Brajan Budini is a medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge.

Discontinuing GLP-1 Treatment Associated With Up to 60% Weight Regain, With Brajan Budini

After cessation of GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment, patients regain a substantial amount of the weight they lost while on medication, with 60% of weight regained after 1 year post-discontinuation.

Despite their undeniable efficacy in reducing weight, GLP-1 RAs are not a permanent fix. Discontinuation of these medications has been proven to lead to substantial weight regain. Previous studies have indicated the degree to which weight can rebound after treatment discontinuation. However, the trajectory of this regain remains unknown, forestalling accurate estimates.

“GLP-1 RAs really make use of the body's own system for regulating appetite, but what we're doing is they're acting more so as a brake on the appetite,” Brajan Budini, a medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge, told 

in an exclusive interview. “Once you take your foot off that brake, you really do tend to regain weight quite rapidly. And this really goes to the point that these drugs aren't a magic fix.”

Budini and colleagues conducted a systematic search via MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science, identifying studies which tracked weight outcomes in patients after discontinuing GLP-1 therapy.

Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomized interventional studies, or observational studies reporting weight outcomes in adults with overweight or 

, which was defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 or ≥23 kg/m2 for specific populations. Additionally, studies had to have a treatment period of ≥8 weeks and a post-cessation follow-up of ≥4 weeks and could not include co-treatment with other weight loss drugs.

The study’s primary outcome was percentage weight regain, defined as the percentage of weight regained after treatment discontinuation to the weight lost at the end of treatment. Budini and colleagues calculated this via end-of-treatment weight loss data and the weight reported at any time point following cessation. Secondary outcomes included changes in HbA1c and 

In total, 48 relevant studies were included, of which 36 were RCTs and 12 were non-randomized studies. Weight consistently rebounded after stopping GLP-1 treatment. 6 RCTs, comprising 3236 patients, were included in a nonlinear meta-regression, which utilized a mixed-effect exponential recovery model with random effects applied to the rate constant. After 1 year post-discontinuation, 60% of the weight lost during treatment was regained.

After 52 weeks, investigators extrapolated weight trajectories, estimating a plateau in weight regain at 75.3% (95% CI, 68.9-81.6) of the weight lost at treatment. The rate constant was 0.0302 per week (95% CI, 0.0202-0.0401), which corresponds to a half-life of 23 weeks (95% CI, 17.3-34.3).

Ultimately, Budini and colleagues declared these findings indicative of a need for re-evaluation of prescription guidelines, cessation strategies, and long-term support. They also encourage further research to analyze the makeup of the weight regained following cessation, given the potential loss of lean mass during GLP-1 treatment.

“Although you do lose weight, it's also important thing about what you're losing, not just how much you're losing,” Budini said. “Of the weight that you're losing, 40% of that weight loss is lean mass, which is muscle mass. But what we were really interested in, and this hasn't again been answered, is, when you come off the drug and you regain the weight, what does the proportion of that regain look like? Are you regaining the same muscle and fat in the same ratio that you lost it? Or is the regain disproportionately fat?”

Budini B, Luo S, Tam M, et al. Trajectory of weight regain after cessation of GLP-1 receptor agonists: A systematic review and nonlinear meta-regression. 

. Published online March 4, 2026:103796. 

West S, Scragg J, Aveyard P, et al. Weight regain after cessation of medication for weight management: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2026;392. 

Videos

Budini discusses his recent study investigating the trajectory of weight regain after GLP-1 cessation, given current high discontinuation rates.

News

news page, resources on the topics of disease- and specialty-specific medical news and expert insight can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on health care research, treatment, and drug development.

Clinical

clinical page is a resource for content on every specialty, disease, and topic available on our medical news site.

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.

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.

Victoria Johnson joined the MJH Life Sciences in 2020 and has written for NeurologyLive, CGTLive, and now HCPLive. You can reach her at vjohnson@mjhlifesciences.com

Pulmonology entered March 2026 with a mixed but meaningful set of clinical signals spanning asthma, COPD, and pulmonary vascular disease. The month's most consequential trial readout may have been the phase 3 PROSERA failure for seralutinib in pulmonary arterial hypertension—a near-miss that achieved nominal statistical significance but fell short of its prespecified threshold, leaving Gossamer Bio in regulatory limbo while a subgroup signal in higher-risk patients keeps the program on life support. Elsewhere, the pipeline was more encouraging: verekitug's phase 2 VALIANT data positioned the TSLP receptor antagonist as a potential addition to the severe asthma biologic landscape, and pooled analyses confirmed mepolizumab's exacerbation benefit in type 2 COPD across a broader range of blood eosinophil counts than previously established.

