Pharmalot Newsletter

1 day ago | statnews.com | Jonathan Wosen |Daniel Payne

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s 2026 budget proposes slashing the National Institutes of Health’s central function, supporting research by awarding grants to universities, academic medical centers, and other institutions, by 43% compared to 2025 levels. New documents released by the agency show an $11.6 billion cut in this funding, to $15.1 billion, which would both reduce the number of new grants awarded as well as existing grants for ongoing research.

2 days ago | statnews.com | Adam Feuerstein |Elaine Chen |Allison DeAngelis

On this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD”: The Food and Drug Administration’s AI adventure, a deep look inside Novo Nordisk’s obesity stumble, and finally, another big M&A deal in biotech. The FDA has rolled out an internal AI tool called Elsa that, unlike its namesake Disney character, can’t seem to let go of mistakes. Our colleague Brittany Trang joins to explain. And it’s always a fun podcast when we can discuss a biotech acquisition.

2 days ago | statnews.com | Daniel Payne

WASHINGTON — With millions of people at risk of losing health insurance under President Trump’s tax bill, lawmakers have begun lobbying the lobbyists: asking health care interests to keep quiet — or speak up — about potential cuts to Medicaid. Democrats and Republicans on key Congressional committees and in leadership perches have been holding regular meetings in recent weeks with groups representing doctors, five people involved in or with knowledge of the talks told STAT.

3 days ago | statnews.com | Ed Silverman

Good morning, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you, despite rising temperatures and hazy skies looming over the Pharmalot campus. After all, the birds are still chirping and a cool breeze is wafting by. Moreover, our official mascots are snoozing somewhere on the premises. We can hear the heavy breathing. As for us, we are brewing more cups of stimulation — butter pecan is the choice today, for those keeping track — and we invite you to join us.

3 days ago | statnews.com | Helen Branswell

Delivering Covid vaccinations has never been an easy job. But health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s rewriting of government recommendations will make the effort to get vaccine doses into arms exponentially more difficult, experts say. The changes will complicate discussions between pediatricians and parents, obstetricians and pregnant patients, and both groups and their insurers, these experts say.