HCPLive Podcasts

In this episode of Liver Lineup, hosts Nancy Reau, MD, and Kimberly Brown, MD, are joined by Saul Karpen, MD, PhD, and Robert Gish, MD, for a practical, clinician-focused discussion on the evolving role of genetic testing in cholestatic liver disease.As genetic panels become more widely used in hepatology, many clinicians are left wondering when to order these tests—and how to interpret the results when they come back. From unexplained cholestasis and AMA-negative PBC to intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and atypical liver enzyme patterns, the conversation explores where genetic testing can add real clinical value.Karpen and Gish break down the basics of modern genetic panels, including how they’ve evolved over time, what clinicians should look for in results, and how to approach common challenges like variants of uncertain significance (VUS). The discussion also highlights key genes, such as ABCB4 and ABCB11, and explains how genetic findings can influence diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment decisions.Read more: https://www.hcplive.com/view/liver-lineup-navigating-genetic-testing-in-cholestatic-liver-disease

Welcome to HCPLive's 5 Stories in Under 5—your quick, must-know recap of the top 5 healthcare stories from the past week, all in under 5 minutes. Stay informed, stay ahead, and let’s dive into the latest updates impacting clinicians and healthcare providers like you!Interested in a more traditional, text rundown? Check out the HCPFive!RAINIER: Povetacicept Reduces Proteinuria By 52.0%A pre-specified week 36 interim analysis of the phase 3 RAINIER trial found that povetacicept, a dual BAFF/APRIL inhibitor, reduced proteinuria by 52% from baseline and achieved a statistically significant 49.8% reduction in UPCR versus placebo in patients with IgA nephropathy.Lorundrostat Secures FDA NDA Acceptance for Hypertension, Falls Short in Phase 2 OSA TrialThe FDA accepted Mineralys Therapeutics' NDA for lorundrostat as an add-on treatment for hypertension, supported by phase 3 and phase 2 trial data, with a PDUFA action date set for December 22, 2026.Discontinuing GLP-1 Treatment Associated With Up to 60% Weight Regain, With Brajan BudiniNew findings indicate that stopping GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy leads to a predictable pattern of weight regain—reaching approximately 60% at one year before plateauing—suggesting meaningful but substantially diminished long-term benefit after cessation.FDA Approves Leucovorin Calcium (Wellcovorin) Tablets as First Cerebral Folate Deficiency TreatmentThe FDA approved GSK's leucovorin calcium tablets as the first treatment for cerebral folate deficiency in patients with a confirmed FOLR1 gene variant, based on a systematic review of published literature and mechanistic data.New Long-Term Data Announced on Roflumilast Cream for Atopic Dermatitis in ChildrenLong-term data from the INTEGUMENT-OLE extension study show that once-daily roflumilast cream 0.05% is safe and well-tolerated in children aged 2 to 5 with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis, with efficacy not only sustained but continuing to improve through 56 weeks of treatment.

Welcome to HCPLive's 5 Stories in Under 5—your quick, must-know recap of the top 5 healthcare stories from the past week, all in under 5 minutes. Stay informed, stay ahead, and let’s dive into the latest updates impacting clinicians and healthcare providers like you!Interested in a more traditional, text rundown? Check out the HCPFive!MAJESTY: Obinutuzumab Achieves 2 Year Complete Remission in Primary Membranous NephropathyObinutuzumab demonstrated superior complete remission rates at 2 years compared with tacrolimus in primary membranous nephropathy in the phase 3 MAJESTY trial, supporting a potential new B-cell–targeted standard of care.Ixekizumab, Tirzepatide Effective Together for Psoriasis and Obesity or OverweightIn adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and obesity or overweight, combination therapy with ixekizumab and tirzepatide achieved superior skin clearance and weight reduction at 36 weeks compared with ixekizumab alone.AREXVY Vaccine Reduces Hospitalization, Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in RSVReal-world data from over 2.5 million patients showed GSK’s AREXVY vaccine was 75.6% effective against RSV-related hospitalization, with additional signals suggesting reduced in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events in older adults.COMP360 Psilocybin Meets Primary Endpoint in Second Phase 3 Trial for TRDCOMP360 synthetic psilocybin met the primary endpoint in its second phase 3 trial in treatment-resistant depression, demonstrating significant symptom reduction at week 6 versus low-dose control and advancing toward potential regulatory submission.Thykamine Shows Disease-Modifying Potential in MASH Using Liver-on-a-Chip PlatformPreclinical data using a human liver-on-a-chip model suggest Thykamine may exert dose-dependent antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects in MASH, supporting further translational development.

