Stakeholders Urge Labor Department to Finalize PBM Transparency Rule
Employers, lawmakers and patient groups urged the Labor Department to finalize a rule that forces pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to disclose detailed compensation data, including rebates and spread‑pricing. The DOL’s proposal, released in January, would require PBMs to share dollar‑level figures with self‑insured employers and allow semi‑annual audits. While PBMs argue the rule is overreach and duplicative, hundreds of comments called for even broader coverage, including fully‑insured plans and related middlemen. The rule is seen as a key implementation of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026’s transparency provisions.
Obesity, GLP-1s, and Metabolic Care
In an interview, hVIVO’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Thomas Forst explains how GLP‑1 receptor agonists have reshaped obesity treatment by targeting metabolic dysfunction rather than just weight loss. He highlights that these drugs reduce cardiovascular events, improve renal outcomes and...
EQT Revives Sale of Contact Lens Maker Ginko at $1bn-Plus Valuation
Swedish private‑equity firm EQT has re‑opened the sale process for Ginko, a leading European contact‑lens manufacturer, seeking a valuation north of $1 billion. The move follows a brief pause earlier this year as EQT reassessed market conditions. Ginko reported a 15%...
This Everyday Blood Sugar Pattern Is Linked To 69% Higher Alzheimer's Risk
A genetic analysis of more than 350,000 UK Biobank participants found that individuals genetically predisposed to higher blood‑sugar levels two hours after eating face a 69% greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The same study showed no significant association between...
RFK Jr. Defends Makary, Claims Pharma ‘Owns’ Congress and Media
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended FDA Commissioner Marty Makary during a Ways and Means Committee hearing, praising the agency’s recent drug‑approval record and rejecting criticism from the pharmaceutical industry. He highlighted the FDA’s decision to reject Replimune’s oncolytic...
NIH Researchers Discover Pain-Relieving Drug with Minimal Addictive Properties
NIH scientists have identified a novel nitazene‑derived opioid, DFNZ, that delivers potent, two‑hour pain relief in rats without causing respiratory depression, tolerance or significant withdrawal. The compound briefly enters the brain yet sustains analgesia, and unlike traditional opioids it fails...
After 25 Years Of Consumer-Directed Healthcare, What’s Missing?
After two decades of consumer‑directed health policies, the market still lacks the tools needed for patients to act as shoppers. While price‑transparency rules and AI‑driven APIs exist, most care decisions remain embedded in provider referrals and opaque benefit designs, limiting...
LEO Pharma’s Enstilar Receives the NMPA Approval for Plaque Psoriasis
LEO Pharma’s topical aerosol foam Enstilar, combining calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate, received approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration for adult plaque psoriasis. The approval follows a Phase III trial of 604 Chinese patients that demonstrated superior efficacy and safety versus...
A Few Weeks Of This Brain Training Could Protect Your Mind For Decades
A 20‑year study of 2,021 adults over 65 compared memory, reasoning and speed‑training exercises. Only the brief speed‑training protocol, which targets rapid visual processing, reduced dementia diagnoses by 25 %. The benefit persisted only when participants added occasional booster sessions. The...
New Orleans EMS Misses Response Time Benchmarks as Understaffing Worsens Delays
New Orleans EMS missed national response‑time benchmarks in 71% of incidents, with average arrivals at 17 minutes 45 seconds—almost double the nine‑minute standard. Chronic understaffing, operating at only 60% of budgeted personnel and fielding 17 ambulances instead of the 26 needed,...
Novo May Have Muscle Advantage over Lilly in Weight-Loss Race: Preprint
A new medRxiv pre‑print analyzing nearly 8,000 GLP‑1 patients finds Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide preserves lean body mass better than Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, despite the latter delivering greater overall weight loss. In the first year, 6.7% of semaglutide users fell into a...
Expanded Access to Investigational Drugs for Treatment Use: Questions and Answers
The FDA issued a final Level 1 guidance titled “Expanded Access to Investigational Drugs for Treatment Use: Questions and Answers,” originally released in June 2016 and updated in October 2017. The document consolidates frequently asked questions about the 2009‑enacted expanded‑access regulations under 21 CFR part 312...
