@amymaxmen.bsky.social
Award-winning public health reporter at KFF Health News. Bylines at Nature, New York Times, National Geographic & more. [email protected] Signal: AmyMaxmen.25 www.amymaxmen.com & https://kffhealthnews.org/news/author/amy-maxmen
@amymaxmen.bsky.socialBut does he seem like a life insurance salesman and a strip-mall wellness shopkeeper?
(Props to the illustrator on this piece @bloomberg.com) www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
@kakape.bsky.socialReposted by @amymaxmen.bsky.socialHard to find the words tonight. Helen was an amazing journalist, smart, hard-working, clear-eyed. She was also a kind, generous person and a good friend. Sad beyond words.
@amymaxmen.bsky.socialThank you!
@amymaxmen.bsky.socialI'm stunned by the news of Helen Branswell's passing. She was a force in science journalism. Gone too soon. 💔https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/13/helen-branswell-stat-reporter-obituary/
@amitchandramd.bsky.socialReposted by @amymaxmen.bsky.socialExcerpt: "After the third day of squirting an experimental drug up his nose, Dylan Meetze felt horrible." 🙄
@jonathanjarry.bsky.socialReposted by @amymaxmen.bsky.socialGreat piece on the dark side of *injecting yourself with experimental drugs you bought online*, with a very well observed conclusion. 👇
@cragcrest.bsky.socialReposted by @amymaxmen.bsky.socialGreat piece by @amymaxmen.bsky.social on the consequences of the peptide free-for-all going on right now. kffhealthnews.org/public-healt...
@cave-malum.bsky.socialReposted by @amymaxmen.bsky.socialChat rooms are fine but consumers should know how to report adverse events to FDA. Journalists and public health folks can and should encourage reporting.
@k-hought.bsky.socialReposted by @amymaxmen.bsky.socialCompanies are required to warn that experimental peptides, which haven’t been approved by the FDA, are for research use only. But many companies may soon be permitted to drop the warning because of a push by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lower barriers to their use.
@seattlebryn.bsky.socialReposted by @amymaxmen.bsky.socialYikes. Again, this is why we want an intact, functional, and competent FDA.
@amymaxmen.bsky.socialAs a debate about peptide regulation continues, the use of these drugs is skyrocketing.
People told me about terrible migraines, pain & vision problems after taking peptides. Without clinical data, doctors can't help them.
My latest: @kffhealthnews.org kffhealthnews.org/public-healt...
@amymaxmen.bsky.socialScientists warn that without clinical trial data, side-effects may go overlooked. Especially those that take time to develop. This is Brian Lee, a long-standing member of the FDA advisory committee, at the peptide meeting this summer. He was in the minority who voted against easing restrictions.
@amymaxmen.bsky.socialRFK Jr. promised to make them more accessible. Soon after, HHS appointed people who stand to profit from peptides to a committee that advised the FDA to lower barriers.
“If you want to take an experimental drug,” Kennedy has said “you ought to be able to do that.”
kffhealthnews.org/public-healt...
@amymaxmen.bsky.socialAndrew Huberman & many MAHA leaders have promoted experimental peptides. There isn't quality clinical data, so podcasters rely on animal experiments & anecdotes, often with unverifiable numbers. This is MAHA influencer, Gary Brecka, broadcasting from the White House. (Clip from YouTube)
@amymaxmen.bsky.socialRFK Jr. says he's a "big fan" of peptides & his health department has started the process of making experimental peptides more accessible -- even though they haven't undergone clinical trials proving them to be safe or effective. (Clip from YouTube)
@amymaxmen.bsky.social"This wrecks some of our lives," Dylan told me about his experience w/the peptide BPC-157. He wasn't alone. There are entire chat rooms of people who say they've been harmed.
Their voices are muffled in MAHA hype.
My latest @kffhealthnews.org / @washingtonpost.com kffhealthnews.org/public-healt...
@amymaxmen.bsky.social🍿🍿🍿🍿
@amymaxmen.bsky.socialRussian bioweapon lab-leak pandemic?
Nope, for the reasons stated in this oped from biosecurity wiz @ggronvall.bsky.social. But, she writes, there are plenty of related reasons to be worried. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/o...
@amymaxmen.bsky.social"The investigation could have a chilling effect on pediatricians, making them think twice about urging vaccinations."
@gillianbrockell.comReposted by @amymaxmen.bsky.socialI LOVE how @propublica.org dealt with official comment here, editorially and stylistically.
