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Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses NASA's rocky relationship with Mars exploration.
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Utah marks a year of battling measles, with no clear end in sight
Utah has spent the past year fighting measles outbreaks in almost every county
Opinion: Why the space in ‘health care’ matters
When STAT polled our readers on ‘health care’ vs. ‘healthcare,’ about 60% of our readers voted for one word.
Opinion: STAT readers debate blue zones, open-access publishing fees, and more
According to STAT's source item, Opinion: STAT readers debate blue zones, open-access publishing fees, and more, Keep those letters coming! The development sits in VINI's Science file for readers following research, health, climate, space, medicine, and scientific institutions. The original report is ...
Africa CDC chief says continent needs to invest own funds in Ebola response, vaccine
African officials must step up financing to respond and develop vaccines for the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda
Here's why the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool went green so fast
The reflecting pool turned an interesting shade of green awfully fast. Here is why.
STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings
From new hires to departures, promotions and transfers, here are the latest comings and goings in the pharmaceutical industry.
This plant extract can make a lethal drug cocktail. Can it also treat opioid addiction?
The U.S. will begin to test kratom for its potential to treat opioid disorder. In California, a complaint targets a business accused of violating kratom restrictions.
New hope in treating Huntington’s disease and a report card on RFK Jr.’s promises
This week on "The Readout LOUD" podcast: new hope in treating Huntington's disease and a report card on RFK Jr.'s promises. Listen now.
STAT+: Eli Lilly ends 340B drug discounts to some hospitals for failing to provide claims data
Making good on its threat, Eli Lilly has begun eliminating mandated price breaks to a few dozen hospitals that participate in a federal drug discount program.
STAT+: FDA advisory panel endorses Moderna mRNA flu vaccine that was subject of controversy
A panel of advisers to FDA gave its endorsement to a seasonal mRNA flu vaccine that was developed by Moderna and that earlier this year became the subject of controversy.
STAT+: CMS recalculates Medicare Advantage star ratings again, adding more volatility to program
Medicare Advantage plans that receive four out of five stars or better get bonus payments, which have ballooned to $16 billion this year.
Opinion: Maternity deserts aren’t accidents. They’re the result of a design flaw
Shrinking fertility should mean less strain on doctors. But nearly half of U.S. counties lack a practicing obstetrician or gynecologist.
Opinion: STAT+: The real work for making dramatic gains against pancreatic cancer is just beginning
The co-founders of Darwin Health write that the real work for making dramatic gains against pancreatic cancers is just beginning.
Tennessee pharmacies sell potent ivermectin, led by anti-vaccine doctor who’s taken ‘bucketloads’
Tennessee pharmacies are selling potent versions of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin, led by an anti-vaccine doctor who’s taken "bucketloads."
Federal grant delays could jeopardize essential disability services, research
Disability researchers across the country worry about their jobs, and the future of their institutions, as a delay in issuing federal grants drags on.
The truth about brain rot, according to science
Emerging research suggests overusing digital devices can be harmful, especially to mental health. But does being overly online truly rot our brains?
A 2011 earthquake bounced a seismic wave off Earth’s core, nudging Japan east
The wave's round trip to Earth's core set off a fault slip along Japan's plate boundaries, revealing a seismic hazard scientists hadn't recognized.
A textbook assumption about early land vertebrates may be wrong
Three species that lived about 308 million years ago challenge the idea that the first land vertebrates underwent amphibian-like metamorphosis.
STAT+: In pancreatic cancer, Patrick Soon-Shiong makes promises he has not kept
A wide gap exists between what Patrick Soon-Shiong says his cancer drugs can achieve and what they actually do, STAT's Adam Feuerstein writes.
Six of the biggest health news stories today
High-end infant formula scrutiny, the spread of synthetic opioids, and more health news from Morning Rounds
How many Americans can afford high-quality health care? A new poll finds the number has fallen
A new poll shows only about half of U.S. adults could afford their health care and had access to quality care last year.
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about an FDA review of Moderna’s flu shot, J&J’s focus on cancer, and more
Johnson & 038; Johnson has no plans to enter the booming obesity market, opting instead to focus on diseases such as cancer
STAT+: Shingles vaccine may lower dementia risk, new study finds
Nursing home residents who received at least one dose of shingles vaccine were 24 percent less likely to develop dementia, a new study found.
STAT+: Cambrian’s experimental longevity drug mimics exercise
What Soon-Shiong has delivered, Encanta's RSV antiviral, and other biotech news from The Readout
STAT+: Do wearables actually help people with cardiovascular disease?
In this edition of STAT Health Tech: A look at what researchers found about if using wearables help people with cardiovascular diseases, and more.
Ebola cases increase almost 40% in a week as death toll passes 200
Ebola cases have increased almost 40% in a week in the current outbreak in Congo and Uganda as the death toll passes 200.
Opinion: AI’s growing appetite for power is a public health issue. Here’s a fix
“AI is creating a new and largely overlooked strain on something fundamental to health,” write Sten H. Vermund and Patricia J. Kissinger.
New infant botulism outbreak puts fancy formulas under scrutiny
A new infant botulism outbreak puts fancy formulas that position their products as safer than other options under scrutiny.
STAT+: Senate Democrats demand HHS provide records on federal vaccine policy
Senate Democrats open an inquiry into the Trump administration’s remaking of U.S. vaccine policy, demanding officials produce records by next week.
What’s next for GLP-1 weight loss drugs?
What’s next for GLP-1 weight loss drugs? Alex Hogan explores on the new episode of STATus Report. Watch now.
