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Every morning
Weekly
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CMS lifts Medicare Advantage payments by $13 billion for 2027
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the CY 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D rate announcement on April 6, 2026, confirming a 2.48% net average payment increase—about $13 billion more than 2026. The rule also drops unlinked chart‑review diagnoses from risk scores and ends risk‑adjustment credits for audio‑only telehealth visits.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Gilead to acquire Tubulis for $5B
The National Institute for Health and Care Research has awarded Leeds Teaching Hospitals £1.5 million (about $1.9 million) to accelerate four priority projects, including AI‑driven imaging algorithms, a non‑invasive histotripsy platform for cancer therapy, a simulated surgical suite for greener operations, and an AI‑enabled handheld cardiac ultrasound. The trust will begin procurement immediately, aiming to have the new equipment operational by summer 2026. These initiatives align with the NHS Ten‑Year Plan to embed digital, AI, and sustainable technologies across care pathways.
AI modeling compares 6 mg rapamycin taken with grapefruit juice versus berberine 1000 mg daily. Grapefruit juice irreversibly destroys intestinal CYP3A4 and P‑gp, boosting rapamycin AUC 3‑4× and Cmax 2.5‑3.5×, effectively tripling the dose for up to three days. Berberine provides reversible...
President Trump’s FY 2027 budget proposes a $7.23 billion allocation for the FDA, a 3.2% increase over 2026, while the broader HHS budget shrinks by 12%. The agency plans to make the rare pediatric disease priority‑review voucher program permanent, averting an estimated...
Sanofi reported mixed phase 2 results for its bispecific antibody lunsekimig, which targets IL‑13 and TSLP. The drug met primary endpoints in the AIRCULES asthma trial and the DUET study for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, showing reduced exacerbations and improved...
If you work in medicine, you know the feeling of being asked to deliver more while the system quietly strips away the humanity required to do the job well. That is what makes this episode of The Podcast by KevinMD worth...
Sanofi announced mixed mid‑stage results for its bispecific nanobody aimed at treating multiple immune‑mediated diseases. The drug achieved its primary endpoints in Phase 2 trials for asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, demonstrating clinically meaningful improvements. Conversely, the same molecule...
Organogenesis completed a 170‑patient randomized trial of PuraPly AM, an antimicrobial collagen matrix, versus standard of care for non‑healing diabetic foot ulcers. The study met its primary endpoint, showing significantly higher wound‑closure rates at 12 weeks. PuraPly AM integrates cross‑linked...
UCLA has been awarded a $33 million grant from the Ballmer Group to launch three campuswide initiatives that will expand youth mental‑health training and services across Los Angeles. The funding targets a critical shortage of qualified professionals and aims to boost the...
The American Heart Association has released updated dietary guidance that emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil and plant‑based proteins while urging a cutback on saturated fat. The shift aims to give clinicians a clearer framework for heart‑health counseling amid...
Researchers identified BCL-2 as a key blocker of fibroblast apoptosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Conditional over‑expression of BCL‑2 in PDGFRα‑positive fibroblasts generated senescent, pro‑fibrotic myofibroblasts that persisted in mouse lungs. Spatial transcriptomics confirmed BCL‑2‑positive senescent myofibroblasts in human IPF...
Scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania have identified ventromedial hypothalamic SF1 neurons that program endurance capacity in mice. Published in Neuron, the work suggests a neural target for therapies that could mimic exercise benefits when...
Researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center reported that metformin elevates N‑lactoyl‑phenylalanine (Lac‑Phe), a molecule that spikes after intense exercise, in men undergoing hormone therapy for prostate cancer. The finding, published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, suggests a drug‑based route to...
Pfizer and BioNTech have scrapped a late‑stage trial of an updated COVID‑19 vaccine for adults aged 50‑64 because enrollment fell short of FDA‑required numbers. The move highlights the difficulty of conducting large‑scale studies in a post‑pandemic market and comes as...
Medvi, an AI‑powered telehealth startup, posted $401 million in revenue and $65 million profit last year and projects $1.8 billion in sales this year. The company now faces FTC and FDA scrutiny after investigations uncovered affiliate‑driven ads that feature non‑existent doctors and AI‑generated...
