Chelsie Derman is an associate editor for 

who covers allergy and  psychiatry. She joined MJH Life Sciences in September 2023 after graduating from The College of New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and professional writing. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing and reading.

A new study revealed 2 of the 42 human monoclonal antibodies targeting galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), AG028 and AG050, blocked the binding of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) to major allergens in patients with 

No disease-modifying therapy exists for AGS, leaving avoidance of mammalian meat and tick exposure as the only management strategy. Allergen-specific mAbs designed to block IgE engagement have advanced for birch, cat, and peanut allergy, supplying a rationale for a similar approach in AGS. Approximately 110,000 suspected cases have been identified in the US since 2010, a figure the investigators described as a substantial underestimate.¹

“Geography compounds the problem,” said investigator Scott Commins, MD, PhD, from UNC Health, in a guest post published on 

 “AGS was long considered a southeastern US condition tied primarily to the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). However, the tick’s geographic range has expanded into increasingly diverse areas of the United States. Confirmed cases have now emerged farther north, including in Maine following bites from Ixodes scapularis and in Washington State following exposure to Ixodes pacificus.”

Anti-Alpha-Gal Monoclonal Antibody Binding to AGS Allergens

The new study, led by Hyeseon Cho, PhD, and Youngsil Seo, PhD, both of the Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Rockville, Maryland, originated as an effort to identify antibodies targeting alpha-gal on the malaria parasite.

Cho and colleagues drew B cells from 18 participants in a Malian cohort who carried high anti-alpha-gal antibody levels, generating a panel of 42 fully human monoclonal antibodies. The antibodies bound the parasite only weakly, prompting a pivot to AGS.

The panel was then screened against 3 clinically relevant allergens: angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) and aminopeptidase-N (AP-N), both purified from porcine kidney and established triggers of delayed red meat anaphylaxis, plus cetuximab. Thirteen antibodies bound all 3. Sequence analysis showed predominant use of the IGHV3 gene family, with IGHV3-7 the most frequent heavy chain gene at 31% (13 clones).

Alpha-Gal Antibody Inhibition of IgE Binding and Basophil Activation


AGS is a tick bite-associated IgE-mediated allergy to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, an oligosaccharide present in nonprimate mammalian meat and tissue-derived products, including cetuximab.

How do anti-alpha-gal monoclonal antibodies work?


The antibodies bind alpha-gal epitopes on allergens and physically block patient IgE from engaging them, preventing the FcεRI cross-linking on basophils and mast cells that drives allergic reactions.


Of 42 anti-alpha-gal mAbs screened, 13 bound major AGS allergens and 2 blocked patient serum IgE binding. AG028 also suppressed ACE-mediated basophil activation by up to 86.2%, though the effect varied by serum donor.

Screening against serum from patients with AGS narrowed the field to 2 antibodies, AG028 and AG050, with AG028 tested in 2 isotype formats. AG028 as IgA2 and as IgM blocked IgE binding to all 3 allergens, with inhibition ranging from roughly 60% to 97%. AG050 IgA1 blocked IgE binding to ACE and AP-N by approximately 81% to 91%.

The remaining antibodies achieved < 60% inhibition. Preincubating the antibodies with soluble alpha-gal abolished their binding to all 3 allergens, confirming they act on the alpha-gal epitope itself.¹

Investigators then tested whether the blocking translated into a cellular effect. Basophils from healthy donors were cleared of their own IgE via lactic acid stripping of membrane-bound IgE and resensitized overnight with serum from 2 patients with AGS, then challenged with allergen.

Against the first patient's serum, AG028 IgA2 and AG028 IgM cut ACE-driven basophil activation by 86.2% and 78.8%, respectively, at the highest concentration tested. Inhibition of AP-N-driven activation reached 60.1% and 68.8%. Against the second patient's serum, all 3 antibodies showed little effect, and blocking IgE binding in the plate assay did not reliably predict whether basophil activation would be suppressed.¹

Serologic profiling of 88 patient samples and 31 healthy controls found elevated IgE reactivity to ACE, AP-N, and cetuximab in AGS, but not to milk proteins. Patients also showed higher IgG1 through IgG3 binding, with little correlation to IgE levels.¹

“This study provides proof-of-concept that α-Gal–specific mAbs can inhibit IgE binding to key AGS allergens and attenuate downstream cellular activation,” investigators wrote. “These findings support continued efforts to discover and develop targeted antibody-based therapeutics for AGS.”

