Life

Health, science, climate, and society-focused reporting.

Briefing: Beyond detection: In the age of clinical AI, what counts as an FDA ‘breakthrough’ medical device?

Strategic angle: An analysis of AI-powered devices that received FDA's 'breakthrough' label shows a preference for big-picture, multi-problem solutions.

editorial-staff Apr 2

Life

Briefing: Opinion: Medical misinformation wins when patients can’t see their doctors

Strategic angle: Desperate patients, unable to get timely doctors’ appointments, seek help wherever they can find it.

editorial-staff Apr 2

Life

Briefing: Opinion: STAT+: Cardiology’s finally prioritizing prevention — but what will it look like?

Strategic angle: Prevention is normally relegated to the periphery of national medical conferences. Not anymore.

editorial-staff Apr 2

Life

Briefing: STAT reporter goes up against radiologists to spot deepfake X-rays

Strategic angle: A STAT reporter challenges radiologists in identifying deepfake X-rays in this week's STATus Report.

editorial-staff Apr 2

Life

Briefing: Trump Administration Prepares 100% Tariffs on Some Imported Drugs

Strategic angle: The White House is readying a 100% tax on some imported medicines, a draft order shows.

editorial-staff Apr 2

Life

Briefing: Makary Marks One Year at FDA with Focus on Achievements

Strategic angle: The FDA commissioner praised staff and listed his accomplishments in a speech to workers.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: Large AI Scribe Study Finds Modest Time Savings for Doctors

Strategic angle: A new study reveals that AI scribes saved doctors approximately 16 minutes during an eight-hour shift across five academic medical centers.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: Government watchdog urges FDA to finalize guidance for advisory committee conflicts of interest

Strategic angle: A new review reveals the FDA's shortcomings in disclosing financial conflicts of interest among advisory committee members.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Eli Lilly’s obesity pill approved by FDA, setting up fierce competition with Novo Nordisk

Eli Lilly’s obesity pill was approved by the FDA, setting it up for fierce competition against Novo Nordisk’s new Wegovy pill.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: Policy Tracker: Exceptions to State Abortion Bans and Early Gestational Limits

Strategic angle: This policy tracker documents exceptions in each state’s most restrictive gestational limit or total ban.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: Insilico Medicine CEO on Best Practices for AI in Drug Development

Strategic angle: Insights from Alex Zhavoronkov on becoming a productive biotech AI company.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: Novo’s subscription model raises questions about pharma-telehealth tie-ups

Strategic angle: A delayed FDA decision for Orca Bio, new questions about pharma-telehealth tie-ups, and more

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: FDA Moves Toward Allowing Injectable Peptide Compounding

Strategic angle: The FDA is reconsidering its stance on compounding pharmacies, potentially allowing the production of injectable peptides previously banned due to safety concerns.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: KFF Health Tracking Poll: The Public’s View of Immigration Enforcement Activities in Health Care Settings

Strategic angle: A majority of the public expresses concern over immigration enforcement in hospitals amid policy changes.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: Can a psychedelic ‘coach’ make ketamine therapy even more effective?

Strategic angle: A new study explores whether incorporating psychotherapy with ketamine treatment enhances its effectiveness.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: NIH Director's Invocation of Vannevar Bush's Legacy Sparks Pushback

Strategic angle: Jay Bhattacharya's claim linking Trump administration policies to Vannevar Bush's vision has ignited controversy.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: Opinion: Medical marijuana should not be recommended for PTSD, anxiety, or depression

Strategic angle: “Rigorously derived evidence for the medical efficacy of marijuana is thin,” writes Kevin Sabet.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: Opinion: Medicare is restricting care for 1 million Americans based on a faulty assumption. Congress must intervene

Strategic angle: Medicare is restricting care for 1 million Americans based on a faulty assumption.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: STAT+: The biotech scorecard for the second quarter: 23 stock-moving events to watch

Strategic angle: Here is STAT’s biotech scorecard, our regular ledger of stock-moving biotech events, for the second quarter.

editorial-staff Apr 1

Life

Briefing: Why an ovary syndrome may get a new name: Men seem to have PCOS, too

Strategic angle: A quiet effort to change the name of PCOS is nearing completion, driven in part by growing evidence of a male version.

editorial-staff Apr 1