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Hi there. Today, we learn that Sarepta Therapeutics pressed a patient advocacy group to censor a video containing harsh criticisms of the company — calling into question how the financial ties between biotech companies and advocacy groups impact patients. Also, neurologists are divided over the new Alzheimer’s drugs, and more.
The need-to-know this morning
- GSK and the venture capital firm Flagship Pioneering have created a research collaboration to develop new medicines, focused initially on respiratory disease and immunology.
- Syndax Pharmaceuticals said the FDA extended the review of its drug to treat patients with leukemia by three months, to Dec. 26.
- The FDA approved a screening blood test to detect colon cancer made by Guardant Health.
Sarepta sought to quiet gene therapy criticism
Sarepta Therapeutics pressed a patient advocacy group to censor a video that included criticism of the company’s $3.2 million gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, STAT’s Adam Feuerstein reports exclusively. Specifically, the video in question showed the mother of a teenager with the degenerative disease confronting a company executive at a recent conference about a lack of efficacy and safety data on Sarepta’s treatment, Elevidys.
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