Elaine Chen
@elaineywchen.bsky.social
Reporter @statnews.com covering drugs and the biopharma industry | signal: elaineywchen.70
Reposted by Elaine Chen
I'm a science journalist for @statnews.com looking to talk with folks who applied to biomedical Ph.D. programs and had offers rescinded earlier this year. What have you been up to since then? You can reach me at [email protected] or via Signal (username jwosen.27). #journorequest
August 20, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I'm a science journalist for @statnews.com looking to talk with folks who applied to biomedical Ph.D. programs and had offers rescinded earlier this year. What have you been up to since then? You can reach me at [email protected] or via Signal (username jwosen.27). #journorequest
Latest: A race to develop a new class of narcolepsy drugs could not only transform treatment for patients with the rare sleep disorder, but also many people with common health conditions like Alzheimer's and depression who struggle to stay awake
Drugmakers are racing to help patients stay awake — and could also make billions
A race to develop a new class of drugs could transform treatment for patients with narcolepsy — as well as for patients with other conditions that cause them to struggle to stay awake.
www.statnews.com
July 22, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Latest: A race to develop a new class of narcolepsy drugs could not only transform treatment for patients with the rare sleep disorder, but also many people with common health conditions like Alzheimer's and depression who struggle to stay awake
Reposted by Elaine Chen
Novo Nordisk, seen as lagging in obesity drug race, says it’s playing the long game. Via @elaineywchen.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/06/25/n...
www.statnews.com/2025/06/25/n...
Novo Nordisk, seen as lagging in obesity drug race, says it’s playing the long game
Novo Nordisk is seen as having fallen behind in the race for new obesity drugs. It argues it is playing the long game.
www.statnews.com
June 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Novo Nordisk, seen as lagging in obesity drug race, says it’s playing the long game. Via @elaineywchen.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/06/25/n...
www.statnews.com/2025/06/25/n...
From #ADA25: Full results suggest Novo's CagriSema is comparable to Lilly’s Zepbound on safety and efficacy
Weight loss looks to be plateauing at the end of late-stage studies, raising Qs around how much more weight patients can lose on the drug
Weight loss looks to be plateauing at the end of late-stage studies, raising Qs around how much more weight patients can lose on the drug
Novo Nordisk’s amylin obesity drug keeps performing like Zepbound
Novo Nordisk’s next-gen weight loss drug and Zepbound “seem fairly equal to me,” one expert says after release of new late-stage results for CagriSema.
www.statnews.com
June 22, 2025 at 1:11 PM
From #ADA25: Full results suggest Novo's CagriSema is comparable to Lilly’s Zepbound on safety and efficacy
Weight loss looks to be plateauing at the end of late-stage studies, raising Qs around how much more weight patients can lose on the drug
Weight loss looks to be plateauing at the end of late-stage studies, raising Qs around how much more weight patients can lose on the drug
Latest from #ADA25: Novo's injectable amycretin showed substantial weight loss in an early study, but similar efficacy across different doses and high rates of side effects raise questions about which dose Novo will pursue going forward
Full data on Novo Nordisk’s new amylin drug raise dosing questions
Results for weight-loss drug targeting amylin find similar efficacy across different doses and high rates of side effects, raising questions about which dose Novo will pursue.
www.statnews.com
June 20, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Latest from #ADA25: Novo's injectable amycretin showed substantial weight loss in an early study, but similar efficacy across different doses and high rates of side effects raise questions about which dose Novo will pursue going forward
Reposted by Elaine Chen
New video- my new @statnews.com colleague @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social and I chat about RFK Jr.'s dismissal of all the members of ACIP, CDC's vaccine advisory board. Also I'm going to be doing a video every week now so please wish me luck (and like & subscribe plz) youtu.be/brVDswDpaeQ
Did RFK Jr. break a promise he made to GOP Senator?
