The Readout Loud 359: Vaccine policy frays, CDC nominee in the hot seat, & obesity drug side effects
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Jun 26, 2025 Helen Branswell, a senior writer for infectious diseases at STAT, and Chelsea Cirruzzo, a Washington correspondent for STAT, dive into the latest CDC happenings, including a heated confirmation hearing for its new nominee. They discuss significant findings from the American Diabetes Association meeting, highlighting challenges with obesity drug side effects. The duo also laments the summer movie season's disappointments while reminiscing about classic blockbusters like 'Jaws.' It’s a mix of health insights and cinematic nostalgia worth a listen!
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Maritide's Side Effect Challenge
- Amgen's obesity drug Maritide shows strong weight loss but very high vomiting rates are a major hurdle.
- The company hopes slower dose titration will reduce side effects in their ongoing phase 3 trials.
Vertex Cell Therapy Hope and Hurdles
- Vertex's cell therapy for type 1 diabetes shows promise as a novel treatment potentially nearing a cure.
- However, patients must take lifelong immunosuppressive drugs to prevent immune rejection, complicating its use.
New CDC Vaccine Panel Expertise Gap
- The new CDC vaccine advisory committee lacks extensive vaccine expertise, leading to prolonged discussions.
- One member, Ritsev Levy, questioned vaccine trial deaths without understanding standard reporting, illustrating their learning curve.