Today's Healthcare Pulse
AbbVie Nears $11B Deal for Apogee Therapeutics
AbbVie is poised to acquire biotech Apogee Therapeutics in an all‑cash transaction valued at about $11 billion, representing a 60% premium to Apogee’s last closing price. The acquisition is expected to broaden AbbVie’s anti‑inflammatory pipeline, especially its IL‑17 antibody program.
Also developing:
By the numbers: cAMPfield Therapeutics raises $180M Series A
NACHC Announces Center for Mobile Health to Advance Mobile Healthcare Delivery
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) unveiled the Center for Mobile Health, a dedicated hub to accelerate mobile health programs across community health centers. Backed by the Leon Lowenstein Foundation, Direct Relief and mobile‑vehicle firms, the Center will serve the 674 CHCs—about 45% of the network—that already operate mobile units. It aims to expand mobile outreach to the 52 million patients served by CHCs, especially in rural and underserved areas. The initiative highlights research showing a $14 return for every $1 invested in mobile primary care.
STAT+: New FDA Guidance for Antibiotic Use in Food-Producing Animals Prompts Criticism over Antibiotic Resistance
The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine issued new guidance urging drugmakers to add explicit duration limits to medically important antibiotics used in food‑producing animals. Currently, about 28% of these drugs are administered continuously for approved indications, but the guidance seeks...
Cassidy, GOP Colleagues File Brief In LA Case On Comstock Act
Senate health committee chair Bill Cassidy and 59 Republican lawmakers filed an amicus brief supporting Louisiana’s lawsuit that the FDA violated the 1870 Comstock Act by permitting telehealth prescribing of mifepristone. The brief argues the agency overstepped its authority, seeking...
SPT Labtech, BellBrook Labs Automate Screening for VPS4B ATPase Inhibitors for Cancer Drug Discovery
SPT Labtech and BellBrook Labs announced a joint effort to automate a high‑throughput, cell‑based assay for VPS4B ATPase inhibitors, pairing BellBrook’s Transcreener® ADP2 fluorescence‑polarization assay with SPT’s dragonfly® liquid‑handling system. The miniaturized platform operates in 384‑ and 1536‑well formats and...
Ultrasound-Jiggled Nanobubbles Can Crack Cancer's Collagen 'Fortress'
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have shown that ultrasound‑activated nanobubbles can mechanically disrupt the dense collagen matrix surrounding solid tumors, creating a temporary “softening” effect that lasts several days. In a breast‑cancer model, the approach enabled deeper penetration of...
Transfer Delays Tied to Worse Acute Stroke Intervention Results
A new Lancet Neurology study of 22,410 ischemic‑stroke patients shows that door‑in‑door‑out (DIDO) times exceeding the 90‑minute guideline are tied to poorer functional outcomes and lower rates of endovascular therapy. Patients with DIDO intervals of 91‑180 minutes, 181‑270 minutes, and...
Anti-Aging Gene Therapy in Alzheimer’s and ALS with Klotho Neurosciences’ Dr. Joseph Sinkule — Episode 243
The Xtalks Life Science Podcast featured Joseph Sinkule, CEO of Klotho Neurosciences, discussing the company’s secreted α‑Klotho gene therapy platform aimed at age‑related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, ALS and Parkinson’s. Klotho leverages a patented anti‑aging gene to develop cell‑ and...
Oz: Codifying MFN Deals Could Avert ‘Draconian’ Pricing Measures
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla met with CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz to negotiate a "most‑favored‑nation" (MFN) drug pricing agreement, though the specific terms were not disclosed. Oz indicated that the Trump administration plans to codify such voluntary MFN deals into law...
Oz: Codifying MFN Deals Could Avert ‘Draconian’ Pricing Measures
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla disclosed a direct collaboration with CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz on a "most favored nation" (MFN) drug pricing arrangement, though the specific terms remain undisclosed. Oz indicated that the Trump administration intends to codify such voluntary MFN...
Quantum-Level Effects in Biology: Weak Magnetic Fields and Isotopes Can Alter Cell Protein Structures
University of Waterloo researchers demonstrated that weak magnetic fields and isotopic substitution can alter the structure of cellular proteins, specifically tubulin polymerization, in a quantum‑consistent manner. Published in Science Advances, the study bridges structural biology, biophysics, and quantum biology, revealing...