Beyond trials, 2 real-world datasets added clinical texture to existing treatments. GSK's AREXVY demonstrated associations with reduced cardiovascular events and respiratory exacerbations during Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)-related hospitalizations—a finding that, while exploratory, may expand how clinicians frame the case for RSV vaccination in older adults with comorbid disease. And a 

analysis offered a quiet but practically useful result: lower-carbon LAMA-LABA inhalers appear modestly superior to metered-dose counterparts on clinical outcomes, a convergence of environmental and therapeutic rationale that warrants attention as prescribing habits evolve. Rounding out the month, retrospective data from the 2026 

Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)

 suggested GLP-1 receptor agonists may reduce asthma exacerbations in non-diabetic patients with obesity—a preliminary signal that raises more questions than it answers, but one that reflects growing interest in the metabolic-respiratory interface

Check out this February 2026 pulmonology month in review for a recap of HCPLive’s coverage of the top news and research from the past few weeks:

Phase 2 VALIANT: Verekitug Reduces Average Annual Asthma Flare-Ups

Topline results from the phase 2 VALIANT trial show that verekitug met its primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically significant reductions in annualized asthma exacerbation rate compared with placebo in adults with severe asthma. The TSLP receptor antagonist achieved a 56% exacerbation reduction at the 100 mg every-12-weeks dose, with Upstream Bio planning to advance the drug into phase 3 trials in severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

AREXVY Vaccine Reduces Hospitalization, Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in RSV

New real-world data from GSK show that AREXVY was associated with 75.6% effectiveness against RSV-related hospitalization in adults aged 60 and older, with exploratory endpoints also demonstrating reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, during RSV-related hospitalizations. The findings, presented at RSVVW'26 in Rome, were derived from a retrospective cohort study of more than 2.5 million US patients and a separate nationwide Danish cohort of adults with COPD.

PROSERA: Seralutinib Falls Short in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Phase 3 Trial

Topline data from the phase 3 PROSERA trial indicate that seralutinib, an investigational inhaled tyrosine kinase inhibitor, did not meet its prespecified primary efficacy threshold in pulmonary arterial hypertension, despite achieving nominal statistical significance on 6-minute walk distance at 24 weeks. A prespecified subgroup of intermediate- and high-risk patients showed a more clinically meaningful improvement over placebo, and Gossamer Bio has indicated plans to discuss a potential regulatory path forward with the FDA.

Lower-Carbon LAMA-LABA Inhalers Linked to Modest Reductions in COPD Exacerbation Risk

 found that lower-carbon LAMA-LABA inhalers—dry powder and soft mist devices—were associated with modestly better clinical outcomes for patients with COPD compared to metered-dose inhalers in the same class, with no meaningful differences in safety outcomes across groups. The dry powder inhaler umeclidinium-vilanterol was associated with a 14% lower risk of moderate or severe COPD exacerbations compared with the MDI glycopyrrolate-formoterol, suggesting an opportunity to reduce healthcare-related emissions without compromising patient care.

Mepolizumab Reduces Type 2 COPD Exacerbations Across Variable BEC Levels

Mepolizumab was found to reduce exacerbations in patients with COPD and type 2 inflammation consistently across varying blood eosinophil counts, according to study results presented at the 2026 AAAAI Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. The pooled analysis, drawing from three randomized controlled trials including METREX, METREO, and MATINEE, demonstrated a statistically significant 19% reduction in annualized rates of moderate to severe exacerbations in the broader eosinophilic COPD population, supporting mepolizumab's use across a wider range of blood eosinophil thresholds than previously characterized.

GLP-1s Linked to Reduced Asthma Exacerbations, With Ruchi Patel, MD

A retrospective cohort study presented at AAAAI 2026 found that GLP-1 receptor agonist initiation was consistently associated with a lower risk of asthma exacerbation across overweight, obese, and morbidly obese non-diabetic patients, with absolute risk reductions ranging from 12.2% to 14.6% depending on BMI category. Investigators noted the consistency of the effect across weight categories as potentially suggestive of a direct anti-inflammatory mechanism beyond weight loss alone, though they acknowledged the retrospective design limits causal conclusions and called for prospective, randomized studies.

