Healthcare Social Media and Updates

Shingles Vaccine Cuts Dementia Risk by Half.
SocialApr 22, 2026

Shingles Vaccine Cuts Dementia Risk by Half.

Have you had your shingles shot? ​ A major 2026 study of over 300,000 people age 65 and older found that the shingles vaccine reduces the risk of dementia by up to 50%. Remarkably, men, women, and folks across age and ethnic...

By Gregory Charlop, MD
Fenebrutinib Shows Promise, Yet Safety Concerns Loom
SocialApr 22, 2026

Fenebrutinib Shows Promise, Yet Safety Concerns Loom

Relevant to $TGTX was the Roche $RHHBY fenebrutinib trial results recently announced. Excellent efficacy, but two cases of Hy's Law. Both resolved, but a patient might not be so lucky next time. Hard for me to see this gaining widespread...

By Peter Suzman
TGTX Shows Consistently Low Relapse Rates Across Trials
SocialApr 22, 2026

TGTX Shows Consistently Low Relapse Rates Across Trials

This very low relapse rate in this $TGTX Phase IV observational trial is consistent with that seen in their 6-year extension study: https://t.co/Shvb8h8VRr

By Peter Suzman
Intense Exercise Boosts Belief, Cuts Depression and Anxiety
SocialApr 22, 2026

Intense Exercise Boosts Belief, Cuts Depression and Anxiety

Physical Activity and Mental Health of Employed Adults: Mediation and Moderation Effects of Beliefs in the Benefits of Physical Activity “more intensive PA was related to a stronger belief in PA benefits, subsequently leading to reduced levels of depression and anxiety.” https://t.co/JBF1kDolZa

By David Barzilai, MD PhD
POTUS Pushes Zero‑tolerance on Fentanyl, Lenient Cannabis Reclassification
SocialApr 22, 2026

POTUS Pushes Zero‑tolerance on Fentanyl, Lenient Cannabis Reclassification

Reclassification is critical so that we can have a no-tolerance rule for fentanyl and meth, which are deadly, and a reasonable policy on plant medicine and cannabis — which experts believe are far less harmful (and in therapeutic or hospice...

By Jason Calacanis
Paxlovid Showed No Hospitalization Benefit in Vaccinated Seniors
SocialApr 22, 2026

Paxlovid Showed No Hospitalization Benefit in Vaccinated Seniors

In 2 randomized, open-label trials of Paxlovid there was lack of evidence of reduced hospitalizations among the participants, who were age 50+ with coexisting conditions, and who were vaccinated. The endpoint was very low (<1.2%) in the treatment and control...

By Eric Topol
Affordable Telemedicine Solutions Ease Staffing and Budget Strains
SocialApr 22, 2026

Affordable Telemedicine Solutions Ease Staffing and Budget Strains

Staffing shortages + tight budgets = tough decisions. Telemedicine can help—if you choose the right platform. We break down budget-friendly options hospitals are actually using. 👇 https://t.co/rCm5j8wrKg @telespecialists @VSee @TeladocHealth @TeleMed2u @EagleTelemed #HITSM

By Colin Hung
COVID Vaccine Halved ER Visits, Hospitalizations for Healthy Adults
SocialApr 22, 2026

COVID Vaccine Halved ER Visits, Hospitalizations for Healthy Adults

The report - that CDC leadership blocked after clearing scientific review - showed the COVID vaccine cut ER visits and hospitalizations for healthy adults by 1/2 last winter. It followed widely used methods, incl in a CDC flu report last...

By Atul Gawande, MD
25% Beta‑Cell Loss and Aging Drive Type 2 Diabetes
SocialApr 22, 2026

25% Beta‑Cell Loss and Aging Drive Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers analyzed ~250,000 pancreatic islet cells and found that in type 2 diabetes, about 25% of insulin-producing beta cells are lost and many of the remaining ones become aged and dysfunctional. They identified dozens of genes—along with pathways like vitamin...