Pediatric Myopia Drug Is Latest In String Of Unexpected FDA Rejections
The FDA has rejected a pediatric myopia drug, citing a lack of substantial evidence for its efficacy. Pediatric ophthalmologists argue the drug, already used in compounded form, effectively slows myopia progression in children. The decision follows a series of recent,...
‘Mass Layoffs’ at PeaceHealth Include Hospice Staff
PeaceHealth announced a systemwide reduction of 94 positions, affecting less than 1% of its Washington workforce and including hospice staff, nurse practitioners, and administrative roles. The cuts trigger Washington's WARN Act, requiring a 60‑day notice before mass layoffs. This is...
Cutting-Edge Technologies Are Poised to Transform Orthopedics
Orthopedic surgery is rapidly adopting AI, robotic assistance, VR/AR and wearable digital tools, shifting from experimental concepts to routine practice. AI now supports imaging interpretation, predictive risk modeling, personalized surgical planning, training simulations and remote postoperative monitoring. Robotic platforms improve...
The “Ethical Canary”: How Moral Injury Signals Systemic Failure
Psychiatrist Courtney Markham‑Abedi describes personal experiences of moral injury triggered by caring for vulnerable patients and the killing of immigrant activist Renee Good. She expands the concept of moral injury, originally defined for veterans, to healthcare workers, coining it as...
FDA Backtracks On Moderna mRNA Flu Vaccine Refusal, Sets Aug. 5 Review Deadline
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reversed its earlier decision to decline a review of Moderna's mRNA influenza vaccine candidate. Following a Type A meeting with the company, the agency set an August 5, 2026 deadline for completing its evaluation. The...
An Oral Mucosa‐Inspired Wet‐Adhesion Janus Hydrogel With Asymmetric Bifunctionalities of Antifouling/Antioxidant for Treating Oral Ulcer in Diabetes
Researchers have engineered a wet‑adhesion Janus hydrogel (WAJH) that mimics oral mucosa to treat diabetic oral ulcers. The hydrogel features an antifouling agar/polyacrylamide layer and a tannic‑acid‑rich adhesive layer, delivering adhesion energies of 15 J m⁻² and 316 J m⁻² respectively. Its antioxidant tannic...
AI Will Slash Decades-Long Lag in Medical Adoption
It can take decades for new medical research to change what happens in the exam room. AI is going to massively accelerate this process. The dissemination of medical research into clinical practice is not slow because the science is slow. It...
N.I.H. Director Will Temporarily Run C.D.C. in Leadership Shake-Up
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the current NIH director, has been named acting director of the CDC, a role he will hold while continuing to lead the National Institutes of Health. He replaces Jim O’Neill, who is slated for a nomination to...
Training Course: Achieving Data Quality and Integrity in Maximum Containment Laboratories
The FDA and UTMB are hosting a free, week‑long training course on data quality and integrity for BSL‑4 laboratories from July 28 to August 1, 2025, with in‑person seats in Manhattan, Kansas and a virtual option. The curriculum covers GLP requirements, Animal Rule...
Reduced APOE Expression Improves Bone Regeneration in Aged Mice
Researchers discovered that elevated circulating APOE in older mice suppresses bone regeneration by inhibiting osteoblast differentiation. Liver‑specific knockout of APOE or a single dose of a neutralizing antibody lowered serum APOE, restored Wnt/β‑catenin signaling, and markedly improved fracture callus density...
How One Health System Attained a Patient Safety Milestone: Zero CAUTI Infections
North Country Healthcare, an alliance of three critical‑access hospitals in New Hampshire, launched the staff‑driven "Lines and Drains" project using its Meditech Expanse EHR to standardize catheter documentation and create real‑time performance dashboards. By redesigning workflows, linking orders to worklists,...
NewCo Boom Shows No Signs of Slowing
The NewCo model, where Asian biotech assets are spun out into Western start‑ups backed by Western capital, surged in 2025 with 13 new companies—more than double the six disclosed in 2024. Early 2026 already sees three additional launches, including Kidswell...
