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
Revvity Receives FDA Clearance for Total Testosterone Assay Enabling Comprehensive Automated Testosterone Testing Solution
Revvity, via its Immunodiagnostic Systems unit, secured FDA clearance for a Total Testosterone chemiluminescence immunoassay (ChLIA). The new assay joins FDA‑cleared free testosterone and SHBG tests, creating the only single‑platform, fully automated testosterone testing suite. The portfolio targets hypogonadism diagnosis and replaces complex equilibrium‑dialysis LC/MS methods. Revvity’s expanded endocrine portfolio now also includes 17‑OH progesterone, androstenedione and prolactin assays.
Calyxo Enters AUA2026 With Its Largest Clinical Evidence Presence to Date and Enhanced Visualization
Calyxo, Inc. will showcase its CVIC System at the American Urological Association’s 2026 meeting, presenting a record ten abstracts that highlight safety, efficacy, and procedural efficiency. The company reports that more than 40,000 patients have been treated with the CVIC...
Financings for May 13, 2026
Researchers at Daping Hospital in China demonstrated that delivering the rare APOE3‑Christchurch variant directly to the liver can protect against Alzheimer’s pathology, expanding therapeutic focus beyond the brain. In Switzerland, scientists sequenced the first complete hantavirus genome from a cruise‑ship...
Charles River Laboratories and MEDIPOST Sign Non-Exclusive MOU to Advance GMP Testing Solutions
Charles River Laboratories and South Korean biotech MEDIPOST have signed a non‑exclusive memorandum of understanding to provide GMP‑compliant testing and regulatory support for MEDIPOST’s cell‑therapy pipeline. The collaboration will initially focus on the Asia‑Pacific and North American markets, with the...
Seven Northwell Hospitals Earn CMS 5-Star Ratings
Northwell Health announced that seven of its hospitals earned the highest five‑star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the 2026 Star Quality Rating System, while five additional facilities received four‑star ratings. This marks the first...
Yale New Haven Health Partners to Enroll Patients in Medicaid
Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) announced a partnership with AI‑driven financial platform Escher Health to proactively enroll eligible patients in Medicaid and other safety‑net programs. The collaboration builds on Escher Health’s track record of assisting more than 100,000 individuals nationwide...
BIOSECURE and Beyond: What It Really Means for Pharma Supply Chains
The BIOSECURE Act, enacted in early 2026, bars certain foreign biotech providers from U.S. pharmaceutical supply chains, prompting firms to shift production away from long‑haul Asian routes. Companies are diversifying manufacturing footprints toward domestic or allied sites, which reduces concentration...
Standard-Dose Ivermectin Superior to High Dose for Severe Scabies
A randomized, double‑blind trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine compared standard‑dose ivermectin (200 µg/kg) with a higher dose (400 µg/kg), each combined with 5 % permethrin, in 132 adults suffering from severe scabies. The standard‑dose regimen achieved an 82 % cure...
Early Warning Dashboard Targets North Texas Maternal Health Crisis
Dallas‑based Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation launched the Maternal Outcomes Monitoring System (MOMS) dashboard, a predictive tool that forecasts severe obstetric complications and NICU admissions up to 12 months ahead at ZIP‑code and census‑tract granularity. By merging clinical data from...
AstraZeneca Reports Positive Phase 3 Data for Eneboparatide in Chronic Hypoparathyroidism
AstraZeneca announced that its investigational PTH‑1 receptor agonist eneboparatide met the primary endpoint in the Phase 3 CALYPSO trial, with 31.1% of patients achieving normalized serum calcium and independence from active vitamin D and high‑dose calcium supplements at 24 weeks. The placebo...
How Value-Based Care Could Finally Fix What’s Broken in Autism Treatment
The article argues that the fee‑for‑service model fueling autism care—especially ABA therapy—has led to soaring Medicaid expenditures without corresponding improvements in outcomes. Indiana’s ABA spending rose from $21 million in 2017 to $611 million in 2023, while national costs now top $461 billion...
CMS Freezes New Hospice, Home‑health Medicare Enrollments for Six Months
Wow The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is imposing a six-month nationwide moratorium on new Medicare enrollments for hospices and home health agencies as part of a broader effort to combat fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare program.
