The system
Trump Expected to Nominate White House Adviser for FDA Commissioner
President Trump is expected to nominate Heidi Overton, a White House adviser, to lead the Food and Drug Administration.
STAT News
Staff reporter at Bench to Bed, covering Medical Research.
Clinical trials
Fauci Adviser Pleads Guilty to Concealing Records and Conspiracy
A former top official at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has pleaded guilty to charges related to concealing records from Freedom of Information Act requests.
Regulation
Physician Group Sues Trump Administration Over Dietary Guidelines Process
A nonprofit group is suing the Trump administration over the process of updating the nation's dietary guidelines, alleging that the government improperly rewrote the guidelines with the help of a 'secret panel' of scientists backed by the beef and dairy industries.
The system
Nonprofit Health System Earns $1.1 Billion from Medical Billing Firm Stake
Bon Secours Mercy Health, a nonprofit health system, has earned significant revenue from its minority position in Ensemble Health Partners, a medical billing firm.
The system
Massachusetts Hospital CEOs See Significant Pay Raises in 2024
Compensation for health care CEOs in Massachusetts has increased, despite challenges faced by hospital systems.
Clinical trials
Pharmalittle: Eyepoint Faces Setback, Amylyx Sees Win, and More
Eyepoint's experimental treatment for age-related blindness fails to meet primary goal, while Amylyx's Avexitide shows promise.
The system
Federal Drug Pricing Program Deadline Looms for States
States face a September 30 deadline to decide whether to participate in a federal program offering 'most-favored nation' drug prices for Medicaid. The program aims to reduce costs, but its long-term impact remains uncertain.
Clinical trials
Eyepoint Study Results Disappoint for Vision Treatment
Eyepoint's experimental treatment for age-related blindness fails to meet primary goal in Phase 3 clinical trial.
Regulation
UnitedHealth Faces IRS Probe Over Potential Tax Avoidance
The Internal Revenue Service is investigating UnitedHealth Group for allegedly funneling money through a foreign subsidiary to underpay taxes.
Evidence
Sanofi to Lay Off 229 Workers in Massachusetts Following Acquisition
Sanofi, a major pharmaceutical employer in Massachusetts, will lay off 229 workers as a result of its acquisition of Blueprint Medicines.
The system
Epic Systems Faces Unprecedented Challenges Amid Antitrust Lawsuits and AI Strategy Questions
Epic Systems, the nation's dominant seller of electronic health records software, is facing a series of unprecedented challenges driven by antitrust lawsuits, questions about its artificial intelligence strategy, and an exodus of key technology leaders.
News
Kennedy's Divergent Messages on Vaccines and Addiction
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s contrasting views on vaccination and addiction were on display in Washington and Los Angeles.
Research areas
IRS Probes UnitedHealth Group Over Taxable Income
The Internal Revenue Service is investigating UnitedHealth Group, seeking to increase taxable income from 2017 to 2020, and potentially affecting future years.
The system
AstraZeneca Lung Cancer Trial Setback, Falling U.S. Drug Prices
AstraZeneca discontinues a late-stage trial for its experimental drug volrustomig, while prescription drug prices in the U.S. experience a significant decline.
Regulation
Health Insurance Companies and MAHA Promote Wearable Surveillance, Raising Ethical Concerns
The use of wearable devices to track health metrics is being promoted by health insurance companies and the Department of Health and Human Services, but experts are raising concerns about the potential for increased costs and exploitation of personal data.
Evidence
Commure Ends Customer Referral Payments for AI Product Promotions
Commure, a $7 billion health software company, has terminated its customer referral program that offered payments for promoting its AI tools to new medical clinics. The decision follows a STAT investigation into the company's referral arrangements, which were disclosed in internal emails from Chief Legal Officer Dan Brian.
The system
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Blames Prior Administration for Addiction Treatment in California
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently visited California to discuss changes to addiction treatment, placing blame on the prior administration for handling the issue.
Research areas
Novo Nordisk CEO Warns of Growing Competition in Obesity Drug Market
Novo Nordisk's CEO believes investors are underestimating the demand for differentiation among obesity drugs, and that new treatment options like pills will prevent the market from becoming a winner-take-all battle with rival Eli Lilly.
Clinical trials
Biomedical Bias in U.S. and U.K. Health Systems: A Call for Community-Centered Prevention
Both the U.S. and U.K. health systems prioritize clinical interventions over community-based prevention, despite rising chronic illness and loneliness. A shift toward social infrastructure and community empowerment could reduce strain on hospitals and improve public health outcomes.
Research areas
Pharmaceutical Industry Sees Key Hires and Promotions
Several pharmaceutical companies have recently made notable appointments and promotions, with Formation Bio hiring a new chief scientific officer and head of research and development.
Regulation
Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty to Federal Stalking Charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing
Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione admitted to trailing Thompson to an investor conference and shooting him on a New York City street in 2024.
The system
Controversial Drug-Testing Lab Sues USP Over Criticism
Valisure accuses USP of making false and misleading remarks about its testing methods, sparking a lawsuit.
Regulation
FDA Clears Bristol Myers Squibb's Oral Multiple Myeloma Therapy, Introducing First-in-Class Agent
The U.S. FDA has approved Bristol Myers Squibb’s oral drug iberdomide, marketed as Zenbexus, for use with daratumumab and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, marking the first approval of a novel drug class for the disease and the inaugural use of a more sensitive remission endpoint in the United States.
Regulation
FDA Approves Bristol Myers Squibb’s Zenbexus for Advanced Multiple Myeloma, Marking Debut of New Drug Class
The U.S. FDA has approved Zenbexus, Bristol Myers Squibb’s oral treatment for advanced multiple myeloma, introducing a new class of blood cancer drugs known as CELMoDs. Meanwhile, a U.S. appeals court revived a $6.7 billion lawsuit accusing Bristol Myers of delaying regulatory approvals for three drugs post-Celgene acquisition.