YouTube video by STAT
youtu.be
June 10, 2025 at 9:43 PM
New video- my new @statnews.com colleague @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social and I chat about RFK Jr.'s dismissal of all the members of ACIP, CDC's vaccine advisory board. Also I'm going to be doing a video every week now so please wish me luck (and like & subscribe plz) youtu.be/brVDswDpaeQ
LATEST: A conservative culture cost Novo Nordisk its lead in the obesity drug race, former employees told me
It wanted to tread carefully as the first mover in the space, and its belief in Ozempic/Wegovy blinded it to other candidates, they said
It wanted to tread carefully as the first mover in the space, and its belief in Ozempic/Wegovy blinded it to other candidates, they said
A cautious culture cost Novo Nordisk its lead in the obesity drug race, former employees say
Novo Nordisk’s stock has tumbled over 50% since its peak around a year ago, and it just ousted its CEO. Former employees say the company's cautious culture is to blame.
www.statnews.com
June 5, 2025 at 4:13 PM
LATEST: A conservative culture cost Novo Nordisk its lead in the obesity drug race, former employees told me
It wanted to tread carefully as the first mover in the space, and its belief in Ozempic/Wegovy blinded it to other candidates, they said
It wanted to tread carefully as the first mover in the space, and its belief in Ozempic/Wegovy blinded it to other candidates, they said
Reposted by Elaine Chen
Yesterday, we dove into all the data on chronic disease in the U.S. So, what can actually make a dent in it?
Here are 3 big ideas: www.statnews.com/2025/05/21/r...
Here are 3 big ideas: www.statnews.com/2025/05/21/r...
Three big ideas to actually ‘Make America Healthy Again’
STAT reviewed dozens of studies, interviewed chronic disease experts, and landed on three focus areas for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to boost health.
www.statnews.com
May 21, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Yesterday, we dove into all the data on chronic disease in the U.S. So, what can actually make a dent in it?
Here are 3 big ideas: www.statnews.com/2025/05/21/r...
Here are 3 big ideas: www.statnews.com/2025/05/21/r...
Reposted by Elaine Chen
NEW: How RFK Jr. goes about solving the chronic disease epidemic depends on his top concerns. Here, we break down the nation's health into 9 "priorities" — using original data analysis you can't find elsewhere! — and let you choose yours. W/ @jaspar.bsky.social:
www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/k...
www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/k...
RFK Jr. declared war on chronic disease. First comes the battle over priorities
How would you solve the chronic disease epidemic? Here's STAT's extensive new data analysis, and nine ways to tackle the problem.
www.statnews.com
May 20, 2025 at 1:08 PM
NEW: How RFK Jr. goes about solving the chronic disease epidemic depends on his top concerns. Here, we break down the nation's health into 9 "priorities" — using original data analysis you can't find elsewhere! — and let you choose yours. W/ @jaspar.bsky.social:
www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/k...
www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/k...
The explosion of compounded GLP-1 offerings is ending, and many patients are left with no good options.
Telehealth companies and compounders are pursuing workarounds that may be riskier. At the same time, patients still can't afford the branded drugs. w/ @katiepalmer.bsky.social
Telehealth companies and compounders are pursuing workarounds that may be riskier. At the same time, patients still can't afford the branded drugs. w/ @katiepalmer.bsky.social
The end of compounded GLP-1 copies leaves many patients in a ‘lose-lose’ position
With GLP-1 shortage officially over, patients who relied on compounded copies have only bad options to choose from
www.statnews.com
April 29, 2025 at 1:18 PM
The explosion of compounded GLP-1 offerings is ending, and many patients are left with no good options.
Telehealth companies and compounders are pursuing workarounds that may be riskier. At the same time, patients still can't afford the branded drugs. w/ @katiepalmer.bsky.social
Telehealth companies and compounders are pursuing workarounds that may be riskier. At the same time, patients still can't afford the branded drugs. w/ @katiepalmer.bsky.social
Reposted by Elaine Chen
WaPo has the numbers on those NIH advisory board purges @jasonmast.bsky.social and I first reported on last month.
Six percent of White males who serve on boards were fired, compared with half of Black and Hispanic females and one-quarter of all females, according to an analysis by board chairs.
Six percent of White males who serve on boards were fired, compared with half of Black and Hispanic females and one-quarter of all females, according to an analysis by board chairs.
Thirty-eight of 43 experts cut last month from the boards that review the science and research that happens in laboratories at the National Institutes of Health are female, Black or Hispanic, according to an analysis by the chairs of a dozen of the boards.
Women, minorities fired in purge of NIH science review boards
Scientists, with expertise in fields that include mental health, cancer and infectious disease, typically serve five-year terms and were not given a reason for their dismissal.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 16, 2025 at 7:51 PM
WaPo has the numbers on those NIH advisory board purges @jasonmast.bsky.social and I first reported on last month.
Six percent of White males who serve on boards were fired, compared with half of Black and Hispanic females and one-quarter of all females, according to an analysis by board chairs.
