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
How to Switch Between Health Insurance Plans in India Without Losing Benefits
Switching health insurance plans in India can be done without losing benefits by using the portability option at renewal. The article outlines a step‑by‑step process that emphasizes timing, documentation, and full health disclosure to retain waiting‑period credits and existing‑condition coverage. It warns against lapses and casual switches that reset benefits, and advises comparing policy restrictions instead of superficial features. Properly executed, the switch improves coverage while maintaining continuity.
OXOS Medical’s MC2 Secures Clearance for Paediatric Imaging
OXOS Medical announced FDA clearance for its MC2 portable X‑ray system designed specifically for paediatric imaging. The lightweight, wireless device enables bedside scans, allowing children to stay with caregivers while receiving low‑dose, high‑definition images. Hands‑free operation via a wireless foot...
START and Trialing Collaborate on Oncology Clinical Trials
START Center for Cancer Research has partnered with Trialing to broaden access to early‑phase oncology clinical trials throughout Europe. The exclusive agreement lets START distribute curated trial information and real‑time enrollment updates via Trialing’s platform, directly notifying oncologists when slots...
Maker of Device To Treat Addiction Withdrawal Seeks Counties’ Opioid Settlement Cash
Kentucky counties are using opioid settlement money to purchase the NET device, a FDA‑cleared neuromodulation tool that eases withdrawal symptoms, at roughly $5,500 per patient. The company behind NET, NET Recovery, has secured about $1.2 million in contracts across more than...
The Albumin-Globulin Ratio Mediates Progressive Motor Function Decline in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
A retrospective cohort of 201 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients and 202 matched controls revealed that a lower albumin‑globulin ratio (AGR) is strongly associated with poorer motor function and faster loss of ambulation. Logistic and Cox models showed lower AGR...
Medication Availability for Alcohol Use Disorder in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facilities
A nationwide study of 3,153 U.S. counties shows that the share of substance‑use‑disorder treatment facilities offering medication for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) rose from 34% in 2017 to 44% in 2021, then plateaued. Rural‑adjacent and rural‑remote counties lagged metropolitan areas...
Extracting Non-Taxonomic and Ternary Relations From Patient-Generated Texts for Semantic Interoperability
A new knowledge‑infused neural framework extracts non‑taxonomic and ternary relations from patient‑generated texts, addressing gaps left by taxonomic‑only approaches. Using a four‑layer architecture, delayed fusion, rule‑based dictionaries, and BioBERT validation, the system processes 38,115 anxiety and depression documents. It achieves...
Understanding Hiv Patients’ Perceptions of Nutrition Education at Mulago National Referral Hospital, a Qualitative Study
A qualitative study at Mulago National Referral Hospital found that structured nutrition education is virtually absent for HIV inpatients, with six of seven participants reporting no dietary counselling and no ward‑based nutritionist. Patients expressed positive attitudes toward nutrition and recognized...
Multifactorial Predictors of Infant Neurodevelopment at Six Months: A Hierarchical Regression Analysis
A cross‑sectional study of 124 term infants examined how biological, maternal, and environmental factors predict neurodevelopment at six months using the ASQ‑3. Hierarchical regression showed that birth weight was the strongest and most consistent predictor across communication, gross motor, problem‑solving,...
Barriers and Facilitators to Antimicrobial Stewardship Implementation Across Healthcare Settings in Bangladesh: A Systematic Review
Bangladesh faces a growing antimicrobial resistance crisis, with 26,200 AMR‑related deaths in 2019. A systematic review of 14 studies covering over 34,000 patients and clinicians found that antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs are fragmented, with only 31% of prescriptions guided by...
Co PSMA Prostate Imaging Data Presented at EAU Congress
Clarity Pharmaceuticals presented Phase II Co‑PSMA data at the EAU Congress, showing its 64Cu‑SAR‑bisPSMA PET tracer outperforms the standard 68Ga‑PSMA‑11 in detecting prostate cancer recurrence at low PSA levels. In 50 men post‑radical prostatectomy, 64Cu‑SAR‑bisPSMA identified 63 lesions versus 24...
