Killed Nurse's Parents Open Up About Son's Death

Stroke therapy halted in trial; garlic and heart health examined

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The parents of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, who was killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, have opened up about their son's death, saying "there was no reason he should have died that day." Meanwhile, the FDA has refused to consider Moderna's application for a new flu vaccine made with mRNA technology, and the NIH has paused a clinical trial testing a potential stroke treatment due to safety and ineffectiveness concerns.

Why it matters

This story highlights the tragic loss of a young nurse's life at the hands of federal agents, raising questions about use of force and immigration enforcement policies. The news about the Moderna flu vaccine and the stroke therapy trial pause also reflect ongoing challenges in drug development and clinical research.

The details

The parents of Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse who was killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, have spoken out about their son's death, saying "there was no reason he should have died that day." The FDA has refused to consider Moderna's application for a new flu vaccine made with Nobel Prize-winning mRNA technology, and the NIH has halted a clinical trial testing low-dose rivaroxaban and aspirin as a potential stroke treatment after the combination was found to be unsafe and ineffective.

  • The parents of Alex Pretti have recently opened up about their son's death.
  • The FDA's refusal of Moderna's flu vaccine application was announced recently.
  • The NIH paused the stroke therapy clinical trial recently.

The players

Alex Pretti

An intensive care nurse who was killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.

Moderna

A pharmaceutical company that developed a new flu vaccine using mRNA technology.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The U.S. government's medical research agency that paused a clinical trial testing a potential stroke treatment.

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What they’re saying

“There was no reason he should have died that day,”

— Alex Pretti's parents (New York Times)

The takeaway

This story highlights the tragic loss of a young nurse's life, the ongoing challenges in drug development, and the need for continued research and oversight in the medical field to ensure patient safety and effective treatments.