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
Bending the Curve of Health Care Costs (At Last?)
Health care spending in the U.S. rose from about 5% of GDP in 1960 to 17% in 2010, then slowed markedly after 2010. Cutler and Klarnet attribute the slowdown to five factors—cost‑saving technology (≈21%), reduced demand (10‑26%), supply‑side price reductions (6%), better population health (7%), and a drop in price growth to inflation (≈24%). International research shows a similar flattening trend, though the U.S. still outpaces peers. CMS projects that aging will push spending back up to 20.3% of GDP by 2033, reviving fiscal pressures.
Breast Cancer Screening Rates Saw a 10% Drop Among Several Groups of Women over the Last 2 Decades
A new JAMA analysis of more than 2.6 million women shows mammography use among 40‑ to 49‑year‑olds fell roughly 10% between 2002 and 2022. The decline was modest overall but reached up to 12% in specific sociodemographic groups, including uninsured women...
More than Research: Magee-Womens Research Institute Brings Opportunity to Erie
Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) expanded to Erie, Pennsylvania, establishing a research hub that supports 44 active clinical studies and over 2,700 patient visits. The institute now employs more than 380 scientists nationwide, running 319 studies covering 292 conditions and enrolling...
PMPRB Consults on Proposed Practice Directions for PMPRB Hearings
The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) released seven proposed Practice Directions to modernize its hearing procedures. It proposes default paper hearings for evidentiary matters, electronic filing, standardized motions, AI disclosure, virtual oral arguments, and an expedited failure‑to‑file process with...
Improving Remote Dermatology Care, Diagnosis, and Clinical Trial Diversity: James Song, MD
Teledermatology is emerging as a core component of skin‑care delivery, especially for patients requiring frequent monitoring such as those on isotretinoin. Virtual visits excel at follow‑up appointments, safety checks, and prescription renewals, but current imaging technology cannot reliably diagnose pigmented...
NIH Unveils Strategic Plan to Transform Disability Health Research
The National Institutes of Health released the FY26‑FY33 Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research, outlining a coordinated, person‑centered approach to improve health outcomes for people with disabilities. Developed with input from researchers, clinicians, advocates, and individuals with lived experience, the...
MiniMed Unveils MiniMed Flex, Its Smallest Insulin Pump Yet
MiniMed secured FDA clearance for the MiniMed Flex, its smallest insulin pump yet, featuring a fully smartphone‑controlled, screenless design. The pocket‑sized device is roughly half the size of the 780G and holds a 300‑unit insulin reservoir while integrating continuous glucose...
Hope for Compassionate, Competent EDs Like Pitt
Just over here longing for a world where every real ED could be more like the Pitt - Heartfelt humans - Competent care - No patients' needs dismissed
LEO Pharma Announces New Long-Term Data for SPEVIGO® (Spesolimab-Sbzo) Injection in Adults with Generalized Pustular Psoriasis at AAD 2026
LEO Pharma presented long‑term results from the five‑year EFFISAYIL ON extension, showing subcutaneous SPEVIGO® reduced generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) flares from an average of two per year to 0.13, with 74.6% of patients experiencing no flares over three years. Intravenous SPEVIGO...
GLP-1s May Manage Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
GLP‑1 receptor agonists, such as exenatide, have shown the ability to lower intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) independent of weight loss. In a double‑masked, placebo‑controlled trial, exenatide reduced ICP by 5.7 cm H₂O within 2.5 hours, with the...
How Does MFN Pricing Work Within TrumpRx?
TrumpRx, launched early 2026, is a direct‑to‑patient portal offering more than 40 drugs with cash‑pay prices, coupons and discounts. The platform aligns with the administration’s most‑favored‑nation (MFN) pricing policy, but the listed prices do not always match the official MFN...
VIVAZEN® Urges Immediate Action on 7-OH as U.S. House of Representatives Examines End Needless Distribution of 7-OH Act
VIVAZEN® welcomed a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on H.R. 8000, the End Needless Distribution of 7‑OH Act, urging the DEA to promptly schedule the synthetic opioid 7‑hydroxymitragynine. The company highlighted public‑health risks such as toxicity, dependence and market confusion...
