exclusive
Epstein's 'great friend' returns to biotech
Illustration: Camille MacMillin/STAT; Source photo: Department of Justice
Boris Nikolic was Bill Gates' top science adviser when he was introduced to Jeffrey Epstein in 2009, one year after Epstein's conviction for soliciting sex from minors. Epstein immediately took Nikolic under his wing, urging his new friend to start managing Gates' biotech investments.
The relationship took off from there — DOJ records, many of which are being reported on by STAT for the first time, show how Epstein assisted Nikolic through career moves to become a well-connected biotech investor. The pair also developed a close personal connection, with Nikolic and his now-husband repeatedly sending pictures of young women to Epstein, offering to make introductions; Epstein also advised Nikolic in a heated pre-nup negotiation before the marriage.
Some details on Nikolic's relationship with the convicted sex offender came to light in 2019, seemingly derailing his career. His story, as it relates to STAT's interests, could have ended there. But as Damian Garde reports, one of the most influential venture capitalists in the industry quietly stayed loyal to Nikolic over the intervening years.
"I wish I knew in 2019 or 2024 what I know now," investor Alexis Borisy said in a statement. Borisy helped Nikolic launch a fund, and used his own high-profile venture firm to vouch for the outcast. "However since I did not know then, I stand by my actions to not respond to the impulses of cancel culture." Read more from Damian on the web of connections and where Nikolic, who denies any wrongdoing, has landed.
mental health
A new study parses sex differences in suicide
It's sometimes called the gender paradox in suicide: Women have suicidal thoughts and attempt suicide more often than men, but more men ultimately die by suicide. To analyze the potential genetic influences on these disparities, researchers analyzed data from 3.1 million people born between 1963 and 1998 in Sweden. The study, published yesterday in BMJ Mental Health, found that, while genes play a substantial role in a person's overall risk for suicide, they don't seem to be important when it comes to the differences between sexes.
The records linked each patient with their parents, as well as full and half siblings. Broadly, the risk for an attempted suicide was higher for people with relatives who had also attempted suicide. That increased risk was even higher among first degree relatives — parents, full siblings — than with half siblings. But these familial risk clusters were particularly dangerous for women. For example, in mother-daughter pairs where one person had attempted suicide, the risk for the other to attempt was greater than among father-son pairs. The risk was highest — substantially so — among sisters.
What does it mean? Basically, genetics don't account for the gender paradox in suicide. The study authors believe that social factors and the "potential sex-specific effects of shared familial environment" play a larger role. More research is, as always, necessary.
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