By Liz Parrish
Alzheimer's Drugs Show Minimal Benefit, Review Reveals Deeper Issues
SocialApr 22, 2026

Alzheimer's Drugs Show Minimal Benefit, Review Reveals Deeper Issues

Alzheimer’s drugs offer little benefit, major review finds – and the reasons go deeper than the science https://t.co/cnMPAEQumY https://t.co/wtg8llquON

By David Barzilai, MD PhD
FDA Criticizes Replimune's Melanoma Trial Design
SocialApr 22, 2026

FDA Criticizes Replimune's Melanoma Trial Design

Some observers, including @US_FDA, have criticized @Replimune for the design of the trial that led to the decision not to grant accelerated approval of their melanoma treatment. I asked the company's Chairman about that view. Watch the full interview: https://t.co/XYVmSeodLv https://t.co/OO8eXTZOXh

By Brad Loncar
Zepbound Sparks Diet Shift, Slashes LDL by One‑third
SocialApr 22, 2026

Zepbound Sparks Diet Shift, Slashes LDL by One‑third

Patient started Zepbound and cut their LDL cholesterol essentially by a third and no longer in the range to start a cholesterol medicine. The medicine doesn't lower LDL cholesterol that much, but it did allow her to eat a more plant-forward...

By Spencer Nadolsky, DO
Social Support Beats Policy‑blind Trauma Treatment for Recovery
SocialApr 22, 2026

Social Support Beats Policy‑blind Trauma Treatment for Recovery

Treating trauma while ignoring the social and political conditions that generate it risks turning medicine into a repair shop for problems our policies continue to produce. The strongest predictor of sustained recovery from addiction is social support. https://t.co/HoXy8efgWf

By Julie Holland
Pharma-Backed Petition Urges FDA to Overhaul Rejection Letters
SocialApr 22, 2026

Pharma-Backed Petition Urges FDA to Overhaul Rejection Letters

New Pharma-backed petition calls on FDA to reform how it releases drug rejection letters, says current process is unlawful - https://t.co/XLwCxt1FY6

By Zach Brennan
Omada Adds Continuous Support to GLP‑1 Prescriptions
SocialApr 22, 2026

Omada Adds Continuous Support to GLP‑1 Prescriptions

Too many GLP-1 patients get only a script, and not a strategy. @OmadaHealth is changing that by pairing GLP-1 prescribing with continuous, between-visit support from day one through discontinuation. Learn more: https://t.co/crIf2pMtCK https://t.co/N9Rrxq1RFD

By Sean Duffy
PK/PD Crucial for Next-Gen ADC Development
SocialApr 22, 2026

PK/PD Crucial for Next-Gen ADC Development

Wonderful tour de force on ADCs by @raffcolo highlighting the importance of PK/PD going forward with new formats https://t.co/nUpBNNoVil

By Sally Church
Accepting Loveland Foundation Vouchers for California Therapy
SocialApr 22, 2026

Accepting Loveland Foundation Vouchers for California Therapy

For the girlies that have/ use @thelovelandfoundation vouchers, I am accept the vouchers for therapy in CA. Reach out if you are looking for a therapist ✨

By Amani, LMFT
Moderna Launches mRNA Bird Flu Trial After Funding Loss
SocialApr 22, 2026

Moderna Launches mRNA Bird Flu Trial After Funding Loss

Moderna, after losing US funding, rebounds to start mRNA bird flu vaccine trial https://t.co/cKyC9jfWAj by Kristin Jensen $MRNA

By Ben Fidler
Secure, Connected Health Systems Need APIs, Identity, Testing
SocialApr 22, 2026

Secure, Connected Health Systems Need APIs, Identity, Testing

APIs, identity, patient matching, data sharing trends, and bold ideas like routine EHR downtime testing—so many smart points in one place. Thinking about how to build more trustworthy, secure, and connected systems? ⬇️ 🔗 https://t.co/rzpgNz6fqO @DirectTrustorg #Interop #HITSM

By Colin Hung
Prelude Tx Unveils Early-Stage KAT6A Degrader
SocialApr 22, 2026

Prelude Tx Unveils Early-Stage KAT6A Degrader

Looking through my #aacr26 collection of posters from yesterday. Prelude Tx have a KAT6A degrader (PRT13722) in early development to compete with inhibitors: https://t.co/23zBtCX8Hs

By Sally Church
Personalized CRISPR Poised to Become Standard Care
SocialApr 22, 2026

