Scientists Laud Potentially Life-Changing Drug for Children with Resistant Form of Epilepsy
Preliminary trials of Zorevunersen, an experimental therapy for Dravet syndrome, showed it is safe and well tolerated in 81 children. A single 70 mg dose reduced seizures by about 50%, and three doses cut seizures roughly 80% compared with baseline. The study also reported improvements in motor skills, communication and overall quality of life. Researchers plan a phase‑3 trial to confirm long‑term efficacy and safety.
Proscia Earns Top Score in KLAS Digital Pathology Report
Proscia topped the KLAS Research Digital Pathology 2026 report with a 95.2 overall performance score, the highest among U.S. vendors. The company earned A+ and A grades across six customer‑experience categories, and every surveyed client said they plan to keep...
AI-Enabled Lesion Quantification Tool Earns New CPT Code
The American Medical Association has granted a Category 3 CPT code (X567T) to AIQ Solutions’ TRAQinform IQ, an AI‑enabled lesion quantification platform cleared by the FDA in 2018. The tool analyzes changes in lesion size and metabolic activity, providing clinicians with more...
Optimal BP After HeartMate 3 LVAD May Be Higher Than Previously Thought
A pooled analysis of the MOMENTUM 3 and ARIES‑HM3 trials involving 1,983 HeartMate 3 LVAD recipients identified an optimal early mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 85‑100 mm Hg, with 85‑95 mm Hg appearing ideal. Patients who spent more time within this range during the first 90...
Nuance Audio Glasses Help Understand Speech in Noisy Settings
A study published in the Journal of Otolaryngology‑ENT Research found that Nuance Audio Glasses, an over‑the‑counter hearing solution from EssilorLuxottica, improve speech‑reception thresholds by an average of 3.48 dB in noisy environments. Twenty adults with mild‑to‑moderate hearing loss achieved 50 % word...
CDC Finds Maternal Mortality Rate Dropped in 2024
The CDC reports that the U.S. maternal mortality rate fell to 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, a figure statistically indistinguishable from the 18.6 recorded in 2023. Black women experienced a mortality rate of 44.8 per 100,000, far...
Deadline March 31 to Apply for AHA Next Gen Fellowship
The American Hospital Association (AHA) announced that the application deadline for its Next Gen fellowship is March 31. The program targets emerging healthcare leaders, offering mentorship, networking, and strategic projects across member hospitals. Applicants must submit a brief proposal outlining a health‑system...
AHA Podcast: Advancing Community Health
The American Hospital Association released a multi‑segment podcast highlighting how hospitals are expanding beyond clinical walls to address social determinants of health. Leaders from Manatt Health, CommonSpirit Health, Inova Health System, and Owensboro Health discuss initiatives tackling food insecurity, workforce...
Endothelin Receptor Antagonist REMS Information
The FDA has eliminated risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) requirements for embryofetal toxicity (EFT) across all endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) medicines, concluding that labeling alone sufficiently communicates the risk. The change, effective April 2025, applies to ambrisentan, macitentan‑containing products, and...
New AI-Enabled Heart Failure Implant Shows Early Potential
Relief Cardiovascular unveiled its AI‑enabled Relief System, an implantable valve and sensor that modulates inferior vena cava pressure to boost renal perfusion in diuretic‑resistant heart‑failure patients. In the first‑in‑human RELIEF‑FIH study of eight European participants, the device achieved 100% procedural...
AI and Technology Alone Won't Fix Revenue Cycle Challenges: The Automation Paradox in RCM
Healthcare finance leaders are pouring capital into AI and automation to solve revenue cycle management (RCM) challenges, yet many are discovering that automating flawed workflows only accelerates errors. The emerging "automation paradox" shows that without clean data and standardized processes,...
Drug Trials Snapshots: MYQORZO
MYQORZO (aficamten), a cardiac myosin inhibitor, received FDA approval on Dec 19 2025 for adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM). Approval is based on the SEQUOIA‑HCM phase III trial, a randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study of 282 patients across 14 countries. At 24 weeks,...
