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
InsideTracker Study Links Platform to Improvements in 39 Blood Biomarkers
InsideTracker published a peer‑reviewed study of 20,000 users that links its AI‑driven health platform to sustained improvements in 39 blood biomarkers, including LDL cholesterol, HbA1c and vitamin D. The findings provide rare long‑term evidence for a consumer biohacking tool and could reshape how personalized health services are evaluated.
Amazon Pharmacy Adds Same-Day Delivery, Kiosks for New Ozempic Pill
Amazon Pharmacy is rolling out same‑day delivery and in‑office kiosk pickup for Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic oral pill, the only FDA‑approved GLP‑1 treatment for type‑2 diabetes. The service will initially cover nearly 3,000 U.S. cities, expanding to about 4,500 by year‑end,...
Why Home Eye Tests Are Transforming Vision Care for Older Adults in Bolton
Home eye tests are bringing professional vision examinations directly to seniors’ doorsteps in Bolton, removing the need for travel to traditional optician clinics. Qualified opticians arrive with portable equipment to assess eyesight, screen for glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, and...
What The Healthcare Workforce Shortage Can Teach Other Industries About Talent Retention
The healthcare sector’s chronic staffing shortage, intensified by COVID‑19, forced hospitals to overhaul talent practices. Providers introduced day‑one benefits, accelerated pay cycles, flexible scheduling, and robust career‑development programs, which lifted retention and reduced burnout. Leadership accountability for employee well‑being became...
Mentorship and Leadership in Advancing Behavioral Health Equity
Carmen Collado, a veteran nonprofit leader and COO of Community Counseling & Mediation, reflects on a 35‑year career dedicated to behavioral health equity. She highlights a pioneering foster‑care mental‑health pilot that achieved a 99% placement stability rate and was adopted...
With Gilead’s Reasonableness Standard, Side Effects May Vary
The California Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Gilead Tenofovir case, where plaintiffs seek to impose a novel “duty to commercialize a safer alternative” on drug makers. The proposed duty would require manufacturers to act reasonably in bringing a...
Unlocking Lithium’s Hidden Effects on Alzheimer’s Disease at the Cellular Level
A University of Eastern Finland team mapped lithium chloride’s cellular actions in Alzheimer’s models, showing it reduces Tau hyperphosphorylation at several key sites and reshapes kinase and Rho GTPase signaling. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed lithium’s impact extends beyond the primary GSK‑3β...
One Student's Quick Thinking Shows Coordinated Action Through SAMHSA Program on Youth Mental Health Works
A sixth‑grader in New Hampshire, trained by SAMHSA’s Project AWARE, recognized suicide warning signs in a friend and alerted his parents, prompting the school to connect the student with counseling. The rapid, coordinated response illustrates how school‑based mental‑health education can...
The Hidden Toll of COVID-19 on India’s Infants
A new study using nationally representative survey data shows infant mortality in India spiked during the April‑September 2020 lockdown. Deaths rose by roughly nine per 1,000 live births in the first month, 13 per 1,000 by three months, and 16...
Knox Lane to Acquire Cross Country Healthcare in $437 Million All‑Cash Deal
Growth‑focused private‑equity firm Knox Lane announced an all‑cash acquisition of Cross Country Healthcare for $437 million, paying $13.25 per share. The deal, a 31% premium to the stock’s recent close, will take the Nasdaq‑listed workforce‑solutions provider private and underscores PE’s appetite...
Early Low‑Back MRI Increases Costs, Disability, and Surgeries
Why imaging low backs is the fastest way to ruin one. $13,000 more in medical costs per case. 2x higher disability rate at 1 year. 12x more lumbar surgery. Early MRI doesn't fix back pain. It manufactures it.
Supreme Court Battles: Abortion Pills, Digital Privacy, and Judicial Tensions
The Supreme Court issued a temporary administrative stay on the Fifth Circuit's order that blocked mail‑order distribution of the abortion drug mifepristone, allowing the FDA’s remote‑prescription rule to remain in effect while briefing continues. The Court also heard oral arguments...
Sanofi Pulls Teplizumab From FDA’s Makary Review Over Political Interference
Sanofi has formally requested that the FDA withdraw its type‑1 diabetes therapy teplizumab from Commissioner Marty Makary’s accelerated review pathway after an acting CDER director, a political appointee, stepped into the scientific review. The move follows a missed April 21 decision...
