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Every second, cells throughout the body are sending signals that help regulate hunger, energy use, and blood sugar. Understanding those hidden conversations has become the life’s work of Katrin Svensson, PhD, whose research is opening new doors in the fight against obesity and diabetes.

The Endocrine Society recognized Svensson as one of its 2026 Laureates, honoring her with the Richard E. Weitzman Outstanding Early-Career Investigator Award. The annual award recognizes an exceptionally promising young clinical or basic investigator whose work is poised to make a lasting impact on the field.

Svensson is an associate professor in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University, as well as the Metabolic Core Director and Affinity Group Leader at the Stanford Diabetes Research Center. She earned both her MS and PhD from Sweden’s Lund University and completed her postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, before joining the Stanford faculty in 2018.

Her research focuses on how cells communicate to maintain metabolic homeostasis. Svensson’s laboratory discovered Isthmin-1, a secreted protein that regulates glucose uptake and lipid metabolism independently of insulin, as well as the non-incretin anti-obesity BRINP2-related peptide (BRP). Her group has also developed computational methods to predict new peptides and ligand-receptor pairs, advancing the discovery of novel endocrine pathways. She has two patents licensed to Merrifield Therapeutics, a biotech startup company she co-founded that focuses on translating biological endocrinology discoveries into therapeutic targets for obesity and diabetes.

Svensson recently spoke with Endocrine News about the promise of intercellular communication research and what continues to drive her scientific curiosity.

Endocrine News: What did hearing the news of winning the Early Investigator Award mean to you?

Svensson: It’s really a tremendous honor because I’ve been working with the Endocrine Society for a long time and this award really recognizes the overall body of work rather than a single study. Since I started at Stanford, much of my work has focused on identifying endocrine signaling systems that were not previously identified, which requires pursuing biology that is poorly understood. It’s hard to get funding and it’s hard to get traction for this kind of work because of that. So, receiving this award is quite meaningful for me because it reflects the efforts of many trainees and collaborators, and it’s encouraging to see that the field really values curiosity-driven discovery and fundamental mechanistic science.

EN: Your research program is built around understanding how cells communicate with one another. What first sparked your fascination with the intercellular communication and metabolism?

Svensson: I have been studying cell communication in a tumor microenvironment since I started my PhD in 2007. So, I looked at angiogenesis and how cells are communicating within a tumor. That led me to be more interested in how these molecules are regulated physiologically within the body. Different organs are communicating with each other all the time and while much is known about the classic hormones, biology is full of secreted peptides, signaling molecules, and metabolites, where we know extremely little about their functions.

When I moved to my postdoc in 2013 at Harvard with Bruce Spiegelman, PhD, I was interested in understanding how these peptides and hormones regulate physiology across the entire body. So, I became interested in the idea that there are “hidden” endocrine systems that can regulate metabolism and feed inter-organ communication. Finding these pathways could fundamentally change how we think about disease and therapy and physiology in general.

EN: Looking back on your career so far, who has been the biggest influence on you as a scientist and a leader?

Svensson: I’ve been very supported by many, many people in my field as an early-career scientist, but I would say the biggest influence has been Bruce Spiegelman, my mentor as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard. He really inspired me in thinking about novel biology and discovering something new. That is what I learned in his lab and that’s what I’ve continued to build on since then. I don’t think I could have done it if I hadn’t been in his lab.

EN: Now that you’ve received this Early Career Investigator Award, what do you think is the biggest scientific question that you’re hoping to answer in the next 10 years?

Svensson: I think that there’s a lot still to be discovered in endocrine signaling pathways. There are many peptides, not just the ones that we have identified. But the field, in general, has recognized peptide therapeutics with the GLPs and the different variants that are coming along now. It is now generally understood that peptides are useful for regulating many different types of physiological functions.

“You can organize, not just practically, but in your thinking. What is the most interesting and critical biological question? What are the critical experiments to answer those questions? Is this really what you need to do, or are you just doing it because you can? If you’re organized in your thinking, everything else will follow.” – Katrin Svensson, PhD, associate professor, Department of Pathology, Stanford University; Metabolic Core Director and Affinity Group Leader, Stanford Diabetes Research Center, Stanford, Calif.

We are really on a good path to understanding how they are physiologically regulated and how we can try to use them therapeutically to target various diseases. I think that there are many other types of endocrine system issues where these peptides could prove to be therapeutically useful.

EN: Looking at your lab website, I see you lead a very diverse team of postdocs, graduate students, and undergrads. What keeps you motivated when experiments fail or when progress comes more slowly than expected, and what do you impart to your team about this to keep them motivated as well?

Svensson: I talk with them a lot about this because our projects are so exploratory, and I think it’s important to be excited about discovering something genuinely new and be willing to pursue questions that are not fully validated by the field, and not being too focused on working on safe or already validated problems, although you know it’s going to work out.

People have different interests, so the people who are joining my lab are very aware of this and they know that pursuing this exploratory project can really open new directions. I’ve been very fortunate to work with trainees and collaborators who are very dedicated, and we talk a lot about persistence, which is super important to keep following the path that you believe in without being stubborn.

Sometimes it works differently than you expect. So, follow the data honestly and be willing to adapt when the biology tells you something unexpected, which often happens, and just keep going. You know, there’s a lot of things to be found and if you follow the science, it’s going to be fun! It’s very fun and that is what I’m trying to instill in my trainees.

EN: Is there any advice you give your team that you wish someone had told you when you first started your lab?

Svensson: I’ve been very lucky to work with great trainees, and I would say there are pretty much two things. First, find people who are interested in the science and are dedicated and want to do this. You don’t need to have a huge lab, necessarily, in the beginning. You need a few trainees who are really dedicated in trying to solve the problems.

“Receiving this award is quite meaningful for me because it reflects the efforts of many trainees and collaborators, and it’s encouraging to see that the field really values curiosity-driven discovery and fundamental mechanistic science.” – Katrin Svensson, PhD, associate professor, Department of Pathology, Stanford University; Metabolic Core Director and Affinity Group Leader, Stanford Diabetes Research Center, Stanford, Calif.

The second thing, I think, is very boring, but it’s being organized. I think all these other things about what you need to do in your career and publishing and getting grants, all these things will follow if you have good ideas. You can design great experiments and then being organized is really the key to pretty much everything. We talk about this in the lab. You can organize, not just practically, but in your thinking. What is the most interesting and critical biological question? What are the critical experiments to answer those questions? Is this really what you need to do, or are you just doing it because you can? If you’re organized in your thinking, everything else will follow.

—Shaw is a freelance writer based in Carmel, Ind. She is a regular contributor to Endocrine News and writes the monthly Laboratory Notes column.

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On May 29, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed sweeping changes to the rules governing all federal grant funding.

If finalized, this rule would fundamentally reshape how biomedical research, including endocrine science, is funded in the U.S. The proposed rule would give political appointees the power to block grant awards that do not align with current administration priorities, allow federal agencies to terminate grants at any time without a formal appeals process, and impose restrictions on publication costs and international collaborations, among other disruptions. Taken together, the proposed rule directly threatens the foundational principles of merit-based science.

The OMB is seeking to implement its proposed changes this year, and the Endocrine Society is opposing the rule, calling for its withdrawal, and urging Congress to intervene.

The proposed rule would give political appointees the power to block grant awards that do not align with current administration priorities, allow federal agencies to terminate grants at any time without a formal appeals process, and impose restrictions on publication costs and international collaborations, among other disruptions.

There are three ways you can make a difference:

• Contact Congress: Your representative and senators need to hear from you about the threat to research posed by the proposed rule. The Endocrine Society has created a new advocacy campaign where you can send a message to your elected representatives urging them to intervene and protect federal research funding. This is the quickest and most effective way to make an impact now.
   
• Submit Comments to Regulations.gov: Comments submitted to regulations.gov will have an impact as part of the public record. Substantive, original, and specific comments carry real weight in the rulemaking process, but it is critical that you personalize your submission. The Endocrine Society has prepared detailed guidance to help you submit a comment before the Monday, July 13 deadline.
   
• Join Our Virtual Hill Day this Summer: We are organizing virtual meetings for our members and their Representative & Senators to give you the opportunity to share how federal research funding has advanced endocrine health and patient care—and what is at stake if this rule is finalized. Training and talking points will be provided. If you are interested in participating, please contact advocacy@endocrine.org.

We have developed comments on behalf of the Society urging the withdrawal of the rule but it is also essential that policymakers hear from you — the scientific and medical professional community.

INSULIN Act Gains Momentum; Society Leads Effort to Urge Senate HELP Committee to Advance the Legislation

Increasing access to affordable insulin is a top policy priority of the Endocrine Society and we continue to urge Congress to pass the INSULIN Act, bipartisan legislation that would cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 a month for people with private insurance and create a pilot program for the uninsured in 10 states. Although the likelihood for passing the INSULIN Act this year originally was small, our advocacy is helping build momentum for the legislation in the Senate and now there are 28 bipartisan senators supporting the legislation introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

The Society will continue working with the bipartisan co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus to pass the legislation out of the HELP Committee this summer.

Last week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee considered several pieces of health-related legislation. Prior to the markup, the Endocrine Society sent a letter to the HELP Committee urging the committee to consider and pass the INSULIN Act. The Society developed the letter and invited other diabetes advocacy organizations to sign. As a result of increasing interest in insulin affordability, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced an amendment that would have added the INSULIN Act to another bill under consideration. Although the Sanders amendment was approved by the HELP Committee in a bipartisan vote, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, canceled a final vote on the overall bill, saying he needed more information about the cost of the legislation. Chairman Cassidy indicated that he is open to considering the legislation at a future markup in July.

The Society will continue working with the bipartisan co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus to pass the legislation out of the HELP Committee this summer. We urge all Endocrine Society members to take action through our online advocacy campaign and ask your Senators to cosponsor and pass the INSULIN Act. 

Medicare Bridge Program To Expand Access to GLP-1 Medications Launches July 1

On July 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will launch the Medicare Bridge Program to provide eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries with access to certain GLP-1 medications for weight loss for a $50 co-pay. To qualify for the program, Medicare beneficiaries must meet certain clinical criteria, and the provider must submit a prior authorization request attesting that the beneficiary has met these criteria. More information about the Bridge Program, including the clinical criteria, information on submitting a prior authorization request, and other FAQs for providers can be found on the CMS website. 

The Endocrine Society has urged Congress and the Administration to expand access to GLP-1 medications for people living with obesity, and we are pleased that CMS is initiating this program. We will continue to provide information as the Bridge Program is implemented in the coming months. We will also share additional educational information about the Bridge Program during our advocacy session to be held at the Clinical Endocrinology Update (CEU) meeting later this year.

The post Advocacy Update: July 2026 appeared first on Endocrine News.

I’m grateful the Endocrine Society provides many different communications channels to generate useful and practical knowledge on every aspect of endocrine science and care. I’d like to highlight some of them.

Endocrine News

The Society’s longstanding magazine has been a pilar of our field, not only for sharing the latest research and best clinical practices, but for highlighting the achievements of our members and featuring our organization’s many products and services. The publication is marking a milestone this summer as it fully transitions to online-only. As the Executive Editor Mark A. Newman notes, the greatest strength of the magazine “is its access to amazing Endocrine Society members.”

EndoForum

This unique communications and networking platform is designed exclusively for our members. In EndoForum, you can find the latest information and alerts on upcoming Society meetings and events, as well as connect with members from around the world. This networking is achieved through several online discussion channels, including the “Discussions” section, where members regularly pose clinical questions to their peers, and the “Groups” section, where our 12 Special Interest Groups (SIGs) gather. By joining a SIG, you can communicate with colleagues who share your same interests and passions.

Endocrine eNews

Delivered to your inbox each week, Endocrine eNews provides a quick-read, executive summary of the Society’s many activities, including awards, webinars, meetings, advocacy, podcasts, and featured research. The newsletter also provides timely reminders about such things as membership renewal deadlines, and store offerings.

Endocrine Briefing

Our unique e-newsletter uses artificial intelligence (AI) to bring you the latest endocrine research and practice headlines in a way that’s personalized for your specific interests. As you click on stories that interest you, the platform uses that data to select related content for future issues tailored specifically for you.

Endocrine Signals

Our Society blog takes a monthly deep dive into the inner workings of the organization. Here you will find stories from Society team members who head up advocacy, education, meetings, publications, clinical practice guidelines, membership, awards, and more.

Society Website

Certainly not to be overlooked is the Society’s website itself. I invite you to visit this site often, where you’ll find the full breadth and depth of our organization’s activities and programs. The homepage and Latest sections offer a quick view of the latest happenings. Our Society Calendar provides a view of Society events, as well as events throughout our field. The Our Community tab provides a pathway to member-oriented content, including more on the SIGs and career development programs. The Advancing Research tab allows scientists to quickly pursue our offerings, including fellowship programs, research grant opportunities, and scientific statements. The Improving Practice tab leads to sections on our Clinical Practice Guidelines, education, and training. And our Advocacy tab features a wealth of information on campaigns, letters, testimony, and position statements. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

But not every communications channel involves words on paper or screen. The Society in recent years has taken major steps to boost its presence in podcasting and video.

Endocrine Feedback Loop Podcast

This monthly journal club podcast is a must-listen for members who want to hear an in-depth discussion on recently published research. Each episode features an expert educator and a topical specialist dissecting recently published journal articles and discussing implications for clinical practice. Recent episodes included topics on infrequent zoledronate in low fracture risk, taste changes with semaglutide, and dosing strategies for remission in Graves’ disease.

Endocrine News Podcast 

Our membership podcast casts a similarly wide net, focusing on the latest research and clinical advances from experts in the field. Recent episodes include discussions on the SABRE Project and its significant impact on osteoporosis clinical trials and addressing the endocrine workforce shortage.

Endocrine Society’s YouTube Channel

This is another excellent communications vehicle for members who prefer to consume visual media. On the YouTube channel, you can hear — and see — our members discuss a wide range of topics, including previews of upcoming meetings and summaries of published research.

Social Media

The Society curates a lively conversation about endocrine topics on major social media platforms. Here you can get the latest information about the organization’s programs, initiatives, and members, and weigh in with your own thoughts. Our platforms are:

• X (formerly Twitter)
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• BlueSky

Through these channels and more, the Society aims to keep you armed with the latest knowledge that will help you achieve your professional and personal goals. What you’re reading now, in fact, is a perfect example of the Society’s aim to keep you well informed. I look forward to sharing more knowledge in this letter over the coming 12 months.

The post Society Offers Many Ways for Members to Stay Informed and Make Connections appeared first on Endocrine News.

The Royal Society, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious scientific institutions, includes some of the most influential scientists in history, such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein. APS is the the oldest learned society in the United States, founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin.

Woodruff served as president of the Endocrine Society from 2013 to 2014, and as editor-in-chief of Endocrinology. In 2021, Woodruff received the Endocrine Society’s Gerald D. Aurbach Laureate Award for Outstanding Translational Research for “seminal discoveries about gonadal structure, function, and hormones, as well as female fertility and its regulation.”

Currently, Woodruff is an MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology in the College of Human Medicine and the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering. She served as MSU provost beginning in August 2020 and is currently president emerita of the university.

“Today, young cancer patients can expect a consult from an oncofertility specialist, and I am honored to have worked with so many caring scientists and clinicians to make these real-world outcomes a reality.”

 Reflecting on her election to the Royal Society and to the APS, Woodruff said she was “surprised and humbled,” adding that it reflects the work of her lab and colleagues over many years, as well as the urgent need that led to her founding the field of oncofertility. She coined the phrase to describe the merging of cancer and fertility research and translating that work into an internationally recognized medical discipline. The field helps cancer patients preserve their ability to have a family after fertility-threatening treatments.

“This is the 20th anniversary since I coined the term ‘oncofertility,’” she says. “Today, young cancer patients can expect a consult from an oncofertility specialist, and I am honored to have worked with so many caring scientists and clinicians to make these real-world outcomes a reality.”

In this work, she leads the global Oncofertility Consortium, an international network dedicated to advancing fertility preservation worldwide.

Her research has produced landmark discoveries in reproductive biology, including the identification of the “zinc spark” at fertilization with MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor Tom O’Halloran and breakthroughs in maturing ovarian follicles outside the body, contributing to new fertility preservation strategies.

Woodruff has received numerous honors for her scientific leadership, including the National Medal of Science, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mentoring, election to the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Inventors.

For Woodruff, the impact on patients remains the most significant measure of her work. “I believe the promise of fundamental science in medicine is that tomorrow’s patient is treated better than today’s,” she says. “That is the distinction that matters most.”

Looking ahead, Woodruff continues to lead active research at MSU. Her lab is focused on uncovering the mechanisms behind zinc’s role in egg development, building on the discovery of the zinc spark. She adds, “There is tremendous excitement around where this work can lead.”

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Sanofi’s Tzield Approved in the U.S. for Patients with Stage 3 Type 1 Diabetes

On June 13, Sanofi announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to Tzield (teplizumab-mzwv) to delay the decline in endogenous (own) insulin production in children aged eight to 17 years recently diagnosed with stage 3 type 1 diabetes. Tzield is not effective as a disease-modifying therapy in non-autoimmune dysglycemic conditions.

“We now have a novel therapy that targets the autoimmune and progressive nature of stage 3 type 1 diabetes,” said Aaron J. Kowalski, PhD, CEO of Breakthrough T1D. “Approximately 64,000 people are diagnosed with T1D every year. We are excited that the approval of Tzield in this indication provides a treatment option for certain patients diagnosed in stage 3 T1D, which is when many start experiencing common symptoms of the disease.”

