Questions abound now that Donald Trump is headed back to the White House. One of particular import: What impact will his relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have on vaccines in the U.S.? We have a look at that question today, discuss another U.S. biotech launch using Chinese science, and more.
How RFK Jr.’s vaccine views could shape policy
President-elect Trump’s decision to entrust noted vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with responsibility for health policy has raised questions about whether they could reshape federal agencies to challenge or delay vaccine approvals and recommendations — and fan the flames of vaccine skepticism. While Kennedy isn’t necessarily expected to run a health agency himself, he could still play a major role in altering expert panels like the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Kennedy could also undermine public confidence in vaccines through public statements, STAT’s Lizzy Lawrence and Timmy Broderick write.
“RFK is already having influence in discouraging people from using vaccines, even though he is not part of the government at all right now,” one George Washington University health policy professor told STAT.
How the Trump presidency could affect biotech
Is less regulation by the Food and Drug Administration good for the biotech industry? Do vaccine makers like Pfizer have a target on their back now? And will the “Make America Healthy Again” movement helmed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dampen the obesity drug market?
We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. To dig into how the election results could affect all things biopharma, we brought on three guests for this episode: Lizzy Lawrence, STAT’s FDA reporter; Baird analyst Brian Skorney; and longtime biotech executive Daphne Zohar.
Another U.S. biotech based on Chinese science
Venture firm Aditum Bio yesterday launched a new company in the autoimmune space called Oblenio Bio. It’s developing a tri-specific T-cell engager called LBL-051 meant to target antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases. The science is licensed from the China-based Leads Biolabs.
More U.S. investors are launching companies stateside that license technology from China. At the same time, Congress is moving to crack down on some Chinese companies through legislation like the BIOSECURE Act. President-elect Trump, meanwhile, has a history of sparking tensions with Beijing, and has threatened large tariffs and duties on Chinese exports. It remains to be seen whether venture capitalists will continue to advance a China-centric licensing model.
A little candor from Cassava Science
Rick Barry, CEO of the embattled Alzheimer’s company Cassava Sciences, tried yesterday to dispel some of the hype and misconceptions about forthcoming Phase 3 data on the company’s controversial drug, simufilam. Barry said in an earnings call that everyone will soon see “whether our optimism is warranted or misplaced before too long.”
There have been pronounced flaws in Cassava’s early data, and mounting evidence suggests simufilam is inert, as STAT’s Adam Feuerstein has pointed out. Barry said the company will be reporting on whether treatment hit its primary endpoints, as opposed to poring through the data to find efficacy elsewhere.
“Given the scrutiny this company is under, you can expect that we will measure twice and cut once before we report our results,” Barry said. Even Adam was impressed.
More reads
- Moderna reports surprise profit on higher-than-expected Covid vaccine sales, Reuters
- Biologics CDMO Avid Bioservices to go private with $1.1 billion sale to Ampersand, GHO Capital, FiercePharma
- Soft RSV sales reveal a vaccine market failing to catch post-Covid momentum, Endpoints