks on prescription drug pricing. Democrats passed a law directing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and the Trump administration struck voluntary deals with individual drugmakers aimed at lowering U.S. prices to levels in other high-income countries. The next head of PhRMA will face increasing political pressure on prices and an increasingly populist mood.
Specific changes in two genes appear to help predict whether patients will lose substantial weight on GLP-1 drugs used to treat obesity — and whether the drugs will cause nausea or vomiting, which are some of their most common side effects, STAT writes, citing a paper in Nature. “I think we have proof of concept here that genetics is playing a role in terms of GLP-1 efficacy and side effects,” said Adam Auton, a vice president at the 23andMe Research Institute and the senior author on the paper. Outside researchers were impressed and intrigued by the findings, but some doubted whether the genetic results would impact patient care. Still, consumers who use what 23andMe calls its Total Health platform will have access to information about these genes and what they predict about GLP-1 use.
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PhRMA CEO Steve Ubl is stepping down. Biotech investors are grappling with pressure from AI and rising competition from Chinese labs, even though firms sit on large cash reserves.
Also, the Trump administration is stepping back from the “indirect cost” fight at the NIH, and new data suggest genetics may modestly influence responses to GLP-1 drugs.Continue to STAT+ to
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PhRMA CEO Steve Ubl is stepping down. Biotech investors are grappling with pressure from AI and rising competition from Chinese labs, even though firms sit on large cash reserves.
Also, the Trump administration is stepping back from the “indirect cost” fight at the NIH, and new data suggest genetics may modestly influence responses to GLP-1 drugs.
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 2026 STAT Madness competition was stacked with research on topics like smart dental floss that monitors stress, Baby KJ’s personalized gene therapy, and an artificial intelligence model designed to predict cell behavior. Check out the winner, unveiled this morning. And as always, send news
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 2027 budget that the Trump administration released on Friday is in many ways a repeat of last year’s proposal: It includes deep cuts to the National Institutes of Health, the elimination of a health research agency, and the creation of a new agency devoted to chronic diseases called the Administration for a Healthy America.
Rise and shine, everyone, another busy day is on the way. And it is getting off to a good start here on the Pharmalot campus, where clear blue skies and comfortable breezes are greeting us. Who could ask for anything more? Actually, we could — it is time to reheat the kettle for another cuppa stimulation. Our choice today is ginger peach. And here is a helpful tip — a teaspoon of honey enhances the flavors splendidly. Of course, you are invited to join us. For the full experience, we are now haw
Rise and shine, everyone, another busy day is on the way. And it is getting off to a good start here on the Pharmalot campus, where clear blue skies and comfortable breezes are greeting us. Who could ask for anything more? Actually, we could — it is time to reheat the kettle for another cuppa stimulation. Our choice today is ginger peach. And here is a helpful tip — a teaspoon of honey enhances the flavors splendidly. Of course, you are invited to join us. For the full experience, we are now hawking replicas — take a look. Meanwhile, here are a few tidbits to help you along. As always, do keep in touch. We appreciate feedback, criticism, and tips. …
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration used the president’s budget to propose policies aimed at encouraging domestic development and manufacturing of drugs, STAT notes. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has said the agency needs “giant, big ideas” to counter China’s dominance in early-stage clinical development of drugs. Among the FDA’s ideas are proposals to make it easier to run early-stage trials in the U.S. and to hand an advantage to U.S.-based generics manufacturers. The Trump administration has been using a variety of policy levers to try and bring drug manufacturing to the U.S. One of the legislative proposals in the FDA’s budget justification would let domestic manufacturers of generic drugs challenge brand drug patents a month before foreign companies, a major advantage in an intensely competitive process.
Two more drugmakers, AbbVie and Genentech, will officially start selling their medicines on the TrumpRx website,CBS News tells us. Abbvie, which struck a deal with the Trump administration in January to cut the cost of certain medicines, will sell Humira, a popular medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis, on the site at an 86% discount. The prescription prices on the site, however, are only available to patients who are uninsured, or whose insurance does not cover it, and who must pay the full list price out of pocket. Those with insurance coverage generally pay lower prices already. TrumpRx now sells over 61 drugs at a lower price, up from about 40 when the website went live in February.
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