David Rizik, MD, is an interventional cardiologist at Banner University Health.

Michael Morris, MD, is a diagnostic radiologist at Banner University Health.

Balancing Enthusiasm With the Need for Trial Data, With David Rizik, MD, and Michael Morris, MD

 from Banner Health gave a live demonstration of the Heartflow PCI Navigator, an investigational, AI-driven device that analyzes CT scan data to generate 3D models of patients’ venous systems to help clinicians determine optimal stent placement.

First debuted at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference from October 25-28, 2025, the Navigator more specifically generates models of the patient’s anatomy, plaque composition, and lesion-specific physiology, giving clinicians access to all necessary data before entering the catheterization lab for stenting procedures. The current presentation, delivered at the inaugural Scottsdale Interventional Forum (SCI) in Phoenix, Arizona, was many clinicians’ first example of the technology.

However, despite the promise of this new technology, it is still very much in the investigative phase. The first in-human trials of the Heartflow PCI Navigator have yet to take place. To discuss the dichotomy between enthusiasm for new technology and the necessary steps to clear it for clinical use, as well as how clinicians can balance this frustrating reality, the 

 editorial team spoke with David Rizik, MD, an interventional cardiologist at Banner University Health and co-leader of the session, and Michael Morris, MD, a diagnostic radiologist at Banner University Health and the other session co-leader.

“The frustrating thing is that we always want to have the outcomes data at the same time as we get the new information, but there’s a delay,” Morris told 

. “Right now, we’re at the early aspect of the process, where we just now have it available, and we have thought leaders who are enlightening us as to how best these tools can be used in terms of enhancing the clinical pathway.”

The Heartflow PCI Navigator was developed as a result of the PLAN CALCIUM study, a retrospective cohort analysis which was presented alongside the Navigator at TCT 2025. A total of 85,306 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 4936 were receiving CCTA and 80,370 were not.

Investigators established a composite endpoint of all-cause mortality, heart failure, and AMI at 1 and 5 years of follow-up; by the end of the trial, 9.6% of patients receiving CCTA exhibited this endpoint versus 13% of those not receiving CCTA at 1 year. Additionally, at the 5-year mark, 16.1% of recipients and 23.7% of non-recipients exhibited the composite endpoint.

Heartflow has also announced that it is actively recruiting patients into the NAVIGATE-PCI registry, which will assess the Navigator’s effect on procedural safety and efficacy, strategy and patient outcomes, and physician confidence compared to standard treatments. The registry aims to enroll >2500 patients; currently, it is targeting roughly 30 sites across the US.

Until this study – and its subsequent clinical trials – are complete, clinicians remain limited to traditional stent treatment. Rizik and Morris acknowledge that this is a point of frustration, given the hypothetically superior outcomes that the Heartflow PCI Navigator can provide for patients. However, they urge patience, as the actual practical efficacy – and potential limitations – of the technology are still unknown.

“A very wise cardiologist once said, no matter how enthusiastic you are, you put your prejudices aside, and you do the studies,” Rizik told 

Editor’s Note: Rizik reports disclosures with Abbott Vascular, Biotronik, Cordis, Trireme, and Boston Scientific. Morris reports no relevant disclosures.

Banner Health. Banner Health pioneers advanced treatment for complex coronary disease. February 11, 2026. Accessed February 12, 2026. 

https://www.bannerhealth.com/newsroom/press-releases/complex-coronary-disease

Patel A, Sandoval Y, Mullen S, et al. TCT-417 coronary CT angiography and AI-enabled coronary plaque analysis to inform PCI and lesion preparation: The plan calcium study. JACC. 2025;86(17). 

Heartflow. New Heartflow PCI Navigator to Equip Interventional Cardiologists with Pre-procedural Insights to Enable PCI Planning. October 22, 2025. Accessed February 12, 2026. 

https://ir.heartflow.com/news-releases/news-release-details/new-heartflow-pci-navigator-equip-interventional-cardiologists

Videos

Rizik and Morris discuss the Heartflow PCI Navigator and its promising implications for patients – and how they manage that excitement while waiting for trial data.

News

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Cardiology

Cardiology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for heart disease and cardiovascular events, as well as associated diabetes, renal failure, and more...

