The expert faculty explore how clinicians approach rectal bleeding and surveillance decisions in colorectal cancer screening.

Colorectal Cancer Screening and Surveillance Decisions

In this episode, ‘Colorectal Cancer Screening and Surveillance Decisions’, the expert faculty explore how clinicians approach rectal bleeding and surveillance decisions in colorectal cancer screening. The discussion highlights rectal bleeding as a key presenting symptom in early-onset colorectal cancer, particularly among younger patients, and examines when colonoscopy is warranted even in the presence of suspected benign causes such as hemorrhoids. Faculty emphasize the importance of follow-up and individualized clinical judgment, especially when recent screening has been performed. The conversation also addresses post-polypectomy management, clarifying differences between hyperplastic polyps and adenomas and how these findings influence future screening strategies. Ultimately, the speakers reinforce that the most effective screening approach is one that aligns with risk profile and ensures patient adherence.

The next episode in this series, ‘Shared Decision-Making in Colorectal Cancer Screening,’ features the panelists highlighting the challenges of engaging patients in colorectal cancer screening and emphasizes the importance of pragmatic, shared decision-making conversations. The faculty discuss how presenting the risks and benefits of colonoscopy and stool-based options can improve patient buy-in and follow-through, while reinforcing the impact of early detection on mortality and quality of life.

Videos

Clinical

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

Video Series

 In this episode title, ‘Shifting Epidemiology and Risk Factors in Colorectal Cancer,’ the moderator introduces the evolving landscape of colorectal cancer screening and highlights the growing importance of early detection.

Shifting Epidemiology and Risk Factors in Colorectal Cancer 

Welcome back to another HCP Live Peers and Perspectives series. In this episode title, ‘Shifting Epidemiology and Risk Factors in Colorectal Cancer,’ the moderator introduces the evolving landscape of colorectal cancer screening and highlights the growing importance of early detection. The faculty review current epidemiologic trends, noting declining incidence in adults over 50 alongside a concerning rise in cases among individuals aged 40 to 49. They discuss potential contributing factors, including obesity, sedentary lifestyle, dietary habits, and the possibility of a birth cohort effect. The conversation also underscores disparities in incidence and mortality among certain racial and ethnic populations, emphasizing the role of access to care and social determinants of health. Finally, the expert faculty highlight the importance of family history assessment and risk stratification in guiding appropriate screening strategies in clinical practice.

In the next episode, ‘Colorectal Cancer Screening and Surveillance Decisions,’ expert faculty emphasize that rectal bleeding in younger patients warrants a low threshold for colonoscopy, while prior polyp type (eg, hyperplastic, adenomatous) guides whether continued colonoscopy surveillance or noninvasive screening is appropriate.

 In this episode titled, ‘Shifting Epidemiology and Risk Factors in Colorectal Cancer,’ the moderator introduces the evolving landscape of colorectal cancer screening and highlights the growing importance of early detection.

OUtMATCH: Omalizumab and OIT Similarly Enable Allergenic Food Consumption, With Robert Wood, MD

The question driving food allergy research has shifted — from whether patients can be protected against accidental exposures to whether they can actually eat the foods they've spent their lives avoiding. Stage 3 data from the landmark OUtMATCH trial presented at the 

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)

 2026 Annual Meeting held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from February 27 to March 2, suggest the answer, for the majority of patients, is yes — and that both available treatments get them there comparably.

To discuss the findings, we spoke with Robert A. Wood, MD, Chief of the Eudowood Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and an investigator of OUtMATCH, the multi-stage trial that led to FDA approval of omalizumab for food allergy in 2024.

 Stage 3 addressed the most clinically meaningful question yet: after approximately 52 weeks of either multi-food OIT (mOIT) or omalizumab, could patients successfully introduce and sustain dietary consumption (DC) of their allergenic foods? Of 81 eligible participants, 80 qualified for DC plans following mOIT (n = 29) or omalizumab (n = 51), covering 83 and 139 individual allergen DC plans, respectively. Success was defined as consuming a median of ≥300 mg/day of allergenic food at both 3 and 6 months by daily diary, with additional study team evaluations conducted across all 12 months.

By daily diary, DC plan success rates across all foods showed no significant differences between groups at 3 months (post-mOIT 77% vs. post-omalizumab 66%; 

 = .77). Peanut-specific outcomes mirrored this pattern: post-mOIT 77% and 65% at 3 and 6 months versus post-omalizumab 67% and 60% (

.80, respectively). Study team evaluations likewise showed no group differences at 3, 6, 9, or 12 months across all foods (post-mOIT: 90%, 82%, 75%, 67%; post-omalizumab: 91%, 82%, 69%, 63%; 

 range = 0.44–1.00), with comparable individual allergen outcomes (

Safety profiles were similar among the 52 participants who maintained DC plans for all three foods across 12 months (n = 22 post-mOIT; n = 30 post-omalizumab), with any adverse event reported in 86% (19/22) post-mOIT and 93% (28/30) post-omalizumab. Two serious adverse events occurred during the open feeding transition from mOIT to DC, and 1 case of eosinophilic esophagitis developed during DC post-omalizumab. The tolerability gap between the 2 treatments, however, loomed large in context: roughly half of mOIT patients in Stage 2 could not tolerate the regimen well enough to advance to Stage 3 at all — making omalizumab the more accessible path for a substantial portion of patients. As Wood noted, treatment selection ultimately comes down to the individual: "a very few, let's say teenagers with peanut allergy, are asking to eat peanut — most everyone, if they could, would say, 'Can I eat pizza?' It gets individualized in our clinic for every patient now."

Wood’s disclosures include Aimmune, ALK, DBV Technologies, FARE, Genentech, NIAID, Novartis, Regeneron, Siolta, and Aravax.

1. Chinthrajah RS, Lanser B, Leung D, et al. Evaluation of dietary consumption feasibility following treatment with multi-food oral immunotherapy or omalizumab in OUtMATCH. Presented at: AAAAI 2026 Annual Meeting, February 27-March 2, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Abstract #L22

2. Smith T. FDA Approves Omalizumab as First Treatment of 1 or More Food Allergies for Children, Adults. Article. HCPLive. February 16, 2024. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/fda-approves-omalozumab-first-treatment-of-1-or-more-food-allergies-for-children-adults

Wood discussed the latest long term data from OUtMATCHat AAAAI 2026.

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.

Conference

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

Food Allergy

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.

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. 

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

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 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.

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 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.

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.

Latest News

Colorectal Cancer Screening and Surveillance Decisions

Shifting Epidemiology and Risk Factors in Colorectal Cancer

OUtMATCH: Omalizumab and OIT Similarly Enable Allergenic Food Consumption, With Robert Wood, MD

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

6 Pulmonology Headlines You Missed in February 2026