The approval was supported by data from the PROTECT phase 3 study (clinical study identifier: NCT03875729), evaluating beta cell function as assessed by significantly slowing the decrease in mean C-peptide levels (area under the curve after a four-hour, mixed-meal tolerance test; difference in least-squares means 0.13 pmol/mL; 95% confidence interval: 0.09-0.17; p<0.001) at trial completion, compared to placebo, as well as data from the broader clinical development program that included over 900 patients who received Tzield. Adverse events observed in the PROTECT phase 3 study were consistent with previous studies.

The most common adverse reactions were lymphopenia, vomiting, rash, leukopenia, diarrhea, neutropenia, increased liver transaminase, and headache. Serious events such as cytokine release syndrome and life-threatening cases of viral reactivation have been reported with Tzield. Patients who are immunocompromised are at increased risk for viral reactivation.

This indication is granted under accelerated approval based on evidence of reduced C-peptide decline. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory study(ies).

Medicines that receive accelerated approval are intended to treat serious conditions that fill an unmet medical need, based on a surrogate endpoint reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. In line with this, the confirmatory BETA-PRESERVE phase 3 study (clinical study identifier: NCT07088068) was initiated and is currently enrolling participants.

“We welcome this accelerated approval by the FDA, which recognizes the potential of Tzield to delay the progression of recently diagnosed stage 3 T1D in children aged eight to 17 years,” said Christopher Corsico, global head of development, Sanofi. “Tzield will now offer a new pathway in the treatment paradigm of stage 3 T1D, one that we hope will further enable healthcare providers in the US to take a more proactive approach to disrupt the underlying autoimmune attack against insulin-producing beta cells.”

Prior to this approval in recently diagnosed stage 3 T1D, in April 2026, the FDA expanded the indication to delay the onset of stage 3 T1D in adults and children eight years and older with stage 2 T1D, to include children aged one year and above. It is also approved to delay the onset of stage 3 T1D in adults and children eight years and older with stage 2 T1D in the UK, the EU (under the name Teizeild), China, Australia, Canada, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Brazil and Switzerland. Regulatory reviews are ongoing in other jurisdictions around the world. Tzield was previously designated by the FDA as breakthrough therapy and was granted orphan drug designation, for investigational medicines that treat rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.

TRYNGOLZA® (Olezarsen) Approved by the FDA as the First and Only Treatment to Reduce Triglycerides and the Risk of Acute Pancreatitis in Patients with Severe Hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG)

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on June 24 announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved TRYNGOLZA® (olezarsen) as an adjunct to diet to reduce triglycerides (TG) and the risk of acute pancreatitis in adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG: TG greater than or equal to 500 mg/dL). TRYNGOLZA is available in a 50 mg or 80 mg dose and is self-administered once monthly via an autoinjector. sHTG is characterized by an increased risk of acute pancreatitis, which causes debilitating abdominal pain that often leads to repeated and prolonged hospitalization, permanent organ damage and can be life-threatening.

“The approval of TRYNGOLZA marks an historic advance for people who have long struggled to control their dangerously high triglycerides, providing the only approved therapy for sHTG to dramatically lower triglyceride levels and significantly reduce acute pancreatitis events,” said Brett P. Monia, Ph.D., chief executive officer, Ionis. “TRYNGOLZA reflects the strength of Ionis’ innovative science and our commitment to transforming patients’ lives. As our first independent launch in a prevalent disease, this milestone builds on our success in familial chylomicronemia syndrome, a rare form of sHTG, and marks a defining moment for Ionis as we bring our groundbreaking medicines to even more patients in need. We are deeply grateful to the clinical trial participants, investigators, the Ionis team and many others whose dedication made this achievement possible.”

“As a physician, I have seen firsthand how challenging it can be for patients with sHTG to lower their triglycerides below 500 mg/dL, despite background lipid-lowering therapies and lifestyle changes, which leaves them at risk of a devastating and potentially life-threatening acute pancreatitis attack,” said Archna Bajaj, M.D., assistant professor of clinical medicine, University of Pennsylvania. “TRYNGOLZA is a transformational new therapy that showed unprecedented, clinically meaningful outcomes for sHTG, with the potential to redefine the treatment paradigm.”

The FDA approval was based on positive results from the Phase 3 CORE and CORE2 studies, which were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

In the CORE and CORE2 studies, TRYNGOLZA demonstrated rapid and consistent triglyceride control, lowering fasting triglyceride levels by up to 72% compared to placebo at six months and sustaining those reductions at 12 months. Additionally, TRYNGOLZA significantly reduced acute pancreatitis events by up to 91%. Among patients treated with TRYNGOLZA with baseline and 12-month data, 86% achieved triglyceride levels below 500 mg/dL, a critical threshold for reducing acute pancreatitis risk. The number needed to treat (NNT) over one year to prevent one episode of acute pancreatitis was 20 in the overall cohort and four in patients with triglycerides ≥880 mg/dL and a prior history of acute pancreatitis, indicating a strong clinical benefit across the spectrum of sHTG patients and an exceptional clinical benefit in the highest risk subgroup.¹

Across the clinical program, TRYNGOLZA demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile. The most common adverse reactions in patients with sHTG (incidence ≥2% higher than placebo) were injection site reactions and liver enzyme increases.

“With limited options to lower triglycerides, people living with sHTG often face a constant and real fear that a debilitating acute pancreatitis attack could strike at any time without warning,” said Emily Draud, interim executive director, National Pancreas Foundation. “The availability of TRYNGOLZA for sHTG represents an important new option for this community, offering hope for people who have been waiting for a new treatment to reduce the risk of acute pancreatitis by significantly lowering their triglyceride levels. It also underscores the urgent need for continued innovation and improved care for patients living with this serious condition.”

Ionis is committed to helping people access the medicines they are prescribed and will offer a full suite of services for people prescribed TRYNGOLZA through Ionis Every Step. Ionis Every Step offers personal support, including nutrition information and injection training, insurance support and financial assistance programs. Visit TRYNGOLZA.com for more information.

TRYNGOLZA will be available for sHTG in the U.S. in July.

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

The post Pharma Friday – June 26, 2026 appeared first on Endocrine News.

Every year, so many new memories are made at ENDO so I thought it might be fun to hear from some Endocrine Society members about their most memorable annual meetings from the past. A dozen or so of your fellow endocrinologists shared with me their most meaningful ENDO memories in “Looking Back: Unforgettable Moments from ENDOs Past.” Not only have many of you found ENDO to be the highlight of your year as you comingle with thousands of like-minded people from all across the globe, but ins some cases ENDO has literally been life changing. Find out which future Endocrine Society president decided to become an endocrinologist once they attended their very first ENDO. No doubt, a few lives will be impacted forever by what they encountered at ENDO 2026 in Chicago!

Another significant highlight at every ENDO occurs when the Endocrine Society releases a new Clinical Practice Guideline and ENDO 2026 is no different; on Saturday June 14 a special session heralds the publication of “Central Precocious Puberty: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.” Senior Editor Derek Bagley speaks to the guideline authors in “They Grow Up So Fast: Endocrine Society Releases Central Precocious Puberty Guideline” who discuss the new recommendations that will be elucidated on stage after its publication in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Glenda Fauntleroy Shaw interviews this year’s Transatlantic Alliance Award winner, Anna L. Gloyn, DPhil, FMedSci, in “Cultural Exchange.” Having conducted research, literally, on both sides of the Atlantic, Gloyn talks about  about what this award means to her, how a friend in college helped determine the future of her research, and the profound impact of doing research in both European and American labs. But, she says, the differences are more common AWAY from the bench, from her experiences: “The differences between labs in the U.K. and U.S. are not to do with the country you are in, they are to do with the lab culture which is set by the lab PI. That said, there are some obvious cultural differences,” she says. “I remember arriving as a post-doc fellow in Dr. Franz Matchinksy’s lab at the University of Pennsylvania and realizing that going to the pub for a beer after work on a Friday was a very British behavior!”

As usual, feel free to reach out to me at: mnewman@endocrine.org if you have any story suggestions or other ideas for Endocrine News!

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Since ENDO 2026 in Chicago is fresh in our minds, Endocrine News quizzed Endocrine Society members to see what their favorite memories of past ENDOs have been. From professional connections to new job leads, lifelong friendships, and even some unforgettable meals, ENDO is the only place to be for the international endocrinology community.

Every year, thousands of endocrinologists descend on ENDO from around the world, one thing is certain: this event will be like no other. If you’ve only attended one meeting, you know that there’s no other endocrinology-focused conference quite like it. It is the only place for clinicians and researchers in the endocrinology field to get their collective batteries charged, regardless of where they are in their careers.

“ENDO continues to be a space where science and community intersect in a powerful way. It is not just about presenting data, but about forming connections that shape the direction of your research and career,” says Antentor Othrell Hinton, Jr., PhD, Ernest E. Just Early Career Investigator; Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Science Leadership Investigator; Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Awards at the Scientific Interface Investigator; assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences, Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center in Nashville, Tenn. “This would not have happened without the nominations and support from senior leaders who are always paying attention to and uplifting junior investigators. I truly appreciate the opportunity.”

In fact, many endocrinologists anticipate ENDO the same way that a child might anticipate their birthday or Christmas! Just ask Lauren Fishbein, MD, PhD, MTR, assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes in Aurora: “I look forward to ENDO all year long,” she says. “What I value most are conversations with collaborators, colleagues, and friends from around the world. This networking can only occur in person at the annual meeting – a video call is not the same.”

We agree! So, we decided to ask these Endocrine Society members about what ENDO memory stands out to them the most: Andrew Agabaje, PhD; Estelle M. Everett, MD, MHS; Lauren Fishbein, PhD, MTR; Andrea Gore, PhD; Antentor Othrell Hinton, Jr., PhD; Eiman Ibrahim, MD;Milay Luis Lam, MD; David Lui, PhD; Michael Morkos, MD, MS, MHI, ECNU; John Newell-Price, MD, PhD, Alicia Diaz Thomas, MD, MPH; Shehzad Topiwala MD;and Joy Y. Wu, MD, PhD.

A Career Milestone at ENDO 2024

ENDO 2024 in Boston was an interesting experience, particularly because I was selected to give my first-ever press conference. I also received an outstanding abstract award for publishing the first study in the world which showed that device-measured sedentary behavior from childhood was an independent and longitudinal risk factor for liver steatosis and fibrosis assessed with transient elastography in mid-twenties.

The press conference offered an opportunity to share my research with health journalists from major news outlets like (New York Times, etc.), and the subsequent collaboration forged with the media has been incredibly helpful in disseminating my research in the last two years.

I met a colleague based in the U.S. who was invited to speak at a symposium on the last day of ENDO 2024. We discussed the possibility of a research collaboration in childhood metabolic health research and are looking forward to finalizing the project commencement soon.

My participation at ENDO 2024 also enabled networking and invitations to serve in different communities and task forces within the Endocrine Society. All these opportunities from the Endocrine Society were a significant boost to my CV and increased my chances of receiving the highly competitive inaugural Flemming Quaade Award for Innovative Approaches to Childhood Obesity research grant of $70,000 and a travel stipend to present a lecture at NUTRITION 2025 in Orlando. – Andrew O. Agbaje, MD, MPH, PhD, FACC, FESC, FAHA, FNYAM, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

Shaping an Academic Journey

ENDO 2023 marked my first in‑person ENDO meeting and remains one of my most memorable professional experiences. I arrived expecting a rich scientific program, but I left with so much more — new connections and a deeper sense of belonging to the endocrine community.

ENDO has offered several “firsts” for me, including oral presentation and press conference at ENDO 2022, which took place virtually during the challenging time of the COVID‑19 pandemic. My first oral presentation focused on safety of COVID‑19 vaccination among patients with hypothyroidism, also highlighted in the press conference. Presenting our research to mass media was an eye‑opening experience, underscoring the importance of communicating science beyond academic circles.

Another highlight was learning from the now Endocrine Society President‑Elect, Joy Wu, PhD. She shared insightful perspectives on how to build our professional profiles on social media platforms, using them for knowledge dissemination, and connecting with colleagues who share similar research interests. I vividly recall we first met in person when I attended her Meet the Professor session at ENDO 2023 on managing bone health in breast cancer survivors, followed by a brief discussion and a photo together. She encouraged me to leverage real‑world electronic health records to address key research questions in osteoporosis — advice that continues to shape my work on bone fragility in diabetes. We reconnected this year, three years later, when she visited the University of Hong Kong, allowing us to exchange updates in person.

At ENDO 2023, I also reunited with Jenni Gingery, Director of Communications and Media Relations of the Endocrine Society, and Mark Newman, Executive Editor of Endocrine News. Their support and collaboration have continued over the years, including in this very issue.

ENDO 2023 was not only a scientific milestone but also a formative moment in shaping my academic journey and professional community. — David Lui, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, China

Celebrating Three Decades of Inclusion

One of my most memorable ENDO experiences was the CODI (Committee on Diversity and Inclusion) 30th Anniversary Celebration and Mentoring Poster Reception at ENDO 2025. The event brought together students, trainees, early-career investigators, and senior leaders in a way that truly reflected the spirit of the Society.

The panel of guest speakers which included Endocrine Society past presidents and former CODI chairs was particularly meaningful. Hearing reflections on CODI’s 30-year journey, its role in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Society, and its tangible impact on careers and the field, offered both perspective and inspiration. Several trainees shared with me afterward that the conversations they had that evening led to new mentorship and connections.

For me, the event reinforced what makes ENDO unique: it is not just a scientific meeting, but a place where community, mentorship, and opportunity intersect. The CODI anniversary celebration captured that perfectly and served as a powerful reminder of how intentional spaces can shape careers and strengthen our field. — Estelle M. Everett, MD, MHS, assistant professor, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, Division of General Internal Medicine & Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif.

An Early Career Boost at ENDO 1998

I’ve been to so many ENDOs and have so many memories, but most are only interesting to me! I think what may have been most memorable is the ENDO 1998 meeting in New Orleans, La.. I was invited to give a symposium talk on GnRH, and as a new assistant professor I was very honored but also very nervous.

The other speakers were luminaries in the field and the room was packed. Having that opportunity gave me a real boost early in my career and also made me a loyal attendee of nearly every ENDO meeting thereafter! -Andrea Gore, PhD, Vacek Chair of Pharmacology, Division of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas

Feeling Visible, Welcomed, and Supported

One of my most memorable ENDO meetings was my very first. As a first-year fellow in pediatric endocrinology, I was both excited and uncertain about where I belonged in a large national meeting. That year, my poster was selected, and I was introduced to what was then called the Minority Mentoring Reception. Walking into that space was transformative. I met senior faculty and mentors whose work I admired, many of whom took the time to introduce themselves, ask about my career goals, and offer genuine encouragement. For the first time at a national scientific meeting, I did not feel like an outsider looking in; I felt visible, welcomed, and supported. That experience fundamentally shaped how I approached ENDO going forward, not just as a meeting to attend, but as a professional home.

Walking into that space was transformative. I met senior faculty and mentors whose work I admired, many of whom took the time to introduce themselves, ask about my career goals, and offer genuine encouragement. For the first time at a national scientific meeting, I did not feel like an outsider looking in; I felt visible, welcomed, and supported.

My second most memorable ENDO meeting was the most recent one, which celebrated the Endocrine Society’s enduring commitment to diversity and inclusion through the 30th anniversary of CORE and its many incarnations. Seeing so many trainees and early-career faculty, Endocrine Society staff, faculty leaders, past presidents, and board members gathered together to honor this legacy was deeply meaningful. For me, it underscored how intentional efforts in mentorship and inclusion can shape careers, communities, and the future of our field. Standing in that room, I reflected on the full-circle nature of my own journey — from being mentored and uplifted at my first ENDO to helping advance those same values for the next generation. – Alicia Diaz Thomas, MD, MPH, senior associate dean, Institutional and Faculty Affairs; professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada

ENDO 1998: Where Joy Wu Decided to Become an Endocrinologist

By far the most impactful ENDO in my career was my very first one! In 1998 I was an MD/PhD student at Duke in the lab of Anthony Means (who would go on to become Endocrine Society president in 2004) studying the role of calmodulin-dependent kinases in male germ cell development

At the time I wanted to become a physician scientist but hadn’t yet decided on a clinical specialty. Tony suggested that I attend the Endocrine Society meeting, which will be held in New Orleans that year, to present my thesis work. Of course I jumped at the chance to go to New Orleans!

It was a wonderful meeting, in part because I got to watch Tony receive the Fred Conrad Koch Lifetime Achievement Award, the Society’s highest honor. And at the meeting I was so inspired by the interactions between basic scientists, clinical investigators, and physicians interested in endocrinology that I decided then and there to become an endocrinologist.  — Joy Y. Wu, MD, PhD, Gerald M. Reaven, MD Professor of Endocrinology; chief, Division of Endocrinology; vice chair of basic science, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.

An Egyptian Class Reunion at ENDO 2023

ENDO 2023 will always hold a special place in my heart. At the time, I was an internal medicine resident, just beginning to seriously pursue my goal of applying to endocrinology fellowships. I attended the meeting filled with excitement, curiosity, and quiet hope about the future.