VCU Health on Hospital-at-Home and RPM Governance
VCU Health, Virginia’s first hospital‑at‑home (HaH) provider, is showcasing its digital‑health journey at HIMSS 2026. Director David Collins will detail how lessons from the adult HaH and remote patient monitoring (RPM) programs shaped a governance framework for a new NICU RPM...
Frist Cressey Ventures Raises $425M Fund to Invest in AI-Native Care
Frist Cressey Ventures closed an oversubscribed $425 million Fund IV, lifting its assets under management close to $1 billion. The new fund zeroes in on early‑stage, AI‑native healthcare companies that can reshape care delivery. Strategic limited partners such as Cigna, MedStar Health and...
Protecting a Healthcare Facility From All Angles
Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation is piloting an AI‑driven predictive tool that scores inpatient threat levels using EHR data, social determinants and real‑time updates, alerting clinicians through the electronic health record. The system gives staff early awareness of potentially violent...
FDA to Review Moderna’s Flu Jab on Agency Pivot
The FDA has reversed its earlier refusal and will now evaluate Moderna’s mRNA‑1010 seasonal flu vaccine using a two‑track approach: a full Biologics License Application review for adults 50‑64 and an accelerated approval pathway for those 65 and older, contingent...
Aceclidine
Aceclidine (Vizz®) received FDA approval in 2025 as an ophthalmic solution for presbyopia, targeting age‑related near‑vision loss. The drug acts as a pupil‑selective muscarinic agonist, inducing miosis without significant ciliary muscle activity, thereby enhancing depth of focus through a pinhole...
Medline Addresses Bed Fire Risk Linked to Death
Medline is revising usage instructions for its home‑care adjustable beds after the FDA documented safety incidents involving hand‑control pendants that sparked, melted or ignited, and entrapment hazards from third‑party accessories. The agency recorded 12 injuries and two deaths—one fire‑related and...
Registered Outsourcing Facilities
The FDA’s updated list of Section 503B outsourcing facilities details registration dates, annual fee requirements, and inspection status as of February 18, 2026. Facilities must complete initial registration and then re‑register each year between October 1 and December 31, otherwise they are delisted on January 1....
Global Conference to Tackle Longevity Clinical Translation
The National University of Singapore Academy for Healthy Longevity is hosting the Geromedicine Conference on February 26-27, 2026, bringing together geroscience researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders. The event emphasizes clinical translation of molecules such as NAD+ precursors, urolithin A, and ergothioneine,...
Identy Joins Africa’s Push for Digital Identity in Humanitarian Healthcare
Identy is partnering with the volunteer NGO HumanCoop to roll out offline facial‑recognition tools for undocumented patients in northern Mauritania, creating portable digital medical IDs that work without internet. The initiative will initially cover the Bir Mogrein community of over 2,500...
Lilly to Pay CSL $100M to License Monoclonal Antibody Targeting IL-6
Eli Lilly has agreed to pay CSL Ltd. $100 million to license the monoclonal antibody clazakizumab, which targets interleukin‑6. Under the agreement, CSL will keep development rights for the drug’s use in preventing cardiovascular complications in end‑stage kidney disease patients, currently...
From DNA To Decision
Rapid functional testing is turning ambiguous genetic variants into actionable medical decisions. A zebrafish model proved a newborn‑identified SMN1 mutation benign, allowing clinicians to defer costly SMA therapy. This proof‑of‑concept shows whole‑genome sequencing can move from data to diagnosis within...
Health Fraud Scams
The FDA has escalated its enforcement against health‑fraud scams, targeting products ranging from 7‑OH opioid derivatives and tianeptine‑laden supplements to adulterated honey and toxic cosmetics. Recent public notifications and warning letters detail seizures, recalls, and advisories aimed at protecting consumers...
Pharmaceutical Quality Resources
The FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research created the Office of Pharmaceutical Quality (OPQ) to standardize drug quality oversight across all manufacturing sites, both domestic and foreign. OPQ’s mandate spans new drugs, biologics, generics, biosimilars, over‑the‑counter products, and certain...
FDA Accepts BMS Protein Degrader for Review; Disc Rare Disease Drug Rejected
The FDA has accepted Bristol Myers Squibb’s protein‑degrading multiple myeloma candidate iberdomide for review, with a decision expected by Aug. 17 after a Phase 3 trial showed higher minimal residual disease‑negative rates. In contrast, the agency rejected Disc Medicine’s accelerated‑approval bid for...
