Today's Healthcare Pulse
FDA greenlights durvalumab combo for high‑risk bladder cancer
The FDA approved durvalumab (Imfinzi) combined with Bacillus Calmette‑Guerin for BCG‑naïve, high‑risk non‑muscle invasive bladder cancer. The POTOMAC trial enrolled 1,018 patients and showed a 32% reduction in disease recurrence risk (hazard ratio 0.68, p=0.015). Durvalumab is given at 1,500 mg IV every four weeks for up to 13 cycles.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Apogee Therapeutics raises $1.3B royalty financing
FDA Approves Sanofi's Tzield to Delay Type 1 Diabetes in Children as Young as One Year
Sanofi’s teplizumab‑mzwv, sold as Tzield, received FDA approval to expand its use to children from age one, aiming to postpone the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes. The decision follows the PETITE‑T1D phase‑4 trial, which showed 89.6% of participants remained free from disease progression after a year, marking the first preventive therapy for such young patients.
Investment in UK Biotechs Shows Early Signs of Recovery, Report Says
Investment in UK biotechnology firms is rebounding after a mid‑2025 slowdown, according to the BioIndustry Association. In the first quarter of 2026, equity funding reached roughly $210 million, a 75% year‑over‑year rise. The number of deals climbed to 48, and the...
Femoral Fracture Patterns Reveal Southern Brazil Inequalities
A new study mapping femoral fractures among Brazil's elderly reveals stark regional gaps. Areas with dense orthopedic services report fewer fractures and complications, while remote, low‑income zones experience delayed care and higher infection rates. Seasonal analysis shows peaks during colder,...
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY): Among the Best Stocks to Buy While the Market Is Down
Eli Lilly announced a strategic acquisition of Kelonia Therapeutics for up to $7 billion, with $3.25 billion paid upfront and up to $3.75 billion in milestones. Kelonia’s in‑body CAR‑T platform, led by Phase 1 candidate KLN‑1010, expands Lilly’s oncology pipeline beyond its dominant weight‑loss franchise....
Hospital's Poor Radiation Safety Protocols Led to Cancer 'Cluster' Among Staff, Rad Tech Claims
A former radiologic technologist at University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) in Kuala Lumpur has sued the hospital, alleging that inadequate radiation safety protocols after installing a new PET scanner caused a cluster of cancer cases among staff. The claimant, Nur...
Donor Women’s Sacrifice Underscores Urgency of RhoGam Acceptance
As a med student we visited give Winnipeg Red Cross and met women donating plasma to make WinRo (back in ether day). Those with the worst outcomes had the most antibodies. They felt it was their duty to help. When...
AI Shifts Skills: De‑skill Some, Re‑skill Others
Yes, AI in Healthcare will lead to "de-skilling" of certain skills - but it will also unlock "re-skilling" in completely new domains. The question isn't whether that trade off is happening - it's figuring out what should go in each...
Working to Reduce Low-Value Preoperative Testing in Michigan
A new study by Michigan Medicine’s MPrOVE program revealed that pre‑operative testing rates for low‑risk surgeries varied dramatically across the state, ranging from 8% to 88%. By analyzing local data, the team identified that Michigan Medicine was in the top...
Blocking Gut “Signal Two” Expands Tregs, Curbs IBD
Blocking immune 'signal two' in the gut expands a specialized regulatory T cell population, suppressing intestinal inflammation and suggesting a new therapeutic approach for inflammatory bowel disease and related autoimmune conditions. immunology
New Guidelines Recommend Mammograms Every 2 Years for Older Women
The American College of Physicians (ACP) issued new guidance urging biennial mammography for average‑risk women aged 50 to 74, shifting away from annual screening. For women 40‑49, the ACP advises shared‑decision making rather than routine exams, and it recommends discontinuing...
