Recon: Takeda CEO Weber to step down; Merck halts PAH drug trial early on strong efficacy data

• Live updates: RFK Jr., Trump’s HHS pick, questioned on vaccine views at second confirmation hearing (STAT)
• Kennedy says he will finalize rules that increase diversity in clinical trials (Reuters)
• The 7 big topics RFK Jr. addressed during a fiery confirmation hearing (STAT)
• RFK blog: Republican swing votes question Kennedy's vaccine stances (Endpoints)
• Trump administration cancels meetings of health technology advisory committee (STAT)
• Merck to stop lung condition drug study early due to strong efficacy data (Reuters)

• Takeda CEO Christophe Weber to step down following prolonged drop in company shares (STAT)
• Bright Green budgets $3.5B for new builds; European Commission opens biomanufacturing hub (Endpoints)
• Is India’s Ban On Imports Of Refurbished Medical Devices Right Move? Industry Debates The Effects (MedTech Insight)
• Biocon's Q3 revenue dips; banks on obesity drugs for future growth (Reuters)
• Sanofi plans share buybacks, signals more deals post Opella sale (Reuters)
• Roche sees high single-digit core profit growth in 2025 (Reuters)
• Uganda confirms Ebola case in nurse in capital city (STAT)

• When is a Confirmatory Trial “Underway” or Conducted with “Due Diligence” Enough for Accelerated Approval? FDA Explains Its New Authorities (FDA Law Blog)
• Takeda scraps programs as it raises full-year guidance (Endpoints)
• Cargo to lay off staff after CAR-T data show safety concerns (STAT)
• MASH drugs reach a meaningful tipping point for patients and investors (STAT)
• Hims is making its Super Bowl debut with an ad that goes straight for pharma (Endpoints)
• Blackstone secures $1.6B so far for new life sciences fund targeted at $5B+ (Endpoints)
• Rentschler exits cell and gene business due to low demand, will prioritize biologics (Endpoints)
• Ironwood's layoffs; Shionogi’s RSV pill succeeds in Phase 2 (Endpoints)
• Tectonic gets Phase 1b win in heart condition where Eli Lilly recently failed (Endpoints)
• 8VC, a tech and life sciences VC firm behind Altos Labs, eyes $1B fund (Endpoints)
• Roche aims for derisked deals and ruthless portfolio cuts in 2025 (Endpoints)
• Novo Nordisk says it has not yet posted details about new CagriSema trial (Reuters)

• Thermo Fisher sees robust 2025 profit on improved demand for its tools and services (Reuters)
• Quest beats quarterly estimates on strong diagnostic test demand (Reuters)
• What models flourished in the first generation of health tech? (STAT)
• How AI helps drug developers skirt pharma’s ‘dirty little secret’ (STAT)
• Engineered muscle patch fixed failing hearts in an early study (STAT)
• How Define Ventures thinks health tech startups will exit in 2025 (Endpoints)
• 4 robotic surgery trends to watch in 2025 (MedTech Dive)
• 23andMe considers sale as cash runs low (MedTech Dive)
• Acting Commish Brenner May Bring IT Focus (MedTech Insight)

• What I learned about health insurance rage as the nation’s first ‘HMO czar’ (STAT)
• Private emails show RFK Jr. making false claims about Covid-19 shots, linking vaccines to autism (STAT)
• Universities fear Trump is using lucrative research grants as leverage to dismantle their DEI programs (Endpoints)
• Despite waiver from U.S. on aid freeze, health and humanitarian groups uncertain if they can proceed (Reuters)