The FDA has issued a major safety alert on andexanet alfa, used to reverse factor Xa inhibitors, after post-marketing data and the ANNEXA-I trial showed roughly double the risk of serious and fatal thromboembolic events versus usual care. Concluding that risks now outweigh benefits, U.S. sales will end, forcing hospitals to urgently reassess reversal protocols. Meanwhile, the CDC reports a sharp national rise in influenza activity, dominated by H3N2, with increasing hospitalizations and pediatric deaths; vaccination and early antiviral treatment remain strongly recommended. Finally, the FDA approved once-daily oral semaglutide 25 mg for weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction, offering efficacy comparable to injectable therapy and potentially expanding patient access when launched in 2026.

Drs. Yu and Herzberg discuss recent developments in HER2- and EGFR-targeted therapies for lung cancer, focusing on clinical trial results at ESMO 2025. Key highlights include promising response rates, toxicity profiles, and the potential for these targeted therapies to treat patients with specific genetic mutations, particularly those with CNS metastases.

Drs. Herzberg and Yu continue their discussion on emerging clinical data presented at ESMO and WCLC 2025. They highlight recent advancements in HER2-targeted therapies for NSCLC and review new HER2-targeted therapies, international study results, and the promise of evolving targeted approaches for HER2-altered lung cancer.

Drs. Herzberg and Yu explore emerging clinical data from the 2025 meetings of the European Society For Medical Oncology (ESMO) and World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), highlighting recent advancements in HER2-targeted therapies for NSCLC. Their discussion focuses on new drugs (eg, zongertinib and trastuzumab deruxtecan), their efficacy and safety profiles, and the potential for treating HER2 mutations and overexpression.

A large cardiovascular outcomes trial in high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes showed that a dual incretin therapy was noninferior to an established comparator for major adverse cardiovascular events over four years, with similar overall safety but more gastrointestinal side effects and no added cardiovascular benefit. Separate trials demonstrated that a single-bolus thrombolytic was as effective and safe as standard infusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke while simplifying workflows, and that vascular brain injury and inherited risk independently increase dementia risk, underscoring the importance of aggressive management of modifiable vascular factors.

Drs. Kaul and Adegunsoye discuss advanced technologies to improve early detection and treatment of interstitial lung disease in veterans, with innovative approaches including the MAVRIC trial and AI-powered risk prediction models. These efforts aim to transform pulmonary care by identifying high-risk patients and developing targeted interventions.

Drs. Kaul and Adegunsoye discuss Veterans Affairs’ innovative approach to understanding and treating pulmonary fibrosis among veterans by leveraging extensive electronic health records and data repositories. The work focuses on addressing healthcare disparities, exploring risk factors, and developing a hub-and-spoke telehealth model to provide specialized care to veterans in rural and underserved areas.

Drs. Adegunsoye and Kaul review their takeaways from CHEST 2025, where pulmonary experts revealed a transformative approach to interstitial lung disease that emphasizes precision medicine and personalized treatments. The conference marked a shift from passive observation to proactive intervention, focusing on early screening, targeted therapies, and reducing healthcare disparities.

A long-term analysis of major prediabetes trials found that achieving remission or returning glucose levels to normal was associated with over a 50% reduction in cardiovascular death or heart failure, with durable benefits decades later; delaying diabetes without remission did not show similar benefit. A randomized trial in critically ill adults found no difference in 28-day mortality between ketamine and etomidate for intubation, though ketamine increased the risk of cardiovascular collapse. Finally, molecular data showed indoor tanning causes widespread DNA mutations linked to melanoma, reinforcing its carcinogenic risk.

CHEST 2025 showcased exciting advances in interstitial lung disease treatment, featuring new anti-fibrotic therapies and more personalized approaches. Drs. Adegunsoye and Kaul discuss emerging strategies for earlier detection and more targeted interventions across different lung disease phenotypes.