Author: healthadmin

GoodRx on Wednesday announced the launch of GoodRx Companion, a subscription program that provides access to virtual healthcare services and prescription drugs at discounted prices. Through the $14.99 monthly GoodRx Companion subscription, users have access to free and low-cost generic drugs, online medical visits, and additional medical services. The company says this new subscription advances its strategy by adding a broader range of services in addition to weight loss, erectile dysfunction and hair removal programs. The company says more than 200 generic drugs are available for free through its telemedicine platform, and “hundreds more” are sold for less than $10…

Enthusiasm for Akeso’s first-line non-small cell lung cancer data on ivonescimab, in partnership with Summit Therapeutics, has increased significantly after being featured in the plenary session of the upcoming ASCO 2026 Annual Meeting. As the first Chinese development asset to earn this prime-time slot in the more than 60-year history of oncology events, ivonecimab will demonstrate overall viability in the Phase 3 Harmoni-6 trial. The study previously showed that the first-in-class PD-1xVEGF inhibitor, when used in combination with chemotherapy, outperformed BeOne Medicines’ PD-1 inhibitor Tevinbra and chemotherapy in progression-free survival (PFS) in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed squamous NSCLC. But…

Research published in nature Researchers at Duke University School of Medicine have identified a new way in which G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the target of about one-third of FDA-approved drugs, control signaling within cells. The researchers found that beta-arrestin proteins, which regulate GPCR activity, can form liquid-like clusters known as condensates at both baseline and near activated receptors. These droplet-like structures act as hubs that organize signaling molecules in space and time. Our research shows that these receptors signal in ways that have not been fully appreciated until now. This is important because it suggests new and potentially druggable…

Johnson & Johnson plans to lay off 56 employees at its New Brunswick headquarters in the first round of layoffs at the New Jersey pharmaceutical giant, according to the province’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice (WARN) (PDF). The job cuts, effective Aug. 21, come after the company cut its workforce by 231 people at its New Brunswick facilities in fall 2024. The layoffs are the first that J&J has implemented in the state this year. A J&J spokeswoman said the job cuts are related to the company’s plans to sell its orthopedics business from its medtech division, which it announced…

The true cost of long-term COVID-19 infections could be twice as much as current estimates, and is hidden from current surveillance systems that rely on capturing diagnostic codes, according to a new study led by Army Gen. Brigham. Using a new AI algorithm, researchers reviewed the medical records of nearly 460,000 COVID-19 patients across 58 U.S. hospitals and found that about 1 in 6 people, or about 16%, developed long-term COVID-19 infection. These incidence rates represent more than 18 million Americans, twice as high as current estimates, and reflect the increased cumulative burden of chronic disease post-COVID-19. Results are posted…

More than a decade after adenomas (precancerous masses) are removed from the colon, changes in the gut microbiome and metabolites persist and may increase the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study also found that diet and physical activity were more closely related to the abundance of colon cancer-associated gut microbes in people with a history of adenomas than in people without adenomas, suggesting that lifestyle may play a particularly important role in shaping these microbes in this high-risk group. CRC is the second…

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found evidence that people who fall at the extreme upper or lower end of certain traits, such as cholesterol, blood sugar levels, height, or age at menopause, are more likely to have a simpler genetic explanation than previously thought. Their findings were reported in the May 27 issue of the journal. nature (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10516-5), which could lead to new insights into the causes of common diseases. Many traits associated with human health are considered “polygenic.” This means that they are formed by the combined effects of many common genetic variations,…

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects a huge number of older adults. Approximately one-third of people over the age of 80 have AMD, and approximately 20 million Americans over the age of 40 live with AMD. Most cases are dry AMD. It usually develops gradually, but over time central vision may become damaged, making it difficult to see faces, read, drive, or focus on objects in front of you. Despite how common dry AMD is, doctors still have limited options to stop it early. The Aalto University study suggests a different strategy. Rather than replacing damaged cells after vision loss has…

KRAS is one of the most frequently altered oncogenes in cancer, being mutated in approximately one-third of lung adenocarcinomas. For decades, it was thought to be untreatable until recently, when the first inhibitor against a specific KRAS variant was approved. However, these treatments often lose effectiveness over time due to the development of resistance. This new study now explores a different pharmacological strategy based on inducing tumor cells to degrade mutant KRAS themselves. The study, led by IRB Barcelona and Centro de Investigación del Cáncer (CSIC, USAL, FICUS), demonstrated that disrupting the mutant KRAS protein, rather than simply inhibiting its…

Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Hospital Colorado) is celebrating Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month by highlighting growing changes in care that start treatment for cystic fibrosis before birth to improve lifelong health outcomes and reduce length of stay. Through a highly coordinated multidisciplinary approach, teams at the Colorado Children’s Respiratory Institute and the Colorado Fetal Care Center have cared for 10 families through prenatal therapy for patients who showed signs of cystic fibrosis in utero. To date, no other U.S. health system cares for so many patients from birth, making Children’s Colorado one of the most experienced health systems of its kind…