Medicaid Expansion Linked to Lower Breast Cancer Deaths, but Disparities Persist
A recent JAMA Network Open study of over 1.5 million women shows Medicaid expansion under the ACA lowered breast cancer mortality by 4.8% compared with non‑expansion states. Hispanic patients experienced the largest relative gain—a 19% hazard reduction—while Black women saw modest...
HID Debuts Cloud‑based Visitor Verification System for Healthcare
HID Global unveiled a cloud‑based visitor verification platform at HIMSS 2026, designed for hospitals to authenticate and track visitors in real time. The solution integrates directly with major electronic health record systems such as Epic and Oracle Health, enabling photo capture,...
Orai1 Switches Ca2+ Signals, Balances Erythropoiesis
Researchers have identified the Orai1 calcium channel as a pivotal regulator of intracellular Ca2+ signals that govern erythropoiesis. Genetic ablation of Orai1 in mouse models leads to impaired red‑cell maturation and anemia, while pharmacologic activation rescues normal blood counts. The...
New C-Suite Hospice, Palliative Care Executives Step Forward
Hospice and palliative‑care providers announced several C‑suite moves, including Mettle Health’s new Chief Growth Officer, Camille Borgo, to broaden service reach. Legacy Hospice named Elaine Ziegler as CEO after Clark Blair’s departure, while Island Hospice appointed Patricia Pancner as its new chief executive....
Photobiomodulation: Revolutionary Breakthrough or Scam?
The Valeda photobiomodulation system received FDA authorization in November 2024 and has been used clinically since summer 2025 to treat retinal aging. A modest 148‑eye, two‑year study showed statistically significant gains in best‑corrected visual acuity and a lower rate of progression to...
Syantra’s Breast Cancer Blood Test Isn’t Looking for Cancer at All
Syantra, a Calgary‑based biotech, is preparing to launch Onco‑ID, a breast‑cancer blood test that detects the body’s immune response rather than circulating tumor DNA. Using machine‑learning analysis of gene‑expression biomarkers, the test aims to identify cancer earlier than mammography and...
FDA Grants 510(k) Clearance for Expanded Capabilities of MR Injection System
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Bayer 510(k) clearance for its MEDRAD MRXperion injector, extending the device’s approved magnetic field compatibility to include 7‑Tesla MRI scanners. The clearance also adds Imaging Scanner Interface 2 (ISI2), enabling direct communication between...
CMS Launches Effort to Unify Medicare Claims Processing Systems
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has opened a competitive window for an eight‑year contract to deliver a unified, commercial‑off‑the‑shelf software platform called ClaimsCore. The system must consolidate four legacy claim‑processing applications, support over 2 million active users and...
Over-The-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program (OMUFA)
The FDA’s Over‑The‑Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program (OMUFA) will assess an annual facility fee of $36.467 million for FY 2025, payable by June 2, 2025. All owners of OTC monograph drug facilities, including contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), are subject to the fee, with...
Behind the Curve
The rapid rise of generative AI is outpacing medical education in Canada, leaving most students without formal AI training. A 2022 survey found 85% of Canadian medical students reported no AI curriculum, while recent initiatives at schools such as U...
Glaucoma Coaching Program Improved Medication Adherence
A randomized trial of the Support, Educate, Empower (SEE) glaucoma coaching program showed a significant rise in medication adherence and a reduction in glaucoma‑related distress compared with mailed education. Six‑month electronic adherence averaged 77.6% in the coached group versus 58.0%...
UnityAI Secures $8.5M to Scale Agentic AI for Healthcare Operations
UnityAI announced an $8.5 million Series A round led by Third Prime, bringing its total capital to $15 million. The startup deploys an agentic AI workforce that autonomously manages patient scheduling, referrals, and staff shift coordination across hundreds of care sites. It already...
Autism Research Leaders Launch Independent Committee to Counter RFK’s Panel
Leading autism researchers and advocates have launched the Independent Autism Coordinating Committee (I‑ACC) to provide a science‑centered counterweight to the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) reshaped by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The federal IACC guides roughly $2 billion in annual autism...
