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
Heron Therapeutics Inc (HRTX) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Heron Therapeutics reported $155 million in 2025 net product revenue and adjusted EBITDA of $14.7 million, surpassing its guidance range. Acute‑care sales surged, with ZYNRELEF revenue up 48% YoY and the franchise growing 57% in Q4, driven by the CrossLink IGNITE program, a new vial‑access needle, and permanent J‑Codes. Oncology revenue fell 7.8% as the planned SUSTOL wind‑down continued, while CINVANTI remained stable. Management outlined a 2026 strategy of targeted commercial expansion and a prefilled‑syringe filing expected in late 2027.
Liquidia Corp (LQDA) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Liquidia Corp reported $148.3 million full‑year net product sales, with $90.1 million generated in Q4 and a 74% quarter‑over‑quarter increase. The company achieved its second consecutive profitable quarter, posting $27.3 million adjusted EBITDA and $14.6 million net income, while generating $33 million of operating cash...
Predicting the Geographical Distribution of Drug Use Disorder in Sweden From the Geographical Variation in Social Deprivation, Genetic Risk and...
A new Swedish study used geographically weighted regression across 5,983 DeSO areas to dissect the spatial variation of drug use disorder (DUD). The analysis found that family‑genetic risk scores (FGRS) explain roughly 58% of the variance, while social deprivation accounts...
Exagen Inc (XGN) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Exagen reported Q1 2022 revenue of $10.4 million, driven by a record 30,903 AVISE CTD/Lupus tests and 2,175 ordering providers. The company secured a new Medicare PLA code (0312U) for AVISE Lupus, boosting reimbursement from $295 to $1,085 per test. Gross...
EMVision Expands Pivotal FDA Trial to Include Acute Ischaemia Detection
EMVision Medical Devices has expanded its pivotal FDA De Novo trial to evaluate acute ischaemia detection alongside its original haemorrhage indication. The trial now includes over 125 recruited patients with no reported device‑related adverse events, and full enrollment is projected...
EXCLUSIVE: Peptides, Fauci & MAHA - What You Need to Know | Daily Pulse
In this episode, host Maria Z interviews Dr. Lynn Finn, a retired infectious disease specialist turned clinical researcher, to unpack the rising popularity and risks of peptide supplements. Dr. Finn explains what peptides are, their potential therapeutic uses, and why...
RFK Said SSRIs Are Harder to Quit Than Heroin. I’ve Treated Both. Here’s the Truth.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, claimed that withdrawing from antidepressants is more severe than heroin withdrawal, prompting a viral backlash. His office subsequently unveiled a “MAHA Action Plan to Curb Psychiatric Overprescribing,” urging...
NHS Bank Staff ‘at Least as Expensive’ as Using Agency Workers
Freedom of information data reveal that several NHS trusts are paying bank‑staff shifts at rates higher than agency staff, contradicting the Department of Health’s claim that bank staffing saves taxpayers money. At Nottingham University Hospitals, the five costliest bank shifts...
Dehumanization in Medicine: The Language of Disposition
Internal medicine resident Aditya Singh recounts a turning point when a stroke patient’s personal photos reminded him that clinical language can erase individuality. He argues that terms like “disposition” echo disposal, reflecting a system that rewards metrics, throughput, and coded documentation...
Pooled Analysis Reveals Semaglutide Shows Good Efficacy in Older Adults Aged over 65 Years
A pooled analysis of Novo Nordisk's STEP trials examined semaglutide 2.4 mg in adults over 65 with obesity. The senior subgroup (n=358) lost an average of 15.4% of body weight over 68 weeks, compared with 5.1% on placebo, and showed marked...
Could the 'Ozempic Era' Shift Blame for Obesity From Individuals to the Food Industry?
An essay presented at the European Congress on Obesity argues that the surge of GLP‑1 agonist drugs, such as Ozempic, could reframe obesity from an individual failing to a systemic problem driven by the commercial food industry. The authors cite...
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What Medications Are Used to Treat Binge Eating?
Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) remains the sole FDA‑approved medication for binge‑eating disorder, a condition affecting millions of Americans and linked to serious health complications. Cognitive‑behavioral therapy (CBT) is the primary non‑pharmacologic treatment and consistently reduces binge episodes, though it does not guarantee...
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The Potential Side Effects of CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is booming in consumer markets, but users should be aware of its common side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth, and gastrointestinal upset. Clinical data show CBD can elevate liver enzymes, signaling possible liver injury, especially at higher...
Australia Has the World's Highest Rate of ACL Reconstruction Surgery—Rehab May Be Just as Good
Australia records the world’s highest rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, with roughly 90% of active adults choosing surgery. Recent international evidence shows that structured, exercise‑based rehabilitation can achieve comparable strength, functional, and sport‑return outcomes to immediate surgery. About...
Visiting Medical Officers’ $1.3bn Pay Excoriated by NSW Auditor-General
The NSW auditor‑general released a scathing report on the state Health Department’s management of visiting medical officers (VMOs), highlighting $1.3 bn in payments with little oversight. The audit uncovered systemic failures in risk management, remuneration controls, and IT systems that support...
Pop‑up Health Fair Brings Free Stress Screenings to Soufrière, Saint Lucia
The Community Mental Health Team held a free Stress Awareness Pop‑Up Health Fair in Soufrière, Saint Lucia, on May 1, 2026, delivering mental‑health assessments, blood‑pressure and glucose checks, and education to break stigma and expand care access. The event is part of...
Study Finds EPA Omega‑3 May Slow Recovery After Repeated Mild Brain Injuries
Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina reported that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a common omega‑3 component, may weaken cerebrovascular stability and suppress tissue‑regeneration signals after repeated mild brain injuries. The finding clashes with the long‑standing view of omega‑3s as...
Johns Hopkins AI Blood Test Flags Silent Liver Disease Years Early
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have launched an AI‑powered blood test that can spot silent liver disease years before clinical symptoms appear, analyzing genome‑wide cell‑free DNA patterns from 1,576 participants. The breakthrough, published in Science Translational Medicine, promises earlier intervention for...
FDA Clears Genentech’s Ocrevus for Pediatric Relapsing‑Remitting MS
The U.S. FDA has approved Genentech’s ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) for relapsing‑remitting multiple sclerosis in children and adolescents aged 10 and older who weigh at least 55 lb. The decision, driven by the OPERETTA II trial, gives clinicians a high‑efficacy, FDA‑backed option that previously...
FDA Deploys AI Platform to Slash Tobacco Review Times by 70%
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration launched Elsa 4.0 and the HALO data platform to accelerate pre‑market tobacco product reviews, cutting backlog by roughly 70% and authorizing six nicotine‑pouch products in just three months. The move showcases AI integration in...
Sandhills Medical Names Sena Ocloo as CIO to Accelerate Tech and Security Overhaul
Sandhills Medical announced the appointment of Sena Ocloo as chief information officer. Ocloo, who brings 13 years of IT leadership at Kintegra Health, will steer a multi‑year technology refresh that includes automation, next‑gen wireless and stronger system redundancy, positioning the...
Doctors Can Act as Gatekeepers or Brokers for Patients – How They Decide Can Be Crucial
New research shows that general practitioners and hospital doctors can function either as gatekeepers, limiting unnecessary tests, or as brokers, actively securing scarce resources for patients with terminal cancer. When acting as gatekeepers, doctors sometimes delay referrals, leading to later...
Why Did My Baby Die? I’m a Pathologist. Here’s What I Want You to Know
In Australia roughly six babies are stillborn each day, and for one‑third of those cases the cause remains unknown because investigations are incomplete. Perinatal pathologists examine the placenta first, then may perform a full or limited autopsy to uncover medical...
Shanghai Jiao Tong University Unveils 1.7 Mm Optical Sensor that Lets Surgical Robots Feel Touch
Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University have built a 1.7 mm optical sensor that measures force, pressure and torque in all directions, enabling surgical robots to detect hidden tumor‑like structures in real time. The breakthrough could close the tactile gap that...
