It seems like a good time to release my essay about CABARET (1972) from behind the paywall. Enjoy: www.deepfocusreview.com/definitives/... #MovieSky #FilmSky

In the wake of a mass shooting in Minnesota that left two children dead and 17 others injured, RFK Jr. again suggested a link between psychiatric medications -- particularly antidepressants -- and violent behavior. But what do scientists say about such claims? 👇

Another EO about grants, this one directing the attorney general to investigate "lobbying" in the form of "taxpayer funds ... being spent on grants with highly political overtones." Expect we'll see more targeting of universities by the DOJ.

RFK Jr. said NIH will launch studies into whether antidepressant drugs and other psychiatric medications contribute to violent behavior, including mass shootings. He claimed NIH has authority to access the medical histories of shooters through IRB approval. insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/r...

1. NEW: The U.S. Commerce Department has launched an aggressive review of Harvard University’s management of patents tied to federally funded research, accusing the Ivy League institution of violating disclosure laws under the Bayh-Dole Act. 👇

NEW: European pharmaceutical imports will be hit with a 15% tariff under the U.S.-EU agreement when the Section 232 duties are implemented, a White House official said today, clarifying that the rate is the maximum that will apply to EU pharma products.

NEW: NIH Director met privately with current and former agency employees on Monday where he affirmed support for dissent, academic freedom, and LGBTQ+ health research “as long as it’s not ideological.” They spoke about grant terminations, forward funding model and more.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has tapped George Tidmarsh -- former CEO of several biopharma companies -- to lead CDER, a pick that contradicts Makary’s repeated vows to purge industry influence from the health agency. insidehealthpolicy.com/share/149608

Can’t wait :)

Rather than pursuing an outright ban that could spark legal battles, HHS is weighing targeted measures to make DTC drug ads harder and costlier to produce. An industry insider says the pullback is unlikely without regulation & warned an outright ban could leave a vacuum for unregulated misinfo.

EXCLU: Sen. Bernie Sanders wants an investigation of Health Secretary RFK Jr.’s recent decision to fire all 17 members of the nation’s top vaccine advisory committee. via @margaretmanto.bsky.social www.notus.org/health-scien...

To be clear, Judge Young is ruling that the NIH terminations were neither "reasoned" nor "reasonable" based on the legal standard previously set forth by the Supreme Court for reviewing agency actions (e.g., terminations) under the APA. This is very good for plaintiffs.

1. NEW: HHS Secretary RFK Jr. promised unbiased experts free of conflicts of interest would replace the members of ACIP he dismissed, but two of the newly tapped vaccine advisers have served as paid expert witnesses in lawsuits targeting major vaccine makers.

NEW: Trump admin's push to revive MFN policy alongside ongoing uncertainty around tariffs and Medicare drug price negotiations -- is creating deep uncertainty for the future of generic and biosimilar drug development in the U.S., says @AccessibleMeds president. insidehealthpolicy.com/share/148731

NEW: NIH suspension of dozens of university research grants risk stalling innovation that private companies can’t replicate, industry leaders warn as NIH scientists recently protested a town hall over what the scientists describe as an inability to conduct research under the second Trump admin.

In the whirlwind that was Jeanne Moreau…

NEW: Top health policy experts argue that President Trump’s EO to lower drug prices using a most favored nation policy lacks a clear legal basis and say the administration is likely to pursue the policy through an experimental CMMI model. More details here: insidehealthpolicy.com/share/148526

Details on today’s drug pricing EO: insidehealthpolicy.com/share/148374

US and UK are laying the groundwork for a major shift in pharmaceutical trade to negotiate “significantly preferential” tariff treatment for medicines and ingredients as part of the trade deal. insidehealthpolicy.com/inside-drug-...

As a first step toward an upcoming effort to tighten scrutiny over grants, NIH announced it will prohibit all subawards to foreign institutions, citing concerns over transparency and national security. insidehealthpolicy.com/share/148228

Health researchers are raising alarms about an HHS move to require all new vaccines to undergo placebo-controlled safety trials before approval, calling the move scientifically misguided and politically driven. @reshmagar.bsky.social @akesselheim.bsky.social insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/h...

One of the most beautiful essays on Tarkovsky’s Stalker I’ve read so far. Join DFR and explore it yourself… Link: www.patreon.com/posts/127616...

Check out our coverage of the first 100 days of the Trump administration! insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/t...

NEW: insidehealthpolicy.com/inside-drug-...

NEW: insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/f...

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged to restore Freedom of Information Act offices and overhaul the FOIA process to increase transparency and public access to government records in remarks Tuesday (April 23).

Breaking: Harvard sues Trump admin over threats to cut funding. Complaint: www.harvard.edu/research-fun...

Hi, I’m Maaisha Osman. I cover federal health agencies, pharmaceutical tariffs and policies related to drug pricing. My work: insidehealthpolicy.com/authors/Maai... I also write about cinema. My latest essay is on Chris Marker’s La Jetée (1962): www.deepfocusreview.com/the-labyrint...