The shrewd startup founder who led DOGE’s cost-cutting at HHS

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

June 2, 2025 Check out STAT+

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By Ed Silverman Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer

Photo illustration: Christine Kao/STAT; Photos: Alex Brandon/AP STAT+ | The shrewd startup founder who led DOGE's cost-cutting at HHS Brad Smith exhibited the same traits at DOGE as he did running his startups Aspire Health and CareBridge, including intensity and ambition. By Tara Bannow STAT+ | Enhertu, used as first option, stalled tumors for more than a year in women with breast cancer, study finds The findings mean the drug from AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo could set a new standard of care in certain cases. By Adam Feuerstein STAT+ | Kymera reports early-stage success for drug meant to rival Sanofi and Regeneron's Dupixent A new study finds preliminary signs the therapy might tamp down a class of immune signals linked with chronic conditions. By Jonathan Wosen Adobe STAT+ | Bristol Myers to partner with BioNTech on experimental cancer drug The deal, worth billions of dollars, centers on a drug with the dual targets of PD-L1 and VEGF, an approach several companies are pursuing. By Matthew Herper STAT+ | FDA rolls out AI tool agency-wide, weeks ahead of schedule Commissioner Marty Makary has hailed the potential of the AI at the FDA, but employees told STAT its capabilities are being over-inflated. By Brittany Trang

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