Can AI Chatbots Reason Like Doctors?
A study published in Science on April 30 found that OpenAI’s o1‑preview large language model outperformed two internal‑medicine physicians on clinical reasoning tasks using real emergency‑room records, achieving an exact or near‑exact diagnosis 82% of the time versus 79% and...
Building a Nephrology Workforce with Patient Navigators
At the National Kidney Foundation’s Spring Clinical Meetings, Dr. Lilia Cervantes presented “Navigate‑Kidney,” a patient‑navigation program that deploys community health workers to educate Latino dialysis patients in culturally relevant, literacy‑appropriate ways. The initiative tackles social determinants of health by providing...
Stigma Is The Real Delay In Healthcare
Stigma, not lack of awareness, is the primary driver of delayed care across multiple health issues. The piece highlights a seven‑year average wait for hearing‑aid treatment, men’s reluctance to address erectile dysfunction, and peer pressure that erodes Dry January alcohol‑abstinence attempts....
Five Ways to Start Fixing America’s Health Care System
The article outlines five legislative steps to begin fixing America’s health‑care system. It calls for breaking up vertically integrated insurers such as UnitedHealth, treating insurance medical directors as practicing physicians, and enforcing antitrust rules using the Herfindahl‑Hirschman Index. It also...
Clinical Trial Education, Treatment Access Central to Improving Lung Cancer Care: Deborah Doroshow, MD, PhD
In a May 13, 2026 interview, Dr. Deborah Doroshow stresses early education about clinical trials as a routine option for lung‑cancer patients. She highlights the rapid expansion of targeted therapies, notably KRAS G12D inhibitors and antibody‑drug conjugates, while warning that trial design must...
Trump Announces FDA Commissioner Marty Makary’s Resignation Amid Pharma and Political Pressure
President Donald Trump announced on May 12 that FDA Commissioner Marty Makary will step down after a tumultuous year marked by conflict with pharmaceutical executives, vaping interests and anti‑abortion activists. The move clears the way for acting head Kyle Diamantas...
304: JerryRigged Wheelchairs and More with Zack Nelson
In this episode, Sean and Matt interview Zach Nelson of Jerry Rigged Everything about his evolution from DIY Jeep repairs to building an affordable wheelchair business and other maker projects. Zach explains how his YouTube channel funds expensive manufacturing equipment,...
Arkansas Board Approves Up to 10% Health Plan Contribution Rise for State Workers in 2027
The Arkansas Board of Finance voted Tuesday to increase employee contributions to state health insurance plans by roughly 5% to 10% for calendar year 2027. The hike, which would raise monthly premiums for thousands of state and public‑school employees and...
EU Approves Critical Medicines Act to Favor Local Drug Production
The European Parliament and Council passed the Critical Medicines Act, a law that lets public procurement favor drugs manufactured in the EU. The measure aims to curb dependence on India and China, introduce state‑aid incentives, and reshape tender rules for...
Forus Raises US$160m for AI-Powered Medicine Platform
Formerly known as Tandem, Forus announced a $160 million funding round led by Thrive Capital, General Catalyst, Accel and other top VCs to scale its AI‑powered platform that links doctors, payers, pharmacies and biopharma. The platform automates insurance authorisation, financial assistance...
India’s Pharma Industry Is Going Global. But Can It Catch up to China?
Sun Pharma’s $11.75 billion purchase of Organon is designed to lift the Indian giant into the global top‑25 drugmakers, targeting combined revenues of about $12.5 billion and a footprint in 150 countries by early 2027. The deal underscores India’s broader push to...
Predicting Sepsis-Related Mortality in Pediatric ALL Requires Greater Precision
A retrospective study of 260 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who developed sepsis found a 29% mortality rate in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (PSOFA) score outperformed the Pediatric Early Warning Score...
Food Insecurity Identification Modeling for Medicare Enrollees Using Administrative Data
Researchers at Elevance Health developed a mixed‑effects predictive model that identifies Medicare Advantage members at risk of food insecurity using administrative claims, health risk assessments, and social‑determinant data. Analyzing 462,251 beneficiaries, the model achieved an AUC of 0.82, with prior...
