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
California's Rule to Add Folic Acid Brings a Hispanic Staple Into the Regulatory Fold
In January 2026 California became the first U.S. state to require food manufacturers to add folic acid to corn masa flour, the key ingredient in tortillas. The mandate aims to curb neural‑tube defects that affect Hispanic infants at higher rates than the national average. The rule includes exemptions for small‑scale producers and snack‑food brands to ease cost and implementation burdens. Critics have decried the measure as government overreach, while health officials point to a 30% nationwide decline in spina bifida after earlier fortification efforts.
Blocking a Cellular Inflammation Process Could Result in Effective Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Scientists at The Wistar Institute and ChristianaCare identified a vulnerability in pancreatic cancer where defective mitochondria release double‑stranded RNA, triggering the TLR3/TRAF6 inflammatory pathway. The tumor cells become dependent on this inflammation for growth and survival, and blocking the pathway...
Stopping and Restarting Certain GLP-1s to Lose Weight May Make the Drug Less Effective
A preclinical study from the University of Pennsylvania found that stopping and restarting GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs, such as semaglutide, markedly diminishes their efficacy. Overweight mice on a stop‑and‑start regimen regained weight during off periods and never recaptured their initial loss,...
T‑cell Engagers Face Uncertain Future Amid Mixed Readouts
T cell engagers for I&I will have a lot of clinical readouts this year. This update (report from MS) from $AMGN on blinatumomab last week doesn't bode well for the class and it's unclear if next gen formats will...
Insurance Delays Cost Lives; Insurers Remain Unaccountable
A 47-year-old woman asked for an MRI. By the time her insurance company let her have one, the cancer in her hip was too far gone to save her leg. Her doctor had done the X-ray. Examined her. Sent her...
Take Melatonin Every Night? A New Study Warns Of This Surprising Risk
A five‑year observational study of 130,000 adults with insomnia found that nightly melatonin use was associated with a 90% higher risk of heart failure, a three‑fold increase in heart‑failure hospitalizations, and nearly double the all‑cause mortality rate compared with non‑users....
US ‘Drowning in Misinformation’ Under RFK Jr, Autism Advocates Say
A joint report from the Autistic Self‑Advocacy Network and the American Association of People with Disabilities alleges that HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. has steered the department into a wave of autism‑related misinformation. In the first year of the Trump administration, the...
Plant‑Based Iron Supplements Boost Blood Oxygen Faster Than Conventional Pills in New Study
Researchers led by Maheshvari N. Patel at NovoBliss Research reported that a 60‑day, 86‑participant trial found plant‑based iron capsules improved blood oxygen levels and hemoglobin faster than standard ferrous sulfate pills, while causing fewer digestive complaints. The findings could reshape...
AI‑Driven STAR System Enables First Biological Fatherhood for Azoospermic Man
Columbia University’s STAR (Sperm Tracking and Recovery) platform used artificial intelligence to isolate viable sperm from a man diagnosed with azoospermia, resulting in the first AI‑assisted conception and a baby expected in 2026. The breakthrough could reshape treatment for the...
Wearable AI Tools Target Chronic Disease in New Longevity Series
Journalist Kara Swisher premiered a new episode of her series “Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever,” highlighting emerging wearable and AI technologies designed to reduce chronic disease. The episode underscores a shift in the longevity market toward tools that improve...
This Overlooked Mineral May Play A Role In Protecting Against Alzheimer’s
Physician‑scientist David Fajgenbaum highlights emerging evidence that lithium, a long‑used mood stabilizer, may protect against Alzheimer’s disease. Human post‑mortem studies show lower lithium in the prefrontal cortex of patients with mild cognitive impairment, while mouse experiments demonstrate that dietary lithium...
Curing U.S. Health Care, Part II
President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law in 2010, slashing the uninsured rate from 47 million to 27 million by 2016. The Trump administration’s 2017 repeal effort failed, but subsequent policies are projected to add 16 million uninsured by 2034....
