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:
Coloplast Lifts FY Outlook as H1 Profit Rises 6% to DKK2.81bn
Coloplast announced first‑half net profit before special items of DKK2.81 billion, up 6% year‑over‑year, and lifted its full‑year organic growth outlook to 5‑6% in constant currencies. The revised guidance reflects better‑than‑expected earnings and a focus on cash‑flow optimization for shareholders.
The Brand-Driven Flywheel: Igniting Growth Through a Simple Patient Experience
The article argues that legacy patient‑support models are outdated and proposes direct‑to‑patient (DTP) platforms as a brand‑driven flywheel for growth. DTP unifies access, fulfillment and support into a single, tech‑enabled journey, cutting prior‑authorization delays and improving adherence. With specialty drugs...
Health Literacy’s Impacts
A 2024 University of Michigan poll of adults 50 and older shows health providers remain the top source of medical information, with 81% turning to clinicians and 58% also searching the web. While most respondents feel confident handling health data,...
Study Finds Habitual Coffee Alters Gut Microbiome and Boosts Cognitive Performance
Researchers at University College Cork completed a double‑blind trial of 62 Irish adults that linked daily coffee consumption to distinct shifts in gut microbiota and measurable gains on cognitive tests. The findings, registered under ClinicalTrials.gov IDs NCT05927038 and NCT05927103, could...
Preparing for Medicaid Cuts and the Imperial Health Boomerang
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act proposes sweeping Medicaid eligibility cuts that jeopardize the Ryan White Part A HIV safety‑net, which provides free care to low‑income and undocumented patients. Fixed federal funding for the program cannot absorb the expected surge in demand, leaving thousands at...
AJMC® in the Press, April 24, 2026
AJMC highlighted four peer‑reviewed studies that expose cost‑driving inefficiencies in Medicare. One shows generic dispensing rates vary widely, suggesting billions in savings if low‑cost drugs are fully utilized. Another reveals Medicare’s wage‑index formula underpays rural hospitals for device‑intensive surgeries. A...
Bispecific Antibodies Are Reshaping Multiple Myeloma Care: Prerna Mewawalla, MD
Bispecific antibodies are rapidly reshaping multiple myeloma treatment by delivering response rates up to 80% in earlier relapse settings, far surpassing the historic 30% seen with conventional therapies. These agents simultaneously bind a myeloma antigen such as BCMA, GPRC5D or...
Pfizer Presents Auristatin S ADC for GPNMB Tumors
Pfizer has unveiled PF-08046033, an antibody‑drug conjugate that links the potent cytotoxic agent auristatin S to an antibody targeting the transmembrane glycoprotein NMB (GPNMB). The ADC is designed to deliver the payload directly into GPNMB‑expressing tumors, potentially widening the therapeutic...
Pharma Industry Faces Long Haul to Get Return on Investment From AI
The pharmaceutical sector is confronting a prolonged timeline before artificial intelligence delivers a clear return on investment. While AI tools have accelerated early‑stage drug discovery, most companies still grapple with data integration, regulatory compliance, and the high cost of talent....
Closing the Pediatric Care Gap Through Primary Care Reimbursement Reform: Chris Johnson, MBA
Chris Johnson, MBA, founder of Bluebird Kids Health, warns that many U.S. communities are becoming pediatric care deserts, with as few as one pediatrician for every 6,000‑7,000 children. The shortage forces families, especially those on Medicaid, to seek routine care...
Modified CRISPR Tool Targets Down Syndrome Mutation
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School have engineered a modified CRISPR system that inserts the long non‑coding RNA XIST into one copy of chromosome 21, silencing the extra genetic material that causes Down syndrome. The new...
FTC, US Anesthesia Partners Reach Settlement in Texas Price Collusion Case
The Federal Trade Commission reached a confidential settlement with U.S. Anesthesia Partners (USAP), a private‑equity‑backed anesthesia provider, over allegations it consolidated the Texas market and raised prices. USAP denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid costly litigation, while the...