A Free Red Bead Game Simulator: Try Dr. Deming’s Experiment Online
Mark Graban has launched a free browser‑based Red Bead Game simulator that recreates Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s classic experiment on statistical noise. The tool lets users drag a paddle through a bead box, records 24 draws, and automatically produces a...
A Political History of Australian Health Policy, Part 1: Foundations of a National Health Policy, 1913-1929
Between 1913 and 1929 Australian leaders gradually shifted health policy from a narrow focus on quarantine and disease control toward a broader national agenda. Early federal election campaigns highlighted the Commonwealth’s limited constitutional powers, but over time politicians began to...
WHO Marks 40 Years of Ottawa Charter, Calls for New Health Promotion Strategies in Europe
The World Health Organization’s European regional office marked the 40th anniversary of the Ottawa Charter on Health Promotion by convening a two‑day virtual dialogue. The event aims to redesign health‑promotion policies to confront rising non‑communicable diseases, climate change and digital...
Brazil Signs Law to Regulate Doula Profession, Aiming to Humanize Childbirth
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a law on March 8 that formally regulates the doula profession in Brazil. The legislation defines qualifications, duties and limits for birth supporters, with the goal of humanizing delivery care and lowering cesarean...
Cornell Researchers Show Stem‑Cell Vesicles Halt Cellular Aging in Lab
Researchers at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine have shown that extracellular vesicles derived from embryonic stem cells can completely halt cellular senescence in cultured cells. The finding opens a new molecular pathway for anti‑aging interventions that biohackers and biotech...
FDA Greenlights First Ibogaine Derivative Trial and Fast‑tracks Three Psychedelics
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the inaugural human study of noribogaine, an ibogaine metabolite, for alcohol‑use disorder and awarded priority‑review vouchers to three psychedelic candidates targeting depression and PTSD. The actions follow President Donald Trump's executive order to...
SkyQuest Projects Medical Devices Market to Reach $1.86 Trillion by 2033 on 5.6% CAGR
SkyQuest Technology released a market intelligence report showing the global medical devices market valued at $1.136 trillion in 2024 and projected to climb to $1.855 trillion by 2033, a 5.6% compound annual growth rate. The forecast highlights accelerating adoption of AI, robotics...
Toronto Patient Achieves Sustained HIV Remission After Bone Marrow Transplant
Clinicians at University Health Network, Unity Health Toronto and the University of Toronto reported that a 27‑year‑long HIV patient entered sustained remission after a bone‑marrow transplant using a donor with a rare HIV‑resistant mutation. The case, presented at the Canadian...
FDA Grants Priority Review to Ifinatamab Deruxtecan for Treated Small Cell Lung Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has placed the B7‑H3‑directed antibody‑drug conjugate ifinatamab deruxtecan, co‑developed by Daiichi Sankyo and Merck, under priority review for patients with previously treated extensive‑stage small cell lung cancer. The agency set a Prescription Drug User...
NTLA Set to Unveil First In‑Vivo CRISPR Phase 3 Data
Here is a video of me entering my office tomorrow knowing that $NTLA is about to present the first-ever Phase 3 data of an In Vivo (!) CRISPR Gene Editing Program. Somehow - and after @adamfeuerstein’s🧵👇- I have a feeling...
Rapid Nanofiber Spinning Fills the Gap in Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts
Researchers at Harvard have demonstrated a focused rotary jet spinning (FRJS) process that fabricates custom small‑diameter vascular grafts in minutes. The technique produces nanofiber scaffolds with tunable architecture, achieving 0.5 mm inner‑diameter tubes in under 90 seconds and larger 10 mm grafts...
CEO Turns Medicare Disruption Into $3B Valuation
“I am one of the most hated people in the industry." Chapter CEO Cobi Blumenfeld-Gantz is on a mission to save seniors thousands on their healthcare. That makes him a target for legacy Medicare providers. But business is booming, with $100M in...
