Today's Healthcare Pulse
Abridge teams with Eli Lilly and Nvidia to expand AI scribe platform
Abridge announced a strategic investment from Eli Lilly and a partnership with Nvidia to build a foundation model for clinical conversations. The collaboration aims to broaden Abridge’s AI‑scribe services across more health systems and integrate with payers. The company already supports over 300 health systems.
Also developing:
MiniMed Expands Sensor Portfolio in Europe with CE Mark for MiniMed 780G
MiniMed Group, Inc. received CE Mark approval for its MiniMed 780G automated insulin delivery system to be used with Abbott's Instinct continuous glucose monitor, adding a 15‑day wear sensor to the existing 7‑day options (Guardian 4 and Simplera Sync). The Instinct sensor is the smallest, thinnest CGM on the market, extending wear time to up to 15 days and giving users greater flexibility. MiniMed plans a summer rollout of the combined system in its first European markets and will showcase it at the ATTD 2026 conference in Barcelona. The system is CE‑marked for patients aged 2 and older, including use during pregnancy, while U.S. approvals remain more limited.
Microsoft: AI Tools Now Handle 50M Health Questions Daily
Microsoft reported that its consumer AI tools, including Bing and Copilot, now field more than 50 million health‑related questions each day. An analysis of over 500,000 anonymized health conversations in January 2026 showed health is the top topic on mobile devices,...
Ascension Hospital in Kansas Taps New President
Patrick Avila has been named president of Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, effective April 20, succeeding interim leader Drew Talbott. Avila arrives with more than 25 years of healthcare leadership, most recently as CEO of Northeast Regional Medical...
A New Antibody Approach To Preventive Treatment For HIV
Researchers have engineered an antibody‑drug conjugate that simultaneously triggers HIV’s entry‑facilitating conformational shift and binds the newly exposed epitopes. In vitro tests showed the dual‑action molecule achieved seven‑ to ten‑fold greater neutralization than the antibody alone and outperformed separate mixtures...
Mankind Pharma Highlights Rising Kidney Disease Risk on World Kidney Day
Mankind Pharma used World Kidney Day to spotlight the escalating burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in India, where an estimated 138 million people are affected—far above the global average of 10 percent. The campaign highlighted the disease’s silent progression, noting that...
Digital Health Device Evolution: Past Decade, Next Ten Years
A 25-page executive overview of how six major categories of digital health devices evolved, and what their trajectories tell us about the future. If you want to understand the past decade of wearable evolution and the next decade of healthcare innovation,...
STAT+: FDA Approves Leucovorin for Rare Disorder without Trial Data
The FDA has granted approval for leucovorin, a folinic‑acid formulation, to treat a rare metabolic disorder despite the absence of new clinical trial data. The decision leans on decades of off‑label use and historical safety records rather than prospective studies....
HIMSS26: WVU Medicine Expands Abridge Ambient AI Platform Across 25 Hospitals
WVU Medicine announced expansion of Abridge’s ambient AI platform to over 2,800 clinicians across its 25‑hospital network. The rollout, driven by clinician advocacy, aims to alleviate physician burnout in rural West Virginia. Post‑implementation surveys of more than 200 providers reported...
“If We Fix Referrals, We Fix Flow, and Flow Is the Foundation of Sustainable NHS Dentistry.”
The NHS Confederation’s report highlights that fragmented dental referrals are a core barrier to sustainable NHS dentistry. Digital referral optimisation, as demonstrated by NEC Rego, standardises forms, embeds clinical guidance and delivers real‑time data to Integrated Care Systems. Early pilots in...
I Underwent “Conversion Therapy” As a Kid. As a Psychiatrist, I Can’t Believe the Supreme Court Might Approve This.
The Supreme Court is set to decide Chiles v. Salazar, a case challenging Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors. The dispute centers on whether talk‑based treatments aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity constitute protected speech or regulated...
Cell Rejuvenation Therapy to Hit Clinic
Life Biosciences has secured FDA IND approval for ER-100, the first partial epigenetic reprogramming therapy to enter human trials. The gene‑therapy delivers OCT‑4, SOX‑2 and KLF‑4 to retinal ganglion cells via a single intravitreal injection, aiming to reset age‑related epigenetic...