Balancing Enthusiasm for New Technologies With the Need for Trial Data, With David Rizik, MD, and Michael Morris, MD

Alex Hillenbrand is an assistant editor for 

. She earned her BA in English from Lafayette College in 2023 and went on to write for pop culture, entertainment, and sports media outlets before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2025. In her free time, Alex enjoys cooking, going on walks, and meeting new people. Contact her at mjhlifesciences.com.

In light of National Donor Day, experts in the field highlight unmet needs in immunosuppression, newfound data regarding kidney transplantation outcomes, and explain the impact of donation on the future health of the donor.

In the nephrology landscape, National Donor Day can raise awareness about the unquestionable benefits of kidney transplantation in patients with 

, particularly with end-stage kidney failure (ESKD).1

“Transplantation is the treatment of choice for kidney failure,” said Janani Rangaswami, MD, FAHA, a nephrologist with expertise in cardiovascular- kidney medicine, professor of Medicine at George Washington University, Washington, DC, and co-chair of the Scientific Advisory Group of the AHA's presidential advisory on CKM Health.

While transplantation remains the ideal choice for kidney failure, it is a major undertaking for living donors and recipients, with individuals carefully weighing their predisposed health risks pre-surgery and needing to plan for annual checkups post-organ donation.

Statistically, nephropathy is a widespread problem in the US, with 1 in 3 adults at risk for, and 1 in 7 living with, kidney disease. There are 90,000 individuals awaiting kidney transplants in the US alone, making up 86-87% of the national transplant waiting list.1,2

In 2025, the US achieved a record of organ transplants, with a 3% increase in individuals becoming living organ donors, according to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. However, kidney transplants specifically declined by 102 transplants from 2024.2

Analysis of global data observed the possibility of 

successful pregnancies post transplantation

, especially with careful monitoring, and observed a return in fertility quickly after surgery, although recommended ≥1 year before attempting conception. Furthermore, a cross-sectional study suggested kidney transplant recipients experienced a reduced risk of sleep disorders compared to those on maintenance dialysis.

Despite its widespread acknowledgement as a clinically superior treatment option for CKD, there are nuances to kidney transplant recipients’ outcomes.

 study, low exercise tolerance, defined as anaerobic threshold VO₂ < 11 mL/kg/min; peak VO₂ < 20 mL/kg/min, was associated with poor muscle recovery and sarcopenia. Additionally, psychological and behavioural factors, especially depression, significantly influenced immunosuppression medication adherence. Lastly, a recent investigation discovered a link between 

neighbourhood disadvantages and reduced kidney transplant access and waitlisting

Most notably, living donor kidney transplants have been associated with increased long-term graft survival, decreased waiting time, and reduced risk of adverse health conditions from the donated allograft compared to deceased donor transplantation.

Regardless, any form of kidney transplantation remains a significantly beneficial treatment option for patients with kidney failure.

“Every transplant that's done, somebody altruistically made it possible, a donor that's living or a deceased donor's family provided a gift for usually someone they don't know,” said Allan Kirk, MD, PhD, a transplant surgeon at Duke Kidney/Transplant Clinic, study investigator of a phase 2 pilot study of new immunosuupression, belatecept and dazodalibep. “Although living donor cases, it's frequently someone they do know. And I think that's very optimistic.”

The Impact of Kidney Donation on the Donor

For individuals who endeavour to donate a kidney, clinicians help provide insight into the impact of transplantation on their overall health.

“What happens to the donor's kidney health? You know, these are healthy people screened for eligibility to be suitable donors. Over time, as they age, they may develop other risk factors like hypertension or diabetes, and they themselves can go on and develop kidney disease,” said Rangaswami. “It's a very, very small number of patients that do that. Most donors do really well in terms of kidney outcomes and longevity, but it's so important for them to get screened frequently, at least annually.”

The risk to individuals who donate a kidney is relatively slight, with a low mortality risk and an estimated 4-6 week recovery period. In terms of long-term health, there is a <1% chance of developing kidney failure, a slight increase in high blood pressure, a 25-35% reduction in total kidney function, and a small risk of hernia. Additionally, if a kidney donor eventually needs a transplant after donation, they are given increased priority on the deceased donor waitlist.

“And even if they develop some of those factors, we just have these amazing new therapies that are also applicable to protect their kidney health as well,” said Rangaswami.

The Future of Kidney Transplant Immunosuppresion

While kidney transplants offer clinical benefit to patients, long-term graft survival and immunosuppression strategies remain evolving.

