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:
South Korea’s MFDS Reiterates Ban on Gymnema Sylvestre, Bacopa in Supplements
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has reaffirmed its ban on several botanicals and pharmaceutical compounds, including Gymnema sylvestre and Bacopa, after finding them in 18 of 30 overseas‑made health supplements sold via Amazon, eBay and other e‑commerce sites. The inspection uncovered 12 prohibited ingredients—ranging from herbal extracts to prescription drugs such as lovastatin—raising safety concerns for Korean consumers with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. MFDS has coordinated with customs to suspend import clearance of the flagged products and alerted regulators to block related web pages. As of April 2026, more than 4,600 products containing banned substances are listed on the agency’s public database.
Air Pollution Fuels Sarcopenic Obesity via Inflammation
Air pollution and muscle-fat imbalance: How PM2.5 components and ozone drive sarcopenic obesity through inflammation "This study provides novel insights into environmental triggers of SO, highlighting the need for integrated air quality policies targeting specific PM2.5 components and personalized prevention strategies...
Children and Adolescents From Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Areas Face Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services
Researchers at the University of Nottingham published a longitudinal analysis of the STADIA trial, tracking 1,225 children referred to England's child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). The study found that youths from the most socio‑economically deprived neighborhoods were significantly...
Why Some Hospitals Are Betting on Midstream Health to Help Eliminate Waste
Midstream Health, a San Francisco AI startup founded in 2023, helps hospitals slash expenses by consolidating fragmented financial and operational data. Its platform uncovers missed rebates, prevents over‑paying for supplies, and streamlines contract verification. Major systems such as Mount Sinai,...
Mapping Genomic Landscape of Multiple Myeloma Precursors
Genomic landscape of multiple myeloma and its precursor conditions [May 21, 2025] Jean-Baptiste Alberge et al. @IrenemGhobrial @NatureGenet https://t.co/DDWGRrpI4Y #mmsm #PrecisionMedicine #cagenome https://t.co/X0OPLHNkdG
Multiple Myeloma Evades GPRC5D T‑Cell Engagers via Multim
Multimodal antigenic escape to GPRC5D-targeted T cell engagers in multiple myeloma [Jan 15, 2026] @hollyleeYJ et al. @NBahlis @NatureMedicine https://t.co/mz393mPMAq #mmsm #PrecisionMedicine #tcellrx THREAD: https://t.co/lNX9b7LsnR HT @AuclairDan https://t.co/d0JNE6pb5x
WHO Launches 2026 World No Tobacco Day Campaign to Curb Youth Nicotine Addiction
The World Health Organization unveiled its 2026 World No Tobacco Day campaign, focusing on nicotine addiction among adolescents. The initiative spotlights a 14.3% e‑cigarette use rate among European teens and stark policy gaps that leave youth vulnerable.
Approach to Unexplained Cytopenia in Clinical Practice
How I manage patients with unexplained cytopenia [Apr 10, 2025] Malcovati & Cazzola @BloodPortfolio https://t.co/bfCmp1AJ4R #camoldx #PrecisionMedicine https://t.co/LpQhp9W79v
Morning Headlines 4/27/26
HIStalk’s morning briefing highlighted several disparate issues: the ethical and legal pitfalls of paying informants, noting that funds rarely reach the target organization; the success of an anti‑hate nonprofit that financed undercover operatives to dismantle KKK cells; a critique of...
Weight Loss Reverses Heart Muscle Weakness in Obese HFpEF Patients, Johns Hopkins Study Finds
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine reported that significant weight loss restores contractile function in heart muscle cells of severely obese patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The findings, published in Science, suggest body‑composition changes can directly reverse...
Amazon Launches GLP‑1 Weight‑Loss Program, Targeting $100 B Market
Amazon announced a GLP‑1‑focused weight‑management program through its One Medical platform, letting patients order injectable and oral GLP‑1 drugs with same‑day delivery. The move pits the tech giant against pharma leaders Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as the market races toward a...
SPI Digital Health’s Phare Health Joins R1 RCM, Expanding AI‑Driven Billing Solutions
SPI Digital Health’s Phare Health, a revenue cycle management automation startup, has been acquired by R1 RCM, the $9 billion‑valued RCM provider. The deal, whose terms were not disclosed, follows Phare Health’s $2.5 million pre‑seed raise two years ago and will embed...
Abbott Elevates Jenil Sheth to Head of Marketing, Boosting Healthcare Brand Strategy
Abbott has promoted Jenil Sheth to Head of Marketing, tasking him with steering brand and growth programs across its therapeutic and consumer health portfolios. Sheth brings more than eight years at Abbott and a deep pharmaceutical background, positioning the company...
Uridine Shields Neurons by Activating Mitochondrial K⁺ Channel
The Protective Effect of Uridine in a Rotenone-Induced Model of Parkinson’s Disease: The Role of the Mitochondrial ATP-Dependent Potassium Channel https://t.co/jBlSlgedWo
MIT Unveils Injectable “Mini‑liver” Constructs to Bridge Transplant Waitlist
MIT scientists have engineered injectable hydrogel microsphere “mini‑livers” that sustain liver function in animal models for over two months, aiming to reduce dependence on donor organs. The breakthrough, published in Cell Biomaterials, could reshape treatment for thousands on transplant waiting...
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...
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