Health 17 January 2026 - 19 February 2026

DiaMedica Shares Down Ahead of Stroke Trial Update
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DiaMedica Shares Down Ahead of Stroke Trial Update

DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. shares fell Tuesday, with the drug developer closing lower as the major indexes gained. The stock was last at $5.77 after hours, off 6 cents from its close. It traded between $6.29 and $5.56 earlier in the session. Volume reached about 152,000 shares. Market cap was roughly $311 million. DiaMedica is heading into a catalyst week as it prepares to present at 3:45 p.m. ET Thursday during the Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in New York. The event, which runs June 2-4, draws attention from healthcare investors looking for pipeline news and signs of financing.
June 2, 2026
Merck (MRK) stock nudges up after-hours as Health Canada clears Keytruda SC shot
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Merck (MRK) stock nudges up after-hours as Health Canada clears Keytruda SC shot

New York, Feb 17, 2026, 18:53 — After-hours Merck & Co ticked 0.2% higher in after-hours trading Tuesday, following Health Canada's decision to authorize Keytruda SC — the new subcutaneous form of its cancer immunotherapy. According to the regulator, patients can get the shot in roughly one to two minutes, compared with the usual 30-minute IV infusion required for standard Keytruda.
February 18, 2026
Merck (MRK) stock swings, ends flat after FDA clears Keytruda regimen in ovarian cancer
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Merck (MRK) stock swings, ends flat after FDA clears Keytruda regimen in ovarian cancer

New York, Feb 12, 2026, 16:23 EST — After-hours Merck & Co finished almost flat on Thursday, wiping out earlier gains, after the FDA signed off on a Keytruda combo for certain patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer—a form that recurs within six months after platinum chemo. Shares slipped 0.03% to $119.28, swinging between $118.18 and $121.62 over the session.
February 12, 2026
Namibia wants $94 million to keep foot-and-mouth disease out as China hands over satellite data station
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Namibia wants $94 million to keep foot-and-mouth disease out as China hands over satellite data station

Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani says Namibia requires roughly N$1.5 billion more to shield its livestock industry from foot-and-mouth disease, with outbreaks in nearby countries edging toward its southern frontier. The government insists maintaining Namibia’s “FMD-free” status is vital for beef exports, following Cabinet’s approval of N$57.5 million for prevention and preparedness. However, officials warn that additional funds will be necessary.
February 12, 2026
Evommune stock price slips premarket after 71% jump on eczema drug data
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Evommune stock price slips premarket after 71% jump on eczema drug data

NEW YORK, Feb 11, 2026, 05:17 EST — Premarket Evommune, Inc. saw its shares slip roughly 1.6% in premarket trading Wednesday, down to $28.55. This comes after the clinical-stage biotech surged 70.9% the day before on promising mid-stage eczema trial results. On Tuesday, the stock closed at $29.03, having fluctuated between $21.80 and $33.20, putting it near the peak of its 52-week range.
February 11, 2026
AI Symptom Checks Get a Reality Check: Study Finds ChatGPT and Rivals No Better Than Web Search
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AI Symptom Checks Get a Reality Check: Study Finds ChatGPT and Rivals No Better Than Web Search

A new study released Monday found that asking an AI chatbot about medical symptoms doesn’t improve patient decision-making compared to using a standard internet search or reputable health websites. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/ai-no-better-than-other-methods-patients-seeking-medical-advice-study-shows-2026-02-09/ As more consumers turn to chatbots for health advice at home, health systems and developers are testing these tools as a digital “front door” for triage—helping patients figure out whether to manage symptoms themselves, visit a doctor, or head to the emergency room.
February 9, 2026
Apple dials back AI “Mulberry” health coach, shifts plan to smaller Health app updates
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Apple dials back AI “Mulberry” health coach, shifts plan to smaller Health app updates