The Shifting Landscape of Workers’ Compensation Pain Management
The National Council on Compensation Insurance reports that opioid costs in workers’ compensation fell an average 2.8% annually from 2012 to 2023, dropping median claim expenses from $188 to $105. Meanwhile, topical medication spend rose from $38 to $62 per...
What Is a Burr Hole Drill and How Is It Used in Brain Surgery?
A burr hole drill is a specialized neurosurgical instrument that creates a small, precise opening in the skull to grant controlled access for a range of procedures. Modern designs feature high torque and automatic disengagement once the bone is penetrated,...
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About the FDA Warning Novo Nordisk, Lilly Investing in China, and More
Astellas Pharma leveraged the Trump administration’s push for lower U.S. drug prices to argue for higher reimbursement for its eye drug Izervay in Japan, winning a more generous price level. Meanwhile, a review of FDA adverse event reports found that...
Coloplast Names Former J&J Executive Gavin Wood as CEO
Coloplast announced that former Johnson & Johnson executive Gavin Wood will assume the role of chief executive officer on May 1, ending a ten‑month search for a permanent leader. Wood arrives after serving as J&J’s group chairman for MedTech across Europe,...
Equatorial Guinea’s Malaria Elimination Vision 2030 Could Unlock Tourism Growth
Equatorial Guinea has launched a $116 million Vision 2030 malaria elimination strategy, building on two decades of success on Bioko Island where prevalence fell to 7.2 % in 2025. The programme aims to eradicate malaria nationwide, improve public‑health outcomes and remove a key...
FDA Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS) Electronic Submissions
The FDA is rolling out the Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS), replacing the legacy FAERS platform and consolidating reporting across drugs, biologics, devices, cosmetics, food, tobacco, and veterinary products. AEMS introduces standardized electronic submissions, AI‑driven redaction and analytics, and a...
HIMSS26: CharmHealth Launches CharmCopilot, an Embedded Multi-Agent AI Assistant for EHR Workflows
CharmHealth has introduced CharmCopilot, an embedded multi‑agent AI assistant built directly into its electronic health record platform. The company is offering the core AI capabilities to existing customers at no additional charge, positioning the tool as a cost‑disruptive solution. Its...
FDA Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS)
The FDA is launching the Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS) to replace the legacy FAERS platform and bring together reporting for drugs, vaccines, devices, food, cosmetics, tobacco, and veterinary products. AEMS introduces standardized reporting protocols, AI‑driven redaction and digitization, and...
Why Staff Safety Is the Foundation of Clinical Excellence
Healthcare organizations must prioritize staff safety to achieve clinical excellence. Research shows physical and psychological safety are top predictors of patient safety grades, and a 10% rise in staff turnover intent correlates with a 14% increase in inpatient mortality. Burnout...
Boron Chemistry Breaks Protein Synthesis Barrier, May Aid Cancer Therapies
Researchers at ETH Zurich have introduced a boron‑based ligation strategy that overcomes the concentration barrier in chemical protein synthesis. By masking potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) with chiral zwitterionic complexes, the team achieved efficient peptide coupling at micromolar levels, far lower than...
Stamford Health Selects Ensemble Health Partners for End-to-End RCM Operations
Stamford Health, a 305‑bed independent system in Connecticut, has chosen Ensemble Health Partners to run its end‑to‑end revenue cycle management. Ensemble will apply its integrated operating model, AI‑driven analytics, and existing EHR infrastructure to automate billing, coding and denial recovery....
HIMSS26: Imprivata Introduces Agentic Identity Management to Secure and Govern AI Agents
Imprivata unveiled Agentic Identity Management at HIMSS26, a platform that secures and governs AI agents used in clinical documentation, prior authorizations, and triage. The solution treats AI agents as managed identities, issuing short‑lived tokens and enforcing least‑privilege access across both...
Could a Hot Cup of Matcha Dial Down the 'Sneeze Switch' In Allergic Rhinitis?
A recent early‑access study published in npj Science of Food reports that oral matcha consumption reduced sneezing in mice engineered to exhibit allergic rhinitis. The mice received matcha tea two to three times weekly for over five weeks and a...
