Today's Healthcare Pulse
Abridge teams with Eli Lilly and Nvidia to expand AI scribe platform
Abridge announced a strategic investment from Eli Lilly and a partnership with Nvidia to build a foundation model for clinical conversations. The collaboration aims to broaden Abridge’s AI‑scribe services across more health systems and integrate with payers. The company already supports over 300 health systems.
Also developing:
The Bad Ad Program
The FDA’s Bad Ad Program, run by the Office of Prescription Drug Promotion, educates clinicians on spotting false or misleading prescription‑drug advertising and provides a streamlined way to report violations. It targets a broad audience of physicians, nurses, pharmacists and trainees, covering TV, print, online, speaker‑program and sales‑rep promotions. Reporting can be done via email, phone or mail, with optional details that help OPDP assess potential enforcement actions. The initiative also offers a free one‑hour online course and case‑study materials to deepen providers’ understanding of FDA oversight.
Partnership for Clinical Decision Support Moves AI to Next Level
AI-driven clinical decision support has taken a leap forward as Abridge announced a partnership with the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA. The collaboration will embed peer-reviewed articles and guideline evidence directly into Abridge’s platform, linking them with real-time...
Mundipharma Announces Positive Topline Results From Phase III ReSPECT Trial Assessing ▼REZZAYO® (Rezafungin) for the Prophylaxis of Invasive Fungal Diseases...
Mundipharma reported that its Phase III ReSPECT trial met the primary endpoint, showing rezafungin (REZZAYO®) was non‑inferior to standard antifungal regimens for fungal‑free survival at Day 90 (60.7% vs 59.0%). The once‑weekly echinocandin demonstrated a comparable safety profile with fewer drug‑drug interactions...
Judy Gets Her Freakonomics On
Freakonomics recently interviewed Epic Systems CEO Judy Faulkner, during which she highlighted Epic’s claim of offering more APIs than any other EHR vendor. Faulkner explained that data access requires permission from the individual health organization, positioning Epic as a neutral...
Reconsider when Children Start Playing Tackle Football
Recent research confirms that tackle football is the leading cause of youth sports‑related traumatic brain injuries, with middle‑school players experiencing 2.6‑2.9 concussions per 1,000 athletic exposures. Data from 2010‑2016 show 283,000 children under 18 sought emergency care for sports TBIs,...
Collaborative Develops AI Vendor Disclosure Framework
The Health AI Partnership (HAIP) has published an AI Vendor Disclosure Framework in NEJM AI, offering a free, publicly‑available tool for health‑system leaders evaluating AI solutions. The framework outlines five core domains—system capabilities, performance, data stewardship, integration requirements, and lifecycle management—to...
MFN Changing the Rules of the Game for the Nordic Countries
GlobalData’s Price Intelligence analysis links the U.S. Most Favored Nation (MFN) policy to a 35% decline in pharmaceutical product launches across Europe within ten months of its introduction. In the Nordics, oncology drugs are priced roughly 5% below the European...
Missouri Analytical Laboratories Inc - 615319 - 10/09/2024
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a closeout letter to Missouri Analytical Laboratories Inc., confirming that the company’s corrective actions have addressed the violations cited in a 2021 warning letter. The FDA noted that while the immediate issues appear...
New AAD Leaders Aim to Fix ‘Broken’ Access to Care, Serve Next Generation of Dermatologists
Murad Alam assumed the presidency of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) on April 27, 2026, with a focus on fixing the broken access‑to‑care model that hampers dermatology practices. He outlined a strategy to rally AAD members, lobby Congress, and secure resources...
Lilly to Buy Startup Ajax in Bid for a Better JAK Drug
Eli Lilly announced it will acquire New York‑based biotech Ajax Therapeutics for up to $2.3 billion. The deal centers on Ajax’s experimental JAK inhibitor AJ1‑11095, which binds an inactive JAK2 conformation to overcome resistance seen with existing therapies for myelofibrosis and...
FDA Grand Rounds – Anti-Biofilm Technologies for Enhancing the Safety of Medical Device Surfaces - 05/29/2025
On May 29, 2025, the FDA hosted a Grand Rounds webcast on anti‑biofilm technologies for medical device surfaces, presented by Dr. Jayaleka J. Amarasinghe, a microbiologist at the agency’s Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center. The session highlighted two emerging strategies...