Six percent of White males who serve on boards were fired, compared with half of Black and Hispanic females and one-quarter of all females, according to an analysis by board chairs.
Reposted by Elaine Chen
What do the Trump administrations tariffs mean for the pharmaceutical industry? New short vid @statnews.com h/t to my STAT colleagues @elaineywchen.bsky.social and Ed Silverman
April 3, 2025 at 11:00 PM
What do the Trump administrations tariffs mean for the pharmaceutical industry? New short vid @statnews.com h/t to my STAT colleagues @elaineywchen.bsky.social and Ed Silverman
RFK Jr. vowed to promote “radical transparency” at HHS. But today the dpt made major cuts to teams across its agencies that handle communications, media relations, and FOIA requests - w/ @lizzylawrence.bsky.social, @isabellacueto.bsky.social
After RFK Jr.’s ‘radical transparency’ pledge, HHS shutters much of its communications, FOIA operations
After health secretary RFK Jr.’s ‘radical transparency’ pledge, HHS has shuttered much of the agency's communications and FOIA operations.
www.statnews.com
April 1, 2025 at 10:40 PM
RFK Jr. vowed to promote “radical transparency” at HHS. But today the dpt made major cuts to teams across its agencies that handle communications, media relations, and FOIA requests - w/ @lizzylawrence.bsky.social, @isabellacueto.bsky.social
Reposted by Elaine Chen
HHS workers affected by today's announcement/ RIF: Tell us what's going on! You can do so confidentially/anonymously through this form. I'm also at isabellacueto.03 on Signal, or send a DM.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/27/h...
www.statnews.com/2025/03/27/h...
Are you affected by the HHS cuts and restructuring?
HHS is set to cut 10,000 jobs and consolidate divisions — have you been affected? @statnews would like to hear from you.
www.statnews.com
March 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
HHS workers affected by today's announcement/ RIF: Tell us what's going on! You can do so confidentially/anonymously through this form. I'm also at isabellacueto.03 on Signal, or send a DM.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/27/h...
www.statnews.com/2025/03/27/h...
Reposted by Elaine Chen
New: The NIH has canceled funding for a landmark diabetes study — at a time when RFK Jr. and the rest of the MAHA movement is focused on addressing chronic diseases, including diabetes.
Smart story from @elaineywchen.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/03/17/t...
Smart story from @elaineywchen.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/03/17/t...
NIH cancels funding for landmark diabetes study at a time of focus on chronic disease
The Trump administration has canceled funding for an ongoing 30-year, nationwide study tracking patients with prediabetes and diabetes, researchers said.
www.statnews.com
March 17, 2025 at 5:49 PM
New: The NIH has canceled funding for a landmark diabetes study — at a time when RFK Jr. and the rest of the MAHA movement is focused on addressing chronic diseases, including diabetes.
Smart story from @elaineywchen.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/03/17/t...
Smart story from @elaineywchen.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/03/17/t...
Reposted by Elaine Chen
Weldon out as CDC nominee, hours before he was set to appear in front of the Senate:
www.statnews.com/2025/03/13/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/03/13/t...
White House pulls nomination of Dave Weldon as CDC director hours before hearing
The White House has pulled the nomination of Dave Weldon as CDC director hours before heh was set to appear for his confirmation hearing.
www.statnews.com
March 13, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Weldon out as CDC nominee, hours before he was set to appear in front of the Senate:
www.statnews.com/2025/03/13/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/03/13/t...
Reposted by Elaine Chen
Eli Lilly's obesity and diabetes drugs are paying off for top executives. CEO Dave Ricks took home $114 million last year, and he and other leaders also were treated to a "leadership meeting" at last summer’s Olympics in Paris. More w/ @elaineywchen.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2025/03/11/e...
Eli Lilly’s Dave Ricks takes home $114 million as obesity drugs fuel company’s fortunes
Eli Lilly’s rising fortunes tied to its weight loss and diabetes drugs led to a nine-figure payday for its top executive.
www.statnews.com
March 12, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Eli Lilly's obesity and diabetes drugs are paying off for top executives. CEO Dave Ricks took home $114 million last year, and he and other leaders also were treated to a "leadership meeting" at last summer’s Olympics in Paris. More w/ @elaineywchen.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2025/03/11/e...
Reposted by Elaine Chen
Breaking: RFK Jr. moves to quietly eliminate public comment from HHS's decision making: www.statnews.com/2025/02/28/r...