Texas Medical Board Sanctions Three Doctors for Delayed Care That Led to the Deaths of Two Pregnant Women
The Texas Medical Board has disciplined three physicians—Dr. Ali Osman, Dr. William Hawkins and Dr. Andrew Davis—for delayed or inappropriate pregnancy care that resulted in the deaths of two pregnant women. The board cited each doctor for failing to intervene...
Policy Watch: FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Genome-Editing Safety
The FDA released a draft guidance urging sponsors to use next‑generation sequencing to evaluate off‑target effects of CRISPR‑Cas9 and other gene‑editing therapies, recommending short‑read or long‑read approaches based on the type of DNA alteration. The guidance dovetails with a February...
Can an LSD Candidate Do for Anxiety What Spravato Did for Depression?
Johnson & Johnson’s 2019 Spravato approval unlocked the pharmaceutical market for psychedelics, proving they can become blockbuster drugs. Definium Therapeutics is now advancing DT120, an LSD‑based candidate for generalized anxiety disorder, after phase 2 data showed a 78% clinical response and...
New Bioengineered Patch Makes Its Own Oxygen to Heal Wounds and Grow Tissue
Researchers at UC Riverside and Rowan University unveiled a self‑oxygenating tissue patch, the Smart Self‑Oxygenating Tissue (SSOT) system, that creates oxygen on‑demand via low‑voltage electrolysis in a conductive hydrogel called BioGel. The BioGel incorporates a choline‑based ionic liquid, boosting stiffness...
Replimune Cries Foul on Regulatory Flexibility. But Many Americans Want a Stricter FDA
The FDA rejected Replimune’s RP1 melanoma combination therapy twice, citing patient‑population heterogeneity that it says undermines efficacy interpretation. The biotech’s CEO decried the agency’s lack of regulatory flexibility, while a Politico poll revealed most Americans prefer a slower, more rigorous...
Piramal Pharma Solutions Partners with Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services to Advance ADC Development and Manufacturing
Piramal Pharma Solutions and Ajinomoto Bio‑Pharma Services have signed a strategic collaboration to accelerate antibody‑drug conjugate (ADC) development and manufacturing. Piramal will refer its customers to Ajinomoto’s AJICAP platform for site‑specific ADC conjugation, while Ajinomoto will direct clients to Piramal...
Kailera Raises $625M IPO in Biotech Record
Kailera Therapeutics completed a $625 million IPO, establishing a new biotech record and eclipsing Moderna’s 2018 $604 million debut. The offering, led by Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley, attracted strong institutional demand and priced above expectations. Proceeds will fund Kailera’s gene‑editing...
Judge Dismisses CVS-Aetna’s Lawsuit Against Radiology Partners
A federal judge in Jacksonville dismissed CVS‑Aetna's lawsuit accusing Radiology Partners of a multi‑phase fraud scheme, granting the radiology group’s motion and barring the insurer from re‑filing the claims. The case centered on alleged misuse of a Florida practice’s tax...
Next Stage of Growth with a New CEO
Resyca BV, a Dutch specialist in soft‑mist inhalation drug delivery, has appointed Deborah Jones as its new chief executive. Jones brings over two decades of senior leadership experience, most recently overseeing business strategy for Proveris Scientific across EMEA and India....
Lilly’s Tirzepatide Sheds Lean Muscle Harder than Novo’s Semaglutide, Study Suggests
A new, pending‑peer‑review study compares Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide with Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, confirming tirzepatide delivers greater overall weight loss but also leads to a larger reduction in lean body mass. Researchers used dual‑energy X‑ray absorptiometry to quantify fat‑free mass loss, finding up...
Radiologist Pipeline Barely Keeping Pace with Population Growth
A new study in the Journal of the American College of Radiology finds that the radiology workforce is expanding far slower than the U.S. population and overall medical training capacity. Between 2010 and 2024, residency slots rose 33% to 1,449...
How Clinical Trials Validate New Peptide Therapies
Clinical trials are essential for turning promising peptide molecules into reliable therapeutics by confirming that their effects are consistent, measurable, and reproducible across diverse populations. The article outlines how preclinical research defines mechanisms and safety, while Phase I focuses on human...
Multiple Myeloma Drug Blenrep Backed for Wider NHS Use
The UK’s health technology regulator NICE has broadened the approved use of GSK’s BCMA‑targeting drug Blenrep, allowing it to be combined with Takeda’s Velcade and dexamethasone for a larger second‑line multiple myeloma population. The new guidance lifts the restriction that...
