Jason Mast
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jasonmast.bsky.social
Jason Mast
@jasonmast.bsky.social
2.4K followers 410 following 100 posts
Covering science, medicine & business for STAT
Reach out on Signal: JasonMast.05
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Reposted by Jason Mast
joshuaeaton.bsky.social
Now that’s a lede.

Story by @taracopp.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social.

Read here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, an emblem of fascism and white supremacy inextricably linked to the murder of millions of Jews and that more than 400,000 U.S. troops died fighting against in World War II, as a hate symbol, according to a new policy that takes effect next month.
November 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Jason Mast
jasonukman.bsky.social
The day before the CDC webpage on vaccines and autism was overhauled, @danielpayne.bsky.social wrote this piece on vaccine manufacturers anxious about the next shoe to drop for them. It has now dropped, and it will not help their cause or, they note, public health.

www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/t...
Trump and RFK Jr. are mulling their most disruptive vaccine policies yet — alarming manufacturers
Trump and Kennedy are considering removing aluminum from vaccines and breaking up shots that protect against multiple diseases.
www.statnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Reposted by Jason Mast
sabs.bsky.social
I wrote about it lol
defector.com/olivia-nuzzi...
Olivia Nuzzi Addresses The Worm | Defector
On Monday, Vanity Fair published the first excerpt of Olivia Nuzzi’s monograph to sexting with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a book titled American Canto. The book, as Nuzzi claimed in a glamorized profile p...
defector.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:17 PM
jasonmast.bsky.social
How RFK Jr., America’s celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science

A remarkable profile from @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @caseyross.bsky.social and @sarah-todd.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...
How RFK Jr., America's celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science
RFK Jr. is plowing ahead with sweeping changes to U.S. health care that have thrilled supporters, purged opponents, and horrified critics.
www.statnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Jason Mast
betsyladyzhets.bsky.social
"Alice supported and took many people with Long COVID under her wing — I was honored to call her a colleague and friend."

@mileswgriffis.bsky.social in @thesicktimes.org's obituary for the great Alice Wong: thesicktimes.org/2025/11/15/a...
Alice Wong, disability activist and luminary, dies at 51 - The Sick Times
Alice Wong platformed and uplifted people with Long COVID in her final chapter as a lifelong disability advocate and storyteller.
thesicktimes.org
November 16, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Reposted by Jason Mast
thrasherxy.bsky.social
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Black text on a yellow background - This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing. Hi everyone, it looks like I ran out of time. I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfill and plans to create new stories for you. There are a few in progress that might come to fruition in a few years if things work out. I did not ever imagine I would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist, and more. As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin. We need more stories about us and our culture. You all, we all, deserve the everything and more in such a hostile, ableist environment. Our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I'm honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.
November 15, 2025 at 6:15 AM
jasonmast.bsky.social
AbbVie executives no longer wants to live forever

www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/a...
AbbVie cuts ties with Google-backed longevity company, lays off scientists
AbbVie is ending a decade-long partnership with Calico Life Sciences, an Alphabet-funded biotech company focused on aging research, and laying off scientists.
www.statnews.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Reposted by Jason Mast
jetjocko.bsky.social
It's a terrible idea to hire Captain Ahab! He's clearly nuts!
November 11, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Reposted by Jason Mast
adrianwoolfson.bsky.social
www.wsj.com/tech/biotech...
Genetically Engineered Babies Are Banned. Tech Titans Are Trying to Make One Anyway.
Silicon Valley startups are pushing the boundaries of reproductive genetics, hoping to prevent diseases as well as improve chances for a high IQ and other traits.
www.wsj.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Reposted by Jason Mast
matthewherper.bsky.social
OMG.

Arena BioWorks, an ambitious biomedical institute backed by billionaires, abruptly shuts down www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/a... via @statnews.com
Arena BioWorks, an ambitious biomedical institute backed by billionaires, abruptly shuts down
Exclusive: Arena Bioworks, the buzzy research institute that launched with $500 million to support a decade of scientific R&D, is abruptly shutting down, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Reposted by Jason Mast
jasonukman.bsky.social
Microdosing GLP-1 drugs? Right now, there's no robust clinical evidence doing so provides benefits.

Benefits for the companies *selling* the treatments, however, are definitely confirmed.