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering demonstrated that CAR T cells engineered to target the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) can eradicate solid‑tumor cells and metastases in multiple preclinical models. uPAR was found elevated in 12 of 14 examined cancer types,...
A Gallup poll released in March finds that roughly one‑third of U.S. adults now list health‑insurance premiums as their top domestic concern. The survey highlights that 3 million people have already lost coverage and estimates up to 10 million could be uninsured...
Bangladesh has begun an emergency measles‑rubella vaccination campaign aimed at more than 1.2 million children aged six months to five years, after a fast‑moving outbreak that has claimed over 100 lives, mostly children. The effort, coordinated with WHO, UNICEF and Gavi,...
Apnimed secured a senior secured credit facility of up to $150 million from HealthCare Royalty Partners to fund the commercial readiness and potential U.S. launch of AD109, an oral therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. The deal provides an initial $50 million at...
Researchers at UCSF used large language models to generate code that predicted gestational age and preterm‑birth risk from massive biomedical datasets, matching or surpassing expert‑written analyses. The finding highlights how AI can democratize big‑data analytics in health research.
World Health Day 2026 spotlights the theme “Together for health, Stand with science,” emphasizing evidence‑based decision‑making across public health, policy, and drug discovery. Jeanne Marrazzo warns that declining vaccination rates have reignited measles outbreaks, underscoring a trust gap fueled by misinformation....
Paris‑based biotech Generare closed a €20 million Series A to expand its nature‑derived compound library. The company claims it uncovered more than 200 previously unknown microbial small molecules in 2025, outpacing the rest of the field combined. Generare’s platform scans microbial genomes,...
Recent Phenomix and Mayo Clinic data reveal that 50‑60% of GLP‑1 users experience significant side effects, far higher than earlier estimates. About 10% of patients incur $5,000 in out‑of‑pocket expenses, while many spend roughly $1,000 managing symptoms. The high cost...
Merck’s experimental HIV‑prevention pill MK 8527 could be manufactured for less than $5 per patient annually, according to a recent cost‑analysis. The drug is in two late‑stage clinical trials that will report efficacy data in the second half of 2027. Earlier...
A 2026 study of 110 AIDS patients identified low body mass index, low CD4⁺ T‑lymphocyte count, and low serum albumin as independent nutritional risk factors. Using these three routinely measured variables, the authors built a nomogram that achieved an area...
A prospective study of 603 ICU patients found that bedside measurements of quadriceps muscle – both circumference and ultrasound thickness – independently predict 28‑day mortality. Higher quadriceps circumference (QC) and greater ultrasound‑derived thickness under minimal (QT‑min) and maximal (QT‑max) transducer...
Meet Dr. Mark Woodward, undergrad and grad from Stanford, PhD from Harvard, Many years at Google as part of Google brain. One day he realizes that we need the enabling technology to pause biological time for patients that are about...
Amgen’s Tepezza, the only FDA‑approved therapy for thyroid eye disease, generated about $1.9 billion in 2023 but its IV dosing schedule has limited broader adoption. The company has developed a subcutaneous formulation delivered twice weekly via a wearable injector, aiming to...
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals have engineered a novel CAR‑T cell therapy, OSM CAR‑T, that targets oncostatin M receptors on osteosarcoma cells. Preclinical experiments demonstrated potent in‑vitro killing and significant tumor burden reduction in multiple mouse...
The ChatGPT Symptom Spiral: when ChatGPT tries to convince you that something is wrong with your medical record or lab results. We have to get used to dealing with patients getting into such troubles, because patients have always tried to...
Silo Pharma’s shares surged 51.8% to $0.54 in pre‑market trading after the European Patent Office issued a Rule 71(3) communication indicating a likely grant of a patent for its novel 5‑HT4 receptor preventative therapy. The announcement sparked a broader pre‑market rally...
Dental billing software and AI tools have streamlined routine claim processing, but they fall short on complex cases that require nuanced judgment. Human specialists can interpret carrier‑specific rules, craft targeted appeals, and detect systemic denial patterns that automation misses. Over‑reliance...
A 2016 congressional law requiring providers to deliver complete medical records electronically took effect in 2021, giving patients instant access to raw test results. This transparency has sparked a new genre of social‑media videos where individuals broadcast their real‑time reactions...