Chiesi and Bespak Partner to Advance Carbon Minimal Inhaler Production With UK Manufacturing Site
Chiesi Group and inhalation CDMO Bespak have expanded their long‑standing partnership by increasing pressurized metered‑dose inhaler (pMDI) manufacturing capacity at Bespak’s Holmes Chapel, UK site. The move supports Chiesi’s Carbon Minimal Inhaler (CMI) program, which targets up to a 90 %...
Beyond the “Overdiagnosis” Narrative: Understanding Adult ADHD Through DSM-5
The letter challenges the claim that adult ADHD is overdiagnosed, arguing that the DSM‑5’s broader criteria simply correct a historic underdiagnosis. It highlights that clinicians often lack the training and time needed for comprehensive neuropsychological assessments, leading to diagnostic shortcuts....
Alignment with Data Exchange Standards Is a Must for Digital Transformation
At HIMSS26, Sequoia Project’s Didi Davis unveiled the second USCDI v3 data‑usability guide, expanding coverage to all data classes and emphasizing provenance, traceability, and persistent identifiers. The 60‑page guide outlines use cases across provider‑to‑provider, provider‑to‑public‑health, and provider‑to‑consumer exchanges, aiming to curb...
Vitamin D Triggers Autophagy, Improves Diabetes Metabolism
As a medical school professor, I teach students that vitamin D does far more than build bones. This new study shows just how much more. Researchers found that vitamin D supplementation significantly improved glucose tolerance, lowered fasting blood sugar, and reduced...
Biomarker for Differentiating MS From NMOSD Identified in Study
Researchers published in JAMA Neurology identified high‑level EBNA‑1 peptide antibody titers as a robust biomarker that distinguishes relapsing‑remitting multiple sclerosis from MOGAD and seronegative NMOSD. In a cohort of over 1,300 neuroinflammatory patients, persistent EBNA‑1 positivity in at least two...
An Unimpressive Reiki Study
Steven Novella critiques a recent U.S. randomized trial that examined Reiki, placebo Reiki (feiki), mindfulness, and a waitlist for chronic knee osteoarthritis. The study found Reiki reduced symptoms compared to waitlist but not versus feiki, rendering the primary outcome statistically...
Cellular Changes Linked to Depression Related Fatigue
University of Queensland and University of Minnesota researchers identified distinct ATP patterns in the brains and blood cells of young adults with major depressive disorder. The study found that resting cells produce higher ATP levels but cannot increase energy output...
UCB Reports P-III (BE BOLD) Trial Results on Bimzelx (Bimekizumab) in Active Psoriatic Arthritis
UCB announced results from its Phase III BE BOLD trial comparing Bimzelx (bimekizumab) to risankizumab in 553 adults with active psoriatic arthritis. The study met its primary endpoint, showing Bimzelx superior in achieving ACR50 responses at week 16. Bimzelx is...
Gene Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Genethon Confirms Two-Year Efficacy in Patients Treated with Its Drug Candidate GNT0004 at Therapeutic...
Genethon presented two‑year data from its dose‑escalation phase showing that GNT0004, administered at 3 × 10¹³ vg/kg, produced sustained functional gains and biomarker improvements in ambulatory DMD boys. Motor scores rose 9 points on the NSAA, the 6‑minute walk distance improved by...
Prescribing Mood-Boosting Probiotics Feels Like Magic
Me, during a patient appointment, going over probiotic strains that are evidence-based for mood/anxiety: "I feel like I'm casting Harry Potter spells right now" 🪄
KIMS Hospitals to Raise ₹1,500 Cr Through QIP
Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospitals received board approval to raise up to ₹1,500 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP). The capital may be issued in one or more tranches, with the Finance and Investment Committee setting the final...
How to Solve One of the Most Expensive Problems in Employer Healthcare
Employers are turning to diagnostic‑first centers of excellence, such as the Mayo Clinic Complex Care Program, to address costly, undiagnosed conditions among high‑spending employees. By consolidating multidisciplinary evaluations into days rather than months, the model has generated average Year‑1 savings...
Cera’s 300 Billion Data Points to Accelerate Global Medical Research and Healthcare AI
Cera, Europe’s leading digital‑first home‑healthcare provider, announced it has surpassed 300 billion data points collected from more than 2.5 million patient visits each month. The dataset records symptoms, mobility changes, medication responses, nutrition, mood and behavioural signals, creating one of the world’s...