Cho H, Seo Y, Sohn H, et al. Human monoclonal antibodies targeting α-Gal restrict IgE engagement of α-Gal syndrome allergens. 

Commins S. Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Closing an Underrecognized Allergy Diagnostic Gap. HCPLive. Published September 4, 2026. Accessed September 24, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/alpha-gal-syndrome-closing-underrecognized-allergy-diagnostic-gap

Articles

Fully human monoclonal antibodies directed at galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) demonstrate a feasible IgE-blocking strategy for alpha-gal syndrome, a growing tick-associated allergy lacking disease-modifying therapy. From 42 antibodies derived from high–anti–α-gal Malian donors, AG028 and AG050 most effectively inhibited patient IgE binding to porcine ACE, porcine aminopeptidase-N, and cetuximab. AG028 (IgA2 or IgM) achieved up to ~97% inhibition and reduced basophil activation in one patient’s serum, though responses were inconsistent across sera.

Two monoclonal antibodies isolated from malaria-exposed donors blocked patient IgE from binding key alpha-gal allergens and suppressed basophil activation.

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Anti-Alpha-Gal Antibodies Block IgE Binding in Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Briana Banos, a topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) patient advocate and a documentary filmmaker based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

At the National Corticosteroid Stewardship Summit in Washington, DC, on September 22, 2026, 

 patient advocate Briana Banos called on clinicians to take patient-reported experience seriously and speak candidly about treatment constraints to improve patient-clinician communication.

Banos spoke on the panel “The Patient Experience: Navigating Corticosteroid Use, Burden, and Unmet Needs” at the summit, hosted by the Corticosteroid Stewardship Alliance. TSW remains a contested diagnosis, recognized by some dermatologists as a distinct entity and dismissed by others as a severe or undertreated atopic dermatitis flare.

“At the end of the day, we are experts on our body,” said Briana Banos, a documentary filmmaker based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Banos described patient participation at events such as the summit as validating, since it places patients in the same room as clinical experts who are willing to listen.

Patient Perspective on Topical Steroid Withdrawal, With Briana Banos

From Patient With Eczema to Topical Steroid Withdrawal Advocate

Banos has lived with eczema since childhood and described herself as having limited health literacy before TSW. For most of her life, her care followed a simple pattern: she visited the doctor, received a recommendation, and followed it.

Her TSW experience, which began in 2015, changed her approach.

 She began documenting her symptoms immediately and sharing them on YouTube, and the channel grew into documentary work.

Preventable: Protecting Our Largest Organ

 (2019), was the first documentary produced on TSW.

, addresses prevalence, resistance within the medical community, parental pressures, and prevention.

Asked how she balances public storytelling with her own privacy and mental health, Banos acknowledged the balance remains difficult after more than a decade of advocacy. Early on, she felt a strong sense of responsibility to her community. She now keeps topics such as dating and intimacy private but continues to share openly about her health hurdles and emerging research.

Community Support and Patient-Clinician Communication in TSW

What is the National Corticosteroid Stewardship Summit?

The summit, hosted by the Corticosteroid Stewardship Alliance in Washington, DC, on September 22, 2026, brings together clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates to discuss corticosteroid use and long-term risk across specialties.

What support does Briana Banos find most helpful for patients with TSW?

Banos identified the patient community as the most consistent source of support, citing encouragement and practical tips on bandaging and clothing not always offered in clinical visits.

What does Banos recommend clinicians do differently with TSW?

She recommends clinicians stay curious, take patient-reported symptoms seriously even when they seem unrelated, and be transparent about what treatment options are available.

Banos identified the patient community as her most consistent source of support. She described her own encounters with health care providers as “hit-and-miss,” though she has interviewed many clinicians she considers excellent.