‘We Need to Change the Conversation’: Tips for Assessing CV Risk in South Asian Adults
South Asian adults experience higher and earlier cardiovascular risk than other groups, prompting calls for earlier screening. Endocrinologist Rachna Relwani recommends coronary calcium scans beginning at age 40‑45 regardless of BMI, and adding Lp‑a, ApoB and CRP to standard labs....
Re: Sexual Misconduct: “Deeply Alarming” Rise in Cases Against Doctors
The Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery responded to a BMJ report on a rise in doctor‑related sexual misconduct cases, arguing that the increase in reported incidents reflects greater awareness and psychological safety rather than a worsening problem. The...
Avalyn Pharma (AVLN) IPO Deck
Avalyn Pharma, a clinical‑stage biopharmaceutical firm, unveiled its IPO deck on April 24, 2026, highlighting a pipeline of inhaled therapies for rare, high‑unmet‑need respiratory diseases. The company seeks to list on a U.S. exchange, positioning itself to raise capital for advancing Phase 2...
Symptoms of Early Dementia Reversed by Bespoke Treatment Plans
A new personalized approach that targets nutritional gaps, infections, and environmental toxins has shown measurable improvements in memory and daily functioning for people with mild cognitive decline or early‑stage dementia. The bespoke treatment plans combine medical interventions with lifestyle changes...
Radiology Groups Endorse Bill to Exempt Physicians From $100,000 Visa Fee
A bipartisan bill, the H‑1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, seeks to exempt physicians and nurses from a newly proposed $100,000 immigration visa fee. The American College of Radiology, American Society of Neuroradiology and more than 40 medical...
Sankofa Village Wellness Center Celebrates Ribbon Cutting
Mayor Brandon Johnson and local officials cut the ribbon on the new Sankofa Village Wellness Center in West Garfield Park. The three‑story, 60,000‑square‑foot hub will deliver primary medical, dental, behavioral, reproductive, substance‑abuse and HIV‑prevention services to roughly 6,000 patients each...
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Receives the CHMP’s Positive Opinion for Redemplo (Plozasiran) to Treat Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome (FCS)
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued a positive opinion on Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals’ RNAi therapy Redemplo (plozasiran) as an adjunct to diet for adults with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). The recommendation follows the Phase III...
Epigenetic Reset: Once Mocked,
From 2008-2024 I was accused of hyping (a common slur) for suggesting that changes to the epigenome might cause aging and that therapeutics could "allow us to reset the epigenome to a more youthful state." - Oberdoerffer & Sinclair...
Study Finds Children in the US Die at Higher Rates than Peers in Other High-Income Nations
A new study by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia reveals that U.S. children die at higher rates than peers in 18 other high‑income nations across every age group. The mortality gap first appeared in the early 1950s and has persisted, with...
Former FDA Staffer Cites Political Pressure Blocking Rare‑disease Drug Approval
Former FDA staffer - “I recently left FDA due to the political pressure I was receiving to withhold my recommendation for approval for a drug that was intended for a rare disease. I was part of a review division that...
All of This Has Happened Before
The author compares four high‑profile digital‑health failures—Olive AI, IBM Watson Health, Carbon Health and Babylon Health—to reveal a repeatable playbook of overpromising and underdelivering. In each case, bold claims were funded before any independent proof, with elite investors and government...
Is Health Information Reaching the People Who Need It?
A door‑to‑door survey in the Mississippi Delta revealed that half of residents didn’t know a free‑clinic existed and 80% were unaware of its sliding‑fee scale, illustrating the inverse care law where the most vulnerable miss essential services. The author argues...
South Africa: Investor Consortium Backs Vertice MedTech
A consortium of Amethis, Proparco, ccap.ai and Vertice’s management has completed a new investment in Vertice MedTech Holdings, a South African firm that distributes specialised medical devices and builds digital health solutions. Founded in 2018, Vertice operates two arms—Vertice Healthcare...
