Rowan Walrath
@rowanwalrath.bsky.social
Associate editor, life sciences reporter @cenmag.bsky.social. Texan Bostonian. she/her. [email protected]. For sensitive tips, I'm on Signal @rowanwalrath.01 or email [email protected]
Pinned
Rowan Walrath
@rowanwalrath.bsky.social
· Nov 18
R&D for long COVID is collapsing
Public and private funding is lacking, scrambling opportunities to develop treatments
cen.acs.org
👋 I cover biotech and pharma for @cenmag.bsky.social from Boston.
Interested in finance & market news, drug development for rare & neglected diseases, & how government/policy shapes biotech. Among other things.
My last cover story was about the sorry state of R&D for #LongCovid pharmaceuticals.
Interested in finance & market news, drug development for rare & neglected diseases, & how government/policy shapes biotech. Among other things.
My last cover story was about the sorry state of R&D for #LongCovid pharmaceuticals.
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
So, remember that MAHA summit 2 weeks ago that @statnews.com broke the news of and @maxkozlov.bsky.social somehow got into for Nature, even though it was closed to the press?
The organizers posted the entire 6.5-hour conference proceedings to YouTube last week.
cen.acs.org/policy/MAHA-...
The organizers posted the entire 6.5-hour conference proceedings to YouTube last week.
cen.acs.org/policy/MAHA-...
At MAHA Summit, the NIH head pushes for research that risks failure
And 4 other takeaways for life scientists from the ‘off-the-record’ Make America Healthy Again conference
cen.acs.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:58 PM
So, remember that MAHA summit 2 weeks ago that @statnews.com broke the news of and @maxkozlov.bsky.social somehow got into for Nature, even though it was closed to the press?
The organizers posted the entire 6.5-hour conference proceedings to YouTube last week.
cen.acs.org/policy/MAHA-...
The organizers posted the entire 6.5-hour conference proceedings to YouTube last week.
cen.acs.org/policy/MAHA-...
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
Bitopertin was once a failed drug candidate gathering dust in Roche's portfolio. Thanks to work from Disc Medicine, FDA could soon approve it to treat a rare blood disorder. Read @rowanwalrath.bsky.social's excellent story in @cenmag.bsky.social.
How Disc Medicine rescued a discarded drug candidate cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... @cenmag.bsky.social
How Disc Medicine rescued a discarded drug candidate
Bitopertin could give people with the rare disease erythropoietic protoporphyria their day in the sun
cen.acs.org
November 24, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Bitopertin was once a failed drug candidate gathering dust in Roche's portfolio. Thanks to work from Disc Medicine, FDA could soon approve it to treat a rare blood disorder. Read @rowanwalrath.bsky.social's excellent story in @cenmag.bsky.social.
How Disc Medicine rescued a discarded drug candidate cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... @cenmag.bsky.social
How Disc Medicine rescued a discarded drug candidate
Bitopertin could give people with the rare disease erythropoietic protoporphyria their day in the sun
cen.acs.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:51 PM
How Disc Medicine rescued a discarded drug candidate cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... @cenmag.bsky.social
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
For the last 3 years, the story of the biotech financing environment has been much the same. Venture funding is slow, IPOs are few and far between. Mergers and acquisitions are beginning to pick up, but they tend to be smaller transactions: cen.acs.org/business/fin... #chemsky 🧪
Biotech markets aren't picking up just yet
Despite some recent eye-catching deals, the financing environment is still sluggish
cen.acs.org
November 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM
For the last 3 years, the story of the biotech financing environment has been much the same. Venture funding is slow, IPOs are few and far between. Mergers and acquisitions are beginning to pick up, but they tend to be smaller transactions: cen.acs.org/business/fin... #chemsky 🧪
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
PostEra, one of C&EN's #10StartupsToWatch, uses artificial intelligence and machine learning tools alongside medicinal chemistry to design new molecules. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... #chemsky 🧪
How PostEra designs drugs from code
The start-up is making antivirals and cancer drugs for Big Pharma—and working to treat reproductive problems on its own
cen.acs.org
November 13, 2025 at 10:47 AM
PostEra, one of C&EN's #10StartupsToWatch, uses artificial intelligence and machine learning tools alongside medicinal chemistry to design new molecules. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... #chemsky 🧪
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
What does all this chaos at FDA mean for biotech and for patients? @matthewherper.bsky.social and I talked to experts, and have more on the drama between the drug and biologics center leaders — "We now have FDA "Mean Girls" burn books out in the open," a source said. www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/f...
Experts worry FDA’s credibility is being shredded by scandal and 'soap opera'
Experts worry that the FDA’s credibility is being shredded by scandal and "soap opera."
www.statnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
What does all this chaos at FDA mean for biotech and for patients? @matthewherper.bsky.social and I talked to experts, and have more on the drama between the drug and biologics center leaders — "We now have FDA "Mean Girls" burn books out in the open," a source said. www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/f...