Opinion: Congress should embrace strategic health diplomacy
“Improving global health should be a top policy priority of the United States,” write Anand Parekh, Tom Daschle, and Bill Frist.
Super-potent synthetic opioids called nitazenes are spreading across the U.S.
Overdose deaths confirmed to involve nitazenes have risen sharply in the U.S., from 27 in 2020 to 409 in 2024, according to the CDC
How many Americans can afford high-quality healthcare? A new poll finds the number has fallen
New data from the West Health-Gallup Affordability Index shows that only about half of U.S. adults could afford their healthcare and had access to quality care last year
The pressure to have baby boys can harm African mothers' health
In Congo and other parts of Africa, some women are having baby after baby under cultural pressure to produce a male heir, even risking their health
Arrests of Immigrant Parents Create Mental Health Crisis for Children
An estimated hundreds of thousands of children, many of them U.S. citizens, have been separated from a parent in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Their distress manifests in physical and mental health symptoms including developmental regression, stomachaches, sleep problems, and falling grades. ...
Sandwiched Between Caring for Kids and Aging Parents? Reach Out for Resources
Squeezed between their young children and aging parents, the sandwich generation is juggling a lot. KFF Health News Midwest correspondent Cara Anthony discusses embracing her identity as a caregiver and which resources are available to Washington, D.C., residents caring for family members.
Readers Curse Medical Debt and Defend Spelling Therapy
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
A deadly fungus that can infect cats and people is spreading
It’s just a matter of time before Sporothrix brasiliensis reaches the U.S. a CDC expert says.
NIH diversity programs doubled undergraduates’ odds of getting a Ph.D., 20-year study finds
A new study found that two diversity-oriented programs supported by the NIH doubled the odds that an undergraduate would earn a Ph.D.
FTC, four state AGs sue transgender health group over care standards
The FTC and four state attorneys general have sued the main professional organization for gender-affirming care clinicians.
STAT+: DOJ’s swift win in OhioHealth case should have hospitals studying their contracts, experts say
The speed of DOJ's proposed antitrust settlement with OhioHealth should put other hospitals on notice, experts say.
RFK Jr. presents $700 million in mental health funding, but experts say grants aren’t new
RFK Jr. presents funding intended to address mental illness and addiction, particularly among homeless people.
Luigi Mangione will assert psychiatric defense in murder case in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing
Luigi Mangione plans to assert a psychiatric defense at his state murder trial, claiming he was suffering from extreme emotional disturbance when he gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
A ‘Super El Niño’ may be on the way. What does that mean?
Past super El Niños have brought bad flooding, deadly fires and disease outbreaks. Climate experts already expect “shockingly high” temps this winter.
The oldest known plague outbreak struck hunter-gatherers 5,500 years ago
Plague DNA in ancient graves near Siberia's Lake Baikal suggests the disease threatened people long before farming and crowded settlements.
Ancient teeth rewrite the plague's timeline, dating back to over 5,500 years ago
Scientists have found evidence of the oldest known plague, dating back about 5,500 years ago - some 200 years earlier than previously thought
Opinion: As a physician, I have never been more concerned about rates of congenital syphilis
“As a physician and former public health official, I have never been more concerned about those rates of congenital syphilis,” writes Jeffrey D. Klausner.
Opinion: The quiet joy of being an oncologist
“The privilege of oncology is not only that you get to cure people,” writes oncologist Khushali Jhaveri. “It is also that you are invited into the most honest rooms in& 8230;
Opinion: How STAT decided to keep ‘health care’ as two words
“‘Health care’ is such a big word for STAT. It’s a cornerstone of our coverage,” says STAT director of editorial operations Sarah Mupo.
STAT+: Advocacy groups petition FDA to withdraw approval of ‘unsafe’ use of antibiotics given to livestock
More than 60 organizations are urging the FDA to withdraw approval for what they called the “unsafe” use of antibiotics for preventing disease in food-producing livestock.
STAT+: A prominent VC explains why she’s against U.S. restrictions on investment in China’s drug industry
Should the federal government try to slow — or even block — U.S. biotech deals that could benefit China?
Trump administration will bring special ed to HHS
Infant mortality rate dips, OTC naloxone options rise, and other health news from Morning Rounds
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about hackers extorting Novo, an FDA about-face, and more
A cyber extortion group claimed to have stolen more than a terabyte of data from Novo Nordisk and said it is exploring selling some of the data
STAT+: FDA appears open to Moderna’s flu vaccine ahead of adcomm
UniQure will submit Huntington's therapy for approval, Eli Lilly buys 4E Therapeutics, and more biotech news
How real is the Cyclops in ‘The Odyssey’?
The iconic one-eyed monster coming to movie screens in July in The Odyssey might have more in common with tiny water critters than with humans.
Democrats Seek To Spotlight Rising Health Costs by Forcing Vote on Trump Regulation
Congressional Democrats are seeking to overturn a Trump administration rule they say will hamper Obamacare coverage. Whether they win or lose any floor vote, they’ll likely use it in campaign messaging ahead of the midterms.
More Americans Are Surviving Cancer. But the Mental Health Challenges Can Persist.
Amid advancements in treatment and screening, more Americans are surviving the disease. But many are left with psychological scars, such as lingering anxiety and depression.
Tennessee Pharmacies Sell Potent Ivermectin, Led by Anti-Vaccine Doctor Who’s Taken ‘Bucketloads’
Four years after the Volunteer State enacted the nation’s first law allowing drugstores to sell ivermectin without patient-specific prescriptions, dozens of pharmacies dispense the drug in highly concentrated pills — many with the help of one anti-vaccine physician.
