Dear Reader,
From STAT’s first investigations in June 2021 revealing why the FDA gave the go-ahead for a touch efficient Alzheimer’s drug manufactured by Biogen, we now have relentlessly stayed on the story. We’ve reported on the disastrous monetary and management penalties for a one-time biopharma behemoth, in addition to the dashed hopes of hundreds of thousands of individuals with dementia who had heard of a brand new drug known as Aduhelm.
As we speak, an excellent darker image emerges with the discharge of an 18-month investigation by two committees of the U.S. Home of Representatives. STAT journalists who’ve lined drug growth and Alzheimer’s illness for many years — whose findings partially spurred the Home investigations — are again immediately with three tales primarily based on new revelations about some of the contentious drug approvals in many years.
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- First is the story of Biogen and its rollout of the drug, Aduhelm. Our reporters piece collectively from the Home paperwork how a drug firm selected to maximise its potential earnings on the expense of sufferers and taxpayers.
- Then there may be the FDA story. We present by means of the paperwork how the company’s overview and approval of Aduhelm was, in response to Home investigators, “rife with irregularities,” together with dozens of undisclosed calls and emails with Biogen.
- And the “takeaways” story distills the congressional investigation — primarily based on 500,000 paperwork — with eight key takeaways.
From the start, our most ground-breaking protection of Aduhelm has been out there solely to STAT+ subscribers. I hope you’ll take into account shopping for a subscription so you may have entry to such essential journalism and help our tough-minded examinations of the enterprise of creating medicines, well being tech, science, public well being, politics and coverage, and persistent illnesses — tales like one revealed immediately on what occurred to Eric Lander, President Biden’s science adviser, who left that job amid accusations of office bullying.
We’re providing a particular end-of-year price to readers of this letter; get your first three months of STAT+ for simply $30. We additionally supply tutorial and nonprofit charges, in addition to group subscriptions and licenses. You may get extra info right here.
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STAT’s protection of the Aduhelm debacle was acknowledged this 12 months with many honors, together with the George Polk award and the highest award from NIHCM, the Nationwide Institute for Well being Care Administration Basis.
Listed here are a number of the tales main as much as the discharge of immediately’s Home investigations:
Thanks for studying STAT, and please attain out to me with any suggestions.
I hope you have got a contented and wholesome new 12 months.