Category: Health

World Arthritis Day 2026: One in Six Indians Affected; Experts Emphasise Early Diagnosis and Treatment

Bhubaneswar, Oct 12 (UDN): Persistent joint pain, swelling and stiffness can make everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs and getting out of bed increasingly difficult. On World Arthritis Day, observed on October 12, health experts are highlighting the importance of early diagnosis, timely treatment and physiotherapy to manage arthritis and improve patients’ quality of life.

 Representational Image

Estimates suggest that nearly one in six Indians is affected by arthritis, underscoring the need for greater awareness of joint health. The condition can affect people across different age groups, including children and older adults, and may significantly restrict mobility if not managed appropriately.

Experts caution that persistent joint discomfort should not be ignored. Recognising symptoms early and seeking medical advice can help identify the underlying condition and ensure appropriate treatment.

Early Diagnosis Crucial for Arthritis Management

Orthopaedic specialist Professor Dr Biswajit Sahu stressed the importance of understanding arthritis, recognising its symptoms and knowing when to consult a doctor.

He highlighted the need to educate people about the causes of arthritis and the treatment options available, noting that greater awareness can encourage patients to seek timely medical attention rather than overlook persistent pain or stiffness.

Arthritis encompasses several conditions affecting the joints, each with different causes and treatment requirements. Early evaluation can help doctors determine the type of arthritis and recommend suitable management strategies.

Depending on the condition, treatment may involve medication, physiotherapy, exercise and lifestyle modifications.

Physiotherapy Can Help Improve Knee Mobility

Knee osteoarthritis can cause pain, stiffness and difficulty bending the knee, affecting a person’s ability to walk comfortably and perform routine activities.

Physiotherapist Dr Sanjay Ram highlighted the role of the popliteus muscle, located at the back of the knee, in controlling knee movement. He explained that people with knee osteoarthritis may experience restricted movement and adopt altered walking patterns, potentially contributing to discomfort.

According to Dr Ram, certain physiotherapy approaches focus on relaxing the popliteus muscle to help improve knee mobility. However, treatment should be tailored to each patient’s condition and carried out under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.

Physiotherapy, when appropriately prescribed, can help improve movement, strengthen supporting muscles and support better joint function.

Lifestyle Changes Can Support Joint Health

Although not all forms of arthritis can be prevented, experts recommend maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active and following a balanced diet to support overall joint health.

Excess body weight can place additional stress on weight-bearing joints, particularly the knees and hips. Suitable physical activity can help maintain muscle strength, flexibility and mobility.

People experiencing persistent joint pain, swelling, stiffness or difficulty moving should seek medical evaluation instead of relying solely on home remedies or self-medication.

Timely Treatment Can Improve Quality of Life

Arthritis management varies according to the type and severity of the condition. Early diagnosis, appropriate medical treatment and regular follow-up can help control symptoms and reduce the risk of complications.

As World Arthritis Day is observed, health experts are urging people to prioritise joint health and seek professional advice when symptoms persist.

Greater awareness, timely intervention and appropriate rehabilitation can help people with arthritis maintain mobility, remain active and enjoy a better quality of life.

Apollo Hospitals hosts Personalised Arthroplasty Summit 2026 in Hyderabad

Hyderabad 11th October 2026: Apollo Hospitals hosted the two-day Personalised Arthroplasty Summit 2026 at The Westin, Hyderabad, on October 10 and 11, bringing together more than 350 orthopaedic surgeons and joint replacement specialists to discuss advances in robotic-assisted surgery and personalised approaches to knee and hip replacement.

The national scientific conference and live workshop focused on emerging technologies, precision-based surgical planning, implant selection and advanced techniques aimed at improving outcomes for patients undergoing joint replacement surgery.

Dr. K. J. Reddy, Chief Arthroplasty Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, and organising chairman of the summit, led the academic initiative. The programme featured live robotic-assisted knee and hip replacement surgeries, hands-on workshops using bone models and case-based panel discussions.

The summit provided a platform for orthopaedic specialists to exchange clinical experiences and explore how technological innovations could support surgical planning and patient-specific treatment strategies. International experts, including Dr. Allan Gross from Canada and Dr. Wayne G. Paprosky from the United States, were featured in the conference programme.

Sessions covered advances in orthopaedic technology, total knee replacement, total hip replacement, pain management, implant selection and complex revision surgery. The discussions also highlighted the importance of precision in surgical planning and the restoration of bone stock in patients requiring revision hip procedures.

Personalised arthroplasty involves tailoring surgical planning and treatment to a patient’s anatomy, joint condition and functional requirements. Robotic-assisted systems and computer-based planning tools may help surgeons assess alignment and plan implant positioning in selected cases.

Joint replacement is generally considered for patients with advanced arthritis or severe joint damage when persistent pain, stiffness and restricted movement do not respond adequately to non-surgical treatments. The choice of procedure depends on the patient’s condition, overall health and functional needs. While advanced technologies may support surgical precision, clinical assessment, the surgeon’s expertise and post-operative rehabilitation remain essential for successful recovery.

Dr.K.Subba Reddy, Regional Director Medical Services Apollo Hospitals said the summit underscored the growing role of technology in orthopaedic care and the importance of continuing medical education in helping surgeons adopt evolving techniques for the benefit of patients. 

Brain’s response to a stroke may advance tumor’s progression

October 10, 2026 — After a stroke, the brain gets to work repairing damaged tissue. But new research suggests some of the same biological processes that aid recovery may also help tumor cells grow and spread.

In a study published in Nature Cancer, researchers found that ischemic strokes — caused by blocked blood flow to the brain — altered the environment surrounding gliomas, a form of brain cancer, in ways that accelerated tumor progression.

“What we found is that glioma cells can take advantage of the same processes the brain uses to repair itself after an injury to help the tumor progress,” said Qi Ye, assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Cancer Research Center in Washington, D.C., and co-first author of the study. “They integrate into the brain and use every chance to progress. We need to understand how they do that and then find ways to stop it.”

The findings do not mean that having a stroke causes brain cancer, Ye said. The causes of most gliomas remain unknown, and the clinical association between a prior history of brain injury and later brain tumors does not prove that one causes the other.

Instead, this study asked whether a prior history of stroke can change the brain environment in ways that promote glioma progression. The researchers found that a stroke can reshape the tumor environment and accelerate glioma growth and spread.

Previous population studies had reported an association between brain injury, including stroke, and brain tumors. But scientists did not understand the biological mechanisms that might connect the two.

Using multiple experimental models, including models incorporating glioma cells derived from patients, the researchers consistently found that a stroke accelerated glioma growth and increased the spread of tumor cells into areas of the brain affected by a stroke.

Ye began the research while a postdoctoral associate at Baylor, where most of the experimental work was conducted before she came to Virginia Tech.

Christine Madamba of Baylor College of Medicine and the Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital is co-first author of the study. Hyun Kyoung Lee of Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital is the study’s senior and corresponding author. Ye and Lee conceived the project and designed the experiments.

A changing cellular neighborhood

To understand what was driving tumor progression, the researchers looked to neighboring cells.

A tumor is surrounded by a complex community of cells known as the tumor microenvironment. After a stroke, the researchers found significant changes in that environment, including in immune cells and star-shaped glial cells called astrocytes that help maintain the normal environmental milieu of the brain and respond to injury.

The researchers identified a distinct population of tumor-associated astrocytes after stroke that showed substantially reduced calcium activity. Calcium signaling is an important element for mediating communication between cells and regulating their internal functions.

The team then tested whether changing that activity would affect the cancer. When researchers experimentally restored calcium signaling in the astrocytes, they reduced the stroke-associated increase in tumor growth and cancer cell proliferation.

The researchers also identified a protein called SLC4A4 as an important regulator of the process. Increasing the protein in astrocytes restored calcium activity, reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival in experimental models. Removing it produced the opposite effects.

Ye said the findings illustrate how glioma cells exploit changes occurring around them.

“Glioma cells can use the brain’s intrinsic repair system to progress,” said Ye, who is also a member of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. “They integrate into the brain and take advantage of those changes.”

The researchers are now investigating whether the mechanisms identified in the study could provide targets for future treatments.

“This study opens many exciting new questions,” Ye said. “We identified genes and biological pathways that may help explain how an injured brain environment influences glioma progression. Now we want to understand whether some of them could become therapeutic targets for a disease that remains largely incurable. I’m excited to bring some of these unanswered questions to my new lab at Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and continue pursuing them there.”

Original study: 10.1038/s43018-026-01238-8

One dengue case every four minutes in 2025: Envu India white paper calls for prevention within 100 metres

~‘The Hundred Metre Disease’ whitepaper reframes dengue as a year-round, building-level challenge and proposes a five-step prevention routine for housing societies, offices, construction sites and managed properties

Bengaluru, October 07, 2026: Envu India has released a new white paper, “The Hundred Metre Disease,” calling for a more building-level approach to dengue prevention in Indian cities. The paper highlights that India reported 1,21,824 dengue cases in 2025: more than 330 cases a day, or approximately one new case every four minutes – while Aedes aegypti, the mosquito primarily responsible for urban dengue transmission, typically remains close to where it emerges, with an average flight distance of about  Average 106 metres.

The paper argues that this combination, a significant national disease burden and a highly local mosquito,  makes housing societies, workplaces, construction sites and managed properties an important frontline of prevention. Drawing on national dengue data, scientific research, public-health guidance, municipal enforcement data and field evidence from across India, it calls for dengue prevention to become a regular, documented part of building and facility management, rather than an activity triggered only when cases rise or outbreaks begin.

The paper also brings together national dengue data, scientific research, public-health guidance, municipal enforcement data and field evidence from across India to make a simple case: dengue prevention cannot begin only when cases rise or when fogging starts. It needs to become a routine part of how buildings manage water throughout the year.

India recorded 10.7 lakh dengue cases and 1,562 deaths between 2021 and 2025. While reported cases declined from a five-year high of 2,89,235 in 2023 to 1,21,824 in 2025, the paper notes that lower national numbers do not remove the underlying breeding risk. India also recorded 23,952 dengue cases and 31 deaths between January and June 2026, according to Health Ministry figures cited in the report.

Why 100 metres matters

A 2022 analysis cited in the white paper estimated the average flight distance of Aedes aegypti at approximately 106 metres- less than a two-minute walk at a slow pace. Earlier field experiments also found that many marked mosquitoes were recaptured in the same house where they were released or immediately next door.

This means the mosquito that transmits dengue may often originate from a water-holding site within the same property or in its immediate surroundings.

The paper identifies familiar locations including overhead tanks, underground sumps, coolers, buckets, drums, flower vases, plant saucers, refrigerator drip pans, roof gutters, basements, garages and construction water as potential breeding sites. Even very small quantities of water can be sufficient.

The report highlights another reason why regularity matters: an Aedes egg can develop into a flying mosquito in approximately seven to ten days.

WHO guidance recommends covering, emptying and cleaning household water containers every week, while India’s National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control recommends a weekly dry day, a fixed day on which water containers are emptied, scrubbed and allowed to dry.

The report therefore proposes that managed properties treat dengue prevention as a recurring facility-management task, rather than an activity triggered only by an outbreak.

Five steps for managed properties

Envu India’s white paper sets out a five-step routine:

1.    Count the water spots: Map every location where water can collect, assign an owner and set a check date.

2.    Remove, cover or treat: Eliminate unnecessary containers, scrub emptied containers, cover stored water and appropriately manage water that cannot be removed.

3.    Use registered products as labelled: Where vector-control products are required, use products registered for the intended purpose and apply them according to label directions.

4.    Put prevention on the calendar: Establish a weekly rhythm before the rains and maintain it through the season — and year-round where conditions require it.

5.    Record the work: Document every inspection, breeding site found and action taken so that progress can be monitored over time.

The paper argues that a breeding check should sit on the same maintenance calendar as activities such as tank cleaning, fire drills and lift inspections, particularly in professionally managed properties.

Not just a monsoon problem

The white paper also challenges the perception that dengue is solely a south-west monsoon disease.

India recorded 6,927 cases in January and February 2026, with approximately 72% coming from southern states and Union Territories, according to data cited in the report. Southern peninsular India also receives significant rainfall during the north-east monsoon from October to December.

The implication, the paper argues, is that dengue-prevention routines in many parts of India need to extend beyond the conventional June-to-September window.

Construction sites emerge as a key urban risk

Construction is another area highlighted in the report.Building sites can retain water in sumps, overhead tanks, curing areas, open floors and worker accommodation, creating multiple opportunities for mosquito breeding. The white paper recommends incorporating weekly breeding inspections into construction-site safety and maintenance plans, alongside measures to drain pooled water, cover stored water and appropriately manage water that needs to remain on site.

Dengue prevention is also a property-management and compliance issue

The paper notes that obligations to prevent mosquito breeding are not new.

Municipal provisions in Mumbai and Delhi dating back to 1975 require owners or occupiers to prevent conditions in which mosquitoes breed. Enforcement remains active: Delhi issued 90,536 legal notices and initiated 7,501 prosecutions between January and 29 August 2026, according to figures cited in the report. For housing societies, commercial complexes, institutions and businesses, the report recommends a documented inspection routine as a practical way to assign responsibility and demonstrate that preventive action is being taken.

From fogging to prevention at source

The report distinguishes between outbreak-response measures and routine prevention. Space spraying or fogging can play a role in rapidly reducing flying adult mosquitoes during outbreaks, but the paper notes that larvae continue to develop in water-holding sites. Removing, covering or appropriately treating breeding sites therefore remains an important part of sustained mosquito control. The report also challenges several common assumptions: Aedes mosquitoes commonly breed in man-made containers, including clean stored water, not only dirty drains; simply emptying a container may leave eggs attached to its walls; and Aedes aegypti is primarily a day-biting mosquito.

Designing prevention into Indian cities

Beyond weekly maintenance, the white paper calls attention to the role of building design. Features such as sealed tank lids, rooftops that drain fully and drainage systems that maintenance teams can readily inspect and clean can reduce opportunities for standing water from the outset.

As Indian cities grow denser and more vertical, the paper argues that mosquito prevention should increasingly be considered not only as a public-health intervention but also as an element of building operations, construction planning and urban resilience.

Start now, before the 2027 monsoon

Envu India recommends that managed properties use the remaining months of 2026 to identify water-holding points, address existing breeding risks and establish a calendar for 2027. The white paper suggests beginning the year with a mapped list of water points, making repairs such as fixing tank lids and blocked drains before the rains, and moving to weekly checks ahead of the main transmission season.

World Wellness Weekend Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary with a Global Wave of Wellness Across Cities and Countries

Mexico leads the world in wellness activities, Italy tops the venue count, while Jakarta’s iconic Monas turns blue for the milestone edition

Oct 07 — From 18–20 September 2026, communities around the world came together for the 10th World Wellness Weekend, celebrating a decade of making wellness more accessible, inclusive and meaningful for people everywhere.

The milestone edition demonstrated the continued global momentum of the movement, with countries and cities on all 5 continents recording significant participation through wellness activities and venues.

The Stats & Facts of the 10th edition place Mexico first for net activities, Italy first for net venues, and Cancún first among cities for net activities and venues.

A decade of wellness, celebrated around the world

The final country statistics show Mexico with 754 net activities, followed by Spain with 500, Vietnam with 469, the USA with 424 and the Dominican Republic at 5^th position with 421. Other countries among the leading 10 were Italy, India, Japan, Indonesia and Argentina.

In terms of net venues with sessions, Italy led with 272, followed by Spain with 234, Japan with 210, Mexico with 170, and the USA with 163.

These figures reflect the official final methodology used for the 10th edition. Where applicable, the statistics exclude fitness clubs without classes or sessions and parks/public spaces that were not confirmed by the relevant authorities.

Country figures are based on the official final country statistics. City figures use a 25 km radius from the city centre.

 MEXICO LEADS THE GLOBAL WELLNESS MOVEMENT

Mexico emerged as the leading country in the final activity statistics, recording 754 net activities across 170 net venues.

Its strong national performance was reinforced by several Mexican destinations appearing among the world’s most active cities.

Cancún led the city statistics with 307 net activities and 58 net venues, followed by Tulum (5^th place) with 94 activities and 25 venues, Playa del Carmen (8^th place) with 50 activities and 11 venues, Los Cabos (9ex) with 48 activities and 14 venues, Merida (14^th) with 42 activities and 12 venues.

This gives Mexico a particularly strong presence not only at national level but also among the leading individual wellness destinations.

ITALY LEADS IN WELLNESS VENUES

Italy recorded 272 net venues with sessions, the highest country figure in the official 10th-edition statistics. It also recorded 401 net activities.

Several Italian cities featured prominently in the city statistics, including:

● Casciana Terme Lari – 30 activities / 23 venues

● Rome – 28 activities / 17 venues

● Milan – 22 activities / 15 venues

● Florence – 18 activities / 8 venues

The results underline the breadth of participation across Italy, especially with the support of CIWAS (Confederazione Italiana de Wellness and Sport) and Fondazione SportCity with free activities nationwide.

SPAIN CONTINUES TO SHINE AS A WELLNESS DESTINATION

Spain stands as the 2^nd most Active Country with 234 net venues with sessions, and 500 net activities.

Several Spanish cities featured prominently in the city statistics, including:

● Marbella (3rd) – 107 activities / 41 venues

● Malaga (9ex) – 48 activities / 30 venues

● Madrid (15) – 38 activities / 10 venues

● Santa Cruz de Tenerife (16) – 36 activities / 12 venues

● Barcelona (21) – 27 activities / 16 venues

● Las Palmas (29ex) – 17 activities / 8 venues

TOP 10 CITIES BY NET ACTIVITIES

Within a 25 km radius from the city centre, the official statistics recorded:

PUNTA CANA: A GLOBAL WELLNESS HOTSPOT

Punta Cana was a standout city in the Caribbean of the 10th edition, recording 182 net activities and 16 net venues with sessions within the official 25-kilometre city radius with thousands of people taking part in a raceç

MONAS TURNS BLUE FOR WELLNESS 

In Jakarta, the 10th anniversary was marked by a particularly visual celebration.

On 18 September 2026, the iconic Monas (National Monument) lit up in blue as part of World Wellness Weekend.

The blue illumination symbolized the spirit of wellness and a shared commitment to creating healthier, more balanced and more meaningful lives.

The special moment brought the World Wellness Weekend message into one of Jakarta’s most recognizable landmarks:

“Wellness for All – because wellness belongs to everyone.”

Residents and visitors were invited to witness and capture the rare sight of Monas illuminated in blue, creating a memorable visual symbol for the 10th anniversary.

Indonesia itself recorded 205 net activities across 86 net venues in the final country statistics, placing it at N°9 among 185 countries in the 2026 edition.

A GLOBAL MOVEMENT, ONE SHARED MESSAGE

From Mexico to Spain, Japan to Vietnam, Indonesia to Argentina, the 10th World Wellness Weekend demonstrated the diversity of the global wellness community.

The city statistics also demonstrate this geographic diversity: alongside the leading Mexican and Spanish destinations are cities including Caracas, Singapore, Punta Del Este, Santo Domingo, Ho Chi Minh City…

JEAN-GUY DE GABRIAC, FOUNDER OF WORLD WELLNESS WEEKEND

“Ten years ago, we began with a simple idea: wellness should be something everyone can experience and share. Ten years later, seeing communities across the globe come together around wellness is incredibly meaningful. The 10th edition reminds us that wellness has no borders and that small local actions can contribute to a truly global movement turning free classes into food donations and blood donations.”

WELLNESS STARTS WITH “WE”

The statistics tell only part of the story.

Behind every activity is a person choosing to move, breathe, connect, learn, rest or simply take a moment for their wellbeing. Behind every venue is a community creating a space where wellness can be experienced and shared.

That is the essence of World Wellness Weekend after ten years:

Wellness is not a luxury reserved for a few.
Wellness is best when shared with family, friends, colleagues and wellness buddies.

WHO Says Risk of Plague Spread Remains ‘Very Low’ Amid Russia Concerns

United Nations, Oct 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the risk of the plague spreading beyond a suspected incident in Russia as “very low”, even as international concern grows over the death of a technician linked to a plague research facility in Siberia.

 Representational Image 

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said Tuesday that authorities had identified and were monitoring people who had been in contact with the deceased woman. So far, none of the contacts has developed symptoms associated with plague.

“According to the test results, no pathogens of dangerous infectious diseases were detected among any of the contacts,” Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva.

The WHO currently assesses the risk as moderate to low in Irkutsk, where the incident occurred, low for Russia as a whole, and very low for the WHO European Region, Lindmeier said.

The technician, who worked at a research institute studying dangerous pathogens, reportedly died last week after developing pneumonia. Russian authorities said her illness initially appeared to be a typical acute respiratory viral infection.

Media reports have suggested that she may have fallen ill after accidentally breaking a test tube at the facility last month. However, the circumstances surrounding her illness and death remain under investigation.

The research institute is located in Siberia, a region where plague occurs naturally among wild animals. The WHO said it contacted Russian authorities after reports of the death emerged and is continuing to monitor developments.

US Watching Situation Closely

The incident has also drawn attention in Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was monitoring the situation “very closely, hour by hour”.

Rubio said there could be nothing unusual about the incident but acknowledged that it remained unclear whether the situation was more serious than initially believed. He also called on Moscow to share further information with the international community.

The heightened concern comes against the backdrop of continuing debate over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the possibility of laboratory-related incidents involving dangerous pathogens.

Russian authorities, meanwhile, have sought to reassure the public. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the country’s health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, was closely monitoring the situation and urged people not to rely on rumours or speculation.

What Is Plague?

Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is primarily found in small mammals and their fleas. Humans can become infected through flea bites or direct contact with infected tissues. Pneumonic plague can also spread through respiratory droplets from an infected person or animal.

The most common form, bubonic plague, causes painful swelling of the lymph nodes, known as buboes. More severe forms include septicaemic plague, which affects the bloodstream, and pneumonic plague, which affects the lungs.

Despite the concerns surrounding the Russian incident, the WHO’s current assessment indicates that the risk of wider international transmission remains very low.

Enliven Therapeutics Announces FDA Alignment on ENABLE-2 Phase 3 Trial Design for Relcobatinib (ELVN-001) in Previously Treated Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

October 7, 2026

Enliven remains on track to initiate ENABLE-2 before year-end 2026

BURLINGAME, Calif., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (Enliven or the Company) (Nasdaq: ELVN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics, today announced that it has reached alignment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the final design of the ENABLE-2 pivotal trial, a Phase 3 trial of relcobatinib (ELVN-001) in patients with previously treated chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council has adopted relcobatinib as the nonproprietary name for ELVN-001. Relcobatinib is an investigational, potent, highly selective, potentially best-in-class small molecule kinase inhibitor designed to specifically target the BCR::ABL1 gene fusion, the oncogenic driver of CML.

“We are pleased to have reached alignment with the FDA on the design of the ENABLE-2 pivotal Phase 3 trial, providing a clear path to initiate the trial before year-end,” said Helen Collins, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Enliven. “ENABLE-2 is designed to directly compare relcobatinib to the second-generation TKIs and evaluate its potential to be the best-in-class ATP-competitive inhibitor for patients with CML. We are encouraged by the enthusiasm from physicians and the broader CML community as we prepare to initiate the trial.”

ENABLE-2 Phase 3 Trial Design: A 2L+ Pivotal Trial for Patients with CML
ENABLE-2 is a planned randomized 2L+ phase 3 trial expected to enroll approximately 450 adults with CML previously treated with one or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive either relcobatinib 80 mg once daily or an investigator-selected second-generation TKI (dasatinib, nilotinib, or bosutinib). The primary endpoint is major molecular response (MMR) at Week 24, with the key secondary endpoint of MMR at Week 96.

With approximately 450 patients, the trial is designed such that an improvement in MMR rate of at least 10 percentage points over the control arm would be sufficient to demonstrate statistical superiority. We believe this difference would represent a clinically meaningful improvement over currently available second-generation TKIs.

The Company remains on track to initiate ENABLE-2 before year-end 2026.

India’s Indigenous HPV Vaccine Gets WHO Prequalification, Marking Major Public Health Milestone

New Delhi, Oct 6: India has achieved a major milestone in vaccine development and cancer prevention as its first indigenously developed Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Cervavac, has received prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Developed by the Serum Institute of India, Cervavac is a quadrivalent HPV vaccine designed to protect against four HPV types — 6, 11, 16 and 18. HPV infection is associated with cervical cancer as well as several other cancers and diseases.

The WHO prequalification is an important recognition of the vaccine’s quality, safety and manufacturing standards. It also allows the vaccine to become eligible for procurement by United Nations agencies, opening the possibility of wider access in countries working to strengthen HPV vaccination programmes.

The achievement is significant for India’s growing vaccine manufacturing sector. It also highlights the country’s efforts to develop affordable and locally made vaccines that can address important public health needs.

Cervavac was developed in India with support from public-sector research institutions and international health organisations. The vaccine had earlier received approval for use in India.

HPV vaccination is considered an important tool in preventing cervical cancer, particularly when combined with regular screening and timely treatment. Expanding access to vaccination can help reduce the long-term burden of HPV-related diseases.

The WHO prequalification of Cervavac marks another step in India’s journey from being a major vaccine manufacturer to becoming an increasingly important source of homegrown health solutions for the global community.

SimonMed Brings Arizona’s First AI-Powered Pristina Recon DL Mammography Technology to Scottsdale

Advanced AI-powered software enhances 3D mammography image clarity to support early breast cancer detection at no additional cost to patients

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., October 2, 2026 – SimonMed, a leading company in radiology, imaging and longevity technology, on Thursday announced that it will become the first imaging provider in Arizona to introduce Pristina Recon DL, GE HealthCare’s advanced AI-powered mammography image reconstruction technology.

The software will be integrated into GE HealthCare’s Senographe Pristina mammography system at SimonMed’s Scottsdale Mountain View location, with the first patient examinations anticipated in early October, coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Pristina Recon DL uses two deep learning models to enhance image quality and improve the visualization of subtle details that may be important in identifying breast cancer. The technology delivers sharp, clear 3D mammography images without increasing radiation dose or changing the patient exam experience.

For patients, this means access to advanced imaging technology designed to provide greater diagnostic clarity while maintaining a comfortable, efficient screening experience. Regular screening lowers a woman’s risk of dying from breast cancer by 26%, and when breast cancer is caught while still localized, the five-year survival rate climbs to 99%* — underscoring why sharp, clear imaging at the point of screening matters so much. 

“Early detection saves lives, and our mission at SimonMed is to bring the most advanced, life-saving technology to the communities we serve without creating additional financial barriers for patients,” said John Simon, MD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SimonMed. “By bringing this technology to Arizona first, we’re giving our radiologists even clearer images to help identify subtle signs of breast cancer and providing referring physicians with the advanced imaging they rely on to care for their patients. And we’re making these advances available at no additional cost. That’s what innovation should look like in healthcare.” 