RFK Jr. overrules experts to keep hantavirus cruise ship passenger in quarantine
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has refused to release a cruise ship passenger exposed to hantavirus from the Nebraska quarantine facility where she is being held
NASA seems to be backing away from hunting for life on Mars
Viking 1 kicked off the search for Martian life 50 years ago. Now NASA’s shifting priorities are putting the quest in limbo.
A blood test for dementia may tell you if you have more than one type
AI helped researchers develop an experimental blood test that might let doctors diagnose overlapping dementias.
Chinese money plant leaves hide a mathematical pattern
Tiny water-secreting pores appear to organize the major veins of the plant leaves into an arrangement known as a Voronoi diagram.
El Niño turns crumbling California pier into climate battleground over what to save — and who pays
Rep. Sam Liccardo wants to rebuild the Pacifica pier with help from the federal government. But does investing in this kind of infrastructure make sense?
STAT+: Verge Labs’ new AI model solves patient stratification problems for neurology clinical trials
As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Or as Verge Labs might put it, one company’s failed clinical trial … is that same company’s new AI& 8230;
How supplement use changed over decades
Medicare-funded weight loss, Utah's lower drunk driving limit, and more health news from Morning Rounds
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Medicare and obesity drugs, Germany’s pricing plans, and more
Weight loss drugs will be available through Medicare starting next month, thanks to a program that is supposed to be temporary but may be difficult to end
STAT+: ARCH-launched Neumora stops depression program
A new AI model to improve trial enrollment, importing drugs from Canada, and more biotech news from The Readout
The U.S. infant mortality rate fell to an all-time low, though it still trails other similar nations
Infant mortality in the U.S. dropped to a new all-time low in 2025, according to CDC data, though it still trails other similar nations.
STAT+: How a biotech turned a trial failure into an AI model
In this edition of STAT Health Tech: How a biotech startup turned a failed clinical trial into an AI model, and more.
Opinion: I’m an Alzheimer’s specialist. I still missed it in my own father
“Alzheimer’s is not primarily a disease of old age. It is a decades-long biological process,” writes Elizabeth Bevins.
Opinion: Congress must reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act
America’s next health emergency won’t wait for Washington, write W. Craig Vanderwagen and Jennifer B. Alton.
STAT+: Human Cell Atlas leader’s tie to 10x Genomics raises conflict-of-interest questions
As the Human Cell Atlas project marks its 10th anniversary, a leader's ties to a major single-cell RNA sequencing company raise conflict-of-interest questions.
Californian is infected with rare tick-borne illness. What to know about the deadly bacteria
The fourth person in the U.S., the third California resident, has been infected with the bacterium Rickettsia lanei.
The North Atlantic’s ‘cold blob’ may signal a major current’s decline
A cold blob of water in the North Atlantic points to a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, researchers report.
Early-Onset Cancers Are on the Rise. Knowing Your Family History Is Crucial.
In the U.S., more than a dozen kinds of cancer are on the rise among people under 50. The HealthQ team shares the latest guidance on being proactive with your family and doctor.
Backed by Threat of Clawbacks, Feds Wield Tight Grip on $50B Rural Health Fund
Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare & 38; Medicaid Services, framed the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program as “bold, creative plans” led by states. But as states have started to roll out their plans, federal officials control where and ...
Cuba quantifies impact of US oil blockade on children's health and daily life
Cuba says its healthcare system is struggling due to a U.S. energy blockade
Congo reports record one-day increase in Ebola cases
Congolese authorities report a significant daily increase in Ebola cases as the virus without a approved medicine or vaccine spreads rapidly
What COVID is teaching doctors about the relationship between viruses and cancer
The pandemic has left some evidence that viral infection may play a role in reawakening dormant cancer cells already present in a patient's body before infection.
STAT+: Where ‘democracy met science,’ 50 years ago
State Medicaid crackdowns strain home care, WHO leader on Ebola outbreak, and more health news
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Pfizer’s emergency penicillin program, a Sanofi diabetes drug, and more
Pfizer hasn't complied with a request to donate emergency penicillin to state health agencies as a backstop to prevent congenital syphilis
STAT+: Lilly’s Ajax acquisition may have been worth it
A syphilis drug shortage, Sanofi's diabetes drug approval, and more biotech news from The Readout
Covid vaccination cut risk of adverse heart events, large study finds
Covid vaccination was also tied to a nearly 24% reduction in all-cause cardiac events in a large study, surprising researchers.
STAT+: A key European clinical trial registry lacks complete and timely results, an analysis finds
A new analysis found that results for less than half of the clinical studies registered in a key European database were reported within the required time frame.
STAT+: Trump’s obesity drug plan creates a temporary Medicare program that may be hard to end
After July 1, Medicare will offer GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for $50. It's supposed to be temporary, but chances are it won't be.
STAT+: FDA approves Colorado’s plan to import cheaper drugs from Canada
The FDA said it will allow Colorado to import certain prescription drugs from Canada in an effort to bring prices down for residents.
Otherworldly music albums feature space weather data
A science-art team uses research data to make music featuring sounds of Antarctica and outer space
Why more male than female newborns may get the crucial vitamin K shot
Vitamin K lowers the risk of bleeding, including in a circumcision. That procedure may explain a disparity in which infants are more likely to get the shot.
Opinion: In many South Asian American families, a child’s autism diagnosis is a secret
“In South Asian households, a child's disability triggers a specific kind of family crisis,” writes child and adolescent psychiatrist Ritu Goel.
