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
Mcu Controls Bone Growth Through Mitochondrial Calcium
Researchers have identified the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (Mcu) as a key regulator of bone formation, showing that its activity controls mitochondrial calcium uptake and directs mesenchymal stem cells toward the osteoblast lineage. Genetic loss of Mcu in mouse models reduced mitochondrial calcium, disrupted TCA‑cycle metabolism, and shifted cell fate toward adipocytes, resulting in lower bone mass and increased marrow fat. The study links Mcu‑mediated calcium signaling to ATP production, reactive‑oxygen‑species balance, and osteoblast maturation. These findings suggest that modulating Mcu could enable metabolic‑focused therapies for osteoporosis and bone repair.
Journalists Share Latest on Baby Formula Safety, Estrogen Patches, and Postcancer Costs
KFF Health News journalists highlighted three pressing health issues on national TV. Céline Gounder discussed the FDA’s largest baby‑formula safety test on CBS’s The Daily Report and the nationwide estrogen‑patch shortage on CBS Mornings. Renuka Rayasam examined the soaring post‑cancer...
The Commodification of Sensitive Open Data
The European Union’s European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulation, adopted in March 2025, will make the electronic health records of roughly 450 million residents available for secondary use by March 2029. The framework defaults to inclusion, requiring citizens to opt out and offering...
The Most Important Part of These 3 Big Pharma Earnings Reports Wasn’t the Beat
Big‑pharma earnings season highlighted AbbVie, AstraZeneca and GSK all beating top‑line expectations, with each company raising or reaffirming guidance. AbbVie posted a 12% revenue jump, driven by Skyrizi and Rinvoq, and lifted its FY2026 EPS outlook to $14.08‑$14.28. AstraZeneca’s oncology,...
Neglected Industries Offer Low‑Barrier, High‑Reward Opportunities
The best opportunities are in the industries everyone has given up on. Healthcare admin. Insurance. Legal services. 30-year-old B2B software. The bar for better is extremely low. The lack of glamour is the competitive advantage.
India Expands Medical And Wellness Tourism Through Integrated Healthcare And Policy Support
India is positioning itself as a premier global hub for medical and wellness tourism by blending cutting‑edge clinical services with traditional AYUSH practices such as Ayurveda and yoga. Government initiatives—including the AYUSH visa, expanded e‑medical visa options, and a dedicated...
Physical Disorders, ADLs, Cognition, Depression in Nursing Homes
A new BMC Geriatrics study used parallel mediation analysis to map how physical disorders affect nursing‑home residents’ activities of daily living (ADLs) through cognition and depression. The researchers found that indirect pathways via cognitive decline and depressive symptoms account for...
Monthly Features – April 2026
The LikelyStory blog’s April 2026 roundup spotlights two new releases: TK Thoits’s *SETTUP*, a fast‑paced medical thriller that pulls back the curtain on the multibillion‑dollar clinical‑trial industry, and Bear Pardun’s *The Knight’s Last Stand*, an epic fantasy where a lone...
Precise Spatiotemporal Cardiac Repair and Regeneration
Researchers are advancing spatiotemporal drug delivery systems (DDS) that synchronize therapeutic release with the heart’s natural healing stages after myocardial infarction. These platforms integrate bioelectrical scaffolds, programmable degradation, and cell‑free vesicle carriers to provide phase‑specific immunomodulation, angiogenesis, and antifibrotic treatment....
Cancer Survivors Deserve Care Beyond “Tough It Out”
It is unacceptable to ask women who have endured cancer diagnoses and treatments to just "tough it out". Part of comprehensive cancer care is also helping women to live the life they want after they've survived the cancer.
WHO/Europe Leverages European Public Health Week to Push Massive Mental‑Health Investment
WHO/Europe is taking center stage in the 2026 European Public Health Week, hosting two high‑profile events that demand stronger, cross‑sector funding for mental health and reveal alarming stress levels among Europe’s health workforce. The push comes after policy dialogues in...
French Report Confirms Mindfulness Program Lowers Blood Pressure and Depression
Researchers at Brown University, highlighted in a French health magazine, demonstrated that an eight‑to‑ten‑session Mindfulness‑Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB‑BP) program lowered systolic blood pressure and depressive symptoms in a six‑month trial of 201 volunteers. The dual benefit positions the protocol...