In the midst of the scientific sessions and conversations about cutting-edge research, I experienced a moment that felt deeply personal. I ran into Michael Morkos, MD, a classmate from my medical school in Egypt — someone who had already become an endocrinology attending. Seeing him there, established in the very field I aspired to join, was both surreal and inspiring. We were no longer just former classmates; we were colleagues walking parallel paths shaped by the same early foundation.

The most unforgettable moment, however, came when we both met one of our endocrinology professors from the same university in Egypt, Samir Assaad, MD, PhD. Standing together — former students now training and practicing in the United States — felt like a true full-circle moment. This professor had not only taught us endocrinology years before, but he had also supervised my master’s degree in obesity and endocrinology. He shaped the way I think about metabolism, research, and patient care.

At ENDO 2023, we were no longer students in his classroom. We were physicians shaped by his mentorship, united by the same passion he helped ignite. There was pride in his eyes, gratitude in ours, and an unspoken understanding that mentorship transcends borders, generations, and continents.

Endocrinology is not just a specialty. It is a legacy — one passed from teacher to student and carried forward with gratitude.

Now, as I near completion of my endocrinology fellowship and prepare to become an attending at the University of Missouri, I often reflect on that moment. ENDO 2023 was more than a scientific meeting — it was a reminder of where I began, the mentors who shaped me, and the community I am honored to now fully join.

It was the moment I realized that endocrinology is not just a specialty. It is a legacy — one passed from teacher to student and carried forward with gratitude. — Eiman Ibrahim, MD, MSc, second year, chief fellow, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.

Opening Doors to New Ideas and Collaborations

One of my most memorable ENDO experiences was at last year’s meeting in San Francisco. I had the opportunity to chair a session titled Muscle as an Endocrine Organ at the Moscone Convention Center. The session brought together an outstanding group of speakers and highlighted how skeletal muscle functions as a dynamic endocrine tissue that communicates with multiple organ systems. The energy in the room was incredible, and the discussions that followed pushed new ideas about metabolism and inter-organ communication.

What made the experience especially meaningful was the chance to connect with leaders in the field. It was truly special to be in a space where so many of the people whose work has shaped the field were present and engaged. As I often say, “These are the moments that remind you science is not just about data, it is about people, ideas, and the conversations that move everything forward.” I had the opportunity to meet several investigators whose work I have followed for years, including Dr. Jonathan Long from Stanford, whose work on Lac-Phe, a recently identified signaling metabolite involved in exercise induced signaling, has been very influential. Those conversations opened the door to new ideas and potential collaborations that I am still thinking about and building on today. – Antentor Othrell Hinton, Jr., PhD, Ernest E. Just Early Career Investigator; Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Science Leadership Investigator; Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Awards at the Scientific Interface Investigator; assistant professor, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences, Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center, Nashville, Tenn.

Earning a “Place at the Table”

Since my days as an Internal Medicine resident (I’ll keep the exact year a secret to protect my age!), the Endocrine Society meeting has been a constant in my life. I’ve only missed a few: the year my son was born and those “blurry” years of virtual meetings during the pandemic.

Each year, I leave ENDO energized by new knowledge and the joy of reconnecting with old colleagues. Yet, alongside that excitement, I often grapple with “the imposter.” A voice whispers: Are you actually this good? Was it just luck that they invited you? Are you still relevant enough to present?

But every year, I return. I talk, I meet new people, and I watch former trainees transition into confident attendings. In doing so, I recognize my own growth. This year was a milestone: I returned to EXCEL, but this time as faculty. Was there luck involved? Definitely. But was it also the result of years of personal career growth? Absolutely.

It has been a whirlwind year, including four webinars for the Early Career Special Interest Group and a new talk at the Early Career Forum. As I head back to ENDO in a few weeks, I hope that “luck” stays by my side — but I’m starting to realize I’ve earned my place at the table. — Milay Luis Lam, MD, division chief and medical director, Meritus Endocrinology, Meritus Medical Center, Hagerstown, Md.

Improving Practice Through ENDO

ENDO has become one of the constants I look forward to most each year. The programming is so rich that every hour presents a genuine dilemma, multiple sessions worth attending simultaneously, and I have learned to simply buy the recordings so I can listen to what I missed. But the most transformative moments have come not from the sessions themselves, but from the people in them.

At a professional development session a few years ago, I listened to a senior endocrinologist share his career journey. In the middle of his talk, almost in passing, he said something that quietly changed how I practice: that a clinical visit doesn’t need to be long. If the patient’s needs can be addressed in five minutes, there is no need to extend it. It sounds simple. But internalizing it, letting go of the habit of filling time rather than serving the patient, reshaped my approach to clinical efficiency in ways I am still discovering. We exchanged numbers after that session, stayed in touch, and he later offered invaluable guidance as I prepared my books for publication. That is the kind of connection ENDO makes possible.

In recent years, I have had the privilege of contributing back. I have spoken at the Early Career Forum on the academic-clinician pathway and at the Endo Expo on clinical efficiency and productivity, topics close to my heart. This year, I return to the ENDO Expo with an expanded session, and I could not be more excited.

ENDO has made me a better clinician, a more thoughtful academic, and part of a community I am genuinely proud to belong to. — Michael Morkos, MD, MS, MHI, ECNU, co-director, IUH Thyroid and Parathyroid Center; Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Indiana University School of Medicine, Carmel, Ind.

An Arduous Journey to Make Mom Proud at ENDO 2007

Over two decades ago, as a fresh medical graduate from Mumbai, India, I aspired to pursue a career in Endocrinology in the U.S. However, my previous U.S. visa applications had already been rejected a total of eight times between 2002 and 2006. 

Then in 2007, Dr. Paresh Dandona, distinguished professor of endocrinology at State University of New York, Buffalo, graciously interacted with me at an Endocrine Conference in Mumbai. Under his mentorship, we submitted an award grant application to the Endocrine Society for the annual Endocrine Scholars Award. The theme was Hypogonadism in Type 2 Diabetes. We won!  

I prayed for this exceptional chance to go to America to propel my career forward to make a living and support my family, yet deep down I was fearful of another visa denial. Dr. Dandona kindly supported my J1 Research Exchange visa paperwork, and during my nerve-wracking visa interview, the U.S. Consular officer seemed particularly delighted over the $47,000 grant from the Endocrine Society and decided to approve my visa!   

So, the award ceremony was at ENDO 2007, interestingly being held in Toronto, Canada (the only time ENDO had been held outside U.S. in the last 20 years!).* Now I had the herculean task of getting a Canadian visa next! In excitement and anxiety, I sped on my motor bike through the congested streets of Mumbai to reach the Canadian Consulate, only to realize I had forgotten my passport! I accelerated recklessly toward home to return before the consulate closed for the day, even knocking down a pedestrian on the way (fortunately, I had strong brakes)! Finally, application submitted.  

And I got my first ever Canadian visa approved. I inferred ENDO had done good networking with the Canadians. I arrived for the big day at ENDO 2007 in Toronto, on June 1 accompanied by my late mother. She witnessed the formal bestowal ceremony where the legendary Leonard Wartofsky, MD, presented me with the coveted award. During another day of the same ENDO meeting, he recognized my mom and I from a distance, as we were nervously negotiating hopping on an escalator, while he was already exiting at the top. To my mother he exclaimed, “YOU did good!” with an ebullient thumbs up! We were thrilled. Love you, Mamma! And I love you, ENDO!  — Shehzad Topiwala MD, director, Institute of Endocrinology, Atlanta, Ga.

How a Hallway Chat Led to Research Funding

When I was a fellow and postdoc starting on the interview trail for academic physician-scientist jobs, it was the connections I made through the Endocrine Society that allowed me to reach out to leaders in the field to discuss career opportunities.

Later, my first R01 grant idea took shape through conversations held in the hallways at ENDO. A colleague told me I was not crazy to try to get this idea funded, and ultimately, it was funded! Another highlight each year is speaking with early-career scientists and physicians at their posters. Their curiosity and enthusiasm for all things endocrinology is energizing and reinforces my confidence in the future of endocrine science and medicine.

To me, ENDO is a welcoming community to hear and discuss great science and medicine and catch up with friends. – Lauren Fishbein, PhD, MTR, assistant professor in medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Aurora

From a First Oral Presentation to Endocrine Society President

I attended my first ENDO in 1995, and I was blown away by the sheer size and scale of the meeting – I had never witnessed anything like it. I was giving my first oral communication as a junior fellow and as I approached the podium my palms were sweaty and I was simply terrified! I shouldn’t have been, as I was greeted with incisive yet supportive questioning and much interest. This, and the whole experience of ENDO, from the huge poster sessions to the incredible plenaries, other symposia talks, and the Meet the Professor sessions really cemented the fact that this was the meeting and society for me!

Thirty years later in 2025 and I find myself in the improbable position of being president of the Society and introducing yet another fabulous ENDO meeting in San Francisco. I am hugely proud of all the work that the wonderful Annual Meeting Steering Committee, its chairs, and all the staff did to bring the meeting to fruition. ENDO 2025 took place in a very different world, one where fear and uncertainty predominated, and yet one where a palpable sense of collegiality, warmth and ‘family’ pervaded the whole event. One notable, but simple illustration of this was the almost deafening ‘hubbub’ of ongoing conversations from crowds of people in the public areas and escalators, especially when travelling between sessions – the endocrine community sharing, connecting and flourishing!  – John Newell-Price, PhD, Endocrine Society Past-President; Clinical Research Director, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, U.K.

Lives changed. Destinies decided. Friendships launched. Collaborations created. All thanks to simply attending ENDO. No doubt history was made numerous times throughout the session rooms, hallways, and the exhibition floor of McCormick Place in Chicago this month.

*EDITOR’S NOTE: For the first time since 2007, ENDO 2027 will be held in Toronto, Canada, once more June 5 – 8, 2027.

The post Looking Back: Unforgettable Moments from ENDOs Past appeared first on Endocrine News.

Crinetics Presents Full Results From Phase 2 Trial of Atumelnant in CAH at ENDO 2026

On June 14, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  presented data from the open-label, Phase 2 congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) adult study of investigational atumelnant, a novel, once-daily oral adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) receptor antagonist candidate being developed for the treatment of classic CAH and ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome.

The findings were included in an oral presentation titled “Once Daily Atumelnant (CRN04894) Enables Lowering of Glucocorticoid Doses with Sustained Androgen Reduction in Adults with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia” at ENDO 2026.

“Atumelnant is designed to block the effect of excess ACTH, the fundamental driver of symptoms and complications of CAH and ADCS,” said Alan Krasner, MD, Chief Endocrinologist, Crinetics. “Based on promising results from phase 2 clinical trials presented today, we are advancing atumelnant into late phase clinical development. The data suggest atumelnant could represent a uniquely effective and simple to use oral therapy for many patients who need new options.”

“It’s exciting to see that glucocorticoid dose reduction did not impact the atumelnant-induced decline in androstenedione in adults with classic CAH who participated in this Phase 2 trial,” said Umasuthan Srirangalingam, MD, consultant physician in endocrinology and diabetes at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and TouCAHn Investigator. “We are looking forward to learning more about the full potential of atumelnant in the treatment of CAH from adult and pediatric Phase 3 trials that are already underway.”

At ENDO 2026, findings from Cohort 4 of the Phase 2 CAH trial were presented for the first time, including the percent change from baseline in morning serum A4, 11-OHA4, and 11-KT with GC reduction. Participants in Cohort 4 received dosing of 80 mg once daily in the morning. Beginning at week 2 of treatment, each participant’s previous GC dose was reduced stepwise by 5-10 mg HC equivalents, independent of A4 measurement, to target <11 mg/m²/day HC equivalents.

Phase 2 CAH Cohort 4 Results

• At week 12, the mean percentage change from baseline in A4 morning serum levels in Cohort 4 was -67%.
• Seven out of eight participants (88%) who completed 12 weeks of treatment achieved a physiologic daily dose of GC.
• Reductions in pre-GC serum 11-OHA4 and 11-KT were rapid and sustained, with mean change from baseline of -64% and -56% at week 12, respectively.
• Morning dosing of atumelnant resulted in similar androgen reductions as seen in previous cohorts with evening administration.

Atumelnant was generally well tolerated with no treatment-related severe or serious adverse events to date, irrespective of disease severity or dose level.

Initial findings from the adult Phase 2 trial in CAH, including A4 reduction levels compared to baseline for cohorts 1-3, in which participants did not change previous GC doses, were presented at ENDO 2025.

Topline results from Cohort 4 were announced in January 2026.

Previously Reported A4 Reductions for Cohorts 1-3 (no GC reduction)

New Phase 1b/2a ADCS Trial Results

Data presented at ENDO 2026 include findings from a cohort dosed with atumelnant 40 mg once daily (n=6). Findings include:

• Atumelnant rapidly lowered early morning serum cortisol in all participants.
• Atumelnant also rapidly lowered UFC. At the end of the 10-day dosing period, UFC remained ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN) in 3/6 participants.
• Most AEs were mild to moderate and consistent with symptoms of adrenal insufficiency.  Most improved with initiation of GC replacement.

Atumelnant ENDO 2026 presentations can be found at: https://crinetics.com/news-events/endo-2026/

About Atumelnant

Atumelnant, Crinetics’ second investigational compound, is the first once-daily, oral adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) receptor antagonist that acts selectively at the melanocortin type 2 receptor (MC2R) on the adrenal gland. Diseases associated with excess ACTH can have significant impact on physical and mental health. Atumelnant has exhibited strong binding affinity for MC2R in preclinical models and has demonstrated suppression of adrenally derived glucocorticoids and androgens that are under the control of ACTH. Data from a 12-week Phase 2 study demonstrated compelling treatment benefits of atumelnant, evidenced by the rapid, substantial and sustained statistically significant reductions in key CAH disease related biomarkers, including androstenedione and 17-hydroxyprogesterone, in a diverse population. Atumelnant is in development for congenital adrenal hyperplasia and ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome, with the Phase 3 CALM-CAH trial and a Phase 1/2b trial in ADCS currently enrolling patients.

About the Phase 2 TouCAHn Trial (CAH)

The TouCAHn trial is an open-label, global, Phase 2 study designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of atumelnant when administered for 12 weeks in people with classic CAH (21-hydroxylase deficiency). A total of 38 participants were enrolled, with a median A4 of 980.8 (range=116-2755) ng/dL were enrolled in four cohorts: (40 mg, n=11; 80 mg, n=11; 120 mg, n=6; 80 mg morning dosing with GC reduction, n=10).

Primary endpoints included change from baseline in morning serum androstenedione (A4) levels and incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events. Percent change-from-baseline in GC daily dose was an exploratory endpoint for Cohort 4.

About the Phase 1b/2a Study in ACTH-dependent Cushing’s Syndrome

The Phase 1b/2a, is the first-in-disease, open-label, multiple-ascending dose exploratory study to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic biomarker responses associated with atumelnant over a 10-day inpatient treatment period in participants with ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome.

The study is being conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health and led by Dr. Lynnette Nieman. Participants received oral atumelnant once daily for 10 days, followed by monitoring during four wash-out days.

Crinetics Presents Long-Term Data at ENDO 2026 Confirming PALSONIFY^TM (paltusotine) Provides Durable, Consistent Acromegaly Control

Also on June 14, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced new long-term data from its clinical development program evaluating novel PALSONIFY^TM (paltusotine) in acromegaly during an oral presentation at ENDO 2026.

Notably, pooled data from the open-label extension (OLE) trials of PATHFNDR-1 and PATHFNDR-2 show that after two years of treatment, PALSONIFY was effective and well-tolerated in patients who were switched from standard-of-care monthly injectable somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs) and those who were medically untreated, respectively, when oral, once-daily PALSONIFY was initiated.

“To assess acromegaly disease control while on medication, endocrinologists carefully monitor control of IGF-1 levels, control of acromegaly symptoms, and stabilization of pituitary tumors,” said Alan Krasner, MD, chief endocrinologist, Crinetics. “At this year’s ENDO meeting, long-term safety and efficacy data from the PATHFNDR OLE trials will be presented. These studies indicate that Palsonify is well tolerated and maintains control of all three aspects of disease control with long-term follow-up. Since its launch late last year, we are learning that Palsonify is already making a meaningful difference in the lives of many people with acromegaly, and we hope these data will be helpful for patients and for their health care providers.”

Pooled OLE Efficacy and Safety Results

PATHFNDR-1 Data

The PATHFNDR-1 Phase 3 trial enrolled adults with acromegaly who were biochemically controlled on monthly injectable SRLs. Following a 36-week randomized, placebo-controlled period, 53 of 57 participants (93%) entered the ongoing single-arm open-label extension (OLE) trial.

Baseline mean IGF-1 levels for OLE participants (n=53) was 0.91x Upper Limit of Normal (ULN). These levels remained stable at both 48 weeks (n=50) and 96 weeks (n=47) of the study: 0.82x ULN and 0.81, respectively. Symptoms associated with acromegaly, as measured by the Acromegaly Symptom Diary (ASD), remained stable from baseline at assessed timepoints. Additionally, pituitary tumor volumes were reported as stable in all patients at week 48, relative to OLE baseline.

PATHFNDR-2 Data

The PATHFNDR-2 trial evaluated once-daily oral PALSONIFY in adults with biochemically uncontrolled acromegaly (baseline IGF-1 > 1.3 × ULN). After a 24-week randomized controlled (RC period, 103 of 106 completers (97.2%) entered the ongoing OLE, along with 11 additional patients who were eligible for the RC phase but enrolled directly into the OLE.

