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
CareCloud Breach Exposes Patient Records in Eight‑hour EHR Outage
Healthcare‑technology firm CareCloud confirmed that hackers accessed one of its six electronic health‑record environments for about eight hours on March 16, 2026. The breach may have exposed data belonging to millions of patients served by more than 45,000 providers, prompting an SEC filing and a costly remediation effort.
Adenoidectomy, Tonsillectomy in Childhood Tied to Risk for Adult Chronic Rhinosinusitis
A new multicenter retrospective study of over 100 U.S. health‑care organizations links pediatric adenotonsillectomy performed for infectious indications to higher rates of adult chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Children who underwent adenoidectomy alone showed a 55% increased hazard of CRSsNP, while combined...
Mix-and-Match Synthesis of 3D Small Molecules
A new chemistry reported in Nature enables modular, iterative construction of C_sp³–C_sp³ bonds while precisely controlling the three‑dimensional arrangement of attached atoms. The approach leverages interchangeable building blocks to assemble 3D small‑molecule scaffolds, a bond type that is pervasive in...
D Is for Distance: A Personal, Hallucinatory Journey Through Medical Bureaucracy
Chris Petit returns with his first feature in 15 years, co‑directing the hallucinatory documentary *D is for Distance* alongside Emma Matthews. The film chronicles their son Louis’s battle with epilepsy, weaving personal footage, narration, and essayistic collage to critique the...
U.S. Spends Most, Lives Shortest Among Rich Nations
Across every age group and demographic, Americans die younger than every other wealthy nation. We have the most expensive healthcare system in the world. We are not getting what we paid for.
Long COVID Sharply Raises Heart Disease Risk, Even Mild Cases
Individuals with long COVID face a significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular conditions, including cardiac arrhythmias and coronary artery disease, even if they were not hospitalized during their initial infection. longcovid
Doctors Lose New Jobs Package as Strike to Go Ahead
The UK government withdrew a proposal to create 1,000 additional doctor training posts after the British Medical Association refused to cancel a six‑day strike. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had set a 48‑hour deadline for the walkout to be called off, linking...
Master the Game, Not the Grind: $200M Exit
my friend owned one radiology clinic then he acquired 23 more structured correctly zero personal capital exited the platform for $200M he didn't work harder he learned a different game
MedCity FemFwd: ACOG’s New Guidelines Around Endometriosis
During the latest MedCity FemFwd podcast, Dr. Barbara Levy of Visana Health discussed the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists' (ACOG) newly released clinical guidance on endometriosis. The guidelines introduce updated diagnostic criteria, prioritize early detection, and recommend multidisciplinary treatment...
Lilly Weight-Loss Pill First Novel Drug Approved Under CNPRV
Eli Lilly’s anti‑obesity pill Foundayo (orforglipron) became the first new molecular entity approved under the FDA Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPRV) pilot. The FDA granted approval just 50 days after Lilly filed the NDA, well ahead of its 294‑day target deadline. Foundayo’s...
CDC Not Testing For Pox Viruses Amid Mpox Outbreaks, Treatment Concerns
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has removed smallpox, mpox and rabies from its routine testing portfolio, even as mpox outbreaks flare in several nations. The agency’s website update confirms the suspension, raising alarms among clinicians who rely on...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Reports Financial Results for 2025
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota posted a $353 million operating loss for 2025, equating to a 3 percent margin on $10.4 billion in fully insured premiums. Claims spending climbed to $9.8 billion, up $1.7 billion year‑over‑year, averaging roughly $27 million per day. A $150 million...
State Audit Reveals Years of Missed Nursing Home Inspections, Medicaid Eligibility Failures
A Kentucky state audit uncovered a massive backlog of nursing‑home inspections, with 162 of 190 surveys delayed by up to 51 months, far beyond the federal 15‑month limit. The audit also found 358 deceased individuals still listed as Medicaid‑eligible and...
AI-Driven Biology Could Slash Drug Trial Failures Dramatically
AI for biology will have bigger near term wins. The ability for AI to learn from experiments and predict human biology will have very broad impacts in predicting targets, clinical trials, and precision medicine. Tackling the biggest challenge in Pharma (80%...
Health System Profits From Harmful Food, Needs Unified Resilience
I’ve spent 20 years in healthcare, and I still can’t get used to it. One industry profits by normalising food that drives inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and chronic fatigue. Then another absorbs trillions to manage the damage. As a growth model for separate markets,...
West Virginia Changes Prior Authorization Law After Man's Treatment Delay and Death
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey signed HB 4965, a law that lets members of the state workers’ health plan switch to an alternative, medically appropriate treatment of equal or lesser cost without filing a new prior‑authorization request. The change affects roughly...
Digital Rights Advocates Sue CMS Over WISeR, Dems Urge House Approps To Repeal Model
Digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation has filed a lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services demanding transparency for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) model, which automates Medicare prior‑authorization decisions. The suit argues the model violates...
STAT+: Makary Marks One Year at FDA with Focus on Achievements in Speech to Staff
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary marked his one‑year anniversary by reflecting on the agency’s milestones and acknowledging the “challenging start” caused by the Trump administration’s 2025 layoff of roughly 3,500 FDA employees. He highlighted progress across drug approvals, safety initiatives, and...