AI Nurses Become Co‑pilots, Not Replacements, in Healthcare
I shared this news 2 years ago: "NVIDIA teamed up with AI healthcare company Hippocratic AI (that recently raised a lot of money) to develop generative AI "agents" that not only outperform human nurses on video calls but cost a...
Collaboration Is Essential for Preventing Vision Loss
Connect & prevent vision https://t.co/1DZjVwm9d5 @CedarStResearch @jeffroth77 @GalenDShaffer @JimMarous @FGraillot @nigelwalsh @SpirosMargaris @jblefevre60 @robgalb @RonnoArnold @hedgequote @Nick_Lamparelli @antgrasso @hugues_bertin @globaliqx @psb_dc @an_battista
Mayo Clinic and Stanford Launch First Blood Test to Map Tumor Microenvironment
Mayo Clinic and Stanford Medicine announced a new blood test that maps the tumor microenvironment, enabling more accurate prediction of immunotherapy response across 17 cancer types. The test uses spatial transcriptomics and AI to identify nine cellular neighborhoods from cell‑free...
Dystopian AI-Generated ASCO Posters Mock ALS Treatment
Weird AI-generated ASCO posters? Drinking gold to treat ALS? @adamfeuerstein sends a dispatch from our dystopian future. TLDR: it sounds awful but it is fun to read about. https://t.co/SaniqEGPPn
Angelini Pharma Acquires Catalyst, Boosts US Rare‑Disease Portfolio
Angelini Pharma buys Catalyst Pharmaceuticals and its rare disease drugs for $4.1B The deal will expand the Italian pharma company’s work in the U.S. https://t.co/BwO6uGKvrT
NIH-Funded Study Suggests that Testosterone Suppresses Brain Tumor Growth in Males
A NIH‑funded study by Cleveland Clinic researchers found that loss of male hormones, especially testosterone, accelerates glioblastoma growth in mouse models by triggering inflammation and the hypothalamus‑pituitary‑adrenal (HPA) stress axis. Supplemental testosterone was associated with a 38% lower risk of...
INSM Q1 Sales Beat Consensus, Miss Whisper Target
$INSM Q1 Brinsupri sales $208 million, above sell-side consensus but below the buyside "whisper" expectation that has moved around from the $2-teens to $220-ish.
Solving the Procurement Puzzle: MakerStage’s Vision for Smarter, Compliant Medical Manufacturing
MakerStage is expanding its digital manufacturing platform to serve medical‑device OEMs, using AI‑driven routing that matches CNC, additive, or hybrid processes with ISO 13485‑certified suppliers. The system differentiates between prototype, clinical‑trial, and production stages, trimming lead times and costs while preserving...
Beyond Blood Glucose: Managing High Triglycerides and Heart Disease Risk When Living with Diabetes
The American Diabetes Association is hosting a free webinar on September 8, 2026, titled “Beyond Blood Glucose: Managing High Triglycerides and Heart Disease Risk When Living with Diabetes.” The one‑hour session, 2‑3 PM EDT, will feature expert clinicians who discuss how to lower triglycerides,...
Entrada Shares Sink After Duchenne Drug Falls Short of Expectations
Entrada Therapeutics reported that its experimental Duchenne drug ENTR-601-44 generated only a 2.36‑point increase in dystrophin, far below the 10‑11% rise analysts had modeled. The shortfall sent the company’s shares tumbling more than 50% in pre‑market trading. By contrast, Avidity...
Costco, Sesame, IVI RMA Partner on Fertility Care Where Employers Often Fall Short
Costco, self‑pay marketplace Sesame, and global clinic IVI RMA have teamed up to offer a fertility‑care membership that bundles virtual expert guidance, diagnostic support and clinic referrals. The service costs $119 per month for the general public and $99 for Costco...
“Value Doesn’t Run April to April” – Prof Andrew Stradling on NHS’s New Value Based Procurement Pilots
Prof Andrew Stradling, chief medical officer of the NHS London Procurement Partnership, outlined the NHS’s new value‑based procurement pilots running across 13 trusts. He warned that the current focus on easy clinical metrics such as infection rates and readmissions fails to capture...
