J&J Passes AstraZeneca in Blockbuster Cancer Race — For Now
J&J's combination therapy helped patients live significantly longer than those who received Astra's Tagrisso, according to detailed data from a head-to-head study presented Wednesday at the European Lung Cancer Congress in Paris. Expanding on results disclosed in January, researchers said they expect J&J's treatment to extend patients' median survival by a year or more compared to Astra's drug, the current standard of care.
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New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
New pretzel-shaped device cured 82% of bladder cancer patients — most in just 3 months
There's a new twist in the fight against bladder cancer — and it's delivering game-changing results. In a recent clinical trial, a pretzel-shaped device that slowly releases chemotherapy drugs directly into the bladder eliminated tumors in 82% of patients whose cancer had resisted standard treatment. For most, the cancer vanished within three months, and nearly half remained disease-free a year later. Advertisement 3 Johnson & Johnson is the manufacture of TAR-200, an experimental device for the treatment of bladder cancer. MIT Koch Institute / Instagram Dr. Sia Daneshmand, director of urologic oncology with Keck Medicine of USC and lead author of a study, said called the finding a 'breakthrough' in how certain types of bladder cancer might be treated. Each year, more than 80,000 people in the US are diagnosed with bladder cancer. The most common type is non-muscle-invasive, where the disease remains in the bladder's lining and hasn't reached the muscle layer. When features like high-grade tumors increase the chances of recurrence or progression, it's classified as high-risk. Advertisement For these patients, treatment often involves the immunotherapy drug Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Delivered through a catheter into the bladder, it typically stays in place for a few hours, stimulating the body's immune system to attack cancer cells. But BCG isn't effective for everyone. Studies show that up to 40% of patients either don't respond initially or see their cancer return. That's meant treatment progressed to removing the bladder and surrounding tissue and organs. To offer a less invasive alternative, researchers developed the TAR-200. Advertisement Like BCG, this small, pretzel-shaped device is inserted into the bladder via catheter, where it slowly releases the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine over three weeks per treatment cycle. 3 Bladder cancer affects an organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. shidlovski – 'The theory behind this study was that the longer the medicine sits inside the bladder, the more deeply it would penetrate the bladder and the more cancer it would destroy,' said Daneshmand, who has been researching the treatment since 2016. Advertisement It worked. Daneshmand's team treated 85 patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer who had relapsed after BCG therapy. In 70 of the 85 patients, the cancer disappeared. For almost half the participants, was still gone a year later. That's significant, because patients often relapse within a year of standard treatment, and many become unresponsive to further therapies. The most common side effects were mild urinary symptoms — like frequent urination, burning, urgency and urinary tract infections — which usually resolved within weeks. 3 TAR-200 delivers a targeted, slow release of gemcitabine directly into the bladder. Bernard Chantal – 'This new therapy is the most effective one reported to date for the most common form of bladder cancer,' said Daneshmand. Several clinical trials are currently underway exploring TAR-200, made by Johnson & Johnson, and its slow-release delivery of chemotherapy into the bladder. In July, the FDA granted it priority review status, aiming to complete the review within six months instead of the usual 10. Advertisement 'TAR-200 represents an innovation in drug delivery that has not been seen in decades,' Dr. Yusri Elsayed, global therapeutic area head of oncology at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, said earlier this summer. 'The FDA Priority Review for TAR-200 underscores our mission to fundamentally change the way urologists treat certain types of bladder cancer.' Bladder cancer ranks as the 10th leading cause of death in the US, with an estimated 17,420 deaths expected in 2025, according to the American Cancer Society. The disease is more common in men than women, though incidence rates have declined by about 1% annually for both sexes in recent years. This drop is likely linked to decreased smoking rates, the leading risk factor for bladder cancer.
