Astra Says Potential Blockbuster Reduced High Blood Pressure
Patients in a late-stage trial received one of two different doses of Baxdrostat or a placebo drug once a day, the drugmaker said Monday. At 12 weeks those on Baxdrostat had a significant and clinically meaningful reduction in systolic blood pressure, which shows how forcefully the heart is pumping blood into arteries.
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Medscape
12 minutes ago
- Medscape
Benefits of HF Drug May Weaken Soon After Withdrawal
TOPLINE: Finerenone, a third-generation nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, showed promise in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure (HF). However, its abrupt withdrawal after long-term use was associated with an increased incidence of serious adverse events (related to the heart, leading to death approximately 30 days after withdrawal of treatment. METHODOLOGY: Guidelines recommend lifelong use of therapies for HF due to their presumed lasting benefits; however, clinicians and patients frequently question whether such treatments can be safely stopped once the disease becomes stable. Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of the FINEARTS-HF trial to assess the cardiovascular effects of discontinuing finerenone after long-term use of the drug. The FINEARTS-HF trial included 6001 patients with symptomatic HF and left ventricular ejection fraction of at least 40% who were randomly assigned to receive either finerenone (mean age, 71.9 years; 45.1% women) or placebo (mean age, 72 years; 45.9% women) for a median duration of 2.6 years. After the treatment phase ended, 3742 surviving patients (1852 on placebo and 1890 on finerenone) were withdrawn from the interventions; the patients remained blinded to the treatment and withdrawal. Adverse events were assessed approximately 30 days after the withdrawal, focusing on serious cardiovascular episodes or any event resulting in death. TAKEAWAY: Before the withdrawal, patients receiving finerenone vs placebo experienced fewer serious cardiovascular adverse events or adverse events leading to death (6.0 vs 9.2 per 100 patient-years). The withdrawal of finerenone was associated with a 2.8-fold increase in the incidence of cardiovascular events or adverse leading to death, a pattern not observed after the withdrawal of placebo (time period-treatment P for interaction = .006). Most of the cardiovascular events in the withdrawal period were related to HF; withdrawal of finerenone vs placebo was associated with more HF-specific serious events or adverse events leading to death (time period-treatment P for interaction = .012). IN PRACTICE: 'Global implementation efforts are needed to promote long-term MRA [mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist] therapy persistence to maximize treatment potential. Minimal changes in serum potassium or kidney function during MRA therapy should not automatically lead to treatment interruption,' the researchers wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH, of Harvard Medical School in Boston. It was published online on July 28, 2025, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. LIMITATIONS: Patients assigned to receive finerenone or placebo may no longer have been directly comparable years after randomization. Clinical events during the withdrawal period relied on reporting of adverse events without adjudication. Fewer than 50 clinical events were recorded during the short withdrawal period, reducing the precision of the estimates. DISCLOSURES: The FINEARTS-HF trial was funded by Bayer. Several authors reported serving on advisory boards, having speaker engagements, receiving research support, and having other financial ties with multiple pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare companies. Three authors reported being employees of Bayer. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
I use this anti-aging eye cream daily and I look 10 years younger than I am — it's on sale for under $20
Shoppers say it "reduced hyperpigmentation" and works "way better than expensive eye creams." When I turned 40, with a baby on the way, it became much more challenging to conceal the puffy eyes and dark circles of a sleepless night. A few years later, I added another kiddo and tired eyes became my trademark look. I tried dozens of products to revive the delicate under-eye area, but it wasn't until CeraVe's Eye Repair Cream that I actually started to notice long-term improvements. As someone with easily irritated eyes, this lightweight cream is my daily go-to. So, when my four-year-old is up at 3 a.m. with an ear infection, CeraVe's eye cream will help to hide the evidence of a sleepless night. I'm not the only one who loves this affordable beauty product — according to our data, hundreds of Yahoo readers have also snapped it up. Read on to find out why I'm obsessed — and to shop it on sale for $19. The details This fragrance-free, ophthalmologist-tested eye cream contains three essential ceramides and hydrating hyaluronic acid. It's made with a patented delivery system that continually releases the ingredients so your eyes stay moisturized all day long. With continued regular use, you will notice a reduction in dark circles and under-eye puffiness. Apply a few dots of the cream to your under-eye area in the morning and evening, and gently smooth until fully absorbed. It works great alone or under makeup. The CeraVe eye cream, developed with dermatologists, is non-comedogenic and great for all skin types. What I like about it It's great for sensitive eyes: I love how the CeraVe cream moisturizes without irritating my sensitive eyes. It absorbs quickly and is a great primer for my under-eye concealer. Each application requires just a few dots of the product, so the little tube goes a long way. Dermatologist-approved: I also appreciate that the product has been recognized by the Canadian Dermatology Association and has been well-tested by experts. It's not just some gimmicky eye cream but one that has a lot of science behind it, which matters to me. Great for hyperpigmentation: With more than 3,600 reviews and a 4.3-star rating, it's clear I am not the only one who swears by this hydrating cream. One shopper said they wished they had found it sooner as it significantly "reduced hyperpigmentation" under their eyes. They stated that their under-eye area became 30 per cent lighter, which they say is a "big win." Not greasy: Another reviewer mentions how "non-greasy" the cream is and that it doesn't