Sponsor of the Day:
Jerkmate
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/12/epstein-friend-attempts-biotech-comeback-prasad-exits-fda-readout-loud/
Epstein pal attempts a biotech comeback and Vinay Prasad exits FDA | STAT
Mar 12, 2026 - On this week's The Readout LOUD, the hosts also recap Novo Nordisk and Hims' detente and Xenon Pharmaceuticals' promising seizure data.
vinay prasadfda statepsteinpalattempts
https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/19/epcc-report-mifepristone-abortion-pill-republican-politicians-fda-undermining-biotech/
Conservative politicians using flawed abortion-pill report to attack FDA | STAT
A politically motivated, deeply flawed report on mifepristone is shaping policy, political strategy, and public discourse, writes biotech exec.
abortion pillfda statconservativepoliticiansusing
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/26/rare-disease-treatment-approval-fda-mixed-messages/
Rare disease advocates perplexed by mixed messages at the FDA | STAT
Feb 26, 2026 - FDA has rejected or reversed course on five gene therapies for rare diseases while simultaneously unveiling expedited pathways for new treatment approvals.
rare diseasemixed messagesfda statadvocatesperplexed
https://reports.statnews.com/collections/all-reports/products/failed-trial-successful-drug
Failed trial, successful drug: How a negative readout can lead to FDA | STAT Reports
In this STAT Report author Frank David, M.D., Ph.D., explores the question, how can you tell if there’s still hope a drug will be approved when a pivotal trial...
successful drugfda statfailedtrialnegative
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/15/peptides-fda-panel-to-discuss-broader-access-compounding/
FDA peptide advisers expected to support RFK Jr.'s legalization push | STAT
Apr 15, 2026 - Legal peptides draw closer: Kennedy schedules FDA advisory meeting for July, and he gets to appoint the experts who will consider reversing a Biden-era ban.
rfk jrfdapeptideadvisersexpected
https://www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/fda-vaccine-framework-new-covid-shot-recommendations-vinay-prasad-marty-makary/
FDA vaccine framework changes Covid shot recommendations | STAT
May 20, 2025 - FDA leaders said recommending universal vaccination against Covid-19 is out of step with the rest of the world and may no longer be needed
fda vaccinecovid shotframeworkchangesrecommendations
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/05/corcept-therapeutics-fda-relacorilant-cushings-disease/
A dispute between Corcept Therapeutics, FDA runs deep | STAT
Feb 5, 2026 - Concerns over a potential risk of liver injury induced by the company's treatment, relacorilant, raise doubts.
corcept therapeuticsruns deepdisputefdastat
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/09/fda-cuts-back-advisory-meetings-controversial-decisions-grow/
FDA advisory committee meetings fade as controversial decisions grow | STAT
Mar 9, 2026 - Controversial drug decisions mount as FDA reduces public advisory meetings. Industry leaders say the adcomms can add transparency to the approval process.
advisory committee meetingsfdafadecontroversialdecisions
https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/03/26/fda-rare-disease-pto-novo-nordisk-340b-abortion-hiv/
Pharmalittle: FDA approves rare disease drug, PTO chief grilled | STAT
Mar 26, 2026 - A bipartisan quartet of senators unveiled legislation to cap the monthly cost of insulin at $35 for patients on private insurance.
rare disease drugpharmalittle fdaapprovesptochief
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/24/trump-psychedelic-drugs-fda-priority-review-mental-health-treatment/
FDA fast-tracks review of new psychedelic mental health treatments | STAT
Apr 24, 2026 - After Trump administration prodding, FDA offers priority review of psychedelic drugs from Compass Pathways, Usona Institute, and Transcend Therapeutics.
fda fast tracksmental health treatmentsreviewnewpsychedelic
https://reports.statnews.com/collections/all-reports/products/inside-the-fda-under-trump
Chaotic and politicized: Inside the FDA under Trump | STAT Report | STAT Reports
Layoffs, leadership chaos, and politicized science have destabilized the FDA under Trump. This STAT Special Report explains what happened, why it matters, and...
stat report reportschaoticpoliticizedinsidefda
https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/03/27/novo-nordisk-boost-consumer-focus-fda-approves-gene-therapy/
Pharmalittle: Novo boosts consumer focus, FDA okays gene therapy | STAT
Mar 27, 2026 - People with pre-existing depression or anxiety were less likely to have worsening mental health while taking a GLP-1 medication.
