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Milvexian fails to reduce cardiovascular events after acute coronary syndrome

Milvexian did not reduce major adverse cardiovascular events compared with placebo after a recent acute coronary syndrome and there was no increase in intracranial or fatal bleeding.

29 Aug 2026

Atorvastatin reduces major cardiovascular events but misses disability-free survival goal

Atorvastatin reduced major cardiovascular events by 30% in older people without known cardiovascular disease, diabetes or dementia, but did not significantly improve disability-free survival, according to results presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2026 and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.

29 Aug 2026

Investigational anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody achieves durable inflammatory biomarker reductions

The investigational anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) monoclonal antibody pacibekitug produced sustained reductions in inflammation-related biomarkers through six months in patients with chronic kidney disease and elevated inflammatory risk associated with heart disease.

29 Aug 2026

Pacibekitug safely reduces inflammatory biomarkers in kidney disease patients

The interleukin-6 (IL-6) antibody, pacibekitug, produced sustained reductions in inflammatory biomarkers in patients with chronic kidney disease at high inflammatory risk, according to results from the phase II TRANQUILITY trial presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2026.

29 Aug 2026

Aficamten improves symptom burden and exercise capacity in patients with non-obstructive HCM

Aficamten treatment was associated with significant improvements in symptom burden and exercise capacity in patients with symptomatic non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, according to results presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2026 and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.

28 Aug 2026

CARDIO-TTRansform trial investigating eplontersen fails to meet primary efficacy endpoint

The CARDIO-TTRansform trial investigating eplontersen in patients with transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint, according to results presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2026.

28 Aug 2026

Missing doses of antihypertensive medication erase life-saving cardiovascular benefits

The true impact of missing doses of blood pressure-lowering medication will be demonstrated in a presentation at ESC Congress 2026.

27 Aug 2026

Can caffeine make you mentally sharper in the morning? This study tested the idea

In a controlled crossover study of 51 recreationally active young men with low habitual caffeine intake, researchers tested whether 300 mg of caffeine taken about an hour before morning testing affected cognition, mood, temperature, appetite, and related outcomes, with reactive agility assessed in 27 participants. Caffeine did not improve cognitive or reactive agility performance or meaningfully alter mood, tiredness, appetite, or thermoregulation under the study conditions.

27 Aug 2026

Metformin cuts preterm birth risk among high-risk mothers

A common diabetes medication can reduce the risk of early and preterm births for mothers at high metabolic risk, according to new research led by Monash University.

26 Aug 2026

Nigerian COVID-19 response highlights cultural trust in ethnopharmacology

During COVID-19, ethnopharmacology became prominent in Nigeria due to affordability, accessibility, and cultural trust, but evidence for safety and efficacy remains limited.

25 Aug 2026

From caffeine to trigonelline, coffee has surprising links to muscle biology

A scoping review of 54 studies found that coffee and several coffee-derived bioactive compounds influence pathways linked to skeletal muscle metabolism, including insulin signaling, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, inflammation, glucose uptake, and protein turnover. Human studies reported associations with greater muscle mass and lower frailty or functional impairment, but most evidence remains observational or preclinical and cannot establish causality.

25 Aug 2026

Could a daily vinegar drink help with constipation? A small trial offers a clue

A randomized, double-blind trial found that adults with mild constipation who drank a vinegar beverage daily for four weeks had more frequent bowel movements than those receiving placebo. Exploratory findings also suggested earlier improvements in bowel habits, although the small feasibility-based trial requires confirmation in larger and more diverse populations.

24 Aug 2026

Semaglutide’s heart benefits may partly involve reduced inflammation

A prespecified analysis of 17,604 SELECT participants found that higher baseline hsCRP was associated with greater risks of major cardiovascular events and death in people with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease. Semaglutide produced rapid and sustained reductions in hsCRP, with changes emerging before substantial weight loss, although the study could not establish whether reduced inflammation directly mediated its cardiovascular benefits.