Going ‘Golden’: K-Biotech May Be Prepping for Its Moment on the Global Stage
Korean biotech is gaining global visibility after the East‑West Biopharma Summit highlighted its first‑in‑class pipelines. The Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that Eli Lilly will invest $500 million over the next five years to collaborate with domestic firms. The deal...
Software Errors Lead to Major Insulin Pump Recall—Manufacturer Shares a Fix
Medtronic is recalling 26,851 MiniMed 780G insulin pumps after identifying three software defects across versions 6.60, 6.61 and 6.62. The FDA classified the recall as Class II, indicating temporary health risks if unaddressed. Medtronic’s remedy is a firmware update to version 6.62 and...
FranklinCovey Provides Customized Solutions for Healthcare Organizations to Solve Key Issues: Nurse Retention and Patient Satisfaction
FranklinCovey is teaming with hospital leaders to boost nurse retention and patient satisfaction through customized leadership and trust programs. Documented results include moving patient‑satisfaction percentiles from the 26th to the 76th in four months and cutting leadership turnover by half...
CHMP Recommends Subcutaneous Form of Sanofi's Sarclisa and Four New Drugs
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued positive opinions on five products: a subcutaneous formulation of Sanofi’s multiple‑myeloma therapy Sarclisa and four entirely new drugs pending approval. The subcutaneous version aims to simplify...
CDERLearn
The FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) announced that its accredited Continuing Education (CE) program is currently unable to process new applications or award CE credits, effective August 12 2025. The pause affects healthcare professionals, academics, and industry participants who...
STAT+: In Private Meetings, White House Works to Win Pharma Companies’ Support for Drug Pricing Bill
The White House has drafted a drug‑pricing bill and is privately meeting with more than a dozen major pharmaceutical companies to secure their backing. The proposed legislation mirrors voluntary pricing agreements the administration previously struck, and notably would allow cash‑paid...
Obesity Associated With Later CSU Onset, Reduced Therapy Response
A new World Allergy Organization Journal report finds that obesity is associated with a later onset of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and a reduced response to the anti‑IgE drug omalizumab. Patients with isolated angioedema experience more severe attacks and respond...
Identify Early Dysfunction to Preserve Retinal Reserve
The article introduces "retinal reserve," a framework describing the retina’s remaining functional capacity despite early metabolic stress. Functional biomarkers such as dark‑adaptation testing can reveal dysfunction before structural changes appear, offering a therapeutic window. By pairing functional assessments with imaging,...
Mobile Population-Based CKD Screening Could Help Close Care Gaps
Wayne State University researchers deployed mobile health units across Detroit from July 2022 to August 2025, evaluating 5,128 adults in 5,973 encounters. The screening revealed that 44.7% had mildly decreased eGFR and 11.3% met criteria for stage‑3 or worse chronic...
Tapinarof Shows Early, Sustained Gains in Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis: Linda Stein Gold, MD
At the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology meeting, phase 3 ADORING 1 and 2 trials demonstrated that once‑daily tapinarof cream significantly improves rash and itch in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, with effects evident by week 1 and sustained through eight weeks. The studies...
Here’s the £10 Product Allergy Sufferers Are Rushing to Buy Before Pollen Peaks
Hydrosil Dry Eye Gel, priced at £9.56 (≈ $12), is gaining traction among hay‑fever sufferers seeking relief from itchy, dry eyes. The gel’s gentle, barrier‑supporting formula delivers lasting moisture without triggering additional irritation, making it suitable for sensitive skin around the...
Getting Vascular Surgeons More Involved Leads to Key Improvements for PAD Patients
The Society of Vascular Surgery is pushing a heart‑team model that brings vascular surgeons into peripheral artery disease (PAD) discussions, enabling earlier diagnosis and broader treatment options. Dr. William Shutze notes that involving surgeons can shift patients from “no‑option” status...