WCRI Research Shows Uptick in Comp Costs as Workers Lose Medicaid
WCRI’s preliminary study links the 2023 Medicaid work‑requirement policy to a 2‑3% rise in medical payments per workers‑comp claim, especially for lower‑wage, male employees in construction, manufacturing and leisure. About 12% of the labor force lost Medicaid coverage, prompting higher...
Cleveland Hospital Partners with OneDose for EMS-Specific Medication Safety
OneDose has launched eMACC, an electronic Medication Administration Cross‑Check app tailored for EMS clinicians, in partnership with University Hospitals’ EMS Institute. The tool digitizes cross‑checks, pushes protocol updates instantly, and aims to cut medication errors by more than 40 %. Early...
October 5, 2023: Meeting of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee Meeting Announcement - 10/05/2023
The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee will meet virtually on October 5, 2023 to evaluate Amgen’s supplemental NDA for LUMAKRAS (sotorasib) in KRAS G12C‑mutated non‑small cell lung cancer. The committee will review data from the confirmatory CodeBreaK 200 trial, which could convert the existing...
ASTP/ONC to Prioritize Interoperability in 2026
The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) announced that interoperability will be its top priority in 2026, with a series of final rules aimed at strengthening health information exchange. Dr. Thomas Keane, HHS’s assistant secretary for technology policy, detailed the...
Stryker Execs Discuss Mako RPS Launch at AAOS
Stryker unveiled its handheld surgical robot, Mako RPS, at the AAOS meeting, following FDA clearance and its first cases in January. The device is in a limited market release that will run through the first half of the year, with broader...
Upcoming EL-PFDD Meetings
The FDA has posted a public list of disease areas where external organizations have submitted letters of intent for future Externally‑Led Patient‑Focused Drug Development (EL‑PFDD) meetings. Ten topics ranging from infertility to rare neurological disorders are scheduled between March and...
The Oncology Pharmacist Advocacy Toolkit: Real-World Scripts, Hill Day Strategies, and Policy Insights
LeAnne Kennedy highlights a new Oncology Pharmacist Advocacy Toolkit that equips pharmacists with practical scripts, elevator pitches, and virtual Hill Day strategies to influence policy and patient care. She stresses the need for clear communication of the oncology pharmacist role...
AI, VR, and the Training Gap: Why New Healthcare Tech Fails Without Workforce Readiness
Artificial intelligence and virtual reality are poised to transform healthcare education, yet adoption rates remain sluggish. The article argues that the primary barrier is workforce readiness, especially among nurse educators who control training decisions. Without intentional change management, leadership support,...
Leading HIV Researchers Reflect on Breakthroughs, Challenges at CROI 2026
The 2026 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) highlighted major HIV research breakthroughs while underscoring persistent funding shortfalls. Experts praised advances in antiretroviral therapy, emerging adjunct treatments, and global advocacy, yet warned that reduced U.S. support could limit access...
Kennedy And Oz Address ‘Addiction Epidemic,’ But Policy Details Are Murky
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., alongside CMS chief Mehmet Oz, unveiled the “Action for Progress” initiative, framing the U.S. addiction crisis as a "spiritual malaise" that requires faith‑based treatment alongside medical care. The plan dovetails with...
Nanoparticle Vaccine Approach Takes on a New Target: Hepatitis C Virus
Scientists at Scripps Research have engineered a native‑like, stabilized version of the hepatitis C virus E1E2 glycoprotein complex and displayed it on self‑assembling protein nanoparticles (SApNPs). The nanoparticle vaccine candidate elicited strong, virus‑specific antibody responses in animal models. This breakthrough overcomes...
The Right Drug for the Right Resident: 5 Practical Strategies for Long-Term Care Pharmacies to Improve Outcomes
The APEX Live panel outlined five practical strategies for long‑term care (LTC) pharmacies to improve resident outcomes. Structured medication regimen reviews (MRR/MMR) should trigger repeatable recommendation workflows that address high‑risk drugs, functional status, and preventive gaps. Safer therapeutic defaults—beta‑3 agonists...