HCA Houston Healthcare Hospital Taps New CFO
HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball announced Francis Tezanos as its new chief financial officer, effective Jan. 12. The 350‑bed facility, part of the Nashville‑based HCA Healthcare system, expects Tezanos to steer budgeting, revenue‑cycle management and strategic financial planning. Previously, he served as...
How the $100K H-1B Visa Fee Will Affect Hospitals: AHA
The Trump administration’s September executive order raised the H‑1B petition fee from roughly $3,500 to $100,000, targeting specialty‑occupation visas used by hospitals for physicians, nurses and technicians. The American Hospital Association (AHA) warns that the fee will deepen the current...
19 Health Systems Dropping Medicare Advantage Plans | 2026
Nineteen hospitals and health systems are terminating contracts with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans in 2026, citing chronic prior‑authorization denials and delayed reimbursements. The exits span major networks such as UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna, and Anthem, affecting institutions from Mayo Clinic to...
Meta Gets Into Health Wearables with AI Glasses
Meta announced AI-powered smart glasses that now support prescription lenses and include a hands‑free food‑tracking feature. Users can log meals by speaking a command or snapping a photo, with the device extracting nutritional information and syncing it to the Meta...
Record Female Life Expectancy Defies Predicted Limits
enjoying this piece on record life expectancy increasing over time - the *insane* linear regression in 1840 - 2010 period just tracking record life expectancy over time (I think trend not consistent since, partic w COVID) - how funny it is that...
UT Southwestern, Children’s Health Land $100M Gift for Dallas Pediatric Campus
UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Health received a $100 million gift from the Stephens Greth Foundation to advance their $5 billion joint pediatric campus in Dallas. The campus, scheduled to open in 2031, will feature Moody Children’s Hospital with 552...
NEJM: Multistate Infant Botulism Outbreak Associated with Powdered Infant Formula
A multistate outbreak of infant botulism has been traced to ByHeart powdered infant formula, with 51 suspected or confirmed cases reported across 19 states as of December 10, 2025. Laboratory testing identified Clostridium botulinum type A in opened formula containers and matched isolates...
Could North Texas Become a Healthcare Innovation Hub Like Nashville?
North Texas is being positioned as the next healthcare‑innovation hub, drawing lessons from Nashville’s success. Nashville’s HCA family tree, Vanderbilt’s data assets, and venture firms like Frist Cressey have created a collaborative ecosystem that accelerates value‑based‑care startups. In Dallas, the...
The Pediatric Home Health System Is Failing Children with Cancer
A landmark trial showed blinatumomab adds 10% survival for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, yet most children cannot receive it at home. Roughly 70% lack access to pediatric home‑health services because reimbursement is low, nurses are scarce, and investment has lagged....
Digital Heart Twins Can Guide a Lifesaving Procedure
Researchers at Johns Hopkins created patient‑specific digital heart twins that simulate electrical activity to plan ventricular tachycardia ablations. By converting high‑resolution MRI scans into 3‑D models, physicians could test virtual ablations and identify optimal targets before entering the operating room....
C.D.C. Pauses Testing for Rabies and Pox Viruses
The CDC announced it is temporarily suspending testing for rabies and pox viruses, including smallpox and mpox. The pause stems from a severe staffing shortage, with the rabies team reduced to a single expert and the pox‑virus team slated to...
Private Equity-Backed Cardiology Practice Adding New In-House Smart Lab Powered by AI
MyCardiologist, a private‑equity‑backed cardiology network in South Florida, has engaged Clinlab.AI to design and operate its first AI‑powered Smart Laboratory. The in‑house lab will be embedded within the practice’s nine locations, allowing real‑time, AI‑enhanced analysis of cardiac biomarkers and other tests....
Frequently Requested or Proactively Posted Drug-Specific and Other Records
The FDA has published a curated list of frequently requested and proactively released drug‑specific records, spanning from 2016 to 2026. The collection includes letters on hemp‑derived cannabidiol research, a tirzepatide injection shortage resolution, the JAYPIRCA approval package, and numerous REMS...
FDA Warns Patients and Health Care Professionals Not to Use Sterile Products From North American Custom Laboratories LLC, Dba FarmaKeio...
The FDA has issued a nationwide warning against using any drug products intended to be sterile that were compounded by North American Custom Laboratories LLC, operating as FarmaKeio Superior Custom Compounding. After an inspection uncovered conditions that could lead to...
Aphreseller (Buy-herbal.com) Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Kian Pee Wan Capsules Due the Presence of Undeclared Dexamethasone and Cyproheptadine
Aphreseller, the eBay seller behind Buy‑herbal.com, announced a voluntary nationwide recall of its Kian Pee Wan weight‑gain capsules. FDA analysis found the supplements contain undeclared prescription drugs dexamethasone and cyproheptadine, both prohibited in dietary supplements. The recall, announced on March 30, 2026...
