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
CT Doctors Defend Vaccine Standards During Legislative Hearing
During a Connecticut Public Health Committee hearing, more than a dozen physicians testified in favor of legislation that would reaffirm the state’s ban on non‑medical vaccine exemptions. The proposal amends the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act to explicitly preserve the current policy, which has kept kindergarten MMR coverage at a national‑leading 98.2%. Doctors recounted personal cases of severe, vaccine‑preventable illnesses and contrasted Connecticut’s single measles case since 2022 with outbreaks in other states. The effort comes as federal vaccine guidance loosens and national measles cases surge.
This FREE Depression ‘Treatment’ Rivals Therapy & Medication (M)
Dr. Jeremy Dean reviews a free, web‑based depression treatment that incorporates evidence‑based CBT, behavioral activation, and mindfulness. Clinical trials cited in the article show remission rates on par with antidepressants and traditional therapy, while delivering no pharmacological side effects. The...
Search for Pharmaceutical Quality Documents
The FDA has released an online searchable table of 249 pharmaceutical quality‑related guidances, MAPPs, and compliance programs. Recent entries include the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Process Inspection compliance program (Sept 2025) and guidance on outsourcing facility inspections (Jan 2025). Topics span drug...
STAT+: Cancer Cells Can ‘Barf’ Proteins Onto Their Cell Surface. That May Create New Targets for Immunotherapies
Researchers at UCSF discovered the Src kinase, traditionally an intracellular signaling protein, displayed on the outer membrane of malignant cells. The finding, published in Science, showed surface Src was absent from healthy donor tissue, suggesting a tumor‑specific marker. This unexpected...
Beyond the Safety Check: Why First-in-Human Trials Demand a New Approach in 2026
Phase I trials have evolved from simple safety checks into data‑rich, adaptive studies that integrate biomarker strategies, exposure‑response analyses, and formulation optimization. Regulators now expect sponsors to justify Phase II dosing decisions, making early pharmacodynamic and target‑engagement data essential. Emerging biotechs face...
FDA’s Labeling Resources for Human Prescription Drugs
The FDA provides a comprehensive suite of labeling resources aimed at industry staff who develop human prescription‑drug labeling, including DailyMed, Drugs@FDA, FDALabel, and Medication Guides. These tools grant access to over 140,000 labeling documents and detailed regulatory histories. The agency...
Myopia Control Suitable for Adults, Pre-Myopes
At Vision Expo, optometrist Shalu Pal highlighted that myopia can continue to progress into adulthood, with 20‑40% of people in their 20s still experiencing significant eye growth. Recent data from a 2024 IOVS study showed an average progression of at...
Episode 60 - Stop Loss Insurance: What Employers Should Know
In this episode, host Mike Stahl talks with Ryan Seamers, founder of Aegis Risk and a leading expert on self‑funded health plans and medical stop‑loss insurance. They discuss the 2026 stop‑loss renewal cycle, noting a sharp premium increase driven by...
Declining Trust Fuels AI-Driven Healthcare Disruption
"Amid soaring prices and dwindling trust in the industry, patients are becoming more open ot alternative ways of getting the care they need. Meanwhile, advances in AI are improving access to medical information and regulators are becoming friendlier to newcomers. At...
Seeking High‑Impact Ideas to Cut Airborne Disease Spread
In Public Health Action Network we’re about to go through an internal expert review process to choose how to focus our efforts over the next few years. We’ll be deciding, how can we, as a small non-profit, most effectively reduce...
AI Adoption, Innovation Lagging in Pediatrics
In a Healio Community webinar, pediatric leaders James S. Barry, MD, MBA, Clara Lin, MD, and Ryan McAdams, MD highlighted that AI adoption in pediatrics lags behind adult medicine due to safety, privacy, and cost concerns. Most AI tools are...
Study Demonstrates Reliability of Real-Time Imaging Guidance in Robotic Bronchoscopy
Noah Medical’s MATCH 2 study, published in Respiratory Medicine, evaluated robotic‑assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) with embedded digital tomosynthesis (DT) and augmented fluoroscopy (AF) in 31 patients with peripheral lung nodules. The trial reported a 96.7% overall diagnostic yield and identical 96.7%...
