FDA approves Travere's Filspari as first drug for the kidney disease called FSGS

Nicole DeFeudis / endpoints - The FDA expanded the label for Filspari on Monday to add another kidney condition. The drug is now the first therapy approved in the US for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The pill may be taken ...

AI Summary: The FDA approved Filspari for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), delivering the first specifically authorized treatment for this rare kidney disease. The approval provides a targeted therapeutic option for patients and marks a commercial milestone for Travere, raising hopes for better outcomes while spotlighting questions about access, pricing, and long‑term real‑world effectiveness.

CMS showcases first wave of digital health tools as questions about 'last mile' of adoption remain

fiercehealthcare - On Thursday, Trump administration officials unveiled the first wave of health tech tools as part of a push to make medical records more accessible to Medicare patients.

AI Summary: CMS showcased its first wave of vetted digital health tools via a new "app store" designed to streamline interoperability and distribute standardized applications across health systems. The platform aims to make vetted digital tools easily discoverable, but adoption hurdles, governance questions, and real‑world integration challenges mean hospitals may be cautious before swapping PDFs for plug‑and‑play magic.

Mount Sinai, Anthem reach 3-year agreement

Elizabeth Casolo / beckershospitalreview - Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in New York and New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System have established a three-year agreement, both organizations confirmed to Becker’s. The agreement includes hospitals, physicians and other providers. Mount Sinai sa…

AI Summary: Mount Sinai and Anthem reached a three‑year contract restoring in‑network coverage after negotiations, ending a period of uncertainty for patients and clinicians. The deal averts immediate network disruption and signals both sides' willingness to settle—proof that combat can end in compromise when hospitals and insurers remember patients actually use the services.

Baylor Scott & White Health Plan to exit Medicaid, individual markets; cut 321 jobs

Jakob Emerson / beckershospitalreview - Baylor Scott & White Health Plan said April 14 it will exit the Texas Medicaid managed care market and discontinue its individual marketplace plans, affecting roughly 225,000 members and eliminating 321 jobs statewide, according to the Dallas Morning News…

AI Summary: Baylor Scott & White announced it will leave Medicaid individual markets, a move that will shed hundreds of jobs and reshape coverage options for affected enrollees. The decision highlights ongoing financial pressures in public‑program participation and raises practical concerns about access continuity for people reliant on those plans.

Norway's 'Oslo patient' reaches HIV remission after rare stem cell transplant donated by brother

medicalxpress - A Norwegian man has been effectively cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant from his brother, doctors announced on Monday.

AI Summary: A remarkable clinical case: a patient in Norway known as the "Oslo patient" has entered sustained HIV remission following a rare stem‑cell transplant from a donor with genetic resistance to the virus. The outcome offers cautious optimism for curative strategies, though experts stress this remains an exceptional, high‑risk intervention rather than a broadly applicable cure.

One lot of Xanax recalled nationwide over quality issue, FDA says

medicalxpress - A widely used anxiety medication is being pulled from shelves due to "failed dissolution specifications," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.

AI Summary: Regulators have flagged a quality issue and a manufacturer has recalled a specific lot of Xanax nationwide. Pharmacies and patients have been advised to check lot numbers and return affected pills; health officials emphasize the recall is precautionary, urging anyone with concerns to consult their pharmacist or clinician rather than panic-buy substitutes.

Tenet CIO to retire at year end

Emily Olsen / healthcaredive - Paola Arbour will stay at Tenet on a part-time basis to provide transition and support services through early 2028.

AI Summary: Tenet announced its chief information officer will retire at year‑end, kicking off a leadership transition for a pivotal technology role. The departure forces succession planning and raises questions about continuity for key digital initiatives — the sort of timing CIOs love to call “strategic.”

FDA to review whether to allow more access to certain peptides

medicalxpress - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will soon review whether certain peptides should be allowed in customized medications made by compounding pharmacies.

AI Summary: The FDA is moving toward expanding access to certain compounded peptides, opening a regulatory review that could loosen limits on how pharmacies and clinics obtain and prepare these popular therapies. The review balances potential patient demand and shortages against safety and quality-control concerns, putting compounding practices squarely under the spotlight.