Baseline mean IGF-1 levels for OLE participants (n=114) was 1.64×ULN. These levels decreased from baseline at both 48 weeks (n=98) and 72 weeks (n=78) of the study: 1.06×ULN and 0.96×ULN, respectively.

Relative to OLE baseline, pituitary tumor volume was reduced by >20% in 7 of 83 PATHFNDR-2 patients with available MRI scans at OLE Week 24. Tumor volume was reported as stable in the other 76 participants.

In both OLEs, median ASD scores were stable at the timepoints assessed. Symptoms associated with acromegaly, as measured by the Acromegaly Symptom Diary (ASD), remained stable from baseline at assessed timepoints.

No new safety signals were found. In the pooled OLE population (n=167), the most common adverse events (incidence>10%) were diarrhea (15.6%), arthralgia (11.4%), headache (11.4%), and urinary tract infection (10.2%). Four patients (2.4%) discontinued from an OLE due to adverse events as of this analysis.

These results were included in an oral presentation at ENDO 2026 titled “Efficacy and Safety of Once-Daily Oral Paltusotine in Patients with Acromegaly: Up to 2 Years in the PATHFNDR-1 and PATHFNDR-2 Open-Label Extension Studies.”

Additionally, an analysis was presented at ENDO 2026 that evaluated the safety and efficacy of PALSONIFY in combination with oral cabergoline in patients with acromegaly who have been followed for up to four years in ACROBAT Advance, an ongoing, single-arm, open-label extension phase 2 study. IGF-I levels on paltusotine monotherapy were similar to parent study baseline values (on injected SRL), but for those in whom IGF-1 had not yet normalized, it further improved when oral cabergoline was added. Combination therapy was well tolerated.

Crinetics’ ENDO 2026 presentations can be found at: https://crinetics.com/news-events/endo-2026/

Marea Therapeutics Presented Data Supporting Potential Best-in-Disease Profile Acromegaly Treatment at ENDO 2026

On June 15, Marea Therapeutics, Inc., highlighted data from its first-in-human Phase 1 study of MAR002 at ENDO 2026 in Chicago, Ill. MAR002 is a first-in-class allosteric monoclonal antibody targeting the growth hormone receptor (GHR).

Marea Therapeutics, Inc., is a clinical-stage biotechnology company harnessing the latest advances in human genetics to develop first-in-class, next-generation medicines for cardioendocrine diseases,

Data from the Phase 1 study support a potential best-in-disease profile of MAR002 across safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamic effect, and dosing convenience – with deep, durable IGF-1 suppression that may enable dosing as infrequently as once every two weeks, compared to the daily subcutaneous injections required by the current standard of care.

“The Phase 1 data presented at ENDO provide compelling proof-of-mechanism for MAR002 and strengthen our confidence as we advance into a Phase 2/3 study in patients with acromegaly expected to begin in the coming weeks,” said Rebecca Juliano, PhD, chief development officer of Marea Therapeutics. “MAR002 demonstrated deep and durable suppression of IGF-1, a validated biomarker and regulatory endpoint in acromegaly, while exhibiting pharmacokinetic properties that may support convenient dosing as infrequently as every two weeks. By directly blocking growth hormone signaling at the receptor level, MAR002 has the potential to deliver meaningful biochemical control for a broad population of patients and establish a new standard of care in acromegaly.”

“Acromegaly remains a disorder of significant unmet need, with fewer than 35% of patients achieving optimal disease control on first-line medical therapy,” said Shlomo Melmed M.D., Distinguished Professor and Dean at Cedars-Sinai. “The depth of initial IGF-1 suppression reported with MAR002 of up to 64% is particularly notable, as it appears to exceed levels seen with previously reported therapies in acromegaly. Based on these early findings, and if proven safe, MAR002 has the potential to become a significant advancement in both efficacy and treatment convenience for patients with acromegaly.”

Presentation Highlights

• The first-in-human, randomized, blinded, parallel-group, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study enrolled healthy adult male volunteers and single ascending doses of MAR002 demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with no serious adverse events or dose-limiting toxicities.
• Treatment with MAR002 resulted in robust and durable dose-dependent reductions in circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) with up to 64% peak suppression.
• Favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) profile support bi-weekly to monthly dosing.

Recordati Rare Diseases, Inc., Presents Data Analyses at ENDO 2026

On June 15, Recordati Rare Diseases, Inc., announced new data analyses at ENDO 2026 from four poster presentations featuring the company’s endocrinology portfolio.

The data presented include outcomes with ISTURISA® (osilodrostat) across the LINC clinical program, drawing on pooled clinical trial and real-world analyses to assess patient-reported quality of life, biochemical control, and clinical outcomes across a range of Cushing’s syndrome populations, including those with milder disease, as well as ongoing evaluation in studies such as LINC CARE. 

“Engagement with the endocrinology community at ENDO 2026 highlighted the importance of continuing to build robust, long-term evidence for patients living with Cushing’s syndrome to support long-term management,” commented Milan Zdravkovic, executive vice president, head of R&D and CMO, Recordati. “Analyses from the LINC programme support previously established sustained efficacy and further assess meaningful improvements in quality of life with ISTURISA®, reinforcing its role as an important long-term treatment option.”

Melissa Koomey, president and General Manager North America, Recordati Rare Diseases, added, “The response to our data presentations at ENDO 2026 highlights the growing commitment across the US endocrinology community to advancing care for people living with rare endocrine diseases. We are encouraged by the strong interest in the expanding body of evidence supporting ISTURISA® and remain committed to working alongside clinicians, researchers, and patient communities to help address ongoing unmet needs and improve patient outcomes in Cushing’s syndrome.” 

Key Data Presentations at ENDO 2026

Martin Reincke, MD, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, introduced the LINC CARE Phase IV study evaluating the efficacy and safety of osilodrostat in patients with hypertension caused by hypercortisolemia due to Cushing’s syndrome despite medication.

• Poster number: MON-105
• This study addresses an important unmet need in Cushing’s syndrome patients with mild elevations in cortisol, a population often underrepresented in research despite substantial cardiometabolic burden, including high baseline rates of hypertension and dysglycemia observed in prior LINC 3 and LINC 4 analyses

Antoine Tabarin, MD, from CHU de Bordeaux and Centre de Référence des Maladies Rares de la Surrénale, presented promising results from LINC 7, a retrospective observational study, which assessed the safety and effectiveness of osilodrostat in adrenal and ectopic Cushing’s syndrome.

• Poster number: SAT-036
• In this secondary analysis of the LINC 7 retrospective observational study, osilodrostat reduced cortisol levels across all Cushing’s syndrome etiologies and severities, including mild benign adrenal Cushing’s syndrome, mild malignant Cushing’s syndrome, and moderate-severe Cushing’s syndrome

Eliza B. Geer, MD, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, presented an ad hoc analysis of the ongoing LINC 6 study which is assessing the long-term safety and efficacy of osilodrostat in patients with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome during 3 years of routine clinical practice.

• Poster number: SAT-013
• Improvements in quality of life were observed in patients with Cushing’s syndrome during osilodrostat treatment. Biochemical and clinical parameters improved or remained stable over time in most patients

Beverly Biller, MD, from Massachusetts General Hospital, presented an analysis of patient reported outcomes from the Phase III LINC 3 and LINC 4 studies.

• Poster number: MON-026
• Patients treated with osilodrostat in the pooled analysis showed improved Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) across all reported HRQoL instruments, with sustained, clinically meaningful improvements observed to week 72. Improvements were consistent across the disease-specific CushingQoL and generic EQ-5D-5L and BDI-II questionnaires. The greatest improvements in HRQoL occurred in items/domains with the greatest burden at baseline. 

Ethyreal Bio Presents First Preclinical Data on ETHY-001 Demonstrating Complete Blockade of Autoantibody Activation of TSHR and Differentiated Activity in TED

Ethyreal Bio, a biotechnology company developing precision therapies for thyroid diseases with high unmet need, today reported preclinical data for its lead program, ETHY-001, in an oral presentation at ENDO 2026 on June 15.

ETHY-001 is an internally discovered, half-life-extended monoclonal antibody designed to block autoantibody-mediated activation of the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR), the shared pathogenic driver of Graves’ disease (GD) and thyroid eye disease (TED).

“The data presented today underscore the promise of ETHY-001 for the treatment of TED and GD,” said Niranjan Kameswaran, PhD, chief executive officer of Ethyreal Bio. “The depth and consistency of signaling blockade across all tested patient sera samples, combined with its differentiated activity compared to IGF-1R antagonism in TED models, reinforce our conviction in ETHY-001’s product profile. We believe that ETHY-001’s unique combination of potent receptor blockade, subcutaneous administration, and extended half-life supports a best-in-class, convenient, single-agent approach for both conditions. We are excited to advance ETHY-001 into the clinic this year.”

Key preclinical results for ETHY-001 shared in the oral presentation include:

• Potent binding with high specificity for TSHR. ETHY-001 binds TSHR with sub-nanomolar monovalent affinity and no off-target binding in a membrane protein array of over 5,000 membrane proteins.
• Complete, consistent, and broad blockade of TSHR activation. ETHY-001 completely blocked autoantibody-driven TSHR activation elicited from all patient samples tested to date.
• Differentiated activity versus anti-IGF-1R in TED patient-derived orbital fibroblasts. In primary TED patient-derived orbital fibroblast cultures stimulated by M22, a potent stimulating antibody of TSHR, ETHY-001 produced complete inhibition of both HA and IL-6 secretion. An IGF-1R antagonist comparator inhibited HA secretion but not IL-6 secretion. These observations demonstrate ETHY-001’s potential for more robust inhibition of pathogenic signaling in comparison to anti-IGF-1R in TED.

Together, these data support the advancement of ETHY-001 into clinical development for TED and GD, with potential to be a single, best-in-class, mechanism-driven therapy. Ethyreal plans to initiate a first-in-human trial in the second half of 2026.

Rezolute Highlights Results Presented from Natural History Outcomes Studies and its Ersodetug Clinical Program in Hyperinsulinism at ENDO 2026

On June 17, Rezolute, Inc., a late-stage ultra-rare disease company focused on treating refractory hypoglycemia caused by a congenital or any acquired form of hyperinsulinism (HI), highlighted four data presentations delivered at ENDO 2026.

Two poster presentations highlighted results from systematic analyses of the natural history and adverse neurologic and health-economic outcomes resulting from congenital HI, using a meta-analysis of the literature as well as a claims-based approach to quantifying congenital HI complications, respectively. This is an important step toward consolidating and quantifying the disease-impact and informing future health economics and outcomes research that will facilitate the development and potential future launch of the company’s therapy, ersodetug, in this indication. A third poster presentation highlighted favorable outcomes from a case series report of 9 patients with refractory hypoglycemia due to malignant insulinoma and non-islet cell tumors (tumor HI), demonstrating that 75% of the patients receiving IV dextrose/total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in the EAP achieved a complete discontinuation of IV dextrose/TPN.

In an oral presentation, Huseyin Demirbilek, MD, professor, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, and Principal Investigator of the Phase 3 sunRIZE study of ersodetug in congenital HI, reviewed previously reported sunRIZE results.

“We were pleased to have the opportunity to present at ENDO and to continue showcasing progress across our two late-stage programs in congenital and tumor HI,” said Brian Roberts, MD, chief medical officer of Rezolute. “Deeper analyses of the sunRIZE data demonstrate the meaningful therapeutic benefit of ersodetug, further supported by the positive outcomes observed in both our EAP and recently announced interim and preliminary Phase 3 upLIFT study observations in tumor HI patients. Additionally, the natural history outcomes studies further underscore the significant clinical outcomes impacts of this disease, and the urgent need for improved treatment options.”

Each of the company’s full data presentations from ENDO can be found on the Publications and Presentations page of the Rezolute website here.

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

The post Pharma Friday – ENDO 2026 Edition – June 19, 2026 appeared first on Endocrine News.

The Endocrine Society is pleased to welcome Santoro, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colo., as its 2026 – 2027 president. She will take office in June 2026 at ENDO in Chicago, succeeding Carol Lange, PhD.

Santoro has served as E. Stewart Taylor Chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine since 2010. She is a well-recognized practitioner, dedicated mentor and leading researcher on studies of women with premature and age-appropriate menopause.

She has held many roles with the Endocrine Society, including serving as vice president of clinical science, an author on two women’s reproductive health Clinical Practice Guidelines and chair of the Society’s Scientific Statement on bioidentical hormones. She also won the Society’s 2016 Laureate Award for Outstanding Mentorship.

“The Endocrine Society was the first society I joined as a fellow,” Santoro says. “This is really a highlight for me.”

“The Greatest Field”

Santoro originally thought she wanted to be a writer; she won the Joyce Carol Oates Award in high school for a short story but enrolled in a six-year medical program out of high school. Since she would be a first-generation college graduate in her family, she thought if she could almost fast-track her education, it would be less of a financial burden on her loved ones.

“I loved writing, so I applied to the six-year program, and I decided I was going to try to become a professional writer and a novelist, or I was going to be a doctor,” Santoro says. “If I didn’t get into medical school, then I was just going to go into writing.”

“I foresee a lot of advocacy that’s really necessary to keep endocrinology in the game here, to make its presence known how important endocrine conditions are, and how it touches on so many areas of science that it’s really critical that their voice is heard.”

Santoro was accepted to the six-year BS/MD program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Albany Medical College, where she developed an interest in endocrinology. She completed her residency at Beth Israel Medical Center, where she met one of her role models, Nelly Szlachter, who was a reproductive endocrinologist. [Szlachter] had done her training at NYU and told Santoro, “[Reproductive endocrinology] is the greatest field.”

From there she got a fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, working in the Reproductive Endocrine Unit and she admits she didn’t know much about biomedical science or the whole research enterprise, because she had only had a brief introduction to those fields in medical school.

“It was an incredibly exciting time to be there because stuff was just happening left and right,” Santoro tells Endocrine News. “The science was fantastic. It was all new, exciting knowledge. Once the pulsatile nature of GnRH secretion was established, all of these applications just kind of fell out of that work and it was a matter of just doing it, learning from it, and then going on to the next problem.”

A Big Finding

Santoro says she also belongs to the Menopause Society and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, but the Endocrine Society is her first home. “It’s the best forum for the kind of research that I do,” she says. “I will often save my best work where I need the most feedback from the smartest people for the Endocrine Society. If I have really gnarly endocrine problem, it’s coming to ENDO.”

One of those problems to solve was that perimenopausal women. With help from colleagues, Santoro did urinary assays to do daily sampling of women. “I wanted to look at premature menopause,” she says. “That was the problem I decided I was going to take with me from the Reproductive Endocrine Unit. “

Santoro says that Robert W. Rebar, MD, former executive director of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, had advised her to analyze data from perimenopausal women, and when Santoro and her colleagues looked at hormone levels, they were all over the place – some way up, some way down. “I said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this. We’ve been doing normal menstrual cycles for years at Mass General. What is this? Repeat them all,’” she says.

So, they repeated the tests. A few times, actually. Santoro knew she was on to something. She says: “I went home the day I saw that data and I said to my husband, ‘I think this is a big deal. I think this is a big finding. That’s going to really influence what I do and how I think.’ Just seeing those erratic patterns that had really just only intermittently been reported before was something that I really seized on and that led to a lot of other things.”

Pointing the Way

Santoro says that another one of the highlights of her career has been mentoring, just as she was mentored. She gives the example of Rebecca Thurston, PhD, a former president of Menopause Society. Thurston’s background is in epidemiology and psychology, but she had career development award from the National Institutes of Health (K award) and asked Santoro to teach her about hormones.

In fact, Santoro is mentoring junior-level faculty from other specialties – psychology, epidemiology, physiology – at institutions across the United States, meeting over Zoom to discuss hormones and funding opportunities. “I’m also a mentor for Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH), a NIH K12-funded career development program,” Santoro says. “That’s another venue where I can mentor junior faculty along research lines.”

“Even though a lot of the change seems adverse, there’s always opportunity. We need to find that, and we need to open up the window because we need to show people that this is a field that really is vital. It’s fascinating. It’s so important in people’s lives, and there’s a lot of good that can be done.”

“As a fellow,” she continues, “you’re mentoring at a very granular level, teaching people the details. One of the most challenging groups that I mentor are my general OBGYNs because it takes you 30 years to become really an expert when you’re really covering the entire field. That’s the opposite of my own career path, which was I really wanted to drill down onto something small and learn as much as humanly possible about that.”

Change and Opportunity

Santoro takes the helm of the Endocrine Society in turbulent times, and she’s very aware of that fact. “I foresee a lot of advocacy that’s really necessary to keep endocrinology in the game here, to make its presence known how important endocrine conditions are, and how it touches on so many areas of science that it’s really critical that their voice is heard,” she says. Santoro is also aware of the clog in the endocrinology pipeline, saying it needs to be revitalized, especially in this time of change. “Even though a lot of the change seems adverse, there’s always opportunity,” she says. “We need to find that, and we need to open up the window because we need to show people that this is a field that really is vital. It’s fascinating. It’s so important in people’s lives, and there’s a lot of good that can be done.”

The post Meet Incoming Endocrine Society President Nanette Santoro, MD appeared first on Endocrine News.

Early puberty can affect a child’s adult height and is associated with long-term physical and emotional health risks, including psychosocial stress, heart disease, and some cancers later in life. 
 
According to the guideline authors, puberty-pausing medication, which temporarily pauses the brain signals that start puberty, can be an effective treatment and has the potential to increase adult height as well as improve psychosocial and long-term health outcomes among children with early puberty.  