The community, by contrast, offers steady encouragement and practical guidance clinicians often do not provide, including bandaging techniques and clothing choices such as cotton garments. Banos acknowledged social media has drawbacks but said peer connection remains a source of comfort for many patients.

On communication, Banos stressed recognizing the humanity of both parties, given the pressures on patients and clinicians alike. She noted a 5- to 10-minute visit leaves little room for a provider to grasp the weight of TSW consequences. Patients, in turn, often arrive seeking a degree of agency in their treatment decisions.

"It's just going to a patient and saying, 'How can I help you? What are you here for?’ hearing them out, and then just being humble in the sense of, 'Hey, my hands are tied here. This is what we can and can't do. How can we both find a way forward with it?' That would be very helpful,” Banos said.

Advice for Clinicians on Patient-Reported Experience

Banos asked clinicians to lean in when a patient's account seems unusual, since science continues to evolve beyond formal training. Symptoms a patient raise may appear unrelated yet prove relevant, and she encouraged providers to document them and weigh them in clinical decisions. She noted patients live with their conditions around the clock and carry the consequences home after each visit.

“A little bit more compassion and curiosity would really open us up to engage more,” Banos said.

Topical steroid withdrawal: inside the controversy over TSW in dermatology. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/topical-steroid-withdrawal-inside-the-controversy-over-tsw-in-dermatology

. HCPLive. Published December 18, 2025. Accessed September 24, 2026.

Briana Banos. LinkedIn. Accessed September 24, 2026. 

Banos B. Preventable documentary. Briana Rachelle Banos. Accessed September 24, 2026. 

https://brianabanos.com/preventable-documentary/

Banos B. Still Preventable. Briana Rachelle Banos. Accessed September 24, 2026. 

https://brianabanos.com/still-preventable-2/

Videos

Topical steroid withdrawal advocate Briana Banos urged clinicians to stay curious and treat patients as experts on their own bodies.

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.

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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.

Which data support mepolizumab’s benefit?

A pooled analysis of the phase 3 METREX, METREO, and MATINEE trials found that mepolizumab (GSK) reduced moderate or severe exacerbations in patients with eosinophilic

 (COPD) regardless of whether they were current or former smokers, though the drug's benefit on more serious outcomes appeared limited to former smokers, according to Claus F. Vogelmeier, MD, professor of medicine and head of the Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg. Vogelmeier discussed the pooled analysis, presented at the 

2026 European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress

, held September 5 to 9 in Barcelona, Spain, in an interview with 

Mepolizumab Cuts COPD Exacerbations Across Smoking Status: Claus Vogelmeier, MD

The analysis stratified patients by smoking status and by blood eosinophil count (BEC) at screening (≥150 cells/µL or ≥300 cells/µL). Mepolizumab significantly reduced annualized moderate/severe exacerbations versus placebo in former smokers by 19% (BEC ≥150 cells/µL) and 25% (BEC ≥300 cells/µL), and in current smokers by 23% (BEC ≥150 cells/µL) and 18% (BEC ≥300 cells/µL, not statistically significant).¹ Former smokers also had significant reductions in exacerbations requiring emergency department visits or hospitalization and in severe exacerbations, while current smokers did not show significant reductions on either of those more serious outcomes.¹ Vogelmeier said this split reflects a real and clinically relevant distinction, but not one that should keep clinicians from treating active smokers who continue to exacerbate. 

How should these data inform treatment decisions?

"You have an active smoker that maybe has a history of severe exacerbations. You may start with the drug right away, although he's still actively smoking, but then you should try everything to get him away from the cigarettes," he said.

Mepolizumab is now the second biologic approved for COPD after dupilumab, and while comparable smoking-status data exist for dupilumab, Vogelmeier said the pooled nature of this analysis is itself a strength: because METREX, METREO, and MATINEE had somewhat heterogeneous inclusion criteria, combining them produced a broader, more clinically representative population than any single randomized trial typically captures. He said the data do not change his approach to initiating treatment in active smokers with a history of exacerbations, since the primary endpoint signal held even in that group, but they do reinforce that the expected effect size on the most serious outcomes is smaller until a patient stops smoking. GSK funded the trials.¹

Vogelmeier’s disclosures include AstraZeneca, CSL Behring, GSK, Hoffman – La Roche, Insmed, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and more.