Mayo Clinic AI Detects Pancreatic Cancer Up to Three Years Early, Study Shows
Mayo Clinic researchers unveiled an artificial‑intelligence system that can spot pancreatic cancer up to three years earlier than conventional imaging, correctly identifying 73% of hidden tumors in a study of nearly 2,000 CT scans. The breakthrough could reshape screening protocols...
Colon Cancer Is Surging In Young Women — New 24-Year Study Points To Why
A 24‑year analysis of the Nurses’ Health Study II tracked 29,105 women under 50 and linked high consumption of ultra‑processed foods to a 45% increase in precancerous colorectal polyps. The women ate an average of 5.7 servings of such foods daily,...
Trump’s Executive Order Spurs Ibogaine Hype as FDA Greenlights First Clinical Trial
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 18 to accelerate psychedelic access, and the FDA announced it will permit the first clinical trial of ibogaine. The political push has ignited a wave of public enthusiasm that far exceeds the...
The Body’s Most Mysterious Organ May Play a Key Role in Longevity and Cancer
Recent studies have revived interest in the thymus, showing that a healthy gland predicts lower risk of lung cancer, heart disease and all‑cause mortality. Researchers at Mass General used AI to create a thymic health score from CT scans and...
Ambient PM2.5, Residential Greenspace, and Household Healthcare Expenditure in Shandong, China
A cross‑sectional study of 27,603 residents in Shandong Province linked household healthcare spending to environmental factors. Higher residential greenness (NDVI) consistently reduced medical expenditures, while elevated ambient PM2.5 increased costs across exposure quartiles. Age, underweight status, and incomes above 60 %...
The Bias in Medical Research: Africa Carries a Huge Disease Burden but Is Missing From Clinical Trials
A new analysis of 2,472 randomized controlled trials published between 2019 and 2024 reveals a stark under‑representation of Africa in top medical research. Only 3.9% of trials in the most prestigious general journals were conducted exclusively on the continent, and...
Extreme Heat Is a Growing Threat to Health, Jobs and Food Security in Southern Africa – Study Looks for Practical...
Researchers from the Academy of Science of South Africa released a regional consensus study showing extreme heat is an escalating health, labor, and food‑security threat across the Southern African Development Community. Average temperatures have risen 1‑1.5 °C since 1961 and could...
The Future of Cancer Treatment?
In this episode, host Lance interviews Dr. Peter McCullough about the potential of ivermectin and the related drug mebendazole as novel cancer therapies. McCullough cites pre‑clinical data and a real‑world observational study of about 200 patients, reporting that 84% experienced clinical...
There’s a Right and Wrong Way to Use Urgent Care
Urgent care has exploded in the United States, reaching over 15,000 clinics in 2024, up from 7,000 a decade earlier. Roughly 25% of Americans now visit an urgent‑care center each year, drawn by walk‑in access, extended hours, and lower costs...
A Long, Strange Trip: How the G.O.P. Came to Embrace Psychedelic Drugs
President Donald Trump dramatically reversed a long‑standing Republican opposition to psychedelics by ordering federal agencies to accelerate research into substances such as LSD, peyote, MDMA and ibogaine. The shift was highlighted in an April 18 Oval Office ceremony where Trump...
European Corporate Divestitures in Healthcare Technology and MedTech: 2026 Trends, Predictions and Analysis
European healthcare‑technology and MedTech firms are entering a "Great Rationalisation" in 2026, pruning non‑core assets as loan maturities of €86.2 billion loom and global M&A volume is projected at $3.9 trillion. The pivot is driven by higher interest rates, a looming pharmaceutical...
Turn Healthcare Roll‑Ups Into 2‑X Returns Without Personal Capital
the healthcare roll-up nobody talks about: buy at 4–5x EBITDA combine into platform sell to PE at 10–12x i run a multi 7 figure healthcare org built this way vendor financed zero personal capital
Out of 400 Drugs, Only These Might Help You Live Longer - Dr. Kevin Perez and Siim Land
A UK Biobank study of 500,000 participants tracked medication use for up to 20 years and compared users of 400+ drugs with matched controls. After adjusting for demographics, health status and socioeconomic factors, only fourteen drugs showed a statistically significant...