Cogent Biosciences Reports US FDA’s NDA Acceptance of Bezuclastinib for NonAdvanced Systemic Mastocytosis (NonAdvSM)
Cogent Biosciences announced that the U.S. FDA has accepted its new‑drug application for bezuclastinib in non‑advanced systemic mastocytosis (NonAdvSM), with a PDUFA target date of December 30 2026 and no advisory committee required. The filing is supported by the SUMMIT trial, which...
Nigeria Bets on High-End Fiagnostics as Siemens–AMCE Deal Targets Medical Tourism Drain
Siemens Healthineers has teamed up with the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) to bring advanced imaging, precision diagnostics and integrated cancer‑care solutions to Nigeria. The $300 million, Afreximbank‑backed hospital aims to become a regional hub for oncology, cardiology and haematology,...
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy: A Human-Centred, Cost-Effective Approach to Dementia Care
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is a low‑cost, evidence‑based psychosocial program for mild‑to‑moderate dementia that has been piloted at Bruyère Health Geriatric Day Hospital since January 2025. The pilot has completed three rounds and will conclude in July 2026, informing funding...
Ascendis Pharma Reports Topline P-II (New InsiGHTS) Trial Data on TransCon hGH in Turner Syndrome
Ascendis Pharma released topline results from its Phase‑II New InsiGHTS trial evaluating TransCon hGH (lonapegsomatropin) administered once‑weekly versus daily somatropin in 49 prepubertal children with Turner syndrome. At week 52, the weekly formulation achieved an LS mean annualized height velocity...
SUNMED IPO Soars 17% Above Price, Expansion Funded
Sunway Healthcare Holdings Bhd (SUNMED, 5555) debuted strongly on Bursa Malaysia Main Market today. Opening price hit RM1.70 → 17% above IPO price of RM1.45. Price climbed fast to RM1.80–RM2.00 range in morning trade → market cap exceeded RM20 billion. Retail offering...
Oscar-Nominated Film Highlights Shared American, Iranian Health System Concerns
An Oscar‑nominated Iranian film clip showed a pregnant woman denied emergency care because the hospital demanded cash, echoing similar payment barriers faced by U.S. patients. While outright refusals are illegal in the United States, American hospitals still use urgency assessments...
Impact of Enteral Feeding Strategies on Nosocomial Clostridioides Difficile Infection-Induced Diarrhea
A retrospective study of 78 Saudi hospital patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) found that continuous enteral feeding markedly lowered diarrhea severity compared with intermittent feeding (OR = 7.91, p < 0.001). Continuous feeding also stabilized serum sodium and reduced biochemical instability, while intermittent...
Chinese Scientists Use E Coli to Fight Breast Tumours From Within in Mice Study
Chinese researchers at Shandong University have engineered the probiotic strain Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 to synthesize and deliver the anticancer drug Romidepsin directly within breast‑tumor tissue in mice. The bacteria colonized the tumors, releasing the drug locally and achieving tumor‑inhibiting...
Chargemaster Inflates Prices, Patients End up Paying the Cost
When I was at the Brigham/Harvard I saw how we billed different insurance levels as well as the uninsured. The uninsured got screwed the worst. Always. Different payers pay remarkably different prices for the identical things. It all comes down...
The Cognitive Aftercare Gap: Cancer Care Is Data-Rich, but Brain Recovery Is Unmanaged
Cancer survivorship is increasingly recognized, yet cognitive impairment—often called "brain fog"—remains invisible in most oncology workflows. Studies show up to 75% of patients experience cognitive changes during treatment, with roughly 35% continuing months or years afterward. The gap stems from...
How TrumpRx Drug Prices Compare With Those in Other Countries
President Trump’s TrumpRx website claims to offer the world’s lowest prescription‑drug prices, but a New York Times analysis finds the opposite. The site lists only a few dozen negotiated U.S. prices, omitting widely used drugs such as statins and many high‑cost cancer...
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Lexapro (Escitalopram) Side Effects: What You Should Know
Lexapro (escitalopram) is a widely used SSRI that commonly triggers mild side effects such as nausea, insomnia, and headaches during the first week of treatment. Most of these effects diminish after one to two weeks, but patients are advised not...