Family physicians are increasingly adopting AI-powered notetaking tools that listen to patient conversations and generate visit summaries within seconds. Cleveland Clinic doctor Eric Boose reports that the technology lets him focus on face‑to‑face interaction, reduces charting time, and lets him...
Allergan Aesthetics presented new data at the 2026 AAD meeting linking the surge in GLP‑1 weight‑loss drug use to a growing demand for facial aesthetic treatments. A survey of U.S. clinicians showed that 52% of patients on GLP‑1 agonists express...
Leukapheresis is emerging as a structural bottleneck as CAR‑T and other cell‑gene therapies expand beyond oncology into autoimmune, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The current model relies on a handful of academic centers, creating capacity constraints, geographic inequities, and variability in...
Resident doctors in England launched a six‑day strike, their 15th action over pay, prompting emergency cover and cancellation of some treatments. The NHS says 95% of appointments remain, while the government estimates the disruption costs £50 million daily, about £3 billion since...
CuraTeQ Biologics announced topline Phase‑III data showing its biosimilar BP11 matches Xolair in treating chronic spontaneous urticaria. The trial involved 608 patients at about 80 sites and met the primary endpoint of ISS7 score change at week 12 within predefined...
In England, the NHS heel‑prick blood spot test currently screens newborns for nine rare conditions. A 2024 Genomics England Generation Study is sequencing 100,000 infants to evaluate whole‑genome screening for over 200 treatable disorders, with a national rollout planned for...
Ilford Park Polish Home in Devon has opened admissions for individuals eligible under the 1947 Polish Resettlement Act. The facility can accommodate up to 95 residents, offering residential, nursing and sheltered care, with bilingual staff and daily Polish Catholic services....
Medical billing sits at the nexus of clinical care and revenue, and small errors can halt cash flow, costing practices thousands each year. The article outlines how routine audits, clear patient statements, and strategic billing models—whether in‑house, hybrid, or fully...
Amgen announced topline results from a phase‑3 trial of subcutaneous Tepezza (teprotumumab‑trbw) administered every two weeks for 12 doses in patients with moderate to severe active thyroid eye disease. The study met its primary endpoint, showing a 76.7% proptosis response...
States across the U.S. are introducing bills that would license reflexologists and other alternative‑medicine practitioners, a process the author dubs “Legislative Alchemy.” The North Carolina Healing Arts Act, Massachusetts Senate Bill 261, and Iowa House File 2178 each propose new regulatory boards...
Canagliflozin and other SGLT‑2 inhibitors are gaining attention as potential longevity agents due to their ability to cut cardiovascular events, renal decline, and COPD exacerbations in patients with type‑2 diabetes. Recent meta‑analyses show reduced emergency‑room visits and lower mortality among...
The article highlights a surge in avoidable mortality as Europe ages, linking air pollution to cardiovascular risk and noting a sharp decline in the United Kingdom's healthy life expectancy to 61 years. In the United States, liberal states have achieved...
Why weight regain is a predictable biological response after stopping GLP-1s [PODCAST] http://dlvr.it/TRvfHv Podcast #Diabetes
What does 'microdosing' even mean in this context? It is likely to have no therapeutic effect at all. You might as well just drop it in the ocean. This is not a scientific valid strategy.
Researchers have created a carrier‑free nanomedicine that self‑assembles indocyanine green, paclitaxel and celecoxib to treat triple‑negative breast cancer (TNBC). The formulation delivers combined chemo‑photothermal therapy while inhibiting the COX‑2/PGE2 inflammatory axis that fuels immunosuppression. In preclinical models, the nanomedicine markedly...
Ultra-Endurance Running May Accelerate Aging and Breakdown of Red Blood Cells | @ASH_hematology https://t.co/aYbsblfTwZ https://t.co/NYSKw0843c
#OHGR got Sheffield Teaching Hospital to sign up to 3 year deal. ShareScope has fwd p/e 19 falling to 18 and fwd Divvy 2.6% each of next 2 years. Interesting with NHS a national disgrace. I don't hold.
Researchers unveiled a multilayer encapsulation platform that merges a metal‑polyphenol network, silica shell, and iron‑based metal‑organic framework to shield the anaerobic probiotic Bifidobacterium longum. The system achieved a 41‑fold boost in aerobic storage stability and an 871‑fold increase in gastric...