“Some subgroups of children may not need the same level of testing or treatment. For example, older girls with slowly progressing precocious puberty often have normal adult height without intervention,” said the guideline’s writing group co-chair Stephanie Roberts, MD, of Boston Children’s Hospital in Boston, Mass. “We give clinicians suggestions that avoid unnecessary or invasive testing and treatment, such as sometimes initially using a period of observation by their health care provider, using simpler testing methods and individualizing treatment when indicated.” 
 
Suggestions from the guideline include: 
 

• Monitoring girls with early breast development with physical exams every 4-6 months before initiating diagnostic testing. 

• Observing girls under seven years old for four to six months to distinguish slowly vs. rapidly progressing puberty, since slow progression often results in normal adult height without treatment. 

• Using simple first-line testing with a basal luteinizing hormone (LH) blood test rather than GnRH agonist stimulation testing. 

• Avoiding routine brain MRIs in older children (> six years in girls and > seven years in boys) without neurological symptoms. 

• Not routinely doing genetic testing, especially for cases without a family history of early puberty. 

• Starting treatment with longer-acting puberty-delaying medications (rather than shorter-acting medications) whenever it is expected that longer-acting medications will be used for long-term therapy. 

• Not routinely using growth hormone therapy. 

• Not routinely doing frequent lab monitoring during treatment unless treatment failure is suspected. 

• Discontinuing therapy by early adolescence (about 10 – 11 years in girls, 11 – 12 years in boys). 

Other members of the Endocrine Society writing committee that developed this guideline include: Morgan Alonzo of Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colo.; Jesús Argente of Niño Jesús University Children’s Hospital, the Autonomous University of Madrid, the Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Carlos III Health Institute, IMDEA Food Institute, and CEIUAM+CSI in Madrid, Spain; Ana Pinheiro Machado Canton of the University of São Paulo; Jean-Claude Carel of Paris Cité University in Paris, France; Fernando Cassorla of the University of Chile in Santiago, Chile; Evangelia Charmandari of Athens Medical School in Athens, Greece; Erica Eugster of Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Ind.; Anna Grandone of the University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Vico L. De Crecchio in Naples, Italy; Louise C. Greenspan of San Francisco Medical Center in San Francisco, Calif.; Elizabeth Hawse of Commonwealth Pediatrics in Lexington, K.Y.; Anders Juul of the University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark; Paul Kaplowitz of Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.; M. Hassan Murad of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.; Maria Street of the University Hospital of Parma in Parma, Italy; Vayana Walker of the Community Health Network in Indianapolis, Ind.; and Christopher McCartney of West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.V. 
   

“Central Precocious Puberty: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline,” was published online and is being presented Saturday at ENDO 2026, the Society’s annual meeting. 
 
The guideline will appear in the September print issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). 

The Society established its Clinical Practice Guideline Program to provide endocrinologists and other clinicians with evidence-based recommendations in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of endocrine-related conditions. Each guideline is developed by a multidisciplinary panel of topic-related experts in the field using a rigorous methodology.  

Guideline writing panels rely on evidence-based reviews of the literature when developing guideline recommendations. The Endocrine Society does not solicit or accept corporate support for its guidelines. All Clinical Practice Guidelines are supported entirely by Society funds. 

This Clinical Practice Guideline was co-sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM), the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), the Latin American Society for Pediatric Endocrinology (SLEP), the Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA), and the Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES).  

The post Endocrine Society Guideline Addresses Different Subgroups of Central Precocious Puberty  appeared first on Endocrine News.

At ENDO 2025 in San Francisco, researchers from Taiwan reported that consuming certain sweeteners found in some foods and beverages may increase the risk of early puberty in children. Aspartame, sucralose, glycyrrhizin, added sugars – all bad things, triggers especially in children with certain genetic traits. The more of these sweeteners the teens consumed, the higher their risk of developing central precocious puberty. The risk is even higher for girls.

The same ENDO, researchers from Atlanta discovered that certain chemicals in both the mother’s and father’s blood were linked to when their descendants began puberty, with stronger effects seen in the granddaughters’ than in the daughters’ generation. Some chemicals such as phenoxyethanol, a common preservative in personal care products and foods, were linked to earlier puberty, especially when both parents had similar exposures.

A 2023 study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society revealed that the number of girls diagnosed with precocious puberty increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to potential risk factors such as increased screen time and less physical activity. Researchers in Italy found 72 cases of precocious puberty before the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2016 — March 2020) and 61 cases between March 2020 and June 2021 — four new cases per month.

Central precocious puberty (CPP) is relatively rare, but it’s becoming increasingly more common and can lead to emotional distress, shorter adult height, and increased risk of future metabolic and reproductive disorders. But pediatric endocrinologists and other researchers and providers are becoming more aware that some kids, especially girls, might just be literally growing too fast.

This month the Endocrine Society published a Clinical Practice Guideline in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &Metabolism titled, “Central Precocious Puberty: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline,” arguing for a more conservative approach in some patients.  

“In recent decades, cross-sectional data from the United States and Europe have suggested that pubertal milestones are being reached earlier than in prior decades, raising the possibility that the currently employed definition of CPP could be outdated,” the Guideline authors write. “Additionally, in some girls, puberty may be slowly progressive, with a longer duration between thelarche and menarche and achievement of a normal adult height, suggesting that not all patients with CPP as it is currently defined would benefit from aggressive clinical evaluation or treatment.”

“The guideline development process highlighted important knowledge gaps and the substantial need for additional research. Therefore, we expect that the new guideline will have an impact in the evaluation and management of children with precocious puberty as well as in the future research of human pubertal development.” — Ana Claudia Latronico, MD, PhD, Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Moving Target

According to Fernando Cassorla, MD, emeritus professor at the University of Chile and president of the Chilean Academy of Medicine, variations in the age of onset and progression of the pubertal process can be a source of significant anxiety for both patients and parents, because comparison with peers and relatives are quite common. This is complicated by the fact that the physiological pubertal process has experienced some changes over the last few decades, as earlier development has become more prevalent, particularly in girls. Thus, pediatric endocrinologists have been discussing whether we should maintain the cut-off point for a chronological age of eight years as the youngest age for the first signs of normal puberty in girls. 

“This has led to a more conservative approach for the management of girls who present with breast development between the ages of seven to eight years, since some of these patients exhibit a variation of the physiological pubertal process, and do not require an extensive work-up and will not benefit from GnRH analog therapy,” Cassorla says.  “This is based on the fact that a complete evaluation for central precocious puberty requires a number of laboratory tests and imaging studies, which should be performed in a selected group of patients.  In a sense, the age for normal pubertal development has become a ‘moving target,’ with many normal girls around the world experiencing their first signs of puberty slightly before their eighth birthday.”

In girls who present with thelarche (Tanner B2) between seven and eight years old, the guideline authors suggest “watchful waiting via periodic physical examinations rather than immediately performing evaluation with laboratory testing and/or radiologic imaging.” Providers should take care to differentiate between thelarche and lipomastia, especially if the girl has overweight or obesity. Providers should also use that watchful waiting time (four to six months) to determine unsustained or slowly progressive puberty from rapidly progressive puberty before starting diagnostic evaluation.

Controversial Clinic Questions

These guidelines will be presented this month at ENDO in Chicago (you may be reading this piece right as you sit to listen to the presentation), and they will be published in JCEM. The authors agree that they should have quite the impact on the field of pediatric endocrinology; an experienced group of pediatric endocrinologists from around the world asked each other several questions, but as the paper states, because of limited resources, they had to narrow it down to 10 of the most controversial.

“[T]he Guideline Development Panel (GDP)’s primary goal was to create a new clinical guideline for CPP with a focus on diagnostic evaluation and treatment considerations,” the authors write. “The GDP recognized the many important clinical questions regarding the diagnosis and management of CPP; however, due to limited resources, 10 of the most controversial clinical questions were prioritized, and three to seven health-related outcomes were selected for each.”

“A complete evaluation for central precocious puberty requires a number of laboratory tests and imaging studies, which should be performed in a selected group of patients.  In a sense, the age for normal pubertal development has become a ‘moving target,’ with many normal girls around the world experiencing their first signs of puberty slightly before their eighth birthday.” — Fernando Cassorla, MD, emeritus professor, University of Chile, Santiago; president, Chilean Academy of Medicine

Ana Claudia Latronico, MD, PhD, professor of endocrinology and metabolism at the University of São Paulo in Brazil and first author of the guidelines tells Endocrine News that the GDP set out to create a new clinical practical guideline for CPP with a focus on diagnostic evaluation and treatment considerations. “Our goal was to create a new clinical practical guideline for CPP with a focus on diagnostic evaluation and treatment considerations,” she says. “A multidisciplinary panel of clinical experts, along with experts in guideline methodology and systematic literature review were involved to answer 10 relevant clinical questions related to the diagnosis and treatment of CPP. Systematic reviews of health-related benefits and harms were conducted for each clinical question.”

Latronico goes on to say that clinical recommendations of the new guidelines were developed to address important uncertainties in the diagnosis and treatment of children with central precocious puberty. They were based on the best available scientific evidence regarding clinical outcomes judged to be most important to patients and families.

“In the current guideline, we suggest diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that will most likely provide net clinical benefits while simultaneously considering important contextual factors such as cost and feasibility,” Latronico says. “The guideline development process highlighted important knowledge gaps and the substantial need for additional research. Therefore, we expect that the new guideline will have an impact in the evaluation and management of children with precocious puberty as well as in the future research of human pubertal development.”

The Need for Shared Decision Making

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists can effectively suppress premature activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis and have the potential to increase adult height as well as improve psychosocial and long-term health outcomes among patients with CPP. “However,” the authors write, “as secular trends have continued to shift toward earlier age of pubertal onset, some subpopulations of children with CPP as it is currently defined may not require the same extent of diagnostic evaluation and treatment.”

The guideline authors take care to point out that GnRH therapy is not some silver bullet to fix CPP. The authors do suggest that GnRH therapy is appropriate for many children with CPP, but they recognize that some patient subgroups might not benefit from the treatment (including girls ages seven to eight years who have slowly progressive puberty and those who at or beyond the peak of their pubertal growth spurt).

“The guideline development panel emphasized the importance of shared decision making for all patients with central precocious puberty, which should include a careful weighing of anticipated benefits and potential harms of medication use in the context of each patient’s clinical presentation and patient/caretaker values.” — Ana Claudia Latronico, MD, PhD, Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Brazil

“In addition, the guideline suggested against the routine addition of growth hormone to gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy based on the potential benefits in the adult height demonstrated by previous retrospective studies,” Latronico says. “Given that GH therapy would likely have high costs and that it is not an approved indication for CPP worldwide, the guideline concluded that the intervention could exacerbate health inequities. The guideline development panel emphasized the importance of shared decision making for all patients with central precocious puberty, which should include a careful weighing of anticipated benefits and potential harms of medication use in the context of each patient’s clinical presentation and patient/caretaker values.”

Bagley is the senior editor of Endocrine News. In the May issue, he wrote about the ENDO 2026 session, “The Year in Bone” in “Boning Up.”

Central Precocious Puberty: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline

Saturday, June 13, 2026, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM, Room W375C

Clinical Practice Guideline Chairs: Stephanie Roberts, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Ma.; and Ana Claudia Latronico, MD, PhD, Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Moderator: Roma Gianchandani, MD, Cedars-Sinai Endocrinology, Los Angeles, Calif.

Speakers: Christopher McCartney, MD, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, W.V; Erica Eugster, MD, Indiana University School of Medical Indianapolis, Ind.; Anders Juul, MD, University of Copenhagen, Denmark;  and Fernando Cassorla, MD, Hospital San Borja-Arriaran, Santiago, Chile

The post They Grow Up So Fast: Endocrine Society Releases Central Precocious Puberty Guideline appeared first on Endocrine News.

With an extensive program covering a broad array of topics, various networking opportunities, poster sessions, updates on new products and technologies at the ENDOExpo, and more, attendance at ENDO is essential for enhancing your professional development and building your reputation. Register now to attend ENDO 2026 in Chicago and come early or stay late (or both!) to explore all The Windy City has to offer.

Heart and Soul

Chicago is bursting with world-class, big city culture. But at its heart, it’s a Midwestern city — which means a warm welcome and genuine hospitality. No matter who you are or what you love, you’ll fit right in exploring famed restaurants, world-renowned museums, a jaw-dropping waterfront, Tony Award-winning theatres, iconic architecture designed by legendary architects, and 77 vibrant, ethnically diverse neighborhoods that are the heart and soul of Chicago. Whatever your travel style, Chicago has something just for you.

New Kid on The Block

If you’ve never been to Chicago, there are a few rites of passage every first timer absolutely must experience. You’ve undoubtedly seen pictures of Cloud Gate but may not know this monumental work of art by its official name. Better known as “The Bean,” Cloud Gate is one of the world’s largest outdoor public art installations. This sculpture, located in Millennium Park, reflects the Chicago skyline and the surrounding greenspace. While you’re in Millennium Park (above), make sure to visit Chicago’s “secret garden.”  Lurie Garden blends Chicago’s past, present, and future with bold design, dramatic form, and intimate spaces. Even amid a bustling city, birds, bees, and butterflies abound here during the summer months. Millennium Park is also home to Jay Pritzker Pavilion and The Great Lawn, Frank Gehry’s one-of-a-kind bandshell. During June, you can catch the Summer Music and Summer Film Series here.

Whether you’re a sports fan or not, seeing the Cubs play at Wrigley Field is a Chicago experience everyone will enjoy. Known for its unique traditions and charm, Wrigley Field, which was built in 1914, has been the beloved home of the Chicago Cubs for more than a century. The area around the stadium is known as Wrigleyville, and it offers an atmosphere that won’t be found anywhere else. No matter the time of year, this area is always bustling. Locals flock to the area’s many bars and restaurants, even when it’s not baseball season.

And you can’t mention Chicago without acknowledging its iconic food. The origin of the deep dish, Chicago is home to the best pizza joints serving up layer upon layer of gooey cheese, tangy tomato sauce, and sausage, pepperoni (or both) baked atop a thick, salty crust in a cast iron skillet. Lou Malnati’s is considered the original when it comes to pizza in Chicago, while other staples like Giordano’s and Pequod’s serve up their own versions of the city’s famous deep dish. And Chicago even has its own hot dog. The Chicago dog, served throughout the city, features yellow mustard, dark green relish, chopped raw onion, pickle spear, sport peppers, tomato slices, and topped with a dash of celery salt and served in a poppy seed bun. The Vienna Beef Factory was started by two Austrian-Hungarian immigrants, Emil Reichel and Samuel Ladany, who began selling their franks at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893. Today, Vienna manufactures most of the franks sold across the city. You can still get the original by visiting their own stand located right across the street from the Vienna Beef Factory on North Damen Avenue.

Last but not least, take in the most iconic views of Chicago from more than 100 stories above the city. Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, held the title for the world’s tallest building for 25 years, and remains the highest spot in Chicago and the third tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Visit the Skydeck (right), located on the 103rd floor of the 110-floor building. Take in spectacular views spanning up to four states from the Viewing Tower; or if you’re a thrill seeker, check out The Ledge, a glass balcony extending four feet outside Willis Tower’s 103rd floor. At 1,353 feet in the air, its glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from the Skydeck, offering unmatched views of the bustling city underneath. No matter how you look at it, the Chicago skyline is breathtaking.

Like a Local

Maybe you’ve already seen all the attractions the Windy City is known for, or you just prefer to see the city from a different point of view. Instead of spending time taking in Chicago as a tourist, enjoy the city like those who call it home. In a city known for its major museums, the locals suggest a trip outside of downtown to discover the offbeat spots and quirky collections unique to Chicago.

Take a step off the beaten path and head to the Pilsen neighborhood. A hub of Mexican culture and home to one of the city’s best collections of street art and murals, Pilsen is home to the National Museum of Mexican Art. Immerse yourself in the richness of Mexican art and culture as you explore one of the largest Mexican art collections in the country. In a vibrant corner of funky West Town, you’ll discover Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art. This museum displays the work of artists who steer away from mainstream art influences while focusing on their personal, unique visions. The biggest draw here is the Henry Darger Room, an exact replica of the Chicago native artist’s Lincoln Park home filled with his personal documents, fixtures, furnishings, and of course, his art. The International Museum of Surgical Science, McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, and the American Writers Museum are just a few of the other unique museums located across Chicago that are favorites among the locals.

While Chicago is home to well-known cocktail hotspots and swanky rooftop bars, the city also has its fair share of hidden gems – literally. A green painted door marked the entrance to an undercover speakeasy during prohibition. Today, the Green Door Tavern continues the tradition. Find the nondescript door in the basement which leads to The Drifter, an authentic speakeasy that takes you back to the authentic speakeasy known as The Drifter. The Coco Club is another spot that takes some searching to find. Uniquely positioned above LaCoco’s Pizza and Sports Club, is where you’ll find this late-night speakeasy. Just tell the doorman “I’m with the club,” and you’ll be whisked into a sophisticated and inviting space that draws inspiration from the 1920s and 1930s. Head to Uptown Chicago, home to Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, which is considered one of Chicago’s best bar experiences, and is known for three things – it was Al Capone’s hangout, it’s said to be haunted, and its unspoken rule – don’t talk when performers are on stage at this Chicago jazz club. It’s the kind of dark, smokey place with music and cocktails that will transport you back in time.

