Medical News Podcast

Drs. Campos and Dizon explore how groundbreaking research is redefining HER2-targeted therapies in gynecological cancers, moving beyond the old one-size-fits-all approach. They spotlight the promise and ongoing challenges of customizing treatment using new biomarkers and clinical trial data.

A phase 3 trial in The New England Journal of Medicine found that the oral PCSK9 inhibitor enlicitide reduced LDL by 57% at 24 weeks in high-risk patients, with similar adverse events to placebo. An oral option may improve uptake and help more patients reach lipid targets. In The Lancet, SMART-CHOICE 3 showed clopidogrel monotherapy after DAPT post-PCI reduced death, MI, or stroke versus aspirin,...

A JAMA Network Open consensus guide standardizes adult UTI triage for telehealth and in-person care. Nonpregnant women with classic cystitis symptoms and no resistance risks may receive empiric antibiotics without testing; men and higher-risk women require urinalysis with culture before treatment. Urine color or odor alone does not justify testing, and urgent evaluation is advised for suspected co...

Drs. Coombs and Danilov explore how to optimally sequence covalent BTK inhibitors, non‑covalent BTK inhibitors (such as pirtobrutinib), and venetoclax-based regimens for relapsed CLL, emphasizing real-world data and emerging trial results. They highlight that treatment choices hinge on prior response depth and duration, tolerability, mutational profile, and the need to preserve future options and...

A large Lancet meta-analysis found no clinically meaningful association between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability after restricting analyses to adjusted and sibling-comparison studies, with odds ratios essentially null; acetaminophen remains first-line for pain and fever in pregnancy. A Nordic BMJ case-control study of more than 17,000 gastric cancer case...

Firearm ownership has surged in the U.S., yet safety discussions remain uncommon in clinical care. An NEJM article supports routine, nonpolitical firearm counseling using the “3 A’s” (Ask, Advise, Assist) to reduce risks such as suicide and unintentional injury. Separately, a BMJ meta-analysis shows that patients stopping GLP-1 weight-loss medications typically regain weight within 1.5–2 years, re...

A large U.S. cohort study found that children who were late for routine 2- or 4-month immunizations were six to seven times more likely to miss MMR vaccination entirely by age two, highlighting early delays as a strong predictor of future vaccine refusal amid rising measles cases. A long-term study of more than 27,000 women showed that very high lipoprotein(a) levels were associated with substanti...

New real-world data suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists used for adolescent obesity are associated with roughly half the rate of asthma exacerbations, fewer emergency visits, and reduced steroid and rescue inhaler use, indicating a possible dual benefit beyond weight loss. In HIV care, Phase 3 ARTISTRY-2 topline results show a once-daily bictegravir/lenacapavir tablet was non-inferior to Biktarvy...

The FDA has issued a major safety alert on andexanet alfa, used to reverse factor Xa inhibitors, after post-marketing data and the ANNEXA-I trial showed roughly double the risk of serious and fatal thromboembolic events versus usual care. Concluding that risks now outweigh benefits, U.S. sales will end, forcing hospitals to urgently reassess reversal protocols. Meanwhile, the CDC reports a sharp n...

Drs. Yu and Herzberg discuss recent developments in HER2- and EGFR-targeted therapies for lung cancer, focusing on clinical trial results at ESMO 2025. Key highlights include promising response rates, toxicity profiles, and the potential for these targeted therapies to treat patients with specific genetic mutations, particularly those with CNS metastases.

Drs. Herzberg and Yu continue their discussion on emerging clinical data presented at ESMO and WCLC 2025. They highlight recent advancements in HER2-targeted therapies for NSCLC and review new HER2-targeted therapies, international study results, and the promise of evolving targeted approaches for HER2-altered lung cancer.

Drs. Herzberg and Yu explore emerging clinical data from the 2025 meetings of the European Society For Medical Oncology (ESMO) and World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), highlighting recent advancements in HER2-targeted therapies for NSCLC. Their discussion focuses on new drugs (eg, zongertinib and trastuzumab deruxtecan), their efficacy and safety profiles, and the potential for treating HER2 mu...

