STAT

Inside the fall of Vinay Prasad at the FDA Prasad's departure followed a campaign by a right-wing activist and a controversy over a rare disease drug.

And then @lizzylawrence.bsky.social gave us an inside look into the fall of Vinay Prasad at the FDA
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Vinay Prasad is my former student and friend. His departure from FDA is a loss for American medicine “It is hard to imagine someone more equipped and more dedicated to vetting treatments than Vinay Prasad,” writes his former professor and friend Adam Cifu.

Then Adam Cifu weighed in.

Vinay Prasad is my former student and friend. His departure from FDA is a loss for American medicine
www.statnews.com/2025/07/31/v...

Vinay Prasad was not good for the FDA. But his ouster makes things worse Vinay Prasad's ouster from the FDA will likely be celebrated in many corners. But beware of what comes next.

And STAT's @matthewherper.bsky.social had his take on the event.

Vinay Prasad was not good for the FDA. But his ouster makes things worse
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Vinay Prasad, a powerful FDA official, departs after controversy over rare disease drug Vinay Prasad, a top FDA official, is out after less than three months on the job.

Let's recap last week's news with Vinay Prasad

Tuesday, he suddenly departed after a series of controversial decisions about a treatment for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

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Kevin Hall, uncensored: Top nutrition scientist on clashing with MAHA and what he actually eats 'They’re not interested in the science': Former NIH nutrition scientist Kevin Hall on how his work with MAHA fell apart.

Kevin Hall says NIH tried to silence his nutrition research. With his lab closed, he’s revealing how ultra-processed foods impact public health.
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Senators leave RFK Jr.’s MAHA agency out of 2026 budget in apparent snub Senators ignored RFK Jr.'s proposal to create a chronic disease agency called the Administration for a Healthy America.

Senate appropriators seemingly snubbed an effort by health secretary RFK Jr. to reorganize certain primary care and chronic health programs into a new agency known as the Administration for a Healthy America. www.statnews.com/2025/07/31/h...

Senate committee endorses NIH budget increase, rebuking Trump administration’s proposed 40% cut Senators from both parties endorsed a $400 million increase to the budget of the National Institutes of Health on Thursday

Senators from both parties endorsed a $400 million increase to the budget of the National Institutes of Health www.statnews.com/2025/07/31/n...

Jay Bhattacharya once studied health disparities. As NIH director, he’s allowed such research to wither Jay Bhattacharya’s tenure as NIH director has seen health disparities research swept up in the Trump administration’s attack on DEI

Jay Bhattacharya’s tenure as NIH director has seen health disparities research swept up in the Trump administration’s attack on DEI
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Jay Bhattacharya once studied health disparities. As NIH director, he’s allowed such research to wither Jay Bhattacharya’s tenure as NIH director has seen health disparities research swept up in the Trump administration’s attack on DEI

NEW STAT special report:

Jay Bhattacharya has researched “vulnerable populations”

But he’s written off some health disparities work as ideological - leaving the nih, researchers, and a federal court confused

W/ @usha.bsky.social & @ericboodman.bsky.social

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MAGA influencers take a sudden interest in Medicare Advantage reforms, echoing a dark money group It's not clear why right wing influencers are suddenly pushing back against Medicare reforms.

It's not clear why right wing influencers are suddenly pushing back against Medicare reforms.
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Trump escalates demands that pharma companies lower their drug prices Trump demanded that pharmaceutical companies lower their drug prices. But it's unclear how the government may enforce the directive.

President Trump escalated his demands that pharma companies lower U.S. drug prices in line with what other countries pay, sending letters to 17 major drug companies Thursday that called on them to take actions by Sept. 29.
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Women's Health, Unstuck Join Bill Gates and a range of experts for a discussion on flattening barriers to improving women’s health — from research labs to clini…

Virtual passes are still available for our Women’s Health, Unstuck event!
Join Bill Gates and a range of experts for a discussion on flattening barriers to improving women’s health.
Get your pass here: www.statnews.com/event/womens...

Lilly’s diabetes drug Mounjaro matches heart benefit of older treatment Eli Lilly’s blockbuster diabetes drug Mounjaro matched the ability of an older treatment to prevent major heart complications in a large trial.

Eli Lilly’s blockbuster diabetes drug Mounjaro matched the ability of an older treatment to prevent major heart complications in a large trial.
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Budget cuts knock down a ‘pillar of public health,’ ending nutrition education A federal education program that helped food stamp beneficiaries find healthy foods and prepare them on a budget is ending.

