At the Supreme Court this week: conversion therapy

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Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded to Trio for Immune System Breakthroughs

On Monday, three scientists were recognized with the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for their groundbreaking work in understanding how the immune system maintains balance — effectively fighting harmful invaders while sparing our own body tissues.

The prize went to Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their contributions to the concept of peripheral immune tolerance, a discovery highlighted by the Nobel committee for its implications on understanding autoimmune diseases and paving the way for potential therapies for both those conditions and certain cancers.

Brunkow has the distinction of being the 14th woman awarded this honor. Learn more here.

Supreme Court to Hear Case on Conversion Therapy This Week

Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Chiles v. Salazar, a case that challenges a Colorado law prohibiting licensed mental health practitioners from attempting to alter a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity — commonly referred to as conversion therapy. This marks the first occasion the Supreme Court has taken on such prohibitions, and the ruling could significantly affect the regulation of medical practices as well as the balance of civil rights for LGBTQ+ individuals versus religious freedoms.

Nearly half of U.S. states have enacted bans against licensed counselors conducting conversion therapy on minors. This controversial practice, which may involve psychological or behavioral counseling, aversion techniques, and religious practices, has primarily targeted LGBTQ+ youth, with many trans and nonbinary individuals also reporting similar experiences. I’ve explored the main arguments from both sides, the key issues likely to arise in the Court’s deliberations, and the potential impact of the ruling on health care. Read more.

Is This Tuberculosis Research Really Risky?

Sarah Stanley’s lab had maintained a safe operation for over a decade until she received a letter from the NIH this summer that mandated an end to her research. Her team was studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis, which was characterized as too “dangerous” due to its involvement in “gain of function” studies, a term that Stanley argues has been both politicized and misinterpreted.

“I don’t see my work as dangerous,” Stanley asserts in a new First Opinion essay. “But halting research that could lead to breakthroughs in treatment could be.” Medical progress and public health initiatives have nearly eradicated TB in the U.S. and Western Europe. However, globally, it remains the most lethal infectious disease, becoming increasingly difficult to treat amidst growing drug resistance. Discover more about gain of function research, the common practices in TB studies, and the risks involved if research like this continues to be restricted.

How Telehealth Became Entwined with Drug-Centric Approaches

Those in New York around 2018 may recall the cacti advertising campaign that cropped up in subway stations, promoting telehealth company Hims and its erectile dysfunction treatment. Since that time, telehealth has increasingly integrated into the U.S. health care landscape, serving as a lucrative marketing platform.

Prior to Hims, companies like Teledoc had been operating for over a decade but struggled to find profitability in virtual care. STAT’s Katie Palmer details in part 1 of her special report, The Virtual Rx Boom, how the upheaval brought on by GLP-1 weight loss medications has provided validation for drug-centered telehealth models across various health issues.

I highly recommend reading Katie’s in-depth piece on the transition of telehealth from a patient access tool to a channel for pharmaceutical sales. She covers the diverse business models being employed by these companies as they vie for the opportunity to prescribe medications, along with the criticisms that surface from each side in this competitive environment. Read more.

Approaching Major Overhaul of Pharmaceutical Policy in Europe

European officials are closing in on a landmark overhaul of pharmaceutical policy, with sweeping implications for the timeline of new medicine rollouts across the continent and the willingness of drug manufacturers to invest in the EU. In the backdrop is the ongoing U.S. push for Europe to increase its pharmaceutical spending.

EU negotiators are currently working to reconcile three differing proposals put forth by various groups, with anticipation that a compromise could emerge before year-end. In his latest report, STAT’s Andrew Joseph outlines the goals of this legislation, the key differences among the proposals, and how demands from Trump urging Europe to bear a heavier financial burden for drugs might be influencing these discussions. Find out more here.

What We’re Reading

• ‘Crunchy moms’ have been avoiding Tylenol for years, Wall Street Journal

• What’s the fate of school lunches in the MAHA era? New Yorker

• Colorado board makes a groundbreaking move by enforcing a payment cap on an Amgen medication, STAT
• States are reducing Medicaid provider payments well ahead of expected cuts from Trump’s administration, NPR