Vogelmeier C, Wald J, Anzueto A, et al. Mepolizumab reduces moderate or severe exacerbations in patients with COPD irrespective of baseline smoking status: pooled Phase III trial results. Presented at: European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress 2026; September 5-9, 2026; Barcelona, Spain.

Sciurba FC, Criner GJ, Christenson SA, et al. Mepolizumab to prevent exacerbations of COPD with an eosinophilic phenotype. 

. 2025;392(17):1710-1720. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2413181

Vogelmeier, of Philipps-University of Marburg discusses pooled data showing reduced COPD exacerbations, though most effectively in former smokers.

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Strategic Alliance Partnership

Manju Dawkins, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and entrepreneur based in the Los Angeles area who founded Thimble Health.

Injectable therapy now anchors a growing share of 

, and needle fear remains a practical barrier to it. A meta-analysis of 119 studies in the Journal of Advanced Nursing found needle fear in most children and estimated prevalence at 20% - 50% in adolescents and 20% - 30% in young adults.¹

The same analysis tied needle fear to avoidance of influenza vaccination in 16% of adult patients and found the fear common among patients with chronic conditions requiring injection.¹ For dermatologists prescribing long-term injectables, these figures point to a patient-experience gap sitting alongside efficacy data.

Clinician-founded ventures aimed at gaps like this one increasingly find early backing through specialty-specific investment networks. Skin Angels, a dermatologist-driven angel group operating for close to 2 years, has seen more than 300 companies present, according to Peter Lio, MD.² Members have funded more than 30 of them, spanning over-the-counter products, drugs, and devices.²

The group screens early-stage companies, hosts pitch sessions, and leaves each member to decide individually whether to invest, with some joining companies as advisors instead. Manju Dawkins, MD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Redondo Beach and Torrance, California, founded Thimble Health, an over-the-counter needle care platform. The company pairs patches for use before and after injections with an app addressing needle anxiety.

She joined the LEADderm session "Skin Angels at LEADderm: Building the Next Generation of Dermatology Innovation" to share her path from clinician to founder. In this new Q&A interview, Dawkins spoke with the 

 editorial staff at LEADderm 2026 in Newport Beach, California, about the Skin Angels model, clinician roles in dermatology innovation, and injection pain and anxiety.

: Can you walk us through why this session was important for you to present?

Yes. First of all, I'm going to be part of an ensemble of skin angels, and we're the first dermatology-driven angel group. So it's new, it's exciting, we're growing. I'm excited to inform people about what we're doing and all the opportunities beyond just being a clinician in dermatology. What are the investment opportunities, the advising opportunities? What if you have your own startup, which is how I got involved? I do have my own startup, and that's what I'm going to be talking about. It's my own story of entrepreneurship, what it's taught me, what I've learned along the way, and there's a lot more to learn.

: Why is Skin Angels significant, and what takeaways do you hope attendees leave with?

 I think there's just a lot of opportunity. There's so much new stuff in dermatology, every aspect: drug development, aesthetics, AI in dermatology. There's so much that's happening, and I think it's really important that we as clinicians play a role in the development. We have to have a voice, and it's important. We can't just keep our heads down in clinic. We've got to expand our role not only in medicine, but also in society. I think this is one way where we can explore.

: Can you explain what this angel investor group is?

 It's an angel group made up of dermatologists and other experts in skin disease. We meet on a regular basis. We screen hundreds of companies, actually, who are in different spaces: drug development, aesthetics, AI, tech. We screen all of these different companies, and then we try to get the ones that we think would be most interesting to the group in front of them.

We have these pitch sessions, then we debrief and evaluate them, and then everybody is able to make their own decisions about whether they want to invest or not. Sometimes the opportunity isn't just investment. A lot of these companies may be built by tech leads or people from the business world, so again, it's important to have that clinician voice. It's an opportunity for a dermatologist to potentially come on as an advisor, and so on and so forth. So that's the story.