Ruxolitinib Cream Improves Repigmentation, QOL in Vitiligo, but Better Patient Education, Guidance Are Needed
Ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) demonstrated significant facial repigmentation and quality‑of‑life gains in vitiligo patients, especially those reaching F‑VASI75/90 thresholds, according to post‑hoc analyses of the TRuE‑V trials presented at the 2026 AAD meeting. Real‑world survey data revealed that just over one‑fifth...
GLP-1 Drugs: Brain‑targeted Cure for Obesity and Addictions
In 1992, scientists discovered a chemical in Gila monster venom that mimicked GLP-1, the hormone your gut releases to signal fullness. By tinkering with its structure, pharma companies extended its duration from two hours (the Gila monster version) to one...
Tennis Elbow Affects Everyone, Not Just Athletes
Why Does My Elbow Hurt So Much? Tennis elbow affects 1–3% of the population at any given time. Over a lifetime, virtually everyone will experience it. The vast majority of people who develop it have never played tennis. They are carpenters,...
Switching Between Biosimilars and Their Reference Counterparts with Dr. Sarah Yim
In a recent FDA Q&A, Dr. Sarah Yim explained that the agency has now approved 50 biosimilars covering 15 reference biologics, spanning treatments from oncology to diabetes. She clarified the distinction between biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars, noting that the latter...
Hiring Dietitian Clueless About Anatomy Reveals Systemic Oversight
HOW does a hospital end up hiring a dietitian who “didn't know where intestines were”?! 😳 A sign of our times, perhaps? Tut-tut. Via @JHumphriesBBC @BBC https://t.co/PeXXIkdw0c
FDA Chief Outlines Agency’s Food Agenda to Congress
Amid the Trump administration's focus on food, a key FDA leader briefs lawmakers on the agency's plans https://t.co/SrXI4ObmGF
Australian Study Finds 43% of Preschoolers Show Anxiety, Prompting Parental Guidance Push
A Monash University-led study of 545 Australian three‑ and four‑year‑olds found 43% meet criteria for an anxiety disorder, with 31% showing specific phobias. Researchers caution the findings are preliminary but say they highlight a growing mental‑health concern that could reshape...
Consumer Preferences Unmapped Amid Low Family Medicine Pay
Has anyone mapped this into what consumers *want* and/or *value*? The sucky pay for family medicine is glaring; what about others? @HealthyThinker
Gleamer AI Outperforms Clinical Validation in Real-World Use
An AI delivering more in the messy real world, than on the (already outstanding) original clinical validation publication … that’s the power of @gleamer_ai , now part of @RadNetImaging DeepHealth 🚀 #radiology #AI @BIR_News 2026 London https://t.co/PhFjveXqWQ
How Real-World Data Is Reshaping the NSCLC Patient Journey
Pharma firms are leveraging real‑world data (RWD) to map the patient journey of non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and uncover social determinants of health that hinder care. The new eBook highlights how gaps in biomarker testing, socioeconomic barriers, and incomplete...
AI Will Reshape Healthcare; Leaders Must Drive New Thinking
Everyone agrees AI will change healthcare, but institutional momentum hasn't shifted to redeploy people. The question isn't "who gets left behind?" It's: Who leads the thinking? https://t.co/AyFMFqXwyL
White House Drug Pricing Bill Details Revealed, Previewed by Insiders
Early details of what's in the White House's drug pricing bill text — and who's getting a sneak peek of it https://t.co/Yt8usm4yOa
AI Therapy Cuts Anxiety 43% as Blossom Health Secures $20M Funding
A peer‑reviewed eight‑week trial of Dzeny’s AI therapist showed a 43% drop in GAD‑7 anxiety scores, matching traditional CBT effect sizes. At the same time, New York‑based Blossom Health closed a $20 million seed/Series A round to roll out its AI “copilot”...
Flexpa Powers the Emerging AI-Driven Healthcare System
.@flexpa is integral to enabling the AI-powered healthcare system currently being built. and we're ready for all of it.