![[Updated] CMS Places National Moratorium On Home Health, Hospice Agency Enrollment](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://homehealthcarenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/03/HHCN-Facebook-Share-Size.jpg)
[Updated] CMS Places National Moratorium On Home Health, Hospice Agency Enrollment
CMS announced a six‑month national moratorium on new Medicare enrollment for home health and hospice agencies, covering both initial applications and certain ownership changes often used to conceal fraud. The agency labeled these sectors high‑risk and a major source of...
Mayo Clinic CEO to Step Down at Year’s End
Mayo Clinic announced that CEO Dr. Gianrico Farrugia will step down at the end of 2026 after an eight‑year tenure. The board will likely select a new president and CEO in November, with the successor assuming the role on Jan. 1, 2027....
From Trial-and-Error to Data-Driven Oncology Decision Making: AI-Enabled Functional Precision Medicine Is Rewriting the Future of Cancer Treatment
AI‑enabled functional precision medicine (FPM) platforms combine patient‑derived tumor testing, multi‑omic profiling, robotics and machine learning to recommend therapies tailored to an individual’s cancer. Traditional genomics‑driven precision oncology benefits only a small fraction of patients—about 8% are eligible for genome‑driven...
GLP-1 RAs, Fewer Headaches Linked in Intracranial Hypertension
A systematic review presented at the American Academy of Neurology shows that glucagon‑like peptide‑1 receptor agonists (GLP‑1 RAs) reduce body‑mass index and headache frequency in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). The analysis pooled seven studies covering 12,442 adults—predominantly women—with...
Hantavirus Outbreak Aboard Cruise Ship Sends Americans to Biocontainment Quarantine Units
A hantavirus outbreak aboard the expedition cruise MV Hondius led to three deaths and nine confirmed cases, prompting U.S. health officials to place 18 American passengers in specialized quarantine and biocontainment units. Most of the Americans, including influencer Jake Rosmarin,...
Fate Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Business Updates
Fate Therapeutics reported Q1 2026 results, highlighting a cash balance of $174.8 million that funds operations into 2028. The company announced the upcoming start of the Phase 2 RECLAIM‑LN trial of its off‑the‑shelf CAR‑T product FT819 in lupus nephritis, targeting about 53 patients...
NHS Modernisation and Regulation for Growth Bills Outlined in King’s Speech
The King’s Speech introduced the NHS Modernisation Bill, which will dissolve NHS England, trim central bureaucracy and launch a Single Patient Record that merges health and social‑care data for maternity and frailty patients by 2028. It also proposes restructuring Integrated...
Nursing Violence Causes Silent and Painful Cumulative Stress
Veteran psychiatric nurse Adam J. Wickett reveals that violence—both patient‑initiated and staff‑to‑staff—has become a silent, under‑reported reality in nursing environments. Over two decades he witnessed threats, lock‑downs, shattered windshields and even near‑fatal car incidents, all of which leave nurses in...
Molecular Grappling Hooks Improve Cancer Drug Targeting and Effectiveness
Scientists have engineered restricted interaction peptides (RIPs) that act as molecular grappling hooks, anchoring anticancer drugs to tumor cell membranes after activation by fibroblast activation protein. In mouse models, a RIP‑linked monomethyl auristatin E payload shrank tumors more effectively and with...
Millions for Preclinical Immunology: Boehringer Teams Up with Immunitas
Boehringer Ingelheim has signed a licensing deal with US‑based Immunitas Therapeutics that could be worth up to €407.5 million (approximately $445 million). The agreement grants Boehringer global rights to a preclinical antibody designed to selectively eliminate disease‑driving immune cells in chronic inflammatory...
Inside the Race to Develop a Test for the Rare Andes Hantavirus
Nebraska’s public‑health laboratory at the University of Nebraska Medical Center has rapidly created a PCR diagnostic test for the rare Andes hantavirus, a strain previously seen only in South America. The test, built in under 48 hours, can detect the...
Harmony Healthcare IT Appoints Brian Liddell as CEO Succeeding Founder Tom Liddell
Harmony Healthcare IT announced that Brian Liddell will assume the role of chief executive officer on April 30, 2026, succeeding founder Tom Liddell, who will become chairman of the board. Brian previously served as president and chief financial officer, overseeing...
