STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Moderna’s flu shot, a death in a gene-editing trial in China, and more

Good morning, and welcome to the Pharmalot report. Our spirits are high today despite the gloomy weather outside. We begin with an update on Moderna's influenza vaccine, the first one made using messenger RNA technology, which the FDA has approved for older adults. This marks a significant shift after the agency initially refused to review the vaccine based on available data.

Vinay Prasad, the FDA's head of biologics, overruled the staff recommendation, but his decision was later reversed when Moderna expressed dissatisfaction.

Moving on to China, a tragic incident has occurred in a gene-editing trial. Details are still emerging, but the case has raised concerns within the scientific community. We then shift our focus to Takeda's approval of a new treatment for narcolepsy. The twice-daily pill, Orzeyful, is an orexin receptor agonist that could potentially treat a broader range of neurologic conditions.

Current treatments have risks of misuse and often leave patients feeling sleepy. Orzeyful's unique approach might change the landscape of sleep disorder management. Continue to STAT+ for the complete story.