gene therapypharmalittlenovoboostsconsumer
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/harrisonai-fda-petition-exempt-ai-devices-premarket-review/
Petition pushes FDA to exempt AI devices from premarket review | STAT
A petition from Harrison.ai asks the FDA to exempt some new AI tools radiologists use to analyze medical images from routine premarket review.
ai devicespetitionpushesfdaexempt
https://www.statnews.com/2025/05/22/fda-commissioner-marty-makary-senate-testimony-drug-approvals-job-cuts-covid-boosters/
FDA's Makary pushes back on criticism, explains Covid booster plan | STAT
May 22, 2025 - Makary told senators that staffing cuts haven't hindered the FDA's main missions.
pushes backcovid boosterfdamakarycriticism
https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/10/fda-panel-ease-access-testosterone-therapy-men/
FDA panel urges easier access to testosterone therapy for men | STAT
Dec 17, 2025 - One month after removing black box warning labels for estrogen therapy for menopause, FDA panel members urge easier access to testosterone for men.
panel urgeseasier accesstestosterone therapymen statfda
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/18/huntingtons-uniqure-fda-jnj-psoriasis-icotyde-readout-newsletter/
Readout newsletter: Huntington's researcher on UniQure-FDA fray | STAT
Mar 18, 2026 - Today's biotech news includes Ed Wild, a longtime Huntington's clinician, treading lightly into the back and forth between UniQure and FDA.
readout newsletterhuntingtonresearcheruniqurefda
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/fda-lobbying-trump-connected-firms-cash-in/
Pharma companies turn to Trump-connected firms for FDA lobbying | STAT
Checkmate Government Relations, Miller Strategies, and Ballard Partners see a surge in business as pharma giants see new lobbying opportunities at the FDA.
pharma companiesturntrumpconnectedfirms
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/18/how-arpah-developing-fda-authorized-ai-tools-ai-prognosis/
AI Prognosis: How ARPA-H is developing FDA-authorized AI agents | STAT
Mar 18, 2026 - In this edition of STAT's AI Prognosis: A closer look at how U.S. moonshot agency for health research, ARPA-H, is developing FDA-authorized AI agents.
ai prognosisarpa hfda authorizeddevelopingagents
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/19/hims-super-bowl-ad-moderna-fda-readout-loud/
Readout LOUD podcast: Hims GLP-1 pill fallout, FDA and Moderna| STAT
Feb 19, 2026 - Was Hims' Super Bowl ad the final straw for regulators? STAT's Katie Palmer joins the podcast this week to discuss.
readout loud podcastglp 1 pillhimsfalloutfda
https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/04/01/fda-compounding-peptides-iran-war-trial-recruitment/
Pharmalittle: FDA changing view on peptides; Iran war affects trials| STAT
Apr 1, 2026 - Of more than 65,000 clinical trials recruiting patients in 186 countries, nearly 7% have been affected by the Iran war.
iran war affectspharmalittle fdatrials statchangingview
https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/04/14/fda-push-clinical-trial-transparency-novo-nordisk-openai-deal/
Pharmalittle: FDA push for trial transparency, Novo-OpenAI deal | STAT
Apr 14, 2026 - AstraZeneca to require hospitals and clinics participating in a U.S. drug discount program to submit claims data for dispensing its drugs
pharmalittle fdatrial transparencyopenai dealpushnovo
https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/08/pig-organ-transplant-egenesis-revivicor-human-trials-fda/
FDA expands access to gene-edited pig organ transplants | STAT
Sep 8, 2025 - Gene-edited pig organ transplants from eGenesis and Revivicor are making their way into more human patients.
expands accessgene editedorgan transplantsfdapig
https://www.statnews.com/2026/01/26/fda-makary-prasad-crispr-gene-editing-concerns-baby-kj/
New FDA pathway for CRISPR treatments raises concerns | STAT
Jan 26, 2026 - A new FDA pathway meant to enable one-time gene-editing cures is welcomed in theory but could, ethicists warn, become a Pandora's box.
new fdaraises concernspathwaycrisprtreatments
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/fda-rare-disease-new-guidelines-plausible-mechanism-pathway/
FDA unveils new pathway for rare disease treatments | STAT
rare disease treatmentsunveils newfdapathwaystat
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/07/trump-budget-fda-proposals-pharmaceutical-industry-dc-diagnosis/
Trump budget: FDA ideas to boost U.S. pharma manufacturing | STAT
Apr 7, 2026 - Trump's 2027 budget proposals span health care, RFK Jr. set to appear before Congress, and more from STAT's D.C. Diagnosis.
