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BioMed

🧬 BioMed Pulse · 2026-09-24 02:01 UTC

BIOMED PULSE

September 24, 2026 — Daily Briefing on Longevity, Viruses & New Cures

⚡ TL;DR

The Bundibugyo virus Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has now become the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in that country, with 61 health zones across six provinces affected and transmission showing no sign of slowing. [1] Mood: urgent on the outbreak front, cautiously active on aging biology and drug approvals.

🦠 OUTBREAKS & VIRUSES

EBOLA (BUNDIBUGYO VIRUS) — DRC, LARGEST OUTBREAK ON RECORD

  • As of September 10, 2026, a cumulative 61 health zones across six DRC provinces — Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tshopo — are affected by the Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak, with Kayna in North Kivu the most recently added zone. [1]
  • WHO characterizes the outbreak as undergoing intense, sustained transmission and describes it as expanding faster than any previous Ebola outbreak on record in DRC. [2]
  • Cross-border spread to Uganda has been confirmed and continues to be monitored; case and death totals have climbed steadily since the outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026. [3] [4]

CONGENITAL SYPHILIS — U.S. RECORD STREAK

  • New CDC data released September 24, 2026 show U.S. cases of syphilis in newborns increased for the 12th consecutive year in 2024, underscoring persistent gaps in prenatal screening and treatment. [5]

DRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA — SHARP U.S. RISE

  • A CDC report published September 23, 2026 found a dramatic increase in dangerous drug-resistant bacteria, renewing concern about antimicrobial resistance in healthcare and community settings. [6]

MEASLES — BANGLADESH NATIONWIDE SURGE

  • WHO reported on April 23, 2026 that 19,161 suspected measles cases and 2,897 laboratory-confirmed cases have been recorded across 58 of 64 districts in all eight divisions of Bangladesh. [7]

FOOD SAFETY — ONGOING LISTERIA OUTBREAK IN PREPARED MEALS

  • CDC as of approximately September 24, 2026 continues investigating a Listeria outbreak linked to prepared meals; new illnesses and at least one additional death have been reported since the last update. [8] [9]

ANIMAL RABIES — RISING EXPOSURES

  • CDC issued a statement on September 10, 2026 noting increases in animal rabies activity and associated human exposures across the United States. [10]

🧬 LONGEVITY & AGING

CELLULAR SENESCENCE — SASP CHARACTERIZATION IN SKIN CELLS

  • Researchers published a multiplex assay method to characterize the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in both primary and iPSC-derived skin cells, a tool that could sharpen how scientists detect and measure senescent cell burden in aging tissue.

SENESCENCE AND HAIR FOLLICLES — RADIATION-INDUCED AGING PATHWAY

  • A study in Genes & Disease found that ionizing radiation drives premature senescence in dermal papilla cells by suppressing the FOXM1-KIF20A molecular pathway, revealing a mechanism behind radiation-induced hair aging and potential targets for intervention.

BONE AGING — mRNA LIPID NANOPARTICLE RESTORES CHOLESTEROL BALANCE

  • A study in Bioactive Materials demonstrated that a dual-targeting mRNA lipid nanoparticle can restore ABCA1-dependent cholesterol homeostasis in aging bone tissue, promoting repair of age-related bone defects in preclinical models.

BONE AGING — QUERCETIN NANOCOMPOSITE HYDROGEL FOR OSTEOPOROSIS

  • Published in Bioactive Materials on August 30, 2026, a quercetin-derived carbon dots-modified ZIF-8 nanocomposite hydrogel functionalized with M2 macrophage-derived migrasomes showed microenvironment-responsive behavior that promoted regeneration of osteoporotic bone defects.

FRAILTY AND INFLUENZA VACCINES — HIGH-DOSE ADVANTAGE

  • A prespecified analysis of the randomized DANFLU-2 trial found that frail older adults face heightened risk of severe influenza but derive greater protective benefit from high-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccines against hospitalization — a clinically important paradox for geriatric vaccine strategy.