Historically, immunosuppression for kidney transplant recipients has relied on tacrolimus as the standard of care. While this calcineurin inhibitor has been effective at preventing early acute rejection, its broad mechanism of action can contribute to nephrotoxicity, metabolic disturbances, and cardiovascular complications over time.

“[Tacrolimus] is a great drug to control rejection, but it has a lot of unwanted side effects and patients are suffering,” said Eliezer Katz, Chief Medical Officer of Eledon Pharmaceutics. “When I talk to physicians, we know it's time to find a replacement. We need new drugs. It's a really unmet need, and we need to try to find something new.”

have emerged as a focal point in efforts to refine immunosuppression following kidney transplantation. These pathways act upstream in T- and B-cell activation, offering potential to reduce chronic, low-grade immune activation without broadly suppressing the immune system.

Currently, tegoprubart, an investigational anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody, has exhibited safety and efficacy in 

 and 2 BESTOW trials, and is positioned as a potential immunosuppression to improve long-term graft survival.6

Additionally, a recent phase 2a, open-label trial of 23 patients receiving belatecept and dazodalibep was generally safe, well tolerated, and effective as the sole maintenance antirejection therapy. The dual-biologic regimen, belatecept and dazodalibep, are CD80/86 blockers, ​​specifically targets T-cell activation, potentially avoiding the nephrotoxicity associated with traditional, daily immunosuppressants.

“It is truly one of the biggest landmark innovations in nephrology, and it should always be our endeavor to ensure that people with kidney failure have access and an opportunity to get transplanted, because it's the treatment of choice,” concluded Rangaswami.

Editor’s Note: Katz and Kirk report relevant disclosures with Eledon. Rangaswami reports relevant disclosures with Boehringer-Lily, Bayer, and others.

National Kidney Foundation. National Kidney Foundation. National Kidney Foundation. Published 2024. 

U.S. surpasses 49,000 organ transplants while deceased organ donations dip | UNOS. UNOS. Published January 28, 2026. 

https://unos.org/media-resources/releases/u-s-surpasses-49000-organ-transplants-while-deceased-organ-donations-dip/

90,000 people are waiting for a kidney. Here’s one way to get them a kidney faster. - UNOS. UNOS. Published January 27, 2025. 

https://unos.org/news/90000-people-are-waiting-for-a-kidney-heres-one-way-to-get-them-a-kidney-faster/

Murray J, Luke A, Wallace D, Callaghan C, Sharples LD. Comparison of outcomes after living and deceased donor kidney transplantation: UK national cohort study. 

National Kidney Foundation. Long-Term Risks of Living Donation. National Kidney Foundation. Published November 8, 2024. 

https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/long-term-risks-living-donatio

Wojciechowski D, Wiseman A. Long-Term Immunosuppression Management. 

Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology

‌Vincenti F, Shoji J, Wojciechowski D, et al. Dual costimulation blockade with the CD154-specific fusion protein dazodalibep and belatacept for prophylaxis of kidney allograft rejection. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajt.2025.12.290

Articles

Experts in nephrology explain the benefits of kidney transplantation, the evolving immunosuppression landscape, and evaluate the risk factors for donors. 


Nephrology

The HCPLive nephrology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on kidney disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments in nephrology, and more.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Breaking Down The Kidney Transplant Landscape on National Donor Day

Walter J. Liszewski, MD, is an associate professor of dermatology and cancer epidemiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

 at the Grand Wailea Hotel, a session titled ‘Contact Dermatitis Update 2026’ highlighted the evolving challenges of diagnosing and managing contact dermatitis.

 Presented by Walter Liszewski, MD, associate professor of dermatology and cancer epidemiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, this session emphasized several key points, including noting the limitations of existing patch-testing Core Series panels.

’s editorial team, Liszewski spoke about these key takeaways from the session, addressing common diagnostic pitfalls and stressing the importance of distinguishing allergic contact dermatitis from atopic dermatitis, given that targeted biologic therapies for atopic disease may not improve allergic etiologies. These points and others are highlighted in this Q&A transcript of his interview:

Dr. Liszewski, thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us today. Firstly, what are the most important changes or updates from the past year that you feel are important for clinicians to recognize?

