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
Doctors Announce Six-Day Strike in England as Talks Break Down
Resident doctors in England will commence a six‑day strike on 7 April after the British Medical Association (BMA) rejected a government offer of a 3.5% pay rise. The dispute, now the 15th walk‑out since March 2023, also centers on job shortages and concerns that the proposed raise will not keep pace with inflation. The government’s package includes covering some out‑of‑pocket expenses and expanding training posts, but doctors argue pay remains a fifth below 2008 levels after inflation adjustment. With pay bands ranging from roughly $49,000 to $94,000, the strike threatens NHS service continuity during a critical period.
Comprehensive Strategies and Recommendations for Optimising Patient Safety Practices in Public Hospitals of Addis Ababa: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study
Researchers conducted an explanatory sequential mixed‑methods study to develop patient‑safety strategies for public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Using stratified sampling, questionnaires, checklists, and interviews, they combined descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and thematic analysis to identify safety culture gaps. The...
Overlooked and Undertreated: National Shortfalls in Anorectal Evaluation for Gastroparesis-Associated Constipation and Defecation Disorder
A large U.S. retrospective study of 295,016 gastroparesis patients found that 29.9% also suffered constipation, yet only 1.4% were diagnosed with a defecatory disorder. Among those diagnosed, just one‑third underwent anorectal manometry (ARM) and fewer than 4% received biofeedback therapy....
Joint Association of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Stage and Lifestyle With Mortality Among Cancer Survivors: A NHANES Cohort Study
A NHANES cohort of 1,468 U.S. cancer survivors examined how combined cardiovascular‑kidney‑metabolic (CKM) stage and lifestyle affect mortality. Participants were grouped by early (stages 0‑2) or late (stages 3‑4) CKM and by high versus non‑high scores on the behavior‑only Life’s Essential 8 (diet,...
Hemodynamic and Biochemical Effects of Intravenous versus Oral Fluids in Healthy Volunteers – A Protocol for a Randomized Crossover Trial
A Phase 1 randomized crossover trial will compare the hemodynamic impact of 1 liter oral tap water versus 1 liter intravenous Ringer’s lactate in 20 healthy volunteers. The primary endpoint is the change in mean arterial pressure 30 minutes after fluid administration, with secondary...
The Prediction of Estimated Cerebral Perfusion Pressure with End Diastolic Velocity in Newborns
Researchers examined the link between estimated cerebral perfusion pressure (CPPe) and Doppler ultrasound measurements in newborns. Analyzing 446 daily samples from 137 preterm infants across multiple NICUs, they found end‑diastolic velocity (EDV) had the strongest correlation with CPPe (β = 0.571, p < 0.001)....
The Brain's Cleaning System Can Be Boosted to Rid Alzheimer's Proteins
Researchers identified a drug combination that enhances the brain's glymphatic system, improving clearance of Alzheimer‑related proteins. The regimen pairs a widely used sedative with a medication that prevents dangerously low blood pressure, showing safe and effective removal of amyloid and...
How Wearable Technology Is Changing the Role of Physicians
Wearable devices and AI‑driven health mirrors now collect detailed physiological data before patients ever see a doctor. This influx of self‑generated metrics forces physicians to act as interpreters rather than primary decision‑makers. Many platforms promise direct data transmission to clinicians,...
Lancet Report Finds that Sanctions Kill 777,000 Civilians per Year
A 2023 Lancet study analyzing 152 countries from 1971‑2021 finds that international sanctions, especially unilateral U.S. measures, are associated with an estimated 777,000 excess deaths each year. The mortality impact is most pronounced among children under five and older adults,...
Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know
Unused or expired medicines pose health and safety risks, prompting the FDA and DEA to promote safe disposal options. Consumers can drop off drugs at pharmacy or police take‑back sites, use prepaid USPS mail‑back envelopes, or follow the FDA’s Flush...
When Heart Patients Can’t Wait: Urgent TAVR with Self-Expanding Vs. Balloon-Expandable Valves
A retrospective analysis of nearly 600 urgent or emergent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures performed between 2012 and 2024 compared Medtronic self‑expanding valves (SEVs) with Edwards balloon‑expandable valves (BEVs). Adjusted Cox regression showed no significant difference in long‑term mortality...
