HHS Names Chief Economist, Regulatory Leader to Address Healthcare Affordability
Casey Mulligan, PhD, has been named chief economist and chief regulatory officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He will advise Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on strategies to curb rising healthcare costs, a priority after a Gallup poll placed affordability at the top of Americans’ concerns. Mulligan previously served as chief counsel for advocacy at the Small Business Administration and as a chief economist on the Council of Economic Advisers during the Trump administration. His appointment signals a data‑driven push to address the nation’s affordability crisis ahead of the 2026 midterms.
How Patients Are Using AI to Find Healthcare Providers in 2026
Patients are now starting their care journey by asking AI models, not search engines. Recent surveys show roughly one‑quarter of U.S. adults used a health‑focused chatbot in the past 30 days, and 14% skipped a doctor visit after AI advice—about...
Evolution of the European HealthTech and MedTech Advisory Ecosystem: Rise of Founder Bankers and Specialist Boutiques
European health‑tech and med‑tech advisory is moving from speculative venture‑fuelled growth to a disciplined, metrics‑driven maturity phase in 2026. Founder‑bankers—former entrepreneurs turned advisors—are teaming with specialist boutique M&A firms to dominate mid‑market transactions ranging from $25 million to $500 million. These boutiques...
ANDA Litigation Settlements - First Quarter 2026
During Q1 2026, U.S. district courts issued a wave of ANDA litigation settlements covering dozens of branded drugs, from ophthalmic gels to diabetes tablets. Most disputes were dismissed, many with prejudice, while several parties entered license agreements that preserve patent exclusivity....
Early SAVR in Asymptomatic Heart Patients Linked to Long-Term Benefits
A new 10‑year analysis of the RECOVERY trial shows that early surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) dramatically improves outcomes for asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis. Operative or cardiovascular death occurred in only 1% of early‑SAVR participants versus 19% of...
UMC El Paso Cuts ED Boarding by Half with Dashboards
University Medical Center of El Paso deployed real‑time TeleTracking dashboards to overhaul patient‑flow management. By embedding daily discharge and length‑of‑stay metrics into leadership and frontline workflows, the hospital shifted from retrospective reporting to proactive decision‑making. The initiative drove inpatient length...
This Biopharma Stock Could More than Double on Oral Eczema Treatment, Goldman Sachs Says
Goldman Sachs has initiated coverage of Corvus Pharmaceuticals with a buy rating and a $40 price target, implying a 166% upside from the recent close. The firm’s optimism centers on soquelitinib, an oral non‑steroidal drug targeting atopic dermatitis, which achieved...
Marengo Reports Early Phase 2 Activity for Invikafusp Alfa Combination; Advances STAR Program at AACR 2026
Marengo Therapeutics announced early Phase 2 activity for its invikafusp alfa plus sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy) combo in metastatic breast cancer, reporting confirmed complete responses in heavily pretreated patients across both triple‑negative and hormone‑receptor‑positive/HER2‑negative cohorts. The interim safety data matched the known profiles...
Kailera IPO Interview: CEO Renaud Talks Biotech Market, China and Obesity Pipeline
Kailera Therapeutics closed a record‑setting $625 million Nasdaq IPO, the largest biotech debut of the year. The company, launched with Bain Capital Life Sciences backing, leverages a portfolio of obesity drug candidates originally sourced from China’s Hengrui Medicine. CEO Renaud highlighted...
“WTF Is Going On?”: Katie Couric Raises Alarm Over Skyrocketing Cancer Rates in Young Adults
Former news anchor and breast‑cancer survivor Katie Couric warned that cancer diagnoses among Americans under 50 are soaring, with pancreatic and colorectal cancers leading the surge. She highlighted a 21‑year‑old’s stage‑4 colorectal diagnosis and cited ultra‑processed foods, microplastics, PFAS and...
Why Do Weight Loss Drugs Work For Some And Not Others? It’s In The Genes
New research links genetic variants in the GLP‑1 and GIP receptors to the wide range of responses seen with obesity drugs. A common GLP‑1 receptor allele adds about 1.7 lb of weight loss per copy, while a GIP‑receptor variant eliminates the...
#AACR26 Preview: Revolution Medicines, the RAS Bonanza and China ADC Standouts
Revolution Medicines unveiled a pan‑RAS inhibitor that doubled overall survival for patients with recurrent or treatment‑resistant pancreatic cancer. The Phase 2 trial reported a median overall survival of roughly 12 months versus six months with standard chemotherapy. Data were presented at...