The Evolution of Shared Care Records: From Documents to Conversations
Shared Care Records (SCRs) have progressed from simple document‑exchange portals to intelligent, conversational platforms that actively assist clinicians and patients. The first generation provided read‑only visibility, while the second introduced structured, longitudinal data enabling real‑time contributions. A third phase turned...
Playing Sound Waves to Cells Decreases Laryngeal Cancer Aggressiveness
An international team led by the Turku Bioscience Centre discovered that applying sound‑wave vibration to vocal‑fold cancer cells restores cellular movement and markedly reduces tumor aggressiveness. The mechanical stimulation lowered levels of the oncogenic protein YAP, both in cultured cells...
Keytruda and Padcev Could Become Cancer’s Power Couple
Oncology is moving toward combination regimens, and Merck's Keytruda paired with Pfizer/Astellas' Padcev has emerged as a leading duo. A phase 3 trial in muscle‑invasive bladder cancer showed the combo cut the risk of recurrence, progression and death roughly in half,...
Amazon Brings Health AI to Website, Offers Personalized Care
Will be interesting to see product recommendations on Amazon for those choosing to use Health AI... -> Amazon expands its healthcare AI assistant Health AI to its website and app; the service was previously only available on the app...
Mortality Risk Similar with Tocilizumab, Rituximab in RA-ILD
An emulated target trial using the TriNetX database compared tocilizumab and rituximab in 1,194 rheumatoid arthritis‑associated interstitial lung disease (RA‑ILD) patients each over a five‑year follow‑up. The analysis found no statistically significant difference in all‑cause mortality (15.9% vs 17.7%) or...
Capricor Shares Rise as FDA Sets August Decision Date for Rejected Duchenne Therapy
Capricor Therapeutics announced that the FDA has scheduled an August 22 decision on its investigational Duchenne muscular dystrophy cell therapy, deramiocel, after lifting a prior complete response letter. The biotech resubmitted an enhanced package that includes robust Phase III HOPE‑3 data showing...
Medicaid Loopholes Fuel ABA Therapy Exploitation Crisis
Outstanding WSJ story on the explosion of ABA/autism therapy -fueled by lax Medicaid payment and often non-existent compliance policies, $20/hr RBTs credentialed after a 40-hour online course, and annual staff churn of 50–100%. Our “pay and chase” reimbursement system assumes...
DNA Repair Gene Changes Shape NSCLC Immune Landscape
DNA damage repair gene alterations influence the tumor immune microenvironment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer [Feb 14, 2025] @KamyaSankar et al. @ReckampK Lung Cancer https://t.co/mXZ80zYke3 #lcsm #ImmunoOnc #PrecisionMedicine @TempusAI https://t.co/UJwZnw4qnc
BRAF Class II/III Mutations Represent Unmet Clinical Need
Real-world clinical genomic analysis of Pts w/ BRAF mutated cancers identifies BRAF class II & III as a population of unmet medical need [3/7/22] Severson et al #ESMO2240P @TempusLabs https://t.co/s5PEBEczlv @Annals_OncologyDOI: https://t.co/c3wxWyUuX0 #PrecisionMedicine #caxtx
Vima Raises $100M to Develop Oral Movement Disorder Drug
With $100M, Vima pursues an oral drug for movement disorders https://t.co/gLrhlYDMSy by @gwendolynawu #biotech #startups
Average-Onset CRC Shows Higher BRAF Mutation Rates
Genomic Landscapes of Early-Onset vs Average-Onset Colorectal Cancer Populations [Feb 28, 2025] Storandt et al. @Cancers_MDPI https://t.co/as7Jolal12 #crcsm #PrecisionMedicine most significant difference b/w eoCRC & aoCRC was higher rates of BRAF mutation among Pts w/ aoCRC https://t.co/7qB4b3A1WK
New Nonprofit Secures $500M to Upgrade Science for AI
New nonprofit launches with at least $500 million to modernize scientific process for AI era https://t.co/yuypno6rVY via @ADeAngelis_bio
MIT Professor Hired by RFK Jr Fails Scientific Standards
The MIT professor who has been appointed by Robert F Kennedy Jr to review the safety of Covid-19 vaccines has failed to meet basic scientific standards in his own research on the topic, according to more than a dozen scientists...