MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL

Svetlana Mojsov, recipient of the 2024 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, discovered GLP-1, pivotal in insulin secretion and blood glucose regulation, leading to revolutionary diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease treatments. Mojsov, along with Joel F. Habener and Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, will be honored at a September 27 ceremony in New York City.

Pomalidomide, approved for multiple myeloma, significantly reduces severe nosebleeds in HHT patients, improving quality of life, according to the PATH-HHT study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Tampa General Hospital to expand services with Mass General Brigham, including new cancer treatments, bone marrow transplants, and enhanced mental health care for veterans via the Home Base Florida program.

Black women have a 17% to 50% higher risk of dying from any type of breast cancer compared to white women, according to a review of 18 studies. This disparity exists across all breast cancer subtypes and is partly due to systemic racism and socioeconomic factors.

A meta-analysis by Mass General Brigham researchers reveals Black women have a higher risk of dying from all breast cancer subtypes, with disparities ranging from 17-50%. These disparities are attributed to socioeconomic inequality, delays in diagnosis, and inadequate access to treatment, independent of tumor biology. Interventions at multiple levels are necessary to achieve equity in breast cancer outcomes.

Tampa General Hospital and Mass General Brigham deepen affiliation, introducing new programs like bone marrow transplant and CAR-T therapy, and expanding services for Florida veterans through Home Base Florida, marking three years of collaboration focused on medical innovation, research, and patient care.

Metformin, a drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes, shows potential to slow aging in monkeys, improving cognitive abilities, reducing brain shrinkage, and restoring youthful cellular states. The drug also reduces chronic inflammation and age-related issues in multiple organs. The study bridges rodent and primate research, suggesting metformin could inform future clinical trials aimed at extending health span.

Despite challenges, the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial continues with optimism, as Clene Nanomedicine and Prilenia Therapeutics progress their ALS treatments based on positive secondary endpoint data. The trial, initiated by a $40 million donation from Sean Healey and AMG, aims to efficiently test multiple therapies simultaneously. While primary endpoints have not been met, the trial's design allows for quick identification of non-viable treatments, and positive outcomes in subgroups have supported further development for some candidates.

Harvard experts warn of predatory industries exploiting anti-obesity medication popularity, leading to unregulated supplements and laxatives marketed for weight loss, despite health risks. The high cost of medications drives patients to unapproved alternatives, exacerbating the obesity epidemic and societal weight bias.

BridgeBio Pharma's BBP-812, an AAV9 vector-based gene therapy for Canavan disease, received FDA's RMAT designation based on 12 months of safety and efficacy data from the CANaspire trial. All treated patients showed improvements in functional outcomes and a decrease in N-acetylaspartate levels, with the therapy being well-tolerated. The designation offers hope for children with Canavan disease and their families.