Aug 10, 2026
New study shows that targeting the MDA-9 protein can restrain tumor growth and eliminate therapy resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the seventh-most-common cancer type worldwide that is often diagnosed at late stages.
The FDA has approved Takeda's Orzeyful (orexin agonist) for treating narcolepsy type 1 in adults, marking the first approval in a new class of sleep medicines that addresses the full range of narcolepsy symptoms. The approval is expected to reshape the treatment paradigm and launch a closely watched commercial drug race.
Merck beat second-quarter estimates and boosted its 2026 sales forecast after strong demand for newer drugs like Winrevair helped drive revenues higher, though the company cut profit guidance due to deal-related charges.
Scientists have discovered that blocking the Axl receptor may offer a novel approach to promoting bone formation, potentially providing a new treatment avenue for osteoporosis, a common age-related disease affecting millions worldwide.
Gilead Sciences and Merck announced that their experimental once-weekly HIV pill combining islatravir and lenacapavir successfully maintained viral suppression at 48 weeks in two Phase 3 trials (ISLEND-1 and ISLEND-2) involving 1,209 adults with virologically suppressed HIV. The results support regulatory filings for what could become the first once-weekly oral HIV treatment regimen.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has launched a $160 million initiative to fund seven groups over five years to develop custom gene editing drugs, aiming to replicate successes like the Baby KJ case.
The FDA and HHS are implementing sweeping reforms to speed up early-stage drug research in the United States, addressing concerns that pharmaceutical companies have increasingly moved clinical trials to countries like China and Australia. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the changes aimed at bringing investment back to the U.S.
GSK reported that its experimental chronic hepatitis B drug helped nearly one in five patients achieve a functional cure in late-stage studies, vastly outpacing current treatments and raising hopes for a finite treatment course as an alternative to lifelong therapy.
Apogee Therapeutics announced a financing deal with Blackstone Life Sciences worth up to $1.3 billion to support late-stage development and potential commercialization of its experimental eczema drug.
The FDA has approved Merck's Idvynso (doravirine/islatravir), a once-daily, two-drug single tablet for treating HIV-1 infection in adults to replace current antiretroviral regimens in virologically suppressed patients.
Researchers who developed GLP-1 obesity medications are now advancing a provocative hypothesis that targeting the GLP-1 hormone may not be necessary for effective weight loss, potentially reshaping the approach to obesity treatment.