Scientists Link Childhood Stress to Lifelong Digestive Issues
A study published in Gastroenterology demonstrates that stress during early life rewires gut‑brain pathways, increasing the risk of chronic digestive disorders. Mouse experiments showed sex‑specific motility changes and identified separate neural, hormonal, and serotonin mechanisms. Large human cohorts—over 40,000 Danish...
NIH Shifts Funding Model, Sparking Debate Over Future of Biomedical Research
The U.S. National Institutes of Health announced a pivot away from agency‑directed solicitation calls toward a greater reliance on unsolicited research proposals, a change unveiled in Bethesda, Maryland. The shift, made under the agency’s new leadership following the 2025 presidential...
White House Pushes MFN Drug Pricing, Faces Congressional Resistance
On March 18, 2026, White House officials—including two former Trump administration aides—intensified a campaign to pass legislation that would lock U.S. drug prices to the lowest rates paid by peer nations. The push, aimed at lowering costs for patients, met...
CMS to Roll Out Centralized IDR Platform for Medicare Disputes in Late 2026
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on March 16 that it will transition to a secure, centralized independent dispute resolution (IDR) gateway for Medicare payment and coverage disputes in the second half of 2026. The new platform...
Demanding Colorado Reinsurance Cost Transparency From Governor
How about we ask @govofco how much more reinsurance is costing Colorado? And don’t give me the bs talking points about the average premium reduction, babes.
Policy Secures Health Coverage for 27,000 Colorado Families
Yesterday one of my co-conspirators messaged to let me know that over 7k pregnant people and 20k children have health coverage because of the policy we passed years ago…Cover All Coloradans I have so many feelings that I can’t fully figure...
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How Long Does Hydrocodone Withdrawal Last?
Hydrocodone remains the most prescribed opioid in the U.S., with 83.6 million prescriptions in 2017 and 6.3 million misusers. Withdrawal typically starts 8–24 hours after the last dose, peaks on days two to three, and subsides within a week for most patients. Symptoms...
AI Tool Reduces Time to Prepare Discharge Summaries
Fraser Health has deployed an artificial‑intelligence tool within its Meditech Expanse platform to automate discharge summary creation. The pilot, involving roughly 60 clinicians, cut average drafting time from 12.5 minutes to 5.5 minutes per patient. Users report the draft‑and‑review workflow...
OpenText Applies AI to Faxing
OpenText unveiled its AI‑powered Fax Aviator at HIMSS, aiming to modernize healthcare fax workflows. The solution claims up to 85% labor savings by automating extraction, classification, and routing, and can process 2‑3 times more faxes without additional staff. Features such...
Warning that NHS Digital Reform Could Lead to Burnout
Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s NHS digital transformation faces warnings of nurse burnout. A Society of Occupational Medicine study of 339 nurses found digital technology stress significantly drives emotional exhaustion and burnout. While AI and digital tools can improve disease management...
Brain Scans Reveal a Bipolar-Like Link to Childhood Trauma in some Depressed Patients
An Italian neuroimaging study of 260 inpatients found that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poorer white‑matter integrity, especially in patients with bipolar disorder. In bipolar patients, higher exposure to physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect correlated with widespread...
InspireMD Inc (NSPR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Inspire Medical Systems reported a 12% rise in fourth‑quarter revenue to $269 million and a 14% increase for the full year, reaching $912 million, driven by both existing and new center growth. The company widened its 2026 revenue outlook to $950‑$1 billion, reflecting...
Xoma Royalty Corp (XOMA) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Zymeworks reported Q4 2025 revenue of $106 million, up from $76.3 million, while net loss narrowed to $81.1 million as operating expenses fell. The company highlighted Phase III zanidatumab data showing median PFS over one year and overall survival beyond two years in first‑line...
Protalix Biotherapeutics Inc (PLX) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
West Pharmaceutical reported Q4 2025 revenue of $850 million, up 7.5% reported and 3.3% organically, pushing full‑year net sales past $3 billion with 4% organic growth. Adjusted EPS rose 12% to $2.04 and free cash flow surged 70% to $469 million for the...