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
BOSTON (AP) — Judges order the federal government to use contingency funds for SNAP food aid payments during the shutdown.
October 31, 2025 at 6:07 PM
BOSTON (AP) — Judges order the federal government to use contingency funds for SNAP food aid payments during the shutdown.
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
Looking for some mad science journalism this Halloween? Look no further than 🩻Spooky, scary skeletal editing🩻
(and more chilling chemistry news from @cenmag.bsky.social)
cen.acs.org/synthesis/Sk...
(and more chilling chemistry news from @cenmag.bsky.social)
cen.acs.org/synthesis/Sk...
three skeletons are dancing in a cemetery in a purple background
Alt: Four animated skeletons are dancing in a cemetery in a purple background
media.tenor.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Looking for some mad science journalism this Halloween? Look no further than 🩻Spooky, scary skeletal editing🩻
(and more chilling chemistry news from @cenmag.bsky.social)
cen.acs.org/synthesis/Sk...
(and more chilling chemistry news from @cenmag.bsky.social)
cen.acs.org/synthesis/Sk...
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
All bears look sort of like people in bear suits. But sun bears look like something went wrong at the bear suit factory
October 28, 2025 at 7:44 PM
All bears look sort of like people in bear suits. But sun bears look like something went wrong at the bear suit factory
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response. n.pr/4obRAo5
Louisiana officials waited months to warn public of whooping cough outbreak
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response.
n.pr
October 28, 2025 at 7:39 PM
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response. n.pr/4obRAo5
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
The fascinating backstory between how the first nine drug companies won priority review vouchers from Marty Makary’s FDA, an exclusive via @lizzylawrence.bsky.social for @statnews.com www.statnews.com/2025/10/24/h...
How the first nine drug companies won priority review vouchers from Marty Makary’s FDA
The winners include a gene therapy for a rare form of deafness, a drug for vaping addiction, and a generic antibiotic.
www.statnews.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:56 PM
The fascinating backstory between how the first nine drug companies won priority review vouchers from Marty Makary’s FDA, an exclusive via @lizzylawrence.bsky.social for @statnews.com www.statnews.com/2025/10/24/h...
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
@rowanwalrath.bsky.social tried this herself back in March. It didn't go well then either cen.acs.org/physical-che...
October 15, 2025 at 11:48 AM
@rowanwalrath.bsky.social tried this herself back in March. It didn't go well then either cen.acs.org/physical-che...
Nobel-winning T regs have fueled a new class of immunology companies. cen.acs.org/people/nobel... @cenmag.bsky.social
How Nobel-winning T regs fueled a new class of immunology companies
Nobel Prize–winning technology engineered to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer
cen.acs.org
October 9, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Nobel-winning T regs have fueled a new class of immunology companies. cen.acs.org/people/nobel... @cenmag.bsky.social
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
Makary and this HHS seemed interested in going back to in person dispensing. this is a space to watch here…
NEW: It’s… another abortion pill lawsuit against the FDA, this time filed by Louisiana and an individual plaintiff, who argue the FDA should reinstate an in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone.
And if you guess Alliance Defending Freedom might be involved here, you guessed correctly.
And if you guess Alliance Defending Freedom might be involved here, you guessed correctly.
Louisiana et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al
6:2025cv01491 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana | Justia
Other Statutes: Administrative Procedures Act/Review or Appeal of Agency Decision case filed on October 3, 2025 in the Louisiana Western District Court
dockets.justia.com
October 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Makary and this HHS seemed interested in going back to in person dispensing. this is a space to watch here…
Invivyd is launching a trial that will pit its COVID-prevention antibody head to head against mRNA vaccines investors.adagiotx.com/news-release...
Invivyd Announces U.S. IND Clearance and Alignment with U.S. FDA on Pivotal Clinical Program for VYD2311, a Vaccine-Alternative Antibody to Prevent COVID | Invivyd
The DECLARATION (safety and efficacy vs. placebo) and LIBERTY (exploratory safety head-to-head and combination with mRNA-based COVID vaccination) clinical trials are expected to begin around year-end ...
investors.adagiotx.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Invivyd is launching a trial that will pit its COVID-prevention antibody head to head against mRNA vaccines investors.adagiotx.com/news-release...
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
Immunity researchers win the 2025 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi receive the prize for understanding how the immune system is kept in check. Read more: cen.acs.org/people/nobel...
#chemsky #immunosky 🧪
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi receive the prize for understanding how the immune system is kept in check. Read more: cen.acs.org/people/nobel...
#chemsky #immunosky 🧪
October 6, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Immunity researchers win the 2025 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi receive the prize for understanding how the immune system is kept in check. Read more: cen.acs.org/people/nobel...
