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New clues emerge in direction of RFK Jr.’s vaccine policy changes
WASHINGTON — President Trump and health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are pressing ahead with efforts to change how kids in the U.S. get their shots. The latest move, a request for information posted Friday, offers more clues to Kennedy and Trump’s vision for vaccine policy, and shows that pursuing changes is a priority. It […]
A look at Trump loyalist Heidi Overton, newly nominated as FDA chief
Daniel covers the intersection of the health industry and the federal government. He reports on corporate influence in government, the health consequences of federal policies, and the politics of health care. Confidential tips can be sent on Signal at danielp.100. WASHINGTON — The Trump administration did not overhaul the childhood vaccine schedule or flip the […]
Sanofi to lay off 229 workers in Mass., a year after Blueprint Medicines acquisition
Sanofi, one of Massachusetts’ largest pharmaceutical employers, will lay off 229 workers, according to records the company filed with the state. The workers losing their jobs have been employed with Blueprint Medicines, a Cambridge-based biotech that Sanofi acquired in a $9.1 billion deal in July 2025. The workers’ positions will be cut between Oct. 9 […]
Antitrust questions circling Epic Systems, nation’s largest EHR vendor
Brittany Trang, Ph.D., covers AI in health and medicine: Does it actually work? Who benefits, or might be harmed? She writes the weekly AI Prognosis newsletter. Follow her on Threads, Mastodon, and Bluesky. You can reach Brittany on Signal at btrang.01. The Federal Trade Commission is examining Epic Systems Corp., the nation’s largest vendor of […]
Pharmalittle: Bristol multiple myeloma drug approved
And so, another working week will soon come 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 taking shape, but we plan on promenading with the official mascots, catching up on our reading, and hanging with a visiting […]
Wait times for cancer patients’ first treatments increase: study
Angus reports on the basic research, clinical science, and drug development that may transform survival and quality of life for patients, as well as developments affecting the cancer community. You can reach Angus on Signal at angus.08. Waiting for treatment to start can be an excruciating period for cancer patients. There can be fears that […]
In surprise move, FDA rejects cancer drug expected to rival Novartis therapy
Allison covers what hot startups are getting up to, and who’s financing them. She is also co-host of the weekly biotech podcast, “The Readout Loud.” You can reach Allison on Signal at AllisonDeAngelis.01. The Food and Drug Administration has rejected a radiopharmaceutical therapy due to manufacturing issues, halting what would have been a competitor for […]
China, not Fauci, has the answers on Covid origins
The Senate committee hearings last week on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic presented a master class in political distraction from what is important for the nation’s public health. And Thursday the committee held Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for invoking his Fifth Amendment defense to a committee chaired by someone who has already […]
Study on tau protein may bring Alzheimer’s drug closer to reality
In the race for new ways to treat Alzheimer’s and other devastating neurologic diseases, the protein tau has become a tantalizing target for drug developers. A new study lends support to those efforts by describing a previously unknown role that tau plays in neurodegeneration — and suggesting a novel way researchers might block the protein’s […]
Are AI scribes medical devices? UK regulator weighs in
Mario covers technology in health care, including FDA regulation of artificial intelligence; how Medicare pays for health tech; the use of AI in clinical care; mental health chatbots; and consumer wearables. He’s also the co-author of the free, twice weekly STAT Health Tech newsletter. You can reach Mario on Signal at mariojoze.13. You’re reading the […]