News|Articles|April 27, 2025

News Across Medicine This Week - April 20, 2025 to April 27, 2025

What's new across the specialties? Take a quick look from select fields...

As a busy clinician, staying up-to-date with advancements across medicine can be challenging, but it remains crucial for delivering the best care to patients. In addition to providing cutting-edge psychiatric research and clinical updates, PsychLive is part of a network of premier medical publications. Our sister brands offer expert reporting in fields such dermatology, neurology, oncology, and primary care. Here, we bring you some of the most recent key findings and insights from these specialties to help you stay well-informed across disciplines.
đź’Š Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology
Cobenfy in Focus: Mixed Early Findings, Ongoing Potential for Schizophrenia
Although topline results from the phase 3 ARISE study of xanomeline and trospium chloride (Cobenfy) as an adjunctive treatment to atypical antipsychotics did not show a statistically significant difference compared with placebo in adults with inadequately controlled symptoms of schizophrenia, the augmentation strategy demonstrated a numerical improvement. Peter J. Weiden, MD, shares what this might mean for clinicians and their patients.
Reference
Weiden PJ, Duerr HA. Cobenfy as an Adjunctive Agent in Schizophrenia: Peter J. Weiden, MD, Shares Insights on the Latest Findings. Psychiatric Times. April 25, 2025. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/cobenfy-as-an-adjunctive-agent-peter-weiden-md-latest-insights
🧬 Infectious Disease
CIDRAP Launches Vaccine Integrity Project
The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota initiated the Vaccine Integrity Project to ensure the dissemination of reliable vaccine data to both the public and health care professionals.
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👩‍⚕️ Women's Health
NIH Funding Cuts Put Landmark Women’s Health Study at Risk
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced plans to terminate funding for the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a pivotal 30-year study that has significantly advanced understanding in areas such as aging, disease prevention, and postmenopausal women's health. This decision raises concerns about the future of comprehensive women's health research and its implications for interdisciplinary medical practices.
Reference
Krewson C. NIH to Cut Funding for Landmark Women’s Health Study. Contemporary Ob/Gyn. April 23, 2025. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/nih-to-cut-funding-for-landmark-women-s-health-study
đź§  Neurology
GLP-1 Agonists and SDLT2 Inhibitors Effective for Lowering Alzheimer Risk
A new study found no significant difference in efficacy between GLP-1 receptor agonists (eg, semaglutide) and SGLT2 inhibitors, suggesting both may offer neuroprotective benefits.
Reference
Meglio M. GLP-1 Agonists and SGLT2 Inhibitors Considered More Effective for Lowering Alzheimer Disease Risk. NeurologyLive. April 23, 2025. https://www.neurologylive.com/view/glp-1-agonists-sglt2-inhibitors-considered-more-effective-lowering-alzheimer-disease-risk
đź§’ Pediatrics
A recent study found that buprenorphine treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD) is associated with improved maternal and infant outcomes, including a reduction in preterm births, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions, and better overall neonatal health, making it a key intervention for this vulnerable population.
Reference
Ebert M. Buprenorphine linked to improved outcomes for pregnant women with OUD and their infants. Contemporary Pediatrics. April 27, 2025. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/buprenorphine-linked-to-improved-outcomes-for-pregnant-women-with-oud-and-their-infants
🩺 The Top Issues Facing Dermatology in 2025 and Beyond
Outgoing American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) President Seemal Desai, MD, FAAD, shared the 3 pivotal issues shaping the future of dermatology—payment reform, certification awareness, and technology integration—and what clinicians need to know moving forward.
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đź’‰General Medicine
Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Fewer Side Effects
A study from the University of Utah reports that the Novavax JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine is associated with fewer and less severe side effects compared to mRNA vaccines among health care workers, potentially influencing vaccine choice considerations.
Reference
Jennings S. Novavax JN.1 COVID-19 Vaccine Linked to Fewer Side Effects Than mRNA in Health Care Workers. Patient Care Online. April 22, 2025. https://www.patientcareonline.com/view/novavax-jn-1-covid-19-vaccine-linked-to-fewer-side-effects-than-mrna-in-health-care-workers