STAT+: FDA Approves Denali Therapeutics Drug for Hunter Syndrome
On March 27, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval to Denali Therapeutics’ drug Avlayah for the treatment of Hunter syndrome, a rare lysosomal storage disorder. The decision arrives amid a recent wave of stricter FDA scrutiny of...
Two Polyunsaturated Lipids Demonstrate Senolytic Activity
Researchers identified two conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acids, α‑eleostearic acid (α‑ESA) and its methyl ester (α‑ESA‑me), as potent senolytics that selectively eliminate senescent cells. In mouse models, short‑term dosing reduced senescence markers and SASP factors across liver, heart, kidney, and lung...
NOVOS Trial Shows Vascular Aging Biomarker Improvements in Midlife Adults
NOVOS launched a randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial of a multi‑component supplement in adults over 40, enrolling 61 participants and completing six months with 43 finishers. Early preprint data show a 2.9% improvement in flow‑mediated dilation, a 1.18 m/s reduction in pulse‑wave...
Friendly Bubble Robot Tackles Senior Loneliness in U.S.
EXCLUSIVE: in a sea of Terminator-looking bots, Aussie founder Grace Brown took a different direction for her robot, Abi: color, bubbles, and fun. Now her startup Andromeda, which has raised $16.6M, is launching for senior homes across the U.S. - with...
Own Your Choices: Physicians Must Set Values‑Driven Boundaries
No one is going to come save you. That line is the center of this episode of The Podcast by KevinMD, and it lands because it names something many physicians feel but rarely say out loud. Hospice and palliative care physician Sarah...
Akeso Secures NMPA Clearance for Phase II Trials of First-in-Class ADCs
Akeso, Inc. has obtained clearance from China’s National Medical Products Administration to begin Phase II trials of two novel antibody‑drug conjugates, AK146D1 and AK138D1. The studies will combine the ADCs with the company’s approved bispecific immunotherapies cadonilimab and ivonescimab, marking the...
Shanghai Fosun Pharma Posts $472 Million Profit, Boosting R&D Outlook
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co Ltd announced full‑year profit of RMB3.371 bn ($472 m), up 22% from the prior year, while revenue edged 1.4% higher to RMB41.498 bn. The earnings lift expands the group’s capacity to fund R&D and health‑technology projects amid a...
Humana, CommonSpirit Seal 3‑Year Nationwide Deal Restoring Medicare Advantage Access in 24 States
Humana and CommonSpirit Health have finalized a three‑year, nationwide contract that keeps CommonSpirit’s hospitals and outpatient sites in‑network for Humana’s Medicare Advantage members across 24 states. The agreement restores coverage lost in Colorado and Texas, stabilizing access for millions of...
California’s Healthcare Shortage Has a Pipeline Problem for Women of Color
A new report by Black Women Organized for Political Action’s Training Institute and Hispanas Organized for Political Equality reveals that California’s healthcare workforce shortage is as much an equity problem as a staffing one. Surveying more than 800 Black women...
Claritev Cares Opens Rural Health Grants, Continuing Three Decades of Investment in Underserved Communities
Clarivet Corp announced its Clarivet Cares Rural Health Grant program, now accepting applications through June 1, 2026. Since 1995 the company has contributed more than $700,000 across 100+ grants to rural hospitals, clinics and federally qualified health centers. The 2024 recipient, New...
New Medical Case Study Suggests Promising Fertility Outcomes For Women Over 45
A recent case study in the American Journal of Stem Cells reports two healthy live births—one at age 45 and another at 47—using the women’s own eggs after an experimental ovarian rejuvenation protocol. The treatment blends autologous adipose‑derived stem cells...
Venlafaxine Shows Unexpected -15.2 HAM‑D Drop in TAD Trial
See this for just 1 of the TAD trials from recent @psybalazs and @QuantPsychiatry comparative analysis. 1 of several deck stacks favoring TADs. This trial reported a surprising -15.2 HAM-D drop with venlafaxine. Not so surprising when you look closer......