Opinion: I’m a pediatrician. I want to prescribe the right AI to my patients
AI for children requires “randomized controlled trials measuring real developmental outcomes, not engagement metrics,” writes Dua Hassan.
STAT+: One California politician’s unexpected crusade against ultra-processed food
Jesse Gabriel "has passed more food policy in three years than most legislators enact in their entire careers," says one supporter.
STAT+: Amid confusion over Pfizer’s emergency penicillin program, newborn is diagnosed with preventable syphilis
Congenital syphilis should be preventable. An Arizona case shows how drug shortages and procedural hurdles are fueling a growing public health crisis.
As states follow Trump’s Medicaid fraud playbook, people with disabilities struggle to find care
Medicaid cuts and fraud crackdown trickle down to states, threatening people with disabilities.
They’re Uninsured After Obamacare Became Too Costly. And They’re Far From Alone.
After congressional Republicans let expanded subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans expire at the end of last year, some families have decided the price is too great of a financial burden and canceled their coverage.
Long-Awaited Rule Aims To Boost ACA Choices While Embracing Higher Deductibles
The Trump administration finalized a rule that embraces new types of Obamacare coverage, including 30% higher out-of-pocket costs for some plans, and a more novel approach that allows insurers to offer coverage without set networks of doctors and hospitals.
Oliver Tree, musician and Santa Cruz native, dies in helicopter crash
The genre-defying singer-song writer and Santa Cruz native, was one of six killed when two helicopters collided Sunday morning in Brazil.
Infant formula recalled after California baby sickened with botulism
Nara Organics recalled its baby formula after a California child and two others were sickened by potentially fatal infant botulism, federal officials said.
Scientists find a whale graveyard in the Indian Ocean that's millions of years old
Scientists have documented a whale graveyard in the Indian Ocean with some carcasses dating back 5.3 million years, and it's supporting a thriving community of marine life.
New MLK hospital program brings amputations to zero for at-risk diabetic patients
A new program has boosted patients' health while avoiding painful, costly surgeries. In its four years, only one high-risk diabetes patient has needed an amputation.
The world wants more high-protein products, but there's not enough whey to go around
Global consumers want more protein in every bite, but the dairy industry is struggling to give it to them
WHO director-general is profoundly concerned after visit to Ebola outbreak area
The director-general of the World Health Organization is profoundly worried about the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, he told STAT in an interview.
How parents can talk to their kids about vaping as FDA authorizes some flavored e-cigarettes
Nearly 6% of U.S. middle and high school students vape
NorCal braces for dry, dangerous fire season as SoCal faces typical conditions
Fire officials are bracing for an active fire season in Northern California as high temperatures dry out forests. Southern California will likely see a typical season.
STAT+: Trump administration revisits policy to close Medicare drug price negotiation loophole
Trump administration revisits policy to plug Medicare drug price negotiation loophole.
Opinion: ‘I’m pretty much all in’: An interview with a woman starting medical residency at almost 73
"There are some physicians that work to 100”: Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft on becoming a medical doctor in her 70s.
Journalists Highlight Medical Neglect in ICE Detention, RFK Jr. Antidepressant Comments
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
No, mastic gum won’t reshape your jaw
Chewing gum made from mastic resin is a Greek staple that has some benefits for the mouth and gut. But it won’t change your face shape.
Here’s what would happen if you tried to break a photon in half
A mathematical model shows that attempting to sever a fundamental particle of light could conjure new ones out of thin air.
Crossword: Power play
Solve the crossword from our July 2026 issue, in which we raise our solving skills to the next level.
A new method could spot fentanyl variants no one has cataloged yet
Researchers used machine learning to help predict chemical signatures for over 1 billion possible fentanyls, including variants never seen before.
A popular sunscreen ingredient can finally be sold in the United States
The FDA will allow bemotrizinol in sunscreen. The chemical is long-lasting and defends against solar radiation that ages skin.
Chile offers new data on food warning label efficacy
Kennedy's "publicly" "available" "calendar," drinking during pregnancy, and more health news from Morning Rounds
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a discontinued cancer drug, a Novo security breach, and more
The nonprofit Blood Cancer United is buying the remaining supplies of a discontinued investigational cancer drug, Luvelta
STAT+: Prometheus raises $12 billion in capital for artificial engineers
Nonprofit Blood Cancer United acquires cancer drug, Lilly and Nvidia invest in Abridge, and more biotech news
STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings
From new hires to departures, promotions and transfers, here are the latest comings and goings in the pharmaceutical industry.
California Health Worker Union, Hospital Association Tout Dueling Ballot Initiatives
Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.
How a diabetes conference sparked a controversy
Many in the diabetes research community expressed shock and disbelief that their colleagues were threatened with arrest for passing out paper copies of an editorial.
Opinion: I’ve spent 40 years in research. I have never seen a threat to science like the new grantmaking rule
“American science is too valuable to be turned into a political football,” writes David J. Skorton, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Opinion: Ebola outbreak response requires engaging with religious traditions and leaders
“Failing to engage religious and traditional leaders in meaningful ways was a grave misstep in previous Ebola outbreaks,” researchers write.
STAT+: At hospital finance conference, a call to end the friction that’s keeping costs high
Hospital execs agree that affordability is a major issue. What to do about it is less clear.
Warning of cuts to medical services, L.A. County health officials ask state for emergency funds
Measure ER isn't enough, according to the head of L.A. County's Department of Health Services, which has joined other California health systems in lobbying for emergency funds.