Personalized CRISPR Poised to Become Standard Care

How individualized CRISPR genome editing can go from rare, expensive use to broader accessibility and a standard of care by @UrnovFyodor and Sadik Kassim @Nature https://t.co/ddc5ASPPAK https://t.co/GOFneIyuai

By Eric Topol
Merck Expands AI Push; Roche Reports MS Drug Data
SocialApr 22, 2026

Merck Expands AI Push; Roche Reports MS Drug Data

Merck adds to pharma’s AI push; Roche details MS drug results https://t.co/VmpWyLhP9A $MRK $RHHBY $TGTX $RCUS $GILD #biotech

By Ben Fidler
New Receptor Enables Bat Alphacoronavirus Entry Into Humans
SocialApr 22, 2026

New Receptor Enables Bat Alphacoronavirus Entry Into Humans

Discovery of a new receptor by which alphacoronavirus from bats can get into human cells and the potential for transmission https://t.co/LE5sTVyfkS @Nature https://t.co/aszqnDMQqE @NatureNV https://t.co/ejnvrvr6BO

By Eric Topol
Private‑Equity Hospital Takeovers Cut Staff, Raise ER Deaths 13%
SocialApr 22, 2026

Private‑Equity Hospital Takeovers Cut Staff, Raise ER Deaths 13%

"When private equity firms acquire hospitals, they cut clinical staff to boost profits — and emergency room death rates rise 13%." — from INCORRUPTIBLE by Eric Ries, out May 26 https://t.co/QemqcsZZbq

By Eric Ries
Trump’s “Most‑favored‑nation” Deals Don’t Ensure Cheapest U.S. Drug
SocialApr 22, 2026

Trump’s “Most‑favored‑nation” Deals Don’t Ensure Cheapest U.S. Drug

One lie worth refuting that @RobertKennedyJr keeps repeating across hours of testimony before Congress from the last week (final Senate Finance/HELP day today): The "most-favored nation" drug pricing deals that Trump crafted with 16 cos. DO NOT by any means guarantee...

By Zach Brennan
Doctors Profit Millions From No Surprises Act Loopholes
SocialApr 22, 2026

Doctors Profit Millions From No Surprises Act Loopholes

The big surprise of the No Surprises Act: Doctors are cashing in on the consumer protection law, getting paid $440,000 for breast reductions and $14,000 for steroid injections. Latest investigation with @sangerkatz: https://t.co/keJwqqAeLX

By Sarah Kliff
Redefining ‘First‑in‑Class’ Amid Faster Competing Therapies
SocialApr 22, 2026

Redefining ‘First‑in‑Class’ Amid Faster Competing Therapies

How do we define “first in class” when there are others further ahead? This example is from Atheron Therapeutics w/ a CCNE1 degrader #aacr26 https://t.co/s22biREUrt

By Sally Church
Schwartz's CDC Success Hinges on Kennedy's Authority
SocialApr 22, 2026

Schwartz's CDC Success Hinges on Kennedy's Authority

Is Erica Schwartz a good pick for #CDC director? Experts say as long as she reports to Kennedy, it doesn't much matter. “She could be terrible, she could be great. But it’s really: What is the secretary going to allow?”...

By Helen Branswell
CDC Vaccine Efficacy Report on Halved Winter Hospitalizations Shelved
SocialApr 22, 2026

CDC Vaccine Efficacy Report on Halved Winter Hospitalizations Shelved

The #CDC report that showed the #Covid vaccine halved the risk of a recipient needing emergency care or hospitalization this winter has been shelved by HHS, @bylenasun reports. https://t.co/tCNx8LSIKn

By Helen Branswell
EMP‑01 Shows Strong Patient‑Reported Gains in Social Anxiety
SocialApr 22, 2026

EMP‑01 Shows Strong Patient‑Reported Gains in Social Anxiety

What incredible news to wake up to! Some weeks ago, @ataibeckley reported positive topline results for EMP-01 (oral R-MDMA, a patent-protected version of #MDMA) for Social Anxiety Disorder(SAD). The data reported was the reduction in symptoms as reported by the treating...

