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GLP-1 drugs may protect kidney health in people with bipolar disorder

Mayo Clinic researchers found that GLP-1 receptor agonists, medications widely used for diabetes and weight management, were associated with a lower risk of dialysis or kidney transplantation in adults with bipolar disorder and chronic kidney disease.

20 Oct 2026

Study explores potential breast cancer benefits of neurokinin receptor antagonists

Neurokinin receptor (NKR) antagonists are already widely used for treating menopausal hot flashes, representing a highly effective nonhormone treatment.

20 Oct 2026

Blood pressure drug losartan boosts metabolism by stimulating brown fat

Losartan, a drug commonly prescribed for high blood pressure, boosts brown adipose tissue or "brown fat" activity and enhances its metabolism, according to a preclinical study by Weill Cornell Medicine, Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center researchers.

19 Oct 2026

Presurgical sleep medications linked to less pain and anxiety after surgery

Improving sleep before surgery through the use of melatonin or Ambien (zolpidem) may ease presurgical anxiety, reduce pain after surgery, decrease opioid requirements and help patients recover better, according to an analysis of 25 years of research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 annual meeting.

19 Oct 2026

GLP-1 medications linked to reduced postoperative infections and heart complications

GLP-1 medications, widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may also help protect people from serious complications after surgery.

19 Oct 2026

Study identifies priority genes for safer prescribing in older Chinese patients

A research team has identified three genes that could help prioritize pharmacogenomic testing for older adults in China who receive multiple medications.

15 Oct 2026

Lactation drug cabergoline may reduce breast cancer risk in mothers

An international team of scientists has found that a lactation drug could reduce the risk of breast cancer in mothers after childbirth.

15 Oct 2026

Light-activated experimental opioid eliminates dangerous side effects

Opioid painkillers are some of the strongest analgesic medicines, but they are also the riskiest owing to a range of side effects, including addiction.

15 Oct 2026

Does the type of hand sanitizer matter? A study involving 568 people suggests it might

In a 72-day randomized trial involving 568 participants in Japan, an experimental hand sanitizer containing ethanol, benzalkonium chloride, and lactic acid was associated with a 40% lower cumulative incidence of upper respiratory symptoms than a commercial ethanol-based sanitizer. Participants using the experimental formulation also experienced fewer illness-related work restrictions, although infections were not laboratory-confirmed and the proposed residual antimicrobial mechanism was not directly tested.

14 Oct 2026

Common asthma drug improves strength in children with muscle disease

A common asthma medication improves motor skills and muscle strength in children with congenital myopathies, a group of incurable muscle diseases.

14 Oct 2026

FDA approves new Parkinson’s drug pioneered by UVA scientists

The federal Food and Drug Administration has approved a new Parkinson's disease drug that was based on research by UVA Health scientists.

13 Oct 2026

Undecimal Bio launches with $18 million oversubscribed seed financing to address ‘liver trap’ in siRNA therapeutic delivery

Undecimal Bio, a platform biotechnology company advancing targeted delivery of siRNA therapeutics, today announced an oversubscribed $18 million USD seed financing.

From UndecimalBio 13 Oct 2026

Long-term anabolic steroid use linked to lasting heart damage

Long-term use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) has serious consequences for the heart, according to a new study that has been following weightlifters for nearly 10 years.

12 Oct 2026

Year-long trial finds NAD-boosting supplement fails to improve early Parkinson's symptoms

In a phase 3 randomized clinical trial involving 410 people with early Parkinson disease, 52 weeks of nicotinamide riboside supplementation increased blood NAD levels but failed to improve clinical outcomes compared with placebo. Participants receiving the supplement had modestly worse overall disease scores, although the difference was below the threshold generally considered clinically meaningful.

12 Oct 2026

Stopping GLP-1 drugs often brings weight back. A small trial suggests ways to slow it

In a randomized pilot trial of 39 adults, researchers found that participants receiving medically tailored meals or Noom regained about 3.6% of their body weight over four months after stopping GLP-1 therapy, compared with about 11% under usual care. These exploratory findings suggest structured support may slow early weight regain, but the small sample and short follow-up leave lasting benefits uncertain.

11 Oct 2026

Marketing tactics used by pharma companies influence physician prescribing habits

A new Cochrane review led by a team of international researchers including from U of T, has found that marketing strategies used by pharmaceutical companies such as payments for consulting and advisory board membership and free meals offered to physicians, can negatively influence prescribing habits.

9 Oct 2026

Hyponatremia risk varies among individual second-generation antipsychotic drugs

Antipsychotics are used to treat schizophrenia, along with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. However, these medications can be associated with hyponatremia, a serious reduction in blood sodium levels.

8 Oct 2026

Epilepsy drugs may reduce effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives

People with epilepsy who use certain hormonal birth control methods may be at risk for reduced contraceptive effectiveness because of interactions with certain antiseizure medications, according to a study published October 7, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

7 Oct 2026

Structured support may slow weight regain after stopping GLP-1 drugs

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are effective treatments for obesity, but discontinuation is common due to cost, insurance coverage limitations, side effects, patient preference, and other factors-commonly leading to rapid weight regain.

7 Oct 2026

Statins may lower glaucoma risk and reduce treatment needs

Taking statins is linked to a lower risk of developing glaucoma and a reduced chance of it getting worse, suggest the findings of research published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

6 Oct 2026