Jan 30, 2026

Subject: How one overdose antidote went bust

Summary: A promising overdose antidote, Opvee, initially hailed as more effective than Narcan, failed due to lack of acceptance among users who experienced severe withdrawal symptoms, coupled with a New York Attorney General investigation into the company’s sales practices, leading to last fall’s halt in marketing. Additionally, the federal autism advisory committee was controversially restructured with several well-known vaccine critics, raising concerns about future autism research directions. Also included are updates on state-level vaccine policy efforts, health care affordability concerns amid rising costs, new challenges to state abortion bans leveraging constitutional protections, and recent studies linking lead exposure and firearm injuries to adolescent mental health outcomes.

Subject: 🔥 COVID vax feuds

Summary: The Trump administration and vaccine critics are clashing over efforts to remove COVID-19 vaccines from the market, with Robert Malone, vice chair of a federal vaccine advisory committee and ally of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., publicly accusing FDA leadership of blocking removal attempts. The advisory committee, recently overhauled by Kennedy to include several anti-vaccine activists, will likely address COVID vaccine status in upcoming meetings. Meanwhile, CMS proposes tightening oversight of organ procurement organizations amid concerns over quality and ethical issues. Additionally, South Carolina faces a growing measles outbreak concentrated in areas with low vaccination rates, while the FDA continues efforts related to abortion pill access and vaccine preservatives.

Subject: Brain-immune crosstalk worsens the damage of heart attacks

Summary: New research in mice reveals that signals relayed via the vagus nerve between the heart and brain during heart attacks activate immune responses that worsen heart damage; blocking these signals improved outcomes, suggesting new therapeutic possibilities. Other studies highlight how blue manakins use tail-like nest decorations as disruptive camouflage to reduce predation, how critical posts on social media can predict problematic scientific papers, and concerns over sophisticated survey bots threatening social science research integrity. Features include exploration of forest bathing’s health benefits, a hallucinogenic mushroom causing consistent ‘tiny people’ visions, and ecological homogenization due to human impact.

Subject: How Breakthrough East is coming together

Summary: The upcoming STAT Breakthrough Summit East on March 19 in New York City will feature high-level discussions with leading biotech and pharma research chiefs, including Pushkal Garg (Alnylam), Jane Grogan (Biogen), and Eli Lilly’s Jacob Van Naarden, focusing on drug development strategies and oncology. CMS’s Medicare director, Chris Klomp, will share insights on leveraging technology to reform government insurance programs. The summit will also showcase social media influencers who excel at science communication. Tickets are available for in-person or online attendance, offering valuable opportunities for networking and learning in the scientific and health care community.

Stay Well!