Accurately defining the population of patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) and intestinal failure has long been a challenge in gastroenterology. In an effort to bring greater clarity to the field, Alan Buchman MD, MSPH, a professor of Clinical Surgery and Medical Director of the Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago and director of gastroenterology at Elevance Health, led the introduction of new, more specific ICD-10-CM codes for SBS, along with corresponding updates to World Health Organization ICD-11 classifications. His recent real-world US claims analysis presented at the ASPEN 2026 Nutrition Science and Practice Conference examined how widely those codes have been adopted and what that adoption, or lack thereof, reveals about disease burden and clinical practice.Key Interview Time Stamps0:00:00 What prompted this analysis of ICD code adoption in short bowel syndrome?0:01:17 Key findings 0:03:33 Understanding reasons for variability in code adoption0:04:36 The potential benefits of improved coding accuracy

Welcome to HCPLive's 5 Stories in Under 5—your quick, must-know recap of the top 5 healthcare stories from the past week, all in under 5 minutes. Stay informed, stay ahead, and let’s dive into the latest updates impacting clinicians and healthcare providers like you!Interested in a more traditional, text rundown? Check out the HCPFive!Top 5 Healthcare Headlines for February 1-7, 2026:1. FDA Issues CRL to Dibutepinephrine (Anaphylm) Sublingual Film for Type 1 Allergic ReactionsThe FDA issued a Complete Response Letter for sublingual dibutepinephrine after identifying human factors issues that could compromise safe use during anaphylaxis, underscoring the importance of reliable administration in emergency settings.2. Positive Topline Data Released on Roflumilast Cream in Infants with Atopic DermatitisPhase 2 data indicate roflumilast cream was well tolerated in infants with atopic dermatitis and showed early signs of clinical improvement, supporting potential expansion of topical PDE4 inhibition into this very young population.3. FDA Accepts Resubmitted BLA for RelabotulinumtoxinA for Glabellar and Lateral Canthal LinesThe FDA accepted Galderma’s resubmitted BLA for relabotulinumtoxinA following manufacturing process updates, allowing regulatory review to resume for treatment of glabellar and lateral canthal lines.4. Upadacitinib Regulatory Applications Submitted for Adults, Adolescents with VitiligoAbbVie submitted regulatory applications seeking to expand upadacitinib use to adults and adolescents with non-segmental vitiligo, positioning a systemic JAK inhibitor as a potential option for this underserved condition.5. VESPER-3: Positive Results of Long-Term GLP-1 PF’3944 in Overweight and Obesity Without T2DPositive phase 2b results suggest Pfizer’s long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist may support sustained weight management with extended dosing intervals in patients without diabetes.

In this episode of Liver Lineup: Updates and Unfiltered Insights, Nancy Reau, MD, and Kimberly Brown, MD, turn their attention to metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH), conditions that now dominate hepatology clinics but continue to pose major diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. As new drugs enter the clinic and others advance through the pipeline, the hosts explore what meaningful progress looks like in a disease space defined by heterogeneity, comorbidities, and ongoing uncertainty around long-term outcomes.Key episode timestamps:0:00:00 – Intro + global MASLD burden and mortality; who progresses to severe liver disease.0:03:00 – Very low disease awareness; advanced MASLD often missed.0:06:32 – Weak FIB‑4–based referral patterns; need automated pathways.0:10:54 – Alcohol underreporting; role of PEth in honest discussions.0:15:18 – “Modest” alcohol still harmful in MASLD; no truly safe level.0:19:40 – Semaglutide/GLP‑1 benefits on liver outcomes beyond weight loss.0:23:22 – FGF‑21 agents improving portal hypertension in advanced disease.0:24:03 – Carvedilol less effective for variceal bleed prevention in MASLD.0:28:45 – Closing remarks; call for better disease control and systems of care.