Vertex Secures German Reimbursement Deal for CASGEVY Gene Therapy
Vertex Pharmaceuticals has clinched a national reimbursement agreement with Germany’s GKV‑Spitzenverband for its CASGEVY gene therapy targeting sickle cell disease and beta‑thalassemia. The deal adds Germany to a growing list of markets where the therapy is covered, bolstering Vertex’s goal...
Not Just Insulin: Early Increases in Glucagon in Type 2 Diabetes Are Linked to Fatty Liver Disease
A German Diabetes Center study of 50 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients and 50 controls found post‑meal glucagon levels about 75% higher within the first year of diagnosis. The surge was tightly linked to liver fat content rather than classic...
Insulin Resistance Outweighs LDL as Heart Disease Risk
Insulin resistance is a much bigger risk factor for heart disease than LDL cholesterol. h/t ifixhearts That's why a fasting insulin may be a better test than LDL cholesterol for heart disease risk.
Pediatric Asthma Care Demands Better Proper Inhaler Use
Pediatric asthma affects about 4.5 million U.S. children, yet proper inhaler technique is mastered by fewer than 20 percent, with some studies reporting as low as 8.1 percent. This deficiency contributes to 42 percent of asthma‑related hospitalizations and drives an annual cost exceeding $884 million....
Mandate Real‑Time Ledger Transparency to Cut Hospital Costs
The path of least resistance to reducing the cost of medical care is to require all Non Profit Hospitals and providere to be required to post on their website a Real Time and downloadable General Ledger with all entries ...
Why So Many Doctors Are Walking Away Before Age 50
A 2024 AMA‑backed survey published in The Permanente Journal shows U.S. physicians are exiting clinical practice at a mean age of 48.1 years—nine years earlier than the 57.1‑year average in 2008. The study found 11 percent of residency‑trained doctors quit before...
Gallium‐Containing Agents for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy: Current Status and Future Prospects
Gallium-based agents are emerging as powerful tools in tumor theranostics, combining diagnostic precision with therapeutic action. 68Ga-labeled PET probes have become routine for detecting prostate, neuroendocrine and other cancers, while gallium therapeutics target DNA metabolism, tumor immunity and angiogenesis. The...
Field‑Programmable Biofunctional Films: From Assisted Fabrication to Integrated Diagnostic‐Therapeutic Devices
Field‑programmable biofunctional films (FPBFs) are thin‑film platforms that can be programmed to react to a range of physical fields—thermal, mechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic and acoustic. Recent advances in single‑ and multi‑field‑assisted fabrication have expanded their structural tunability and functional density,...
The Attention Economy of Menopause Medicine
The post highlights how three so‑called “miracle cures” for menopause brain fog—ADHD meds, creatine, and antihistamines—have surfaced within a year, exposing a medical knowledge gap that drives women to seek answers online. Social media’s attention economy amplifies sensational, unverified claims,...
National Ambulance Service to Be ‘Significantly Impacted’ by Industrial Action on Monday
The Health Service Executive (HSE) warned that Ireland’s National Ambulance Service will be "significantly impacted" after about 2,000 SIPTU and Unite members begin a work‑to‑rule at 8 a.m. Monday, followed by a 24‑hour strike later that night. Emergency cover has been...
Biogen, Vantive, Monogram, and Dozens More Are Hiring
A curated bi‑weekly roundup highlights dozens of senior openings across the kidney‑focused biotech and medtech sector. Companies such as Biogen, Akebia Therapeutics, Monogram Health, Vantive and Vertex are adding leadership roles in research, procurement, strategic initiatives, environmental health & safety,...
Physician Burnout Is Not a Failure of Resilience
In a recent essay, Dr. Gus W. Krucke argues that physician burnout is a symptom of systemic pressure, not a personal shortfall in resilience. He contends that the relentless demand for presence, responsibility, and emotional labor exceeds what traditional medical...