 It's a couple of different things. First is that in patch testing, we have different ‘Core Series.’ These are allergens that we set nationally for the US and Canada that will catch the most common allergens. But they're not updated annually. What we start to see is that, in between the periodic updates, which occur every three to five years, there may be new allergens that are all of a sudden becoming very relevant. A couple of these that I emphasize, the big one is benzisothiazolinone.

It is not in the American contact dermatitis series, nor is it in the T.R.U.E. TEST. It's structurally similar to methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone. Benzisothiazolinone is used predominantly in hand soaps, dish soaps, and laundry detergents. But it's less problematic. So many dermatologists may not have heard of benzisothiazolinone, let alone know how to counsel their patients about it. So, if you have a patient with recalcitrant hand dermatitis or weird rashes on their hands and arms, be sure to look at their hand soap, look at their dish soap, and make sure it does not contain benzisothiazolinone.

We know you discussed a range of dermatitis dilemmas. What were some of the most challenging or commonly mismanaged scenarios that you highlight?

There are two major ones. The first is chronic hand eczema. Chronic hand eczema is not atopic dermatitis. It can be in some circumstances, but for many patients with chronic hand eczema, they have a multifactorial cause of their dermatitis. There's allergic contact dermatitis, there's irritant contact dermatitis, and there can also be atopic dermatitis, but more often than not, it's multifactorial. The pearls I give [include one suggesting] that if you have a patient with chronic hand eczema, start with a prescription topical, but if that's still not working, then you should consider doing patch testing to make sure that there's not an allergenic cause.

The second thing I talk about is chronic lip dermatitis or colitis; more often than not, it's not an allergy. You can do patch testing, but you're probably not going to find anything. Most cases of chronic lip dermatitis are due to irritants. They're due to chronic lip licking. They're due to using too many skin care products. What patients in this group really benefit from is establishing a new treatment regimen. Simplify their products down, switch to thick barrier creams like Vaseline or Aquaphor, and try to pivot to using more hypoallergenic toothpaste in skincare products.

 Were there any allergens, exposures, or patient behaviors that you emphasized as increasingly relevant in 2026?

I think the big thing is [regarding] gel nails and acrylic nails, but predominantly gel nails. Gel nails have been very popular in the past couple of years, but there have been numerous new at-home kits. They're excellent, so consumers are doing them more at home. The issue is that, historically, the major allergen in gel nails was something called 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate or HEMA. It's part of a larger group of adhesives called methacrylates. The issue is that the industry is now starting to use all kinds of different methacrylates. If you have a patient who comes in with allergies, and you suspect that there's an allergy to their acrylic or gel nails, if you're only testing with a standard series, which would be the ACDS Core Allergen Series or the North American Core, you're only going to be testing for Hydroxyethyl methacrylate.

The T.R.U.E. TEST does not even test for Hydroxyethyl methacrylate. So, if you have a patient like this, and you have a very high suspicion for a gel nail allergy, and they didn't react to HEMA, there's a good chance they were reacting to a different methacrylate. As someone who does extended patch testing, I have an additional 20 methacrylates I can test. I routinely test on an extended tray to make sure I'm not missing any methacrylate allergies. But if you're someone who doesn't have that available, it's just important to remember that HEMA, although it catches many forms of gel nail allergies, given that there's so much heterogeneity currently in the market for the glues that companies are using, it may not catch all cases.

How did you recommend clinicians refine their diagnostic approach when contact dermatitis overlaps with atopic or other inflammatory diseases?

It's difficult. The challenging thing is that for atopic dermatitis, there is no diagnostic test, but for allergic contact dermatitis. So if you have a patient with moderate to severe eczema and it's not improving with topicals, those patients are candidates for patch testing. If you find an allergy and they get better, you know that there was either an exclusive allergic reaction or part of the dermatitis was due to allergies. However, if you do patch testing and there are no allergens, then you know that their allergen is either irritant dermatitis or exclusively atopic dermatitis in nature. The reason why that's important is that many of the drugs we use to treat atopic dermatitis, like lebrikizumab or dupilumab, will not be effective for most forms of allergic contact dermatitis. So identifying a precise cause is very important, because not all treatments will work for all forms of eczema.

If clinicians could take away only one or two practice-changing points from your session, what would you want them to remember?