We Must Close the 'Shocking' Knowledge Gap in Women's Health
Anita Zaidi calls for urgent research to close the knowledge gap in women’s health, highlighting the deadly impact of pregnancy complications like pre‑eclampsia. More than 700 women and 6,500 newborns die daily from these conditions, with the highest toll in...
The CorCMR Trial
The CorCMR Trial, discussed by Colin Berry and C. Michael Gibson, investigates the utility of stress cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging for patients presenting with angina but no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). The study compares stress CMR‑derived perfusion data...
Five Projects Share £100m UK-US Cancer Grand Challenges Fund
Five interdisciplinary teams will receive up to £20 million each from the UK‑US Cancer Grand Challenges, adding £100 million to the programme and raising total investment to £465 million since 2016. The five projects, spanning 34 institutions in nine countries, target unconventional angles...
Canada’s Able Innovations Deploys Robotic System That Transfers Patients Between Beds at US Hospital
Able Innovations has installed its ALTA Platform robotic patient‑transfer system at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, marking the first U.S. deployment of the technology. The system automates lateral moves between beds, imaging tables, stretchers and operating‑room tables, allowing a single...
A Year without USAID: In Kenya, the Shock Reaches Herders and Hospitals
A year after the Trump administration’s stop‑work orders halted U.S. development assistance, Kenya is feeling the loss of roughly $470 million per year that USAID had funneled into its economy, 80 % of it earmarked for health. The abrupt funding gap coincides...
National Drug Code Format
The FDA issued a final rule establishing a uniform 12‑digit National Drug Code (NDC) format effective March 7, 2033, replacing the current 10‑digit variants. A seven‑year window (2026‑2033) gives manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies and payors time to upgrade systems and labeling, followed by...
UniQure’s Delay, REGENXBIO’s Rejection Explained, Sarepta’s Ingram Steps Down, More
The FDA issued a complete‑response letter to UniQure, requiring a randomized, double‑blind, sham‑surgery Phase 3 trial for its Huntington’s disease gene therapy, and similarly rejected REGENXBIO’s Hunter syndrome candidate over study design flaws. Regulatory experts warned that the agency’s decision‑making appears...
National Alliance: DOE Proposed Rule Would Exacerbate Hospice Workforce Shortages
The U.S. Department of Education has proposed reclassifying post‑baccalaureate nursing degrees as graduate degrees, slashing the borrowing cap for health‑care students from $200,000 to $100,000 and imposing a $20,500 annual aid limit. The rule also narrows the definition of "professional...
Inside CMR Surgical’s Big Pivot Before US Robot Launch
CMR Surgical’s new CEO, Massimiliano Colella, halted the planned U.S. debut of the first‑generation Versius robot, opting to wait for the upgraded Versius Plus platform. The second‑generation system secured FDA clearance for gallbladder‑removal surgery and is slated for a soft launch later...
Theolytics Awarded €8 Million Horizon Europe Grant to Fund Ovarian Cancer Study
Theolytics, an Oxford‑based biotech, secured an €8 million non‑dilutive Horizon Europe grant to fund its phase 2 OCTOPOD‑IV expansion trial of THEO‑260, a novel oncolytic therapy for advanced ovarian cancer. The grant, awarded after a rigorous review, will finance the phase 2a portion...
WNBAs Erica Wheeler Lost Mom To Cervical Cancer, Urges More Screening
WNBA point guard Erica Wheeler, whose mother died of cervical cancer, has joined Hologic’s “Ultimate Defense” campaign to promote screening, especially among women of color. The campaign highlights that routine Pap and HPV testing have cut U.S. cervical cancer mortality...
Inside the Race to Thwart the Dramatic Rise in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Early‑onset colorectal cancer now accounts for about 13% of U.S. cases, with roughly 20,000 new diagnoses each year in patients under 50. The disease is more aggressive, often presenting at later stages because routine screening starts at age 45. Researchers...
Private Equity Isn’t The Real Issue In Healthcare. Competition Is
Private equity’s expansion into health‑care has sparked a policy debate, but dentistry reveals a more nuanced picture. A recent study with the American Dental Association found that PE‑owned dental practices did not secure higher negotiated insurer rates. Instead, they raised...