It’s really unfair to say, ‘Oh, well, we haven’t seen a reduction in obesity. So we should get rid of SNAP-Ed.’”
Budget cuts knock down a ‘pillar of public health,’ ending nutrition education www.statnews.com/2025/07/30/b...

Trump nominee for top HHS post pushed to ban methadone treatment HHS general counsel nominee Mike Stuart’s position on methadone puts him far outside the mainstream in American politics.

President Trump’s nominee to serve as the top lawyer for the Department of Health and Human Services previously attempted to ban methadone treatment while serving as a West Virginia state senator.
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Inside the fall of Vinay Prasad at the FDA Prasad's departure followed a campaign by a right-wing activist and a controversy over a rare disease drug.

Inside the fall of Vinay Prasad at the FDA
A powerful and extremely online regulator ran out of friends when it mattered most.
www.statnews.com/2025/07/30/v...

Using mRNA, scientists overcome a key challenge to HIV vaccines Scientists used a mRNA-based vaccine to reliably trigger antibodies that block HIV infection in people and monkeys

Scientists used a mRNA-based vaccine to reliably trigger antibodies that block HIV infection in people and monkeys
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Most American’s hearts are older than their chronological age, new tool says According to a new tool that assesses heart health based on standard measures like blood pressure and cholesterol, most Americans are not aging well.

According to a new tool that assesses heart health using standard measures like blood pressure and cholesterol, most Americans are not aging well.
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FDA names drug regulator Tidmarsh acting head of biologics center after Prasad’s exit George Tidmarsh is taking on more responsibilities at FDA after the sudden departure of top official Vinay Prasad.

#News: FDA names drug regulator George Tidmarsh acting head of biologics center after Vinay Prasad’s exit
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Top White House pandemic preparedness official resigns, officials say, in sign of broader disarray Exclusive: A top White House pandemic preparedness official has resigned, officials tell STAT, in a sign of broader disarray.

Exclusive: Top White House pandemic preparedness official resigns www.statnews.com/2025/07/30/w...

Viral infections in the lung, like Covid-19, can reactivate dormant cancer cells Certain respiratory infections could trigger a reawakening of dormant cancer cells in the body, according to a new study.

A new study found that the immune system’s response to viral infections in the lungs might be contributing to cancer cell activation.
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Trump administration reverses course, lifts pause on NIH grant awards The order applies to the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go to universities and academic medical centers.

Trump administration reverses course and lifts pause on NIH grant awards www.statnews.com/2025/07/29/t...

I had just finished editing a new video on all the latest twists and turns with Sarepta's gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, when news broke that Vinay Prasad, the FDA official overseeing it, was out. Full video tomorrow! @statnews.com

Trump administration blocks NIH from awarding any research grants and contracts The order applies to the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go to universities and academic medical centers.

#Breaking: Trump administration blocks NIH from awarding any research grants and contracts
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Vinay Prasad departs the FDA A top FDA official is out after less than 3 months on the job.

#Breaking: Vinay Prasad, a top official at the Food and Drug Administration, has suddenly departed after a series of controversial decisions about a treatment for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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Tobacco use, binge drinking decrease as Americans consume more marijuana, survey finds Americans are binge drinking and smoking tobacco less but consuming marijuana significantly more, according to a new federal survey on drug use and mental health.

Americans are binge drinking and smoking tobacco less but consuming marijuana significantly more.
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Preventive care panel could be restructured ‘imminently’ as RFK Jr. vets new members RFK Jr. is vetting new members for a key federal health panel, and one ally says he's likely to pick people who align more closely with his goals.

#Breaking: Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could “imminently” overhaul a key federal advisory panel that recommends which preventive services insurers must pay for.
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Major Alzheimer's group says some blood tests may be used in place of brain scans for diagnosis A major Alzheimer’s disease medical group is recommending that specialists may use certain blood tests to help diagnose patients with cognitive impairment.

A major Alzheimer’s disease medical group is recommending that specialists may use certain blood tests to help diagnose patients with cognitive impairment in lieu of more complex and invasive tests.
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A cut to Medicare that could affect millions is buried in Trump’s tax law Trump's tax law adds red tape to Medicare Savings Programs, risking coverage losses for low-income seniors.

Trump's tax law adds red tape to Medicare Savings Programs, risking coverage losses for low-income seniors.
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Kennedy, disability advocates paint very different realities as ADA turns 35 Kennedy and advocates have very different views on how his tenure impacts the community of Americans with disabilities.

Kennedy and advocates have very different views on how his tenure impacts the community of Americans with disabilities.
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