By Christian Angermayer
Dell's Billion-Dollar Gift Positions UT as Health Hub
SocialApr 22, 2026

Dell's Billion-Dollar Gift Positions UT as Health Hub

@MichaelDell is a true leader & visionary. "A society grows old when men plant trees whose shade they'll never sit under." We need more US boomers to step up and reinvest in their grandchildren & communities like Dell. With...

By Tyler Neville
Medical AI Lacks Proof of Patient Care Benefits
SocialApr 22, 2026

Medical AI Lacks Proof of Patient Care Benefits

On the lack of compelling evidence that medical AI is improving patient care, and what to do about it, a @NatureMedicine editorial https://t.co/kQiN6L2ai7 https://t.co/zhae0bFZ8R

By Eric Topol
AI‑Driven Discoveries Shift Medicine to Understanding the How
SocialApr 22, 2026

AI‑Driven Discoveries Shift Medicine to Understanding the How

The Real Era of the Art of Medicine Begins with Artificial Intelligence. I mean, when AI discovers new treatments and runs in silico clinical trials that physicians, pharma companies, or medical innovators would never think of, our job will be understanding the...

By Bertalan Meskó, PhD
CDC Withholds Report Showing Vaccines Reduce Hospitalizations
SocialApr 22, 2026

CDC Withholds Report Showing Vaccines Reduce Hospitalizations

Can't hide from science. CDC won’t publish report showing covid shots cut likelihood of hospital visits https://t.co/zajDCiaaAJ

By Jeff Jarvis
Belief in Treatment Lowers Brain Pain Activity
SocialApr 22, 2026

Belief in Treatment Lowers Brain Pain Activity

Simply believing you’re being treated can measurably reduce the brain’s pain processing. MRI scans across 20 studies show that placebo treatment reduces activity in pain-processing brain regions. The effect is small, but consistent. Full video on placebo: https://t.co/l1PV2LNyhA Study: PMID: 33654105

By Siim Land
Bad Sleep Drives Depression and Insulin Resistance, Not Just Symptom
SocialApr 22, 2026

Bad Sleep Drives Depression and Insulin Resistance, Not Just Symptom

One of the most expensive mistakes in health is treating bad sleep as a side effect. Very often, it is part of the mechanism. A new study on depression and insulin resistance caught my attention. Link at the end. I will walk...

By Alexander Lebedev, MD, PhD
Oscar Health Turns Health Insurance Into Consumer Marketplace
SocialApr 22, 2026

Oscar Health Turns Health Insurance Into Consumer Marketplace

Airbnb for healthcare?? Oscar Health has an interesting history. They were the first health insurance company to give clients a health tracker. If they proved through data that they lived an active life, they received benefits and rewards.  As healthcare is the...

By Bertalan Meskó, PhD
CNN Hunts Real Patient Stories on ChatGPT Health Use
SocialApr 22, 2026

CNN Hunts Real Patient Stories on ChatGPT Health Use

It must be a milestone if CNN is actively looking for patient stories of using ChatGPT for health issues. Using generative AI is not newsworthy enough to be covered frequently. Also, there are many patient stories out there proving that...

By Bertalan Meskó, PhD
Billionaires Drive Biotech's Race for Cancer Blockbusters
SocialApr 22, 2026

Billionaires Drive Biotech's Race for Cancer Blockbusters

Just read "For Blood and Money: Billionaires, Biotech, and the Quest for a Blockbuster Drug" a good book about developing of a pair of cancer drugs. Great work by @nathanvardi https://t.co/rrTOe6GqIB

By Zach Coelius
Blocking PGAM‑Chk1 Kills Senescent Cells, Eases Lung Fibrosis
SocialApr 22, 2026

Blocking PGAM‑Chk1 Kills Senescent Cells, Eases Lung Fibrosis

Researchers found that senescent cells depend on a PGAM–Chk1 interaction to boost glycolysis and survive, and blocking this interaction selectively kills these cells and reduces disease effects like lung fibrosis. https://t.co/VTsHTkBcad

By Liz Parrish
Durvalumab Plus FLOT Improves Resectable Gastric Cancer Outcomes
SocialApr 22, 2026

