Know What's Happening in Healthcare
Know What's Happening in Healthcare
FDA approves first CIRM‑funded gene‑editing therapy for rare immune disorder
The FDA has granted approval to KRESLADI, a gene‑editing therapy from Rocket Pharmaceuticals that treats severe leukocyte adhesion deficiency‑I in children without a matching bone‑marrow donor. It is the first product directly funded by California’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), highlighting the agency’s impact on translational research.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Syneron Bio raises $150M Series B
A new KFF analysis of the 2023 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey shows that just 5% of Americans accounted for nearly half of all health spending, with an average outlay of $72,918 per person. The top 1% spent about $150,467 annually. Adults 55 and older, who represent only 30% of the population, generated 57% of total expenditures, while the lowest‑spending half of the population averaged just $433. The report also highlights gender, racial, and immigrant status differences in spending patterns.
Chinese biotech licensing activity surged in 2025, with 92 deals—a jump from 64 the prior year—and total deal value reaching a record $137.7 billion. The average upfront payment climbed from $102 million to $141 million, signaling that Chinese assets are no longer deep‑discount...
Johnson & Johnson received FDA clearance for Icotyde, the first oral daily pill for moderate‑to‑severe plaque psoriasis. The drug, originally called icotrokinra, is approved for patients aged 12 and older and is designed to replicate the efficacy of injectable biologics...
Public health officials confirmed a fatal meningococcal group B outbreak in Kent, highlighting a less‑targeted strain. The letter notes that vaccination coverage among university students has slipped since the COVID‑19 pandemic, increasing vulnerability in high‑density campuses. It urges routine provision of...
AI and Digital Health are booming. In this book, we explain why now it's a good time to invest in Digital Health and give recommendations on where to invest by looking at the top 24 technological trends we find the...
Myriad Genetics announced FDA approval of its MyChoice CDx test as a companion diagnostic for GSK’s Zejula (niraparib) in advanced ovarian cancer. The clearance follows the PRIMA trial, which showed that patients identified as HRD‑positive derived significant benefit from Zejula...
In 2026 healthcare cyberattacks escalated from IT nuisances to clinical emergencies, with ransomware and system intrusions forcing hospitals to cancel procedures and revert to manual processes. The convergence of AI-driven tools and sophisticated ransomware amplified attack vectors, making recovery slower...
Researchers have engineered microscopic capsules made from red blood cell membranes that encase single, healthy mitochondria and can be injected into animals. In mouse models of Parkinson‑like disease and Leigh syndrome, the capsules restored neuronal function, improved motor activity, and...
Researchers from Griffith University and biotech firm Marinova evaluated brown and green seaweed polysaccharides for their ability to block norovirus attachment. Fucoidan, a sulfated fiber from brown seaweed, demonstrated the strongest and most consistent inhibition of virus‑like particles binding to...
Medical residents are the backbone of the hospital system. They are also its favorite punching bag. We expect them to work 80 hour weeks. We expect them to accept low pay. But we also force them to endure systemic disrespect, microaggressions,...
Samsung Bioepis and Sandoz have signed a global license, development and commercialization agreement covering up to five biosimilar candidates, including the preclinical SB36 biosimilar to Entyvio (vedolizumab). Samsung Bioepis will manage development, manufacturing and regulatory submissions, while Sandoz will handle...
Medicare’s Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver has been extended through September 2030, giving hospitals a decade‑long runway to expand home‑based acute care. As of September 2025, 419 hospitals in 39 states are authorized, treating conditions such as pneumonia, heart‑failure,...
A junior doctor at age 25 was diagnosed with an aggressive stage‑II sarcoma after her initial request for imaging was denied because her symptoms did not fit classic cancer criteria. The delay highlighted how strict adherence to typical presentation guidelines...
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied dismissal motions by AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Novartis and Sanofi, allowing a whistleblower False Claims Act suit over alleged 340B program overcharges to proceed. The lawsuit, filed by Adventist Health System/West, claims the manufacturers...
Kansas Senate Bill 409, which would mandate insurers to cover supplemental breast imaging after mammography, failed to advance as the legislative session progressed. Insurer Blue Cross and business groups such as the Kansas Chamber of Commerce opposed the bill, labeling...