The Science Of Sobriety: New Clinical Protocols In Rehab Tech
The healthcare sector is rapidly integrating advanced technology into substance‑use treatment, from FDA‑cleared digital therapeutics that supplement counseling to wearable biosensors that feed real‑time data to clinicians. Virtual‑reality exposure modules and mobile support apps are giving patients on‑demand tools to...
After Heart Attack, Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) Rescues the Aging Heart
Researchers at UC Berkeley demonstrated that therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) performed 24 hours after a heart attack can nearly reverse damage in aged mice, the equivalent of humans in their 60s. By replacing half of the plasma with saline‑albumin solution, the...
NomosLogic Founder Matt Hardy Launches Lyceum and Odyssey on Dendrite Lite
NomosLogic unveiled two consumer‑facing experiences, Lyceum and Odyssey, on its Dendrite Lite platform. Lyceum delivers a personalized genomic‑literacy quiz generated from a user’s own DNA, while Odyssey presents the genome as a seven‑chapter narrative. Both tools leverage NomosLogic’s Hardy Bridge...
Lawton Hosts First Community Networking Event Uniting Mental Health Providers
The Oklahoma Counseling Association partnered with the Steven Cohen Military Family Clinic to host the inaugural “Coffee & Community Mental Health Provider Social” in Lawton, Oklahoma. The event gathered dozens of mental‑health professionals to discuss client avoidance and set a...
Google Reveals Unexpected Corporate Clinic Tied to My Name
I Googled my own name and a corporate clinic I’ve never worked at appeared [PODCAST] http://dlvr.it/TSLMQ4 Podcast #PrimaryCare
Sinclair Explains GLP‑1’s Role in Longevity Protocols
David Sinclair just did a 25-minute live Q&A on aging, longevity and AI. Here are the top 9 questions the audience asked him and his answers to each one: 1) How can GLP-1 drugs be used in longevity protocols? https://t.co/q5V2fyfFnq
High-Dose Vitamin D Cuts Diabetes Risk in Genetically Susceptible, Lowers Alzheimer Biomarkers
Two peer‑reviewed studies published in April 2026 reveal that high‑dose vitamin D supplementation can slash type‑2 diabetes risk by 19% in people with specific vitamin‑D‑receptor gene variants and is associated with lower tau protein, a key Alzheimer’s biomarker. The findings...
Depression Reduces Chances of Exceptional Longevity in Older Women
Prospective association of depression symptoms with exceptional longevity among older women "...Depression symptoms associated with lower odds of healthy longevity..." https://t.co/RnVcQs7XG4
Iowa Senate Approves Voluntary Funding Shift for Early‑childhood Program
The Iowa Senate voted 28-15 to pass Senate File 2488, creating a voluntary, opt‑in system that moves home‑visitation funding from local Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) boards to the state Department of Health and Human Services. The change is designed to...
AIIMS Expert Links Early Screen Time to Higher Autism Risk by Age Three
Prof. Sheffali Gulati of AIIMS says children with heavy screen use at around one year are more likely to develop autism or autism‑like traits by age three. The warning, based on recent research, calls for parents to keep screens away...
ByteDance’s Anew Labs Unveils First AI‑Designed Small‑Molecule Immunotherapy
ByteDance’s drug‑discovery unit Anew Labs presented its first AI‑designed small‑molecule immunotherapy at the American Association of Immunologists conference in Boston. The generative‑AI compound targets IL‑17, a protein‑protein interaction long labeled undruggable, and could pave the way for oral treatments that...
Seeking True Healing? Where to Find Luxury Inpatient Treatment
Luxury inpatient rehab centers cater to high‑performing professionals seeking discreet, comfortable recovery environments. These facilities differentiate themselves with elevated staff‑to‑patient ratios, private suites, gourmet meals, and holistic amenities such as spa services and neurofeedback. The Midwest offers spacious, secluded campuses...