New Treatment Lets 3 Transplant Patients Halt Anti-Rejection Drugs
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh infused donor‑derived immune cells into liver‑transplant recipients, aiming to induce immune tolerance. In an early‑stage trial of eight patients, three have remained off immunosuppressive drugs for over three years with stable graft function. The...
Oncology Trends and Testing Gaps Shape Precision Care Delivery: Abby Kim, PharmD
At the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s April meeting, experts outlined six emerging oncology trends reshaping precision care. Abby Kim, senior director at Prime Therapeutics, warned that biomarker testing gaps are delaying patients’ access to proven novel therapies. AMCP is...
Age Shapes Melanoma Progression and Immune Response
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center presented evidence that melanoma metastasis follows a non‑linear age curve in mice: low in young animals, peaking in middle‑aged subjects, and declining in very old mice. The pattern correlates with the abundance of protective...
Treatment Delays, Denials More Common in Prescriptions Initially Rejected
A new JAMA Health Forum study examined 205,896 brand‑name prescription fills that were initially rejected through prior authorization (PA). Only 54% of these prescriptions were eventually approved, with a mere 7% receiving same‑day approval and the majority delayed by multiple...
Cardiology Practice Launches Walk-In Clinic in Pennsylvania
Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia opened the CCP Now walk‑in clinic in Springfield, Pennsylvania, delivering same‑day cardiac evaluations for urgent symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations. The outpatient center provides on‑site troponin, D‑dimer, ECG, echocardiogram, and vascular imaging...
CMS Proposes Repeal of Add-On Payment Path for Breakthrough Devices
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed repealing the alternative pathway for new‑technology add‑on payments (NTAP) beginning in fiscal year 2028, restoring the requirement that all devices demonstrate a substantial clinical improvement. The alternative pathway, created in...
HIMSS Advocates for Consistent Nationwide AI Regulation
HIMSS is urging the U.S. government to adopt a single set of AI guardrails that ensure safety and trust across the healthcare sector. The organization’s public‑policy principles, outlined by Jonathan French, call for nationwide standards to eliminate a patchwork of...
What Providers and Vendors Can Expect From Regulatory Changes
Jonathan French, senior director of public policy at HIMSS, outlined how the CMS Health Tech Ecosystem and the ONC’s HTI‑5 proposed rule could overhaul interoperability requirements for digital health tools. The proposals aim to create a unified framework that links...
Establishing Impurity Specifications for Antibiotics
The FDA released a draft Level 1 guidance titled “Establishing Impurity Specifications for Antibiotics.” It offers non‑binding recommendations on setting organic impurity limits for antibiotics produced by fermentation or semi‑synthesis. The guidance applies to new drug applications, abbreviated new drug applications,...
Decoding the Shame Associated with Ozempic Weight Loss
A new study published in *Stigma & Health* finds that women who lose weight with GLP‑1 drugs such as Ozempic or Wegovy face significantly more stigma than those who rely on diet and exercise, and the bias is strongest when...
Your Doctors and Nurses Are Burned Out. Here’s What They Need
Clinician burnout is accelerating as doctors and nurses grapple with intensified patient acuity, erratic scheduling, fragmented communication, and excessive administrative tasks. Front‑line staff repeatedly cite three non‑salary levers—predictable, equitable schedules; clear, unified communication; and reduced non‑clinical workload—as essential to staying...
How Technology Is Helping Healthcare Teams Spend Less Time on Non-Clinical Tasks
Healthcare providers are increasingly turning to technology to offload non‑clinical tasks that drain clinician time. Remote billing specialists, AI‑driven scribing, automated scheduling and website chatbots are among the tools gaining traction. These solutions promise to reduce documentation errors, cut call...
STAT+: FDA Eyes Expanding Testosterone Therapy for Libido
The FDA is reviewing data that could broaden testosterone‑replacement therapy to include low libido as an approved indication, a move that would extend the drug’s market beyond hypogonadism. If cleared, the label change could add roughly $1.5 billion in annual U.S....
Lilly’s Foundayo Reaches 1,390 Patients in First Week, Trailing Novo’s Oral Wegovy Launch
Eli Lilly’s newly approved oral obesity drug Foundayo recorded 1,390 prescriptions in its first two days, a modest start compared with Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy, which logged over 3,000 patients in its inaugural week. RBC Capital Markets noted the timing difference—Foundayo launched...
MD Pharmaceutical Supply, LLC - 637815 - 04/13/2026
The FDA has finished reviewing MD Pharmaceutical Supply’s corrective actions taken after a warning letter issued in November 2022. The agency concluded that the company appears to have addressed the cited deviations, but it emphasized that future inspections will assess...