Durvalumab Plus FLOT Improves Resectable Gastric Cancer Outcomes

EFS in MATTERHORN: A Ph3 RCT of durvalumab plus 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin & docetaxel chemotherapy (FLOT) in resectable gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC) - @YJanjigianMD et al. #ASCO25 LBA5 https://t.co/lW8KUtXdB3 #NCT04592913 #stcsm #esocsm

By Mike Thompson, MD PhD
CtDNA‑guided Cam
SocialApr 22, 2026

CtDNA‑guided Cam

Camizestrant + CDK4/6i for the Tx of emergent ESR1 mutations during 1L endocrine-based therapy & ahead of disease progression in Pts w/ HR+/HER2– advanced breast cancer (ABC): ...ctDNA-guided SERENA-6 trial - Turner et al. #ASCO25 LBA4 https://t.co/9jFfuGd1IS #NCT04964934 #bcsm

By Mike Thompson, MD PhD
Rusfertide Shows Efficacy in Phase 3 PV Trial
SocialApr 22, 2026

Rusfertide Shows Efficacy in Phase 3 PV Trial

Results from VERIFY, a phase 3, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled study of rusfertide for treatment of polycythemia vera (PV) - @KuykendallMd et al. #ASCO25 LBA3 https://t.co/XID3tkj6Sk #NCT05210790 #mpnsm

By Mike Thompson, MD PhD
Adjuvant Nivolumab Boosts Outcomes in High‑Risk HNSCC
SocialApr 22, 2026

Adjuvant Nivolumab Boosts Outcomes in High‑Risk HNSCC

NIVOPOSTOP (GORTEC 2018-01): Ph3 RCT of adjuvant nivolumab added to radio-chemotherapy in Pts w/ resected head & neck squamous cell carcinoma at high risk of relapse - Bourhis et al. #ASCO25 LBA2 https://t.co/Uxh4JhZyDE #NCT03576417 #hncsm #ImmunoOnc

By Mike Thompson, MD PhD
Atezolizumab Boosts Adjuvant Therapy for dMMR Colon
SocialApr 22, 2026

Atezolizumab Boosts Adjuvant Therapy for dMMR Colon

RCT of standard chemotherapy +/- atezolizumab as adjuvant therapy for Pts w/ stage III deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) colon cancer (@ALLIANCE_org A021502; ATOMIC) - @FASinicropeMD et al. #ASCO25 LBA1 https://t.co/cGalNPlxMe #NCT02912559 #crcsm

By Mike Thompson, MD PhD
First Tumor NGS Usage Varies Across Top Five Cancers
SocialApr 22, 2026

First Tumor NGS Usage Varies Across Top Five Cancers

Utilization and timing of first tumor next-generation sequencing testing (NGS) in Pts w/ 5 most common cancers in the USA - @chadihcmd et al. @huntsmancancer #ASCO25 Abstract 11014 https://t.co/lWefncnTb2 #PrecisionMedicine #hemonc #bcsm #crcsm #lcsm #pancsm #pcsm https://t.co/oIX8QTRD8x

By Mike Thompson, MD PhD
Voters Ban AHF's Taxpayer-Funded Ballot Initiative Abuse
SocialApr 21, 2026

Voters Ban AHF's Taxpayer-Funded Ballot Initiative Abuse

For about a decade, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation used many millions of taxpayer dollars to fund a series of ridiculous ballot initiatives reflecting their CEO's personal beefs before voters in 2024 made this illegal. You think you know how weird...

By Nolan Gray
Nurix's NRX-0305 Shows
SocialApr 21, 2026

Nurix's NRX-0305 Shows

New degrader from Nurix looks interesting: NRX-0305 demonstrated antitumour activity across a wide range of Class 1 BRAF inhibitor-resistant and Class 2/3 mutant PDX models #aacr26 https://t.co/0UGF5Od2Cp

By Sally Church
Psychedelics Could Revolutionize Psychiatry Like Microscopes Transformed Biology
SocialApr 21, 2026

Psychedelics Could Revolutionize Psychiatry Like Microscopes Transformed Biology

“Psychedelics, used responsibly and with proper caution, would be for psychiatry what the microscope is for biology and medicine." – Stanislav Grof

By Christian Angermayer