Cupertino, California — February 6, 2026, 01:23 Apple is pulling back on its ambitious virtual health coach powered by AI, opting to introduce elements of the project bit by bit within its Health app instead, Bloomberg News reported Thursday night, citing sources familiar with the situation. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-05/apple-is-scaling-back-plans-for-new-ai-based-health-coach-service
February 6, 2026
Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema tops Wegovy in new diabetes trial — 14.2% weight loss at top dose
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Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema tops Wegovy in new diabetes trial — 14.2% weight loss at top dose

On Monday, Novo Nordisk announced that its experimental CagriSema injection outperformed its blockbuster Wegovy in a late-stage trial involving adults with type 2 diabetes. At the top dose, patients lost 14.2% of their body weight after 68 weeks, compared to 10.2% with Wegovy. Blood sugar control also improved more with CagriSema, with HbA1c dropping 1.91 percentage points versus 1.76, the company reported. The outcome is critical now as Novo seeks a viable follow-up to Wegovy, with real consequences on the line. Eli Lilly and Co have entered the fray with Zepbound, while CagriSema’s prior data had already rattled investor confidence.
February 2, 2026
New blood test markers may spot pancreatic cancer earlier — and beat CA19-9 alone
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New blood test markers may spot pancreatic cancer earlier — and beat CA19-9 alone

A four-protein blood test panel boosted detection of pancreatic cancer in stored samples, the National Institutes of Health announced Friday. The test caught 91.9% of cases overall and 87.5% of early-stage cancers, with a 5% false-positive rate among people without cancer, the agency said. “We’ve significantly improved our ability to detect this cancer when it’s most treatable,” said Kenneth S. Zaret from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.) Timing is crucial because pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common type of pancreatic cancer, is usually diagnosed late, limiting treatment options. Penn Medicine reports that the five-year survival rate is around 44% if caught early and confined locally, but it plummets to just 3% once the cancer spreads.
January 30, 2026
Finland Finds Traces of Radioactivity in Outdoor Air — Watchdog Says No Health Risk
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Finland Finds Traces of Radioactivity in Outdoor Air — Watchdog Says No Health Risk

Finland’s nuclear safety authority reported on Friday that it found trace amounts of radioactive substances in air samples. However, officials stressed the levels detected do not pose any threat to public health. https://www.reuters.com/world/finland-detects-small-amount-radioactivity-sees-no-health-impact-2026-01-30/?utm_source=chatgpt.com This finding is significant because even minuscule, detectable traces can trigger alarms near a region packed with nuclear power plants. Plus, air-monitoring systems exist precisely to catch any releases early—whether from normal operations or something more serious.
January 30, 2026
US threatens to hold back Gavi cash unless it drops mercury preservative thimerosal
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US threatens to hold back Gavi cash unless it drops mercury preservative thimerosal

The United States has warned Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, that it will withhold new funding unless the group begins phasing out vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, according to a U.S. health official and a Gavi spokesperson. This demand targets a pending $300 million pledge as well as any future financial support, the official said. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-conditions-funding-global-vaccine-group-dropping-mercury-based-preservative-2026-01-28/ This dispute is crucial since Gavi supplies and supports vaccine delivery in lower-income nations, where multi-dose vials maximize budgets and ease staffing demands. Thimerosal, primarily found in those vials, preserves dose stability. Plus, these vials cost less and are easier to distribute than single-dose injections.
January 29, 2026
Elon Musk’s Neuralink says 21 people are now in its brain-chip trials — up from 12
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Elon Musk’s Neuralink says 21 people are now in its brain-chip trials — up from 12

Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain implant company, announced Wednesday that it now has 21 participants enrolled in its trials worldwide, two years after starting human testing. This is an increase from the 12 users reported last September, who were already controlling digital and physical devices with their thoughts. The company targets people with conditions like spinal cord injuries and says it hasn’t recorded any serious device-related adverse events. Neuralink added that expanding the trials will help it “better understand these variations” and refine both its hardware and implantation procedures. This new number is significant since Neuralink has shared very few concrete stats while pushing to expand its tightly scrutinized experiment into a wider clinical trial. Having more participants allows companies to
January 28, 2026
FDA hits pause on Regenxbio gene therapies after child’s brain tumor; stock slumps
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FDA hits pause on Regenxbio gene therapies after child’s brain tumor; stock slumps

