Journalist @statnews.bsky.social, writing about the Food and Drug Administration. Tips welcome! Signal is lizzylaw.53
Day 2 of the FDA's peptide meeting so far: The FDA's advisory panel narrowly rejected compounding of the peptide emideltide but allowed the compounding of epitalon. More TK this afternoon www.statnews.com/2026/07/24/f...
FDA advisory panel narrowly rejects compounding of one peptide, back anotherRobert F. Kennedy Jr. has lauded peptides and said he takes them himself.www.statnews.comNEW: In win for RFK Jr., an FDA advisory panel narrowly voted to allow compounding of two unapproved peptides, BPC-157 and KPV. Many of the panelists who voted yes have ties to the peptide industry. The panel will vote on more peptides this evening and tomorrow. www.statnews.com/2026/07/23/f...
In win for RFK Jr., FDA advisory panel narrowly votes to allow compounding of unapproved peptidesThe panel recommended allowing compounding pharmacies to produce popular but unproven BPC-157 and KPV peptides.www.statnews.comWhat to expect from the FDA's advisory committee meeting today and Friday, where peptide enthusiasts and FDA staff will discuss whether to make certain peptides more accessible. W/ @sarah-todd.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2026/07/23/f...
FDA staff and peptide enthusiasts set to clash at advisory panelFDA advisers are set to consider whether allowing compounding pharmacies to offer largely unproven peptides is a safer bet than the gray-market versions now in use.www.statnews.comMust read reporting from @elaineywchen.bsky.social on LifeMD, a popular telehealth company that put profits over patient safety while prescribing obesity drugs, according to former employees: www.statnews.com/2026/07/20/l...
Telemedicine company touted by Novo Nordisk stressed profits over patient safety, ex-workers sayLifeMD, a popular telehealth company, has been accused by former employees of pressing clinicians to mete out prescriptions more rapidly without sufficient screening and follow-up.www.statnews.comNEW: I looked into how Karim Mikhail, the new leader of the FDA's biologics and vaccine center, is trying to stabilize operations after Vinay Prasad's turbulent tenure: www.statnews.com/2026/07/15/f...
Under a new leader, the FDA's biologics center moves to steady itself after stormy chapterAfter his predecessor's turbulent tenure, Karim Mikhail is working to restore staff morale and revisit controversial rejections.www.statnews.comPowerful, important read from @rosebroderick.bsky.social. As states absorb Medicaid funding cuts, family caregivers face financial ruin: www.statnews.com/2026/07/13/f...
As states absorb Medicaid funding cuts, family caregivers face financial ruinFamily caregivers of people with disabilities face a grim financial future as several states consider steep cuts to their wages.www.statnews.com.@chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social and I dug into a recent meeting convened by HHS to discuss best practices for deprescribing psychiatric drugs, specifically SSRI antidepressants. Read more here: www.statnews.com/2026/07/13/h...
HHS presses ahead with effort to curb antidepressant useIn a private meeting, HHS officials met with mental health professionals to work on guidance for stopping SSRIs.www.statnews.comThank you @dgorenstein.bsky.social and @lesliemwalker.bsky.social for featuring my FDA reporting on @tradeoffs.org! It was a great conversation. Listen to the podcast episode here: tradeoffs.org/2026/07/09/a...
As Drama at Trump's FDA Subsides, Doubts and Damage LingerWe talk with STAT News reporter Lizzy Lawrence about the agency’s recent turmoil and its hunt for a new leader.tradeoffs.orgPlease read this tremendous, moving story from @jasonmast.bsky.social and @matthewherper.bsky.social about one father's $70 million quest to save his daughter Grace, and the implications his journey has for the entire rare disease therapy field. www.statnews.com/2026/07/09/m...
The quest to save Grace — and clear the way for rare disease patients everywhereHow a father’s quest may shape the future of rare disease gene therapy.www.statnews.comFDA commissioner shortlist has reached the White House, reports @danielpayne.bsky.social. Heidi Overton, Jeffrey Vacirca, and Stephen Ferrara are among the finalists: www.statnews.com/2026/07/08/n...
White House reviewing top contenders to lead FDAThe White House is reviewing finalists for FDA commissioner, suggesting the highly anticipated decision may come soon.www.statnews.comMust-read series from @bobjherman.bsky.social about the soaring costs of health insurance for America's workers and businesses: www.statnews.com/health-insur...
Soaring health care costs explored in 'Out of Pocket, Out of Reach'America’s employer-based health insurance system is crumbling in slow motion. See how, and why, in STAT's 8-part series 'Out of Pocket, Out of Reach.'www.statnews.com
here's an early #WTHealth for the holiday week! lotsa health news with @alicemiranda.bsky.social, @lizzylawrence.bsky.social, and Amanda Seitz: kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
Supreme Court Makes Health Policy - KFF Health NewsThe Supreme Court handed down its last decisions of its 2025-26 term this week, including in an immigration case that could result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of workers in nursing homes and ...kffhealthnews.orgExclusive: Vijay Kumar, top gene therapy regulator at the FDA, is leaving his role. It's a little over a year since he took over from Nicole Verdun, who was pushed out by former CBER director Vinay Prasad. www.statnews.com/2026/06/29/v...
FDA’s top gene therapy regulator is leaving his roleThe departure of Vijay Kumar follows a broader leadership shakeup at the FDA.www.statnews.comNEW: Many of the new members of an FDA committee who will be advising the agency on peptides are involved with businesses that promote and prescribe peptides. More w/ @sarah-todd.bsky.social here: www.statnews.com/2026/06/29/n...
Longevity, wellness physicians named to panel advising FDA on peptidesThe panel will soon consider whether to relax restrictions on certain peptides.www.statnews.comVery interesting explainer from @elizabethcooney.bsky.social on pulmonary hypertension, and why the new class of obesity drugs might help: www.statnews.com/2026/06/26/w...
What is pulmonary hypertension and why would a new GLP-1 help?A report about unusual access to an experimental obesity drug has raised interest in the condition pulmonary hypertension.www.statnews.comNEW: Democrats press White House on who got special access to Eli Lilly’s new obesity drug www.statnews.com/2026/06/25/s...
Democrats press White House on who got special access to Eli Lilly’s new obesity drugThe unusual access to an experimental drug has captured the attention of the American public as well.www.statnews.comFor @npr.org, I discussed my story on Eli Lilly granting early access of obesity drug retatrutide to a 79-year-old patient in April. You can listen here: www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
An extraordinary new obesity drug is still awaiting FDA approval. Why is one man allowed access?Drugmaker Eli Lilly and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have granted access to retatrutide to one man, through the FDA’s so-called “compassionate use” program.www.wbur.org