: Should clinicians seeking investment for their own ideas consider joining Skin Angels right now?

 Yes, I think so. Lots of people are trying to grow in the area of skin care, so come to Skin Angels. We would love to have people present their ideas, their companies, their vision, and hopefully we all grow together in a great way.

: What are you most looking forward to in dermatology right now?

There's so much exciting stuff happening in dermatology. There's been an explosion of new drugs, and what I think is amazing is we're coming back to a time where we're thinking about the actual human being experiencing the care. It's not just about the new drug, but how is the new drug benefiting the patient? What I'm seeing is, for example, injectable medications where there are fewer injections over time, which makes the experience of receiving those injections so much better, paying attention to how the patient feels when they receive it.

Oral versions of all of these molecules that we know are so effective. So I'm excited about that. I'm also excited to see the way that we as dermatologists have really opened our minds to what is out there. It's not just pharma, it's not just surgery. What are the integrative things we can be doing, exploring different modalities of medicine that we can incorporate into practice?

My startup was actually what led me to be a part of Skin Angels. My startup is called Thimble Health. It is a platform of products to lessen the pain of injections. There's a patch called the Prepare Patch that you apply before any injection to numb the skin so that the injection doesn't hurt as much. Then there's a post-procedure patch that's plant-based, called the Recover Patch, and you apply it afterward to alleviate the soreness and bruising for up to 2 days. We also think about the psychological aspects, so we're building an app that puts all those research-backed tools together.

The reason I'm so excited about it is, as we've all seen, there is just an explosion of injectables, not just biologics, but GLP-1s being used in dermatology, and this is amazing for patients. But I think we need to think more and more about how patients are feeling when they're receiving this care, and we need to empower those patients, the 60% of adults who are experiencing needle phobia these days and don't have a lot of support. We need to think about how they feel and offer them solutions where we can.

Editor's Note: This transcript has been edited for grammar and clarity using artificial intelligence tools. Dawkins had no relevant disclosures of note.

McLenon J, Rogers MAM. The fear of needles: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 

. 2019;75(1):30-42. doi:10.1111/jan.13818.

Lio P. Skin Angels and the Atopic Dermatitis Pipeline, With Peter Lio, MD. HCPLive. August 31, 2026. Accessed September 24, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/skin-angels-atopic-dermatitis-pipeline-peter-lio-md

Needle fear is prevalent across age groups and contributes to avoidance of injections and vaccinations, creating a patient-experience gap as dermatology increasingly relies on long-term injectables. A dermatologist-led angel network, Skin Angels, is positioning clinicians to influence innovation through early-stage investing and advisory roles. The model screens hundreds of companies spanning drugs, devices, aesthetics, and AI, with members investing individually. Manju Dawkins highlighted Thimble Health, combining pre-/post-injection patches with a planned app to address injection pain and anxiety.

Manju Dawkins, MD, discusses Skin Angels, why clinicians belong in dermatology innovation, and her work to reduce injection pain and needle anxiety.

Q&A: Clinician Investing and Injection Anxiety, With Manju Dawkins, MD

Pranav Garimella, MBBS, MPH, is chief medical officer of the American Kidney Fund.

An estimated 37 million US adults, or 14% of the adult population, have 

, and about 87% of adults with CKD do not know they have it.¹

On September 17, 2026, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced 8 new members of the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).² The USPSTF previously published its final research plan for CKD screening in July 2023 but has not yet released a draft recommendation.³

In a statement released September 17, the American Kidney Fund noted that the new USPSTF roster does not include a nephrologist and said preventive care recommendations should reflect current evidence on kidney disease detection and treatment.⁴

Testing gaps persist even among patients with established risk factors. In a study of 513,165 adults with 

 receiving primary care across 24 US health care organizations, the 1-year median testing rate was 89.5% for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) but just 52.9% for urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR).⁵ Albuminuria can signal kidney damage even when eGFR remains relatively preserved, making uACR an important part of kidney assessment.

