Lizzy Lawrence
@lizzylawrence.bsky.social
Journalist @statnews.bsky.social, writing about the Food and Drug Administration. Tips welcome! Signal is lizzylaw.53
Exclusive: Sen. Rand Paul published Anthony Fauci's diary entries without redacting the names or medical details of over 20 people, including people with cancer, Ebola or HIV. www.notus.org/health-scien...
Rand Paul’s Fauci Diary Dump Exposed Peoples’ Medical Histories
The Republican senator’s office published over 20 individuals’ health information without redaction.
notus.org
Update: Lilly just confirmed that it will allow other patients to apply for early compassionate use access to retatrutide. More here: www.statnews.com/2026/08/03/e...
Eli Lilly to allow more patients to apply for special access to unapproved obesity drug
Doctors are asking how to get retatrutide for their patients, after Eli Lilly gave one man early access.
statnews.com
STAT@statnews.com · 2d agoSix weeks after STAT reported that Eli Lilly granted a single 79-year-old patient special access to retatrutide, an unapproved obesity drug, the company confirmed on Monday that it will allow other patients to apply for early access. www.statnews.com/2026/08/03/e...
NEW: After Eli Lilly granted one man special access to the obesity drug retatrutide, doctors are struggling to get answers on whether they can get access for their patients (tho one doc did hear back after STAT asked Lilly for comment). W/@elaineywchen.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2026/08/03/e...
After Eli Lilly granted one man special access to obesity drug, doctors struggle to get answers
Doctors are asking how to get retatrutide for their patients, after Eli Lilly gave one man early access.
statnews.com
Some personal news: I'm excited to share that I'm joining The Wall Street Journal next month to cover the pharmaceutical industry. Very pumped to tackle this new, adjacent-to-the-FDA beat and meet more folks in the pharma world! I start @wsj.com on Aug 31.
Day 2 of the FDA's peptide meeting so far: The FDA's advisory panel narrowly rejected compounding of the peptide emideltide but allowed the compounding of epitalon. More TK this afternoon www.statnews.com/2026/07/24/f...
FDA advisory panel narrowly rejects compounding of one peptide, back another
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has lauded peptides and said he takes them himself.
statnews.com
NEW: In win for RFK Jr., an FDA advisory panel narrowly voted to allow compounding of two unapproved peptides, BPC-157 and KPV. Many of the panelists who voted yes have ties to the peptide industry. The panel will vote on more peptides this evening and tomorrow. www.statnews.com/2026/07/23/f...
In win for RFK Jr., FDA advisory panel narrowly votes to allow compounding of unapproved peptides
The panel recommended allowing compounding pharmacies to produce popular but unproven BPC-157 and KPV peptides.
statnews.com
What to expect from the FDA's advisory committee meeting today and Friday, where peptide enthusiasts and FDA staff will discuss whether to make certain peptides more accessible. W/ @sarah-todd.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2026/07/23/f...
FDA staff and peptide enthusiasts set to clash at advisory panel
FDA advisers are set to consider whether allowing compounding pharmacies to offer largely unproven peptides is a safer bet than the gray-market versions now in use.
statnews.com
Must read reporting from @elaineywchen.bsky.social on LifeMD, a popular telehealth company that put profits over patient safety while prescribing obesity drugs, according to former employees: www.statnews.com/2026/07/20/l...
Telemedicine company touted by Novo Nordisk stressed profits over patient safety, ex-workers say
LifeMD, a popular telehealth company, has been accused by former employees of pressing clinicians to mete out prescriptions more rapidly without sufficient screening and follow-up.
statnews.com
NEW: I looked into how Karim Mikhail, the new leader of the FDA's biologics and vaccine center, is trying to stabilize operations after Vinay Prasad's turbulent tenure: www.statnews.com/2026/07/15/f...
Under a new leader, the FDA's biologics center moves to steady itself after stormy chapter
After his predecessor's turbulent tenure, Karim Mikhail is working to restore staff morale and revisit controversial rejections.
statnews.com
Powerful, important read from @rosebroderick.bsky.social. As states absorb Medicaid funding cuts, family caregivers face financial ruin: www.statnews.com/2026/07/13/f...