MBCT Cuts Depression in Treatment‑Resistant Patients, Study Finds
Researchers published in The Lancet report that mindfulness‑based cognitive therapy (MBCT) added to usual care significantly reduced depression scores in 234 adults whose symptoms persisted after high‑intensity talk therapy. The trial also found a 99% probability that MBCT is cost‑effective...
NPR and WLRN Dissect Super‑aging Hype, Spotlight Evidence‑based Longevity
NPR’s TED Radio Hour and public‑radio station WLRN released back‑to‑back pieces that unpack the science behind “super‑agers” and the booming anti‑aging industry. Both programs feature cardiologist Eric Topol, who argues that genetics play a minor role and that evidence‑based habits...
Re: Identifying and Evaluating Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
A recent BMJ rapid response highlights that adolescents with Marfan‑related body habitus may also present with idiopathic scoliosis. The author argues that while these patients are routinely cautioned against heavy weightlifting, contact sports, and deep‑sea diving, there is scant real‑world...
Trump’s Surgeon General Search: Casey Means Out, Casey Means In Groucho Glasses & Mustache In!
The United States has been without a confirmed Surgeon General since January 2025, a gap that underscores the Trump administration’s staffing turmoil. Former nominee Janette Nesheiwat was withdrawn after a public outcry, and her replacement, wellness influencer Casey Means—who lacks...
FDA Approves Pfizer/Arvinas Oral Breast Cancer Drug Veppanu for ESR1‑Mutated Tumors
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Veppanu, an oral antibody‑drug conjugate co‑developed by Pfizer and Arvinas, for adults with advanced estrogen‑receptor positive, HER2‑negative breast cancer carrying ESR1 mutations. The decision follows a late‑stage trial of 624 patients that showed...
Home Health & Hospice M&A in 2026: Why the Market Has Reset and What Buyers Want Now
Home health and hospice M&A activity is rebounding in early 2026, but buyers are imposing stricter underwriting standards. Valuations have shifted from peak‑era multiples to performance‑based pricing, with EBITDA add‑backs limited to 12‑15% and multiples ranging 10‑15× EBITDA for strong...
Mayo Clinic's AI Tool Detects Pancreatic Cancer Up to Three Years Early
Mayo Clinic unveiled REDMOD, an artificial‑intelligence system that flags pancreatic cancer up to three years before it would normally be diagnosed. In a study of nearly 2,000 CT scans, the tool correctly identified about 73% of cancers that were missed...
Encompass Health Q1 2026 Revenue Jumps 9% as COO Tuer Highlights Efficiency Gains
Encompass Health posted $1.59 billion in first‑quarter revenue, up 9% year over year, while adjusted EBITDA rose 11.2% to $348.8 million. COO Patrick Tuer emphasized stronger discharge metrics, lower labor costs and a revised 2026 outlook that lifts net operating revenue guidance...
Patients Report 'Ozempic Breath'—Fishy Odor Linked to GLP‑1 Diabetes and Weight‑Loss Drugs
Patients on semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) are describing a persistent fishy smell in their breath, a symptom not listed in official labeling. Endocrinologists warn the side effect may be tied to dehydration and gut changes, prompting doctors...
FDA Approves Auvelity, First Non‑Antipsychotic for Alzheimer’s Agitation
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Auvelity (dextromethorphan‑bupropion) for agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, making it the first non‑antipsychotic therapy for this indication. Axsome Therapeutics says the drug’s NMDA‑antagonist and sigma‑1‑agonist mechanism could address a...
DOJ Unveils West Coast Healthcare Fraud Strike Force Targeting $1.2 B Wound Graft Scheme and More
The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division announced a new West Coast Healthcare Fraud Strike Force, uniting prosecutors in Arizona, Nevada and Northern California. The initiative follows a surge in sophisticated schemes, including a $1.2 billion wound‑graft fraud, and builds on...
5th Circuit Halts Nationwide Mail Distribution of Abortion Pill, Restores In‑Person Rule
The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a unanimous injunction that blocks the FDA’s 2023 rule allowing mifepristone to be mailed nationwide, reinstating the requirement that the drug be dispensed in person. The ruling, driven by Louisiana’s lawsuit, threatens...