trump budgetpharma manufacturingfdaideasboost
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/10/ron-johnson-investigating-fda-rare-disease-drug-denials/
GOP Sen. Johnson investigating FDA rare disease drug rejections | STAT
Mar 10, 2026 - Sen. Ron Johnson has long been an advocate for giving people with rare diseases speedy access to experimental treatments.
rare disease druggop senjohnsoninvestigatingfda
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/31/baby-kj-gene-editing-fda-rules-pose-expansion-hurdle/
Baby KJ researchers face FDA hurdle on scaling custom treatments | STAT
Mar 31, 2026 - After a baby treated by custom gene editing inspired a new FDA pathway, strict FDA manufacturing rules threaten to keep bespoke cures out of reach.
baby kjtreatments statresearchersfacefda
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/10/fda-says-leucovorin-evidence-lacking-for-autism/
FDA approves leucovorin for rare disorder, not for autism | STAT
Mar 10, 2026 - The FDA action represents a retreat from top officials’ earlier insistence that leucovorin could benefit
fda approvesrare disorderleucovorinautismstat
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/05/vinay-prasad-peter-marks-fda-regulatory-frameworks/
The extremism of the FDA's Marks and Prasad has come with costs | STAT
Mar 5, 2026 - In this week's edition of
costs statextremismfdamarksprasad
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/03/prime-medicine-seeks-fda-approval-cgd-disease-gene-editing-treatment/
Prime Medicine seeks FDA treatment approval after two-patient trial | STAT
Mar 4, 2026 - Prime Medicine's application will test an FDA that has promised to speed new gene-editing treatments but has recently spurned some.
prime medicinetrial statseeksfdatreatment
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/05/super-bowl-ads-drug-companies-fda-rules/
Super Bowl ads highlight tension between FDA and drug companies | STAT
FDA announced a crackdown on TV pharmaceutical advertising last fall. This week's STATus Report looks at which Super Bowl ads may be pushing the limits.
super bowl adsdrug companieshighlighttensionfda
https://www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/fda-covid-vaccine-recommendations-future-plan-for-infants-worries-pediatricians/
Worried pediatricians question new FDA Covid vaccine guidance | STAT
May 20, 2025 - FDA vaccine framework may one day drop current routine shots for infants. If vaccine is effective, it should be used, pediatricians argue
question newfda covidvaccine guidanceworriedpediatricians
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/09/fda-rejects-proposal-to-deregulate-ai-devices-health-tech/
STAT Health Tech: FDA rejects proposal to deregulate AI devices
Apr 9, 2026 - In this edition of STAT Health Tech: The FDA rejects a proposal to deregulate certain types of AI devices, Boehringer Ingelheim invests $50 million in DTx, and...
stat health techrejects proposalai devicesfdaderegulate
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/13/vinay-prasad-replacement-fda-cber/
Prasad’s FDA successor faces an almost impossible challenge | STAT
Lacking political savvy pretty much doomed Vinay Prasad at the FDA. His successor will have to make tough choices.
almost impossiblefdasuccessorfaceschallenge
https://www.statnews.com/2025/05/22/covid-vaccine-mrna-safety-effective-fda-framework-big-beautiful-bill-medicaid-cuts-taxes-dc-diagnosis-newsletter/
D.C. Diagnosis: House bill cuts Medicaid, FDA's new vaccine policy | STAT
May 22, 2025 - This week in health care policy and politics: Dissecting the GOP's tax cut bill, how we know mRNA vaccines work, and more.
c diagnosishouse billcuts medicaidnew vaccinepolicy stat
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/02/fda-ai-breakthrough-medical-device-stat-health-tech/
STAT Health Tech: What counts as an AI 'breakthrough' device for the FDA?
