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
Technology
In 1972 Wilson Greatbatch introduced lithium‑iodide batteries for implantable pacemakers, extending device life from one‑to‑two years to over a decade. This chemistry replaced unreliable mercury‑zinc cells, enabling consistent voltage output and dramatically reducing replacement surgeries. The longer power window enabled smaller enclosures, expanding implants to pediatric and elderly patients. The breakthrough set a new reliability benchmark that still underpins modern cardiac rhythm management devices.
Cost Management Is the Primary Business Priority for Benefit Leaders
Employers are feeling heightened pressure from medical inflation, specialty‑drug spend and regulatory complexity, prompting a shift toward cost control as the top benefits priority, according to MetLife’s 2026 U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study. Controlling benefit costs has become the number‑one...
A Telehealth Success Story
The San Francisco Tech Council launched a state‑funded program that teaches low‑income, limited‑English‑proficiency patients how to use online medical portals. Participants received a 45‑minute hands‑on session with a digital navigator, enabling them to schedule appointments, view results, and request prescriptions. Feedback...
How PBM Reforms Could Push Drugmakers Into the Pricing Spotlight
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 bans pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from receiving compensation tied to drug list prices and mandates 100% rebate pass‑through to plan sponsors by August 2028. The law also allocates roughly $190 million to the Centers for...
PE Eyes Growth in Hospice Care Platforms: 5 Deals
Private equity firms are intensifying focus on hospice care platforms, with five notable deals reported this quarter. Kinderhook, Renovus and Revelstoke are among the investors leading the charge, targeting fragmented providers to build scalable platforms. The surge reflects broader demographic...
Drug Trials Snapshots
The FDA’s Drug Trials Snapshots program publishes concise, consumer‑focused summaries of the demographic makeup and outcomes of pivotal clinical trials for newly approved drugs. Launched in 2015, the tool covers only New Molecular Entities and original biologics approved after that...
Ionis’ Olezarsen sNDA Secures the US FDA Priority Review for Severe Hypertriglyceridemia
Ionis Pharmaceuticals received FDA acceptance of its supplemental NDA for olezarsen and a priority‑review designation, with a PDUFA action date of June 30, 2026. The decision is backed by two Phase III CORE studies—CORE (n=617) and CORE2 (n=446)—that evaluated once‑monthly subcutaneous...
American Heart Association Warns 60% of US Women Will Have Cardiovascular Disease by 2050
The American Heart Association’s new scientific statement projects that nearly six in ten U.S. women will live with cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 2050, driven by rising hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. By 2050, high blood pressure could affect almost 60% of...
Drug Trials Snapshots: EXDENSUR
GSK’s depemokimab, marketed as EXDENSUR, received FDA approval on December 16, 2025 as a six‑month subcutaneous add‑on for severe eosinophilic asthma in patients aged 12 and older. Approval was based on two 52‑week, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trials (SWIFT‑1 and SWIFT‑2) that...
The Wellness Industry Is Misleading You W/ Dr. Zeke Emanuel, Author, Eat Your Ice Cream
In this episode of CareTalk, Dr. Zeke Emanuel critiques the $1‑2 trillion wellness industry, arguing that it exploits the wealthy with dubious supplements, tests, and diets while neglecting timeless health fundamentals. He emphasizes that genuine wellness hinges on social connections—citing Aristotle,...
BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results and Provides Full Year 2026 Guidance
BrightSpring Health Services reported a strong fourth‑quarter and full‑year 2025, with net revenue climbing 28% to $12.9 billion and adjusted EBITDA rising 34% to $618 million. The company turned a net loss in 2024 into a $104.8 million profit for the year and...
Study Hints at Clinical Lab’s Future Role in Investigating Sudden Unexplained Death in Children
UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s Hospital received $328,133 from the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Foundation to launch a four‑year study using PacBio HiFi long‑read sequencing as a first‑line test. The project will sequence 200 child‑parent trios to uncover...
Podcast: Rare Disease Day: FDA Guidance Allowing Advancement
The FDA issued a suite of new guidance documents in early 2026 aimed at easing development of therapies for rare diseases, including the Rare Disease Evidence Pathway, Plausible Mechanism Pathway, and innovative trial designs for cellular and gene therapies. The...
