NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

Nivolumab (Opdivo) reduces side effects and disease progression risk by 50% compared to brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) in advanced Hodgkin lymphoma treatment, according to a phase 3 clinical trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Older obese adults with metabolic issues improved brain health and cognition after following either an intermittent fasting diet or a USDA healthy living diet for eight weeks, according to an NIA-led study published in *Cell Metabolism*.

Women have been underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials due to historical misconceptions and FDA guidelines discouraging their participation. Despite efforts since the 1990s, including NIH mandates, women remain underrepresented in heart failure trials, affecting the generalizability of findings. Factors like access, awareness, and comfort with the trial process contribute to lower participation rates. Addressing these barriers requires comprehensive strategies to ensure gender equity in clinical research.

The University of Michigan received a $30 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for health data research. TOPMed aims to improve data processing and sharing, seeking genomic data from diverse ethnic backgrounds to develop more effective treatments.

A study of over 3 million pregnancies found no significant association between paternal metformin use and congenital malformations in offspring, reassuring men with type 2 diabetes.

Alzheimer’s disease may have two phases: a silent, slow-developing first phase that damages inhibitory neurons and accumulates toxic proteins, followed by a rapid, destructive second phase marked by memory and cognitive problems.

Rep. Robin Kelly hosted a roundtable at La Rabida Children’s Hospital to discuss diversifying clinical trials, emphasizing the need for better representation of marginalized communities. Stakeholders highlighted challenges like historical distrust and shared efforts to educate and diversify the medical workforce. Kelly, as Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust, supports initiatives like the NIH Clinical Trial Diversity Act.

An FDA-approved breast cancer drug, palbociclib, shows promise in treating peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis (PMC), a rare appendix cancer, according to a UC San Diego study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The drug stabilized tumor growth and reduced blood tumor markers in patients with GNAS gene mutations, offering a well-tolerated alternative to chemotherapy.