Injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide (Wegovy® 2.4 mg weekly) have transformed obesity treatment, demonstrating substantial weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction. However, patient preference for oral administration and potential barriers to injectable therapies highlight the need for non-injectable options. Novo Nordisk developed a once-daily oral formulation of semaglutide at 25 mg for weight management.
Observational studies and autopsy findings have suggested a potential role for herpes simplex virus (HSV), particularly HSV-1, in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), prompting interest in antiviral therapies to slow disease progression. The study evaluated whether high-dose valacyclovir, an antiviral agent effective against HSV, slows cognitive and functional decline in patients with early symptomatic AD who are seropositive for HSV-1 or HSV-2.
Tirzepatide, a dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors, has demonstrated superior glycemic control and greater weight reduction compared with GLP-1 receptor agonists alone in patients with type 2 diabetes. Dulaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, has established cardiovascular benefits in this population. However, the cardiovascular effects of tirzepatide relative to dulaglutide remain unknown.
On December 12, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for AKEEGA® (niraparib and abiraterone acetate dual-action tablet) in combination with prednisone for the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious BRCA2-mutated metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). This supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) approval marks AKEEGA as the first and only precision medicine combination of a PARP inhibitor and androgen receptor pathway inhibitor specifically indicated for BRCA2-mutated mCSPC, expanding its prior 2023 approval for BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026, published as a supplement to Diabetes Care (Volume 49, January 2026), offers a comprehensive, evidence-graded framework (A–E) for healthcare professionals managing diabetes across diverse populations, including type 1, type 2, gestational, monogenic, and special cases like cystic fibrosis- or immunotherapy-related diabetes. Developed by the Professional Practice Committee through systematic reviews (June 2024–July 2025), the document adopts person-first, empowering language; updates evidence levels; and incorporates endorsements from global societies. Targeting primary care providers, specialists, educators, policymakers, and patients, it stresses shared decision-making, social determinants of health (SDOH), and telehealth to mitigate access barriers, such as insulin cost caps under the Inflation Reduction Act ($35/month) and 15–19% nonadherence due to affordability.
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a leading cause of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy in Latin America, affecting 6–7 million people. Despite clear benefit of sacubitril/valsartan over enalapril in HFrEF of other etiologies (PARADIGM-HF trial), its efficacy in Chagas cardiomyopathy remained unknown due to distinct pathophysiology involving chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and microvascular dysfunction.
Endometrial cancer (EC), particularly the endometrioid subtype, remains a leading gynecologic malignancy with limited options for advanced, ER-positive disease. Preclinical models demonstrate synergistic antitumor effects from concurrent inhibition of estrogen receptor (ER), cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. Building on window-of-opportunity studies showing metformin’s suppression of PI3K/mTOR signaling in EC, we conducted a single-arm, non-randomized phase 2 trial (NCT03675893) to evaluate the combination of letrozole (an aromatase inhibitor), abemaciclib (a CDK4/6 inhibitor), and metformin (a PI3K/mTOR modulator) in patients with ER-positive endometrioid EC.
Hypertension remains a global health crisis, affecting over 1.4 billion people and serving as a leading risk factor for cardiovascular and renal diseases. Despite advances in antihypertensive therapies, approximately 50% of treated patients in the US fail to achieve blood pressure control with multiple agents, highlighting a critical unmet need in hard-to-control (uncontrolled or treatment-resistant) hypertension. Aldosterone, a hormone that promotes sodium and water retention, plays a pivotal role in this resistance, yet targeted interventions have been limited for over two decades.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Asian Indians is characterized by high ectopic fat deposition in liver and pancreas, elevated Fetuin-A (an insulin resistance mediator), and hepatic fibrosis risk. While SGLT2 inhibitors like Dapagliflozin (DAPA) reduce hepatic and pancreatic fat, Metformin’s effects on these parameters, especially Fetuin-A and fibrosis, remain underexplored in this population.
Obesity, defined by WHO as BMI ≥30 kg/m² in adults, has escalated into a global epidemic, impacting over 1 billion individuals and contributing to 3.7 million deaths in 2024 alone. Projections indicate a doubling of prevalence by 2030, fueling noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, while exacerbating infectious disease outcomes. Economic burdens are forecasted to reach US$3 trillion annually by 2030. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs)—including liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide—have emerged as efficacious pharmacological options, promoting weight loss, glycemic control, and reductions in cardiovascular and renal risks, alongside lowered mortality in diabetes. In September 2025, WHO added select GLP-1 RAs to the Essential Medicines List for high-risk type 2 diabetes management. Responding to Member State requests, this inaugural WHO guideline on GLP-1 RAs for obesity treatment emphasizes their role within a comprehensive, person-centered framework incorporating diet, physical activity, and psychosocial support, aligning with the 2022 Acceleration Plan to Halt the Rise in Obesity.