HIP FRACTURE SURGERY IN OLDER PATIENTS — ANESTHESIA TYPE MATTERS

  • A multicenter randomized clinical trial from Germany published in Lancet Healthy Longevity found differences in serious complication rates between spinal and general anesthesia in older patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, a common and high-mortality procedure in aging populations.

ATHEROSCLEROSIS — SINGLE-CELL-GUIDED DRUG DISCOVERY

  • Researchers used single-cell sequencing to identify narciclasine as a dual VCAM-1/ICAM-1 inhibitor, two key adhesion molecules driving vascular inflammation in atherosclerosis, pointing toward a novel plant-derived therapeutic approach.

DEPRESCRIBING IN OLDER ADULTS — CALL FOR RATIONALE-FIRST TRIAL DESIGN

  • A Lancet Healthy Longevity commentary argues that deprescribing clinical trials must establish a clear biological and clinical rationale before selecting trial design, addressing a major gap in evidence-based polypharmacy reduction for older patients.

INTERVERTEBRAL DISC REGENERATION — BIOMATERIALS REVIEW

  • A September 2026 review in Bioactive Materials surveyed precision biomaterial strategies for intervertebral disc repair, including niche reprogramming and structural reconstruction approaches relevant to age-related spinal degeneration.

ALZHEIMER DISEASE IMAGING — PDE4 AS INFLAMMATION BIOMARKER

  • A ClinicalTrials.gov-registered study (NCT07169630) is recruiting volunteers with Alzheimer disease or mild cognitive impairment to undergo PET imaging of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), an enzyme linked to neuroinflammation, to better understand inflammation's role in age-related cognitive decline.

💊 NEW CURES & APPROVALS

SPRAVATO (ESKETAMINE HCl) — JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS

  • The FDA has processed a supplemental approval (SUPPL AP) for Spravato (esketamine hydrochloride, NDA211243), the intranasal ketamine-class treatment for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation, sponsored by Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

VERZENIO (ABEMACICLIB) — ELI LILLY AND CO

  • A supplemental approval has been processed for Verzenio (abemaciclib, NDA208716), Eli Lilly's CDK4/6 inhibitor used in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, indicating a label or indication update.

INLURIYO (IMLUNESTRANT TOSYLATE) — ELI LILLY AND CO

  • Eli Lilly received a supplemental approval action for Inluriyo (imlunestrant tosylate, NDA218881), an oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) for breast cancer.

SOHONOS (PALOVAROTENE) — IPSEN

  • A supplemental approval was processed for Sohonos (palovarotene, NDA215559), Ipsen's retinoic acid receptor gamma agonist indicated for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, a rare and severely disabling connective tissue disease.

AQNEURSA (LEVACETYLLEUCINE) — INTRABIO

  • A supplemental approval action was recorded for Aqneursa (levacetylleucine, NDA219132), IntraBio's oral therapy for Niemann-Pick disease type C, a rare lysosomal storage disorder with neurological manifestations.

EMPAGLIFLOZIN — RIDHISIDHI, PLLC

  • A new tentative approval (ORIG TA, NDA220758) was recorded for an empagliflozin product sponsored by Ridhisidhi, PLLC; empagliflozin is an SGLT2 inhibitor with established cardiovascular and kidney-protective benefits.

CYCLOSPORINE — AUROBINDO PHARMA LTD

  • An original ANDA approval (ORIG AP, ANDA219652) was recorded for a generic cyclosporine product from Aurobindo Pharma, broadening access to this immunosuppressant used in organ transplantation and autoimmune conditions.

🧪 CLINICAL TRIALS

PEMBROLIZUMAB FOR NEUROLOGICAL LONG COVID — PHASE I SAFETY TRIAL

  • ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT07388550 is a Phase I open-label safety trial testing pembrolizumab (PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor) for neurological post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, registered September 23, 2026, based on the hypothesis that persistent immune dysregulation drives long COVID neurological symptoms.

NON-OPIOID ACUTE PAIN CANDIDATE — (2R,6R)-HNK PHASE I

  • Study NCT07504601, registered September 23, 2026, is investigating the analgesic potential of (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine — a metabolite of ketamine — as a non-addictive acute pain treatment in healthy volunteers, targeting a major gap given opioids cause more than 14,000 overdose deaths annually in the U.S.

PDE4 PET IMAGING IN ALZHEIMER DISEASE AND MCI

  • NCT07169630 is recruiting participants with Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment at the NIH to undergo PET imaging of PDE4 as a neuroinflammation biomarker, registered September 23, 2026, aiming to advance biomarker tools for the approximately 5 million U.S. adults with age-related brain disorders.

CAR-T CELLS TARGETING TSLPR IN B-CELL LEUKEMIA

  • NCT07572136, registered September 23, 2026, is testing anti-CRLF2-R/TSLPR chimeric antigen receptor T cells (TSLPR-CART) in participants with recurrent or refractory CRLF2-R/TSLPR-overexpressing B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a mutation-driven cancer subtype with poor treatment outcomes.

FREXALIMAB, BRIVEKIMIG, OR RILZABRUTINIB IN KIDNEY DISEASE — PHASE 2A

  • NCT06500702 is a six-arm Phase 2a double-blind trial evaluating frexalimab, brivekimig, or rilzabrutinib versus placebo in participants aged 16 to 75 with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis or minimal change disease, measuring change in proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome remission rates.

IMMUNE-INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS IN POST-STROKE COGNITIVE DECLINE

  • NCT07837466, registered September 23, 2026, is investigating whether immune-inflammatory markers in acute basal ganglionic stroke can predict early cognitive impairment, directly relevant to aging given stroke-associated dementia is a leading driver of cognitive decline in older adults.

📢 PUBLIC HEALTH

CDC AWARDS $176 MILLION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE

  • On September 25, 2026, CDC announced more than $176 million in funding distributed to 48 public health partners to strengthen the U.S. public health system, including workforce and infrastructure capacity.

KINDERGARTEN VACCINATION RATES — SLIGHT DECLINE NOTED

  • CDC data released August 17, 2026 show kindergarten vaccination coverage remains high overall but declined 0.1 percentage point, a signal health officials are monitoring in the context of ongoing measles outbreaks domestically and globally.

TICK BITES — ER VISITS ABOVE SEASONAL AVERAGE

  • CDC data from April 23, 2026 showed weekly emergency room visits for tick bites were running higher than usual for the season, with public health resources recommended for personal and family protection.

TRAVELER-BASED GENOMIC SURVEILLANCE SURPASSES ONE MILLION PARTICIPANTS

  • CDC's airport-based Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance biosurveillance program crossed the one million voluntary participant milestone as of January 30, 2026, strengthening capacity to detect novel pathogen variants at U.S. borders.

NOTE: BIOMED PULSE is an informational briefing only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for any personal health decisions.

📎 Sources

  1. Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus - Democratic Republic… — WHO Disease Outbreak News
  2. Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus - Democratic Republic… — WHO Disease Outbreak News
  3. Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus – Democratic Republic… — WHO Disease Outbreak News
  4. Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic … — WHO Disease Outbreak News
  5. CDC Reports Latest National Data on Syphilis in Newborns and S… — CDC Newsroom
  6. CDC Report Finds Sharp Rise in Dangerous Drug-Resistant Bacteria — CDC Newsroom
  7. Measles - Bangladesh — WHO Disease Outbreak News
  8. CDC expands Listeria outbreak to include more prepared meals — CDC Newsroom
  9. Listeria Outbreak to include more Prepared Foods — CDC Newsroom
  10. CDC Statement on Increases in Recent Animal Rabies Activity an… — CDC Newsroom

Curated from official sources — WHO/CDC/ECDC/openFDA/ClinicalTrials.gov/Europe PMC. Informational only — not medical advice.
Serial 20260924-02-v85 · 2026-09-24 02:01 UTC · pulse.uzylab.com

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