• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
HealthBrainstorm Health

uBiome Has a Leadership Problem Amid FBI Woes: Brainstorm Health

By
Sy Mukherjee
Sy Mukherjee
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Sy Mukherjee
Sy Mukherjee
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 1, 2019, 6:45 PM ET

Happy Monday, readers!

The Wall Street Journaland Business Insider report that uBiome, a lab testing and gut science startup that’s brushed up against FBI investigations over alleged billing shenanigans, is grappling with yet another set of executive shakeups.

John Rakow, the company’s general counsel who’s served as interim CEO for all of two months, is reportedly leaving the company. He will be replaced by three directors who will oversee operations, according to FierceBiotech; company founders and former co-CEOs Jessica Richman and Zac Apte, who were relegated to board positions following the initial FBI raid firestorm, will also reportedly resign from the board.

An FBI raid earlier this year led to increased scrutiny of uBiome by insurers and other regulators—including massive organizations like Anthem, Aetna, and the California Department of Insurance. The allegations include charges of fraudulent billing and potentially troubling relationships between the company and the physicians who ordered its tests.

uBiome, for its part, has initiated internal investigations into those allegations (the very investigations leading to the recent leadership shakeups). For now, its interim leadership will consist of a trio from the consulting firm Goldin Associates.

Read on for the day’s news.

Sy Mukherjee
@the_sy_guy
sayak.mukherjee@fortune.com

DIGITAL HEALTH

Elizabeth Holmes, ahead of 2020 trial, says the media is why Theranos came tumbling down. Elizabeth Holmes and former second-in-command Sunny Balwani will be heading to federal court in July 2020 over the pair's alleged fraud as leaders of Theranos, the blood testing startup that came tumbling down following detailed reports from the Wall Street Journal alleging major deception by Holmes and Balwani. Holmes' lawyers have chosen an interesting tact in the case: Blame the messenger for ostensibly "exerting influence on the regulatory process in a way that appears to have warped the agencies’ focus on the company and possibly biased the agencies’ findings against it." (The Hill)

INDICATIONS

Pfizer's Viagra fails in quest to be a children's hypertension drug. Sildenafil, the active ingredient in the drug more commonly known as Viagra, is has a history in the heart treatment world. After all, researchers were attempting to create a heart medication when they stumbled upon the compound's other, err, enhancing effects—and it's actually approved as a treatment for pulmonary hypertension among some people. But the treatment won't be winning an add-on indication for treatment of pulmonary hypertension in infants following a failed phase 3 trial. Sometimes, the best laid plans of blockbuster drugs stumble, too. (Endpoints News)

THE BIG PICTURE

Ten states, D.C. sue for stricter asbestos rules. Ten U.S. states and the District of Columbia on Monday (led by California and Massachusetts) are suing the Environmental Protection Agency to implement more stringent asbestos rules after the EPA declined the suing parties' request to collect more data on the issue. The EPA has previously argued it is already aware of the dangers associated with the carcinogenic substance, making the new data collection moot. (Reuters)

REQUIRED READING

How Mastercard Is Trying to Put Cash Out of Business, by Jen Wieczner

Protests Mount on Anniversary of Hong Kong's Handover, by Associated Press

Old Navy CEO: Open for Business Should Mean Open for Everyone, by Sonia Syngal

Microsoft Is Pressing Delete on Customers' Digital Bookshelves, by Alyssa Newcomb

Find past coverage. Sign up for other Fortune newsletters.

About the Author
By Sy Mukherjee
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Health

Best protein lead image
HealthDietary Supplements
The 8 Best Protein Powders of 2025: How to Choose, According to an RD
By Christina SnyderDecember 9, 2025
2 days ago
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB as best creatine
HealthDietary Supplements
The Best Creatine Supplements of 2025: Tested and Approved
By Christina SnyderDecember 9, 2025
2 days ago
Jon Rosemberg
CommentaryProductivity
The cult of productivity is killing us
By Jon RosembergDecember 9, 2025
2 days ago
Trump
CommentaryTariffs and trade
AI doctors will be good at science but bad at business, and big talk with little action means even higher drugs prices: 10 healthcare predictions for 2026 from top investors
By Bob Kocher, Bryan Roberts and Siobhan Nolan ManginiDecember 9, 2025
2 days ago
Kevin Kiley
PoliticsElections
‘It absolutely matters politically’: Swing-district Republicans alarmed at spiking health insurance premiums tipping midterms
By Marc Levy, Kevin Freking and The Associated PressDecember 8, 2025
3 days ago
HealthHealth
These toxic wild mushrooms have caused a deadly outbreak of poisoning in California
By The Associated PressDecember 7, 2025
4 days ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Success
At 18, doctors gave him three hours to live. He played video games from his hospital bed—and now, he’s built a $10 million-a-year video game studio
By Preston ForeDecember 10, 2025
20 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
Exclusive: U.S. businesses are getting throttled by the drop in tourism from Canada: ‘I can count the number of Canadian visitors on one hand’
By Dave SmithDecember 10, 2025
18 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
‘Be careful what you wish for’: Top economist warns any additional interest rate cuts after today would signal the economy is slipping into danger
By Eva RoytburgDecember 10, 2025
12 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
‘Fodder for a recession’: Top economist Mark Zandi warns about so many Americans ‘already living on the financial edge’ in a K-shaped economy 
By Eva RoytburgDecember 9, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Uncategorized
Transforming customer support through intelligent AI operations
By Lauren ChomiukNovember 26, 2025
14 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Fed’s expected rate cut today is less about stimulating the economy and more about protecting the job market from ‘shattering’
By Eleanor PringleDecember 10, 2025
19 hours ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.