Final Rules for Medicaid Work Requirements Are Out. Here’s What You Need To Know.
The Trump administration has laid out what millions of Americans on Medicaid must do to prove they’re working or completing other activities. Health policy researchers and consumer advocates say there are some important takeaways.
Songs prep the brains of finches yet to hatch for a hot world
Adult finches make "heat calls" as the temperature rises. Exposure to the song prepares their unhatched young's brains for the heat.
1 in 4 Covered California Enrollees Could Get State Aid Under Newsom Proposal
California is considering expanding financial help for low-income residents struggling to pay high health insurance premiums after losing federal subsidies. But relief for state marketplace customers will be limited. Here’s who may get help and what it could mean for premiums.
FDA's e-cigarette authorization: Fruity vapes not significantly better than tobacco ones
A new memo from U.S. health regulators is raising questions about a recent decision to authorize the first fruit-flavored e-cigarettes for adult smokers
US pays $750K to evacuate American aboard hantavirus cruise ship from remote island
The Trump administration has put up $750,000 to charter a private yacht to evacuate a single American citizen from a remote South Pacific island after she had been aboard a cruise ship at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak
STAT+: ‘Synthetic lethality’ could trigger another round of biotech M&A
Proving out a "synthetic lethality" approach can help treat cancer will take a lot more work. It also might trigger some creative deal-making.
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about employer coverage of obesity drugs, another Sanofi setback, and more
More employers are planning to drop coverage of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss next year as increasing numbers of people take the medications
STAT+: Novartis doubles down on molecular glue strategy
Seniors' drug costs rise sharply, Enliven's leukemia drugs, and more biotech news from The Readout
STAT+: A suspicious denial pattern in Medicare Advantage
Major Medicare Advantage plans almost always reversed their denials on appeal, raising big questions about barriers to care.
STAT+: Abridge inks deals with Nvidia and Lilly
Abridge announced new deals with Eli Lilly and Nvidia as it aims to gain an edge in a competitive market.
Study highlights influence of socioeconomic status on children’s brain development
A new study found that the leading environmental factor influencing brain structure and function is the socioeconomic status of a child's family.
Nonprofit buys experimental cancer drug to maintain patient access
In a rare move, nonprofit organization Blood Cancer United is buying the remaining supplies of a discontinued investigational cancer drug.
STAT+: AMA and lawmakers push back on AI care denials
In this edition of STAT Health Tech: HHS watchdog on denials by health insurers, lawmakers target AI denials, and Talkspace's new chatbot offering.
Drinking during pregnancy rose after 2020, new CDC data suggest
A new CDC report underscores that drinking during pregnancy, while generally thought of as a thing of the past, is still a matter of concern.
RFK Jr. claims his calendar is publicly available. We’ve been trying to get it for a year
None of STAT's requests for Kennedy's schedule have been completed, and some haven't even been acknowledged.
An obesity drug deep-dive, and peptides move mainstream
Can any of the new obesity medications in development stand out from the pack? Which company just broke records with its IPO? And will the Food and Drug Administration allow& 8230;
STAT+: Updated: Tracking RFK Jr.’s promises to remake health in America
STAT is tracking goals and promises of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again movement — successes, incompletes, and fails.
Neuroscientists left the lab to study memory loss. The results were surprising
Using smartphone-based tools, researchers find that older adults’ recollections of past events may remain more intact than previously thought.
Clocks made from an atomic nucleus just ticked on for the first time
First dreamed up decades ago, the world's first nuclear clocks are set to improve quickly, becoming more precise and aiding the hunt for dark matter.
Measles has no treatments. Changing that may not be easy
Vaccination remains the priority, but some researchers are looking for drugs to fight the virus in people who don't get the shot.
Judge considers arguments in challenge to New Mexico's universal childcare program
It is up to a New Mexico judge to settle a challenge over the legality of New Mexico's fledgling universal childcare program, an ambitious and closely watched effort to eliminate daycare costs for all working families
STAT+: Private Medicare plans erect barriers to rehab care in pursuit of profit, federal investigators find
Federal investigation finds Medicare Advantage insurers block rehab care for older adults, only to reverse denials on appeal.
Opinion: We published in Nature Medicine in 2025 for free. In 2026, it cost us $12,850
In 2025, Elizabeth Selvin and her colleagues published in Nature Medicine for free. In 2026, it cost them $12,850, she writes.
Opinion: How long Covid’s scientific stalemate made it politically erasable
Long Covid hasn’t disappeared. It’s just gone underground, writes Steven Phillips.
UC Davis favored less qualified Black, Latino med school applicants, Justice Department claims
The U.S. Justice Department said an investigation by its Civil Rights Division found racial bias in admissions at UC Davis' School of Medicine.
STAT+: Scientists see promise in NIH proposal to cap number of grants they receive
Without easy access to leaders within a field or top-of-the-line lab equipment, principal investigators outside top universities often struggle to compete for grants from the NIH.
Trump Bought Tobacco Stocks and Raked In Industry Donations as FDA Eased Standards
The Trump administration has pursued an extensive pro-tobacco agenda as the president and his political movement have been buoyed by a flood of tobacco industry money, federal records show.
Engineered hookworms could one day dispense drugs from inside your gut
In a first, researchers genetically modified hookworms. It’s a step toward turning the parasites into living pharmacies.
Sleep and exercise may dampen genetic drivers of heart disease
Over time, immune cells acquire mutations that promote atherosclerosis. Lifestyle changes may offset these DNA glitches, new mouse data suggest.