The first thing is, we always need more people to do patch testing. And I'm someone who specializes in advanced patch testing. I have 500 allergens in my clinic. I routinely test patients for more than 100 allergens. Technically, yes, that is the ideal way it should be done. But that's not the only way that needs to be done. And if you're someone who can only do the American contact dermatitis 90 allergens, or even just the T.R.U.E. TEST, it can still be helpful. We need more dermatologists who are willing and capable of doing patch testing, because it can be transformative for many of our patients with chronic eczematous dermatitis.

The second thing that I would emphasize is that you need to read labels. One thing that I encourage all of you to do is next time you're at the grocery store, you're at a pharmacy, and you're looking at shampoos or lotions, look at a bunch of them. Look at the ingredients. Are there new chemicals you haven't seen before? Are there certain chemicals that you used to see all the time, like methylisothiazolinone, that just aren't there anymore, or methyldibromo glutaronitrile? Some chemicals become popular, and then they go away. I think it's very important for us to know what are the chemicals that our patients are coming in contact with, so that we can better identify potential causes and tailor our patch testing to their needs.

The quotes used in this summary were edited for the purposes of clarity.

Liszewski did not have any relevant disclosures of note.

Liszewski W. Contact Dermatitis Update 2026. Presented at: Maui Derm Hawaii 2026; January 25-29, 2026; Maui, Hawaii.

Schalock PC, Dunnick CA, American Contact Dermatitis Society Core Allergen Series Committee, et al. American Contact Dermatitis Society Core Allergen Series: 2020 Update. Dermatitis. 2020 Sep-Oct;31(5):279-282. doi: 10.1097/DER.0000000000000621. PMID: 32947457.

This Q&A summarizes a recent 2026 Maui Derm Hawaii interview with Walter J. Liszewski, MD, regarding contact dermatitis updates.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis condition center page, audiences can find a variety of coverage mediums for medical news and updates, including articles, video interviews, podcasts, and breaking news on dermatitis research, treatment, and drug development.

Dermatology

The HCPLive dermatology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on skin disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for dermatologic conditions, and more.

Conference

 conference coverage page features articles, videos, and expert-led live coverage from major medical meetings throughout the year.

Summarizing Key Updates in Contact Dermatitis Management 2026, With Walter Liszewski, MD

Sustained HAE Attack Reductions at 18 Months with Berotralstat, With Raffi Tachdjian, MD

In a large real-world cohort, berotralstat initiation was associated with significant reductions in monthly 

 attack rates at 12 months, with sustained benefit through 18 months across HAE subtypes and baseline severities.

“The exciting thing about this study is that it basically represents one of the largest real-world patient population cohorts that are receiving long-term prophylaxis for hereditary angioedema, and this included patients with normal C1 inhibitor HAE,” Raffi Tachdjian, MD, MPH, from the department of pediatrics at the University of California Los Angeles, told 

 “This is a population in which the clinical data are limited.”

The retrospective analysis leveraged specialty pharmacy data from Optime Care, between December 2020 and January 2024. Investigators evaluated 390 patients with HAE with C1 esterase inhibitor (C1INH) and 311 with normal C1INH (HAE-nC1INH) who had at ≥ 2 dispensing and documented attack assessments before and after treatment initiation. Patients were stratified by baseline attack frequency (≥ 5, 2–4, 1, or 0 attacks per month).

Over 12 months, mean monthly attack rates fell from 2.50 to 0.79 among patients with HAE-C1INH and from 4.59 to 1.68 among those with HAE-nC1INH (both 

 < .001), with reductions maintained through 18 months of follow-up. Reductions were observed regardless of baseline attack frequency or HAE subtype.

Among patients with ≥1 attack per month at baseline, initiation of berotralstat resulted in statistically significant declines in attack rates. Most patients with 0 baseline attacks per month-maintained attack-free status during follow-up (70–85% in HAE-C1INH; 61–81% in HAE-nC1INH), reinforcing the durability of response.

Tachdjian underscored the importance of re-discussing prophylactic options with clinicians. He characterized berotralstat as a viable first-line option or alternative for patients dissatisfied with injectable prophylaxis, particularly those with needle aversion or treatment fatigue. With recent label expansion down to age 2 years, he said that the oral agent now spans a broader pediatric-to-adult population.

“I don't think there remain too many unanswered questions as far as durability or tolerability,”

“Obviously, we continue to have vigilance in any drug that's out there, but whether it's the specialty pharmacy data, obviously, the clinical trials, the pivotal phase 3 data that is read out, really point to the fact that this has efficacy and safety, both things we look for. In my mind…there's compliance with the regimen and reporting back on any kind of attacks or safety signals to make sure that they are being taken care of in this prophylactic environment.”