Pharma Pulse: The Oral GLP-1 Battle and GSK’s Billion-Dollar Breath of Fresh Air
Eli Lilly’s oral GLP‑1 small‑molecule orforglipron demonstrated greater A1C reduction and weight loss than oral semaglutide, while offering flexible dosing without fasting. GSK announced a $950 million acquisition of 35Pharma, securing HS235, an activin‑signaling inhibitor aimed at pulmonary hypertension. The deal taps...
Quotient and Ipsen Extend Partnership for Ultra-Rare Disease Therapy
Quotient Sciences has extended its commercial partnership with Ipsen to manufacture Sohonos (Palovarotene), the approved therapy for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), an ultra‑rare disease affecting fewer than 1,000 people worldwide. The deal includes Ipsen's investment in a pneumatic closed‑transfer system...
ENDRA Reports Favourable Data From Taeus Liver Device Study in MASLD
ENDRA Life Sciences announced that its Taeus Liver device achieved high measurement consistency in a MASLD study, recording an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.89 and a standard error of measurement of 3.3%. The trial involved 14 participants and 56 data...
Lilly Reports ACHIEVE-3 Trial Outcomes for Type 2 Diabetes
Eli Lilly disclosed Phase III ACHIEVE‑3 results showing its oral GLP‑1 agonist orforglipron outperformed oral semaglutide in lowering A1C and inducing weight loss. The 52‑week, open‑label trial enrolled 1,698 patients across six countries and compared two doses of each drug. Orforglipron also...
Cowellnex and Metagen Launch Joint Research Utilizing Independently Acquired High‑Precision Gut Microbiota Data
Cowellnex Co., Ltd. and Metagen, Inc. will begin joint research in February 2026 to create new gut‑microbiota test items and a personalized food‑recommendation algorithm using Cowellnex’s three‑year shotgun metagenomic dataset. The partnership leverages Cowellnex’s high‑precision Japanese microbiome data and Metagen’s...
American College of Radiology Urges HHS to Address ‘Unsustainable’ AI Payment Policy
The American College of Radiology (ACR) has urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to overhaul its AI reimbursement framework, labeling the current policy unsustainable. In a February 19 letter, ACR highlighted that without payment models tied to...
PocDoc Partners with E4 Primary Care Network to Bring Mobile Health Checks to Chingford’s Underserved Communities
PocDoc, the UK’s leading digital diagnostics firm, has teamed up with the E4 Primary Care Network to launch a mobile health‑check service for over 80,000 residents in Chingford’s underserved areas. The initiative uses PocDoc’s Neighbourhood Bus to deliver a finger‑prick...
RadNet Earns European Certification for Solution that Allows Technologists to Control Scanners Remotely
RadNet’s TechLive remote‑scanning platform earned European CE certification, extending its vendor‑agnostic, multimodality control to EU hospitals. The solution, already cleared in the U.S., lets technologists operate MR, CT, PET/CT and ultrasound machines from off‑site consoles. RadNet reports a 42% drop...
All Too Quiet on the Western Neuroenhancement Front
The article argues that the United States must accelerate research on non‑invasive transcranial brain stimulation to keep pace with China’s rapidly advancing neuro‑technology programs. It reviews existing U.S. military trials—such as Halo Sport and DARPA’s Targeted Neuroplasticity Training—that show modest...
Bayer Reports P-III (PEACE-3) Trial Data on Xofigo Combination for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) with Bone Metastases
Bayer announced that its phase‑III PEACE‑3 trial demonstrated a statistically significant overall‑survival benefit for the combination of Xofigo (radium‑223) and enzalutamide versus enzalutamide alone in patients with metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and bone metastases. Median overall survival extended to...
Clicker Training Boosts Surgeons' Knot‑Tying Success to 100%
Clicker training works on orthopaedic surgeons. A study taught surgical skills using a clicker for real-time feedback. 100% of that group nailed every step of a knot tie, vs 33% who learned by demonstration alone.
Top Medical Specialties Poised to Thrive with AI
While every medical specialty will benefit from digital health and AI, some will especially thrive thanks to these innovations. Here, I listed the top medical specialties with the biggest potential for development in the future. Read on: https://t.co/KhId1Okqf2 https://t.co/rgvsDAjS1q
Heidi to Integrate HealthPathways and More Briefs
Heidi AI has partnered with Streamliners to embed HealthPathways into its AI‑driven clinical documentation platform, giving clinicians instant access to trusted care pathways. The Australian Digital Health Agency rolled out a digital‑health teaching toolkit for universities, addressing a gap where...