Awake Colonoscopy Reveals Unbearable Pain at Flexures
A 69-year-old family physician walked into his colleague's endoscopy suite and asked for a colonoscopy with zero medication. No Versed. No Demerol. No Propofol. He stayed awake for the entire procedure and described what he felt at each anatomic landmark. ...
Home Hospice Care Subsidy to Increase by 30 Percent
Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a 10‑to‑30 percent increase in subsidies for home hospice care teams, aiming to shift more end‑of‑life services out of hospitals. The pay‑for‑performance model will allocate at least 60 percent of the extra funds...
Shingles Vaccine Boosts Longevity for Over‑50s
Done. Herpes virus neutralized 🦠 Not taking any chances with my longevity, now that shingles is associated with faster aging (though not yet a known cause). If you’re 50+, consider it. The shot will likely be money- & pain-free I even...
Epigenetic Clocks Predict Lung Cancer Risk Beyond Self‑reports
New paper: Epigenetic age clocks help predict lung cancer risk & mortality by estimating smoke exposure. Is independent of self-reported smoking history, so people probably lie about it. Clocks could help doctors predict lung cancer risk & decide on...
StockWatch: Trump Order Lifts Psychedelic Drug Shares
President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14401, directing the FDA to accelerate research and grant Commissioner’s National Priority Vouchers (CNPVs) to breakthrough psychedelic therapies. The order also mandates the HHS to allocate at least $50 million through ARPA‑H to partner with...
Acting AG’s Doctor Wife Joins NIH Advisory Council
Doctor, wife of acting U.S. attorney general appointed to NIH advisory council https://t.co/xWTc80aSph via @statnews
Taxpayers Fund Your Food and Care, Demand Input
If you’re going to ask the taxpayers to pay for your food, and then your lifetime of healthcare, they get a say in what you eat
Impact of World Ageing Festival Singapore 2026
The World Ageing Festival Singapore 2026, organized by Singapore Management University, convened policymakers, healthcare innovators, and senior‑care providers under the theme “Embracing Longevity: Asia’s Priority, The World’s Opportunity.” The three‑day event attracted thousands of participants and hundreds of exhibitors from...
Pirro Vows Same Vaccine‑Schedule Guarantees as RFK Jr.
Pirro promises to give the same sort of ironclad guarantees that RFK Jr. gave to Senator Kennedy on not tampering with the vaccine schedule.
AI's First Real Test: Designing Drugs at Isomorphic Labs
Isomorphic Labs Is About to Find Out If AI Can Actually Design a Drug https://t.co/vhQTwhIO85
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Intrauterine Fetal Death Among Pregnant Women at Banaadir Hospital Mogadishu, Somalia
A case‑control study at Benadir Hospital in Mogadishu examined 143 intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) cases and 143 matched controls to determine prevalence and risk factors. The analysis identified maternal age over 35, multigravidity, a history of prior IUFD, and lack...
Raw Peptides Degrade Instantly, Never Achieve Effect
Hi @MartinShkreli - if as you say at https://t.co/qJh2vgV0Wm that "raw peptides have a half-life measured in seconds or minutes, meaning your body destroys them almost instantly after you inject them. They never get a chance to do anything."...
Get VZV Tested, Then Vaccinate for Shingles or Chickenpox
Ask your doctor for a Chicken Pox VZV test. If you're positive, the shingles vaccine is the next step. If you've never been exposed, you can get a chickenpox vaccine, which is safe for adults, too
Novartis Antimalarial Clears Key WHO Review to Get the Combo Drug to Babies
Novartis’s Coartem Baby, the first antimalarial specifically designed for infants, has cleared the World Health Organization’s pre‑qualification review, allowing public‑sector and donor agencies to procure the drug in regions lacking robust regulatory systems. The formulation, a liquid‑dissolvable, cherry‑flavored version of artemether‑lumefantrine,...
Team Finds Surprising Food Source for Tumors
University of Rochester researchers discovered that cancer cells, particularly breast tumors, consume the antioxidant glutathione as a primary fuel source. Analysis of tumor fluid revealed abundant glutathione, and preclinical experiments showed that inhibiting its uptake slows tumor growth. The team...