Earth’s stratosphere is a mysterious superhighway for microbes
Well-known microbes that grow on our crops, our gardens, even our skin have been found thriving at two to three times the flying height of a commercial jetliner.
A new guideline links care for heart, kidney and metabolic diseases
A guideline treats heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity as connected conditions under one umbrella: CKM syndrome.
DOJ reaches second settlement on youth gender care
A new era of American sunscreen, NIAID taps new acting director, and more health news from Morning Rounds
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about U.S. pressure on European drug prices, longer shortages, and more
A new analysis found the average drug shortage in 2025 had lasted 5.3 years, exceeding the 4.3 years seen in 2024
STAT+: Hope for Kendall Square’s lab market
Drug pricing in Europe, AI deals for VC firms, and more biotech news from The Readout
OB-GYN association, deviating from CDC guidance, issues its own vaccine recommendations
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has released a recommended vaccine schedule during pregnancy, one that diverges from CDC guidance.
STAT+: Your sepsis algorithm shouldn’t require a time machine
In this edition of AI Prognosis: Quirky medical data tripping up sepsis algorithms, AI scribes for patients, and some AI biotech news.
Diabetes association leader apologizes for expulsion of members, pledges to rebuild trust
Five days after five members of the American Diabetes Association were ushered out of its annual scientific sessions in New Orleans for handing out an editorial criticizing federal research cuts,& 8230;
FDA’s Greenlight of Old Chemical Offers Chance To Restore Faith in Sunscreen
The FDA has approved the sunscreen chemical bemotrizinol, a UV light filter that has been available in Europe, Asia, and Australia for more than 20 years. Health advocates and skin care industry groups alike are hopeful it can restore faith in sunscreen.
Are Republicans turning against medications for treating opioid addiction?
Federal actions and proposals have reignited debate over methadone and buprenorphine, worrying addiction experts and patient groups.
STAT+: As the U.S. looks on, European countries feel growing pressure on drug prices
In Europe, two divergent paths are emerging as countries grapple with what to do about drug prices, affecting both pharma and patients — and testing the influence of the U.S.
Opinion: Even in abortion-protecting states, teens face unnecessary barriers to care
“Legal protection for abortion does not mean equitable access for minors,” a pediatrics resident writes.
Opinion: ‘They all think I’m insane’: What it’s like to start medical residency at 72
“I know what I’m getting into”: Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft on starting medical residency at almost 73.
Why new dads shouldn't panic about low testosterone
While a plummeting hormone level can trigger depression and irritability, experts say a modest decline can make men more invested, less stressed co-parents.
New sunscreen option wins FDA approval after years of delay
A sunscreen ingredient that's been available in Europe, Japan and South Korea for years has finally been approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S.
Anguished Parents. Doctors in Tears. Utah’s Long Measles Outbreak Takes a Toll.
Measles has been spreading in Utah for nearly a year, straining hospitals, schools, and parents. The state’s outbreak provides a glimpse into a new era in America’s health, in which vaccine-preventable diseases become common again.
Looming Medicaid Cuts Supercharge California’s Latest Labor-Industry Fight
One of California’s largest healthcare unions is sponsoring two initiatives that would regulate community clinics and cap executive and managerial pay at hospitals and physician groups. In the most recent eruption of a long-standing feud, the measures have drawn fierce opposition from ...
Playing hip-hop or Doris Day, older exercise instructors can speak their peers' language
The students in Bengie Santos' exercise class at the Greater Seattle Y say there's something special about their 72-year-old instructor
STAT+: What’s changed since the last major Ebola outbreak
A suppressed federal alcohol report, an "inevitable development" for wearables data, and more health news from Morning Rounds
STAT+: NIH staffers published a letter of dissent a year ago. They feel it’s been ignored
In a report published on the first anniversary of the Bethesda Declaration, 71 staffers write that they feel NIH leadership “largely ignored" their concerns.
Dexcom RCT suggests CGM benefits for broad diabetes population
In this edition of STAT Health Tech: Dexcom's CGM trial, udpates from Apple's annual developers' conference, and wearables.
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a $10.6 billion GSK deal, an AstraZeneca obesity pill, and more
GSK agreed to buy Nuvalent, a cancer drug developer, in a deal worth $10.6 billion, as the company continues its expansion in oncology
STAT+: NIAID appoints new acting director after weekslong questions over leadership
The NIH has appointed researcher John Powers III to lead its infectious disease institute on an acting basis, after weeks of being in leadership limbo.
Gilead and Merck’s latest trial success and flop
AstraZeneca's GLP-1 pill, GSK's $10.6B cancer startup acquisition, and more biotech news from The Readout
Trump administration warns more than 500 hospitals to provide more price information or face fines
The Trump administration has warned more than 500 hospitals that they are failing to provide the public with basic pricing information.
FDA OKs first new sunscreen ingredient in more than 25 years
Federal health regulators on Tuesday signed off on the first new sunscreen ingredient for the U.S. market in more than 25 years.
Diabetes Association in uproar after members expelled from annual meeting over protest of NIH cuts
The condemnations keep coming after five diabetes experts were escorted out of an ADA meeting for handing out copies of an editorial criticizing federal research cuts.
STAT+: Trump’s health care affordability czar takes aim at hospitals
Plus a buried alcohol study gets published, and a Biosecure update.
STAT+: The shortage of many medicines in the U.S. remains a ‘systemic’ problem, a new analysis finds
The number of prescription drug shortages in the U.S. fell by 23% last year, but a new analysis found other troubling signs about medicines in short supply.
