Pfizer’s sickle cell drug gets pulled off the market. Plus, Akeso’s global ambitions, 23andMe needs saving, and more.

Happy Friday, everyone! As we close out the week and the beautiful month of September, we want to highlight the biggest stories in biotech, pharma, and health tech for you.?

Alexander here: On a personal note, this weekend will mark nine years at STAT. I have so enjoyed championing STAT for all these years and am looking forward to continuing to spread the good word.?

Now, let’s hop to it? …?

Pfizer pulls its sickle cell drug

So 辉瑞 made some news this week that shocked advocates and doctors: Its sickle cell drug Oxbryta will be yanked off the market .?

Why did they make this decision? The pharmaceutical giant cited safety concerns — researchers have reported a number of deaths among patients who were receiving it.?

What exactly happened? What does this mean for patients and sickle cell clinics? Read this story from an all-star team of STAT reporters.

Akeso has global ambitions

You may have heard of Akeso — the Chinese biotech that had kept a low profile until its drug bested 默克 ’s mega-blockbuster Keytruda in a late-stage lung cancer trial.?

Well, Akeso’s leaders want you to know that its recent success isn’t a one-off.?

Jonathan Wosen, PhD has what’s next for the Chinese biotech.

Can Anne Wojcicki save 23andMe??

The future of 23andMe and CEO Anne Wojcicki 's unique vision for genetic testing are both at stake as the company's shares continue to fall. Our colleague Matthew Herper offers his thoughts on whether she can bring it back to life one more time.?

New generic drug lobby leader

After almost two years without one, the trade association for generic drugs and biosimilars has finally chosen a new leader: John Murphy. You may know John - he was the CEO at BIO.?

John Wilkerson and Rachel Cohrs Zhang explore what this new leadership means for the lobby group.?

Apple wants to diagnose sleep apnea

A new feature on the 苹果 Watch can detect if you may have sleep apnea. Mario Aguilar consulted sleep tech experts and doctors to break down how it works and how accurate it really is .?

FDA approves schizophrenia drug

For decades, doctors caring for people with schizophrenia have relied on mood-regulating drugs that target the brain chemical dopamine. This week, the FDA approved for the first time a new type of medicine that may change the way the psychiatric disorder is treated. ?

Cassava faces $40 million fine

The SEC filed charges against Cassava Sciences, former CEO Remi Barbier, and former senior vice president of neuroscience Lindsay Burns accusing them of making several misleading claims in September 2020 related to a midstage trial of its Alzheimer’s drug, simufilam. Here are the details .?

ARCH raises $30 million for biotech new fund

Biotech stocks have dropped and valuations have shifted in the ppast few years. That's led some VC firms to change up their tactics. Not ARCH Venture Partners .?

The Chicago-based firm is sticking to its long-running, and contrarian, investment strategy. Our colleague Allison DeAngelis has a story on ARCH’s latest fund .?

Public Health Updates?

Study finds MRI cuts overdiagnosis in prostate cancer screening

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday showed that using MRI scans can reduce unnecessary diagnosis and treatment of screen-detected prostate cancer by more than half.

Angus Chen has the story .

More bird flu cases

An investigation into the still unexplained human H5N1 bird flu infection in Missouri has turned up four additional health care workers who developed mild respiratory illness symptoms after caring for the patient in hospital in August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday .

As always, we turn to Helen Branswell for more .?