CKD is defined by abnormalities of kidney structure or function that persist for more than 3 months, helping distinguish chronic disease from a single abnormal test result.³ Earlier identification can create opportunities to initiate treatment and address cardiovascular and metabolic risk before more advanced kidney disease develops.

 spoke with Pranav Garimella, MBBS, MPH, chief medical officer of the American Kidney Fund, about the current state of CKD detection and the evidence he believes should inform the USPSTF’s ongoing review of kidney disease screening.

Q&A: Improving chronic kidney disease detection and screening

HCPLive: Where does kidney disease stand in the US today, and what does that mean for people at risk?

 Kidney disease is both common and significantly underdiagnosed. About 14% of US adults, roughly 37 million people, are living with chronic kidney disease, and nearly 9 in 10 do not know they have it. Kidney disease can progress for years without noticeable symptoms, and by the time someone feels sick, significant damage may already have occurred.

We also increasingly understand kidney disease as part of a broader health picture. Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic, or CKM, syndrome recognizes the interconnected nature of heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity. Nearly 90% of US adults meet criteria for at least early-stage CKM syndrome. Identifying kidney disease earlier is therefore an opportunity to protect kidney function and to address a patient's broader cardiovascular and metabolic risk.

For people at risk, that means we cannot wait for symptoms. Earlier identification creates an opportunity for treatment that can slow CKD progression and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

HCPLive: From a nephrology perspective, what should the task force keep in mind about how kidney disease is detected and who is at greatest risk?

 Kidney health should be assessed with two tests in everyone: an estimated glomerular filtration rate, or eGFR, which measures how well the kidneys filter the blood, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, or uACR, which detects albumin in the urine as a sign of kidney damage. 

CKD can be diagnosed from albuminuria even when eGFR is normal, so the urine test can detect early disease the blood test misses. Yet the urine test is the one most often skipped. A 2021 study in Diabetes Care of more than 500,000 primary care patients with type 2 diabetes found that about 9 in 10 had an eGFR in a year, but only about half had a uACR. That means disease is being missed at the stage when patients have the greatest opportunity to protect their kidney health.

An abnormal result should be repeated to confirm CKD rather than diagnosed from a single test, because CKD requires abnormalities lasting more than three months. That confirmation step also guards against overdiagnosis and labeling, and the Task Force's plan appropriately includes the potential harms of screening.

The groups at highest risk are people with diabetes and high blood pressure, which we have long recognized. In addition, those with obesity, cardiovascular disease, older adults and people with a family history of kidney disease are at high risk for CKD. Importantly, risk is also not shared equally, with Black Americans being more than four times as likely as white Americans to develop kidney failure, and Hispanic and Native American people being more than twice as likely.

HCPLive: What do you hope the task force's evidence review captures, and how can the nephrology community contribute?

 When the Task Force last reviewed CKD screening in 2012, it found the evidence insufficient to make a recommendation in asymptomatic adults. The landscape has changed considerably since, both in our understanding of kidney disease and in the treatments available. Drugs such as SGLT2 inhibitors, finerenone and GLP-1 receptor agonists have shown in large trials that they can slow kidney disease progression and reduce cardiovascular events even in early stages.

The evidence review should examine whether screening accurately identifies CKD, what happens after identification, and whether earlier detection lets clinicians start treatments that improve outcomes. Since kidney disease does not affect every community equally, evaluation of screening should account for populations that bear a disproportionate burden of CKD and kidney failure.

The nephrology community can contribute by continuing to provide current research, clinical experience and implementation data. As the Task Force resumes its work, the public comment period on the draft evidence review and recommendation will be an important opportunity for kidney experts to identify gaps and add clinical context.

Editor's Note: This transcript has been edited for grammar and clarity using artificial intelligence tools. Garimella has relevant disclosures with Otsuka and the PKD Foundation.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2026

US Department of Health and Human Services. Secretary Kennedy Announces New Appointments to US Preventive Services Task Force. Published September 17, 2026.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Chronic Kidney Disease: Screening. Final Research Plan. Published July 13, 2023.

American Kidney Fund. American Kidney Fund Statement on USPSTF Roster Updates. Published September 17, 2026.