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Acquires XOMA Royalty in a $739 Million Deal
Ligand Pharmaceuticals announced a $739 million acquisition of XOMA Royalty Corporation, offering $39 per share—a 2.9% premium to the prior close. The transaction also grants XOMA shareholders a contingent value right (CVR) tied to 75% of net proceeds from pending TREMFYA...
ACA Subsidy Lapse Cost HCA Healthcare $150M in Q1
HCA Healthcare disclosed that the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies cost the company about $150 million in the first quarter, aligning with its forecast of a $600‑$900 million annual hit. ACA‑covered admissions fell roughly 15% year‑over‑year while admissions for uninsured...
A Single Dose of Psilocybin Outperforms Nicotine Patches for Quitting Smoking
A Johns Hopkins pilot trial found that a single, weight‑adjusted dose of psilocybin combined with cognitive‑behavioral counseling helped 40% of smokers remain abstinent for six months, far surpassing the 10% quit rate achieved with standard nicotine patches. The psychedelic group...
Multiple GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Lower AFib Risk
A retrospective analysis of 13,034 patients who started GLP‑1 receptor agonist therapy between 2020 and 2024 found a significant reduction in atrial fibrillation (AFib) incidence compared with a propensity‑matched cohort of over 385,000 untreated individuals. The benefit persisted regardless of...
VVARDIS Announces Investment From Apollo —Achieves Unicorn Status
vVARDIS Holding AG announced a strategic minority investment from Apollo‑managed funds, propelling the Swiss dental‑med tech firm into unicorn status with a valuation north of $1 billion. The capital will finance the next phase of global commercial expansion for its Curodont™...
What Dentistry Is Teaching Healthcare About Operational AI
Artificial intelligence is moving from isolated pilots to core operations across healthcare, but fragmented systems are turning speed into inconsistency. Dentistry, with its tighter reimbursement cycles and integrated workflows, is serving as an early proving ground for operational AI that...
What’s the Data on Delayed Cord Clamping?
Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is now endorsed by ACOG, recommending a 30‑60‑second wait before cutting the umbilical cord for virtually all newborns. In preterm infants, a 2023 Lancet meta‑analysis of about 3,000 babies found DCC cuts mortality by roughly 30%,...
UK Doctors Should Not Speak in the Public Domain of Their Concerns About Political Persons.
A recent BMJ rapid response argues that UK‑registered doctors are prohibited by the General Medical Council’s Good Medical Practice from publicly speculating on the mental health of identifiable political figures. The letter stresses that diagnostic commentary requires a therapeutic relationship,...
With Ultrasound on a Chip, Butterfly Network Aims for Global Reach
Butterfly Network, under CEO Joe DeVivo, is scaling its chip‑based handheld ultrasound priced around $4,000 to make imaging affordable and portable worldwide. The device replaces costly cart‑based machines ($30,000‑$200,000) with a probe containing 9,000 sensors and AI‑enhanced modes, and the...
Cellular Rejuvenation Has the Potential to Reverse Aging
Researchers have identified a natural cellular rejuvenation process that resets embryonic cells to a youthful state within two weeks, effectively erasing parental age markers. Over the past two decades, labs have revived skin cells from 90‑year‑olds and rejuvenated diseased mice,...
Innovator Spotlight: PocDoc
UK health‑tech firm PocDoc, founded in 2020, has secured more than £10 million (≈$12.7 million) in investment to expand its smartphone‑based Healthy Heart Check, a point‑of‑care test that delivers cholesterol, BMI and ten‑year cardiovascular risk in ten minutes. The funding, led by...
FDA Clears Subcutaneous Anifrolumab Autoinjector for Moderate to Severe SLE
The FDA has cleared AstraZeneca’s subcutaneous anifrolumab autoinjector (Saphnelo) for adults with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on standard therapy. The new formulation mirrors the approved intravenous product but allows weekly self‑administration at home. Approval rests on the...
Dignio Investment Signals Remote Care International Expansion
Summa Equity, through its Fund III vehicle, has invested in Norwegian health‑tech firm Dignio to accelerate the company’s remote‑care platform. Dignio provides an integrated digital solution that combines remote patient monitoring, telehealth visits, and automated medication dispensing for home‑based care....
