Chronic Health Brief

Trend in action: Access programs are improving stem cell transplant outcomes for blood disorders like thalassemia.

• Free HLA typing launched for kids...

Emerging trend: GLP-1 agonists show neuroprotective effects beyond weight loss, boosting synaptic plasticity and reducing neuron damage.

• Dementia...

Stanford Medicine's new antibody-based approach enables safer stem cell transplants for Fanconi anemia—a rare disease causing bone marrow failure and...

AHA identifies 10 key factors—healthy diet, not smoking, no excess drinking, adequate exercise and sleep, avoiding stress—to lower dementia and stroke risk.

Cumulative studies urge cutting ultra-processed foods (UPF) to curb cardiovascular events:

• Highest UPF intake linked to 19% higher heart disease...

A new study finds cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may deliver at least short-term benefits as a non-pharmacologic option for managing menopausal symptoms. Results published in Menopause.

• 33% lower dementia risk for over-65s getting both Shingrix doses vs. unvaccinated
• 28% reduced Alzheimer's, 33% lower vascular dementia in 1.5M...

• Phase 1/2 breakthrough: Daraxonrasib is safe with signs of efficacy in previously treated, RAS-mutant metastatic pancreatic cancer patients.
• Led...

A common local anaesthetic—best known for numbing skin before minor procedures—shows unexpected promise in blocking the spread of one of the most aggressive childhood cancers.

Cancer Therapy Advances

• 🔥 Sacituzumab Govitecan in TNBC: Phase 3 ASCENT-03 trial showed sacituzumab govitecan improved median PFS to 9.7 months...

Game-changer for underserved TNBC patients unable to receive PD-L1 inhibitors, where options are limited:

• PFS: 9.7 vs 6.9 months (HR 0.62;...

Very low heart rates (<50 bpm) raise stroke risk by 25%, even after adjusting for other factors. Both low and high rates are implicated – monitor yours as a key modifiable factor.

Cytokinetics announces positive topline results from ACACIA-HCM, the pivotal Phase 3 trial of aficamten in patients with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A promising advance for those managing this chronic heart condition.

Trend spotlight: Immunotherapy + chemo/CRT emerges as promising bladder-sparing alternative.

• Durvalumab + neoadjuvant chemo improves survival and...

Emerging Phase 3 trend: Dual therapies boost disease-free survival in resected high-risk renal cell carcinoma.

• RAMPART: Durvalumab + tremelimumab...

Major advance for advanced prostate cancer patients:

• Enzalutamide + radium-223 significantly prolongs overall survival in bone-dominant metastatic...

STELLAR-303 trial breakthrough for MSS metastatic CRC post-chemo:

• Zanzalintinib + atezolizumab cut death/progression risk by 30% vs regorafenib in...

Breakthrough evidence: Once-weekly semaglutide (2.4mg) reduced heavy drinking days by 41.1% in treatment-seeking adults with AUD and obesity, vs...

Challenging LDL fears: Research shows higher LDL linked to longer life, with lower LDL raising all-cause mortality risk.

• 68k-participant study:...

Lilly's Foundayo pill lowered the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death by 16% in a trial of 2,700 patients at increased cardiovascular risk. Big news for managing chronic heart risks.