The Readout Loud
The Readout Loud
STAT
406: New hope in treating Huntington's disease and a report card on RFK Jr.'s promises
36 minutes Posted Jun 18, 2026 at 7:39 pm.
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This week: New hope for people living with Huntington’s disease, and a report card on RFK Jr.’s effort to remake health in America. 
The Food and Drug Administration reversed its opposition to a closely watched gene therapy for Huntington’s disease, clearing a path for its maker, the biotech company UniQure, to file for U.S. approval. Joining us to discuss this new development and what it means for the Huntington’s community is Lauren Holder, a Huntington’s disease advocate who is living with the early stages of the disease. 
A pledge to “Make America Healthy Again” earned Robert F. Kennedy Jr. his job as the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. He entered the role with a long to-do list, and a goal of delivering measurable improvements within two years. How has he fared? Isabella Cueto, STAT’s chronic disease reporter, has been closely tracking Kennedy and the MAHA movement’s actions, and joins us to discuss.