Low Testosterone May Drain Energy—Try Oral TRT
Low testosterone might be causing your energy and mood issues. If you want to try testosterone, I recommend my Oral Testosterone Replacement Therapy from @thrivebetterrx. Oral TRT supports strength, stamina, and sexual performance, and with Thrive, your treatment is guided...
The Hidden Costs of Delayed Diagnosis and Diagnostic Ambiguity
Healthcare systems routinely accept delayed diagnosis and diagnostic ambiguity, but the hidden costs extend far beyond missed treatment windows. Prolonged uncertainty fuels patient stress, depression, and loss of trust, while repeated misdirected referrals inflate expenses and compound clinical complexity. Administrative...
Why Those Outside Healthcare Control Its Future
The article argues that external forces—big‑tech, finance, employers, and regulators—are reshaping the U.S. health system faster than traditional insiders can adapt. It highlights how AI tools, private capital, and shifting public expectations are driving cost‑cutting and transparency initiatives. Recent data...
RFK Jr. Blasts "Abhorrent" Assisted Suicide: "We Can't Be A Moral Society If America Follows"
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warned U.S. lawmakers that Canada’s expanding assisted‑suicide program, known as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), is now the leading cause of death in the country. He cited figures showing Canada on...
AI's Role in Extending Human Healthspan
My interview on healthspan and AI with @mmlederman1 and @LCalabreseDO @paijournal transcript video https://t.co/cRGtTIN1EN https://t.co/soUWAuPU02
New AMA Study Finds Burnout Is Decreasing Among Medical Residents And Fellows
The American Medical Association’s latest survey of more than 3,000 residents and fellows shows a notable decline in burnout and job stress, with burnout dropping to 28.6% and stress to 34.2% compared with the previous year. Satisfaction with training programs...
Insurers Profit by Paying Claims, Not Denying Them
Few people understand: Health insurance companies make most of their profit by paying claims, not by denying them.
Housatonic Valley Health District Launches Stress Awareness Month Campaign with Community Resources
The Housatonic Valley Health District (HVHD) announced a district‑wide Stress Awareness Month campaign in April, offering free educational materials, workshops, and emergency‑preparedness tips. The initiative targets chronic stress, a leading contributor to long‑term health problems, by giving residents practical coping...
Webinar Highlights Stark Global Gaps in Childhood Immunisation Coverage
The World Health Organization hosted a webinar presenting new research on childhood immunisation inequality, covering nine vaccine indicators in up to 92 nations. Experts from Gavi, UNICEF and WHO warned that disparities linked to mother’s education, age and household wealth...
Selftalk Secures €270K EU Funding to Scale AI‑Driven Meditation Platform
Selftalk, a Moldovan mental‑health startup, received €270,000 (about $295,000) in EU‑backed funding to accelerate its AI‑driven platform that includes guided meditation. The money will help the company hit a €1 million annual recurring revenue goal and serve 100 corporate teams. The...
Your Website Is the First Trust Test
I ran Kaiser’s public site through https://t.co/f9IW600hsB. Healthcare example. Every exec should care. Your website is not “just a website” anymore. It is the first meeting. The first pitch. The first trust test. The first reason someone stays — or leaves. Pretty is nice. Clear is money.
Combat Smoke Inhalation Triggers Neuroinflammation, Threatening Brain Health
The impact of military occupational combustion smoke inhalation on neuroinflammation and brain health https://t.co/uMsiMyonkA https://t.co/3nXZ7etBPs
CVS Denies Planned Parenthood 'Strategic Partnership' Over Abortion Pill Access
CVS Health publicly rejected claims that it has a strategic partnership with Planned Parenthood of Greater New York to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone. The dispute follows the removal of partnership language from Planned Parenthood’s annual report and comes as...