Medical News Podcast

Drs. Brander and Cohen discuss an ongoing debate in the management of CLL about BTK and BCL2 inhibitor combinations in the frontline treatment of CLL. Is it better to combine BTK and BCL2 inhibitors, or to start with one or the other as monotherapy?

Drs. Lipsky and Allan discuss the emerging role of immunotherapy in the management of patients with CLL, including CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies.

The CHALLENGE trial at ASCO 2025 showed that increased physical activity improves survival rates in colon cancer patients, with the exercise group demonstrating better health outcomes and survival rates compared to those receiving only health education. A phase 3 trial in The New England Journal of Medicine found that semaglutide significantly improves liver conditions in MASH patients, showing be...

John N. Allan, MD and Andrew H. Lipsky, MD discuss the evolution of CLL therapy and the power of doublet and triplet regimens, exploring combinations including BTK inhibitors with BCL-2 inhibitors and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies.

Drs. Scott and Liu discuss the safety of treatments for HER2-mutant lung cancer, including key toxicities, management strategies, and how prior therapies might affect treatment decisions.

Stephen V. Liu, MD and Susan C. Scott, MD discuss advances in treating HER2-mutant lung cancer. Until recently, treatments for HER2-mutant lung cancer primarily involved chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and HER2-targeted therapies, with mixed results. Now, the treatment landscape of HER2-mutant lung cancer is changing.

Measles cases in North America have exceeded 3,200, mainly due to low vaccination rates, with children most affected. Clinicians are urged to verify immunization status and close gaps. The EU is restricting azithromycin use amid rising antimicrobial resistance, dropping certain indications and adding new warnings. A trial shows methotrexate is a viable first-line alternative to prednisone for pulm...

This week's episode covers the effectiveness of a fixed-dose albuterol-budesonide combination for asthma, new findings on Nerodomelast for progressive pulmonary fibrosis, the FDA’s endorsement of a new COVID-19 vaccine targeting the JN.1 lineage, and insights into extended-phase anticoagulation for pediatric venous thromboembolism.

A Lancet study warns of consequences for HIV prevention if PEPFAR loses funding, potentially millions of new pediatric HIV cases and increased AIDS-related deaths. Medicare Part D is highlighted, with research linking subsidy loss to higher mortality rates. A report from BMJ notes a 3.1% decline in U.S. drug overdose deaths, signaling a possible peak in the fentanyl crisis.

Drs. Pemmaraju and Bose discuss the revised International Working Group criteria for anemia response in patients with myelofibrosis, outlining new definitions for transfusion status, gender-specific hemoglobin thresholds, and benchmarks for major and minor responses.

Drs. Bose and Pemmaraju discuss leukemic transformation in patients with myelofibrosis, reviewing its incidence, as well as risk factors, treatment, and prognosis.

Drs. Bose and Pemmaraju review secondary myelofibrosis arising from polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia and how it differs from primary myelofibrosis that develops de novo.

Maternal RSV vaccines and infant nirsevimab led to major drops in hospitalizations among infants ≤7 months, especially those ≤2 months old. The CDC’s 2025 nPEP guidelines stress starting HIV prevention within 72 hours of exposure, with rapid testing and follow-up care. Treatment should begin without delay, and patients at ongoing risk should transition to PrEP. Surgical site infections after color...

Drs. Starling and VanderPluym discuss common diagnostic pitfalls in migraine medicine and how the misinterpretation of symptoms can lead to unnecessary testing or incorrect treatments.

Drs. VanderPluym and Starling review the updated position statement from the American Headache Society indicating that CGRP-targeting migraine therapies should be considered as a first-line option.

This episode features the Beamion LUNG-1 trial, where zongertinib showed a 71% response rate in previously treated HER2-mutant NSCLC patients. The EAGLE-1 trial found gepotidacin non-inferior to standard treatment for urogenital gonorrhoea, with a 92.6% success rate. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and NIH launched the Generation Gold Standard initiative, a universal vaccine platf...

Elizabeth Kensinger, PhD and Andrew Budson, MD explain how healthy lifestyle habits, memory offloading strategies, and turning facts into stories can support cognitive aging. They stress that enriching and novel activities are more effective for brain health than most apps. Dr. Budson supports the theory that beta amyloid defends against brain infections, linking it to viral triggers of Alzheimer'...

A JAMA model warns measles could become endemic in the U.S. within 21 years if MMR vaccination rates don't rise, with over 850,000 projected cases. A Phase 3 NEJM trial found brensocatib reduced exacerbations in non-CF bronchiectasis. An EPIC study correlated higher breast cancer risk to higher education levels, beyond lifestyle and reproductive factors.

Mexico’s first fatal H5N1 case involved a healthy child and highlights localized risk despite low global concern. Long-term antidepressant use was linked to higher sudden cardiac death risk, especially in younger adults. A U.S. study found 25% of adults with very high LDL cholesterol lacked statin treatment. These stories reveal persistent gaps in infection control, cardiac monitoring, and prevent...

A polygenic risk score significantly improved prostate cancer detection beyond PSA testing, identifying more treatable and aggressive cancers in high-risk men. New WHO guidelines aim to reduce global meningitis deaths by standardizing early diagnosis, treatment, and care across settings. GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors were linked to reduced Alzheimer's risk, with GLP-1s showing the m...

Mary Beth Cicero, co-founder of Three Daughters, shares how her passion for women's health led to the development of a new frameless, self-assembling magnetic IUD designed to significantly reduce the pain of insertion and retrieval. The device, inspired by embryo transfer techniques and using copper as its active ingredient, aims to improve comfort, eliminate strings, and offer a more body-conform...

Drs. Yu and Sabari trace the evolution of HER2-mutant lung cancer treatment from chemotherapy to targeted therapies, highlighting key advancements, challenges, and patient responses. They also explore emerging treatment strategies, resistance mechanisms, and the future of personalized therapy based on biomarkers and co-mutations.

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that statin use in patients with chronic liver disease was associated with a lower risk of liver cancer and hepatic decompensation, suggesting potential protective effects beyond lipid management. Surveys by the Annenberg Public Policy Center revealed widespread misinformation about the risks of consuming raw milk, highlighting the need for public...

Drs. Sabari and Yu discuss the molecular landscape of HER2-mutant lung cancer, including its genomic characteristics, common co-mutations, and differences between HER2 mutations and HER2 amplification. This discussion also explores the prevalence and clinical patterns of HER2 mutations, their oncogenic mechanisms, their impact on tumor behavior and metastases, and potential environmental or geneti...

Helena Yu, MD and Joshua Sabari, MD explore the importance of testing for HER2 alterations in lung cancer; how HER2 positivity influences clinical decision-making; and the key methods used for detection, including immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and next-generation sequencing. It also addresses challenges in standardizing HER2 testing, disparities in access to biomarker t...