Andrew Joseph
Reporter at @statnews, a new publication covering health and medicine. Past: SA Express-News, SF Chronicle. [email protected]
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The good, bad, and really, really ugly behind Sarepta's drug approval
What does it all mean now that the FDA has issued a surprise decision to approve Sarepta Therapeutics’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug?
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Andrew Joseph
On Thursday, the FDA approved a drug it rejected in August. What happened? And what does that mean about the FDA going forward -- and even for Alzheimer's? statnews.com/2019/12/13/the… via @statnews @adamfeuerstein
10h
Tufts will scour Sackler name from its medical campus
An independent review found evidence that Purdue was “successful in exercising influence, whether directly or indirectly,” in a few instances at Tufts.
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Andrew Joseph
Breaking: Tufts is removing the Sackler name from its programs and buildings, and renaming a grad school statnews.com/2019/12/05/tuf… via @statnews
8d
Scientists develop a ‘clock’ to measure biological age based on blood
This “proteomic clock,” as the researchers call it, relies on measurements of levels of the proteins, which rise and fall over the years.
Huntington's clinical trial opens a door to hope — but only if patients get in
Patients are celebrating trials for newly targetable genetic diseases like Huntington's. But enrollment criteria means not all can benefit.
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Andrew Joseph
Clinical trials have to have limits. But when a drug for an untreatable disease is being tested, the demand is overwhelming.
On a Huntington's disease trial, and patients who could or couldn't enroll, with multimedia from @Matthew_Orr @DomnicSmithy
9d
12 burning questions for Stephen Hahn, Trump’s pick to lead FDA
Stephen Hahn, Trump’s nominee to helm the FDA, could face questions on any aspect of the agency's sprawling portfolio at today's confirmation hearing.
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Andrew Joseph
The braintrust that is the @statnews newsroom put together a list of questions senators could ask Stephen Hahn, Trump's pick to lead the FDA, at his hearing today
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Deep dive into newborns’ DNA can reveal disease risks — but is it worth it?
Researchers reported newborn sequencing revealed genetic variants that raised the risk of certain childhood conditions in 9.4 percent of the babies tested.
Alzheimer's drug approved in China delivers a surprise but also questions
Chinese regulators have granted conditional approval to an Alzheimer’s drug that is derived from seaweed, raising some hopes but also many questions.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation rolls out $500 million cures initiative
The initiative is aimed at developing treatments for patients who aren’t helped by new drugs and, ultimately, at finding cures for all CF patients.
Alzheimer’s patients in Biogen trial press for new access to treatment
For many, Biogen’s reversal restored a cautious sense of optimism that an effective Alzheimer’s treatment could be within reach.
New cystic fibrosis drug approved, extending treatments to 90% of patients
The approval of the Vertex Pharmaceuticals combination drug marks the company's fourth approved treatment for cystic fibrosis.
Russian authorities seek to ease fears of a scientist going rogue
A Russian Academy of Sciences official said Rebrikov wouldn't act against regulators' wishes: “I am confident he has the common sense not to break the law."
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Andrew Joseph
A Russian scientist seemed eager to make a gene-edited baby. Now, the country's health ministry is throwing up a hurdle
statnews.com/2019/10/16/rus… via @statnews
Story also features this quote: pic.twitter.com/1KOlLTBPBu
58d
A new guide to tapering opioids seeks a balanced approach to prescribing
The new guide casts the decision to taper a patient’s opioids as an individualized one that prescribers and patients should reach together.
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Andrew Joseph
The latest in the debate over how to treat chronic pain and how hard to push opioid tapering: HHS issues guide for when and how to safely taper statnews.com/2019/10/10/tap… via @statnews
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What a koala virus tells us about the human genome
The virus, known as KoRV, is giving scientists a unique glimpse into how the genome puts up a fight against viral invaders.
Vaping-related lung injuries resemble chemical burns, study finds
The study didn't provide clues as to the kind of chemicals that might be causing the condition, but the authors said the evidence of damage was consistent.
What's in the cards for this year's Nobel Prizes?
Past laureates have their favorites and hunches, wrong though they usually are. As one 2018 winner said, “It’s not helpful to second-guess these things!”
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Andrew Joseph
This @sxbegle story on who might win a #NobelPrize next week is both incredibly fun and a SparkNotes of key discoveries from the past few decades statnews.com/2019/10/02/201… via @statnews
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FDA to streamline some cancer therapy reviews with Canada, Australia
Under the new effort, companies can file their applications to three regulatory agencies, which will review them concurrently and collaboratively.
Could using CRISPR to edit embryos save people who are already alive?
The technology is not advanced enough yet, but the idea of editing DNA to produce a savior sibling may be theoretically possible.
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Andrew Joseph
The main envisioned application of germline editing is correcting disease mutations in embryos.
But what if editing an embryo's DNA could help save someone who is already alive?
On #CRISPR and savior siblings: statnews.com/2019/09/16/cou… via @statnews pic.twitter.com/2v8Kl0TqBJ
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Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy. What happens with lawsuits it faces?
The legal battle over who’s at fault for the opioid crisis, which involves more than 1,600 lawsuits, could get even more complicated soon.
Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin and other drugs, files for bankruptcy
The Connecticut-based company faced thousands of lawsuits alleging that it helped spark the nation's opioid addiction crisis.
Historians seek public archive of documents from opioid litigation
In a legal brief, the experts called for “full and permanent access to the records” and for the defendants to cover the costs of creating an archive.