What happens when a rare disease drug seems to work, but the health care system doesn’t?

Taking stock of the drug industry, from the lab to the medicine chest

February 5, 2025 Check out STAT+

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By Ed Silverman Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer

José A. Alvarado Jr. for STAT STAT+ | What happens when a rare disease drug seems to work, but the health care system doesn't? An Amgen therapy has been used to treat a rare form of epilepsy, but that's no guarantee it will make it to market, or that generics will be accessible. By Ed Silverman STAT+ | Teladoc to buy home testing company Catapult for $65 million The virtual care giant hopes that Catapult's "wellness exam," including a blood sample test, will help it draw more people into its chronic disease programs. By Mario Aguilar STAT+ | Study of Amgen's early obesity candidate paused by FDA The company said the agency's hold was "not related to the drug," dubbed AMG 513, and that discussions were underway to reopen the study. By Elaine Chen and Adam Feuerstein

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