Low‑dose Rapamycin Eases Fatigue and PEM in ME/CFS
Low-dose rapamycin alleviates clinical symptoms of fatigue and PEM in ME/CFS patients via improvement of autophagy: a pilot study Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, multisystem disorder characterized by profound fatigue… 👉 “Low-dose rapamycin effectively reduced PEM and other key...
Coming Soon: Capstan Medical’s Next-Gen Structural Heart Robotics System
Capstan Medical announced that its second‑generation robotic catheter delivery system will debut in 2026, following successful first‑in‑human mitral valve implants in Chile, New Zealand and Brazil. The company has expanded its valve sizing portfolio to include 37 mm and 42 mm implants and...
Medical Equipment Techs Beg for Right-to-Repair Lifeline
A new Public Interest Research Group survey reveals that 83% of biomedical equipment technicians experience frequent delays in receiving parts, service keys, and manuals, while 70% say diagnostic‑tool restrictions often postpone patient care. OEMs commonly withhold passwords and overcharge for...
Frontline Honors Award Winner: Amy Shen, On-Call Registered Nurse (RN), MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care
MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care’s on‑call RN Amy Shen has been named a 2025 Frontline Honors Award winner by Hospice News. The award, driven by peer nominations, celebrates frontline workers who deliver exceptional patient experiences and champion their industry. Shen...
Iran Conflict Strains Health Systems as Telehealth Faces Internet Disruptions
Escalating conflict between Iran, Israel, the United States and allies has intensified since Feb. 28, 2026, leading to widespread attacks on hospitals and a severe internet shutdown in Iran. The WHO warns that damage to health facilities and disrupted telecommunications are straining...
AI Therapist Beats Humans, Hits Top 10% Performance
Infinite mental health services affordable @Limbic_ai. Key finding in Nature Medicine: https://t.co/ga8xxjSzor Limbic Layer™ turns any frontier LLM into a behavioral health specialist, improving therapeutic performance (as judged by other therapists), patient experience, and clinical outcomes. 75% of Limbic's...
Cyberattack on Stryker Highlights Geopolitical Tensions and Security Risks
On March 11, Stryker reported a global outage that wiped devices for its 5,500 employees across Ireland, the US, Australia and India. The breach displayed an Iran‑affiliated logo and was claimed by the hacktivist group Handala, though no ransomware was...
OCR Director Defends HIPAA Updates: "The Cost of Doing Nothing Is Very High"
OCR director Paula Stannard told HIMSS attendees that the HHS Office for Civil Rights is still reviewing 4,700 public comments on the Biden‑era HIPAA Security Rule proposal, which would impose stricter controls and longer implementation timelines. She warned that the...
Pfizer to Close Ignite, Its R&D Services Unit for Small Biotechs
Pfizer announced the shutdown of its Ignite unit, a dedicated R&D services platform that partnered with early‑stage biotech companies. Ignite offered fee‑based scientific, regulatory, and strategic support, helping dozens of startups advance drug candidates. The closure aligns with Pfizer’s cost‑discipline...
CONCUSS Randomised Clinical Trial of Vergence/Accommodative Therapy for Concussion-Related Symptomatic Convergence Insufficiency
The CONCUSS randomized trial compared immediate versus delayed office‑based vergence/accommodative therapy with movement (OBVAM) for concussion‑related convergence insufficiency in patients aged 11‑25. After six weeks, 88% of the immediate group achieved success on near point of convergence and positive fusional...
Sports Medicine in the Transfer Portal and Name, Image and Likeness Era
The article examines how the NCAA’s Transfer Portal and the emerging Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) market are reshaping collegiate sports medicine. Since the portal’s 2018 expansion, over 21,800 Division I athletes entered in 2022, with 57% completing transfers, creating...