Real world study shows significant 12- and 18-month attack rate reductions across HAE subtypes and baseline severities following berotralstat initiation.

Allergy

Allergy condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on allergic and inflammatory diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for food and seasonal allergies, as well as allergic asthma and related conditions.

Diana Isaacs, PharmD, is an endocrine clinical pharmacist, director of Education and Training in Diabetes Technology, and codirector of Endocrine Disorders in Pregnancy at the Cleveland Clinic.

The Dangers of Compounded Oral GLP-1s

On February 9, 2026, Novo Nordisk announced that it had filed a lawsuit against Hims & Hers, alleging patent infringement over Hims’ compounded semaglutide products. The document goes on to suggest that these drugs are technically unapproved and therefore may be unsafe for consumers, particularly given that oral Wegovy is the only GLP-1 pill to receive approval from the 

Diabetes Dialogue hosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, sat down to discuss the controversy and the larger issue of compounded GLP-1 formulations.

Check out the full episode on oral GLP-1s 

In this segment, the discussion focuses on the growing controversy surrounding compounded oral semaglutide products in the wake of resolved GLP-1 receptor agonist shortages. The speakers emphasize that prior supply constraints affecting both injectable and oral semaglutide formulations have largely been eliminated, with consistent access across doses now reported in routine clinical practice. Despite restored availability, new market entrants—including Hims & Hers—have introduced lower-cost oral semaglutide offerings, prompting swift legal action from Novo Nordisk.

Central to the dispute is the proprietary absorption enhancer (SNAC) required for effective oral semaglutide bioavailability. Oral delivery of GLP-1 receptor agonists presents substantial pharmacokinetic challenges, and the commercial formulation of Wegovy and related oral semaglutide products relies on highly specific absorption technology developed and patented by Novo Nordisk. The speakers underscore that this enhancer cannot be readily replicated without intellectual property and regulatory implications. As such, questions arise regarding what excipients or delivery mechanisms compounded versions are employing—and whether these have undergone any formal pharmacologic validation.

The conversation highlights the broader regulatory and safety concerns associated with compounded oral formulations. Unlike FDA-approved medications, which require extensive phase 1–4 clinical trial evaluation, compounded alternatives may enter the market without rigorous assessment of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, dose proportionality, or long-term safety. Given the inherent difficulty of achieving adequate gastrointestinal absorption of peptide-based therapies, the speakers raise the possibility that some compounded oral semaglutide products may offer minimal systemic exposure, effectively functioning as placebos. At worst, the use of untested absorption enhancers or excipients could introduce unanticipated toxicity.

At the same time, the speakers acknowledge strong patient demand for lower-cost GLP-1 therapies. They note substantial progress in price reductions compared with earlier list prices exceeding $1,000 per month, with current branded options beginning at considerably lower entry points. Nevertheless, they stress that cost-containment strategies must remain aligned with regulatory oversight and evidence-based standards.

The segment concludes with a cautionary message to clinicians and patients: while expanding access to obesity and metabolic therapies is critical, compounded oral GLP-1 formulations warrant skepticism in the absence of transparent safety and efficacy data. With commercial supply stabilized, the speakers advocate prioritizing FDA-approved therapies to ensure both therapeutic integrity and patient safety.

Editor’s Note: Isaacs reports disclosures with Dexcom, Abbott, Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Medtronic, Insulet, and others. Bellini reports disclosures with Abbott Diabetes Care, MannKind, Povention Bio, and others.

Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk issues statement on illegal mass compounding and deceptive advertising by Hims & Hers. February 5, 2026. Accessed February 16, 2026. 

https://www.novonordisk.com/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=916489

Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk takes legal action against Hims & Hers to protect patients from unsafe, knock-off Wegovy and Ozempic. February 9, 2026. Accessed February 16, 2026. 

https://www.novonordisk.com/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=916493

Cohosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, discuss the controversy surrounding Hims and Hers and the risks of compounding GLP-1 formulas.

Endocrinology

The HCPLive endocrinology page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on endocrine system conditions. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for diabetes, hormonal disease, and more.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

Podcasts

podcasts page features a feed of medical news and interview podcast series, including DocTalk, Lungcast, Derm Discussions, and Heart Trials.