Bailey RA, Wang Y, Marcovina S, et al. Chronic kidney disease testing among primary care patients with type 2 diabetes across 24 US health care organizations. 

. 2021;44(9):2009-2016. doi:10.2337/dc20-2715.

Chronic kidney disease affects roughly 37 million US adults and remains profoundly underrecognized, with nearly 90% unaware of their diagnosis despite years of asymptomatic progression. Persistent gaps in risk-based testing—particularly underuse of uACR relative to eGFR—limit early detection when intervention may be most impactful. CKD should be framed within cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome and its disproportionate burden in Black, Hispanic, and Native American populations. Updated screening deliberations should incorporate modern therapeutics and balance benefits against overdiagnosis via confirmatory testing.

As the USPSTF considers evidence for updated CKD screening guidance, Garimella discusses gaps in kidney disease detection and what the review should capture.

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

Nearly 9 in 10 US Adults With CKD Don't Know They Have It, With Pranav Garimella

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.

Podcasts

Discover how newly cleared weekly basal insulin efsitora reshapes type 2 diabetes care—QWINT results, hypoglycemia edge, and dosing tips.

Type 2 Diabetes

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This page also hosts content previously published by EndocrinologyNetwork. 


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FDA News

Diabetes Dialogue: Weekly Insulin Efsitora Alfa Gets FDA Approval for Type 2 Diabetes

Patrick Campbell is the editorial director of HCPLive. Patrick has spent years spearheading coverage surrounding cardiometabolic health and rheumatic disease for MJH Life Sciences. Before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2019, he spent time as a beat reporter and/or multimedia specialist with the Pocono Record, Star News Group, and NJ Advance Media. He is the executive producer for multiple HCPLive podcasts, including Diabetes Dialogue, Don't Miss a Beat, Kidney Compass, Medical Ethics Unpacked, The Medical Sisterhood, and Skin of Color Savvy. 


Follow him on Twitter @RealPatCampbell or reach him via email at PCampbell@mjhlifesciences.com.

FDA clears Eli Lilly’s Onswik weekly insulin from QWINT trials, cutting injections for type 2 diabetes while matching daily basal control.

Weekly Insulin Efsitora Alfa (Onswik) Gains FDA approval for Type 2 Diabetes

Height alone does not capture the full impact of achondroplasia. The panel discusses why health, function, proportionality, and independence are increasingly important measures of treatment success.

Video Series

Peer Exchange

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Redefining Treatment Success in Achondroplasia Beyond Height

Beyond short stature, achondroplasia carries life-threatening risks at the skull base. The panel details why foramen magnum stenosis, hydrocephalus, and airway obstruction demand vigilant monitoring from infancy onward.

Recognizing the Multisystem Burden of Achondroplasia

Jennifer Soung, MD, and Mona Shahriari, MD, discuss trust-building, psychosocial burden, and treatment fit in psoriasis care for diverse skin tones.

Plaque Psoriasis

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Why Trust and Timing Shape Psoriasis Outcomes in Skin of Color

Iliyan D. Iliev, PhD is a professor of immunology in medicine and co-director of the microbiome core laboratory at the Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Weill Cornell Medicine

Iliyan D. Iliev, PhD, discusses how fluconazole targets gut Candida to improve disease activity in IBD.

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Inflammatory Bowel Disease

On the HCPLive inflammatory bowel disease page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into IBD can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on IBD and more.

Targeting Gut Candida to Treat IBD, With Iliyan D. Iliev, PhD

Manish Wadhwa, MD, is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist with San Diego Arrhythmia Associates and the chief executive officer of SummaCor.

As AI continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, catch up on some of the ways it’s already been implemented in cardiovascular care.

Latest News

Anti-Alpha-Gal Antibodies Block IgE Binding in Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Patient Perspective on Topical Steroid Withdrawal, With Briana Banos

Mepolizumab Cuts COPD Exacerbations Across Smoking Status: Claus Vogelmeier, MD

Q&A: Clinician Investing and Injection Anxiety, With Manju Dawkins, MD

Nearly 9 in 10 US Adults With CKD Don't Know They Have It, With Pranav Garimella