Via @katiepalmer.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/m...
Microdosing aims to extend the lifespan of the GLP-1 compounding market
Despite no strong evidence of clinical benefit, microdosing GLP-1s will likely continue as a strategy for some to profit off of the popular drug class.
www.statnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:42 PM
jasonmast.bsky.social
FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation

CDER Director George Tidmarsh is accused of seeking to use authority to inflict financial harm on former associate

www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation
George Tidmarsh, the FDA's top drug regulator, has been placed on leave after being accused of abusing his regulatory authority, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com
November 2, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Reposted by Jason Mast
matthewherper.bsky.social
FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation

CDER Director George Tidmarsh is accused of seeking to use authority to inflict financial harm on former associate

www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation
George Tidmarsh, the FDA's top drug regulator, has been placed on leave after being accused of abusing his regulatory authority, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com
November 2, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by Jason Mast
helenbranswell.bsky.social
2. Also please read @lizzylawrence.bsky.social's piece on the impact Vinay Prasad is having on #FDA's vaccines division, where between Prasad pushing leaders out and people heading for the exits, there are concerns about #CBER's capacity to function. www.statnews.com/2025/10/31/v...
Under Vinay Prasad, employees at a key FDA center fear speaking out, look for the exits
Exclusive: Vinay Prasad has rattled FDA staff by expanding his power and pushing out senior leaders.
www.statnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Jason Mast
helenbranswell.bsky.social
1. Looking for weekend reads? Can't do better than these by my uber-talented @statnews.com colleagues @jasonmast.bsky.social & @lizzylawrence.bsky.social.
First, Jason's indepth look at #Moderna's transition from pandemic savior to company with significant problems. www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/m...
How Moderna, the company that helped save the world, unraveled
Exclusive: The inside story of why Moderna now faces a crisis unlike any in its 15-year-history.
www.statnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:42 PM
jasonmast.bsky.social
Yesterday, we published a lengthy look at Moderna's post-Covid fall, from one of the most valued companies in the world to to a biotech facing serious questions about its longterm future

It's a story of hubris, the limits of mRNA technology, and, of course, RFK Jr

www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/m...
How Moderna, the company that helped save the world, unraveled
Exclusive: The inside story of why Moderna now faces a crisis unlike any in its 15-year-history.
www.statnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:54 PM
jasonmast.bsky.social
How Moderna, the company that helped save the world, unraveled

www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/m...
How Moderna, the company that helped save the world, unraveled
Exclusive: The inside story of why Moderna now faces a crisis unlike any in its 15-year-history.
www.statnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Reposted by Jason Mast
statnews.com
Our first session of the day: A Milestone for Gene Editing

@jasonmast.bsky.social talks with Kyle and Nicole Muldoon, Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, and Kiran Musunuru about how CRISPR was used to correct a misspelling in KJ Muldoon genes when he was just 6 months old.

#STATSummit
Five people sitting on the summit stage
October 15, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by Jason Mast
aniloza.bsky.social
If you want to understand why he is a celebrity, read this piece by @jasonmast.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/05/15/c...
CRISPR is used in landmark treatment to correct genetic misspelling of a single patient
In a world first, scientists used CRISPR to fix a baby's unique genetic mutation. The report offers hope for personalized treatments of rare diseases.
www.statnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
jasonmast.bsky.social
Parents of children with rare diseases ask: How long until our CRISPR miracle?

www.statnews.com/2025/10/09/c...
Parents of children with rare diseases ask: How long until our CRISPR miracle?
How to better manage expectations around gene editing drugs for families of children with rare diseases.
www.statnews.com
October 9, 2025 at 12:43 PM
jasonmast.bsky.social
HHS abruptly cancels CDC meeting with RFK Jr., anti-vaccine activist as scrutiny mounts www.statnews.com/2025/09/17/r... via @statnews.com
HHS abruptly cancels CDC meeting with RFK Jr., anti-vaccine activist as scrutiny mounts
HHS abruptly canceled a CDC meeting between RFK Jr. and anti-vaccine activist David Geier just hours before they were set to gather.
www.statnews.com
September 18, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Reposted by Jason Mast
beebrookshire.bsky.social
A hopeful thread! Some of my favs:
HIV treatment is better by leaps and bounds, and now 2x year injections can prevent people from contracting it! www.npr.org/sections/goa...

CRISPR has cured, CURED, sickle cell anemia in patients for at least a year! www.scientificamerican.com/article/fda-...
September 12, 2025 at 2:38 AM
jasonmast.bsky.social
Patrick Soon-Shiong has (still) not cured cancer
www.statnews.com/2025/09/11/s...
Piercing the hype around Patrick Soon-Shiong's 'Bioshield' cancer treatment
Why trial results presented earlier this week do not support the claim made by billionaire physician Patrick Soon-Shiong.
www.statnews.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:51 AM
jasonmast.bsky.social
The first child treated with a new gene therapy designed to safely reach deep into the brain died just days after dosing

If tied to treatment, this would be the 5th death linked to gene therapy in the past year. Since 2019, there have been at least 13

www.statnews.com/2025/09/10/c...
Child dies after receiving new experimental gene therapy
The first child to receive a new experimental gene therapy for a rare neurological disorder died a few days after dosing, the company sponsoring the trial said.
www.statnews.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:40 AM
jasonmast.bsky.social
Love this tracker from @isabellacueto.bsky.social and @jaspar.bsky.social chronicling all of RFK's promises on chronic disease and public and how much he's delivered — or not — on them
www.statnews.com/2025/09/10/r...
Tracking RFK Jr.’s promises to remake health in America
STAT introduces a goals and promises tracker for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again movement — successes, incompletes, and fails.
www.statnews.com
September 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM