Industry Insights: Healthcare
In this week’s round of insights, we highlight three of the most recent developments and findings in the healthcare industry.
WHO publishes GLP-1 guidelines for obesity treatment
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first global guidelines endorsing long-term use of GLP-1 receptor agonists for adults with obesity. The guidance recognises obesity as a chronic disease and supports GLP-1 therapy alongside lifestyle interventions such as diet and physical activity. GLP-1 medicines were added to the WHO Essential Medicines List for high-risk type 2 diabetes in 2025. Importantly, the guidelines highlight major challenges around affordability, supply and health-system readiness, warning that even under optimistic scenarios, access will remain limited for most people living with obesity.
Link to guideline: https://shorturl.at/E5lSd
Clascoterone shows strong phase 3 results in androgenetic alopecia
Clascoterone 5% topical solution (Cosmo) has delivered positive results in two large phase 3 trials for male androgenetic alopecia (male-pattern hair loss), potentially marking the first new therapeutic mechanism for this condition in more than 30 years. Unlike existing treatments, clascoterone acts by inhibiting androgen receptors at the hair follicle, aiming to reduce testosterone signalling without systemic exposure. The trials demonstrated statistically significant improvements in hair count and patient-reported outcomes with a safety profile comparable to placebo. If approved, clascoterone could expand treatment options for patients who are unwilling or unable to use oral hormonal therapies.
Link to press release: https://shorturl.at/ONTZC
Noninvasive test improves detection of advanced liver fibrosis in MASH
A new non-invasive test, the BMP8A Fibrosis Score (BFS), has shown improved accuracy for identifying advanced liver fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH). In a study published in Biomarker Research, BFS outperformed several established scoring systems while eliminating ‘grey-zone’ results. This single-cutoff approach could simplify clinical decision-making and support trial screening, reducing reliance on invasive liver biopsies. However, the researchers stressed that further validation and wider assay availability will be needed before routine adoption.
Link to study: https://shorturl.at/ys5pF
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