American Heart Association Issues New Guidelines Favoring Plant‑Based Protein
The American Heart Association today published its 2026 dietary guidance, urging Americans to replace meat with plant‑based protein and cut alcohol. The recommendations clash with the USDA‑HHS food pyramid that promotes red meat, setting up a high‑profile debate over heart‑healthy...
ML4H: Advancing From Medical Imaging to Digital Twins
The Broad Institute’s Machine Learning for Health (ML4H) program launched a new Clinical AI Seminar Series featuring leaders such as NVIDIA’s Stephen Aylward. The series explores generative and foundation models, ethical AI, self‑supervised learning, and real‑world clinical uses. ML4H unites...
Report Finds Children Incentivized for ADHD and Autism Diagnoses as Services Strain
A health‑secretary‑ordered inquiry led by Professor Peter Fonagy reveals that children are being “incentivised” to seek ADHD and autism diagnoses, with ADHD cases more than doubling since 2021 and autism diagnoses among girls soaring seven‑fold. The report links these trends...
‘Cracks Show’ as CDRH Staff Contend With Heavy Workloads
The U.S. Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is grappling with heavy workloads after a year of staff reductions, according to Cooley counsel Son Nguyen. Remaining reviewers report heightened case volumes and frequent mid‑application decision changes, creating uncertainty for...
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring After TKA Was Safe, Cost Effective
A study presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting evaluated remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) for 1,699 total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients. The analysis compared four cohorts—physical therapy only, RTM only, a hybrid of both, and a historical control—and...
Year-Long Aerobic Exercise Preserves White Matter, Boosts Cognition
Effects of aerobic exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness on white matter free water fraction in older adults: a 1-year randomized controlled trial "These findings suggest that 1 year of aerobic training may reduce [Free Water Fraction] in the CC body and that higher...
HHS Transfers Missed the Mark for IHS Staffing
HHS Officials’ Year in Purgatory Is Ending The Indian Health Service needs more clinical workers. The federal health officials being transferred to the agency don’t fit that bill. @KatherineJWu reports: https://t.co/kb9mVkY3S7
Healthcare IT Is Not a Solo Act, Says HIMSS Changemaker
Julie Luengas, DNP, RN, the Chief Nursing Informatics Officer at Stony Brook Medicine, received the HIMSS Changemaker award and emphasized that no healthcare IT leader reaches the top alone. She highlighted collaboration, mentorship, and collective effort as essential drivers of...
NEJM Review Overlooks Inflammation in GLP‑1 Drugs
A new review of the GLP-1 receptor drugs @NEJM https://t.co/PK03jApZWB surprisingly, the word inflammation only appears once, in this diagram https://t.co/1PeBakBAQb
Glyphosate Barely Detected, No Sperm Impact—Misinfo Spreads
A great example of how disinformation spreads. "Glyphosate Girl" read a title and doesn't realize the paper doesn't match her tweet. Men in a fertility clinic were tested, barely detected glyphosate (730 ppTrillion) in seminal plasma, no effect on morphology...
CBP and FDA Seize 5,000 Peptide Packages, Including GLP‑1 Drugs
5000 packages of peptides seized by CBP and FDA “The seized materials included several GLP-one medications such as retatrutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide. Officers also found various other peptides prohibited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including MOTS-C, TB10, semax, and...
Vitamin B3 May Undermine Pancreatic Cancer Chemotherapy
Title and header via the @cwru press release: New research reveals dangers of ‘anti-aging’ supplements in cancer protection Vitamin B3 could be making chemotherapy less effective in pancreatic cancer patients https://t.co/vIfcvuiS6P Discussion + thoughtful debate welcome👇👨⚕️ https://t.co/aHewoWeIle
Genome Editing Shows Promise for Sickle Cell, Β‑Thalassemia
3 new trial results for genome editing of sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia @NEJM https://t.co/qGGdjgKqP5 (with summary Table below) https://t.co/RdiM3urCKJ https://t.co/W15cPAfMoS https://t.co/F3PHKuktPx https://t.co/t6Z35S8L7h
Payment Precision Now Mandatory for Payer Leadership
Payment integrity isn’t about clawbacks anymore. It’s about getting it right the first time. Why payment precision is now a mandate for payer leadership 👇 https://t.co/wFxAgapVAF #AMPS #ClaimInsight #HITSM
NIH Chief Also Runs Directorless CDC, No Acting Title
#NIH director Jay Bhattacharya is also overseeing #CDC, which still doesn't have a director, or even a director nominee working her/his way through Senate confirmation. But "acting director" is a title he can't wear. Not sure why CDC's website lists...
Debunking Myths: Longevity Science Funding Is Essential
Are you (will you be) in London Wednesday April 8? 👉Arguments against funding longevity science - and why they are all wrong Hosted by London Futurist, my friend (and friend to longevity science) David Wood @dw2 https://t.co/HTj6Xoeu1J https://t.co/13pwYx0ZrU
High‑dose Flu Shots Cut Alzheimer Risk, Especially in Women
We've seen the Shingles vaccine is linked with reduced risk of Alzheimer's and dementias in 4 large natural experiments. Today, the potential of high-dose flu vaccines vs standard dose for the same in a large retrospective age 65+ cohort [N>160,000)....