After a night out on the town, you’re going to need a strong cup of coffee. Locals suggest heading to Café Jumping Bean in Chicago’s Lower West Side for reliable coffee, fresh bakery items, and specialty sandwiches like molletes, traditional Mexican open sandwiches topped with refried beans and melted cheese served with salsa (perfect for breakfast or lunch for those who felt the need to sleep in). This quaint spot invites customers in with its brightly colored décor and friendly staff – both guaranteed to brighten your mood at the start of a new day. While you can have an incredible trip to Chicago without leaving downtown, venturing off the beaten path has unmatched perks of its own!

Kids of All Ages

Bring the family along – there’s something for everyone in Chicago. Kids (and kids at heart) will love Maggie Daley Park, one of Chicago’s newer green spaces which is connected to Millennium Park in the heart of downtown. While one of the park’s most beloved features, the Skating Ribbon, is closed in the summer months, there’s even more to enjoy when it’s warm out. Take it to the next level on the rock climbing and bouldering walls before playing a round of miniature golf. Picnic groves offer the perfect spot to rest and fill hungry tummies before continuing to explore the park. No visit to Maggie Daley Park is complete with a trip to its three-acre Play Garden, the first of its kind in Chicago. Built in the spirit of Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Play Garden integrates landscapes with custom-designed play structures and sculptures. Play and plantings are intentionally different from usual garden and park settings, capturing the imagination, engaging different senses in all seasons of the year.

Undeniably one of Chicago’s most popular attractions, Navy Pier (above) is a year-round destination that truly comes to life during the summer. This time of year brings boat cruises, bike tours, fireworks shows that light up the night, and live entertainment throughout the day and night. Here, you will find Centennial Wheel which takes riders nearly 200 feet in the air, offering unmatched views of Chicago. You can even book a VIP Centennial Wheel experience in a glass-bottomed, plush-seated gondola. But that’s only the beginning. Thrill seekers of all ages will enjoy Pier Park, home to the Pepsi Wave Swinger, a 1920s-inspired musical carousel, and other nostalgic fairground rides — all with breathtaking skyline and waterfront views. But that’s not all – the beloved Chicago Children’s Museum and Tony Award-winning Chicago Shakespeare Theater are also located at Navy Pier.

And don’t worry about your little ones going hungry. You’re in the city known for pizza and hot dogs! Plus, Chicago has an unusual number of themed restaurants that aren’t just fun – they’re tasty too. At the spy-themed restaurant, SafeHouse Chicago, you’ll need a password to enter or else undergo a series of “tests” to prove you’re not a spy. There’s more than just dessert at Sugar Factory (including an elaborate drink menu for the adults). Created by a team of world-class chefs, the menu selections include everything from pancakes and sweet and savory crepes to salads, burgers, steaks, and shakes, all available throughout the day. Chicago really does have something for everyone!

Plus One

Your significant other won’t mind that you’re traveling for work when you bring them along. Chicago is an ideal romantic getaway with one-of-a-kind date night experiences, exceptional entertainment, and world-class dining. Snuggle up as you take in the views during a sunset cruise – an ideal way to see Chicago’s famed architecture. Hop aboard your open-top vessel in the heart of the Magnificent Mile, then cruise along the Chicago River, where your guide will point out architectural highlights. As you head further down the river to Lake Michigan where you’ll catch the sunset, watch the skyscrapers light up and the skyline awaken. Another great destination for a date is Chicago Botanic Garden, but not just for walking around taking in the beautiful greenery–though that’s not a bad idea.

Spend a carefree night laughing at Second City, the world’s premiere comedy theatre offering the best in Chicago-style sketch and improv comedy every night of the week. Since its premiere in 1959, Second City has consistently been a starting point for many comedians, award-winning actors, directors, and other big names in show business. For music connoisseurs, you can’t miss Chicago-style blues. The amplified urban blues sound was born in Chicago and there are plenty of spots here to hear it live. Buddy Guy’s Legends is a bucket list stop for blues fans from across the globe. The legendary Buddy Guy, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and a multi-GRAMMY Award winner, is known to take the stage on occasion, but no matter who plays, you’re in for a treat. Stop by during lunch and dinner hours for a free acoustic show.

And for the most iconic date night in Chicago, options are endless for a dinner date. Geja’s Café (right) is a Chicago spot known for romance. Since 1965, this cafe offers fondue paired with flowing wine in an intimate space. Enjoy Swiss gruyere fondue and sizzling meats for dinner, following by chocolate for dessert. For a classic Chicago date night, head to Gibson’s, an icon that has been satisfying diners – from locals to celebrities – since the 1980s. The classic American steakhouse is the first in the country to be awarded its own USDA certification program, but it also serves up fresh seafood, porkchops, and more. If you’re looking for something a little less filling, head to City Winery (below) for wine flights paired with a cheese and charcuterie board or shared plates like parmesan truffle fries and Asian wine glazed wings. Snag a seat on the patio where you’ll enjoy scenic views of the Chicago River, the city skyline, and Midwest sunsets. You’re sure to earn brownie points by extending your trip to ENDO while enjoying all Chicago has to offer alongside that special someone.

See You in Chicago!

In the words of Frank Sinatra, Chicago is “one town that won’t let you down. It’s my kind of town, Chicago is.” And apparently a lot of people agree with him, as Chicago was voted the best big city in the U.S. for the sixth year in a row according to Condé Nast Traveler. But don’t take our word for it. Come see for yourself! Make your reservations now as ENDO returns to Chicago for the first time since 2023. We can’t wait to see you there!

Carson is a Birmingham, Ala.-based freelance writer, who wrote about Atlanta’s varied points of interest last year. She writes a variety of articles and features for Endocrine News including EndoGear and Dashboard. 

The post Take Me Back to Chicago: ENDO 2026 Returns to the Windy City appeared first on Endocrine News.

The question might seem simple enough: Should we treat low testosterone in men with obesity? Yet the questions only accrue from here. The field remains divided not only on whether to treat it but also on how — and even on what to call it. This standoff is why an upcoming ENDO session in Chicago promises to be one of the meeting’s most spirited exchanges. On Sunday, June 14, two leading experts in andrology will face off in a structured debate, moderated by a physician who says he is “fortunate to know them personally” and anticipates a lively morning.

“They are both extremely intelligent and know their field well,” says moderator and Endocrine Society Past-President Stephen Hammes, MD, PhD. “They also have larger-than-life personalities that I think will lead to a fun and spirited debate.” Hammes is the Louis S. Wolk Distinguished Professor of Medicine, chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, and executive vice-chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester, in New York. He has been attending the Endocrine Society meeting for over 20 years and has moderated many debate sessions.

“How do you even define low testosterone in individuals with obesity, who have physiologic reasons to explain some of the lab results? If you think testosterone is indeed low, do you give testosterone to everybody or just those who are symptomatic? Or do you focus on lifestyle changes or prescribe weight loss drugs? Ask five endocrinologists and you will get 10 answers.” — Stephen Hammes, MD, PhD, Louis S. Wolk Distinguished Professor of Medicine; chief, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism; executive vice-chair, Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y.

Franck Mauvais-Jarvis, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, Price-Goldsmith Professor of Nutrition, Tulane University School of Medicine, in New Orleans, La., argues for the treat side. David Handelsman, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, of the ANZAC Research Institute at the University of Sydney, in Australia, argues the opposite: don’t treat. The two have already engaged directly in print on this topic with an Approach to the Patient paper, a Letter to the Editor on that paper, and an author’s response to the letter published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in the fall of 2025, and the live debate promises to be every bit as pointed.

What is the Controversy?

The “whether to treat” question raises questions of its own that the two debaters answer very differently: What is happening hormonally in a man with obesity and low testosterone? And is the relationship bidirectional (and if so, which direction carries the greater clinical weight)? The answers determine everything else.

For Handelsman, the phenomenon has both a name and a clear physiologic explanation. “Pseudohypogonadism describes the hormonal state of simple obesity — low testosterone proportionate to low serum sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) with normal serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), verifying the eugonadal state,” he says. In other words, the hypothalamic–pituitary–testis (HPT) axis is functioning normally; the low testosterone reading is a downstream consequence of obesity-related SHBG suppression, not a sign of gonadal failure. “That must be distinguished from genuine pathologic hypogonadism, which usually warrants testosterone treatment,” says Handelsman.

Mauvais-Jarvis takes issue with this framing as well as the terminology. “Pseudohypogonadism is a concept that has no scientific foundation,” he says, preferring the term “testosterone deficiency (TD).” “I don’t use the term ‘hypogonadism’ because gonadal function involves sperm and T production, but in most patients, we don’t measure spermatogenesis, we measure T.”

“Misguided testosterone treatment often arises from inadequate patient evaluation by measuring serum testosterone in isolation on the erroneous belief that this can diagnose androgen deficiency. Such overprescribing of testosterone for obesity has been a major driver of excessive testosterone prescribing, which rose 100-fold over recent decades, without a single new approved indication.”  — David Handelsman, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, emeritus director, ANZAC Research Institute at the University of Sydney, Australia

He uses the framework of “functional” TD, a concept that acknowledges that some forms of TD are reversible, as opposed to organic hypogonadism due to structural abnormalities. He also pushes back on the implication that reversibility makes a condition benign. “In reality, ‘functional forms’ of TD caused by obesity or chronic disease are rarely reversible and represent over 95% of patients today.”

Hammes, true to his moderating role, frames the definitional problem as the very reason this debate is worth having. “How do you even define low testosterone in individuals with obesity, who have physiologic reasons to explain some of the lab results?” he asks. “If you think testosterone is indeed low, do you give testosterone to everybody or just those who are symptomatic? Or do you focus on lifestyle changes or prescribe weight loss drugs? Ask five endocrinologists and you will get 10 answers.”

What Does the Literature Tell Us?

The definitional divide is not merely semantic; it reflects a genuine divergence in how each side reads the evidence (or lack thereof).

“Using testosterone to treat obesity is widely practiced but lacks objective evidence of efficacy or safety, as well as being fundamentally mistaken in treating a symptom (low testosterone) rather than the underlying disease, if any (often none),” explains Handelsman. He points to what he sees as a diagnostic problem upstream: “Misguided testosterone treatment often arises from inadequate patient evaluation by measuring serum testosterone in isolation on the erroneous belief that this can diagnose androgen deficiency.” He also situates the debate within a broader pattern he has tracked across his career. “Such overprescribing of testosterone for obesity has been a major driver of excessive testosterone prescribing, which rose 100-fold over recent decades, without a single new approved indication.”

Mauvais-Jarvis takes a different view: “If you have to pick one marker that best summarizes the health status of a man, it’s T,” he says. “TD in men is not solely a problem of sexual dysfunction; it’s the best predictor of chronic disease, including metabolic syndrome, visceral obesity, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, anemia, depression, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and overall mortality. In addition, it’s a cause of marital dysfunction and professional loss of productivity. It is a public health problem.”

His case for treatment draws on his clinical research into testosterone’s role in metabolic function as well as direct patient experience with treating hundreds of male veterans with TD.

Hammes, for his part, declines to adjudicate between the camps, at least in advance. “Overall, the level of evidence that treatment with testosterone helps patients with obesity-related low testosterone long-term is low but not zero,” he observes. “Then again, evidence that treatment with testosterone is harmful is also low. During this debate, we will hear about many of these studies.”

What’s a Clinician to Do?

The sharpest fault line between the two sides is whether low testosterone in men with obesity constitutes a condition that warrants treatment in its own right.

Handelsman’s position is categorical: “Valid testosterone treatment should be reserved for pathologic hypogonadism due to structural or genetic disorders of the HPT axis, not for reversible functional states (like obesity) accompanied by lowered serum testosterone.” For him, “the threshold for testosterone treatment is whether there is or is not pathologic hypogonadism, regardless of obesity status or testosterone level.”

He argues for treating what is actually wrong. “Serum testosterone is a dynamic hormone that is lowered by non-gonadal conditions like obesity and sleep apnea, for which there are better, effective treatments, rather than testosterone.”

Most patients with TD caused by obesity or chronic disease have a condition that is “rarely reversible,” counters Mauvais-Jarvis, and the treatment gap has real consequences for patients who are suffering now. His position is that testosterone therapy combined with a proper lifestyle program is the most effective approach, addressing both the hormonal deficiency and its metabolic context simultaneously.

Wondering what the harm would be in just going ahead and treating the low T? “‘Don’t treat’ obesity with testosterone because valid and established therapies can be used, whereas testosterone treatment of obesity is not effective and conveys undefined safety risks including accelerating cardiovascular and prostate disease as well as iatrogenic androgen dependence,” warns Handelsman.

“If you have to pick one marker that best summarizes the health status of a man, it’s T. TD in men is not solely a problem of sexual dysfunction; it’s the best predictor of chronic disease, including metabolic syndrome, visceral obesity, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, anemia, depression, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and overall mortality. In addition, it’s a cause of marital dysfunction and professional loss of productivity. It is a public health problem.”   — Franck Mauvais-Jarvis, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Price-Goldsmith Professor of Nutrition, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La.

Hammes sees the treatment question as genuinely still open. “I think everybody focuses on weight loss as the best overall treatment,” he says, “but where people differ is in defining what it means to have a low testosterone in the setting of obesity, and then whether treatment with testosterone is appropriate or effective.” There are, he notes, few absolute contraindications — but also few absolute indications. “Our job as physicians is to mitigate these uncertainties as best we can for each individual patient and their unique situation.”

What Role Might GLP-1 RAs Play?

No discussion of obesity treatment in 2026 is complete without accounting for glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, so what might these agents mean for the testosterone question?

On the “treat” side, Mauvais-Jarvis is skeptical: “GLP-1 RAs do not decrease body weight enough — approximately 10% — to improve TD in obese men with symptomatic TD.” He also raises a separate concern: “In addition, they cause a loss of lean mass that persists after discontinuation, although fat mass rebounds.” Thus, GLP-1 RA therapy may further complicate the metabolic picture.

Although Handelsman did not specifically address this issue, implicit in the “don’t treat” argument is that if effective weight loss is achieved, testosterone should organically normalize. However, the mechanism of weight loss (e.g., lifestyle changes, surgery, pharmacotherapy) might well have other known or as-yet unknown effects.

What Should Attendees Expect?

Handelsman is direct about his objectives: “My hope for this session is that it will reinforce the good practice that testosterone treatment should be used for pathologic disorders of the HPT axis and that testosterone treatment for obesity is futile and overlooks effective treatments with better defined efficacy and safety.”

Mauvais-Jarvis has a slightly different goal for attendees: “If they like boxing fights when one gets a knockout, they’ll enjoy,” he jokes. “Just kidding.”

For his part, Hammes is hoping for something the literature has not yet provided: A clear look at all the relevant evidence, argued by two people who know it better than almost anyone. “I would like to listen to these two very intelligent and experienced physicians discuss all points of view regarding low testosterone in obesity,” he says, “starting with the pathophysiology that leads to low testosterone, then discussing how we diagnose low testosterone in this population, and finally what options we have for treatment, along with the evidence to support these options.”

For any clinician who has ever faced a symptomatic, overweight patient with a low testosterone level and no clear roadmap for what to do next, which is to say, nearly all of them, the session should represent a long overdue conversation. “Right now, in my opinion, there is no specific standard of care for low testosterone in obesity,” Hammes says, “which is why this will be a wonderful debate as well as a great education session for the audience.”

As for his own position? Hammes, for now, is “doing a little sidestep,” in his words, but if the debate delivers what he’s hoping for, the audience will be able to draw their own conclusions about whether to T or not to T.

Horvath is a freelance writer based in Baltimore, Md., and a frequent contributor to Endocrine News. In the May issue, she wrote about two ENDO 2026 sessions: “Weight Loss: Friend or Foe for Bone & Muscle?” and “’Hot and Flashy’: Topics in Menopause.”

The post To T or Not To T: Should We Treat Low Testosterone in Men with Obesity? appeared first on Endocrine News.

Keystone Symposia contributes deep connections to basic scientists and a robust infrastructure for large-scale scientific meetings, while the Endocrine Society brings clinical expertise and its scholarly journals with plans to publish conference proceedings or abstracts to attract scientists who currently lack such outlets through Keystone Symposia.

“At the heart of [this partnership] is trying to facilitate areas of discovery because there are so many meetings out there for basic scientists, but some of them may have deviated from the core intent, which is really to advance science and facilitate those types of breakthroughs,” says Chris Urena, MBA, FASAE, CAE, the Endocrine Society’s chief learning officer.

 The conferences are designed to inspire discovery and collaboration among basic and translational researchers, with the goal of catalyzing advances in foundational science. Ultimately, these discoveries can lead to breakthroughs that improve clinical outcomes for patients. 

By combining the resources of two top scientific organizations, the Endocrine Society and Keystone Symposia are strengthening the exchange of scientific knowledge through coordinated programming. The conferences are designed to inspire discovery and collaboration among basic and translational researchers, with the goal of catalyzing advances in foundational science. Ultimately, these discoveries can lead to breakthroughs that improve clinical outcomes for patients. 

“One of the things that we’re trying to get better at, both groups together, is how do we facilitate spaces that have this full cycle of beds to bedside, bedside back to bed,” Urena says. “And in that there are those three programs or three topics that surface, oncology, cardiombetabolism, and diabetes.”

