Apps

48 Dead, 182 Affected in Nigeria Methanol Poisoning — 2d"After drinking two cups on the 11th, I couldn't see the next day," a patient said, as a suspected methanol drink left at least 48 dead in Nigeria.

Portland Podiatrist Sentenced for Abusing 13 PatientsHealth — Sep 11, 2026A Portland podiatrist, Brian Bowen, was convicted of first‑degree sexual abuse and, after pleading guilty to 10 misdemeanor counts and two counts of sexual abuse by fraudulent representation for 13 patients, was sentenced to 100 months in prison. He also must register as a sex offender and face years of post‑prison supervision under Oregon’s 2023 law that criminalizes sexual contact with a patient falsely claimed to serve medical purposes.

AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Trial Misses Key Goal — Sep 11, 2026AstraZeneca’s breast cancer pill camizestrant (Etcamah) failed to improve progression-free survival in a late-stage trial when added to standard therapy, despite an earlier ESR1 mutation–targeted approval and after-hours stock weakness. The broader trial that reached more patients failed, while a separate study in ESR1-mutant patients showed a meaningful benefit, underscoring a split outcome for the drug’s potential.

Marcus Bell It's frustrating the overall trial missed but good the ESR1 group still saw real benefit from the drug.

Hildegard of Bingen Writes SciviasGood News — FROM 1151Hildegard records visions and heals patients.

Canonization Miracle of St. John Paul IIGood News — FROM 2011Parkinson's patient healed

The Village That Adopted a Leper ColonyGood News — FROM 1950Indian community cares for abandoned patients

Elizabeth of Hungary Opens Hospital at MarburgGood News — FROM 1228Widowed princess builds leper hospital and serves patients.

Alzheimer’s patient in Broward sees brain plaques cleared due to new treatmentHealth — Sep 5, 2026

The Story of the First Heart Transplant PatientGood News — FROM 1967Louis Washkansky receives new heart and hope

Hildegard of Bingen Writes Scivias and Heals PatientsGood News — FROM 1151Abbess records visions and treats the sick with herbal medicine.

FDA Places Partial Hold on BHV-7000 Trials — Sep 10, 2026The FDA has placed a partial clinical hold on Biohaven/SK Biopharm’s BHV-7000 (opacalim) Phase 2/3 trials for focal epilepsy due to a rodent-specific metabolite toxicity finding, pausing new patient enrollment while current patients may continue. Both companies say the finding is likely rodent-specific and not indicative of human safety, with RISE3 already enrolled and topline results expected later in 2026 amid ongoing licensing and deal processes.

Rachel Meyers Pausing enrollment is the right call until they confirm the metabolite issue won't affect people.

The Doctor Who Stayed in Ebola-Stricken VillageGood News — FROM 2014Sierra Leone physician treats patients at personal risk

Healthcare Data Gaps, Integration Drive Patient CostsHealth — Sep 8, 2026A new study confirms that inaccurate provider data disrupts referrals and care coordination across health systems and plans, highlighting a systemic data quality problem. Separate reports underscore how confusing billing, affordability challenges, and vertical integration in care delivery are driving higher costs and steering patients toward more expensive hospital-based procedures.

Women’s Testosterone Prescriptions Rise 146%, FDA Review Planned — 4dThe FDA is reviewing the evidence on testosterone therapy for menopausal women as off-label use rises without an approved product, amid safety concerns and calls for standardized dosing. Meanwhile, prescriptions have surged, but patients face pharmacy delays and coverage gaps, with medical groups limiting use to women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder and researchers preparing a public workshop to assess safety and efficacy.

Microplastics Detected in 66% of Lung Cancer PatientsHealth — Sep 4, 2026New studies find microplastics in the lungs of lung cancer patients, with researchers cautioning that this association does not establish causation and calling for longitudinal work to clarify any role in disease. Separately, rising rates of lung cancer in non-smokers—especially adenocarcinoma with targetable mutations—are driving a push for risk-based, equitable LDCT screening and broader advances in how care is delivered to patients, including new insights into prevention and management.