24 Aug 2026

Intravenous iron before heart surgery cuts transfusion needs

Giving intravenous iron to patients with anemia before heart surgery reduces the need for a red blood transfusion and results in an extra day at home in the first 90 days after surgery, finds a clinical trial published by The BMJ today.

19 Aug 2026

New clinical study shows astaxanthin enhances cognitive performance in active women

A new clinical study shows that AstaReal’s natural astaxanthin significantly improves cognitive performance and resilience to mental fatigue in recreationally active young women.

14 Aug 2026

Oxytocin selectively increases trusting behavior in men with low disposition to trust

For over 20 years, it has been a matter of dispute whether oxytocin bolsters trust. A new study conducted with the involvement of the University of Zurich now provides robust evidence that the hormone selectively increases trusting behavior in men with a low disposition to trust.

12 Aug 2026

Microcurrent stimulation shows immediate reduction in surgical scar depth

A newly accepted pilot study in the Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies reports that direct-current (DC) microcurrent stimulation was associated with a statistically significant reduction in measured postsurgical scar depth immediately following a single treatment.

11 Aug 2026

Semaglutide slows blood protein signature linked to future dementia risk

A post hoc analysis of 2,970 older SELECT participants found that semaglutide slowed worsening of a 25-protein blood signature that predicts future dementia risk. Over 104 weeks, semaglutide produced larger effects on modeled 5-year than 20-year dementia risk, but whether these biomarker changes translate into less cognitive decline or dementia remains unknown.

10 Aug 2026

Tirzepatide lowers heart attack and cardiovascular event risk in adults with type 2 diabetes

In a US cohort of 52,971 adults with type 2 diabetes and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, tirzepatide initiation was associated with a lower one-year risk of major adverse cardiovascular events than sitagliptin. The benefit was driven mainly by lower myocardial infarction and all-cause mortality hazards, although the authors cautioned that mortality findings may be influenced by residual confounding.

10 Aug 2026

Single-dose psilocybin shows promise for treatment-resistant depression in NHS trial

A single 25-mg dose of psilocybin with psychological support was feasible to deliver within an NHS setting and produced large preliminary reductions in depressive symptoms among adults with treatment-resistant depression. The Phase 2 feasibility trial also found the treatment was generally well tolerated, although functional unblinding and expectancy effects mean larger, longer efficacy studies are needed.

10 Aug 2026

Placebo News and Research

Milvexian fails to reduce cardiovascular events after acute coronary syndrome

Atorvastatin reduces major cardiovascular events but misses disability-free survival goal

Investigational anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody achieves durable inflammatory biomarker reductions

Pacibekitug safely reduces inflammatory biomarkers in kidney disease patients

Aficamten improves symptom burden and exercise capacity in patients with non-obstructive HCM

CARDIO-TTRansform trial investigating eplontersen fails to meet primary efficacy endpoint

Missing doses of antihypertensive medication erase life-saving cardiovascular benefits

Can caffeine make you mentally sharper in the morning? This study tested the idea

Metformin cuts preterm birth risk among high-risk mothers

Nigerian COVID-19 response highlights cultural trust in ethnopharmacology

From caffeine to trigonelline, coffee has surprising links to muscle biology

Could a daily vinegar drink help with constipation? A small trial offers a clue

Semaglutide’s heart benefits may partly involve reduced inflammation

Intravenous iron before heart surgery cuts transfusion needs

New clinical study shows astaxanthin enhances cognitive performance in active women

Oxytocin selectively increases trusting behavior in men with low disposition to trust

Microcurrent stimulation shows immediate reduction in surgical scar depth

Semaglutide slows blood protein signature linked to future dementia risk

Tirzepatide lowers heart attack and cardiovascular event risk in adults with type 2 diabetes

Single-dose psilocybin shows promise for treatment-resistant depression in NHS trial

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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