STAT+: Pfizer accused of major tax-dodging scheme 

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Morning. Today, we start unraveling the news about the plans for 10,000 job cuts at HHS announced by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Also, Democratic senators are accusing Pfizer of the largest tax-dodging scheme in pharma history. 

The need-to-know this morning

• Advisers to the European Medicines Agency voted to deny the approval of Kisunla, Eli Lilly’s treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease. The benefits of Kisunla did not outweigh the risks of potentially fatal events due to brain bleeding, the advisers said. Lilly, in a statement, said it intends to appeal the decision.
• Milestone Pharmaceuticals said the FDA rejected its application seeking approval for an inhaled drug to treat adults with certain types of abnormal heart rhythm. The FDA cited manufacturing deficiencies as the reason for the rejection, Milestone said.

10,000 jobs to be cut at HHS, including 3,500 at FDA

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is slashing HHS, with plans to cut 10,000 jobs and halve the the agency’s divisions in what he is calling an effort to streamline bureaucracy and tackle chronic disease. He says the restructuring will save $1.8 billion a year — 0.1% of HHS’s budget — but former officials see the moves amounting to amateur hour and warn that morale is tanking and essential services could crumble.

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