Jason Ukman
@JasonUkman
Managing editor @statnews, ex @washingtonpost editor. Contactable: [email protected]
As HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has called for fluoride to be from water, he has framed it as an issue of medical freedom. Now, the FDA is weighing banning oral fluoride supplements, a decision critics say would restrict that freedom. Via @AnilOza16 statnews.com/2025/07/24/flu…
The dust-up between Sarepta Therapeutics and the FDA has rightly generated all kinds of headlines lately. But this one, from @Jasonmmast, is about those most affected by it all: Duchenne patients and their families. statnews.com/2025/07/24/duc…
A new paper adds weight to an argument about why most U.S. bird flu cases have so far been mild. trib.al/63DPh7n
Eagle-eyed @HelenBranswell notes that, while @SecKennedy accepted an advisory panel's rec to drop thimerosal from flu vaccines, he has NOT accepted a rec that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu shot. That is still “under review,” HHS says. statnews.com/2025/07/23/ken…

Solid tumors have challenged CAR-T developers. This biotech raised $216 million to test a new approach statnews.com/2025/07/23/sea… via @statnews
Excellent story from @TedAlcorn, and a reminder that, for better or worse, policies have consequences. Kentucky’s campaign to improve rural cancer care is a national model. Federal cuts threaten its progress statnews.com/2025/07/23/can…
EXCLUSIVE: Sarepta Therapeutics’ $SRPT Duchenne therapy faces ‘arduous’ path back to market, senior FDA official says statnews.com/2025/07/22/fda… via @Jasonmmast and me.
And you thought *your* job was hard. science.org/content/articl…

Latest: A race to develop a new class of narcolepsy drugs could not only transform treatment for patients with the rare sleep disorder, but also many people with common health conditions like Alzheimer's and depression who struggle to stay awake. statnews.com/2025/07/22/nar…
Pioneering HIV scientist Robert Gallo issues a clarion call on the impact of cuts to medical research. Worth a read. statnews.com/2025/07/22/rob…
10 million expected to lose health insurance under Trump’s tax cut law, CBO says statnews.com/2025/07/21/cbo…
The lesson of Sarepta Therapeutics vs. the FDA is clear, @matthewherper writes: In medicine, listening to critics, and responding with data, is the surest path forward. statnews.com/2025/07/21/sar…
New @statnews op-ed: We are mothers of Duchenne patients. Recent setbacks with Sarepta Therapeutics must not stop progress. statnews.com/2025/07/18/sar…
Peter Marks, the FDA official who overruled his own staff to approve Sarepta's Duchenne gene therapy, told STAT he agreed with the decision to pause shipments after recent deaths. “It does seem like it makes a fair amount of sense to get a better handle on the issues before…
GOP tax law will increase overdose deaths by 1,000 each year, according to a group of health economics researchers. statnews.com/2025/07/18/med…
Why MAHA’s push on Coca-Cola and ice cream is ‘nutritionally hilarious’ Via @statnews statnews.com/2025/07/17/coc…
The first Medicare physician payment rule under RFK Jr. proposes cuts to thousands of procedures, scans, and tests because doctors have gotten more "efficient" over time. Specialty physicians, and the AMA, are big mad. more w/ @TaraBannow: statnews.com/2025/07/16/med…
The tail wagging the dog on stem cells. My new @statnews column on how RFK Jr.’s FDA may take cues on stem cells from red-state laws, clinic doctors statnews.com/2025/07/17/rfk… #stemcells #stemcell
An overlooked demographic has the highest suicide risk: men 75 and older. statnews.com/2025/07/17/sui…
HHS leadership shakeup: Kennedy fires top aides statnews.com/2025/07/16/ken…