Medigap Premiums Surge 45% as Insurers Cite Rising Claims Costs
U.S. insurers lifted Medigap premiums as much as 45% in August, citing higher claims and medical cost inflation. Brokers warn the surge could force retirees to seek cheaper, less comprehensive coverage, while regulators face pressure to curb rate hikes.
Low Leukocyte mtDNA and High Inflammation Predict Elderly
Association of leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number and inflammation with mortality among older adults https://t.co/AeqAZIv3er
Celcuity's Gedatolisib Triplet Beats Alpelisib in Phase 3 PIK3CA‑Mutant Breast Cancer Trial
Celcuity Inc. announced that its Phase 3 VIKTORIA‑1 trial met its primary endpoint, showing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful progression‑free survival benefit for the gedatolisib‑fulvestrant‑palbociclib regimen over alpelisib‑fulvestrant in PIK3CA‑mutant HR+/HER2‑ advanced breast cancer. The data will be presented at...
Scientists Cautiously Suggest GLP-1s Are Safe to Use Around Pregnancy
A systematic review of more than 49,000 pregnancies over two decades found that exposure to GLP‑1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro around conception does not increase the risk of major birth defects. The meta‑analysis of ten cohort...
UC San Diego Health Performs First AI‑Guided Robotic Spine Surgery on West Coast
UC San Diego Health completed the West Coast’s first AI‑guided robotic spinal surgery, using a platform that merges artificial intelligence, real‑time imaging and robotic screw delivery. The breakthrough aims to boost surgical accuracy, cut operating time and lower radiation exposure...
ECH Appoints Jonathon Grant as CFO to Steer Growth Amid Aged‑care Reforms
ECH, South Australia's biggest not‑for‑profit retirement living and home‑care provider, has hired Jonathon Grant as chief financial officer. Grant’s two‑decade track record in finance, governance and digital transformation is expected to help ECH manage rising regulatory complexity and expanding demand...
Mifepristone Ruling and a Dive Into Trump's Dementia Riddled Brain
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has halted telehealth prescriptions for mifepristone in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, leaving the ruling’s geographic reach and the prospect of a nationwide injunction uncertain. At the same time, former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social...
Intellia’s In‑Vivo CRISPR Therapy Clears Phase 3, Prompting $1.9 B Chiesi Deal
Intellia Therapeutics announced that its single‑dose in‑vivo CRISPR therapy lonvoctocogene‑z cut hereditary angioedema attacks by 87% in a Phase 3 trial, the first such success for any in‑vivo CRISPR product. Two days later, Italy’s Chiesi Group acquired KalVista Pharmaceuticals for $1.9 billion,...
![I Googled My Own Name and a Corporate Clinic I’ve Never Worked at Appeared [PODCAST]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://kevinmd.com/wp-content/uploads/vertical_integration_thumbnail.png)
I Googled My Own Name and a Corporate Clinic I’ve Never Worked at Appeared [PODCAST]
Physician‑owner Stephanie Waggel discovered her name buried under a corporate clinic in Google searches, prompting an investigation into health‑care vertical integration. She explains how billionaire‑backed private‑equity firms and venture‑capital‑funded startups are buying or creating physician practices, crowding out independent doctors....
Blood Factors Drive Aging or Rejuvenation; Therapies Emerging
Aging is increasingly understood as a system-wide process shaped by factors in the blood, which can actively drive either decline or rejuvenation rather than just reflect it. Emerging therapies that modify the circulatory environment show promise in reversing aspects of...
Insurance Denials Mirror Government Budget Cuts in Care
Unfortunately one of the great lies of US HC. Ask anyone with a serious illness that has been denied care by an insurance company that subcontracted out the denial process to a company owned by overseas private equity firms....
Denied Drug Everolimus Available for $30.88
Wanna know how fucked up this is ? The drug that was denied , Everolimus , can be as low as $30.88 on @costplusdrugs
Longevity Pill May Redefine Human‑dog Bonds
YOUR NEXT DOG A new pill could soon extend dogs’ lives. How will that change our relationship with our pets? By @andersen 🔗https://t.co/u2cuBfKGuU https://t.co/Iaw4uoZfZe