Biovac Gets $108M Backing for Vaccine Factory in South Africa
Biovac announced that its new vaccine manufacturing complex in Cape Town has secured $108 million in financing from the European Investment Bank, the European Commission, and the International Finance Corporation. The plant is designed to produce up to 400 million doses per...
Goldman Sachs, General Atlantic, Aquitaine Back Autism Care; Supply-and-Demand Gap Drives Scaling Opportunities in Mental Health Assets
Goldman Sachs Alternatives, General Atlantic and Aquitaine are backing a growing autism‑care platform, citing a stark supply‑and‑demand mismatch in mental‑health services. Their investments follow MKH Capital Partner’s recent acquisition of a network of mental‑health and substance‑use treatment centers, highlighting a...
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[Perspectives] Refiloe Masekela: Building Access to Care for Childhood Lung Disease
Refiloe Masekela, a paediatric pulmonologist and dean at the University of KwaZulu‑Natal, reflects on South Africa’s early‑2000s HIV crisis that left many children dying from respiratory complications before antiretroviral therapy became widely available. She now spearheads initiatives to broaden access...
GLP-1 ‘Halo Effect’: Users Positively Impact Household Eating Habits
Acosta Group’s report finds that GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs are sparking a “halo effect” that extends beyond users to other household members. Users, especially Gen Z and Millennials, report emotional boosts that translate into higher spending on fresh produce, yogurt, and protein‑rich...
Revolution Medicines' Buyout Price Soars After Pancreatic Cancer Win
Revolution Medicines announced positive Phase 3 data for its pancreatic cancer candidate, showing a statistically significant survival benefit. The breakthrough lifted the company’s market value from roughly $30 billion to an estimated $45 billion, reigniting speculation of a mega‑buyout. Investors rushed in, sending...
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About Lilly Weight Loss Pill Trial Results, Slashed U.K. Clinical Trial Times, and More
Researchers led by Richard DiMarchi and Matthias Tschöp reported a novel GIP‑glucagon dual agonist that may achieve weight loss comparable to GLP‑1 drugs without the typical nausea and vomiting. In parallel, Eli Lilly announced that its new obesity pill Foundayo lowered...
MD Pharmaceutical Supply, LLC - 637815 - 11/22/2022
The FDA issued a warning letter to MD Pharmaceutical Supply, LLC after an April‑May 2022 inspection uncovered multiple CGMP violations at its Hanover, PA drug repackaging facility. The agency cited failures to investigate returned API complaints, inadequate temperature and humidity...
Future-Ready Pharma Summit
The Future‑Ready Pharma Summit gathered analytical scientists, lab managers and decision‑makers to showcase how automation, AI and digital services are reshaping small‑molecule pharmaceutical chromatography. Sessions covered AI‑driven LC method optimization, collaborative dissolution workflows, and sustainability‑focused regulatory guidance such as USP...
Hospices’ Top Questions About AI
Hospice providers are rapidly adopting AI to streamline operations and support clinical decisions, with 36% naming predictive analytics as their top technology investment for 2026. The rollout spans functions from scheduling and documentation to medication management and family communication. However,...
Speaking with One Voice to Advance Health in America
The American Hospital Association will host its 2026 Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C., drawing more than 1,000 health‑care leaders. Attendees will hear policymakers, discuss the looming midterm elections, and coordinate a unified advocacy push on three priority issues: access...
Therapy for Brain Injuries in Infants Bags Funding: Is the First HIE Drug on the Way?
ReAlta Life Sciences raised $40 million to finish its phase 2 STAR trial of pegtarazimod, a first‑in‑class drug that blocks both complement C1 and neutrophil pathways to treat hypoxic‑ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborns. HIE affects about 8,000 U.S. infants annually, causing 15‑20%...
Not Every Medical Mistake Makes Headlines — But They Happen Every Day
A recent Florida case in which a surgeon removed the wrong organ highlights the stark reality that medical errors are far more common than headlines suggest. Studies from Johns Hopkins and the CDC estimate that preventable harm affects up to...
Medicare Can Save $4 Billion On Four Cancer Drugs – Can You Guess Which Ones?
The Inflation Reduction Act authorizes Medicare to negotiate drug prices, starting with ten high‑spending products and expanding each year. By targeting four oncology drugs—Pomalyst, Ibrance, Xtandi and Imbruvica—Medicare could save over $4 billion, with Imbruvica alone offering more than $1 billion in...
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...
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,...