Articles

March 2026 pulmonology developments delivered divergent signals across asthma, COPD, and pulmonary vascular disease. In PAH, inhaled seralutinib narrowly missed its prespecified phase 3 PROSERA primary threshold despite nominal 6MWD significance, with a more compelling benefit emerging in intermediate/high-risk patients. Severe asthma momentum improved with phase 2 VALIANT, where the TSLP receptor antagonist verekitug reduced annualized exacerbations. In COPD, pooled RCT data broadened mepolizumab’s exacerbation benefit across blood eosinophil levels, while real-world analyses linked RSV vaccination and lower-carbon inhaler selection to modest clinical advantages.

February 2026 saw new data and expert interviews from AAAAI 2026.

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.

Asthma

The HCPLive asthma page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on asthmatic disease. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for allergic and severe asthma, and more.

COPD

COPD condition center page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on COPD research, treatment, and drug development.

6 Pulmonology Headlines You Missed in February 2026

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.

The US Food and Drug Administration has accepted Mineralys Therapeutics’ New Drug Application (NDA) for lorundrostat for the treatment of adult patients with hypertension in combination with other antihypertensive drugs.

As described in a March 9, 2026, press release from the Company, the NDA was based on positive data from the phase 3 Launch-HTN and phase 2 Advance-HTN trials demonstrating favorable safety and blood pressure reduction in adults with hypertension. With the acceptance, the FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of December 22, 2026.

Mineralys additionally announced topline results from the phase 2 Explore-OSA exploratory trial showing that lorundrostat did not reduce apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) but demonstrated a clinically meaningful reduction in blood pressure and favorable safety and tolerability in overweight or obese adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and hypertension.

“The FDA’s acceptance of our NDA for lorundrostat marks an important milestone in our efforts to address the clinically significant need faced by millions of patients living with uncontrolled or resistant hypertension,” Jon Congleton, Chief Executive Officer of Mineralys Therapeutics, said in a statement.

“While the Explore-OSA trial did not demonstrate a reduction in AHI, the blood pressure reductions and safety profile were clinically meaningful, especially for this difficult to control population. We believe lorundrostat has the potential to become an important new treatment option for resistant and uncontrolled hypertension, and we look forward to working with the FDA as we advance toward potential approval.”

Lorundrostat is a proprietary, orally administered, highly selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor being developed for the treatment of uncontrolled hypertension (uHTN) or resistant hypertension (rHTN), as well as chronic kidney disease and OSA. Lorundrostat was designed to reduce aldosterone levels by inhibiting CYP11B2, the enzyme responsible for its production.

The Company has now completed 5 successful phase 2/3 clinical trials of lorundrostat supporting the efficacy and safety profile while also validating aldosterone as an integral therapeutic target in uHTN and rHTN. This includes 2 pivotal, registrational trials, including the phase 3 Launch-HTN trial and phase 2 Advance-HTN trial.

Explore-OSA was a phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of lorundrostat in overweight or obese adults with moderate-to-severe OSA and hypertension. Participants in Explore-OSA received 50 mg of oral, once daily (QD) lorundrostat and placebo in sequential treatment periods, with continuous monitoring of BP during overnight polysomnography.

The primary efficacy endpoint of the trial was absolute change from baseline in AHI after 4 weeks of active treatment compared to placebo. The first secondary endpoint was AOBP, and additional endpoints were nighttime BP and sleep and cardiovascular health measures.

Explore-OSA enrolled 48 participants with an average body mass index (BMI) of 38.2 kg/m2, an average AHI of 48.5 events/hr, and an average systolic blood pressure (BP) of 142.3 mmHg (range 131-175 mmHg). After 4 weeks of treatment, lorundrostat 50 mg dosed in the evening did not demonstrate a clinically meaningful difference relative to placebo on the AHI.

At week 4, the trial demonstrated an 11.1 mmHg (

 = NS) BP reduction with lorundrostat and placebo, respectively, in the pre-planned parallel arm analysis of the first period. There was a 6.2 mmHg placebo-adjusted reduction (

 <.0003) in BP in the crossover analysis.

Of note, lorundrostat demonstrated a favorable safety profile and was well tolerated, with no serum potassium excursions above 5.5 mmol/L. Analysis is ongoing for other endpoints in the trial and will be reported in future publications or medical meetings.

Mineralys Therapeutics. Mineralys Therapeutics Announces FDA Acceptance of NDA for Lorundrostat for Treatment of Adults with Hypertension and Topline Explore-OSA Trial Results. March 9, 2026. Accessed March 9, 2026. 