These birds clack their wing bones together to woo mates at night
During courtship, male scissor-tailed nightjars crack their wings together to make a sharp snapping sound. It's the result of colliding arm bones.
Frozen squirrel poop hints at sights and smells of Ice Age ecosystems
DNA preserved in ancient scat reveals what Yukon ground squirrels ate and what animals shared their world.
Survivors share experiences and lessons from Congo’s 2018 Ebola outbreak
Survivors including health and aid workers recall their experiences and lessons during the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo
Congo's Ebola outbreak rises to 100 deaths out of 550 cases after a month
At least 100 people have died from Ebola less than a month after authorities declared an outbreak of the disease in eastern Congo
Santa Monica Mountains' last steelhead trout survived the Palisades fire — and even had babies
Scientists feared the Santa Monica Mountains' last endangered steelhead trout were wiped out by the Palisades fire. Then, they found them alive in Topanga Creek.
Alcohol study discarded by Trump officials is published in scientific journal
A government-commissioned study had been meant to inform new dietary guidelines, and found risks associated with even light drinking.
STAT+: GSK to buy Nuvalent, maker of targeted cancer drugs, for $10.6B
GSK is buying Nuvalent, the maker of targeted cancer drugs, for $10.6 billion, a sizable addition to the latest run of biopharma acquisitions.
Opinion: Ending animal testing could set back xenotransplantation just as the field is poised for a breakthrough
“Innovations like xenotransplantation would never have reached clinical trials without animal experimentation,” writes transplant surgeon Joshua Mezrich.
STAT+: Wearables, and the flood of data they generate, inch closer to entering the clinic
Wearables generate a lot of health data, but it exists outside the clinic for the most part. New moves from Oura and Whoop may change that.
Opinion: Why STAT is sticking with ‘health care’ as two words
Is it “health care” or “healthcare”? STAT readers had strong feelings.
STAT+: Trump’s health care affordability czar touts Medicaid cuts to hospital leaders
Hospital execs say they're working to mitigate the impacts of the looming cuts.
A leader of the 2014 U.S. Ebola response compares then to now
As the world deals with an outbreak of Ebola that has no known cure, Susan Reichle, who last year co-founded Aid Transition Alliance to support former USAID professionals, discusses the& 8230;
Could Your Kid Benefit From Counseling? Experts Offer 3 Questions To Help You Decide
Anxious kids can benefit from counseling, but therapy demands a commitment of money and time. Therapists recommend using three criteria to help determine when challenging behavior rises to the level of needing professional help.
Trivia Nights, Valentine’s Cards: Overlooked Social Connections Can Prevent Suicide
The research is clear: Among the various complex issues that contribute to suicide, loneliness is a big one. Now, there’s a growing push to address loneliness not just through personal choices but also through public policy.
STAT+: AstraZeneca’s GLP-1 pill shows promise in obesity, diabetes trials
AstraZeneca’s GLP-1 pill showed promise in mid-stage obesity and diabetes studies, but it may still be too early to determine how it stacks up against other oral treatments.
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak labor with little pay or rest
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak are laboring with little pay or rest.
AI cracked an Erdős math problem. Now experts want guardrails
The result is correct but challenges core norms of mathematics: checking proofs, crediting ideas and keeping research open to everyone.
A drug may help people on GLP-1 meds preserve muscle
In a clinical trial, an experimental antibody reduced lean-mass loss in people on a GLP-1 drug. Whether that improves health is unclear.
Some pterosaurs may have boasted bold iridescence
A new analysis of a 120-million-year-old fossil suggests at least one pterosaur species shimmered in iridescent greens and magentas.
How to stay safe while traveling during extreme heat
Make sure to take precautions when traveling during extreme summer heat
STAT+: Combination of pancreatic cancer drugs from Tango, Revolution leads to high response rate
A combination of pancreatic cancer drugs from Tango Therapeutics and Revolution Medicines led to a strong response rate in an early-stage trial.
Major readouts from the annual diabetes conference
Why "Schedule F" matters, the Ebola outbreak response, and more health news from Morning Rounds
STAT+: J&J spends $1 billion to enter KRAS race for cancer treatments
Johnson & 038; Johnson said it will purchase the startup Firefly Bio for $1 billion in an effort to expand its work in the suddenly buzzy field of KRAS inhibitors.
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Lilly and Pfizer obesity drug data, Roche and J&J deals, and more
Lilly disclosed new data that provide more details on the safety and tolerability of its next-generation obesity drug retatrutide
STAT+: Novo underwhelmed by drug it once fought Pfizer for
Revolution and Tango yield promising cancer results, Incyte buys bleeding disorder drug, and more biotech news
STAT+: UnitedHealthcare’s lactation billing feud, and fake strokes
The biggest U.S. health insurer is changing how it pays for lactation counseling, and it could cut payment for many providers.
When it’s time to save a limb, novel clinic meets unhoused people where they are
Unmet vascular needs can lead to limb loss among unhoused patients. An unusual Massachusetts General Hospital program meets patients where they are.
Opinion: American horses are obese, too
“American horses are getting sick in ways that look remarkably familiar,” writes Joshua Moen.
Opinion: $2 million gene therapy cures require a financing model
“We do not lack cures. We lack the infrastructure to pay for and deliver them,” writes William Padula.
