Ramaswamy's FDA attack plan

Yes, Congress is out for the month. But don't get too comfortable: The first primary debate of 2024 is weeks away (yes, really) and former biotech exec Vivek Ramaswamy has officially made the cut for the GOP event.

The Roivant founder has so far built his campaign on calls for free speech and smaller government, including the FDA, which he says "exercises authority far beyond what the law envisioned" when it was created. Ramaswamy has recently blasted the agency for everything from its Covid-19 vaccine decisions to an alleged hostility toward Right to Try efforts.

But do those attacks hold water? STAT's Adam Feuerstein and Matthew Herper, who have covered the biotech industry and Ramaswamy for years, sat down to parse through his comments — and his intentions with federal science agencies like the FDA. (Ramaswamy has yet to issue a detailed platform, but his website says he wants to least "shut down toxic federal agencies … [and] rebuild from scratch where required.") Read their discussion.

Cannabis

Cannabis companies slash lobbying

Weed spending in Washington is shriveling up. Curaleaf, one of the world's largest cannabis companies, is spending nearly 40% less than at its peak in 2019, while others got rid of their lobbying teams entirely. Of four cannabis industry coalitions pushing for federal legalization, one has seen its revenue cut in half and two more seem to have folded, STAT's Nicholas Florko reports.

It's the latest sign of turbulence for an industry that is still federally illegal despite a patchwork of state laws. That means even if business is booming in some states, the companies aren't eligible for tax breaks and sometimes can't access business loans or bank accounts.

Yet advocates say the exodus is premature and could stall progress finally being made in Washington. Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have introduced legislation to legalize the drug federally; one bill to allow cannabis companies to get bank accounts has over 100 cosponsors and has passed the House seven times already. More from Nick.

Long covid

NIH long Covid trials kick off at long last

After three separate delays, the NiH has finally launched the first of its clinical trials to test long Covid treatments, and created the new office at HHS that the Biden administration first announced nearly a year ago, my co-author Rachel Cohrs reports.

The agency also announced continued delays for a controversial trial to address exercise intolerance following patient and expert concern that the clinical trial designs under consideration could harm patients with post-exertional malaise.

The new HHS office of long Covid research only has two full-time employees (sound familiar?) but some work will be contracted out and taken by employees detailed from other HHS offices. Get the full rundown on what's being tested and what we know about the new office.

alzheimer's coverage

Medicare swerves $$ questions in dementia plan

Medicare's new dementia care pilot program could provide welcome relief to patients and caregivers. But it falls short of at least one plan, proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), to use a pilot for controlling the cost of new Alzheimer's drugs.

How Medicare's works: Physician practices that participate will get a lump-sum payment for each dementia patient in their care. That payment will cover the cost of a standardized set of services, including a 24/7 call line and a dedicated employee who helps patients and caregivers get clinical and non-clinical services, such as meals and transportation, STAT's John Wilkerson writes.

That plan makes no mention of Leqembi, the first drug shown to slow the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease,which costs $26,500 a year. For people who don't have cost-sharing covered, that could come out to $30,000 a year. More from John.

covid tests

Free Covid tests for good?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force will discuss recommending Covid-screening, the first step in requiring insurers to permanently cover the tests at no cost to patients. It's a move advocates of medically vulnerable people and long Covid patients have pushed for since the public health emergency (and blanket coverage) ended in May.

However it could still be tricky. The task force is caught up in a legal battle over its authority, Plus, in a letter exclusively shared with STAT, USPSTF Chair Michael Barry reminded senators that "our recommendations only apply to people who do not have any signs or symptoms of disease." Read more here.

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