Three inaugural programs will begin in October 2026 and run through February 2027. The series includes:

• Hormonal Influences on Immunity and Cancer Across the Lifespan (October 5 –8, 2026 | Breckenridge, Colo.) brings together researchers across endocrinology, aging, and oncology to examine how hormonal signaling shapes disease in ways that are often overlooked when studied in isolation. Registration opens in late June. 
• Reimagining Diabetes: From Molecular Mechanisms to Transformative Therapies (February 1 – 4, 2027 | Keystone, Colo.) connects basic science, clinical research, and industry perspectives to better understand disease drivers and identify new therapeutic strategies. 
• Cardiometabolism and Interorgan Crosstalk: Novel Mechanisms and Therapies (February 16 – 19, 2027 | Breckenridge, Colo.) explores how communication across organ systems influences disease, highlighting emerging insights from genetics, immunology, and computational biology. 

Amid a challenging research funding climate, the Society and Keystone will explore the importance of strategic partnerships in scientific discovery during a joint symposium at ENDO 2026, on June 16 in Chicago, Ill. The joint panel, “Keystone Symposia + Endocrine Society: How Partnerships Across the Life Sciences Benefit Researchers,” will feature researchers Ines Pineda Torra, PhD; David D’Alessio, MD; Jennifer K. Richer, PhD; and Roger Cone, PhD. The session, co-moderated by Urena and Keystone Symposia’s President and CEO James Baumgartner, PhD, will address how clinical observations shape research questions as well as mechanistic insights that guide new approaches to care — and how these ideas will come together in three upcoming meetings.

Urena says the above group is essentially the planning board, one that Keystone facilitates. “It’s a good composite of people who are practitioners in terms of scientists, MDs, PhDs, some with both, but then also people from industry,” he says.

The partners anticipate that a contracting scientific meeting marketplace will create opportunities for more integrated joint offerings, including calls for papers and expanded engagement of endocrine-adjacent fields, with added value from clinical perspectives and publication pathways. “I think that’s a pretty interesting take on it,” Urena says. “And the advantage of working with Keystone is they have not only the connections to basic scientists, but they have a really proficient apparatus to stand up these scientific meetings at a scale that we just don’t have yet.”

By combining the resources of two top scientific organizations, the Endocrine Society and Keystone Symposia are strengthening the exchange of scientific knowledge through coordinated programming.

“These conferences provide a valuable opportunity for researchers across the endocrine spectrum to engage deeply, challenge assumptions, and inspire new directions in science,” says Endocrine Society president Carol Lange, PhD. “We are proud to partner with Keystone Symposia in the spirit of advancing science. By bringing discovery and translation together, we are strengthening the pipeline from innovation to patient care.”

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The Endocrine Society (the Society) strives to foster an interdisciplinary community of those practicing, researching, and innovating in endocrinology. Industry is an important site of innovation in endocrinology, and the Society’s Corporate Liaison Board (CLB) plays a pivotal role in connecting industry and the global endocrine community.

As the landscapes of science and medicine continue to evolve, these relationships are more important than ever. “The Corporate Liaison Board provides a forum for meaningful engagement between the Society and industry, grounded in shared goals and mutual respect,” says Society CEO Kate Fryer.

Member organizations join the CLB to increase visibility and connect with the world’s largest community of endocrinologists and endocrine researchers, and to foster partnerships on mutually beneficial initiatives in the endocrine space.

The CLB creates a platform for regular and direct communication between Society and industry members. CLB membership delivers organizations meaningful opportunities to build sustained engagement with the endocrine field. Member organizations join the CLB to increase visibility and connect with the world’s largest community of endocrinologists and endocrine researchers, and to foster partnerships on mutually beneficial initiatives in the endocrine space.

Achieving a Common Goal: Advancing Endocrinology

Through the CLB, member organizations engage directly with Society representatives and leadership on a regular basis. These interactions provide CLB members with key insights into emerging challenges in clinical practice, research, and policy developments while also creating space for open dialogue around shared priorities in endocrine health. CLB members have also become key supporters of Society initiatives to address gaps in hormone healthcare. “Our partnership with the Endocrine Society through the Corporate Liaison Board strengthens our ability to engage with society leaders and stay grounded in the real-world needs of patients and providers,” says Sanjay Keswani, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Neurocrine Biosciences. “That connection is essential to advancing innovation in endocrinology and developing therapies that address serious, often underserved conditions.”

According to Robert L. Lash, MD, the Endocrine Society’s chief medical officer, many of the Society’s signature pipeline programs such as the Medical School Education Program, ExCEL, and Endocrine Mentor Day, would not be possible without the support of CLB members. “CLB members also play an invaluable role in our educational programs,” Lash says. “These include longstanding events like the T1D Fellows program at ENDO as well as new programs, such as our inaugural Rare Endocrine Diseases Fellows program that debuted earlier this year.”

From thought leadership to year-round collaboration, these organizations exemplify what is possible when industry and the endocrine community work together toward a shared purpose.

In addition to supporting the continued growth of the endocrine field, CLB members’ partnership with the Society increases educational programming, supports professional development of endocrinologists and researchers, and elevates the conversation around endocrine health and research on the global stage. “The Endocrine Society continues to set the standard as the leader in education and professional support for the endocrinology profession, and [Corcept’s] participation in the CLB has strengthened our ability to contribute meaningfully to the field,” says Rob Adamoski, MBA, Vice President Medical Affairs at Corcept Therapeutics.

The Endocrine Society extends its sincere gratitude to the 23 member organizations which currently comprise the 2026 Corporate Liaison Board, whose ongoing commitment fuels progress across the field. From thought leadership to year-round collaboration, these organizations exemplify what is possible when industry and the endocrine community work together toward a shared purpose.

— Booker is the manager of Grants & Engagement at the Endocrine Society.

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Exelixis’ CABOMETYX Showed Positive Results Treating NET in Recent Trial

On May 30, Exelixis, Inc., announced results from a subgroup analysis of the phase 3 CABINET pivotal trial, which showed that CABOMETYX^® (cabozantinib) provided significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo in patients with previously treated advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET) regardless of functional status.

These data were presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting to be held from May 29 – June 2 in Chicago.

“Understanding the effects of oral pathway inhibitors in patients with both functional and non-functional NET is critical in informing appropriate treatment-sequencing decisions,” said Nikolaos A. Trikalinos, MD, associate professor of medicine, Washington University School of Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center. “Patients with hormone-producing tumors may require approaches that not only control tumor growth but also help mitigate challenging hormone-related symptoms. It is encouraging that our results reinforce cabozantinib as a meaningful treatment option for patients with advanced NET regardless of functional status. In both non-functional and functional NET, cabozantinib delivered substantial improvements in disease control compared to placebo, with median progression-free survival increasing threefold in non-functional NET and more than doubling in functional NET compared to placebo.”

In the phase 3 CABINET study, patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic NET (pNET) or extra-pancreatic NET (epNET) were randomized 2:1 in separate cohorts to receive CABOMETYX 60 mg daily versus placebo. Of the 298 patients enrolled in both cohorts, 179 had non-functional NET (cabozantinib, n=123; placebo, n=56), 74 had functional (i.e., hormone-releasing) NET (cabozantinib, n=47; placebo, n=27); and 45 had unknown functional status (cabozantinib, n=28; placebo, n=17).

These subgroup results show cabozantinib demonstrated improvements in PFS regardless of functional status. In patients with non-functional NET, the hazard ratio (HR) was 0.26 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17–0.41; p<0.001); median PFS was 9.4 months with cabozantinib (95% CI: 8.5–13.8) versus 3.1 months with placebo (95% CI: 2.9–5.7). In patients with functional NET, the HR was 0.40 (95% CI: 0.20–0.82; p=0.012); median PFS was 12.7 months (95% CI: 8.4–17.9) with cabozantinib versus 5.4 months with placebo (95% CI: 3.7–not estimable).

“Following last year’s U.S. and EU approvals of CABOMETYX for the treatment of previously treated advanced NET, these subgroup findings from the CABINET trial reinforce its ability to delay disease progression for a broad and heterogenous population of these patients,” said Dana T. Aftab, PhD, executive vice president, Research & Development, Exelixis. “CABOMETYX is now the leading oral therapy for previously treated advanced NET, helping to address a significant unmet need for patients who have limited options. We are committed to further improving standards of care for this disease and look forward to learning about the potential of zanzalintinib, our investigational oral kinase inhibitor, to improve outcomes in an early line of treatment compared to everolimus in our ongoing STELLAR-311 pivotal trial.”

The safety profile of CABOMETYX observed in patients with functional and non-functional NET was consistent with its known safety profile; no new safety signals were identified. The most frequent grade 3/4 adverse events with cabozantinib in patients with functional NET were hypertension (21%) and diarrhea (9%); in non-functional NET, they were hypertension (21%) and fatigue (18%).

Rezolute Announces Positive Interim Data for its Phase 3 upLIFT Study of Ersodetug in Tumor Hyperinsulinism

On June 2, Rezolute, Inc., a late-stage ultra-rare disease company focused on treating refractory hypoglycemia caused by a congenital or any acquired form of hyperinsulinism (HI), provided an interim update on its ongoing open-label Phase 3 study (upLIFT) of ersodetug in tumor HI.

With eight participants enrolled in upLIFT to date, comprising both insulinoma and non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia, the company is midway through enrollment of the planned study sample size of 16 participants.

Of the eight participants enrolled, six have already met the responder criterion for the study’s primary endpoint, which is the number of participants achieving at least a 50 percent reduction from baseline in intravenous glucose requirements (glucose infusion rate; GIR) within the eight-week pivotal treatment phase. Each of these six participants also achieved a complete discontinuation of intravenous glucose requirements with the administration of ersodetug.

One of the eight enrolled participants withdrew study consent and discontinued ersodetug and all other non-palliative therapies prior to completion of the pivotal treatment phase. This patient had Stage 4 metastatic colon cancer and a poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG 4). The participant elected to be discharged from the hospital to receive hospice care at home, where they died one week later due to cancer progression. The reduction and eventual discontinuation of intravenous glucose were undertaken in the setting of hospice transition, so the participant is being counted as a non-responder for purposes of assessing the primary endpoint.

The eighth participant was recently enrolled and is still dosing in the pivotal phase of the study. All participants that have completed the 8-week pivotal treatment period have elected to continue into the open-label extension, with a cumulative treatment duration of up to 6 months. Ersodetug has been well-tolerated in the pivotal and extension phases of the study, with no drug-related adverse events or other safety findings reported to date.

“We are very excited by the interim observations from the upLIFT study as they largely mirror what we previously observed and reported from an initial case series of patients from our expanded access program for compassionate use,” said Brian Roberts, MD, chief medical officer of Rezolute. “These results reveal the clinically impactful hypoglycemia-correcting activity of ersodetug in an unbiased GIR assessment in patients with HI caused by varying tumor types. This further highlights the aberrant outcome from the recently completed randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 sunRIZE study in pediatric congenital HI, where we believe that self-monitored glycemic measures were confounded by divergent caretaker behaviors stemming from functional unblinding to treatment status by real-time glucose monitoring. Importantly, these findings continue to support the potential for ersodetug to be a universal treatment option for patients with serious and refractory hypoglycemia caused by congenital and a variety of acquired forms of hyperinsulinism, including tumor HI and following bariatric and non-bariatric gastrointestinal surgeries. We look forward to announcing topline results of the fully enrolled upLIFT study in tumor HI in the second half of 2026, as well as continuing our engagement with FDA to determine the path forward for the congenital HI indication.”                                                                          

Glooko Introduces the First and Only Pump Settings EHR Integration to Bring Insulin Pump Data Directly Into Clinical Workflows

On June 5, Glooko, Inc., a global digital health company focused on helping clinicians address the growing challenges of glycemic safety and diabetes management across the care continuum, announced the launch of its Insulin Pump Settings Electronic Health Record (EHR) Integration, a new and first-of-its-kind capability in its latest software release that visualizes critical insulin pump configuration data directly into the clinical workflow.

For clinics caring for people with diabetes using insulin pump therapy, visibility of pump settings provides essential clinical context. Basal schedules, insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios, insulin sensitivity factors, blood glucose target ranges, closed-loop status and active insulin time all help care teams understand how insulin is being delivered and whether therapy adjustments may be needed. Historically, much of this information has lived outside the EHR isolated in external software, PDFs or screenshots, requiring clinicians and staff to toggle between systems, manually transcribe data or copy and paste pump settings into visit notes. Glooko’s new Pump Settings EHR Integration is designed to replace that fragmented workflow with structured, discrete pump settings data visualized in EHR flowsheets that can be pulled automatically into clinical documentation using SmartText-style workflows, depending on EHR configuration.

“Pump settings are the source of truth for how an insulin pump is delivering therapy; however, traditional documentation requires manual transcription of up to 24 different data points into the EHR,” said Mark Clements, MD, PhD, chief medical and strategy officer at Glooko. “When clinicians can see settings such as basal rates, insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios, correction factors, active insulin time and closed-loop status in the same workflow as glucose data and the patient note, the visit becomes less about finding and transcribing information and more about acting on it. This integration, which is unique to Glooko, gives care teams a more complete view of insulin therapy today and creates the structured data foundation for more advanced clinical decision support in the future—where discrete pump settings, glucose trends and other diabetes data can work together to surface more timely, actionable insights. By reducing reliance on incomplete, stale or manually transcribed information, Glooko is helping clinics make therapy adjustments with greater context, consistency and confidence.”

While EHRs remain the system of record, native EHR workflows often depend on the data already available inside the chart. Insulin pump settings, however, are generated and updated across a broad and evolving ecosystem of diabetes devices. Glooko adds a specialized, device-agnostic diabetes data layer that helps normalize pump data across manufacturers and deliver it back into the EHR as usable clinical context. The result is another intuitive management layer for clinics, specifically device data, EHR documentation, and diabetes care decisions working together in the workflow clinicians already use.

“For diabetes clinics and health systems, integrating insulin pump settings directly into the EHR has been a long-desired functionality to eliminate a major source of administrative inefficiency,” said Yaa Kumah-Crystal, MD, MPH, MS, associate professor of biomedical informatics and pediatric endocrinology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). “By removing the tedium of manual input from device readouts, the integrated process will improve data accuracy and lead to more consistent documentation, resulting in happier providers. This ultimately frees up the care team, including clinicians, nurses, and educators, to refocus their attention on the patient in front of them. For patients, this means smoother clinic visits with more directly accessible data to support the shared decision-making process. Holistically, access to this granular data now empowers health systems to track diabetes pump management parameters more precisely and advance targeted quality improvement and population health initiatives.”

This latest Integration strengthens Glooko’s overall EHR integration capabilities and builds on the company’s commitment to connect device data, clinical workflows and patient engagement in a single, intuitive diabetes management platform. Glooko currently supports the centralization of diabetes data from more than 200 diabetes and health monitoring devices and integrates with leading EHR systems to help reduce platform switching and streamline care workflows.

This capability will be launched as part of the Glooko Web 26.2 and Mobile 16.16 product release the week of June 8, which also includes new features to enable population health, and efficient patient management experiences. Availability may vary by EHR configuration, device compatibility and market. All therapy decisions should be made by healthcare professionals using their clinical judgment and available patient information.

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

The post Pharma Friday – June 5, 2026 appeared first on Endocrine News.

A precision-medicine protocol for treating acromegaly can slash healthcare costs by 22% while more than doubling a patient’s chances of reaching hormonal remission, according to an economic analysis of the ACROFAST clinical trial.

“Cost-effectiveness of personalized medical treatment in acromegaly: a post hoc analysis of the ACROFAST study,” a Spanish study recently published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, signals a major shift away from the traditional “one-size-fits-all” approach to this rare and debilitating hormonal disorder. By utilizing a €121 ($135.52) biomarker test to bypass months of ineffective trial-and-error therapy, researchers found they could save an average of €15,263 ($17,094.56) per controlled patient annually — a finding with massive implications for cash-strapped public health systems worldwide.

Acromegaly, typically caused by a benign pituitary tumor, triggers an overproduction of growth hormone that leads to physical disfigurement and severe systemic complications, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, if left unchecked. For decades, the clinical standard has been a rigid step-care model: Start nearly all patients on first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fgSRLs). However, these frontline drugs fail to work for roughly half of all patients. Under the old model, these non-responders often endured months of “medical inertia,” where the disease persisted and physiological damage continued despite the administration of high-cost, ineffective treatment.

The ACROFAST analysis proves that a biomarker-led strategy is both clinically and fiscally superior. By identifying non-responders at Day 1 using specific tumor characteristics and genetic markers, clinicians can fast-track them to more aggressive, effective second-line therapies immediately. The results were stark: 78% of patients in the personalized group achieved hormonal normalization within a year, compared to just 53% of those following standard protocols.

“Personalized medicine, using a relatively straightforward biomarker-based protocol, enables a greater proportion of patients to attain hormonal control,” the study authors noted. Statistically, patients on the tailored path were 2.5 times more likely to see their disease stabilized within the first 12 months.

The study highlights a vital paradox in modern medicine: Sometimes, spending more on sophisticated diagnostics up front leads to much lower spending on long-term pharmacy and complication management.

The financial data, modeled on the Spanish National Health Care System, suggests that precision medicine is no longer a luxury but a cost-saving necessity. The average cost to bring a single patient into control dropped from €19,420 ($21,750.40) under the standard model to €15,127 ($17,752.12) with the personalized approach.

By eliminating the “guesswork” phase, the ACROFAST protocol prevents the massive, wasted expenditure associated with months of sub-optimal medication. Even when accounting for the upfront cost of the biomarker tests and the higher price point of secondary drugs like pegvisomant or pasireotide, the overall efficiency of the personalized model outweighed the initial investment.