Healthcare Pricing Is Engineered to Be Unshopable, AI Fuels Manipulation
If you think all we need to do in healthcare is let people shop for prices and they will fall, is ridiculous The number of hospitals and insurance comps walking away from each other, particularly for Med Adv, tell us...
WHO Expands COVID Contact Definition to Shared Enclosed Spaces
Good update from WHO, with a very important clarification of what a “contact” is: —-> “Exposure in enclosed or shared spaces (e.g. multiple days on same ship, aircraft/conveyance seating proximity, etc.)” I don’t love the “multiple days” in the example bc it’s inconsistent...
Was Mount Sinai’s Victory in a Dispute Over a Physician’s Credentialing Worth It?
Mount Sinai South Nassau adopted new medical staff bylaws in June 2025 that tighten board‑certification requirements, effectively disqualifying Dr. Nakul Karkare’s Indian board certification despite his prior privileges dating back to 2018. The hospital offered him resignation or an appeal, warning...
AMH Measures Egg Count, Not Pregnancy Potential
AMH does not predict whether you can get pregnant naturally. It predicts how many eggs your ovaries will produce on stimulation drugs. That is it. Fertility clinics use it to scare women into IVF because it is a number that...
With Commissioner Under Pressure, F.D.A. Opens Door to Flavored Vapes
The Trump administration released an FDA guidance that would permit flavored e‑cigarettes to be sold in mainstream retail outlets, effectively rolling back a year of tightened tobacco‑control measures. The move comes amid reports that President Trump signed a plan to...
U.S. Federal Initiative Targets Psychiatric Overprescribing, Boosts Holistic Care
U.S. federal health officials unveiled an initiative to curb the overprescription of psychiatric drugs and shift treatment toward holistic, interdisciplinary care. The plan emphasizes rigorous deprescribing protocols and the integration of nutrition, therapy and lifestyle interventions.
Australia’s TGA Issues Interim Decision to Tighten Vitamin B6 Supplement Rules
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) released an interim decision to review and potentially tighten regulations on high‑dose Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) supplements in Australia. The move follows rising safety concerns over peripheral neuropathy linked to prolonged excessive intake. The decision now...
New Zealand Study Shows Low‑Income Mothers Sacrifice Their Diets to Feed Infants
A University of Otago‑led study finds low‑income New Zealand mothers routinely forgo nutritious meals to ensure their infants are fed, as households with children under five reporting food scarcity climbed to 20% in 2024. Researchers call for systemic, family‑centred policies to...
Evidence-Based Lifestyle Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors
We are thrilled to provide this resource for people who are looking for a path through breast cancer and beyond. 💗 PAVING the Path to Wellness with Evidence-Based Lifestyle Medicine Tools for Cancer Survivorship is a fabulous resource for those newly...
MANE Secures Patent, Launches Trials to Address Minoxidil
Turns out I was dead wrong in this thread from some four years back. $MANE managed to get a patent (US 12,268,688 ) and is conducting full-scale trials to assuage the obvious safety concerns with the approved Minoxidil oral dose.
Trump's Aid Cuts Let Richest Exploit Poorest Children
From @NickKristof, an accounting of what has happened after Trump gutted lifesaving aid. “Forget the efforts to dress this show up. The truth is ugly: The world’s richest men are crushing the world’s poorest children.” https://t.co/CoI6eUrkW3
Vinay Prasad’s CV Misstates President’s Cancer Panel Membership
The Cancer Letter reports that Vinay Prasad’s CV inaccurately claimed past membership on the President’s Cancer Panel. Prasad did nor respond to repeated requests for comment, the publication said. https://t.co/ZbYKOKQ95c
CPR Doubles or Triples Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates
CPR can double or triple the chances of survival from cardiac arrest. Learn CPR. https://t.co/9QjBRXV9dv
Longevity Hype Ignores Limited Healthspan Evidence
Why is there such obsession with extending lifespan when the bigger issue is that average healthspan is 65 years and there are no data (except in super-centenarians) that longer lifespan = longer healthspan (known as compression of morbidity)? https://t.co/w33aRn71cn