Live with Dr. Jen Gunter
In this episode, Dr. Jen Gunter discusses her new birth guide, emphasizing the importance of informed, autonomous decision‑making throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care. She critiques outdated medical lore and highlights how misinformation, legal restrictions, and institutional biases—such as those...
Improving Early Detection and Treatment of Liver Cancer
Early-stage liver cancer survival hinges on timely diagnosis, yet ultrasound and AFP tests miss many cases. Helio Genomics has introduced the HelioLiver blood test, a multi‑analyte cfDNA and protein assay that flags tumor‑associated epigenetic signals earlier than imaging. A new...
Beam Looks to Accelerated Approval for AATD Base Editing After Promising Update
Beam Therapeutics announced encouraging Phase 1/2 data for its base‑editing therapy targeting alpha‑1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). The trial demonstrated a 30% reduction in the disease‑causing SERPINA1 mutation and a 45% rise in functional protein levels, while confirming a clean safety profile....
Adonis Raises $40M Series C to Strengthen Healthcare Revenue Cycle
Adonis announced a $40 million Series C round to accelerate its revenue‑cycle platform for healthcare providers. The funding, led by a mix of existing and new investors, will support product expansion and deeper market penetration. CEO Akash Magoon highlighted persistent challenges such as...
High Vet Bills Have Eroded Pet-Owners’ Trust – but Vets Aren’t Getting Rich From Their Fees
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) report flags rising veterinary fees, opaque pricing and rapid corporate consolidation as drivers of eroding trust between pet owners and vets. Contrary to public belief, veterinarians earn modest salaries—about $46,000 to $60,000—and often...
Top Cardiology News for March 2026
During the March 2026 episode of TCTMD’s Heart Sounds, experts highlighted several emerging cardiology developments. Updated lipid‑lowering guidelines emphasize earlier statin initiation and novel agents for high‑risk patients. New echocardiographic surveillance protocols for aortic stenosis aim to detect disease progression before...
Guidance Recap Podcast | Use of Bayesian Methodology in Clinical Trials of Drug and Biological Products
The FDA released a draft guidance on using Bayesian methodology in clinical trials, outlining how sponsors should incorporate prior data, define success criteria, and document analyses. It emphasizes systematic prior construction, transparent operating characteristics, and extensive simulation documentation. The guidance...
AI Matches Dermatologists in Melanoma Diagnosis, Study Shows
How good is AI for diagnosing melanoma? A systematic review of 11 studies, 2500 patients, finds accuracy and performance comparable to 50 dermatologists, with promise for broad use requiring further validation @JAMADerm This is important with the big shortage of dermatologists...
Osteoporosis Screening Recommended for All Women over 6
USPSTF now recommends routine osteoporosis screening for all women aged 65 and older, and for younger postmenopausal women with specific risk factors. The guidance is based on systematic review evidence that early detection via DEXA scans can lower fracture incidence....
New Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services have issued the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the latest iteration of a five‑yearly series that began in 1980. The guidelines shape federal nutrition programs such as school meals, Meals...
Guidance Snapshot Pilot
The FDA has launched a Guidance Snapshot Pilot that distills complex guidance documents into visual, plain‑language one‑page snapshots complemented by podcasts, timelines, and social‑media links. The pilot targets cross‑cutting topics such as Bayesian trial methodology, decentralized clinical elements, and neonatal...
Conn. EMTs Buy Their Own Protective Vests Amid Safety Concerns
Two Woodstock, Conn., EMTs have each spent about $500 on stab‑ and bullet‑resistant vests after their agency said budget constraints prevent issuing the gear to all 22 responders. The move comes as assaults on first responders in Connecticut climbed to...
Boehringer Ingelheim Plans for Dealmaking and R&D Spending Amid US Price Pressure
Boehringer Ingelheim announced it will maintain its high‑level R&D spending while exploring dealmaking opportunities in China to counteract mounting U.S. drug‑price pressure. The company is prioritising an obesity‑focused pipeline, betting on the fast‑growing weight‑loss market to sustain revenue. By keeping...
Ozempic Pill Improves Multiple Cardiometabolic Risk Factors
A post‑hoc analysis of the SOUL trial shows that once‑daily oral semaglutide (Ozempic pill) significantly improves several cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Compared with placebo, participants experienced a 3.2 mm Hg greater...