This Week in European MedTech and HealthTech: 27th February 2026
Europe’s MedTech landscape this week is defined by heightened public funding, regulatory simplification, and a selective capital shift toward high‑impact digital health. Ireland unveiled a €34.3 m ARC Hub, while Horizon Europe health calls target AI‑driven projects such as digital‑mental‑health and...
Healthcare CIOs Enter The AI Maturity Era
Healthcare CIOs are moving AI from experimental pilots to core infrastructure, emphasizing measurable outcomes over hype. At Vive 2026 and HIMSS 2026, leaders highlighted AI’s role in streamlining documentation, revenue‑cycle tasks, and patient‑portal interactions. Simultaneously, state‑level AI regulations—such as Texas’...
Colorado Multi-Site Behavioral Health Platform
Prime exits® and American HealthCare Capital are offering a fully licensed behavioral health platform in Northern Colorado, comprising two ready‑to‑operate outpatient facilities. The business currently generates no revenue but retains all licenses, accreditation, EMR, billing systems and payer contracts, dramatically...
$16 Million Revenue National Healthcare Staffing Firm Specializing in HIT & Travel Nursing
A national healthcare staffing firm generated roughly $16.4 million in 2025 revenue and $3.7 million gross profit while operating two divisions—Health Information Technology (HIT) and travel nursing/allied health. The company leverages a proprietary database of over 174,000 clinicians and HIT professionals and...
$1.2 Million Revenue Texas Based Orthotics and Prosthetics Company
A Texas‑based orthotics and prosthetics provider reports $1.22 million in 2025 revenue, marking a rebound after a dip in 2024. The family‑run firm delivers a full suite of services, from microprocessor‑controlled prostheses to diabetic foot care, and operates multiple clinics across...
National Taiwan University Hospital Develops AI for Pancreatic Cancer Metabolic Profiling
Taiwan’s Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University Hospital have launched PanMETAI, an AI‑integrated metabolomics platform that analyzes roughly 260,000 metabolic signals from a 500‑microliter blood‑serum sample. Using deep‑learning on nuclear magnetic resonance data, the model achieved a 99% area‑under‑curve for distinguishing...
PACS Touts Zero-Deficiency Surveys, High Occupancy and 73% of Facilities Earning Top-Tier Star Ratings
PACS Group reported FY 2025 revenue of $5.29 billion, up 29% year‑over‑year, and net income of $191.5 million, driven by strong occupancy and disciplined acquisitions. Occupancy averaged 89.1% overall and 94.9% at mature facilities, well above the industry average. More than 73%...
“How Do I Use Lean to Reduce Headcount?” — Why ChatGPT’s Answer Should Worry You
A hospital leader asked ChatGPT how to use Lean to cut staff, and the generic model produced a detailed, seemingly helpful headcount‑reduction plan despite warning against layoffs. The author compared this response to a purpose‑built Lean Hospitals AI, which consistently...
Biotech IPOs Surge with $400M Offering
New: Generate caps a strong month for #biotech IPOs with $400M offering https://t.co/HzslZOPcwM by @gwendolynawu $GENB $AZN $AMGN #IPO
Pain and Arthritis Products Containing Hidden Ingredients
Recent warnings highlight that many over‑the‑counter pain and arthritis products are contaminated with undisclosed pharmaceutical ingredients. These items are often marketed as dietary supplements or all‑natural remedies, sold both online and in brick‑and‑mortar stores. The hidden substances can cause severe...
Third Way Health Receives $15M Series A
Third Way Health announced an oversubscribed $15 million Series A round led by Health Velocity Capital, with Kristin Torres Mowat as the lead investor. The new capital lifts the company’s total funding to $22.5 million, earmarked for product development and scaling operations. The...
ULTRA ADVANC3 and ULTRA ADVANC3 GOLD May Be Harmful Due to Hidden Drug Ingredients
The FDA has warned consumers against buying ULTRA ADVANC3 on Amazon and ULTRA ADVANC3 GOLD on NaturistaRex after laboratory tests revealed hidden prescription drugs. The supplements contain undeclared dexamethasone, diclofenac, and methocarbamol, each carrying serious health risks. The agency advises immediate discontinuation and...