Med Ad News Honors Winners of 37th Annual Manny Awards
Med Ad News announced the winners of its 37th Annual Manny Awards at a black‑tie gala in New York. Publicis Health CEO Matt McNally earned Industry Person of the Year after delivering double‑digit growth and investing in health‑specific AI tools....
G2 Speech Achieves Self-Certified Supplier Status on NHS England AVT Registry
G2 Speech has been accepted as a self‑certified supplier on the NHS England Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) Registry. The designation confirms that its SpeechAmbient platform meets NHS safety, data‑security and performance standards. By joining the registry, G2 Speech can more...
Lilly’s CAR-T Devotion; CBER’s Next Top Dog?
Eli Lilly announced the acquisition of Kelonia Therapeutics, an in‑vivo CAR‑T biotech, extending its push into next‑generation cell therapies. The deal follows Lilly’s recent milestone of becoming the first drugmaker to hit a $1 trillion market value, underscoring a diversification strategy that...
The Problem with Psychedelic Research
President Trump signed an executive order to speed the approval of psychedelic drugs for veterans with PTSD and depression, marking the first major regulatory push for these treatments. A new review of 24 studies compared psychedelics to open‑label antidepressants and...
Is Pharma Missing the Boat on Diagnostics?
Pharma giants are accelerating investments in diagnostics to support precision‑medicine strategies, highlighted by Roche's $595 million purchase of SAGA Diagnostics and Abbott's $21 billion acquisition of Exact Sciences. Venture capital for diagnostics lagged behind AI, with only $1.7 billion raised last year versus...
OCR Announces Settlements of Four Ransomware Investigations that Affected Over 427,000 Individuals
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights announced settlements with four HIPAA‑covered entities after ransomware breaches that exposed the protected health information of more than 427,000 individuals. Regional Women’s Health Group, Assured Imaging, Consociate Health...
Improved Communication of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome Needed
A multi‑institution survey of 382 ICU clinicians and 146 survivors reveals a stark gap between provider awareness of post‑intensive care syndrome (PICS) and patient communication. While 73.8% of clinicians recognize the term, only 16.6% of patients recall being told about...
KT-621 Gets FDA Fast Track Designation for Eosinophilic Asthma
Kymera Therapeutics received FDA fast‑track designation for its oral STAT6 degrader KT‑621, targeting moderate‑to‑severe eosinophilic asthma and atopic dermatitis. The first‑in‑class molecule works intracellularly, offering a potential oral alternative to injectable biologics that block the IL‑4/IL‑13 pathway. Phase 2b trials are...
Sanofi’s Tolebrutinib Gets CHMP Backing for Certain MS Patients Despite FDA Rejection
Sanofi’s BTK inhibitor tolebrutinib received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s CHMP for treating relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, despite a complete response letter from the U.S. FDA in December. The CHMP recommendation paves the way for a...
CAR T-Cell Therapy May Prevent Progression of Smoldering Myeloma
A phase‑2 trial of ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta‑cel) in 20 high‑risk smoldering multiple myeloma patients achieved a 100% overall response rate, with all participants reaching minimal residual disease negativity within two months and no progression after a median 15.3‑month follow‑up. The...
Heidi Health Enters SA Market as Clinician-Led AI Grows
Heidi, an AI‑driven clinical care platform, has officially launched in South Africa after organically attracting more than 15,000 local clinicians. The service now powers roughly 1.5 million consultations each month, with weekly active usage climbing 500% year‑on‑year. By offering offline‑capable, multilingual...
New Scoring Tool Shows Radiation Can Reprogram Pancreatic Tumor Environment
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center introduced the Harmonic Output of Stromal Traits Factor (HOST‑Factor), a composite scoring system that quantifies the functional state of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Using the tool, they showed that pulsed low‑dose‑rate (PLDR) chemoradiation reprograms...