RFK Jr. moves to eliminate public comment in HHS decisions
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moved to rescind the longtime practice of giving the public a chance to comment on the health agency’s plans.
www.statnews.com
February 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Breaking: RFK Jr. moves to quietly eliminate public comment from HHS's decision making: www.statnews.com/2025/02/28/r...
Pfizer yesterday revised its DEI webpage to emphasize the importance of "merit," joining other companies seeking to align with the Trump administration
@jaspar.bsky.social and I laid out all the deletions and insertions in our story
www.statnews.com/2025/02/27/p...
@jaspar.bsky.social and I laid out all the deletions and insertions in our story
www.statnews.com/2025/02/27/p...
February 28, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Pfizer yesterday revised its DEI webpage to emphasize the importance of "merit," joining other companies seeking to align with the Trump administration
@jaspar.bsky.social and I laid out all the deletions and insertions in our story
www.statnews.com/2025/02/27/p...
@jaspar.bsky.social and I laid out all the deletions and insertions in our story
www.statnews.com/2025/02/27/p...
Reposted by Elaine Chen
Incredible: we're reaching a point where new weight loss drugs might be *too* effective, leading to health risks. from @elaineywchen.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/02/20/t...
February 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Incredible: we're reaching a point where new weight loss drugs might be *too* effective, leading to health risks. from @elaineywchen.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/02/20/t...
NEW: Patients in trials of Lilly's next-gen obesity drug tell me they think they're losing too much weight. One started skipping doses, another is making himself eat caloric foods.
This is part of what some see as a risky race for more weight loss
www.statnews.com/2025/02/20/t...
This is part of what some see as a risky race for more weight loss
www.statnews.com/2025/02/20/t...
How much weight loss is too much? Pharma is pushing the limit with new obesity drugs
How much weight loss is too much? Pharma is pushing the limit with new obesity drugs.
www.statnews.com
February 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
NEW: Patients in trials of Lilly's next-gen obesity drug tell me they think they're losing too much weight. One started skipping doses, another is making himself eat caloric foods.
This is part of what some see as a risky race for more weight loss
www.statnews.com/2025/02/20/t...
This is part of what some see as a risky race for more weight loss
www.statnews.com/2025/02/20/t...
Reposted by Elaine Chen
Looking to talk with federal employees with disabilities who were terminated this weekend, especially folks hired through Schedule A or disabled veterans. Please boost! #disability #journorequest
February 18, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Looking to talk with federal employees with disabilities who were terminated this weekend, especially folks hired through Schedule A or disabled veterans. Please boost! #disability #journorequest
Reposted by Elaine Chen
Scoop: The cuts to FDA included head of medical device safety Rusty Segan. He was hired in September after a lengthy search by the agency. www.statnews.com/2025/02/18/f...
FDA’s head of device safety among employees terminated in 'challenging' weekend
The cuts hit the FDA's medical device center particularly hard, including reviewers and experts on AI-enabled medical technology.
www.statnews.com
February 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Scoop: The cuts to FDA included head of medical device safety Rusty Segan. He was hired in September after a lengthy search by the agency. www.statnews.com/2025/02/18/f...
Reposted by Elaine Chen
The Trump administration terminated employees at the Food and Drug Administration on Saturday night, three sources told STAT.
If you were affected or know more about the layoffs, feel free to message me on Signal at lizzylaw.53
www.statnews.com/2025/02/15/t...
If you were affected or know more about the layoffs, feel free to message me on Signal at lizzylaw.53
www.statnews.com/2025/02/15/t...
Trump administration lays off FDA employees
The cuts are part of a purge of 5,200 probationary workers across federal health agencies that started Friday.
www.statnews.com
February 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM
The Trump administration terminated employees at the Food and Drug Administration on Saturday night, three sources told STAT.
If you were affected or know more about the layoffs, feel free to message me on Signal at lizzylaw.53
www.statnews.com/2025/02/15/t...
If you were affected or know more about the layoffs, feel free to message me on Signal at lizzylaw.53
www.statnews.com/2025/02/15/t...
Reposted by Elaine Chen
New from me: Here it is, everything I know about every change I've been monitoring on data.cdc.gov plus an archive of every file that's been removed or altered.
www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/t...
STAT is backing up and monitoring CDC data in real time: See what's changing
STAT is backing up and monitoring CDC data in real time: See what's changing.
www.statnews.com
February 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM
New from me: Here it is, everything I know about every change I've been monitoring on data.cdc.gov plus an archive of every file that's been removed or altered.
www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/t...