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/03/09/3252329/0/en/Mineralys-Therapeutics-Announces-FDA-Acceptance-of-NDA-for-Lorundrostat-for-Treatment-of-Adults-with-Hypertension-and-Topline-Explore-OSA-Trial-Results.html

Saxena M. Launch-HTN: Lorundrostat Proves Efficacy in Adults with Hypertension, With Manish Saxena, MBBS. HCPLive. October 23, 2025. Accessed March 9, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/launch-htn-lorundrostat-proves-efficacy-in-adults-with-hypertension-with-manish-saxena-mbbs

Campbell P. Lorundrostat Improves Blood Pressure in Uncontrolled Hypertension. HCPLive. March 30, 2025. Accessed March 9, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/lorundrostat-improves-blood-pressure-in-uncontrolled-hypertension

Mineralys’ NDA for lorundrostat, an oral selective aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) inhibitor, has been accepted by FDA for adjunctive treatment of adult hypertension, with a PDUFA date of December 22, 2026. The submission is supported by five phase 2/3 studies, including registrational Launch-HTN and Advance-HTN, reinforcing aldosterone as a therapeutic target in uncontrolled/resistant hypertension. In phase 2 Explore-OSA, lorundrostat did not improve AHI but produced clinically meaningful blood pressure reductions and was well tolerated without hyperkalemia >5.5 mmol/L.

The FDA accepted Mineralys Therapeutics’ NDA for lorundrostat in hypertension, but the selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor fell short in a phase 2 obstructive sleep apnea trial.

Hypertension

The HCPLive hypertension page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on high blood pressure. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for hypertension, and more.

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...

FDA News

Lorundrostat Secures FDA NDA Acceptance for Hypertension, Falls Short in Phase 2 OSA Trial

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.

Povetacicpet met its primary and secondary endpoints in RANIER, an ongoing phase 3 trial evaluating in adults with

 according to a 36-week interim analysis.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced the positive results on March 9, 2026, where povetacept showed a 52.0% reductio in urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) compared to baseline, with a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 49.8% UPCR reduction compared to placebo (

“As a nephrologist, I am struck by the rapid, deep, and sustained response to povetacicept, as well as the consistency of benefit across all subgroups,” said Reshma Kewalramani, MD, Chief Executive Officer and President of Vertex, in a statement. “These results are important for patients with IgAN and also bring us one step closer to realizing povetacicept’s pipeline-in-a-product promise”

Povetacicept is an engineered fusion protein and dual inhibitor of the B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) cytokines. APRIL primarily supports plasma cell survival and function, and BAFF regulates early pathogenic B-cell development, activates pathogenic T cells and innate immune cells, and contributes to mesangial cell proliferation and podocyte injury.

 povaticept led to substantial, sustained UPCR reductions with stable eGFR, significant Gd-IgA1 reductions, hematuria resolution, clinical remission, with favorable safety in IgAN and primary membranous nephropathy (pMN), according to data presented at the 

 Kidney Week 2025. Povetacicept has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the 

 for the treatment of IgAN, along with a rolling review for the Biologic License Application (BLA).

Accordingly, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pivotal phase 3 RANIER trial evaluated the efficacy of povetacicept in reducing proteinuria and preserving renal function. The study included 605 patients who were randomized to receive 80 mg povetacicept administered subcutaneously every four weeks on top of standard care or placebo.

For the interim analysis, the trial’s primary endpoint is the change in 24-hour UPCR, and the 2 alpha-controlled secondary endpoints are the change in serum galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) and the proportion of patients to achieve hematuria resolution at week 36. Additionally, the exploratory endpoints included the proportion of patients with 24-hour UPCR <0.5 g/g, in line with the most recent Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines.

For the first secondary endpoint, patients treated with povetacicept demonstrated a 77.4% reduction in Gd-IgA1 compared to an increase of +9.1% in the placebo group, yielding a reduction of 79.3% compared to placebo (

For the second secondary endpoint, in patients with baseline hematuria, 85.1% achieved hematuria resolution in the povetacicept treatment group compared to 23.4% in the placebo group, resulting in hematuria resolution of 61.7% compared to placebo (

Overall, povetacicept was generally safe and well-tolerated and the majority of adverse events (AEs) were mild to moderate.