How Recent Changes in ‘Patient-Matched’ Technology Are Reshaping the Future of Surgical Care
Advances in CT, MRI and AI-driven modeling are enabling patient‑matched medical devices that are designed around each individual's anatomy rather than using standard sizes. These bespoke implants and surgical guides improve anatomical concordance, cut intra‑operative adjustments, and can shorten procedure...
WHOOP’s $575 Million Raise Signals the Global Interest in Health Wearables
WHOOP announced a $575 million Series G round that lifts its valuation to $10.1 billion, nearly triple its 2021 level. The capital, led by Collaborative Fund and joined by investors such as Qatar Investment Authority, Mubadala, Abbott and the Mayo Clinic, will fund...
FDA Priority Review Advances Nipocalimab for Adults With Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
The FDA has granted priority review to Johnson & Johnson’s nipocalimab‑aahu (IMAAVY) for adults with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA), a rare disease lacking any approved U.S. therapy. The designation compresses the review clock to roughly six months, marking the...
The New Human Blood Type That Only 3 People on Earth Have—And the Hunt for the 4th
Researchers in Thailand identified a previously unknown human blood type, designated B(A), found in only three individuals. The type results from a four‑gene mutation that produces mostly B antigens with trace A antigens, adding to the 48 known types for...
Illinois Grants $100,000 to Expand Lurie Children’s Resilience Schools Program
Lurie Children’s Hospital’s Resilience‑Supportive Schools Illinois program secured a $100,000 grant from Molina Healthcare’s MolinaCares Accord. The funding will accelerate teacher training and preparation for the state‑mandated student mental‑health screenings slated for the 2027‑2028 school year.
Wash. Health Department Installs Free 24/7 Narcan Dispenser Outside Firehouse
Grant County Fire District 7 in Soap Lake, Washington installed a free 24/7 Narcan dispenser outside its station, funded by a Grant County Health District grant. The device lets bystanders administer naloxone within minutes, dramatically improving survival odds before firefighters arrive....
You Can’t Close the Minority Health Gap While Ignoring Fathers
National Minority Health Month spotlights chronic disease prevention, yet Black and Brown fathers remain largely invisible in the conversation. Data from the Office of Minority Health reveal that Black men have a life expectancy of 70.3 years—four years below the...
Pilot Study Finds 300 Mg NMN Cuts Post‑Exercise Inflammation in Young Men
Researchers in Taiwan reported that a six‑day regimen of 300 mg NMN lowered key inflammatory cytokines in young men after intense blood‑flow‑restriction resistance training. The crossover trial suggests NMN could become a targeted supplement for athletes and biohackers seeking faster recovery.
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About a Lilly Deal, an Intellia CRISPR Rare-Disease Treatment, and More
Intellia Therapeutics reported that a single dose of its CRISPR‑based therapy lonvo‑z dramatically reduced swelling attacks in hereditary angioedema patients during a Phase 3 trial, positioning it for a rolling FDA submission as the potential second approved CRISPR drug. The treatment...
Fragments vs DsbA: Towards a Chemical Probe
Researchers targeting the bacterial oxidoreductase DsbA—a key virulence factor—have advanced fragment‑based efforts toward a chemical probe. Initial screens identified fragments binding a shallow groove and a hidden cryptic pocket, but affinities were modest (~150 µM). By designing molecules that extend beyond...
85% of Patients Want Alzheimer’s Blood Test, Doctors Remain Skeptical
A recent Chicago‑area survey of nearly 600 adults found 85% would take a blood test for Alzheimer’s risk if their doctor recommended it. Physicians, however, warn the tests lack proven benefit for asymptomatic patients, highlighting a growing gap between patient...
FDA Review Sought for Subcutaneous Risankizumab Induction in Crohn Disease
AbbVie has filed a supplemental NDA with the FDA to add subcutaneous (SC) risankizumab induction for adults with moderate‑to‑severe Crohn disease. The request relies on the phase 3 AFFIRM trial, which enrolled 289 patients—65% of whom had failed prior advanced therapies—and...
