Welcome to this week’s roundup of the most insightful and impactful articles from the sister publications of Dermatology Times, all under One MJH Life Sciences. Our network brings together expert perspectives, clinical advancements, and industry updates to keep clinicians informed and ahead of the curve. From cutting-edge treatments to practice management strategies, here’s a look at the top stories shaping the field of medicine.
In a conversation with CancerNetwork, Ashkan Emadi, MD, PhD, discussed the background of a first-of-its-kind phase 2 trial (NCT07222579) investigating subcutaneous blinatumomab (Blincyto) as a treatment for patients with CD19-positive mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). According to a recent press release from West Virgina University (WVU) Medicine, the first patient enrolled on the trial initiated treatment with blinatumomab on January 16, 2026. After a single cycle of therapy, the patient experienced complete remission with full hematologic recovery, which included transfusion independence and the absence of the Philadelphia chromosome. Additionally, treatment transitioned fully to the outpatient setting after the first week.
As reported by The Educated Patient, new research published in JAMA suggests that muscle strength may play a key independent role in healthy aging and longevity among older women. Investigators followed more than 5,400 women aged 63 to 99 for about 8 years and found that stronger hand grip strength and better performance on a 5-time chair stand test were associated with a lower risk of death, even after accounting for physical activity levels, sedentary time, walking speed, medical conditions, and other health factors. Lead author Michael LaMonte of the University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions noted that muscle strength enables mobility and supports independence, emphasizing that simple strength assessments in routine care may help identify patients who could benefit from targeted interventions to promote long-term health and quality of life.
As reported by Managed Healthcare Executive, a new analysis published in JAMA Cardiology found that semaglutide—the active ingredient in Wegovy—provides meaningful cardiovascular benefits for adults without diabetes who have established heart disease but would require price reductions to be considered cost-effective. Using data from the SELECT trial and the Cardiovascular Disease Policy Model, researchers estimated that lifetime treatment could prevent more than 358,000 heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths, saving about $23 billion in related healthcare costs; however, drug spending would total approximately $344 billion, far outweighing those savings. At an annual net price of $8,604, semaglutide was estimated to cost $148,100 per quality-adjusted life-year gained—above the commonly accepted $120,000 threshold—with a reduction to about $7,055 annually needed to meet cost-effectiveness benchmarks. Senior author Dhruv S. Kazi of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center noted that while semaglutide saves lives, it is unlikely to reduce overall healthcare spending without lower pricing.
As outlined by Nutritional Outlook, product recalls represent one of the most disruptive and financially consequential events for food and supplement brands, often exposing weaknesses in contracts, documentation, and insurance programs rather than the underlying quality issue itself. The article emphasizes that the first 24 hours are critical for freezing distribution, identifying affected SKUs and lot codes, centralizing leadership, and aligning communication—particularly with contract manufacturers and the US FDA. It stresses that insurance recovery depends on immediate notice, insurer consent before destruction or major expenditures, meticulous lot-level and financial documentation, and disciplined tracking of recall-specific costs. Long-term protection hinges on strong supply and contract manufacturing agreements that clearly define recall authority, cost allocation, indemnification, and insurance requirements. Ultimately, the publication underscores that brands with a written, tested recall standard operating procedure are far better positioned to contain financial fallout and preserve coverage when a crisis occurs.
As reported by Pharmaceutical Technology, the US FDA has accepted the new drug application for iberdomide, a cereblon E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD) from Bristol Myers Squibb, granting it priority review and breakthrough therapy designation for use in combination with daratumumab and dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Iberdomide, which leverages targeted protein degradation, could become the first approved therapy in the CELMoD class, with the phase 3 EXCALIBER-RRMM trial using minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity as a primary endpoint to potentially accelerate regulatory timelines under initiatives such as Project Orbis. In parallel, Bristol Myers Squibb is advancing oncology innovation through a collaboration with Microsoft that uses AI-enabled imaging tools to improve early detection and care pathways for non-small cell lung cancer, reflecting a broader strategy that combines novel therapeutics with digital health solutions.
Want to read more on specialty care, pharmacy, industry sciences, and more? Check out MJH Life Sciences full list of brands here.