As states absorb Medicaid funding cuts, family caregivers face financial ruin
Family caregivers of people with disabilities face a grim financial future as several states consider steep cuts to their wages.
statnews.com
.@chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social and I dug into a recent meeting convened by HHS to discuss best practices for deprescribing psychiatric drugs, specifically SSRI antidepressants. Read more here: www.statnews.com/2026/07/13/h...
HHS presses ahead with effort to curb antidepressant use
In a private meeting, HHS officials met with mental health professionals to work on guidance for stopping SSRIs.
statnews.com
Thank you @dgorenstein.bsky.social and @lesliemwalker.bsky.social for featuring my FDA reporting on @tradeoffs.org! It was a great conversation. Listen to the podcast episode here: tradeoffs.org/2026/07/09/a...
As Drama at Trump's FDA Subsides, Doubts and Damage Linger
We talk with STAT News reporter Lizzy Lawrence about the agency’s recent turmoil and its hunt for a new leader.
tradeoffs.org
Please read this tremendous, moving story from @jasonmast.bsky.social and @matthewherper.bsky.social about one father's $70 million quest to save his daughter Grace, and the implications his journey has for the entire rare disease therapy field. www.statnews.com/2026/07/09/m...
The quest to save Grace — and clear the way for rare disease patients everywhere
How a father’s quest may shape the future of rare disease gene therapy.
statnews.com
FDA commissioner shortlist has reached the White House, reports @danielpayne.bsky.social. Heidi Overton, Jeffrey Vacirca, and Stephen Ferrara are among the finalists: www.statnews.com/2026/07/08/n...
White House reviewing top contenders to lead FDA
The White House is reviewing finalists for FDA commissioner, suggesting the highly anticipated decision may come soon.
statnews.com
Must-read series from @bobjherman.bsky.social about the soaring costs of health insurance for America's workers and businesses: www.statnews.com/health-insur...
Soaring health care costs explored in 'Out of Pocket, Out of Reach'
America’s employer-based health insurance system is crumbling in slow motion. See how, and why, in STAT's 8-part series 'Out of Pocket, Out of Reach.'
statnews.com
here's an early #WTHealth for the holiday week! lotsa health news with @alicemiranda.bsky.social, @lizzylawrence.bsky.social, and Amanda Seitz: kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
Supreme Court Makes Health Policy - KFF Health News
The Supreme Court handed down its last decisions of its 2025-26 term this week, including in an immigration case that could result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of workers in nursing homes and ...
kffhealthnews.org
Exclusive: Vijay Kumar, top gene therapy regulator at the FDA, is leaving his role. It's a little over a year since he took over from Nicole Verdun, who was pushed out by former CBER director Vinay Prasad. www.statnews.com/2026/06/29/v...
FDA’s top gene therapy regulator is leaving his role
The departure of Vijay Kumar follows a broader leadership shakeup at the FDA.
statnews.com
NEW: Many of the new members of an FDA committee who will be advising the agency on peptides are involved with businesses that promote and prescribe peptides. More w/ @sarah-todd.bsky.social here: www.statnews.com/2026/06/29/n...
Longevity, wellness physicians named to panel advising FDA on peptides
The panel will soon consider whether to relax restrictions on certain peptides.
statnews.com
Very interesting explainer from @elizabethcooney.bsky.social on pulmonary hypertension, and why the new class of obesity drugs might help: www.statnews.com/2026/06/26/w...
What is pulmonary hypertension and why would a new GLP-1 help?
A report about unusual access to an experimental obesity drug has raised interest in the condition pulmonary hypertension.
statnews.com
NEW: Democrats press White House on who got special access to Eli Lilly’s new obesity drug www.statnews.com/2026/06/25/s...
