Heart artery plaque shrank 21.1% with two cholesterol drugs versus 13.6% with a statin alone over 18 months. Whether the extra shrinkage prevents more cardiovascular events remains unknown.
Key points
Plaque reduction: 21.1% with two cholesterol drugs over 18 months.
Plaque reduction: 13.6% with a statin alone over 18 months.
Impact on cardiovascular events: unknown.
Sources
- Original post
- medicalxpress.com - Linked in the post
tarlatamab in SCLC real-world data shows rw-PFS 2.3 mo
tarlatamab in SCLC real-world data shows rw-PFS 2.3 months and rw-OS 8.0 months. 44.5% of patients had brain metastases with no PFS difference. CRS occurred in 40.8% (grade 3-4 3.8%) and ICANS in 21.5% (grade 3-4 6%). Prophylactic tocilizumab reduced CRS to 5.3% versus 43.0%.
Key points
rw-PFS 2.3 mo, rw-OS 8.0 mo
CRS 40.8% (G3-4 3.8%), ICANS 21.5% (G3-4 6%)
44.5% had brain mets; no PFS difference with vs without brain mets
Prophylactic tocilizumab: CRS 5.3% vs 43.0%
Sources
GSK showcases progress in liver portfolio at AASLD 2026
GSK announced new data on its hepatitis B drug Hibsago and its MASH candidate efimosfermin at the AASLD 2026 meeting. The Hibsago long-term dataset includes functional cure rates 48 weeks after treatment stop. Phase II efimosfermin results show potential fibrosis improvement in advanced MASH patients.
Key points
Hibsago (bepirovirsen) functional cure rates reported 48 weeks after all HBV treatment is stopped (B-Well phase III, oral #0266).
Efimosfermin phase II data presented on non-invasive liver fibrosis markers in MASH patients with compensated cirrhosis (poster #2299).
Sources
Bittensor second subnet physical world touch down
Bittensor reports a second subnet this week achieving physical world integration, following Metanova Labs' automated drug lab connection. It claims to bridge liquid intelligence layers on Bittensor into hard atomic space.
Key points
Second subnet this week made physical world touch down
Metanova Labs connection to an automated drug lab was the other subnet
Sources
66 AI startups competing with 69 incumbents and 3 frontier labs in drug development
66 AI startups are competing with 69 incumbents and 3 frontier labs to automate drug development. The post asks what steps exist, who competes, feasibility of a single company doing all, and if any white space remains.
Key points
66 AI startups are competing in drug development automation.
69 incumbent companies are part of the competition.
3 frontier labs are also competing.
Sources
XtalPi joins top ten in new HKEX AI Index
XtalPi joins top ten in new HKEX AI Index, ranking by weight of the Artificial Intelligence Index. The 40-company benchmark places AI for Science, including drug discovery and biotechnology, alongside chips, infrastructure and foundation models.
Key points
XtalPi in top ten by weight of HKEX’s new Artificial Intelligence Index
40-company benchmark includes AI for Science, drug discovery and biotechnology with chips, infrastructure and foundation models
Sources
From model to medicine: cardiovascular AI Nov 8
From model to medicine: cardiovascular AI event on Nov 8 discusses AI evidence lifecycle from development to deployment. It will feature AI investigators and journal leaders, including @CircAHA.
Key points
Date & time: Nov. 8, 8-9:15 AM CT, room N228
Participants: AI investigators and leaders of major journals, including @CircAHA
Sources
Learn free personalized medical education platform
Learn is a free, personalized medical education platform from OpenEvidence for trainees and clinicians. It is built to support users across their entire careers. The post highlights AI’s role in strengthening how doctors learn.
Key points
Platform: Learn
Provider: OpenEvidence