Scottish Parliament Votes Against Legalising Assisted Dying After Emotional Debate
The Scottish Parliament rejected the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill, voting 57 to 69 against it. The legislation would have made Scotland the first UK nation to legalise assisted dying, featuring strict safeguards such as dual‑doctor certification and...
Largest Review Finds No Evidence Cannabis Relieves Anxiety, Depression, PTSD
No evidence that medicinal cannabis effectively treats anxiety, depression, or PTSD - according to the largest review of cannabinoids ever conducted.
‘Time of Crisis’: Nursing Home Giant PACS’ CEO on Emerging Stronger From a Federal Investigation
PACS Group reported a $5.29 billion revenue in 2025, marking almost 30% year‑over‑year growth and expanding to 323 facilities in 17 states. CEO Jason Murray said the internal billing investigation is closed, while a federal probe continues without adding new risks....
FTC Monitoring How Drug Companies React to Patent Cliff, Official Says
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced it is closely monitoring how pharmaceutical companies respond to the upcoming patent cliff affecting numerous blockbuster drugs. FTC antitrust director Dan Guarnera said the agency’s “laser focus” on healthcare will target any anticompetitive conduct...
More LPNs, Fewer RNs: Nursing Home Unionization Reshapes Staffing but Not Quality
Unionization in U.S. nursing homes has altered staffing mixes without affecting overall care quality. Six years after a union vote, facilities added 0.34 LPN hours per resident day (4.2 % increase) while RN hours dropped 0.041 per resident day (9.1 % decline),...
Zymeworks to Present Clinical and Preclinical Data on ADC Programs Including Novel RAS ADC Platform at AACR Annual Meeting
Zymeworks will present Phase 1 data on its folate‑receptor‑alpha ADC ZW191 and preclinical results for a novel pan‑RAS inhibitor ADC platform at the AACR Annual Meeting. The oral presentation will detail dose‑escalation safety and efficacy in advanced solid tumours, while...
ORIC® Pharmaceuticals Announces Preclinical Rinzimetostat (ORIC-944) Presentations at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting
ORIC Pharmaceuticals announced that two preclinical abstracts on its PRC2‑targeting agent rinzimetostat (ORIC‑944) have been accepted for poster presentation at the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting. The data show rinzimetostat, an allosteric EED inhibitor, maintains potency against EZH1‑overexpressing complexes and key...
Earn 50 CME Credits in Compassionate End‑of‑Life Care
BEING WITH DYING: Professional Training Program for Clinicians in Compassionate Care of the Seriously Ill and Dying (In Person 2026) May 8-15 50 CME's for clinicians https://t.co/nt2OWCudf6
US Smoking Rates Dip Below 10% for First Time
Cigarette smoking in the US falls below 10% of the population for the first time. https://t.co/JReSJgZA85
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PATIENT CARE: National Health Laboratory Service System Out of Action, Causing ‘Massive Disruptions’ to Health Facilities
On 17 March the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) in South Africa lost access to its TrakCare information system after a power outage at its Johannesburg head office, revealing the absence of backup power. NHLS provides diagnostic pathology for over 80 %...
One of the Most Insanely Stupid Provisions of the ACA Just Became *Slightly* Less Stupid
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued guidance allowing insurers to reallocate unspent Section 1303 segregated abortion premiums to general revenue after the coverage year ends. This ends years of accumulated “abortion funds,” which analysts estimate could total between...
Sutter Health, Allina Explore Merger With Eye on Digital Health
Sutter Health and Allina Health have signed a Letter of Intent to merge, creating a nonprofit system that spans Northern California, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The combined entity will include 39 hospitals, over 400 care sites, 18,000 physicians and 88,000 staff,...
Hospices’ Challenging 2026 Outlook
Hospice providers face a turbulent 2026 outlook as regulatory scrutiny intensifies, staffing shortages deepen, and demand for end‑of‑life care surges. CMS has placed Georgia, Ohio, Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas under enhanced oversight to combat fraud, casting a shadow over...