How Elevance Health Is — and Isn’t — Using AI
Elevance Health, formerly Anthem, is deploying artificial intelligence across its operations while drawing a firm line against using AI for claim denials. The insurer leverages AI to flag incomplete claims, accelerate prior‑authorization approvals, and power virtual assistants that guide members...
Morning Headlines 2/27/26
In a recent informal briefing, Dr. Jayne was thanked for a public mention that highlighted her contributions. The discussion veered into a grammatical debate over the present perfect indicative, underscoring the audience’s attention to language precision. Participants also touched on...
Sun Nuclear QADS 2026 Event Combines Clinical Insight and New Innovations for Advancing Radiation Therapy QA
Sun Nuclear launched its 15th QA & Dosimetry Symposium (QADS) in Rome, gathering more than 230 clinical physicists from nearly 40 countries. The event introduced the Daily QA 4 Pro, a combined dosimetry‑imaging device designed to streamline daily machine quality checks. Demonstrations also...
Fulgent Genetics Inc (FLGT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Fulgent Genetics reported Q4 2025 revenue of $84.1 million, a sequential increase and strong year‑over‑year growth across its Precision Diagnostics and Biopharma segments. Non‑GAAP gross margin improved to 44.3% while operating expenses fell, delivering a $0.7 million adjusted EBITDA and a $4.5 million...
Editorial Expression of Concern: The Gene Product Murr1 Restricts HIV-1 Replication in Resting CD4+ Lymphocytes
An expression of concern has been issued for a 2003 Nature paper that reported the gene product Murr1 restricts HIV‑1 replication in resting CD4⁺ lymphocytes. The editors identified duplicated control panels in Figure 3b, which were meant to demonstrate siRNA activity,...
Treace Medical Concepts Inc (TMCI) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Treace Medical Concepts reported third‑quarter 2025 revenue of $50.2 million, an 11% year‑over‑year increase, while adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed 49% to $2.6 million. The mix shifted toward lower‑ASP bunion correction systems, pulling gross margin down to 79.1% from 80.1% a year earlier....
Johnson Floats ‘Right To Try 2.0’ As Makary Defends FDA’s Approval Standards
Senator Ron Johnson (R‑WI) is urging Congress to draft a “Right to Try 2.0” bill that would force the FDA to grant broader, faster access to experimental therapies for rare diseases. FDA Commissioner Martin Makary pushed back, defending the agency’s...
Catalyst OrthoScience Gets FDA 510(k) Clearance of Archer® Patient-Specific Instrumentation for Shoulder Arthroplasty
Catalyst OrthoScience announced FDA 510(k) clearance for its Archer® Patient‑Specific Instrumentation (PSI), a suite of humeral and glenoid guides designed to translate 3D pre‑operative plans into the operating room. The system pairs with Archer® 3D Planning Software, supporting both anatomic...
![[Comment] Language in Rare Disease: A Call for Systemic and Empathetic Action](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/82158fe01b2f637b44373e1d263a5ee3.webp)
[Comment] Language in Rare Disease: A Call for Systemic and Empathetic Action
Globally, roughly 300 million individuals live with a rare disease, confronting isolation, diagnostic delays, and fragmented care. The Rare Diseases International–Lancet Commission argues that the language used by clinicians perpetuates stigma and hampers coordinated treatment. It calls for a systemic overhaul...
Exploring Lymphovenous Bypass as a Promising Surgical Approach for Alzheimer’s Disease
Researchers have adapted lymphovenous bypass, a microsurgical technique that reroutes lymphatic fluid into the venous system, as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. In a Phase I pilot study of 20 patients, the procedure reduced cerebral amyloid‑β levels by roughly 30%...
Whole-Body MRI Provider Starts Offering AI-Powered CCTA Scans
TrueScan, a whole‑body MRI center in St. Peterburg, Florida, has begun offering AI‑powered coronary CT angiography (CCTA) from Heartflow, available as a standalone test or bundled with its MRI packages. The move addresses growing patient and physician demand for coronary imaging...
Blood Test for Small RNAs Predicts Longevity
Simple Blood Test For Small RNA Molecules Could Predict Who Is Likely To Live Longer https://t.co/lr59o4Yegp https://t.co/MccF3k72pT