STAT+: FDA rejects an industry proposal to deregulate some AI devices
In this edition of Health Tech: FDA rejects a proposal to deregulate certain types of AI devices, pharma invests $50 million in DTx, and more.
Medical News
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STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about top pharma lobbyist stepping down, genes and GLP-1 drugs, and more
Steve Ubl, chief executive of PhRMA, plans to step down at the end of the year, after more than a decade leading the main trade group for brand-name drug makers
STAT+: Genetics may shape GLP-1 outcomes, slightly
The traditional biotech venture model under pressure, PhRMA chief Ubl to exit, and other biotech news from The Readout
Garda snaps up Assertio and chemo infection treatment Rolvedon in $125M deal
Specialty assets company Garda Therapeutics has acquired Assertio and its chemotherapy supportive care treatment Rolvedon for $125.1 million. In connection with the deal, Assertio has divested the rest of its assets to New Jersey generics and branded drugmaker Cosette Pharmaceuticals for $35 million.
AbbVie challenges 'outdated' 340B drug discount program guidance in new lawsuit
AbbVie is spearheading a new battle in pharma's long-running fight to reform the federal government’s 340B drug discount program.
Scientists just found a hidden “drain” inside the human brain
A hidden waste-removal pathway in the brain has finally been caught in action. Using cutting-edge MRI scans, researchers discovered that fluid flows along the middle meningeal artery in a slow, lymphatic-like pattern—very different from blood. This confirms the presence of a previously unknown drainage hub in humans. The finding could transform how scientists approach brain aging, injury, and dise
Dragonflies can see a color humans can’t and it could change medicine
Dragonflies may see the world in a way that pushes beyond human limits—and surprisingly, they do it using the same molecular trick we evolved ourselves. Scientists discovered that these insects can detect extremely deep red light, even edging into near-infrared, thanks to a specialized visual protein strikingly similar to the one in human eyes. This ability likely helps them spot mates mid-flight
RFK Jr. launching health podcast to expose ‘hypocrisy’ and ‘corruption’
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is starting a podcast. Unveiling the show on social media, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary framed the podcast as a response to public health problems that he said have made “many of us ... come to the conclusion that [the] government actually lies to us.”
Opinion: As a palliative care physician, I’m nervous about the Medicare infusion of $100 million for ‘functional or lifestyle medicine’
MAHA ELEVATE could open a federal funding pipeline to interventions that can't survive contact with a plausibility filter.
STAT+: Trump promised to clamp down on health insurers. His policies are enriching them
In December, Trump said he would summon health insurance execs to the White House. It doesn't seem a meeting ever happened.
STAT+: Biotech VCs, used to a winning formula in drug development, face disruption
For decades, venture capitalists have relied on a tried-and-true recipe to make money in biotech. Now that approach is being disrupted.
Brain study reveals hidden link between autism and ADHD
Scientists are uncovering a surprising connection between autism and ADHD that goes deeper than labels. Instead of diagnoses, it’s the severity of autism-like traits that seems to shape how the brain is wired—even in children who don’t officially have autism. The study found that certain brain networks tied to thinking and social behavior stay unusually connected in kids with stronger autism sympt
Scientists discover hidden gut trigger behind ALS and dementia
A new study reveals that gut bacteria may play a key role in triggering ALS and frontotemporal dementia. Harmful sugars produced by these microbes can spark immune responses that damage the brain. This breakthrough explains why some genetically at-risk people develop the diseases while others don’t. Even more promising, reducing these sugars improved brain health in experiments, hinting at new tre
Your DNA has a secret “second code” that decides which genes get silenced
Not all parts of our genetic code are equal, even when they appear to say the same thing. Scientists have discovered that cells can detect less efficient genetic instructions and selectively silence them. A protein called DHX29 plays a key role in this process by identifying and suppressing weaker messages. This finding reveals a hidden layer of control in how genes are used.
Avalyn plans IPO to fund phase 3 trials of inhaled versions of approved respiratory drugs
Avalyn Pharma is eyeing an IPO as the biotech seeks more funds to take its inhaled versions of approved drugs for lung conditions into phase 3 trials.
The hidden tradeoff behind today’s most popular weight loss drugs
Weight loss drugs and bariatric surgery may work differently, but they lead to surprisingly similar results inside the body. Both significantly reduce fat while also causing a modest loss of muscle, reshaping overall body composition. Since muscle helps protect against early death, this balance matters more than the number on the scale. The study suggests these treatments improve health—but not wi
Scientists discover spice synergy that boosts anti-inflammation 100x
Chronic inflammation often works quietly in the background but can fuel serious diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. New research reveals that everyday plant compounds—like menthol from mint, cineole from eucalyptus, and capsaicin from chili peppers—can team up inside immune cells to dramatically boost their anti-inflammatory power. While individual compounds showed modest effects, c
This “rotten egg” brain gas could be the key to fighting Alzheimer’s disease
Scientists have uncovered a surprising new player in Alzheimer’s disease: a protein called CSE that helps produce tiny amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas in the brain. In experiments with genetically engineered mice, removing this protein led to memory loss, brain damage, and other hallmarks of Alzheimer’s, including weakened blood-brain barriers and reduced formation of new neurons. The findings sug
Your brain could help solve autism and most people don’t know it
A new survey reveals a striking disconnect in how Americans think about autism research. While nearly everyone agrees that studying the autistic brain is essential, most people are unaware that brain donation after death is a key part of making that research possible. Unlike organ donation, brain donation is a separate process, and widespread confusion remains about how it works, when it must occu