A large cardiovascular outcomes trial in high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes showed that a dual incretin therapy was noninferior to an established comparator for major adverse cardiovascular events over four years, with similar overall safety but more gastrointestinal side effects and no added cardiovascular benefit. Separate trials demonstrated that a single-bolus thrombolytic was as effective...

Drs. Kaul and Adegunsoye discuss advanced technologies to improve early detection and treatment of interstitial lung disease in veterans, with innovative approaches including the MAVRIC trial and AI-powered risk prediction models. These efforts aim to transform pulmonary care by identifying high-risk patients and developing targeted interventions.

Drs. Kaul and Adegunsoye discuss Veterans Affairs’ innovative approach to understanding and treating pulmonary fibrosis among veterans by leveraging extensive electronic health records and data repositories. The work focuses on addressing healthcare disparities, exploring risk factors, and developing a hub-and-spoke telehealth model to provide specialized care to veterans in rural and underserved...

Drs. Adegunsoye and Kaul review their takeaways from CHEST 2025, where pulmonary experts revealed a transformative approach to interstitial lung disease that emphasizes precision medicine and personalized treatments. The conference marked a shift from passive observation to proactive intervention, focusing on early screening, targeted therapies, and reducing healthcare disparities.

A long-term analysis of major prediabetes trials found that achieving remission or returning glucose levels to normal was associated with over a 50% reduction in cardiovascular death or heart failure, with durable benefits decades later; delaying diabetes without remission did not show similar benefit. A randomized trial in critically ill adults found no difference in 28-day mortality between keta...

CHEST 2025 showcased exciting advances in interstitial lung disease treatment, featuring new anti-fibrotic therapies and more personalized approaches. Drs. Adegunsoye and Kaul discuss emerging strategies for earlier detection and more targeted interventions across different lung disease phenotypes.

Drs. Drago and Traina explore the evolving landscape of managing central nervous system (CNS) metastases in HER2+ breast cancer, highlighting recent advances and clinical results in targeted therapies, including neratinib, tucatinib, and trastuzumab deruxtecan, that offer new hope for patients with brain metastases.

Dr. Drago and Dr. Traina continue their discussion of breakthrough developments in triple-negative breast cancer treatment, sharing highlights from the promising ASCENT-04 trial results with sacituzumab govitecan plus pembrolizumab in first-line treatment. They also address key clinical challenges around sequencing antibody-drug conjugates and managing interstitial lung disease toxicity.

The ACIP voted to replace universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination with shared clinical decision-making for infants of mothers who test negative, a move strongly criticized by major medical and public health groups who warn it could reverse decades of progress in preventing pediatric hepatitis B. A large NEJM trial found that a single dose of HPV vaccine provides protection equivalent to two dose...

Dr. Tiffany Traina and Dr. Josh Drago discuss the evolving treatment landscape for HER2-low and ultralow breast cancer, highlighting how pivotal trials like Destiny Breast-04 and Destiny Breast-06 have demonstrated significant efficacy improvements with trastuzumab deruxtecan while emphasizing the need to balance its toxicity profile with benefits for individual patients.

Drs. Danilov and Coombs review the evolving treatment strategies for CLL, focusing on the use of CAR T-cell therapy and allogeneic stem cell transplant in different disease stages, particularly for patients with relapsed or refractory disease. They emphasize the importance of tailoring treatment to individual patient needs, considering clinical trials, and recognizing challenges.

Drs. Danilov and Coombs explore the potential benefits and challenges of CAR T-cell therapy in CLL, emphasizing the importance of personalized treatment decisions and shared decision-making between physicians and patients.

A large population study links trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to a rare yet nearly threefold higher risk of severe acute respiratory failure in healthy adolescents and young adults, reinforcing FDA warnings and the need for careful monitoring. Two extensive Cochrane reviews—including over 132 million people—confirm that HPV vaccination dramatically reduces cervical cancer, high-grade precancers, an...