Ambient AI in the Exam Room: For Better Care and Better Caring
Leonard Calabrese argues that ambient artificial intelligence—low‑cost, always‑on tools integrated into the exam room—can free clinicians from the constant EMR distraction and restore genuine face‑to‑face interaction. By handling routine documentation and patient‑message drafting, AI lets physicians focus on non‑verbal cues...
Digital Path Practices Reflected in Latest Checklist Changes
The College of American Pathologists issued the 2025 accreditation checklist on Dec. 9, adding a new “Digital Pathology Including Remote Data Assessment” section. The revision requires laboratories to validate digital pathology systems, document remote review locations, and treat remote CLIA‑certified sites...
Social Meals, Sustainable Diets,
This week on Lifers, Dr. Zeke Emanuel thinks you can eat the ice cream. Timestamps: (00:00) Preview (00:59) Intro (02:25) The inspiration behind the book (04:20) The importance of socialization and shared meals (07:33) Sustainability versus the short-term hustle (08:30) The truth about supplements and regulation (12:04) Sponsor:...
Finalizing Top 100 Biotech VCs, Join 2026 Webinar
We're wrapping up the fact checking process for our annual Top 100 biotech VCs list and prepping for our companion webinar on VC investing in 2026. If this is a topic near and dear to your heart, be sure to...
AI in Healthcare Starts Long Before the Exam Room
AI-driven clinical tools are rapidly improving diagnosis and treatment, but they leave patients exposed to hidden financial risks. A case of an autonomous AI ER physician resulted in a $37,000 out‑of‑network bill, highlighting systemic navigation failures. While clinical AI promises...
FDA Chief: Most Drugs Belong Over‑the‑counter
FDA chief Marty Makary says 'everything should be over the counter' unless drug is unsafe or addictive https://t.co/HiYBuxvyWC
Federal Vaccine Panel Meeting Delayed After HHS Missed Deadlines
Upcoming meeting of federal vaccine panel may be postponed after HHS missed deadlines https://t.co/zfAl7owoQg via @statnews
Deploying AI 'Allows Doctors to Be Doctors' Again
Innovaccer released the whitepaper "Autonomous Healthcare" outlining AI’s role in alleviating clinicians’ administrative load. The report highlights AI‑powered documentation, scheduling, and data integration tools that can reclaim up to 30% of physicians’ time. CEO Abhinav Shashank argues that these efficiencies...
MRNA Vaccines Advance Triple‑negative Breast Cancer Therapy
The unfounded move by @HHSGov against mRNA vaccines will hurt our future potent immune therapy vs cancer. Another point of progress for triple-negative breast cancer with individualized neoantigen mRNA vaccines today @Nature Adds to successful pancreatic, renal cell, melanoma reports...
Listen to Biology’s Early Whispers to Prevent Disease
We could prevent diseases so much better but we haven't learned to listen to when biology whispers long (10 + years) in advance. A key theme in Super Agers, too. https://t.co/0pSap3f32N @NathanPriceSci @ @nrappapo @BuckInstitute example below for Type 2...
Agentic AI Enables Accurate Rare Disease Diagnosis via DeepRare
Another good use case for agentic AI in medicine: diagnosis of rare diseases. Exemplified by DeepRare https://t.co/XBd68V3iDl https://t.co/rBl5yn95sI
ECM: Scalable Solution to Legacy Data Risks
Legacy systems are piling up—and so is the risk. Great insights from @QuestDX on why ECM is the smartest, most scalable way to archive and protect healthcare data. ➡️ https://t.co/NcgrjGUq3D #HealthECM #HealthIT #HITSM
Pharma Demands FDA Stability as Leadership Sparks Drama
The pharmaceutical industry needs stability & clear guidance from #FDA as it attempts to bring through licensure new drugs & vaccines. Vinay Prasad, FDA's head of biologics, has brought drama to a setting where it's not welcome, @matthewherper.bsky.social writes. https://t.co/Qaw1QmYNpL
Emerging Tech Will Revolutionize Pharma Manufacturing and Distribution
This book explains how disruptive technologies and emerging trends such as robotics, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, precision medicine or patient design will impact the manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceuticals in order to prepare successfully for a better future of healthcare. It's...