irritate sensitive eyes, while another person calls it a "wonderful product." $19 $24 at Amazon Other mature beauty & fashion recommendations: I'm a 48-year-old mom who loves shopping at Amazon — 12 summer tops I'm buying, all under $50 I tried on 13 Reitmans dresses on sale for under $75 — if you're in your 40s or 50s, these styles are seriously good These viral Amazon eye masks help make my bags look 'less puffy' — and they're on sale right now Room for improvement It's not a quick-fix eye cream: This product is great, but it's not a fast-acting wonder cream. You need to use it for several weeks, if not months, to see any remarkable improvements. Also, you can't skip applications, or it will set your results back. Commit to using it for a solid six months before you assess if it's working for you. Some Amazon reviewers mentioned they saw no visible difference after a few weeks; however, from personal experience, the cream takes time to do its thing. I promise, if you stick with it, your under-eye area will improve — just don't give up! It's not as hydrating as other eye creams: The eye cream could be a tad thicker; however, it probably wouldn't absorb as well if it was. CeraVe has a unique formula that may take a while to work, but once it does, it's great. My advice? Don't throw in the towel just yet. What reviewers are saying With hundreds of five-star reviews, I am far from the only fan of CeraVe's Eye Repair Cream. One reviewer, who has struggled with "hollow eyes" and "hyperpigmentation" their "whole life," says the eye cream has made their under-eye area "about 30 per cent lighter" — a "big win" for them. They write that their dark eye bags are "barely noticeable" after applying makeup. "I will definitely be buying [it] again." Another shopper agrees it's a "great cream for dark circles," adding that it works "way better than expensive eye creams." "Every dollar spent on it is worth it," they write. "My advice," echoes a third shopper: "Throw out all your expensive skin care" and only buy CeraVe products. They're "reasonably priced," and, importantly, "they work." Despite thousands of five-star reviews, some warn it's "not a miracle product" and agree it can take a few months to show noticeable results. The verdict I love CeraVe products, and this one is no exception. It's gentle on my eye area, and after using it for a few months straight, I saw significant improvements in my dark circles and under-eye puffiness. That said, if you are looking for something to quickly erase a night out with the girls or a long overseas flight, this is probably not going to provide the quick fix you need. This lightweight cream will yield results, but it's going to take some time. If you commit to using it twice a day for the next six months, I'm certain you will be impressed with what you see (and don't see) under your eyes in the morning.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Lilly set for strong quarter after Novo profit warning
By Patrick Wingrove and Bhanvi Satija (Reuters) -Investors and analysts say they expect Eli Lilly to report stronger quarterly sales and profit next week than Danish rival Novo Nordisk did on Tuesday, and are anxiously awaiting a full-year outlook and updates on an experimental obesity drug to gauge the U.S. drugmaker's longer-term health. Lilly's weight-loss drug Zepbound leads the U.S. market and has faced less competition from cheaper copies made by compounding pharmacies, giving it an edge, they said, after investors wiped $70 billion from Novo's market value. Novo, which sells the obesity drug Wegovy and related diabetes medicine Ozempic, on Tuesday issued a profit warning, citing lower U.S. growth expectations and competition including from compounded versions. "I think that this is a pretty positive report for Lilly just because it shows the competitive note it has against their largest competitor," said Dave Wagner, portfolio manager at Aptus Capital Advisors. Analysts expect Lilly to post second-quarter earnings of $5.57 per share on revenue of $14.71 billion, according to LSEG data. They are also looking for a full-year profit of $21.83 per share. Lilly has forecast adjusted earnings of $20.78 to $22.28 per share for 2025. Still, Lilly's shares fell nearly 5% on Tuesday, reflecting concern that the company could be vulnerable if Novo cuts prices aggressively or if its growth in the obesity market also slows more than expected, analysts and investors said. Zepbound holds just under 60% of the obesity market, while Lilly's diabetes drug Mounjaro - containing the same active ingredient - accounts for over half of its segment against Ozempic, according to IQVIA data shared with Reuters by an analyst. IQVIA did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation. UBS analyst Trung Huynh said data also showed Lilly was getting around two-thirds of new patients onto Zepbound. The company in December posted results from a large head-to-head trial showing patients on Zepbound lost an average of 20.2% of their weight after 72 weeks compared to 13.7% for the group treated with Wegovy. Lilly is also expected to be first to the market with the next generation of oral obesity drugs. Lilly has said it intends to seek approval for its experimental drug orforglipron by the end of the year. Lilly has felt less heat from compounded versions of its medicines than Novo Nordisk, Huynh said, largely because Wegovy and Ozempic both hit the market before Lilly's drugs and built up patient recognition sooner. Compounding pharmacies earlier this year were restricted under U.S. law from making drugs that were essentially copies of Wegovy and Zepbound, but can still make personalized doses for patients who need them, or formulations not offered by FDA-approved medicines. Investors earlier this year were rattled by CVS Health's decision to drop Zepbound from some lists of medicines it covers for reimbursement starting on July 1, triggering a 10% share price plunge. But Lilly's stock has declined marginally so far this year, compared to a more than 40% fall in Novo Nordisk's shares, including Tuesday's moves. Barclays analyst Emily Field said Lilly could calm investors next week by reaffirming or boosting revenue and profit outlooks, or simply by delivering strong financial results. Brian Mulberry at Zacks Investment Management said signs of softness in the obesity or diabetes drug market, especially from a peer like Novo, typically trigger broad-based selling, which might account for Lilly's share drop on Tuesday. Sign in to access your portfolio