Developing a Sexual Assault Emergency Action Plan: Modified Delphi Consensus Recommendations From the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
Sexual assault affects a significant portion of athletes, yet disclosures remain low and clinicians often feel unprepared. A modified Delphi study of 24 experts and athlete survivors identified 90 consensus items for a sexual‑assault emergency action plan (EAP) tailored to...
Optimal Movement Behaviours for Postconcussion Symptom Recovery in Children and Adolescents: A Compositional Analysis of the PedCARE Cohort
Researchers analyzed accelerometer data from 259 concussed youths to identify daily movement‑behaviour patterns that minimize post‑concussion symptom burden. Using compositional data analysis, they found that optimal recovery involves more sleep and less sedentary time early on, sustained above‑average moderate‑to‑vigorous activity,...
HHS Launches New Cyber Assessment Tool to Secure Health Systems
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has added a cybersecurity assessment module to its Risk Identification and Site Criticality (RISC) toolkit, responding to more than 2,200 cyber incidents reported in 2025. The free, online tool guides hospitals, health...
Propanc Advances PRP Toward Clinical Trials for Pancreatic Cancer
Propanc Biopharma announced that its proenzyme therapy PRP is moving toward a Phase Ib first‑in‑human study for advanced pancreatic cancer. The company highlighted preclinical data showing more than 85 % tumor‑growth inhibition and secured FDA orphan‑drug designation. A validated pharmacokinetic assay developed...
Can High-Dose Vitamin D Prevent Long-COVID Cognitive Decline?
Researchers in the VIVID trial, one of the largest randomized studies on vitamin D and COVID‑19, found that a high‑dose vitamin D3 regimen (3,200 IU/day after a loading dose) did not lower acute disease severity, hospitalizations, or death. However, among participants...
Paper-Thin Robot Squeezes 3mm G
South Korean researchers built a paper-thin robot that squeezes through 3mm gaps and lifts 70x (!) its weight. The flexible robotic "sheet" mimicks myosin, the protein that powers muscle contractions in your body. Inside the sheet are dozens of microscopic air chambers...
How AI in Dentistry Is Changing Your Next Checkup
Artificial intelligence is already embedded in dental offices, primarily analyzing X‑rays to highlight cavities, bone loss, and other abnormalities within seconds. Predictive analytics are emerging, allowing dentists to flag patients at heightened risk for gum disease or decay before symptoms...
In the Clinic for March 12, 2026
BioWorld’s March 12, 2026 clinic roundup aggregates a suite of data snapshots and special reports spanning biopharma, medical technology, and emerging therapeutic areas. The collection links to analyses on mRNA vaccine research, China’s GLP‑1 market, CAR‑T developments, and the med‑tech outlook for...
Able Innovations Deploys ALTA Robotic Patient Delivery Platform in the U.S.
Able Innovations, a Canadian medical robotics firm, has partnered with Lahey Hospital & Medical Center to launch its ALTA robotic patient‑handling platform in the United States, marking the first U.S. deployment. The system automates lateral patient transfers, allowing a single...
‘Magic Mushroom’ Derivative Could Heal without Hallucinations, Sparking Hope for New Therapies
Scientists at the University of Padova synthesized fluorinated psilocin derivatives, identifying compound 4e as a lead that retains serotonergic activity while markedly reducing hallucinogenic effects in mice. In vitro assays showed 4e is a selective partial agonist at 5‑HT2A and...
Diatom-Based Microrobots Show Promise for Targeted Photodynamic Therapy of Glioblastoma
Researchers at China’s Shenyang Institute of Automation have created magnetically controlled microrobots from diatom frustules for glioblastoma photodynamic therapy. The robots retain natural chlorophyll, serving as a built‑in photosensitizer, and can be steered via external magnetic fields to tumor sites....
Stanley Family Foundation Renews Commitment to Accelerate Psychiatric Research at Broad Institute
The Stanley Family Foundation has renewed its support for the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute, bringing its cumulative investment to over $1 billion, including a fresh $280 million pledge. The funding fuels large‑scale genetic studies aimed at uncovering...