Diabetes Dialogue

Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives is a monthly podcast hosted by Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, aimed at providing a regular roundup of the latest clinically applicable insights across diabetes and metabolic diseases, with a focus on leveraging technology to improve care.

MAJESTY, a phase 3 study evaluating obinutuzumab in primary membranous nephropathy, demonstrates positive efficacy and safety.  


MAJESTY: Obinutuzumab Achieves 2 Year Complete Remission in Primary Membranous Nephropathy

Frances Lee, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine in the division of liver diseases at Mount Sinai.

Explore the safety and long-term effects of PPAR agonists in patients with liver disease, addressing concerns about bone health and medication interactions.

The Safety of PPAR Agonists in PBC: Reviewing Recent Trial Data

Abraham Kazemi, MD, is the director of Cosmetic and Laser Dermatology for Virginia’s Pinnacle Dermatology sites.

This Skin of Color Savvy episode featured Abrahem Kazemi, MD, who speaks on several notable experiences he had as a dermatologist.

Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color

Hosted by Skin of Color Society and produced by HCPLive, 

 delves into the latest research, clinical insights, and culturally intelligent care practices in dermatology with leading experts. 

Whether it’s groundbreaking research, practice-changing insights, or highlights from the SOCS community, this twice-monthly program provides dermatologists and care providers with expert perspectives on treating patients with skin of color.

Skin of Color Savvy: Serving the Underserved in Dermatology, With Abrahem Kazemi, MD

Explore the latest FDA-approved second-line therapies for PBC, including seladelpar and elafibranor, and their mechanisms of action.

The Efficacy of PPAR Agonists in PBC: Signals of Extrahepatic Improvements

A new study found no association between antibiotic class or number of classes in infancy and later allergic disease, reinforcing stewardship over substitution.


No Class-Specific Early-Life Antibiotics Linked to Allergy, With Moath Hattab, MD

Stay updated with the latest healthcare breakthroughs, FDA actions and new phase 2 and 3 data, in this week’s essential news roundup.

Pulmonology

Infectious Disease condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on respiratory health. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, COVID-19, and more.

Sleep

On the HCPLive sleep page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into sleep medicine can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, and more.

Obesity Management

Obesity Management condition center page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into clinical weight management can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on obesity research, treatment, and drug development.

The HCPFive: Top News for Healthcare Providers from the Week of 02/08

Ruchika Goel, MD, is a professor and associate vice chair of research at SIU School of Medicine.

In pediatric platelet transfusions, what counts as success depends on the clinical context and treatment goals, not just the platelet count.

Hematology

Rethinking What Defines Success in Pediatric Platelet Transfusion, With Ruchika Goel, MD

Dawn Eichenfield, MD, PhD, is a dermatologist at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

Eichenfield speaks in this interview about several key takeaways drawn from her master class in pediatric dermatology at Maui Derm Hawaii.

Plaque Psoriasis

The HCPLive plaque psoriasis page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on psoriasis. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for psoriatic disease, and more.

New Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis Updates for 2026, With Dawn Eichenfield, MD, PhD

Abigail Brooks is an assistant managing editor for 

She joined MJH Life Sciences in August 2023 shortly after graduating from Monmouth University where she earned her BA in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations/Journalism and later an MA in Interactive Digital Media. She enjoys traveling, running, and reading books. She can be reached at abrooks@mjhlifesciences.com.

Experts discuss shifting CKD detection upstream, improving albuminuria screening, and enabling earlier, risk-based intervention.

Rethinking Early Detection of CKD: A Shift Toward Upstream Care

The FDA denied accelerated approval for bitopertin, citing a need for evidence on clinical benefit from the ongoing phase 3 APOLLO trial. 


RDR Alert®

The Rare Disease Report page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on rare diseases. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for sickle cell disease, multiple myeloma, and more.

Latest News

Balancing Enthusiasm for New Technologies With the Need for Trial Data, With David Rizik, MD, and Michael Morris, MD

Breaking Down The Kidney Transplant Landscape on National Donor Day

Summarizing Key Updates in Contact Dermatitis Management 2026, With Walter Liszewski, MD

Sustained HAE Attack Reductions at 18 Months with Berotralstat, With Raffi Tachdjian, MD

The Dangers of Compounded Oral GLP-1s