RAINIER is the largest trial conducted in IgAN so far, having achieved full enrollment faster than any contemporary one. If povetacicept is approved by the FDA, Vertex plans to launch povetacicept in a low-volume (<0.5 mL) subcutaneous auto-injector delivered once every 4 weeks via at-home administration.

The RAINIER Phase 3 trial will continue with final analysis at 2 years of treatment, and a primary endpoint of total estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope through Week 104.

Vertex Announces Positive Week 36 Interim Analysis Results for Primary and All Secondary Endpoints in the RAINIER Phase 3 Trial of Povetacicept in Adults With IgA Nephropathy | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Newsroom. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Newsroom. Published 2026. Accessed March 9, 2026. 

https://news.vrtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/vertex-announces-positive-week-36-interim-analysis-results

Tumlin J. Povetacicept Data Validate APRIL/BAFF Inhibition in IgAN and pMN, With James Tumlin, MD. Hcplive.com. Published November 13, 2025. Accessed March 9, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/povetacicept-data-validate-april-baff-inhibition-igan-pmn-tumlin

Povetacicept achieved statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in proteinuria at the 36-week interim analysis of the phase 3 RANIER trial in adults with IgA nephropathy. On background standard of care, 80 mg subcutaneous dosing every four weeks reduced UPCR by 52% from baseline and by 49.8% versus placebo. Alpha-controlled secondary endpoints also improved markedly, with substantial reductions in galactose-deficient IgA1 and high rates of hematuria resolution. Safety was generally favorable; the study continues to assess eGFR slope through 104 weeks.

Phase 3 RANIER exhibits positive results of Povetacicept in adults with IgA Nephropathy in a 36 week interim analysis, 

IgA Nephropathy

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

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.

RANIER: Povetacicept Achieves Primary and All Secondary Endpoints for IgAN

Shahinian is a Dr. Robert H and Eva M Moyad Research Professor of UrologyCo-Chief of Dow Division of Health Services ResearchProfessor of Internal Medicine, and Professor of Urology at the University of Michigan Medical School. 

Having a Primary Care Provider Is Linked to Reduced ED Visits, With Vahakn Shahinian

In patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) receiving dialysis, new research suggests that having a primary care physician (PCP) is associated with a reduced likelihood of emergency department visits, especially those that don’t ultimately result in hospitalization.

By having access to a PCP, patients can have the continuity to address general health complications without needing to escalate treatment to the emergency department, which addresses a major cost of care in this patient population, according to study investigators.

Overall, >70% of patients with ESKD have ≥1 significant comorbidity, with the most common being cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Therefore, treating patients with kidney failure often involves addressing other symptoms within the general care of other specialties.

“PCPs might just have easier availability for any kinds of issues that might come up,” study investigator Vahakn Shahinian, MD, Co-Chief of Dow Division of Health Services Research, Professor of Internal Medicine and Urology at the University of Michigan Medical School, said in an interview with 

If somebody has developed a cough or respiratory tract infection, it's possible that if they just have a nephrologist, it may be harder for them to be able to get a hold of somebody who might be able to prescribe them something and try to head off an emergency room visit instead. That's the concept we were trying to get at.”

To address the association between primary care involvement and emergency department utilization, Shahinian and investigators conducted a national, retrospective, cross-sectional study of patients receiving dialysis, leveraging data from the US Renal Data System (USRDS), including that of 181,520 patients with ESKD receiving maintenance hemodialysis.

Upon analysis, investigators did not find a significant difference between the estimated risk of hospitalization among those with a 0% probability of having a PCP and those with a 100% (51.0%; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 49.6%-52.4% vs 48.7%; 95% CI, 45.9%-51.4%). However, there was a difference in estimated risk of an emergency department visits (69.4%; 95% CI, 68.1%-70.7% vs 75.0%; 95% CI, 72.5%-77.6%; 

 = .003), which was pronounced among those visits not resulting in hospitalization (51.2%; 95% CI, 49.7%-52.7% vs 72.1%; 95% CI, 69.2%-74.9%; 

“In the American medical system, not everybody has a primary care physician, and frequently, you can access specialty care without going through primary care,” said Shahinian. “A lot of patients have a primary care physician, so that's a much bigger, not specific to nephrology in any way, but a much bigger issue about access to primary care in general.”

Given these findings, Shahinian and colleagues proposed that including partnerships with primary care practices may be one method to reduce total costs of care, and suggest future models of care may benefit from explicitly incentivizing primary care involvement.