Authorized Generics, Pricing Transparency, and the Changing Economics of Dermatology Prescriptions
Dermatologists are grappling with rising drug costs, insurance hurdles, and patient adherence, prompting a shift toward authorized generics that mirror brand formulations at lower prices. Interviews with seven U.S. dermatologists at the AAD meeting reveal that cost dominates prescribing decisions,...
A Simpler Form of DNA May Be Key to Non-Viral Gene Therapy, Study Suggests
Researchers have identified a streamlined DNA construct that could replace viral carriers in gene‑therapy applications. The study demonstrates that this minimalist DNA format delivers therapeutic genes with efficiency comparable to adeno‑associated viruses while eliciting a weaker immune response. Production of...
Half Maternal Deaths in Five Years: New National Strategy
“Across the country,” writes Olivia Walton, “mothers are dying at rates that would have shocked our grandmothers.” Walton, the founder and CEO of Ingeborg Investments and Ingeborg Initiatives, lays out a call to action to stop what she rightly calls...
AI May Worsen Inequities in Healthcare
New: AI isn't lifting all boats equally in health care. At times, it might be making things worse. https://t.co/IWDP3rnJ9P
Patient Education
The FDA emphasizes that generic medications are as safe and effective as brand‑name drugs while offering substantial cost savings. Over 90% of prescriptions in the United States are filled with generics, reflecting broad market acceptance. To address consumer questions, the...
Explore AI, VR, Digital Health at vMed26
Envision the future of medicine at #vMed26. AI. VR. Digital health. Meet the people who are building what comes next. You won’t want to miss it. March 25–26 | Los Angeles https://t.co/pRyUSN3mAK https://t.co/83MyCFGkCc
UnitedHealth's Claims Processed by Single Employee Using DOS, Typewriter
Wow. United Health has just revealed that their claims department is run by one employee. He logs into MS Dos in the morning and reads through every claim, line-by-line. He then types each response manually on a type writer and faxes...
Two Plasma Donors Die at Private Canadian Clinics Under Federal Investigation
Two plasma donors died while donating at Grifols clinics in Winnipeg, prompting a federal investigation by Health Canada. The agency disclosed fatal adverse reactions reported in October 2025 and January 2026 and noted multiple compliance deficiencies at Grifols facilities, including...
Instant EHR Integration Boosts AI Accuracy for Clinics
Our new self-serve EHR integrations help clinics get set up on our clinical AI platform in minutes. Giving Glass awareness of patient context hugely increases the accuracy and utility of AI ambient insights, differentials, plans, and documentation. Available now at...
FDA Reform Essential for Real Longevity Breakthroughs
I love the longevity proponents on X But we WON'T get true longevity therapeutics if we don't reform the FDA or find a way around them. The FDA is still a quagmire of regulatory rot that has to be reformed to get...
Biotech Startups Use Funding Extensions to Sidestep Full Capital Rounds
Biotech startups are increasingly opting to extend existing financing rounds instead of launching fresh fundraising campaigns. By adding capital to current rounds, companies can secure needed cash while avoiding the dilution and valuation pressure of a full round. This approach...
New Tool Empowers Physicians to Evaluate Healthcare Vendors
physicians need a robust way to evaluate vendors in healthcare there is a solution ! https://t.co/eRtOKAFj0e
Discrete Hearing Aids: Flysound H8 vs H9 Reviewed
Can't hear everyone in a meeting or while at the sports bar? Might be time to consider a discrete hearing aid. I check out two, the Flysound Premium OTC Hearing Aids Models H8 & H9. Same tech, different designs: https://t.co/1J3G3Zm7U4...
Lilly Warns GLP‑1 Knockoffs Are Dangerous, Intensifies Compounder Battle
Lilly warns GLP-1 knockoffs may be ‘dangerous,’ escalating war with compounders https://t.co/XOKLqIzAES @ByJonGardner $LLY $NVO #obesity
Microbes in Tumors: Unraveling a Controversial Role
What is the significance of microbes in tumors, a field mired in controversy? https://t.co/D5sHkLLsrT https://t.co/ntGLlke4iC