Radiologists Earning an Average of $571,000, up 9% Year over Year
Radiologists now earn an average of $571,000, marking a 9% increase from the previous year, according to Medscape’s latest physician compensation survey. This places radiology third among the highest‑paid specialties, behind orthopedics ($611,000) and cardiology ($575,000). The rise mirrors a...
Lilly’s Obesity Pill Foundayo Gets 1,390 Prescriptions in Debut Week
Eli Lilly's newly launched oral obesity drug Foundayo filled 1,390 prescriptions in the United States during its debut week ending April 10, according to IQVIA data. By comparison, Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy recorded 3,071 prescriptions in its first four days...
New Data Raise Concern About Medicare Quality Payment Program, Radiology Experts Say
A new analysis of CMS Quality Payment Program data from 2017‑2023 reveals that nearly half of the 275 MIPS quality measures are already topped out, and reporting rates remain low across most specialties. Diagnostic radiology and pathology show the highest...
This Sam Altman-Backed $1.8 Billion Startup Bets AI Can Get Drugs Through Clinical Trials Faster
Formation Bio, backed by Sam Altman and top VCs, has raised $615 million at a $1.8 billion valuation to use AI for faster, cheaper clinical trials. The New York‑based firm plans to acquire a portfolio of about ten early‑stage drug candidates, many stalled...
3 Ways to Invest in the Growing GLP-1 Weight Loss Market
The global GLP‑1 receptor agonist market is set to nearly triple, reaching roughly $185 billion by 2033 with a 12.4% compound annual growth rate. Investors can tap the surge through a direct play in Structure Therapeutics, whose aleniglipron candidate posted a...
The 5 Childhood Illnesses You No Longer Need a GP Appointment For
The NHS has rolled out Pharmacy First in England, allowing parents to seek treatment for five common childhood illnesses directly at local pharmacies without a GP appointment. Eligible conditions include earache (ages 1‑17), sore throat (5+), sinusitis (12+), infected insect...
Labcorp and CHOP Launch Pediatric Diagnostics Partnership to Expand Advanced Testing and Drive Clinical Lab Growth
Labcorp and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have formed a strategic partnership to accelerate development and commercialization of pediatric‑specific diagnostics. The collaboration will combine CHOP’s research expertise with Labcorp’s nationwide testing network to bring new molecular and genetic assays...
Photo of the Week: Boston EMS Graduation
Boston EMS graduated 26 new EMTs and promoted eight staff members during a ceremony at Faneuil Hall. The new EMTs completed a six‑month academy and responded to more than 3,000 9‑1‑1 calls. Promotions included two lieutenants and six paramedics, reflecting...
Maxivision Eye Hospitals Charts Aggressive Gujarat Expansion; to Invest ₹150 Cr in 2 Yrs
Maxivision Super Speciality Eye Hospitals announced a ₹150 crore (≈$18 million) investment to double its Gujarat footprint from 10 to 20 hospitals within two years. The Hyderabad‑based chain currently operates in six Gujarat cities and will add five new facilities in Ahmedabad...
The Innovators Working to Make in Vivo Cell Therapy a Reality
First‑in‑human trials of in‑vivo CAR‑T therapies are now underway, delivering therapeutic genes directly inside patients via viral or lipid‑nanoparticle vectors. Big‑pharma interest is evident after AstraZeneca’s $1 bn purchase of EsoBiotec and Eli Lilly’s $2.4 bn acquisition of Orna Therapeutics, despite limited clinical...
Microplastics Are Showing Up In Early Pregnancy — Here Are The Biggest Sources
Researchers examined chorionic villi from 31 first‑trimester pregnancies and found microplastics in every sample. Women who suffered unexplained miscarriage had significantly higher concentrations—273 µg/g versus 226 µg/g in controls. The plastics were primarily PVC, polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene, with bottled water and...
Best Dentists in Forest Hills for Implants and Cosmetic Dentistry
Advancements in restorative and cosmetic dentistry have driven demand for high-quality implant and smile‑makeover services in Forest Hills, Queens. This guide ranks three leading practices—VIP Dental Care, Gentle Dental Family Care, and Forest Hills Dental—based on clinician credentials, modern technology,...
Anavex Withdraws EU Application for Alzheimer’s Drug Blarcamesine
Anavex Life Sciences has withdrawn its European marketing authorisation application for blarcamesine, a small‑molecule therapy aimed at early Alzheimer’s disease, after the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use concluded in December 2025 that the drug’s benefits did not...
