STAT+: FDA rejects Regenxbio’s rare-disease gene therapy
The Food and Drug Administration has rejected a rare-disease gene therapy from Regenxbio, the company said Monday.
Medical News
Pharma's 2026 Super Bowl ads: Novo's Wegovy pill spot is engagement MVP, while Novartis scores 'likeability' touchdown
Novo's star-studded Wegovy pill promotion earned the top spot among the pharma ads that played during the Super Bowl, according to TV outcomes company EDO's ranking of the ads that earned the most engagement.
STAT+: The risk score shuffle, and TrumpRx’s not-so-great deals
This is the online version of STAT's Health Care Inc. newsletter.
Novartis CEO pay soars 30% to $32M following record-breaking 2025 performance
Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan saw his realized compensation swell by 30% in 2025, reaching 24.9 million Swiss francs ($32.4M) as the Swiss pharma giant exceeded its long-term financial and innovation targets.
Otsuka awareness campaign urges HCPs to see ‘All of ADHD’
A new campaign from Otsuka aims to educate healthcare professionals about the far-reaching impacts of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder on patients’ lives, beyond just the diagnostic symptoms of the condition.
Bristol Myers and Evinova pen global development partnership
Bristol Myers Squibb has signed an agreement to partner with Evinova’s AI-native clinical development platform across the company’s global portfolio in an effort to improve efficiency and cut costs.
Fresenius Kabi, Phlow ink US onshoring alliance to boost epinephrine injection supply
The agreement will see Phlow as the first drugmaker to produce epinephrine injection API in the U.S., while Fresenius will work on formulation and finished doses to ship to U.S. hospitals and clinics, the companies said.
Hims retreats from weight loss pill launch as Novo, FDA pressure mounts
Hims & Hers caused a firestorm last week when it revealed that it planned to launch a knockoff version of Novo Nordisk's new oral weight loss medicine. But the reaction to the move has caused the company to quickly retreat.
Opinion: How the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services became the shining light of Trump’s second term
There is plenty of bad coming out of the federal government on health care. CMS is the exception, write Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Merjan L. Ozisik.
Opinion: STAT+: If you have Alzheimer’s disease, who will take part in your care?
Doctors working with patients with Alzheimer’s and other causes of dementia must ask: Who will take part in your care?
STAT+: Federal government turns to fresher data to rein in Medicare Advantage upcoding
CMS is taking a new approach to limit one of the ways insurers are boosting profits in Medicare Advantage.
Scientists were wrong for decades about DNA knots
Scientists have discovered that DNA behaves in a surprising way when squeezed through tiny nanopores, overturning a long-held assumption in genetics research. What researchers once thought were knots causing messy electrical signals turn out to be something else entirely: twisted coils called plectonemes, formed as flowing ions inside the pore spin the DNA like a phone cord. These twists can linge
This popular diet was linked to a much lower stroke risk
A long-term study found that women who closely followed a Mediterranean diet had a much lower risk of stroke. The strongest benefits were seen in women who ate more plant-based foods, fish, and olive oil while cutting back on red meat and saturated fats. Their risk dropped across all major stroke types, including bleeding strokes, which are less commonly studied. The findings suggest diet may be a
A secret cell alliance may explain why ovarian cancer is so deadly
Scientists have discovered why ovarian cancer spreads so rapidly through the abdomen. Cancer cells enlist normally protective abdominal cells, forming mixed groups that work together to invade new tissue. These helper cells lead the way, allowing cancer to spread faster and resist chemotherapy. The findings uncover a critical weakness that future treatments may target.
Hearing aids didn’t boost memory tests but dementia risk dropped
A long-term study of older adults with moderate hearing loss found that hearing aids did not lead to better performance on memory or thinking tests, but the story did not end there. Over seven years, people who were prescribed hearing aids were significantly less likely to develop dementia than those who were not.
Ancient Chinese medicine may hold the key to hair regrowth
A centuries-old Chinese medicinal root is getting new scientific attention as a potential game-changer for common hair loss. Polygonum multiflorum, long believed to restore dark, healthy hair, appears to work on multiple fronts at once—blocking hair-shrinking hormones, protecting follicles from damage, activating natural regrowth signals, and boosting blood flow to the scalp.
Scientists may have found the brain network behind Parkinson’s
A new international study points to a specific brain network as the core driver of Parkinson’s disease. Scientists found that this network becomes overly connected, disrupting not just movement but also thinking and other bodily functions. When researchers targeted it with non-invasive brain stimulation, patients showed much stronger symptom improvement than with conventional stimulation. The disc
Scientists turn sunflower oil waste into a powerful bread upgrade
Researchers have found a surprising way to turn sunflower oil waste into a powerful bread upgrade. By replacing part of wheat flour with partially defatted sunflower seed flour, breads became dramatically richer in protein, fiber, and antioxidants—while also offering potential benefits for blood sugar and fat digestion.
A hidden Aloe vera compound takes aim at Alzheimer’s
Scientists have uncovered promising clues that compounds found in Aloe vera could play a role in fighting Alzheimer’s disease. Using advanced computer modeling, researchers discovered that beta-sitosterol—a natural plant compound—strongly interacts with two key enzymes involved in memory loss and cognitive decline. The compound showed stability, strong binding, and favorable safety indicators, mak
New drug resets the body clock and cuts jet lag recovery nearly in half
Scientists have identified a promising new compound, Mic-628, that can reliably shift the body’s internal clock forward—something that’s notoriously hard to do. By targeting a key clock-control protein, Mic-628 jump-starts the gene that sets daily rhythms, synchronizing both the brain’s master clock and clocks throughout the body. In mice experiencing simulated jet lag, a single dose cut recovery