Skip to content

Sam's News — health — 2026-08-18

Public Health

7 Kratom poison center cases surge 6,500% in US over past decade

Kratom-related poison center cases surged 6,500% from 2010 to 2023, climbing from 19 to 1,242 cases, with severe outcomes rising from zero to 158. The psychoactive plant triggers seizures, heart arrhythmias, liver damage, and respiratory problems, particularly when combined with other drugs.

  • Cases jumped from 19 in 2010 to 1,242 in 2023
  • Severe outcomes increased from zero (2010) to 158 (2023)
  • Nearly 1 in 7 single-substance cases resulted in hospital admission
  • 1 in 16 cases required critical care unit admission
  • States with kratom bans reported lower exposure and severe outcome rates

Sources: ScienceDaily AI Web Searched, ScienceDaily — Health RSS

AI

7 AI Unlocks New Drug Treatments for Previously Incurable Diseases

Artificial intelligence is rapidly inventing new drug treatments for Parkinson's disease, antibiotic-resistant superbugs, rare lung diseases, and other conditions.

  • MIT researchers screened 45 million compounds using generative AI trained on antibiotic structures
  • AI discovered two compounds effective against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
  • Only 12 new antibiotics approved 2017–2022; AI can screen massive libraries in days or hours
  • 1.1 million annual deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections; projected 8+ million by 2050 without intervention

Sources: BBC Web Search Update to: AI Rapidly Discovers New Treatments for Previously Incurable Diseases

Pharma

7 Amylyx Endocrine Drug Succeeds in Phase 3 Pivotal Trial

Amylyx's avexitide achieved a 55% reduction in serious hypoglycemic episodes in Phase 3 trial for post-bariatric hypoglycemia, surpassing the 35% efficacy threshold. If approved, it would be the first approved treatment for this condition.

  • 55% reduction in serious low blood sugar events versus placebo
  • Exceeded statistical power threshold of 35%
  • Serious hypoglycemic episodes defined as loss of consciousness or seizures
  • No existing approved treatments for post-bariatric hypoglycemia

Sources: STAT News AI Web Searched

Health

6.5 Imagery-based therapy shows lasting reduction in fear of failure from childhood criticism

Young adults who used imagery-based therapy to revisit painful childhood memories showed sustained reductions in fear, guilt, and sadness.

Sources: ScienceDaily RSS, ScienceDaily — Health RSS

6.5 Enveda Drug Maintains Weight Loss and Muscle Mass Post-GLP-1 Treatment

Colorado biotech Enveda reports early results on a drug designed to help patients preserve weight loss and muscle mass after discontinuing GLP-1 medication.

Sources: STAT News RSS

6.5 Real-world psilocybin data suggest need for close clinical monitoring

Amylyx reports success in a pivotal trial; real-world psilocybin usage data indicates rigorous monitoring requirements are needed.

Sources: STAT News RSS

Medicine

6.5 University of Missouri Begins First In-Person Clinical Trial of Nuclear Medicine Cancer Device

The University of Missouri has initiated the first in-person human clinical trial for a nuclear medicine device using radioisotopes to treat cancer.

Sources: Show Me Mizzou Web Search Update to: University of Missouri Conducts First Clinical Trial of Nuclear Medicine Cancer Device

Healthcare

Eyepoint disclosed that its experimental treatment for a common age-related blindness cause failed to meet its Phase 3 trial's primary goal.

Sources: STAT News RSS

AI for Science

6.5 AI startup releases virtual cell model to accelerate scientific research

A prominent AI company launched a virtual cell model designed to speed up biological research and discovery.

Sources: STAT News RSS

Policy

6.5 Trump administration sued over foreign graduate student and postdoc visa time limits

The Department of Homeland Security was sued over a new policy limiting how long international students and scholars can remain in the United States.

Sources: STAT News RSS