Eindhoven’s ONWARD Medical Raises €40.6 Million in Capital Increase to Advance Spinal Cord Injury Therapies
ONWARD Medical, the Dutch neurotechnology firm behind the ARC‑EX spinal‑cord stimulation system, completed a €40.6 million (≈$44 million) accelerated book‑build private placement, issuing 13.5 million new shares at €3 each. The round includes a €25 million (≈$27 million) commitment from EQT Life Sciences and other...
First Patient Receives JANX014 Dose in Janux’s Trial for mCRPC
Janux Therapeutics announced the dosing of its first patient in a Phase I trial of JANX014, a prostate‑specific membrane antigen (PSMA)‑directed T‑cell engager for metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The multicenter, open‑label study will evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and early...
Heidi Launches First Hardware Designed For Reliable Audio Capture in Every Clinical Setting
UK‑based AI health platform Heidi has launched Heidi Remote, a purpose‑built wearable microphone for reliable audio capture in clinical settings. The device replaces phones and laptops, offering 14 hours of battery life, offline recording, and hospital‑grade durability to improve AI‑scribe transcription...
Listen: With Little Federal Regulation, States Are Left To Shape the Rules on AI in Health Care
The White House and several states are at odds over how to regulate artificial intelligence in health care, leaving states to fill the regulatory vacuum. Maryland and Virginia illustrate the split, with each adopting distinct rules for AI use in...
Families Left Reeling After Hospitals in Blue States Drop Transgender Care for Youth
A wave of hospitals in traditionally supportive blue states is ending gender‑affirming care for minors after the Trump administration threatened to cut Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. Baystate Health in Massachusetts announced in February 2026 that it would stop prescribing hormone therapy...
Doctolib, AP-HP, and Roche Launch Startup Programme to Bridge Healthtech–Clinical Gap
Doctolib, AP‑HP’s Hôtel‑Dieu, and Roche have launched Care Forward, a health‑tech accelerator housed at Station F. The program pairs Doctolib’s software know‑how, AP‑HP’s hospital network access, and Roche’s regulatory expertise to help European startups test and scale solutions that measurably...
Bavarian Nordic Reports Swissmedic’s Approval of Vimkunya to Prevent Chikungunya
Swissmedic has granted approval to Bavarian Nordic’s Vimkunya, a single‑dose, virus‑like particle vaccine for chikungunya, targeting individuals 12 years and older. The vaccine is designed to elicit protective immunity as early as one week after injection. Bavarian Nordic has also...
Q&A with National Health Council: Driving Patient-Centred Policy
The National Health Council (NHC), a century‑old coalition of health stakeholders, is championing patient‑centered policy as the U.S. grapples with new payment models and drug‑price reforms. Its advocacy secured patient input in the Inflation Reduction Act’s Initial Price Applicability Year...
South Korea’s Healthcare Boom Creates New Billionaires
South Korea’s healthcare sector is rapidly generating wealth, propelling several pharma executives onto the nation’s richest list. Sam Chun Dang Pharm’s weight‑loss partnership with Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo lifted chairman Yoon Dae‑in to a $5.9 billion net worth, while ABL Bio and Voronoi secured multibillion‑dollar deals that...
The Rise of Virtual Therapy Platforms in Healthcare
Virtual therapy platforms have surged into mainstream healthcare, offering patients flexible, cost‑effective mental health care through video, audio, and text channels. The COVID‑19 pandemic accelerated adoption, normalizing remote sessions and prompting providers to integrate digital tools. Advances such as AI‑driven...
Radiopharm Completes Final Patient Dosing of RAD 101 for Diagnosis of Brain Metastases in the US
Radiopharm Theranostics announced the final patient dosing in its U.S. Phase IIb trial of the 18F‑RAD101 PET imaging agent for recurrent brain metastases. The study enrolled 30 patients and interim results demonstrated 90% concordance with MRI, meeting the predefined efficacy...
Automating Behavioral Health Utilization Review to Reduce Denials
A Johns Hopkins study found that 1 in 10 U.S. adults experienced a mental‑health crisis in 2025, underscoring soaring demand for behavioral health services. Most facilities still rely on manual utilization review (UR) using spreadsheets and shared inboxes, which creates...