Bailoor K, Hirth RA, Guro P, Oerline MK, Hollingsworth JM, Shahinian VB. Primary Care Involvement and Health Care Utilization Among Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease. 

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.0807

Cha J, Han D. Health-Related Quality of Life Based on Comorbidities Among Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease. 

Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives

https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2020.11.4.08

Having a primary care provider may be associated with reduced emergency department utilization for patients with ESKD receiving dialysis, according to new research. 

Chronic Kidney Disease

Having a Primary Care Provider Linked to Reduced ED Visits for ESKD, With Vahakn Shahinian

A trio of experts discuss how simplifying hepatitis B guidance could help more clinicians diagnose, treat, and support patients living with chronic infection.

Hepatology

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into HCV can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on hepatitis C virus research, treatment, and drug development.

Empowering More Clinicians to Treat Hepatitis B

Désirée Larenas-Linnemann, MD, from Hospital Médica Sur

At AAAAI 2026, Larenas-Linnemann discusses evidence, safety, and long-term benefits of sublingual immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis and asthma.

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.

Seasonal Allergy

Sublingual Immunotherapy for Allergy in 2026, With Désirée Larenas-Linnemann, MD

Williams explains colorectal cancer screening options, persistent barriers to uptake, and strategies to improve screening rates.

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on digestive and GI conditions. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for 

, IBS and IBD, Crohn's disease, and more.

Colorectal Cancer Screening in 2026: Progress, Gaps, and What Comes Next, With Renee Williams, MD

An economic model suggest using lower quality, but acceptable kidneys for older adults may be cost efficective and clinically valuable.

Using Lower Quality Kidneys to Reduce Costs, Increase Transplants for Older Adults, With Matthew Kaufmann, PhD

Nicole Ramsey, MD, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics in the division of pediatric allergy and immunology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Using race-neutral spirometry equations such as GLI 2012 and GLI 2022 may improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce disparities in lung disease assessment.

Race-Neutral Spirometry May Improve Diagnostic Accuracy, With Nicole Ramsey, MD, PhD

Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team in 2022 and is currently an associate editor for HCPLive. He is also the executive producer of two podcasts: Skin of Color Savvy and The Medical Sisterhood. Previously, he was the producer of the Lungcast podcast. He graduated from UC Berkeley and worked in multimedia journalism as a staff writer prior to joining MJH. You can contact him at tsmith@mjhlifesciences.com.

Bimekizumab was assessed using the International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4) outcomes in the BE HEARD I and II studies.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis Suppurativa 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 dermatology 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.

Bimekizumab-Treated Patients with HS See IHS4 Outcome Improvement Over 1 Year

Experts explore the concept of “gradient reduction therapy,” the remodeling effects of cardiac myosin inhibitors, and the evolving role of traditional agents in oHCM.

Video Series

Understanding Gradient Reduction Therapy and Cardiac Myosin Inhibitors in oHCM Care

Bernard Kadosh, MD, is the medical director of the ventricular assist device and cardiogenic shock programs at NYU Langone Health.

Kadosh and Gorodeski discuss 2 of the major challenges facing both patients and clinicians dealing with HF and how to address them.

Heart Failure

The HCPLive heart failure page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on HF. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for heart disease, reduced and preserved ejection fraction, and more.

Improving Heart Failure Awareness and GDMT Prescription, With Bernard Kadosh, MD, and Eiran Gorodeski, MD, MPH

New data suggest those who exhibit minimal early response to ruxolitinib cream may still achieve repigmentation with prolonged use extending to 2 years.


Vitiligo

Vitiligo condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on the dermatologic condition. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for the affected skin of vitiligo patients.

Prolonged Ruxolitinib Cream Effective for Vitiligo in Early Non-Responders

Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn, MD, PhD, of NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

At AAAAI 2026, Nowak-Wegrzyn presented FPIES diagnosis in infants, emphasizing clinical recognition and updated oral food challenge protocols.

Conference

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

Latest News

Discontinuing GLP-1 Treatment Associated With Up to 60% Weight Regain, With Brajan Budini

6 Pulmonology Headlines You Missed in February 2026

Lorundrostat Secures FDA NDA Acceptance for Hypertension, Falls Short in Phase 2 OSA Trial

RANIER: Povetacicept Achieves Primary and All Secondary Endpoints for IgAN

Having a Primary Care Provider Linked to Reduced ED Visits for ESKD, With Vahakn Shahinian