Democrats press White House on who got special access to Eli Lilly’s new obesity drug
The unusual access to an experimental drug has captured the attention of the American public as well.
statnews.com
For @npr.org, I discussed my story on Eli Lilly granting early access of obesity drug retatrutide to a 79-year-old patient in April. You can listen here: www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
An extraordinary new obesity drug is still awaiting FDA approval. Why is one man allowed access?
Drugmaker Eli Lilly and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have granted access to retatrutide to one man, through the FDA’s so-called “compassionate use” program.
wbur.org
EXCLUSIVE: Eli Lilly gave compassionate use access to retatrutide, their unapproved powerful obesity drug, to a 79-year-old man in April. The application was arranged by a top doctor at NIH, and cleared by the FDA. www.statnews.com/2026/06/23/e...
Eli Lilly gave extraordinary obesity drug access to a 79-year-old patient. Who was it?
Exclusive: STAT has learned that Eli Lilly and the FDA allowed a 79-year-old to gain extraordinary access to an experimental obesity drug through the agency’s “compassionate use” program.
statnews.com
NEW w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social: HHS officials announced on Monday a pilot program to speed up early-stage clinical trials, in hopes of encouraging U.S.-based trials and combating Chinese dominance in the field. www.statnews.com/2026/06/22/f...
FDA to launch pilot program to speed up early-stage clinical trials
Federal health officials aim to speed up drug development and better compete with China.
statnews.com
The FDA has posted a memo that offers more insight into the disagreement between Høeg and the review team on this drug: www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_d...
accessdata.fda.gov
Lizzy Lawrence@lizzylawrence.bsky.social · 2mo agoNEW: The FDA approved Sanofi's type 1 diabetes drug that was selected for the Commissioner's National Priority Review program. Staff and former CDER director Tracy Beth Høeg had previously disagreed on the approval. www.statnews.com/2026/06/13/t...
NEW: FDA approved Colorado's plan to import cheaper drugs from Canada, making it the second U.S. state to be granted such authorization. www.statnews.com/2026/06/15/c...
FDA approves Colorado’s plan to import cheaper drugs from Canada
The FDA said it will allow Colorado to import certain prescription drugs from Canada in an effort to bring prices down for residents.
statnews.com
On this week's #WTHealth podcast: @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @lizzylawrence.bsky.social, and @sandhyawrites.bsky.social on declining insurance coverage, RFKJr's workday, and drama at the ADA meeting. kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
The Drip, Drip, Drip of Declining Coverage - KFF Health News
As predicted, the expiration of enhanced tax subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans is causing many people to lose coverage for failing to make premium payments. Meanwhile, Health and Human Se...
kffhealthnews.org
NEW: The FDA approved Sanofi's type 1 diabetes drug that was selected for the Commissioner's National Priority Review program. Staff and former CDER director Tracy Beth Høeg had previously disagreed on the approval. www.statnews.com/2026/06/13/t...
FDA approves Sanofi diabetes drug for children with stage 3 diabetes
The FDA has approved a drug that was previously caught in a dispute between career staff and the political appointee head of the CDER.
statnews.com
The HPV vaccine was approved 20 years ago this week. In a new series, CIDRAP News looks at what we've learned. In this story, we profile two sisters: Hailey was eligible for vaccination in 2006. Erica was not. 6 yrs later, Erica was diagnosed with cervical cancer. www.cidrap.umn.edu/human-papill...
Two sisters, one virus: A family devastated by HPV
cidrap.umn.edu
NEW: FDA leaders on Thursday listened to criticisms and recommendations for how to move forward with a speedy drug review program put in place by former FDA commissioner Marty Makary. www.statnews.com/2026/06/04/f...
Drug companies, patient groups urge FDA to pause commissioner’s voucher program
The White House has used the program to reward companies that help its political goals.
statnews.com
HIRING ALERT: STAT is looking for a reporter to cover declining trust in science. This reporter will examine the forces eroding the authority of scientific institutions and mainstream medicine. Apply here: www.statnews.com/careers/stat...
STAT, Reporter, Trust-in-Science
About STAT In November 2015, STAT was launched as a new national media brand focused on health, medicine, and life sciences. Since then, we have grown to
statnews.com