#chemsky #immunosky 🧪
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi receive the prize for understanding how the immune system is kept in check. Read more: cen.acs.org/people/nobel...
#chemsky #immunosky 🧪
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
And if you missed it, the recording and our recap is now live
Huge thanks to Prachi Patel for her help behind the scenes #chemnobel
Huge thanks to Prachi Patel for her help behind the scenes #chemnobel
October 2, 2025 at 4:05 PM
And if you missed it, the recording and our recap is now live
Huge thanks to Prachi Patel for her help behind the scenes #chemnobel
Huge thanks to Prachi Patel for her help behind the scenes #chemnobel
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
After months on administrative leave, four NIH directors have been fired.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
After months in limbo, four NIH institute directors fired
Two leaders removed by Trump administration had hoped to stay at agency as in-house investigators
www.science.org
October 2, 2025 at 4:44 PM
After months on administrative leave, four NIH directors have been fired.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
“It started in a pub in Ireland, like all good ideas.”
@rowanwalrath.bsky.social talks to Jack O’Meara about his new #biotech start-up, Aerska, for @cenmag.bsky.social
@rowanwalrath.bsky.social talks to Jack O’Meara about his new #biotech start-up, Aerska, for @cenmag.bsky.social
Start-up to use ‘shuttles’ to get RNAi into the brain
With $21 million, Aerska plans to treat neurodegenerative diseases
cen.acs.org
October 1, 2025 at 11:52 AM
“It started in a pub in Ireland, like all good ideas.”
@rowanwalrath.bsky.social talks to Jack O’Meara about his new #biotech start-up, Aerska, for @cenmag.bsky.social
@rowanwalrath.bsky.social talks to Jack O’Meara about his new #biotech start-up, Aerska, for @cenmag.bsky.social
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
New: The civil rights office at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is moving to cut off Harvard University from future funding, a maneuver legal experts say could stymie healthcare and biomedical research. www.law360.com/healthcare-a...
HHS Moves To Suspend Harvard From Funding - Law360 Healthcare Authority
The civil rights office at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is moving to cut off Harvard University from future funding, a maneuver legal experts say could stymie healthcare and biomed...
www.law360.com
September 30, 2025 at 11:26 PM
New: The civil rights office at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is moving to cut off Harvard University from future funding, a maneuver legal experts say could stymie healthcare and biomedical research. www.law360.com/healthcare-a...
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
2 weeks ago RFK's ACIP voted to change recommendations for Covid vaccines
The CDC director has yet to sign off on them, so states aren't able to order vaccines through the vaccines for children program (which covers ~50% of kids)
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/c...
The CDC director has yet to sign off on them, so states aren't able to order vaccines through the vaccines for children program (which covers ~50% of kids)
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/c...
Low-income children lack access to Covid vaccines because of approval delay
Two weeks after vaccine advisers approved new Covid recs, Kennedy still hasn’t given his approval, leaving states unable to order updated shots for low-income kids.
www.statnews.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:28 PM
2 weeks ago RFK's ACIP voted to change recommendations for Covid vaccines
The CDC director has yet to sign off on them, so states aren't able to order vaccines through the vaccines for children program (which covers ~50% of kids)
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/c...
The CDC director has yet to sign off on them, so states aren't able to order vaccines through the vaccines for children program (which covers ~50% of kids)
w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/c...
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that only people 65 and older and those with an underlying medical condition get updated COVID-19 vaccines. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... #chemsky 🧪
CDC committee endorses restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines
The recommendations would limit shots to people 65 and older and those with health conditions
cen.acs.org
September 21, 2025 at 11:47 AM
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that only people 65 and older and those with an underlying medical condition get updated COVID-19 vaccines. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... #chemsky 🧪
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted Sept. 18 to no longer recommend a combination vaccine that covers measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and varicella. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... #chemsky 🧪
CDC advisers endorse changes to MMR, varicella vaccine schedules
The panel elected not to recommend a combination vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella as well as varicella, also known as chicken pox
cen.acs.org
September 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted Sept. 18 to no longer recommend a combination vaccine that covers measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and varicella. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... #chemsky 🧪
Reposted by Rowan Walrath
It gets earlier every year... Next Wednesday, join me and an expert panel to discuss who might win the 2025 #ChemNobel. Free to attend.
Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Time: 2–3 PM ET
Register here: lnkd.in/eD8cdWRS
Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Time: 2–3 PM ET
Register here: lnkd.in/eD8cdWRS
September 24, 2025 at 3:19 PM
It gets earlier every year... Next Wednesday, join me and an expert panel to discuss who might win the 2025 #ChemNobel. Free to attend.
Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Time: 2–3 PM ET
Register here: lnkd.in/eD8cdWRS
Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Time: 2–3 PM ET
Register here: lnkd.in/eD8cdWRS