This Week in Abortion Rights
A wave of restrictive measures swept U.S. states this week, highlighted by a Georgia woman being charged with murder for using abortion pills, and a suite of bills targeting pregnancy documentation and medication advertising. Ohio’s proposed registry would require doctors...
Thesis Care (Formerly Trovo Health) Secures $45M to Scale AI-Powered Clinical Care Teams
Thesis Care, formerly Trovo Health, closed a $45 million Series A round led by Oak HC/FT, bringing total funding to $60 million. Founded in 2024 by ex‑Cedar executives, the startup uses AI agents backed by clinicians‑in‑the‑loop to automate end‑to‑end clinical workflows. By delivering...
Association Between the Composite Nutritional Index TCBI and ISR
In‑stent restenosis (ISR) remains a common, costly complication after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A recent cohort of 454 patients evaluated the triglyceride‑total cholesterol‑body weight index (TCBI) alongside traditional metabolic ratios. The analysis showed TCBI achieved the highest predictive accuracy for...
Association Between Probiotic Intervention and Sleep Quality in the General Adult Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
A systematic review and meta‑analysis of 13 randomized trials involving 890 adults found that probiotic supplementation modestly improves subjective sleep quality. The pooled mean difference was –0.59 points on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and –0.86 points on the...
Associations Between Lipid-Derived Indices and Cardiovascular–Kidney–Metabolic Syndrome Progression Among Chinese Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults: A Longitudinal Study
The 2011‑2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study examined eight lipid‑derived indices and their relationship to cardiovascular‑kidney‑metabolic (CKM) syndrome progression in middle‑aged and elderly adults. After adjusting for confounders, seven indices—atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), non‑HDL‑C, NHHR, lipoprotein combined index...
CT-Assessed Abdominal Visceral Adiposity and MASLD: A Sex-Stratified Cross-Sectional Analysis
A large cross‑sectional study of 7,805 Chinese adults found that CT‑derived visceral fat area (VFA) is the strongest predictor of metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), outperforming body‑mass index (BMI). Men in the highest VFA quartile faced an 11.5‑fold higher...
Creatine Supplementation on Fatigue Related to Post-COVID-19 Condition—Fatigue Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized, single‑blind pilot trial evaluated creatine monohydrate at 6 g and 18 g daily for four weeks in adults with post‑COVID‑19 condition (PCC) experiencing fatigue. The 6 g/day regimen produced a statistically significant reduction in Piper Fatigue Scale‑Revised scores (‑2.05 points) and...
Qualified Health Raises $125M to Scale Generative AI in Health Systems
Qualified Health, a public‑benefit AI firm, closed a $125 million Series B led by NEA, adding investors such as Transformation Capital and Anthropic. The round will fund expansion of its generative‑AI platform that offers governance, risk‑alert, privacy safeguards and workflow automation for...
An Indication Selection Resource for Longevity Companies
Norn Group has released a free, detailed spreadsheet that maps 47 age‑related disease indications, providing mechanisms, incidence, market size, clinical endpoints, animal models, and trial cost estimates. The guide is designed to help longevity‑focused startups choose FDA‑approved disease targets rather...
Engineered Immune Cells Target Refractory Myeloma, Broader Cancer Potential
Steady progress towards engineering immune cells in the body now for refractory myeloma , with major implications for many autoimmune diseases and cancers https://t.co/K3IksrCFlg https://t.co/1AQ5rLuH1g
Two States Sue Cord Blood Bank Over False Advertisements
Cord Blood Registry (CBR), which stores over a million umbilical‑cord samples, is being sued by the attorneys general of Texas and Arizona for allegedly misleading parents about the therapeutic value of its services. The states claim CBR’s advertising falsely promises...
AI in Healthcare Must Address Algorithmic Bias
The #Algorithmic Divide: Why #Healthcare #AI Shouldn’t Treat Everyone The Same by Brad Porter @Forbes Learn more: https://t.co/Jw7zyu0LFo #MedTech #HealthTech #Tech #TechForGood https://t.co/Fo3KyOyzqZ