Patients Use AI for Nonstop Medical Questions, Not Trust
Patients aren't turning to AI because they trust it more than their doctors. They're turning to it because their questions don't stop between appointments. First piece on Substack: https://t.co/OciXwTtxM1
Akeso Posts 51% Revenue Jump, Starts Phase II ADC Trials
Akeso Inc. announced a 51.5% year‑on‑year increase in 2025 commercial sales to RMB3.033 bn (about $425 m) and secured Chinese regulator clearance to launch Phase II trials of two first‑in‑class antibody‑drug conjugates. The results underscore the biotech’s rapid commercial expansion and its strategic...
AI in Revenue Cycle: High Hopes, Low Adoption
Healthcare wants AI in revenue cycle, but adoption is lagging. 67% have high hopes. Only 14% have implemented it. Why? Data quality and workflow trust. Insights from Experian Health + Integris Health 👇 https://t.co/SdtyNSwza6 @Experian_Health #IntegrisHealth #AIinRCM #HITSM
Details Unavailable: Insurer Coverage Denial Story Lacks Source Confirmation
A reported case of a patient being denied insurance coverage for a medically diagnosed condition cannot be substantiated with the provided sources. No specific numbers, parties, or quotes are available, and details were not disclosed.
Thousands of U.S. Doctors, Nurses and Researchers Flee to Canada Amid Funding Cuts
More than 2,750 American doctors, nurses and researchers have applied for positions in Canada, spurred by U.S. federal funding cuts and restrictive abortion laws. British Columbia’s targeted recruitment campaign has already secured 400 hires, while a volunteer‑run social‑media movement fuels...
Health System PBM Ownership Model Shows Benefits Amid Reform Pressure
St. Louis‑based SSM Health co‑owns Navitus Health Solutions, a pharmacy‑benefit manager serving 18 million members across 800 clients nationwide. Navitus differentiates itself with a fully transparent, pass‑through pricing model that avoids hidden mark‑ups and spread pricing. The approach comes as Congress...
Podcast: European Biotech Rallies Against US and China Powerhouses
The BIO Europe Spring podcast recorded in Lisbon highlighted Europe’s push to reclaim biotech leadership amid dominant US and Chinese pharma giants. Host Robert Barrie distilled insights from investors and executives, emphasizing the continent’s strategic focus on gene‑therapy and mRNA...
AstraZeneca's Lung Drug Scores Unexpected COPD Trial Win
AstraZeneca lung drug gets ‘surprise’ win in COPD trials https://t.co/QuRlOQtzdT @ByJonGardner $AZN $RGN $SNY $RHHBY
Getting Granular: Incorporating RFID Technology to Improve Medication Management
Hospitals face tighter budgets, staffing shortages, and rising drug costs, prompting a search for more efficient medication management. RFID technology, once limited to retail, now offers real‑time, item‑level tracking that reduces manual errors and streamlines documentation. Advances in ultra‑high‑frequency tags...
Regulatory Actions for March 27, 2026
On March 27, 2026 BioWorld reported a flurry of regulatory actions affecting a broad swath of biopharma and med‑tech companies. The snapshot lists approvals, designations and submissions for firms such as 3D Systems, Agilent, Deciphera, Royal Philips and several others....
J&J’s Darzalex Nets First Self-Administered Cancer Injectable Approval
Johnson & Johnson’s Darzalex (daratumumab) received European Medicines Agency approval for self‑administration, becoming the first oncology injectable cleared for home use. The Type II label change allows patients or caregivers to give the subcutaneous injection after the fifth dose, covering all...
Young Adult with Fever, Headache After Returning From Puerto Rico
A young soldier returning to Texas after a two‑week stay in Puerto Rico developed high‑grade fever, retro‑orbital headache, a diffuse maculopapular rash with petechiae, thrombocytopenia and mild liver enlargement. Laboratory findings showed leukopenia and a platelet count of 50,000, and...