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
The silent disease that's been killing Americans for decades — And what doctors are doing about it
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming a life every 34 seconds. But beyond heart attacks or other sudden events, a quieter threat is building inside Americans' blood vessels. It's called arterial calcification, an often overlooked driver of serious health complications. Now a breakthrough technology offers hope for better treatment. When arteries become narrowed or hardened due to the buildup of plaque, it's known as atherosclerosis. Over time, these plaques can calcify, meaning they harden into rigid, rocklike deposits that line the inner or middle walls of arteries. This process, called calcification, makes arteries less flexible and more likely to get blocked, raising the risk of heart attacks, strokes and limb loss. Peripheral artery disease is a common result of this process. It happens when narrowed or hardened arteries reduce blood flow to the legs and feet. PAD affects approximately 230 million people worldwide, yet many don't realize it. Arterial calcification can also affect the arteries that supply the heart, leading to coronary artery disease. When blood flow to the heart is restricted, it can cause chest pain, shortness of breath and heart attacks. Annually, the disease results in 17.8 million deaths worldwide. Like PAD, CAD develops silently over time. Once identified, calcified plaques are notoriously hard to treat. Standard procedures can work well for soft plaque. Doctors thread a tiny balloon into the blocked artery, inflate it to compress the blockage, then often insert a metal mesh tube called a stent to keep the vessel open. With calcified arteries, rigid calcium often doesn't budge. Traditional balloons may fail to expand or cause artery tears. Similarly, stents may not fully deploy, increasing procedural complications. In short, older tools try to push through the problem. But next-generation technology uses a different approach: preparing the artery first, helping ensure procedures are safer and more efficient. Enter intravascular lithotripsy, a breakthrough therapy that borrows from an unexpected source: kidney stone treatment. For decades, doctors have used sound waves to break up kidney stones through a minimally invasive procedure. IVL applies the same principle inside the artery, delivering controlled sonic pulses through a modified balloon catheter to gently crack calcium deposits from within. This approach avoids many complications of more aggressive procedures and is considered one of the most promising developments in interventional cardiology. IVL was first approved for coronary use just four years ago, with adoption growing rapidly. One early IVL company quickly became the market leader and was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2024 — another sign of the technology's growing importance in cardiovascular Medical is a standout innovator in the IVL space, pushing the boundaries of energy delivery and procedural efficiency to elevate outcomes in peripheral and coronary interventions. 'FastWave Medical's novel IVL platforms offer genuine promise for addressing severely calcified coronary arteries that are difficult to traverse,' says Dr. Kathleen Kearney, medical director of the Cardiac Cath Lab at UWMC Montlake. 'These technological improvements are greatly needed to empower physicians in providing more effective treatment to their patients.' But what makes FastWave particularly noteworthy isn't just its technology; it's who's backing it. Alongside venture investors, physicians — cardiologists, vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists — have invested in the company. Their involvement signals more than financial interest; it reflects confidence in the system's potential to address the daily challenges they face in the cath lab. When physicians invest in medical technology, it demonstrates something powerful: They believe it will genuinely improve their ability to deliver high-quality care. 'FastWave is moving quickly and decisively to become best-in-class in the IVL space,' said Dr. Arthur Lee, director of peripheral vascular services at the Cardiac and Vascular Institute. 'We are excited to support the development of this groundbreaking technology and get it into the hands of those who need it most.' 'Calcified arteries remain one of the most difficult conditions to treat in our field,' added Dr. Amir Kaki, director of mechanical circulatory support and high-risk coronary interventions at Henry Ford St. John Hospital. 'FastWave's IVL platform is a compelling advancement that should provide a more precise, efficient and predictable way to manage complex arterial disease.' As of July 2025, the company holds a total of eight patents, with several more applications underway. These patents span key areas of the technology from energy delivery to catheter design. Early study results are encouraging for the company's dual IVL platforms. In June, FastWave successfully completed initial first-in-human procedures as part of an ongoing feasibility study for its coronary laser-based IVL system. An Investigational Device Exemption is also planned to evaluate its electric IVL system for the treatment of PAD. 'Calcified lesions aren't just a technical challenge — the condition remains one of the most significant barriers to successful peripheral interventions,' said Dr. Sahil Parikh, director of endovascular services at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 'FastWave's upcoming IDE trial for PAD will give us a chance to assess whether an advanced IVL system can meaningfully improve the lives of patients who suffer from this difficult disease.' Dr. Venita Chandra, clinical professor of surgery at Stanford Health Care, expects the trial to reveal whether FastWave's device will offer doctors a better tool for difficult cases. 'The key question isn't just whether a device works but whether it makes procedures more efficient and provides physicians with a more predictable tool for treating patients with complex arterial disease,' she said. The stakes are rising rapidly. As the population ages and rates of diabetes and obesity continue to climb, more patients will face PAD and CAD. For the most difficult cases, treatment options are quite limited. But innovation is catching up. First-generation IVL introduced a new treatment paradigm; now advanced tools from startups like FastWave promise doctors more ways to treat this disease.