AI's Punctuated Leap Reshapes Healthcare, Says Surgeon
A review: INTELLIGENT—The Evolution of AI Transforming Healthcare by @ShafiAhmed5 📖The Man Suits the Title There's something rather autobiographical about this book. The title suits the author as much as the subject. I've known Shafi for over a decade. We've argued...
Integrating RTPB, ePA, and PA Accelerates EHR Roadmaps
HTI-4 shifts e-prescribing into high gear. @DrFirst highlights why integrating RTPB, pharmacy ePA, and medical PA will redefine EHR roadmaps—and why waiting will create a dev bottleneck. https://t.co/D48exhJpo9 #HITReg #Interop #HITSM
80% of UK Mental‑Health Nurses Say Workloads Unmanageable, Sparking Calls for Digital Solutions
A Royal College of Nursing poll reveals four‑fifths of specialist mental‑health nurses in the UK consider their workload unmanageable, with caseloads up 38% while staffing grew only 15%. The findings have ignited urgent calls for digital workflow tools, AI triage...
Digital Twins Will Accelerate Drug Development via Virtual Trials
How digital twins and in silico clinical trials can change the future of drug development https://t.co/lEhJNwrSlH
Inflation Spike Ahead, Then Value‑Based Care Delivers Benefits
In the Short Term (0–2 years) I agree we will see an inflationary spike. However, after this, I’d expect to see more value-based care contracts coming into play that will yield real benefit #health #healthcare #AI https://t.co/XcVTG2FSRf
Practicing Today for Tomorrow’s Emergencies – WHO Convenes Countries and Partners to Simulate Response to Major Disease Outbreak
The World Health Organization concluded Exercise Polaris II, a two‑day high‑level simulation that modeled a fictional bacterial pandemic. The drill brought together 26 countries, 600 health‑emergency experts and more than 25 partner agencies to activate emergency coordination structures, share data and...
ERAS Pan‑Ras Data Released; RVMD Alleges Patent Infringement
$ERAS pan-Ras data update this afternoon after market close. also, $RVMD sent Erasca a letter claiming ERAS-0015 violates certain RevMed patents. https://t.co/QTmyUhT89n
VITAS Banks on Length of Stay, Referral Mix Management
VITAS Healthcare eliminated its Medicare cap liability in Florida by shifting admissions toward hospital referrals, which generate shorter stays. In Q1 2026 the company posted $420 million in revenue, a 3.1% year‑over‑year increase, with admissions up 6.9% and average daily census...
FDA Clears Tandem Control-IQ+ for Type 1 Diabetes During Pregnancy: First AID System to Earn Indication
The FDA has cleared Tandem Diabetes Care’s Control‑IQ+ system for use in pregnancies complicated by type 1 diabetes, making it the first automated insulin‑delivery (AID) platform with a pregnancy indication in the United States. The clearance covers both the t:slim X2 pump...
Wyoming Judge Halts Enforcement of New Fetal‑Heartbeat Ban
Natrona County District Judge Dan Forgey granted a temporary injunction on Friday, stopping the Human Heartbeat Act—a law that bans most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected—from taking effect. The ruling cites probable success under Wyoming's constitutional right to...
Too Many Prescriptions, Too Many Fatal Falls
U.S. seniors are facing a surge in fatal falls, with 41,000 deaths recorded in 2023, while the proportion taking multiple prescriptions has climbed dramatically. Four in ten older adults now use five or more drugs, and more than 7.5 million are...
Federal Judge Declares RFK Jr.'s Gender‑Affirming Care Threat Unlawful, Protecting Minors' Access
U.S. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai in Oregon ruled that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s December 18 declaration threatening to cut Medicaid and Medicare funding for gender‑affirming care to minors was unlawful. The decision, brought by...
UnitedHealth Q1 2026 Beats Forecast, EPS $7.23, Stock Jumps 9.3%
UnitedHealth Group reported first‑quarter earnings of $7.23 per share, topping the $6.59 consensus, and revenue of $111.7 billion, exceeding expectations. The results lifted the stock 9.29% to $353.52 and prompted an upgrade to full‑year EPS guidance above $18.25.
Molina Q1 2026
Molina Healthcare posted Q1 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $2.35, topping the $2.17 consensus estimate, while operating cash flow reached $1.1 billion. All three segment medical cost ratios (MCRs) beat full‑year guidance, yet management kept the full‑year EPS target at...