Stay informed on health and medicine with STAT’s free newsletter, Morning Rounds, delivered every weekday. Sign up here.
Tomorrow marks my birthday.
Do you have a favorite unconventional version of a birthday song? I recently heard this rendition by Black Country, New Road and loved it.
Trump moves on weed, psychedelics signal new era in GOP drug policy
Recently, President Trump has drastically altered U.S. drug policy, expanding access to certain psychedelics and advocating a reclassification of medical marijuana. This significant shift, long desired by proponents, does not legalize these substances but changes their regulatory framework. Medical marijuana will move from Schedule I, which is for drugs deemed to have no medical use and high abuse potential, to the less restrictive Schedule III. This change will also facilitate cannabis research. Regarding psychedelics, the new policy will enhance research opportunities, given their potential in treating various mental health issues.
Is this the most drug-friendly administration? Did it all start with a message from podcaster Joe Rogan? Read more from STAT’s Lev Facher and Isabella Cueto.
CMS, FDA fast-tracking reimbursement for medical devices
In addition to drug policy, a major update was announced yesterday by federal regulators: a new Medicare coverage pathway for devices considered breakthroughs by the Food and Drug Administration. This move aims to address long-standing industry concerns over delays in Medicare payments for innovative technologies.
The proposed pathway seeks to align the FDA’s premarket review process, which assesses product safety and effectiveness, with Medicare’s independent review process, which determines the reasonableness and necessity of paying for devices. If approved, this new pathway would expedite permanent coverage for device developers, while also addressing concerns about Medicare covering unproven technology.
However, not everyone is satisfied with the announcement. Read more from STAT’s Mario Aguilar and Katie Palmer, who explore the new pathway and why some experts doubt it will solve the issues in the medical device pipeline.
I keep beating — keep, keep beating
Why is cancer seldom found in the heart? Peep the beats.
A preliminary study in mice suggests that the heart’s relentless activity, beating thousands of times daily and circulating gallons of blood, may create a hostile environment for cancer. To test this theory, researchers transplanted a second heart into mice. Yes, you read that right: two hearts, one mouse. The transplanted heart, under less mechanical stress, pumped less blood. Cancer cells were injected into both hearts, and the study found that cancer spread rapidly in the transplanted heart but rarely in the original heart.
STAT’s Anil Oza provides a comprehensive write-up of this study, which could pave the way for new cancer treatment approaches.
Molly, mushrooms, ibogaine — oh my!
Before watching this video, I didn’t know how to pronounce ‘ibogaine,’ the psychedelic that has Joe Rogan excited. Would you like to learn how to pronounce terms popular with podcasters? Or, more crucially, discover what Rogan is texting Trump about? The latest STATus Report covers it all. Alex Hogan and Daniel Payne delve deeper into Trump’s recent psychedelic policy actions and their implications for mental health treatments.
Regeneron signs drug pricing deal, secures gene therapy approval
Regeneron had a significant Thursday.
The pharmaceutical company finalized a private drug pricing agreement with the Trump administration to lower Medicaid drug prices, marking the last of 17 such deals the White House sought last year. Additionally, Regeneron committed to investing $27 billion in U.S. drug development. Health officials anticipate more drug pricing agreements soon, with a focus on smaller pharmaceutical firms.
Regeneron also announced FDA approval for Otarmeni, the first gene therapy approved under the agency’s new National Priority Voucher program. Initial trials showed the drug provided modest hearing improvements for individuals with a rare hearing loss type, though its development has faced criticism from some in the Deaf community. Regeneron plans to offer the drug free of charge to American patients.
Read more from STAT’s Daniel Payne and myself.
International childhood vaccine campaign grows
An extensive campaign to address the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on immunization efforts in developing countries has resulted in over 100 million vaccinations across 36 countries.
According to data released Thursday, the Big Catch-Up campaign has vaccinated at least 18.3 million children under five and is on track to reach its aim of 21 million children once final figures are in. Importantly, 12.3 million of these are “zero dose children”—those who previously received no vaccinations. Launched in 2023, the program was executed by the WHO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF.
Kate O’Brien, WHO’s director of immunization, vaccination, and biologics, noted a positive outcome of the campaign is that countries are now monitoring vaccination coverage in children up to age five. Previously, monitoring often ceased after age two, a practice that left many children unvaccinated if missed early on. — Helen Branswell
What we’re reading
- The ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement is losing enthusiasm for Trump and Republicans, New York Times
- Weekly ER visits for tick bites are higher than usual, CDC
- “A punch in the gut”: Many opioid victims will be excluded from Purdue settlement after years of waiting, ProPublica
- Food stamp work rules don’t boost employment, researchers say, KFF Health News
What’s the word? Test your knowledge with today’s STAT Mini crossword.