One‑Person Crossover Shows Statin May Impair Workouts
Statin vs Placebo: N = 1 Randomized Crossover Study After posting prior content reviewing data on statins and the potential risk of muscle loss, I was flooded with comments from people saying statins "annihilated" their workouts. Now, I know the party...
Start Lifestyle Changes With GLP‑1, Not After Stopping
The GLP-1 weight regain studies everyone is citing have a quiet design flaw: in a lot of those trials, patients were put on a rigid reduced-calorie plan while on the drug, then told to keep following that same rigid plan...
A Deeper Dive on the Cancelation of the Flu Shot Mandate in the Military—It’s Not All Roses and Champagne
The Pentagon has rescinded the mandatory flu‑shot policy for service members, but the cancellation order includes a 15‑day window for each branch to petition for exemptions. This means commanders could reinstate the requirement for specific units, such as ship crews...
Oracle AI Cuts AtlantiCare Documentation Time by 40%
With Oracle AI Agents, the @AtlantiCareNJ team can transform their clinical operations, staffing, patient engagement, and more. @OracleHealth Clinical AI Agent is already helping them reduce documentation time by 40%—looking forward to more stories like these. https://t.co/YBqTaTyUOV
WHO Marks 40 Years of Ottawa Charter, Calls for Health‑Promotion Reboot in Europe
The World Health Organization convened a two‑session virtual dialogue to commemorate the Ottawa Charter’s 40th anniversary, urging European nations to overhaul health‑promotion policies amid rising non‑communicable disease deaths and climate‑driven health threats.
The CMS-FDA RAPID Coverage Pathway Is a Capital Markets Event Disguised as a Coverage Policy: What the Regulatory-Reimbursement Clock Synch...
On April 23, 2026 CMS and the FDA unveiled the RAPID coverage pathway, a joint program that synchronizes Medicare reimbursement with FDA market authorization for breakthrough Class II and Class III devices. Under RAPID, a proposed national coverage determination is issued the...
Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ Aging You? New Research Raises Concerns for Men
Researchers analyzing U.S. NHANES data found that two newer PFAS chemicals—perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA)—are linked to accelerated epigenetic aging in men aged 50 to 64. The compounds were present in 95% of participants, but only men showed a...
Orthopedic Care Draws in PE: 6 Deals
Private‑equity firms are increasingly targeting the orthopedic sector, with six deals announced this year. Archimed, Cinven, Gemspring and InTandem are among the investors, collectively committing roughly $1.2 billion. The transactions span traditional device manufacturers, joint‑replacement joint ventures, and emerging digital orthopedics...
Why Accountability in Medicine Must Guide Health Care AI
Healthcare AI is exploding, with ambient scribes and large‑language‑model chatbots promising faster documentation and patient interaction. Yet the authors argue that accuracy alone is insufficient; without built‑in accountability, harmful errors become opaque. They call for a shift from generative AI...
Pfizer’s Strategy Chief Andrew Baum Steps Down; Helus Pharma Swaps Out CEO After Two Months
Andrew Baum, former Citi analyst and Pfizer's chief strategy and innovation officer, has left his executive role but will stay on as a senior strategic advisor to CEO Albert Bourla. His exit adds to a recent series of senior departures...
BIO Is Expanding Its Work to Defend IP
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is scaling its intellectual‑property advocacy by creating an IP Task Force and a new Economic Growth, Innovation, and Intellectual Property Committee to steer strategy. BIO is actively lobbying on Capitol Hill, filing amicus briefs, and...
Concierge Medicine Was Built For The Few. Here’s How To Open It To The Many
Concierge and direct primary care models, long limited to affluent patients, are gaining traction as a solution to primary‑care capacity constraints. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services introduced Advanced Primary Care Management (APCM) codes in January 2025, offering per‑patient,...
Swedish Study Shows Fathers' Risk of Depression Jumps 30% One Year After Birth
Researchers in Sweden analyzed more than one million fathers and found that, while psychiatric diagnoses dip during pregnancy, rates of depression and stress‑related disorders surge by over 30% when the child turns one. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open,...