FDA Approves Once-Daily Idvynso Tablet for Treating HIV
The FDA has approved Merck’s Idvynso, a once‑daily, two‑drug tablet combining doravirine and islatravir, for HIV‑1‑infected adults who are virologically suppressed. The regimen replaces existing antiretroviral therapy and is tenofovir‑free, targeting patients without prior treatment failure. Approval rests on two...
Rapidly Ageing Japan’s ‘Macho Carers’ Lend Muscles to Benefit Elderly, Disabled
Visionary, a Nagoya‑based care‑facility operator, has introduced “macho carers” – muscular, fitness‑oriented staff who combine strength training with traditional caregiving. The program, launched by founder Yusuke Niwa, aims to reshape the sector’s gloomy image and address Japan’s chronic caregiver shortage....
Dunedin Hospital Installs Advanced Linear Accelerator to Expand Cancer Treatment Capacity
Dunedin Hospital has installed a new linear accelerator (LINAC) costing NZ$4.3 million (about $2.6 million USD), replacing an aging unit and adding next‑generation radiotherapy capabilities. The machine can target tumours within roughly one millimetre and deliver radiation from multiple angles, allowing higher...
Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Halts Abortion Pill Access by Mail
A federal appeals court in the Fifth Circuit issued a temporary stay that blocks abortion providers from prescribing mifepristone via telemedicine and mailing the pills to patients. The ruling follows a lawsuit by Louisiana seeking to enforce its near‑total abortion...
Hawaii Has America's Highest Life Expectancy, West Virginia The Lowest
The CDC’s 2022 period life tables, released in December 2025, show Hawaii leading the nation with a life expectancy of 80.0 years, while West Virginia trails at 72.2 years. The data reveal a clear geographic divide: states in the Northeast...
Telehealth Abortion Temporarily Halted Nationwide
On May 1, 2026 the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a nationwide injunction that temporarily blocks telehealth‑provided abortions. The order halts the distribution of mail‑order abortion pills, even in states without restrictive abortion statutes, pending further litigation. The ruling...
Incyte Announces FDA Approval of Jakafi XR™ (Ruxolitinib) Extended-Release Tablets for the Treatment of Myelofibrosis, Polycythemia Vera and Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Incyte announced FDA approval of Jakafi XR, an extended‑release ruxolitinib tablet, for adult intermediate‑ or high‑risk myelofibrosis, hydroxyurea‑intolerant polycythemia vera, and steroid‑refractory acute or chronic graft‑versus‑host disease in patients 12 years and older. The 55 mg once‑daily tablet is bioequivalent to the 25 mg...
AI Is Already Analyzing Dental X-Rays—Most Don’t Know
AI is already reading your dental X-rays and you probably have no idea [PODCAST] http://dlvr.it/TSKfbM Podcast #PrimaryCare
Rubber Dams Enable Precision in Modern Dental Care
Why Rubber Dams Matter in Precision Dental Procedures by @IntEngineering #MedTech #HealthTech #Tech #Healthcare #TechForGood https://t.co/5OjCuwDfBy
Ancient Chinese Sleep Advice, From Bedtimes and Body Positions to State of Mind
A recent personal account of severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) highlights the health risks of untreated sleep disorders, while the article delves into ancient Chinese sleep practices that treated slumber as a disciplined, therapeutic ritual. Classical texts like the Yellow...
Chinese Hospital's Blood‑Drawing Robot Hits 94.3% Success
Chinese Hospital Deploys Blood-Drawing #Robot Achieving a 94.3% Success Rate by @Khulood_Almani #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML https://t.co/R8YvNL4xEr
Modern Meds Are Precise; Older Drugs Are Broad-Spectrum
Modern drugs tend to be very tightly targeted. Older drugs like metformin or Tylenol cut a wider swath.
ResMed Posts 11% Revenue Rise and 20% Net Income Gain in Q3 2026
ResMed reported third‑quarter 2026 revenue of $1.43 billion, an 11% increase year‑over‑year, while net income rose 20% to $398.7 million. The results were driven by double‑digit growth in both device and mask sales, a $340 million acquisition of Noctrix Health, and robust shareholder...