![[Podcast] Closing the Distance in Cancer Care](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/1de993d39766949bff010a720911f297.webp)
[Podcast] Closing the Distance in Cancer Care
The BioPharma Dive podcast, sponsored by McKesson, spotlights how community oncology is reshaping cancer treatment in the United States. It highlights that patients can now receive advanced therapies, clinical‑trial options, and personalized care close to home, reducing the need for...
Kingston and Richmond NHS Plans Ambient Voice Roll Out and New EPR
Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust announced a phased rollout of ambient voice technology (AVT) across its emergency department and outpatient gastro‑enterology and gynaecology services, with later phases extending to additional specialties and community care. The trust is also advancing...
Gene Therapy Virus Implicated in Boy's Tumor, Study Finds
Scientists link boy’s tumor to gene therapy viruses, in rare finding https://t.co/d2jWn0zs9C via @statnews By @Jasonmmast
Abu Dhabi Unveils First Real-World Longevity Test Lab, Invites Global Startups
At the Milken Institute Global Conference, H E Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, chairman of Abu Dhabi's Department of Health, announced the opening of a government‑backed longevity test lab. The “living lab” will let biotech and AI firms trial interventions across the emirate’s health...
Australian Budget Looks to Advance Interoperability and Promote Sharing of Health Data
The 2026 Australian Federal Budget earmarks AUD 598.3 million (≈ USD 395 million) over two years to upgrade the My Health Record platform, alongside AUD 79.2 million (≈ USD 52 million) for state‑level digital health reforms. A further AUD 2 billion (≈ USD 1.32 billion) will fund the Thriving Kids programme and a new National...
Patient Advocacy Drives Innovation: James Roe’s Asthma Story Comes to BIO 2026
James Roe, an INDY NXT driver who lives with type 2 asthma, will speak on the BIO Storytelling Stage at the 2026 BIO International Convention in San Diego on June 24. His appearance follows a partnership that places his Topcon‑liveried car, bearing...
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary Resigns, Kyle Diamantas Named Acting Chief
President Donald Trump announced the resignation of FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary after a tumultuous 13‑month tenure. Kyle Diamantas, the agency’s chief for foods, will serve as acting commissioner. The change comes as Makary faced criticism from pharma CEOs, vaping...
UK Government Urged to Deliver National Strategy on UV Protection, Including Slashing VAT on SPF
The All‑Party Parliamentary Group for Beauty, Hair & Wellbeing released a landmark inquiry calling for a UK‑wide UV safety strategy. It urges the government to eliminate the sunscreen VAT, set adult sunscreen tax at 5% and children’s at 0%, and...
OpenEvidence AI Tool Used by 65% of U.S. Physicians in April, Sparking Monetization Debate
OpenEvidence, a free AI‑driven clinical decision‑support chatbot, was used in roughly 27 million patient encounters in April, representing about 65% of U.S. physicians. The rapid uptake has prompted questions about the platform’s funding model as its CEO hints at a shift...
Medicare Launches AI‑driven ACCESS Payment Model with 150 Pilot Firms
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has selected 150 companies, including Pair Team, for its new ACCESS program that will roll out on July 5. The 10‑year initiative replaces fee‑for‑service rules with AI‑enabled outcome‑based payments, a shift that could...
Taiwan Renews Healthcare Innovation Partnership with U.K. Agency
Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have renewed a two‑year partnership covering 2026‑2028. The agreement expands collaboration on health‑technology assessment, digital transformation, and talent development. It targets high‑cost innovations such as...
Optum Rx to Adopt Flat‑Fee PBM Model for 61 Million Members by 2027
Optum Rx announced it will move all pharmacy‑benefit customers to a flat‑fee, transparent pricing structure by the end of 2027, ending spread‑pricing and rebate‑based compensation. The change covers roughly 61 million members and more than 67,000 pharmacies, aligning with new federal...
Novo Nordisk Data Shows Oral Semaglutide Delivers Significant Weight Loss in Phase 3 Trial
Novo Nordisk presented sub‑analyses of the phase 3 OASIS 4 trial at ECO2026, showing that oral semaglutide 25 mg tablets deliver substantial weight loss and functional gains for adults with obesity. Early responders—28.8% of participants—lost at least 10% of body weight by week 16...