New Bill Seeks to Lower Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs

Marissa Plescia / medcitynews - Rep. Greg Murphy introduced a bill that would require out-of-pocket prescription drug spending to count toward patients’ deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums regardless of where the drugs are purchased.The post New Bill Seeks to Lower Out-of-Pocket Drug…

AI Summary: Lawmakers introduced legislation to reduce out‑of‑pocket drug costs by allowing patients' direct drug purchases to count toward their insurance deductibles. The proposal aims to ease financial strain for people buying costly medications out‑of‑pocket, but would require insurers and pharmacy systems to change longstanding accounting and benefits practices.

Experimental drug cuts Parkinson's-linked protein up to 60% in early trial

medicalxpress - An experimental drug designed to silence a gene strongly linked to Parkinson's disease has shown encouraging effects in a first-in-human clinical trial, according to a study published in Nature Medicine. The drug, known as BIIB094, targets LRRK2, the most…

AI Summary: An experimental therapeutic cut levels of a Parkinson’s‑linked protein by up to 60% in an early human study, while complementary preclinical work identified a compound that clears toxic Parkinson’s proteins from brain tissue. The twin findings hint at disease‑modifying potential, though meaningful clinical benefit and long‑term safety remain to be demonstrated.

Insmed shelves Brinsupri in skin disease after mid-stage flop

Elizabeth Cairns / endpoints - Insmed has given up on Brinsupri in the painful skin disorder hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) after a mid-stage trial failure. The company had ditched the pill in sinus inflammation at the end of last year. The ...

AI Summary: Insmed announced it will halt development of Brinsupri for a dermatologic indication following disappointing mid‑stage trial results. Company commentary stressed the skin setback does not negate Brinsupri’s potential in pulmonary indications, but investors and clinicians will understandably ask for clearer signs of life before buying the comeback story.

What are motor skills? Evidence‑based ways to support children's fine and gross motor development

medicalxpress - Motor skills are foundational for a lifetime of movement. For children, they play a vital role not only in facilitating physical activity levels but also for cognitive and socio-emotional development and school readiness.

AI Summary: New guidance summarizes evidence-based strategies to strengthen young children's fine and gross motor development, offering practical activities, screening cues and professional supports for parents and educators. The reporting emphasizes early intervention, play-based approaches and simple at-home exercises that can set the stage for healthier development without expensive gadgets or miracle fixes.

Oricell Lands $110M to Take Cell Therapy to New Territory in Cancer

Frank Vinluan / medcitynews - There are no FDA-approved therapies for GPC3, a protein highly expressed by liver cancers. Oricell Therapeutics claims its cell therapy could be best in this class, but it faces competition from companies such as AstraZeneca and Eureka Therapeutics. The p…

AI Summary: Oricell, a China‑based CAR‑T developer, secured fresh financing to accelerate its cell‑therapy programs and support plans to go public. The fundraising will bankroll clinical expansion, manufacturing scale‑up, and regulatory preparations as the company pushes toward broader development and an IPO ambition, positioning it to compete in the crowded CAR‑T market.

FDA Approves Relacorilant with nab-Paclitaxel for Platinum-Resistant Epithelial Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, Or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

esmo - Evidence for efficacy is based on the findings from the ROSELLA study

AI Summary: The FDA granted marketing authorization for relacorilant in combination with nab‑paclitaxel to treat platinum‑resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers. Regulators cited clinical benefit in a difficult‑to‑treat population, providing an additional therapeutic option for patients with limited choices and marking an important regulatory milestone.

Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD, FAACR, Honored With the 2026 AACR-Margaret Foti Award

oncodaily - The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has named Antoni Ribas as the recipient of the 2026 AACR-Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research, recognizing a […]

AI Summary: Antoni Ribas was honored with the AACR‑Margaret Foti Award in recognition of leadership and major contributions to cancer research. The award spotlights Ribas’ influence on immunotherapy development and cancer science translation, celebrating a career that has shaped both scientific agendas and clinical practice.

Orlando Health fleshes out Alabama footprint with another acquisition

fiercehealthcare - The $10 billion nonprofit plans to acquire RMC Health System from the City of Anniston, building on 2024's big-ticket purchase of five Alabama hospitals from Tenet Healthcare.

AI Summary: Orlando Health continued its regional growth by acquiring an Alabama health system, extending its clinical and operational footprint into the state. The move aims to integrate services, expand care access and consolidate regional networks as health systems seek scale to manage costs and enhance specialty offerings.