Health

Study: U.S. fentanyl increasingly mixed with multiple sedatives and industrial chemicals

A NIST analysis of 4,563 samples from 2024–mid-2026 shows fentanyl increasingly contains multiple non-opioid sedatives and industrial additives, varying by region.

#fentanyl, #drug-supply, #publichealth, #overdose, #drugtesting

FDA OKs Pfizer’s TUKYSA for Front‑line Maintenance in HER2‑Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

FDA expands Pfizer's TUKYSA for front‑line maintenance in unresectable/metastatic HER2‑positive breast cancer; PFS improved 8.6 months, liver risks noted.

$PFE, #her2, #breastcancer, #pfizer, #fda

Federal Medicaid Match Ends for Many Lawfully Present Immigrants, Forcing States to Decide

New federal rule ends Medicaid/CHIP matching funds for many lawfully present immigrants starting Oct. 1, 2026, forcing states to cut coverage or pay locally.

#medicaid, #immigration, #healthcare, #cms

Garetosmab (Pasatru) sharply reduces new bone lesions in adults with FOP, phase 3 Lancet trial shows; FDA approved Aug. 19, 2026

Phase 3 Lancet trial shows garetosmab cuts new heterotopic bone lesions by ~90% in adults with FOP; FDA approved Pasatru Aug. 19, 2026.

#fop, #garetosmab, #raredisease, #fda

Single IV CRISPR Dose Produces ~50% LDL and Triglyceride Reductions at One Year in Early Trial

A single IV dose of CRISPR Therapeutics’ CTX310 produced about 50% average reductions in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides at one year in a small Phase 1a trial.

$CRSP, #crispr, #lipids, #geneediting, #angptl3

NHS launches pilot of rapid genomic test to cut brain tumour diagnosis from weeks to days

NHS England is piloting a rapid genomic test for brain tumours in five specialist centres, aiming to shorten diagnosis from weeks to days.

#nhs, #genomics, #brain-tumour, #diagnostics, #oncology

NHS-Galleri Trial Misses Primary Endpoint; Secondary Analysis Shows Fewer Stage IV Cancers

A large randomized NHS trial of Grail’s Galleri multi-cancer blood test missed its primary endpoint, though secondary analysis found fewer Stage IV cancers.

#cancer, #screening, #galleri, #clinicaltrials

England dashboard: 1.4 million waiting for mental health care as NHS outlines £21.4bn 2026/27 plans

NHS England’s new quarterly dashboard shows 1.415m people waiting for mental-health care in July and planned mental-health spending of £21.376bn for 2026/27.

#mentalhealth, #nhs, #england, #healthpolicy

Lancet urges compassionate care as central to controlling DRC’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak

A Lancet commentary argues that accessible, high-quality supportive care is essential to controlling the DRC’s growing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak.

#ebola, #drc, #publichealth, #lancet

Durvalumab Plus FLOT Boosts Survival in Resectable Gastric and GEJ Cancer, MATTERHORN Shows

Phase 3 MATTERHORN shows AstraZeneca’s durvalumab added to perioperative FLOT improves overall and event‑free survival in resectable gastric/GEJ cancer.

$AZN, #oncology, #immunotherapy, #durvalumab, #gastric-cancer, #astrazeneca

Gene-edited pig kidney supported a human for 271 days and didn’t block later transplant, case report finds

A Lancet case report shows a gene-edited pig kidney kept a patient off dialysis for 271 days and didn’t impede a later human transplant.

#xenotransplantation, #kidneytransplant, #egenesis, #organtransplant

FDA Approves Zanvastro, First Therapy for Alexander Disease

FDA approves Zanvastro (zilganersen), the first approved therapy for Alexander disease, for patients from infancy through adulthood. Ionis received approval.

$IONS, #health, #fda, #alexanderdisease, #ionis

Sham-controlled trial finds pulmonary vein isolation no better than sham for atrial fibrillation quality of life at six months

A multicentre sham-controlled trial in Europe published in The Lancet found PVI didn’t improve AF-related quality of life versus sham at six months.

#atrialfibrillation, #catheterablation, #cardiology, #clinicaltrials

Phase 1 study: single dose of Kylo-11 sharply lowers Lp(a) for up to 48 weeks

A phase 1 trial in The Lancet found one dose of experimental siRNA Kylo-11 was well tolerated and cut Lp(a) by up to ~98% for months.

#lpa, #cardiology, #drugdevelopment, #sirna

FDA Approves Rasonque (daraxonrasib), First Targeted Therapy for Most Common Form of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

FDA cleared Rasonque for adults with previously treated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma after a Phase 3 trial showed a significant overall survival benefit.

$RVMD, #health, #pancreaticcancer, #oncology, #drugapproval