WHO Evacuates Three Hantavirus Patients From MV Hondius as Canary Islands Block Docking
The World Health Organization coordinated the evacuation of three hantavirus patients from the Dutch‑flagged cruise ship MV Hondius to hospitals in the Netherlands, amid eight confirmed or suspected cases and three deaths. Regional leaders in the Canary Islands have resisted...
Hyaluronic Acid Adulteration
The FDA recently warned that several over‑the‑counter supplements marketed as hyaluronic acid contain undisclosed prescription drugs, including NSAIDs and corticosteroids. Oral hyaluronic acid itself has limited bioavailability and scant clinical evidence supporting skin or joint benefits. The adulterated products exploit...
Angelini Fortifies Neurology Portfolio with $4.1B Buyout of Catalyst
Italian drugmaker Angelini Pharma announced a $4.1 billion acquisition of U.S.-based Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, adding its trio of FDA‑approved treatments for rare neurological disorders to Angelini’s portfolio. The deal brings Ingrezza, Firdapse and a third specialty drug under Angelini’s control, instantly expanding...
Researchers Analyzed 234K Women — This Hormonal Pattern Signals Metabolic Risk
A large‑scale analysis of 234,000 women showed that early natural menopause raises the odds of metabolic syndrome by 27%. Researchers used electronic health records, excluded surgical or therapy‑induced menopause, and adjusted for body weight, race and medication use. The findings...
Targeted Therapies Resurge; some Phase 3 Trials Risk Obsolescence
With a rapid fire raft of trial updates coming out of #esmobreast26, one thing stood out... targeted molecules are back in fashion and a few companies might be left holding the baby if their phase 3 trials have already started: https://t.co/jlKDLsecVZ...
Scientists Discover Why Ozempic Works Better for some People
GLP‑1 drugs like Ozempic improve blood sugar and weight loss, but response varies. A Japanese study of 92 type‑2 diabetes patients found that those who overeat in response to external cues (appearance or smell) achieved greater weight loss and glucose...
The Doctor-Approved Plan for Taking a GLP-1 Without Losing Your Muscle
Endocrinologist Rocío Salas‑Whalen outlines a three‑part “GPS” protocol to prevent muscle loss for patients on GLP‑1 obesity drugs. She notes that while GLP‑1s suppress appetite and promote fat loss, up to 10 % of total weight loss can be lean mass...
How Practice-Based CPC Training Supports More Accurate Medical Coding Operations
Practice‑based Certified Professional Coder (CPC) training replaces passive guideline review with repeated, case‑based exercises that mirror real‑world documentation. By forcing coders to apply ICD‑10 and CPT rules in realistic scenarios, organizations see measurable gains in first‑time coding accuracy. Those gains...
Encoded Therapeutics Doses First Patient in Pivotal ETX101 Trial for Dravet Syndrome
Encoded Therapeutics has dosed the first patient in the pivotal ENDEAVOR Part 2 study of its AAV9‑based gene regulation therapy ETX101 for SCN1A‑positive Dravet syndrome, while also opening an expansion cohort for older children. The move advances the program into late‑stage...
New Report: How Consolidation Fuels the Healthcare Affordability Crisis
A new Families USA report links unchecked hospital consolidation to America’s healthcare affordability crisis, showing that corporate systems earn roughly ten times more net income than independent hospitals. The study cites system‑owned facilities generating $27.7 million annually versus $3 million for independents, and...
Why Do So Many Heart Attacks Happen to People With “Normal” Cholesterol?
A large U.S. registry found that nearly half of patients hospitalized for coronary artery disease had LDL‑cholesterol below 100 mg/dL, a level traditionally deemed optimal. The article argues that standard lipid panels are like visual tree inspections—they miss hidden decay such...
Will Wegovy Tablets Spark a “Turnaround” At Novo Nordisk?
Novo Nordisk’s newly launched Wegovy oral tablet is delivering a rapid market surge, with over two million U.S. prescriptions and first‑quarter sales of about $350 million, outpacing expectations. Weekly new prescriptions reached roughly 200,000 by mid‑April, marking the fastest uptake for...