Malaysia’s medical tourism could gain patients from the Middle East as the Iran‑Israel conflict makes Dubai’s medical hub unsafe. Sunway Healthcare’s president warned that regional travelers may seek temporary stays in Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia. Revenue from medical tourists rose...
Rep. Linda T. Sánchez and Sen. Mark Warner have re‑introduced the Hospice CARE Act, aiming to modernize the Medicare hospice benefit while tightening program integrity. The legislation proposes a moratorium on new hospice enrollment, enhanced transparency of ownership, and higher...
The University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) and University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) have become the first NHS trusts to jointly deploy AI‑powered Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) through Accurx Scribe. The rollout will equip more than 10,000 clinicians with voice‑captured scribing...
Xaira, the biotech AI startup with the deepest funding round, launched its first model, X‑Cell, on Tuesday. The platform uses deep learning to generate virtual cell representations from multi‑omics data, enabling researchers to simulate cellular responses without physical experiments. Early...
President Donald Trump has again blamed the Affordable Care Act for rising health‑care costs, citing premium spikes since the law’s rollout. Data show ACA individual premiums have risen 129% since 2014, outpacing the 68% increase in employer‑based plans, while deductibles...
Conservative lawmakers in Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma are advancing the Alliance Defending Freedom’s model CARE Act, which shields crisis pregnancy centers from state mandates to provide abortion referrals, information or contraception. The bill also grants centers the right to sue...
In this episode of Just the News No Noise, Dr. Peter McCullough discusses Susie Wiles’ early‑stage breast cancer, suggesting speculative links to COVID‑19 vaccines and recommending tissue testing for spike protein. He then critiques a federal judge’s decision blocking vaccine‑schedule reforms championed...
Switching health insurance plans in India can be done without losing benefits by using the portability option at renewal. The article outlines a step‑by‑step process that emphasizes timing, documentation, and full health disclosure to retain waiting‑period credits and existing‑condition coverage....
OXOS Medical announced FDA clearance for its MC2 portable X‑ray system designed specifically for paediatric imaging. The lightweight, wireless device enables bedside scans, allowing children to stay with caregivers while receiving low‑dose, high‑definition images. Hands‑free operation via a wireless foot...
START Center for Cancer Research has partnered with Trialing to broaden access to early‑phase oncology clinical trials throughout Europe. The exclusive agreement lets START distribute curated trial information and real‑time enrollment updates via Trialing’s platform, directly notifying oncologists when slots...
Kentucky counties are using opioid settlement money to purchase the NET device, a FDA‑cleared neuromodulation tool that eases withdrawal symptoms, at roughly $5,500 per patient. The company behind NET, NET Recovery, has secured about $1.2 million in contracts across more than...
A retrospective cohort of 201 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients and 202 matched controls revealed that a lower albumin‑globulin ratio (AGR) is strongly associated with poorer motor function and faster loss of ambulation. Logistic and Cox models showed lower AGR...
A nationwide study of 3,153 U.S. counties shows that the share of substance‑use‑disorder treatment facilities offering medication for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) rose from 34% in 2017 to 44% in 2021, then plateaued. Rural‑adjacent and rural‑remote counties lagged metropolitan areas...
A new knowledge‑infused neural framework extracts non‑taxonomic and ternary relations from patient‑generated texts, addressing gaps left by taxonomic‑only approaches. Using a four‑layer architecture, delayed fusion, rule‑based dictionaries, and BioBERT validation, the system processes 38,115 anxiety and depression documents. It achieves...
A qualitative study at Mulago National Referral Hospital found that structured nutrition education is virtually absent for HIV inpatients, with six of seven participants reporting no dietary counselling and no ward‑based nutritionist. Patients expressed positive attitudes toward nutrition and recognized...
A cross‑sectional study of 124 term infants examined how biological, maternal, and environmental factors predict neurodevelopment at six months using the ASQ‑3. Hierarchical regression showed that birth weight was the strongest and most consistent predictor across communication, gross motor, problem‑solving,...
Bangladesh faces a growing antimicrobial resistance crisis, with 26,200 AMR‑related deaths in 2019. A systematic review of 14 studies covering over 34,000 patients and clinicians found that antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs are fragmented, with only 31% of prescriptions guided by...