Employers Protest Unfair Migrant Caregiver System
On May 2, 2026, families employing migrant caregivers in Taiwan staged a Workers’ Day protest demanding the abolition of the replacement wait period and the employment stabilization fee, as well as mandatory prepaid airfare deposits. Hiring a caregiver can cost up...
Amendments to Protect Doctors
Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare unveiled amendments to the Medical Care Act aimed at strengthening labor protections for doctors, especially those employed as attending physicians. The changes require hospitals to guarantee labor rights, implement a seniority‑based promotion system, and...
Court Blocks Mifepristone, Marking New Wave of Abortion Erasure
They said Roe was the last fight. It wasn’t. The 5th Circuit just blocked mifepristone (the abortion pill) by mail. Nationwide. Today. This is INCREMENTAL ERASURE. One regulation. One court. One quiet ruling on a Friday afternoon. Until there’s nothing left. The war on bodily...
N.I.H. Reinstates Employee Put on Leave After Criticizing Trump Research Cuts
NIH program director Jenna Norton, a key organizer of the June 2025 Bethesda Declaration that condemned Trump-era cuts to medical research, was reinstated this week after a whistle‑blower complaint alleging retaliation. Norton had been placed on paid leave in November when...
Improving Hip Fracture Care in Frail Elders
A new multidisciplinary care pathway for frail elders with hip fractures has demonstrated a 15% drop in 30‑day mortality and a two‑day reduction in average hospital stay, translating to roughly $2,000 saved per patient. The protocol combines rapid surgical intervention,...
Evidence-Based Medicine Once Labeled Dangerous Innovation by Doctors
Obviously you want "evidence-based medicine", but the term was only coined in 1991. Doctors called it a "dangerous innovation", preferring to rely on their judgement over trials.
Hong Kong’s New Vaping Ban Is a Healthy Step Forward
On Thursday Hong Kong began enforcing a new public vaping ban, imposing fines of up to HK$50,000 (about US$6,400) and up to six months in jail for individuals carrying more than five vape pods or 100 heat‑sticks. Smaller quantities attract...
![AI Is Already Reading Your Dental X-Rays and You Probably Have No Idea [PODCAST]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://kevinmd.com/wp-content/uploads/maxresdefault.webp)
AI Is Already Reading Your Dental X-Rays and You Probably Have No Idea [PODCAST]
In a KevinMD podcast, Dr. Sowjanya Gunukula explained that artificial intelligence is already being used in dental practices to analyze radiographs and provide predictive risk assessments. AI software automatically color‑codes cavities and bone loss on X‑rays, acting as a tireless second...
WHO Labels Night Shift Work a Probable Carcinogen
“The link between lack of sleep and cancer is now so strong that the World Health Organization has classified any form of nighttime shift work as a probable carcinogen." https://t.co/179qEbvyZe
Come Help Save Democracy!
The virtual event “Protecting Healthcare and Our Democracy” will be held on May 5, 2026, from 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. It features former CDC director Mandy Cohen, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and IHI founder Dr. Donald Berwick, with Matthew Holt as co‑host. Organized by Healthcare Leaders for Democracy, the...
Mount Sinai Introduces the Marilyn Monroe Mental Health Initiative for Arts Professionals
Mount Sinai Health System has launched the Marilyn Monroe Mental Health for the Arts Program, a $100,000 initiative aimed at the unique psychological challenges of performing artists. Housed in the Samuel J. Friedman Health Center in New York’s theater district,...
OTC Hearing Aids Offer Affordable, Game‑changing Solution
More hearing aids? Yes, because lots of folks have mild hearing loss, and OTC solutions are affordable and, honestly, game changing. This time I'm looking at the new Techmi FacePro OTC Hearing Aids in this demo and review: https://t.co/W0GUOshnHY #hearing...
4 Types of Drugs that May Increase Your Dementia Risk
A recent analysis highlights four medication classes—anticholinergic antihistamines, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and proton‑pump inhibitors (PPIs)—that may elevate dementia risk, especially with chronic use. Observational studies suggest antihistamines could increase risk by roughly 50%, while antipsychotics and benzodiazepines show mixed but concerning...