In a GE HealthCare preference study, radiologists preferred the overall image quality of Pristina Recon DL in 99.11% of image evaluations compared to previous digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) reconstruction. Pristina Recon DL shows superior performance in the detection of microcalcification clusters and masses in a trial with modeled clinical data.

For referring providers, the technology represents another advancement in the imaging and diagnostic expertise available to their patients. By providing radiologists with sharp, clear 3D mammography images, SimonMed aims to support the identification and evaluation of subtle findings, helping physicians make informed decisions about patient care and recommended next steps. 

“At GE HealthCare, we’re focused on developing innovations that give clinicians the clarity and confidence they need to deliver exceptional patient care,” said Victoria Daly, VP, Women’s Health, US and Canada, GE HealthCare. “By implementing Pristina Recon DL, SimonMed is bringing advancements in deep learning image reconstruction to women in Arizona, combining exceptional image quality with an efficient, patient-centered mammography experience. Together, we’re helping expand access to innovative solutions that can help support early detection of breast cancer.”

Brainomix Highlights Phase III Data on AI-Powered CT for Pulmonary Fibrosis

Brainomix Announces New Phase III INBUILD® Data Highlighting Potential of Quantitative CT to Predict Disease Progression and Assess Treatment Response in Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis

OXFORD, UK and CHICAGO, October 1^st, 2026 – Brainomix, a leading medtech company specializing in AI-powered imaging tools for lung disease and stroke, today announced new data published in the esteemed American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (AJRCCM), in which researchers used Brainomix e-Lung to assess quantitative CT measures. The researchers demonstrated that these measures were sensitive to the effects of antifibrotic treatment and associated with clinically relevant disease progression and treatment response in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF).

The study, an analysis of the INBUILD® HRCT sub-study involving 474 patients, evaluated quantitative CT measurements derived using both Brainomix e-Lung software and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) research algorithm. This study is the first systematic assessment of two quantitative CT approaches on the same dataset: the UCLA QLF/QILD research algorithms in parallel with Brainomix e-Lung software. The broad consistency between the two methods provides important cross-validation of quantitative CT (qCT) for ILD clinical trials.

The researchers showed that nintedanib had significant effects on changes in e-Lung Total Disease Extent (TDE) at both 24 and 52 weeks, with significant effects also observed for e-Lung Reticulovascular Score (RVS) and Weighted Reticulovascular Score (WRVS) at week 24. The analysis also found that higher baseline quantitative CT measurements – including TDE, RVS and WRVS – were associated with a greater rate of FVC decline over 52 weeks.

Together, the findings demonstrate the potential value of quantitative CT in clinical trials: complementing conventional measures, such as FVC, by providing more sensitive and direct measures of pathological changes in the lung to stratify patients and evaluate treatment efficacy. By enabling more targeted assessment of disease progression and treatment response, quantitative CT could revolutionize the design of clinical trials focused on more sensitive and relevant mechanistic measures of disease activity, potentially accelerating the development and evaluation of new treatments for patients with PPF.

The study’s lead author, Professor Anand Devaraj, Consultant Thoracic Radiologist at Royal Brompton Hospital and Medical Director at Brainomix, said: “These findings add to the growing evidence that quantitative CT can provide important information about structural lung disease that may be complementary to conventional measures such as FVC. In this analysis of patients with PPF, quantitative CT measurements were associated with subsequent disease progression and were sensitive to the effects of antifibrotic treatment. The findings support the continued development and incorporation of quantitative CT as an objective biomarker for clinical trials and, potentially, for monitoring disease progression in clinical practice.”

Susanne Stowasser, MD, co-author of the study and Head of Clinical Development Pulmonology/Rheumatology at Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, said: “The INBUILD trial has provided important insights into the treatment of patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis, and these new analyses demonstrate the potential value of quantitative CT as an additional measure of disease progression and treatment response. The ability to detect meaningful changes in lung structure alongside established clinical measures could help strengthen the evidence base for antifibrotic therapies and inform the design of future clinical trials.”

This study has not been evaluated by FDA.