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Completely happy V-Day! Gorge on heart-shaped chocolate and ponder the implications of RFK Jr. being sworn in as well being secretary. At this time, we speak about that, in addition to new most cancers knowledge from Corbus Pharma, Europe’s response to speak of an educational mind drain within the U.S., and extra.
The necessity-to-know this morning
- Moderna missed earnings forecasts, posting a web lack of $1.1 billion, or $2.91 per share, 23% beneath the expectations of analysts polled by Seen Alpha. Income was 4% larger than forecasts, largely as a result of larger than anticipated gross sales of Moderna’s Covid vaccine, SpikeVax. In January, the corporate reduce its gross sales steerage for 2025 by $1 billion to $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion. Analysts nonetheless typically anticipate it to hit the upper finish of that vary.
RFK Jr. sworn in as well being secretary, main MAHA
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been sworn in because the U.S. well being secretary, and was instantly appointed chair of President Trump’s new “Make America Wholesome Once more” fee. The intention is investigating an increase in childhood continual diseases, and delivering coverage suggestions. The fee will study elements like food regimen, environmental toxins, medical remedies, and company affect, with an preliminary report due in 100 days.
Kennedy, a longtime critic of pharmaceutical corporations and vaccines, has pushed fringe well being theories, elevating considerations concerning the fee’s course. His nomination confronted robust opposition from Democrats, with solely Sen. Mitch McConnell breaking Republican ranks to oppose him. Trump and Kennedy each blame the pharmaceutical trade and federal well being companies for continual illness mismanagement, positioning the MAHA initiative as a problem to established medical dogma.
Why are AI drug builders so secretive?
What are “oblique prices” for universities? And why are some younger scientists alternatives overseas?
We deliver on biotech reporter Jonathan Wosen to debate the NIH’s resolution to dramatically reduce funding for overhead prices paid to analysis establishments and the potential implications for U.S. biomedical innovation. We additionally chat with well being tech reporter Brittany Trang concerning the claims that two drug builders, Absci and Generate:Biomedicines, have made concerning the capabilities of their synthetic intelligence applied sciences, and why some specialists are skeptical.
Corbus releases new knowledge on its ADC
An experimental antibody-drug conjugate made by Corbus Prescribed drugs confirmed a 27% total response price, mirroring outcomes from the same examine in China. Licensed from China’s CSPC Prescribed drugs, CRB-701 targets the Nectin-4 protein and delivers chemotherapy with probably fewer unintended effects than Padcev, a blockbuster ADC made by Pfizer.
Early outcomes counsel that CRB-701 could trigger much less peripheral neuropathy and rash in comparison with Padcev, and higher include its chemotherapy payload inside tumors, STAT’s Adam Feuerstein writes.
The view from abroad on tumult in U.S. science
President Trump’s new restrictions on science funding and analysis insurance policies are elevating concern a couple of potential exodus of U.S. scientists to different international locations. Europe has lengthy contended with its personal mind drain, and has tried to reverse it lately by growing analysis funding.
However the extent to which Europe, specifically, can take up new expertise stays unclear, STAT’s Andrew Joseph reviews.
“We now have a scenario proper now, for higher and for worse, a geopolitical scenario the place I feel many individuals wish to pursue a profession in Europe,” the chief of a consortium of science-focused universities in Europe advised him. However elevating the funding to draw worldwide expertise, he stated, “goes method too gradual. This must be a prime precedence.”
In the meantime, China, the Center East, and different areas have been investing closely in biotechnology and tutorial establishments, additionally attracting worldwide expertise.
Extra reads
- Rising variety of federal well being companies are combing grants for taboo phrases, unnerving researchers, STAT
- Second prime NIH official, who oversaw awarding of analysis grants, departs abruptly, STAT
- J&J, Sanofi cease E. coli vaccine trial as a result of low effectiveness, Reuters
- Genentech archives variety reviews amid website replace, examines ‘potential implications of government orders’, FierceBiotech