As Ukraine fights off Russia's invasion, some regions see a rise in premature births
A rising number of babies are being born prematurely in Ukraine, particularly in regions near the front lines
By September, Nearly a Third of Americans Will Live in States With Legal Aid in Dying
Despite widespread support in polls for legalizing aid in dying, the number of people who go through with the practice remains very small.
MAHA’s Treatments for Autism: Camel’s Milk, Stem Cell Injections — And Spelling Therapy
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new autism panel is championing a controversial communication method popular among parents of severely autistic people. Critics warn of abuse — and fake “telepathy.”
Psychiatrist Robert Coles, Pulitzer Prize-winning author who championed needs of children, dies
Harvard University psychiatrist and author Robert Coles has died
STAT+: Competition for obesity drugs, clinical blind spots, and more news from ADA
You're reading the web edition of STAT's ADA in 30 Seconds, from the American Diabetes Association's annual conference.
STAT+: New data may cast doubt on competitiveness of Boehringer’s obesity drug
Boehringer Ingelheim’s obesity drug showed promise in cutting liver fat, but it was less impressive at overall weight loss, new data shows.
STAT+: Triple hormone receptors, a monthly obesity drug, and a bittersweet ending
You're reading the web edition of STAT's ADA in 30 Seconds, from the American Diabetes Association's annual conference in New Orleans.
Veteran runs to fight "life-changing disease" after minor symptoms
Dr. Sara Whittingham thought she would know if something was wrong. But her minor symptoms had a surprising cause.
STAT+: Detailed data show Pfizer’s monthly obesity drug continues to show potential
Detailed data from a midstage study offered further evidence that the obesity drug Pfizer acquired from the biotech Metsera could be dosed monthly.
STAT+: Lilly shares safety, tolerability data on its next-gen obesity drug
Eli Lilly presented new safety and tolerability data on retatrutide at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association on Saturday.
Opinion: How the Amish think about vaccines, health care costs, and much more
There may be nearly 2 million Amish Americans by 2075. That has large public health implications.
Opinion: I led the U.S. CDC response to the 2014 Ebola epidemic. The new outbreak needs massive, immediate, meticulous action
“Ebola is an unforgiving enemy,” writes Tom Frieden, who led the U.S. CDC response to the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak.
L.A. region begins the year with the smoggiest first 5 months in a decade
So far this year, the South Coast air basin, which includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, has seen 39 days when the concentration of lung-irritating ozone exceeded the federal standard, according to preliminary state air quality data.
A flesh-eating worm from the 1960s is re-invading the U.S. Are CA cattle at risk?
Officials recently detected the flesh-eating New World Screwworm in a calf born in Texas. The once-eradicated parasite could tax a beef industry already experiencing increased prices. Will the discovery impact California farms?
Farewell, my Smilodon: La Brea Tar Pits to close for two years
A massive renovation will highlight new science in an L.A. institution
Gounder Fills In Details Behind Ebola, GLP-1, and Trump Headlines
KFF Health News' editor-at-large for public health discussed Ebola, GLP-1 drugs, ultraprocessed food, and more in TV appearances this week.
Pacifica pier cracks, another coastal casualty as seas continue to rise
The Pacifica Municpal Pier was abruptly closed Thursday after city workers found cracks and missing concrete. It's one more coastal landmark that has begun to crumble as the ocean slowly rises around it.
Sri Lanka nursing home worker says a ‘chained’ patient was among 13 fire victims
A resident killed in a fire at an unregistered nursing home in western Sri Lanka had been chained and another was untied and saved, a worker said
Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could reach 20K cases without strong health measures
The Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could grow to 20,000 cases or more, depending on how quickly infected people are isolated to slow the spread
Argentina expands hantavirus probe, sending teams to trap and test rats in Mendoza
Argentina is expanding its investigation into a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Roche accusing U.S. of ‘blackmail,’ a ruling on skinny labels, and more
Drugmakers and patient groups asked the FDA to pause former commissioner Marty Markary's National Priority Voucher drug review program
Texas AG investigating energy drinks
The limitations of private health insurance, the quiet collapse of America's research ethics watchdog and other Morning Rounds news
STAT+: Up and down the ladder: The latest comings and goings
From new hires to departures, promotions and transfers, here are the latest comings and goings in the pharmaceutical industry.
STAT+: Will Makary’s FDA voucher program survive?
RevMed's cancer drug feels out of reach for some, SCOTUS preserves key generic drug pathway, and more biotech news
Opinion: If Americans risk their lives fighting Ebola overseas, they deserve the right to come home
Outbreak response is difficult enough without asking responders to wonder whether they will have access to the best available care if they become ill.
Senior NIH official pushes MAHA strategy to skeptical ADA audience
An NIH advisor told researchers gathered at the American Diabetes Association conference that MAHA goals match the agency's priorities.
STAT+: What stripping civil service protections for thousands of federal workers will mean for HHS
Thousands of HHS staff who shape policy have had their employment status changed to a designation that makes it easier for them to be fired.
STAT+: Newer GLP-1s, pushback on research cuts, and a protest
You're reading the web edition of STAT's ADA in 30 Seconds, from the American Diabetes Association's annual conference in New Orleans.
CDC: Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could reach 20,000 cases without strong countermeasures
The Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could grow to 20,000 cases or more, depending on how quickly infected people are isolated to slow the spread, according to a new U.S. analysis.
This tiny, blue octopus is new to science
The deep-sea octopus is fully mature despite fitting in a palm, a trait researchers think may help it reproduce faster than larger relatives.
Honeybees and shrimp are now getting vaccinated
A shrimp vaccine for commercial use could protect the environment and prove vaccines aren’t just for vertebrates.
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