Woman Misdiagnosed With Brain Cancer for 11 YearsHealth — 4dBecky Jones, a UK woman diagnosed at 21 with an aggressive brain tumour, underwent 11 years of chemotherapy after doctors said she had months to live, only to later discover she never had cancer. Her case is part of a wider scandal at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, with more than 40 patients pursuing legal action and a Royal College of Physicians review faulting clinical decisions and noting prolonged chemotherapy in numerous cases.

Doctors flag one recurring sentence from male patientsGood News — Sep 8, 2026Doctors observe that men saying their wives made them seek care often points to serious conditions, highlighting how family support can prompt earlier medical attention.

Hull hospital cancels parking fines sent to critically ill patient — Sep 2, 2026A seriously ill patient, Kate Matthews, 36, received multiple hospital parking fines despite her family paying for weekly permits, with debt collection threats issued during her hospital stay; authorities later apologised and cancelled the charges after scrutiny. The case drew widespread attention as families argued the notices were unfair and inequitable when the patient could not contest them while battling severe illness.

Catholic Groups Sue Illinois Over Assisted-Suicide LawHealth — Sep 7, 2026Catholic leaders including Cardinal Cupich, two orders of nuns, and a Catholic pharmacist have sued Illinois to block or challenge the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act, claiming it would force them to violate their religious beliefs and require referrals for assisted suicide. Proponents argue the law protects patient rights and religious liberty for others, while courts weigh injunctions as the law nears its start date.

FDA approves drug reported to double survival for late pancreatic cancer — Sep 8, 2026A new drug called daraxonrasib won quick FDA approval after a trial showed it doubled survival time for pancreatic cancer patients whose disease advanced after chemotherapy.

Rachel Meyers Doubling survival time is meaningful progress even if it is only for late-stage cases like these.

Study Finds 33-Fold Rise in BPC-157 Use Despite Limited Safety Data — 3dBPC-157, an unapproved peptide backed by RFK Jr. and often used with TB-500 as the “Wolverine stack,” is being consumed across a wide range of conditions in the gray market, with new-user numbers rising 33-fold from 2020 to 2026 and regulation still unresolved as the FDA weighs compounding despite safety concerns. Researchers warn that real-world use is hard to track, 1,039 documented patients exist, and there is no solid evidence that the peptide improves healing or pain, underscoring safety risks amid burgeoning popularity.

United Therapeutics and Denali Outline Pipeline Shifts at Morgan Stanley Conference — 4dBiotech firms Crescent Biopharma, Denali Therapeutics, Kyverna Therapeutics, and United Therapeutics outlined forthcoming data, new indications, and expansive commercial strategies at the Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference, signaling a push into pulmonary fibrosis, CNS, and other large patient populations. Denali highlighted its Avlayah Transport Vehicle platform and CNS programs, while United Therapeutics outlined a four‑product strategy for IPF/PPF and planned NDA activities, underscoring continued innovation and manufacturing expansion across the sector.

Nicole Hardy Shifting focus to larger populations like pulmonary fibrosis makes sense for growth but competition will be fierce.

Pig Kidney Bridges Patient to Human TransplantHealth — Sep 5, 2026A patient named Tim Andrews received a genetically engineered pig kidney in January 2025, stayed off dialysis for 271 days, and then transitioned to a human donor kidney, marking the first reported pig-to-human kidney transplant followed by a human transplant. The case, published in The Lancet, supports xenotransplantation as a potential bridge to timely human transplants while highlighting ongoing challenges like immune rejection and long-term viability of pig organs.

FDA Extends Exelixis Drug Review to March 2027 — Sep 11, 2026The FDA has extended Exelixis' NDA review for zanzalintinib in combination with atezolizumab/Tecentriq for metastatic colorectal cancer by three months, moving the action date to March 3, 2027 after updated safety and efficacy data were deemed a major amendment. The development of zanzalintinib as a next-generation cancer therapy continues, with the delay potentially impacting timelines for patients, investors, and partners awaiting a decision.

Nicole Hardy The FDA's move to examine the new safety data more closely makes sense, though it will likely delay any benefits for those counting on the combination therapy.