Pharma Pulse: GLP-1 Momentum Builds While Lilly Expands Genetic Medicine Manufacturing
Eli Lilly opened its first dedicated genetic‑medicine manufacturing plant in Lebanon, Indiana, expanding U.S. capacity for advanced gene‑editing and RNA therapies. GLP‑1 drugs accounted for eight percent of all prescriptions filled in March 2026, highlighting their growing role beyond diabetes. Bayer...
AI Helping Ease the UK’s NHS Burden
The NHS faces a 7.2 million patient waiting list and mounting staff shortages, prompting a shift toward community‑based care. AI‑enabled virtual care provider Doccla is deploying machine‑learning models and clinical‑grade wearables to monitor patients remotely. Reported outcomes include a 61% reduction...
EP510: The Impact on You of Medicare Advantage Goings-On (2026 Edition), With Betsy Seals
In this episode, host Stacey Richter talks with Medicare Advantage expert Betsy Seals about the current stabilization phase of the MA market, highlighting profit versus profiteering, cost‑shifting to commercial employers, and the impact of vertical integration on provider payments. Seals...
Why Payers Must Lead the Charge for Better Employer-Sponsored Healthcare
Zelis’ State of the Healthcare Financial Experience report shows employers are moving beyond pure cost control, treating benefits as a strategic lever for talent attraction, productivity, and retention. Sixty percent of benefits leaders now rate employee satisfaction as “very important,”...
Scientists Find a Way to Stop Dangerous Belly Fat as We Age
Scientists discovered that a topical testosterone gel, combined with exercise, can selectively reduce visceral fat in older women recovering from hip fractures. In a six‑month trial of 66 participants aged 65 and above, overall body weight stayed stable while the...
The Vaccine Safety Signal the Media Still Won’t Read
A peer‑reviewed study published in Vaccine (Sept 2022) re‑analyzed Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID‑19 trial data and found excess serious adverse events—10.1 per 10,000 for Pfizer and 15.1 per 10,000 for Moderna—yielding harm‑to‑benefit ratios of roughly 4.4 : 1 and 2.4 : 1 respectively. The...
What the FDA's Latest Proposal Means for Lilly, Novo, and Hims
The FDA has proposed removing tirzepatide and semaglutide from the 503B bulk‑drug list, effectively ending compounding of these high‑demand GLP‑1 therapies. Eli Lilly, whose tirzepatide‑based products posted 56% YoY revenue growth and a 28% full‑year 2026 outlook, and Novo Nordisk, facing a...
What’s Next for IVF
Advances in IVF are moving beyond traditional lab techniques toward AI, robotics, and novel embryo‑delivery devices. Researchers at the Carlos Simon Foundation have built a “Transfer Direct” system that injects embryos into the uterine lining, while AI platforms such as...
Why Regular Checkups With A Dentist In Green Lake Matter
The American Dental Association’s 2024 data shows adults who keep regular dental checkups experience 40% fewer emergency visits and lower rates of advanced gum disease. In Green Lake, busy lifestyles often push preventive care aside, leading to a widening health...
Anxiety May Be Regulated by Calcium Signaling in Brain Immune Cells
Researchers at the University of Utah have identified calcium signaling in a subset of brain immune cells, called Hoxb8 microglia, as a key driver of anxiety and obsessive‑compulsive‑like grooming in mice. Using genetic activation and miniature microscope imaging, they showed...
The PR Week: 5.7.2026 - Courtney Kasinger, Eli Lilly and Company
Courtney Kasinger, senior communications leader at Eli Lilly, serves as jury chair for the 2026 PRWeek Healthcare Awards. In a recent podcast she highlighted the most inspiring campaigns, the rise of influencer partnerships, and how data‑driven storytelling is reshaping pharma marketing. Kasinger...
Trump Promised Cheaper Drugs. Some Prices Dropped. Many Others Shot Up.
President Trump’s second term has produced a series of high‑profile drug‑price initiatives, including the TrumpRx discount portal, voluntary "most‑favored‑nation" agreements with manufacturers, and accelerated biosimilar approvals. While a handful of cash‑pay patients see steep cuts on fertility drugs and GLP‑1...
How Algorithmic Value Sets Enhance Clinical Decision-Making
Wolters Kluwer’s Health Language division teamed with MCG Health to automate the conversion of more than 2,500 clinical value sets from flat code lists into algorithmic, intensional sets. The new workflow, powered by the Data Quality Workbench and MCG’s Indicia Synapse platform,...