UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

FDA delays release of guidelines to improve pulse oximeter accuracy for patients with darker skin, despite evidence of inaccuracies leading to treatment disparities and deaths. Physicians and health equity advocates criticize the FDA's slow response, calling for stricter testing and clearer labeling to address racial biases in medical devices.

A workshop on disability trends among U.S. working-age populations (25-64) will be held Oct 15-16, 2024, focusing on measurement, social/economic factors, and COVID-19 implications. It aims to identify research and data priorities, considering labor force participation and public programs, and will discuss interventions and social safety net policies.

Naveris presents NavDx® test data at 2024 ASTRO, highlighting its role in managing HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancers, with studies showing its effectiveness in predicting treatment outcomes and guiding therapy adjustments.

Hundreds of clinical trials explore GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro for treating conditions beyond Type 2 diabetes, weight management, and cardiovascular disease, including anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, arthritis, kidney disease, and cancer. Promising late-stage trials have led to FDA review applications for Ozempic for kidney disease and Zepbound for sleep apnea. Research driven by GLP-1's role in insulin release, appetite suppression, and inflammation reduction suggests broad therapeutic potential, though mechanisms in the brain remain unclear.

Cereno Scientific announces positive Phase IIa trial results for CS1 in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, showing safety, tolerability, and positive impact on risk score, functional class, and mean pulmonary arterial pressure. The data supports CS1's potential as a disease-modifying therapy, prompting discussions with regulatory authorities for a pivotal trial.

NIH lab mimics bar to study if anti-obesity drugs curb alcohol cravings; evidence suggests GLP-1 receptor agonists may reduce various addictions. Clinical trials underway, with potential benefits beyond weight loss, including reducing cardiovascular risks, easing sleep apnoea, and slowing Parkinson’s development. Understanding drug mechanisms could optimize responses and mitigate side effects.

Supreme Court decision weakening federal agency power complicates cannabis law, with courts now having final say over technical regulations. This impacts hemp legality, exemplified by the Anderson v Diamondback case, where THC-O's status as synthetic cannabinoid or hemp is disputed. The 2018 farm bill's loophole led to an unregulated hemp market, prompting states to pass laws. The DEA's stance on THC-O's synthetic nature is challenged, and the need for more research and regulation on THC-O is emphasized.

Despite evidence that genetic testing for prostate cancer improves clinical management, uptake remains low. Genetic testing identifies mutations in DNA repair genes like BRCA2, aiding personalized medicine and treatment decisions. Low testing rates impact eligibility for PARP inhibitors. Barriers include lack of genetic counselors, physician knowledge, and patient concerns. Studies show web-based tools and clinician-led counseling can increase testing rates. Timely testing is crucial for better outcomes, as HRR mutations correlate with worse prognosis. Genetic testing also influences prostate cancer grade classification and screening strategies, particularly for BRCA2 mutation carriers.

HotSpot Therapeutics appoints Dr. Alison O'Neill as Chief Medical Officer, leveraging her extensive biopharmaceutical experience to advance their pipeline of allosteric drug candidates for cancer and autoimmune diseases.