Apr 2, 2026 - In this edition of STAT Health Tech: Another study looked at benefits of AI scribes, and an analysis of AI-powered devices that got a 'breakthrough' label from...
stat health techai breakthroughcountsdevicefda
https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/04/15/fda-seeks-data-lilly-obesity-pill-pharma-win-340b-case-hiv/
Pharmalittle: FDA seeks Lilly obesity pill data, pharma gets 340B win | STAT
Apr 15, 2026 - A Delaware judge threw out lawsuits seeking to link the Zantac heartburn drug to cancer, freeing drugmakers from facing trials in the state.
pharmalittle fdaobesity pillseekslillydata
https://www.statnews.com/2025/11/06/fda-melodrama-pfizer-novo-metsera-readout-loud/
Readout LOUD podcast: FDA melodrama, Pfizer-Novo bidding war | STAT
Nov 6, 2025 - There's a slow-boiling feud between FDA official Vinay Prasad and his staff, plus the shocking exit of CDER director George Tidmarsh.
readout loud podcastbidding warfdamelodramapfizer
https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/vinay-prasad-fda-defends-vaccine-plan-blames-false-narratives/
Embattled FDA official defends vaccine plan in closed-door remarks | STAT
Dec 4, 2025 - Vinay Prasad pushes back on criticism of his vaccine policy changes, morale issues at the FDA, and his role in recent drug-approval turbulence.
official defendsclosed doorembattledfdavaccine
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/27/fda-briefs-senators-food-safety-infant-formula-ultraprocessed-foods/
FDA briefs lawmakers on food safety priorities | STAT
Mar 27, 2026 - The Trump administration's health agenda is increasingly focusing on food issues, an area that's popular with voters.
food safetypriorities statfdabriefslawmakers
https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/fda-tracy-beth-hoeg-psychedelics-future-readout-loud-podcast/
Readout LOUD podcast: A new FDA top drug regulator | STAT
Dec 4, 2025 - The turmoil at the FDA continues: Richard Pazdur has announced his retirement, and he's being replaced by Covid contrarian Tracy Beth Høeg.
readout loud podcastnew fdatop drugregulatorstat
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/03/fda-breakthrough-designation-generative-ai-chatbot-recovryai/
FDA offers clues to AI regulation with RecovryAI designation | STAT
A breakthrough designation for RecovryAI’s post-surgery chatbot offers clues to how FDA may regulate generative AI devices.
offers cluesai regulationfdadesignationstat
https://www.statnews.com/2026/01/14/medicare-automatic-coverage-medical-devices-fda-deems-breakthrough/
How much Medicare stands to pay for FDA breakthrough devices | STAT
As Congress considers automatic Medicare coverage for 'breakthrough' devices, experts caution that it could drive up costs without improving patient outcomes.
fda breakthroughmuchmedicarestandspay
https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/16/travere-therapeutics-kidney-disease-fda-approval/
Travere drug doesn’t improve kidney function. The FDA still approved it | STAT
The agency has taken heat for not showing enough regulatory flexibility. In the case of Filspari, it showed too much.
kidney functiontraveredrugimprovefda
https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/19/fda-appoints-new-digital-health-center-director/
FDA taps AI executive to lead digital health center | STAT
Feb 20, 2026 - The Food and Drug Administration has tapped a former executive from a health artificial intelligence company to lead its digital health center.
digital health centertaps aifdaexecutivelead
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/18/fda-nih-reduce-animal-testing-drug-development/
FDA and NIH push to reduce animal testing in drug development | STAT
Mar 18, 2026 - FDA released guidance to help drug companies assess their products without animals. NIH will offer grants to find alternatives.
reduce animal testingdrug developmentfdanihpush
https://reports.statnews.com/collections/all-reports/products/speed-and-safety-fdas-drug-approval
A guide to the FDA's drug approval pathways and processes | STAT Reports
Our latest report unpacks the differences between the different ways the FDA approves drugs, like accelerated approvals, fast-track designations, and emergency...
drug approvalstat reportsguidefdapathways
https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/05/better-ibd-treatments-fda-flexibility-questions-readout-loud/
The Readout LOUD: Better IBD treatments and FDA questions | STAT
Mar 5, 2026 - Will drugmakers finally be able to breach the efficacy ceiling in inflammatory bowel disease? And is the FDA being flexible enough with rare disease treatments?
readout loudbetteribdtreatmentsfda
https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/04/16/alzheimers-drugs-review-fda-panel-for-compounded-peptides/
Pharmalittle: Alzheimer's drugs reviewed, FDA panel to vet peptides | STAT
Apr 16, 2026 - A new report released by Senate Democrats finds that prescription drug prices have continued to climb — in some cases, sharply.
pharmalittlealzheimerdrugsreviewedfda