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Yahoo
Parents May Not Realize It, But Kids Totally Notice These 6 Things
Kids are often more observant than many adults give them credit for. It's not just what we say to them directly that they're absorbing; it's how we talk about ourselves and others, what we say to others about them and how we behave, too. We asked experts what sorts of things children pick up on that adults don't always realize they're noticing. This list isn't designed to be judgmental; rather, it's a reminder that we can all bring a little more awareness to our day-to-day interactions. 1. How you feel about your partner, co-parent or their other caregivers. You may think you're being subtle when you roll your eyes at your partner or shoot your father-in-law a dirty look. But kids can catch those nonverbal cues, said clinical psychologist Jazmine McCoy, who goes by @TheMomPsychologist on Instagram. They're also capable of picking up on criticism or negative remarks about the other parent or caregivers in their life, even when you may try to mask them as jokes or sarcasm, she told HuffPost. 'Kids notice these dynamics, so try your best to speak highly of the other parent and caregivers around your child — even if they're in another room,' McCoy said. 'They probably still can hear you.' This is important regardless of your relationship with these people. Why? It helps the child feel safe, confident and cared for, more emotionally connected to their caregivers and less anxious, McCoy said. She offered a few examples of the kinds of things you'd want your child to overhear you saying about the other adults in your kid's life: 'Wow, Mommy planned a fun adventure for us!' or 'This dinner came out great. Daddy is a great chef!' or 'Aww, this looks like such a great memory you had with grandma. It was so nice of her to take you there.' 2. How you feel about your body. Children are 'astutely aware' of how adults talk about their own bodies and other people's bodies, said registered dietitian Alyssa Miller of the @ Instagram account. And they can read our body language, too. 'They can pick up on subtle — and not-so-subtle — actions, drawing conclusions about bodies,' she told HuffPost. 'They learn what is considered good and bad, desirable and undesirable.' They observe the way you look at yourself in the mirror and can make inferences from that. They notice if you never wear a bathing suit at the pool, if you delete lots of pictures of yourself or avoid getting in front of the camera altogether, Miller said. 'Adults are constantly showing kids how to view their own bodies through their everyday actions,' she said. 'Think about it: No baby or toddler is embarrassed by their belly, their thighs or their height until they hear comments or witness someone else being insecure about it.' 3. What you actually value. 'Kids notice what you actually value based on what you say and do. This is sometimes different from what you say you value,' said clinical psychologist Laura Markham, author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids and founder of the site Aha! Parenting. For example, you might tell your kid that sports are really about teamwork, learning new skills and having a good time with your friends. 'But then when you pick them up after the game, your first question is, 'Who won?'' Markham told HuffPost. You've probably told your child time and time again how important it is to be honest, 'but then you have them fib about their age to get a cheaper entrance fee at the amusement park,' she added. Children learn values by observing your behavior and then drawing conclusions about what you believe is important, Markham said. 'Regardless of what you consciously teach them, your children will emerge from childhood with clear views on what their parents really value, and with a well-developed value system of their own,' she added. 'We need to articulate our values to ourselves and then our kids ― not just once, but over and over, applying those values to the daily dilemmas our child faces.' 4. Your self-compassion (or lack thereof). 'One thing I've noticed time and again is that while different kids have different temperaments, their ability to give and receive grace and compassion often mirrors the adults around them,' Miller said. If your child is beating themself up over a mistake at school, you might comfort your child by imploring that they not take it so hard. But if you have a tendency to handle setbacks in this manner, too, your child has taken note of that. 'Kids pick up on how adults handle mistakes, their self-talk, unrealistic expectations and perfectionistic tendencies,' Miller said. 'Many people who lack self-compassion or are hard on themselves inadvertently teach kids to be critical and harsh with themselves,' she said. 'Conversely, adults who are gentle with themselves, admit mistakes and move past them teach kids resilience and to use mistakes as learning opportunities.' 5. Your relationship with food. Kids are paying attention to the eating habits of the adults in their lives as well as the way they speak about food. Parents and other caregivers 'directly influence' the food choices children make and the beliefs they develop about foods, Miller said. 'Innocent comments like 'Those are dangerous' around a plate of cookies, labeling foods as 'good' or 'bad,' skipping meals or expressing guilt about eating are all observed and internalized by children,' she added. Over time, such comments and behaviors shape a child's relationship with food, 'potentially leading to unhealthy eating habits or attitudes,' Miller said. 'Research shows that kids tend to eat the same foods their parents do, both as children and as adults,' she said. 'By modeling a balanced and positive approach to food, adults can help children develop healthy eating habits and a healthy relationship with food.' 6. How you talk about your kid to other adults. Let's say your child just had an epic meltdown at Target. When you get home, you fill in your partner about what just happened in the form of sarcastic comments about the 'amazing morning you two just had' or jokes about the incident, thinking it's probably going over your kid's head. 'They may not know what it all means, but they can pick up the fact that you think negatively about what happened, and this can negatively impact their self-esteem and relationship with you,' McCoy said. When you're talking to a friend, relative or co-parent, whether on the phone or in person, about something that happened with your kid, be mindful about the language you use, McCoy advised. 'Speak to the lesson learned or how you solved the problem versus focusing on the mistake or problem,' she said. 'Pretend you're talking to your child and speak to your partner about your child how you would to them directly.' This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Solve the daily Crossword