Clarity Pharmaceuticals presented Phase II Co‑PSMA data at the EAU Congress, showing its 64Cu‑SAR‑bisPSMA PET tracer outperforms the standard 68Ga‑PSMA‑11 in detecting prostate cancer recurrence at low PSA levels. In 50 men post‑radical prostatectomy, 64Cu‑SAR‑bisPSMA identified 63 lesions versus 24...
Cogent Biosciences announced that the U.S. FDA has accepted its new‑drug application for bezuclastinib in non‑advanced systemic mastocytosis (NonAdvSM), with a PDUFA target date of December 30 2026 and no advisory committee required. The filing is supported by the SUMMIT trial, which...
Siemens Healthineers has teamed up with the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) to bring advanced imaging, precision diagnostics and integrated cancer‑care solutions to Nigeria. The $300 million, Afreximbank‑backed hospital aims to become a regional hub for oncology, cardiology and haematology,...
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is a low‑cost, evidence‑based psychosocial program for mild‑to‑moderate dementia that has been piloted at Bruyère Health Geriatric Day Hospital since January 2025. The pilot has completed three rounds and will conclude in July 2026, informing funding...
Ascendis Pharma released topline results from its Phase‑II New InsiGHTS trial evaluating TransCon hGH (lonapegsomatropin) administered once‑weekly versus daily somatropin in 49 prepubertal children with Turner syndrome. At week 52, the weekly formulation achieved an LS mean annualized height velocity...
Sunway Healthcare Holdings Bhd (SUNMED, 5555) debuted strongly on Bursa Malaysia Main Market today. Opening price hit RM1.70 → 17% above IPO price of RM1.45. Price climbed fast to RM1.80–RM2.00 range in morning trade → market cap exceeded RM20 billion. Retail offering...
An Oscar‑nominated Iranian film clip showed a pregnant woman denied emergency care because the hospital demanded cash, echoing similar payment barriers faced by U.S. patients. While outright refusals are illegal in the United States, American hospitals still use urgency assessments...
A retrospective study of 78 Saudi hospital patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) found that continuous enteral feeding markedly lowered diarrhea severity compared with intermittent feeding (OR = 7.91, p < 0.001). Continuous feeding also stabilized serum sodium and reduced biochemical instability, while intermittent...
Chinese researchers at Shandong University have engineered the probiotic strain Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 to synthesize and deliver the anticancer drug Romidepsin directly within breast‑tumor tissue in mice. The bacteria colonized the tumors, releasing the drug locally and achieving tumor‑inhibiting...
When I was at the Brigham/Harvard I saw how we billed different insurance levels as well as the uninsured. The uninsured got screwed the worst. Always. Different payers pay remarkably different prices for the identical things. It all comes down...
Chinese biotech startup Excalipoint banks $69M for next-gen T cell engagers https://t.co/809RqRWJNL by @gwendolynawu #biotech #startups
Cancer survivorship is increasingly recognized, yet cognitive impairment—often called "brain fog"—remains invisible in most oncology workflows. Studies show up to 75% of patients experience cognitive changes during treatment, with roughly 35% continuing months or years afterward. The gap stems from...
President Trump’s TrumpRx website claims to offer the world’s lowest prescription‑drug prices, but a New York Times analysis finds the opposite. The site lists only a few dozen negotiated U.S. prices, omitting widely used drugs such as statins and many high‑cost cancer...
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Lexapro (escitalopram) is a widely used SSRI that commonly triggers mild side effects such as nausea, insomnia, and headaches during the first week of treatment. Most of these effects diminish after one to two weeks, but patients are advised not...
A study published in Gastroenterology demonstrates that stress during early life rewires gut‑brain pathways, increasing the risk of chronic digestive disorders. Mouse experiments showed sex‑specific motility changes and identified separate neural, hormonal, and serotonin mechanisms. Large human cohorts—over 40,000 Danish...
The U.S. National Institutes of Health announced a pivot away from agency‑directed solicitation calls toward a greater reliance on unsolicited research proposals, a change unveiled in Bethesda, Maryland. The shift, made under the agency’s new leadership following the 2025 presidential...
On March 18, 2026, White House officials—including two former Trump administration aides—intensified a campaign to pass legislation that would lock U.S. drug prices to the lowest rates paid by peer nations. The push, aimed at lowering costs for patients, met...
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on March 16 that it will transition to a secure, centralized independent dispute resolution (IDR) gateway for Medicare payment and coverage disputes in the second half of 2026. The new platform...
