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Heather McKenzie

Heather McKenzie

Senior Editor

Heather McKenzie is a professional journalist with more than five years experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Since joining BioSpace, she has written more than 200 features and breaking news articles with a particular focus in neuroscience and gene therapy. She has also traveled internationally to cover global biotech hubs such as Israel. In previous roles, she has covered current affairs, sports, education and politics. She previously spent eight years as a senior content producer for executive-level business conferences in the pharma/biotech, legal, energy and business strategy sectors. In her free time, Heather enjoys creative writing, spending time with family and playing with her energetic Russian Blue cat Roofus. She hails from Toronto and has also lived in Chicago and Chesapeake, Virginia. You can reach her at heather.mckenzie@biospace.com.

Policy
Makary, Prasad Lay Out Mission for FDA in Journal Kennedy Called ‘Corrupt’
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and CBER Director Vinay Prasad published an article in JAMA on Tuesday outlining the FDA’s priorities, including accelerating cures and the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence.
June 11, 2025
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3 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Podcast
RFK Axes CDC Vaccine Advisors; Metsera’s Weight Loss Win; FDA Supports CGT
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made waves this week, firing the remaining members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; Metsera’s amylin drug produced weight loss of 8.4% at 36 days; and FDA leaders gathered last week to discuss the future of cell and gene therapy, a sector that has been in turmoil since the ousting of CBER Chief Peter Marks.
June 11, 2025
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1 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Vaccines
‘More Critical’ Vaccine Advisors Expected Following Kennedy’s ACIP Ouster
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s removal of all remaining members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices raises questions about the upcoming meeting later this month. Analysts fear the committee could be more sympathetic to the HHS Secretary’s anti-vax viewpoints.
June 10, 2025
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3 min read
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Heather McKenzie
vaccines
In ‘Bold’ Move, RFK Jr. ‘Retires’ All 17 Members of CDC’s Vaccine Committee
Two weeks of upheaval at the CDC culminated Monday in the complete reconstitution of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pens op-ed criticizing “conflicts of interest” he says exist on the current committee.
June 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Unvaccinated And vaccinated people as anti-vaxxer or individuals that oppose taking the vaccine with 3D illustration elements.
Vaccines
ACIP Members Receive Termination Notices as Fears Mount Over RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Machinations
The loss of special government employee status for four members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices follows the resignation of ACIP co-lead Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos, who left in protest of a controversial change in COVID-19 recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women.
June 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
an illustration of an American flag being torn in half by a syringe
Editorial
Desperate Times, Desperate Measures? RFK’s Vaccine Campaign Only Breeds More Distrust
Vaccine skepticism is at an all-time high in the U.S., and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is making some drastic moves in the name of reversing that trend. But misinformation and inconsistencies within the country’s healthcare agencies highlight problems with his approach.
June 6, 2025
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8 min read
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Jef Akst
neurodegenerative diseases as Alzheimer's Disease Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis or MS representing Huntington's Disease and Stress or anxiety and dementia as a brain disorder neurology and psychiatry symbol
Huntington’s disease
uniQure’s Regulatory Progress Sparks Optimism for ‘Desperate’ Huntington’s Space
Analysts reacted positively to the news that uniQure is in alignment with the FDA on an accelerated approval pathway and on target for a Q1 2026 submission for its one-time gene therapy for Huntington’s disease—but patients have been here before.
June 5, 2025
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6 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Podcast
M&A Ticks Up, ASCO Excites and Vaccines Cause More Drama
Sanofi and BMS paid big money for rare disease and cancer assets, while Regeneron got in the obesity game; AstraZeneca, Gilead and Amgen shone at ASCO; RFK Jr. and the CDC appeared to disagree over COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and several news outlets are questioning the validity of the White House’s Make America Healthy Again report.
June 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Podcast
COVID-19 Vaccine Overhaul, Rocket Grounded, ‘One Tough Hombre’ on MFN
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. removes the COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for healthy kids and pregnant women—the latest in a string of changes to vaccine policies; judge issues an order to halt HHS’ reorganization and mass layoff plans; Rocket Pharmaceuticals’ pivotal Danon disease trial is on hold after a patient death; and President Trump has named Mehmet Oz to spearhead his Most Favored Nation drug pricing policy.
May 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Syndeio CEO Derek Small,
Funding
Karuna, Naurex Alumni Launch New Biotech to Modulate Synaptic Plasticity for Neuro Diseases
With $90 million to start, Syndeio has a lead asset in Phase II clinical trials for major depressive disorder, with plans to soon launch a biomarker trial in Alzheimer’s disease.
May 27, 2025
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3 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Vaccines
mRNA Helped Quell COVID-19 but COVID-19 ‘Maimed’ mRNA
Vocal skeptics of COVID-19 vaccinations gave mRNA a bad name and government funding for mRNA research is now being cut. On the flip side, at least one CEO said the pandemic also provided “elevated acceleration” for the field, which also holds promise in therapeutics for cancer and rare diseases.
May 27, 2025
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6 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Podcast
Pfizer’s $6B China Deal, Drug Pricing and FDA’s New COVID Vaccine Plan
China continues to be a source of innovation as Pfizer strikes biggest pact yet; HHS provides more info on Trump’s Most Favored Nation executive order; FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and CBER director Vinay Prasad reveal new COVID-19 vaccine strategy following Novavax approval; ODAC underway after chaotic planning; more.
May 21, 2025
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
FDA
FDA’s New Risk-Based Approach to COVID-19 Vaccines Aims to Ease ‘Public Distrust’: Makary, Prasad
The new framework was well-received by biopharma analysts, who say it “largely formalizes” current COVID-19 vaccination trends.
May 20, 2025
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4 min read
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Heather McKenzie
Cardiovascular disease
Deep Dive: Checkpoint Inhibitors at a Crossroads
A new generation of checkpoint inhibitors is emerging, with some showing more promise than others. From recent TIGIT failures to high-potential targets like VEGF, BioSpace explores what’s on the horizon in immuno-oncology.
May 19, 2025
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2 min read
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Heather McKenzie
illustration of man lost in a maze full of arrows, surreal abstract concept
FDA
Makary’s ‘Conditional Approval’ Pathway for Rare Diseases Poses More Questions Than Answers
While sparking excitement among biopharma companies focused on rare and ultrarare indications, experts say FDA Commissioner Marty Makary’s proposal is light on details and raises potential concerns about safety, access and liability.
May 19, 2025
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10 min read
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Heather McKenzie
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