Rockville, Md., Jan 28, 2026, 10:02 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has placed a clinical hold on Regenxbio’s experimental gene therapies RGX-111 and RGX-121 after a brain tumor was found in a child receiving treatment, the company announced Wednesday. Shares of Regenxbio dropped about 20% to $10.71 in morning trading, following a roughly 30% dive before the market opened. The company noted it has not yet received the FDA’s complete clinical hold letter.
January 28, 2026
Apple Watch blood pressure alerts go live in Australia after TGA green light
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Apple Watch blood pressure alerts go live in Australia after TGA green light

Sydney, 28 January 2026, 22:00 GMT+11 Apple has activated hypertension notifications for Apple Watch users in Australia, introducing a feature that detects potential signs of chronic high blood pressure. This alert works on Apple Watch Series 9 and newer, including Apple Watch Ultra 2 and above, by analyzing data from the watch’s optical heart sensor over 30-day periods. The system leverages machine learning, trained on information from over 100,000 participants, and its accuracy was confirmed in a clinical study involving more than 2,000 people.
January 28, 2026
Roche’s CT-388 weight-loss shot hits 22.5% in Phase 2, sets up pivotal trials
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Roche’s CT-388 weight-loss shot hits 22.5% in Phase 2, sets up pivotal trials

On Tuesday, Roche revealed that its experimental obesity drug CT-388 led patients to shed up to 22.5% of their body weight in a mid-stage trial. The Swiss pharma giant plans to leverage these results to advance into pivotal testing. Roche is stepping up in the obesity space, aiming to carve out a new growth path in an arena largely controlled by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Experts predict this sector could balloon to about $150 billion annually by the early 2030s, attracting more major pharma players into the fray.
January 27, 2026
Wegovy Pill Is Taking Off: Novo Logs 18,410 U.S. Prescriptions in First Full Week
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Wegovy Pill Is Taking Off: Novo Logs 18,410 U.S. Prescriptions in First Full Week

Analysts reported on Friday that Novo Nordisk’s new weight-loss drug Wegovy was prescribed 18,410 times across the U.S. during its first full week on the market, according to IQVIA prescription data. These initial figures are crucial—they offer investors the first concrete indication of whether patients will opt for a daily pill in a space dominated by weekly injections. Novo aims to leverage its first-mover advantage to secure lasting market share, even as Eli Lilly nears its own oral alternative.
January 23, 2026
RFK Jr revives cellphone radiation debate with new HHS study after FDA pulls safety pages
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RFK Jr revives cellphone radiation debate with new HHS study after FDA pulls safety pages

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is initiating a study to examine potential health risks linked to cellphone radiation, following the FDA’s removal of web pages claiming phones were safe. Kennedy told USA Today he’s “very concerned” and described electromagnetic radiation as “a major health concern,” according to Fox News. The push comes as federal agencies work to accelerate the next stage of U.S. wireless expansions. The Federal Communications Commission is considering measures to streamline deployment and auction additional airwaves. At the same time, the Commerce Department is hunting for government-owned spectrum that could be freed up and sold to carriers, Broadband Breakfast reported.
January 22, 2026
RFK Jr. reopens cellphone radiation debate as HHS orders new federal study
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RFK Jr. reopens cellphone radiation debate as HHS orders new federal study

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is set to initiate a study on cellphone radiation following Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s call to reexamine potential risks like neurological damage and cancer, an agency spokesman confirmed. This move is significant as it marks a change in how the federal government communicates about a technology that millions use every day. It also has the potential to reignite debates over exposure limits and consumer safety warnings.
January 17, 2026
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