As healthcare systems globally grapple with the rising price of orphan drugs and rare disease management, these findings provide a roadmap for sustainable care. The study highlights a vital paradox in modern medicine: Sometimes, spending more on sophisticated diagnostics up front leads to much lower spending on long-term pharmacy and complication management. The researchers emphasize that shifting to biomarker-guided protocols isn’t just about better science, it’s about ensuring that every dollar spent on specialized pharmacology results in a patient getting well. For the rare disease community, ACROFAST offers a rare win–win: better health outcomes for patients and a more sustainable bottom line for the providers who treat them.

The post ACROFAST Findings: Personalized Care for Acromegaly Wins on Both Health and Budget appeared first on Endocrine News.

Watching a fellow undergraduate navigate the daily realities of type 1 diabetes sparked a question that would shape Anna L. Gloyn’s career: Why do some people develop diabetes while others do not? That early curiosity grew into a globally recognized research program focused on uncovering the genetic roots of diabetes and advancing precision medicine — work that has now earned her the fifth annual Transatlantic Alliance Award from the Endocrine Society and the European Society of Endocrinology.

The Transatlantic Alliance Award, launched in 2022, recognizes an international leader who has made significant advancements in endocrine research on both sides of the Atlantic, in Europe and the United States.

When the award was first revealed last year, Endocrine Society President Carol Lange, PhD, said, “Dr. Gloyn is an internationally recognized leader in endocrinology who has made extraordinary contributions to our understanding of the genetic basis of diabetes and has collaborated with colleagues on both sides of the Atlantic on landmark studies. Her ground-breaking contributions to endocrine research across the globe and her outstanding work ethic make her an exceptional candidate for this award.” 

“I am excited that we are on the precipice of something transformative resulting from collision of artificial intelligence with the integration of multi-modal data. My hope is that we will find new ways of predicting, diagnosing, and treating diabetes, which will fulfil the promise of precision medicine.” —  Anna L. Gloyn, DPhil, FMedSci, professor of pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.

Gloyn is a professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif. She earned her DPhil at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England, followed by post-doctoral training at the University of Exeter in Exeter, England, and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. For the past 15 years, her major focus has been on translating discoveries from genome-wide association studies into biological and clinical insights. She plays roles in multiple international consortia, including the Accelerated Medicines Partnership for Common Metabolic Disease and the Human Islet Research Network.

Gloyn spoke with Endocrine News about the partnerships that shaped her journey and where her diabetes research is headed next.

Endocrine News: What did the news of your recognition for the Endocrine Society’s 2026 Transatlantic Alliance Award mean to you?

Gloyn: I was thrilled to be nominated for this award and blown-away to be this year’s recipient. I have had the privilege of working with colleagues across Europe and North American for the past 30 years and have benefited enormously from being part of the international scientific community. Being recognized for something that brings me so much joy is wonderful.

EN: One of your award nominators wrote, “Her career embodies true transatlantic scientific exchange, reflected in her contributions to major international research alliances, editorial boards and her receipt of multiple accolades.” Why do you believe international collaborations are important for scientists?

Gloyn: Diabetes is a global health pandemic and finding solutions for all people living with diabetes requires seeing the challenge from many different viewpoints. As someone who uses human genetics to unlock clues into cellular and molecular mechanisms for diabetes, some of my greatest insights have come from working with genetic variants that are unique to a particular population, or through studying very rare changes in genes that we only find by working with clinicians all over the world. As a post-doc, the opportunity to spend time working in a lab in a different country was foundational in my personal and professional growth.

EN: At what point in your studies or career did you decide researching the genetic mechanisms underlying diabetes would become your life’s work? Was there a particular question or hypothesis that piqued your interest?

Gloyn: As an undergraduate in the U.K., I studied biochemistry and was introduced to the wonders of insulin through my lectures on metabolism and through a fellow biochemistry student, Helen, who had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was two years old. I had no idea what it meant to be someone living with diabetes. I couldn’t get over how much of Helen’s day was taken up with just managing her blood sugar levels and what the consequences were for her if she didn’t get it right. I was curious because both her mum and older brother also had type 1 diabetes so there had to be something in their genes. I couldn’t believe it when I spotted an advert in Nature for a PhD project at Oxford University on the genetics of diabetes with Robert Turner. This really was the fork in the road for me, where I committed to a research journey in understanding the molecular genetics of diabetes. After my PhD, or as Oxford calls them “DPhil,” I was so lucky that Andrew Hattersley offered me a post-doc and I spent four wonderful years at the University of Exeter before returning to Oxford on a Diabetes UK RD Lawrence Career Development Fellowship to set up my own lab.  

EN: What would say are the biggest similarities and differences in laboratory research work in the United States versus Europe? Do any major challenges occur when you collaborate with peers across the Atlantic?

Gloyn: In my experience the differences between labs in the U.K. and U.S. are not to do with the country you are in, they are to do with the lab culture which is set by the lab PI. That said, there are some obvious cultural differences. I remember arriving as a post-doc fellow in Dr. Franz Matchinksy’s lab at the University of Pennsylvania and realizing that going to the pub for a beer after work on a Friday was a very British behavior! I am often reminded how incredibly talented my European colleagues are when I hear them effortless move from their native tongue to English for science. Hearing a trainee deliver a presentation in a second, sometimes third, language is humbling.

Also, living on the West Coast can make the eight hours plus time difference challenging when catching up with my European colleagues. I am a huge fan of the Zoom filter and a tactical scarf to mask my pajamas during those very early calls!

EN: Looking ahead for the next 5-10 years, what research goals do you hope will make an impact on diabetes care?

Gloyn: I am excited that we are on the precipice of something transformative resulting from collision of artificial intelligence with the integration of multi-modal data. My hope is that we will find new ways of predicting, diagnosing, and treating diabetes, which will fulfil the promise of precision medicine.

Gloyn has received multiple national and international awards for her research, including the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Rising Star (2005) and Minkowski (2014) awards and the American Diabetes Association Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award (2022). In 2025, she was elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences in the United Kingdom.    

“As someone who uses human genetics to unlock clues into cellular and molecular mechanisms for diabetes, some of my greatest insights have come from working with genetic variants that are unique to a particular population, or through studying very rare changes in genes that we only find by working with clinicians all over the world. As a post-doc, the opportunity to spend time working in a lab in a different country was foundational in my personal and professional growth.” — Anna L. Gloyn, DPhil, FMedSci, professor of pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.

Gloyn presented her award lecture at the European Society of Endocrinology’s Annual Congress, the European Congress of Endocrinology (ECE) 2026, that took place last month in Prague, Czech Republic. 

—Shaw is freelance writer based in Carmel, Ind. She is a regular contributor to Endocrine News and writes the monthly Laboratory Notes column.

The post Cultural Exchange: How Anna L. Gloyn, DPhil, FMedSci, managed research in both Europe and the U.S. appeared first on Endocrine News.

Medical researchers have identified a dangerous and deceptive trend in the illicit drug market after two nondiabetic patients were admitted to intensive care with life-threatening hypoglycemia following heroin use. The cases, occurring years apart but linked by the same rare clinical presentation, reveal that heroin supplies are being contaminated with glipizide, a potent prescription medication traditionally used to treat type 2 diabetes.

The study, “Two cases (a decade apart) of severe sulfonylurea-positive hypoglycemia associated with inhaled heroin use,”recently published in JCEM Case Reports, details how both patients arrived at the hospital in critical condition, suffering from altered mental status and “seizure-like” movements. In both instances, blood glucose levels had plummeted to dangerously low levels — under 40 mg/dL — despite neither patient having a history of diabetes or access to glucose-lowering medications.

Laboratory analysis eventually confirmed that the patients were suffering from unintentional sulfonylurea poisoning. Sulfonylureas, such as glipizide, work by stimulating the pancreas to release massive, sustained amounts of insulin. When taken by individuals who do not have high blood sugar, the drug causes the body’s glucose levels to crash. This condition, known as hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, can lead to permanent neurological damage or death if not treated immediately with intravenous dextrose or specialized medications like octreotide, which acts as an “antidote” by suppressing insulin secretion.

“These cases highlight the critical importance of obtaining a detailed clinical history and acquiring timely laboratory samples,” the authors note. “Screening for sulfonylurea exposure is time-sensitive and can result negative if there is a delay in sending the test.”

Because the symptoms of severe hypoglycemia — confusion, sweating, and seizures — can mimic the effects of opioid withdrawal, stroke, or other toxicities, doctors may easily miss the underlying cause without specific metabolic testing.

Through careful investigation, the researchers found that the patients shared one common exposure: both had inhaled, or “snorted,” heroin mixed with an unknown additive shortly before their collapse. The first case involved a 61-year-old woman who required stabilization in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) after her blood sugar fluctuated wildly. The second case involving a 69-year-old man, was even more persistent. After an initial treatment and discharge, he suffered a second severe hypoglycemic crash just seven hours later, requiring a 24-hour MICU stay. This “rebound” effect is a hallmark of sulfonylurea poisoning, as the medication has a long half-life in the body. While sulfonylureas have occasionally been found in “street valium” or contaminated cocaine, this report marks a significant documentation of the drug being used as an adulterant in inhaled heroin. In 2004, there was an epidemic among youth in Texas of using “cheese heroin,” which is heroin crushed with over-the-counter cold/sleep tablets.

A similar trend of using heroin crushed with Dormin, a sleep aid containing Benadryl has also been documented. It is unclear whether mixing heroin with sulfonylureas is for profitability or whether this combination can have a similar desirable sedating effect after the drug high. The findings have prompted a call for medical professionals to broaden their diagnostic scope when treating suspected drug overdoses. Because the symptoms of severe hypoglycemia — confusion, sweating, and seizures — can mimic the effects of opioid withdrawal, stroke, or other toxicities, doctors may easily miss the underlying cause without specific metabolic testing.

The post Heroin Adulterated with Diabetes Medication Triggers Life-Threatening Medical Emergencies appeared first on Endocrine News.

June will mark a historical milestone for Endocrine News magazine as it fully transitions to an online-only publication. The magazine’s Executive Editor, Mark A. Newman, has been leading the publication since 2013 and has instituted an array of changes, upgrades, and new offerings through the years. We sat down with him find out what members can expect from this latest iteration of the “leading magazine for endocrinologists.”

Q:  First off, why is the change from print to digital taking place now? What precipitated this change?

A: Well, like a lot of print publications, Endocrine News essentially evolving with the times. We feel that this transition to online only is the ideal way to better serve the members of the Endocrine Society and keep delivering the same trusted journalism in a more timely, easier accessible format.

Also, we want to be able to meet the readers and the members where they are and members are consuming content online and especially via their mobile devices. Moving away from the print magazine not only allows us to give our readers the content they want, whenever they want it, but in a more flexible, easily accessible manner. Also, the new version of the website will be more interactive. The members aren’t losing something; they’re gaining even more than they’re used to.

Q: That’s a good point. Exactly what are the new aspects they’re gaining with this change in format?

A: First and foremost, they’ll be able to read Endocrine News any time they want to,in the airport, on a commute, at home, in a waiting room. So, whether people choose to read it on a desktop, tablet or phone, there it is: the content they’ve come to trust only from Endocrine News. It will be like the old Visa commercials: Endocrine News is everywhere you want it to be!

Along with this easy access, members will also be able to share the stories and content with colleagues, trainees, and so on. With the print magazine they’d have to find a copier or tear the page out. Now, sharing our content will be as easy as the click of a button. As a further bonus, the content and the magazine’s archives will be fully searchable.

Q: How will the new website differ from the current website that readers go to now?

A: For one thing it is a definite “glow up” for the site! The new site will look more like tradition news websites that we’ve all grown accustomed to throughout the years. When there’s breaking news in the world of endocrinology or simply in the world of the Endocrine Society itself, we can get that news to our members right away. Whether it’s a breakthrough study that’s just released, news from Washington, D.C., or even when and Endocrine Society member makes news, members will find out much quicker than perusing through the magazine after it arrives in their mailbox.

This also allows us to respond quicker to news, events, and other emerging issues as they pertain to health policy, research, and other news.

But speaking of the original website: Keep in mind that until 2015, there was no Endocrine News website. There was virtually no online presence for the magazine at all. So, once we got the website launched in the summer of 2015, we not only had a more relevant online presence, but we were finally able to share via social media. You can’t share links if you have nothing to link to! That will be even more enhanced with this dynamic new site.

Q: What sort of new features can readers expect from the new website.

A: The entire experience will be richer. Aside from the exclusive content featured in Endocrine News, there will be links to related research such as the Endocrine Society’s guidelines and scientific statements, as well as other Society resources. It will be much more fully integrated into the Society’s main site as well.

There will be the addition of multimedia storytelling, including the Endocrine News Podcast along with video, audio, and other visuals that will be highlighted in a more welcoming manner. Also, all the components of the site will get an upgrade, including the navigation, which will allow readers to search by topic, person, interest area, and so on. And there will be a number of “members only” features reserved for Endocrine Society members, such as unfettered access to content and the ability to comment on articles.

Q: Earlier you mentioned that the content in Endocrine News was exclusive. Can you elaborate on that?

A: Sure. The content in Endocrine News is, by and large, not available anywhere else. While we discuss major studies that other outlets might cover, they will not be covered in the same manner. What I mean is, much of the breakthroughs in endocrine science and research, quite frankly, is undertaken by Endocrine Society members. That’s a fact. So, we make the effort to reach out to those members and get their input on their research, what it means for the endocrine disorder it’s addressing, and what it means for researchers, clinicians, and, most importantly, for patients going forward.

Since I’ve been the editor of Endocrine News, I’ve maintained that our greatest strength is our access to our amazing Endocrine Society members. That’s certainly not something other news outlets can claim. For example, you may see a quote from one of our members in the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, or other media giants, but Endocrine News goes much, much deeper than a simple soundbite. That’s our strength and our members and readers have come to expect that through the years.  

Q: As I look around your office, I see stacks of Endocrine News here, a bookcase full of issues in the corner, and even a framed cover on the wall. As the person who has shepherded the magazine for over a dozen years, how do you feel about this new chapter leaving print behind?

A: If I’m being honest, it’s bittersweet. Look, I’m a print guy from way back. My first job was with a weekly newspaper in rural Alabama in 1989 and throughout my career, I’ve worked at a number of magazines in the association realm, as well as in the business-to-business and consumer areas and most of those publications are long gone. I joke that my LinkedIn profile looks like an obituary page for dead magazines! But the truth is, since the turn of the century — if not before— the publishing industry has evolved at a breakneck pace. And if you’re not ready for the change, you’ll be left behind.

The most important thing for me is that our readers continue to get the information and news they’re accustomed to getting from Endocrine News. And I honestly can’t wait for our members to experience the new website. They won’t be disappointed!

The new Endocrine News website is scheduled to go live on June 13, 2026. Check it out at: https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/.

The post Leaping Off the Page: The Continuing Evolution of Endocrine News appeared first on Endocrine News.

The two papers — one focusing on adult care and the other pediatric care — present structured algorithms for reducing supraphysiologic glucocorticoid dosing, along with broader considerations for patient management in real-world practice. Two teams of expert endocrinologists convened for these studies, drafting companion pieces with recommendations for the adult and pediatric patients. “New and emerging non-glucocorticoid therapies for [CAH] can reduce adrenocorticotropic hormone-mediated androgen production, allowing for [GC] dose reductions,” the authors write.

“With the FDA approval of crinecerfont, the first non-GC adjunctive therapy to control androgens in patients with classic CAH, it is now possible for patients to reduce GCs to lower, more physiologic doses, potentially reducing the clinical complications associated with supraphysiologic GC treatment and excess androgens.”

Long-term supraphysiologic GC treatment can lead to multiple health comorbidities — adverse cardiovascular, metabolic, and skeletal outcomes. Dexamethasone especially, the authors point out, is associated with the most negative impacts on cardiometabolic health. “The increased risks of developing cardiometabolic comorbidities such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes mellitus have been well documented in patients with CAH, especially those receiving higher GC doses,” the authors write.

But the reduction of GC doses is a tightrope and should be approached slowly; patients can experience GC withdrawal or adrenal insufficiency. Approaches to GC reduction should be individualized based on the patient’s therapeutic goals, cortisol needs, lifestyle preferences, and the clinician’s experience to set appropriate targets for clinical parameters, androgens, and GC dose regimen, the authors note.

Once patients start taking crinecerfont, laboratory measurements of androgen levels may be assessed around four weeks later to inform the approach to GC reduction, the authors write. “Appropriate target levels for androgens vary from patient to patient depending on age, sex, individual treatment goals, clinical markers of disease control, and timing of laboratory assessments,” the authors continue. Balancing the consequences of androgen excess with those of long-term supraphysiologic GC exposure has been an ongoing challenge in managing CAH, according to the authors. “With the FDA approval of crinecerfont, the first non-GC adjunctive therapy to control androgens in patients with classic CAH, it is now possible for patients to reduce GCs to lower, more physiologic doses, potentially reducing the clinical complications associated with supraphysiologic GC treatment and excess androgens,” they write. “This framework for reducing supraphysiologic GC doses in adult patients taking crinecerfont may become increasingly relevant as treatment of CAH shifts toward physiologic GC replacement with adjunctive control of adrenal androgens.”

The post Glucocorticoid Management in Patients with Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia with Crinecerfont appeared first on Endocrine News.

The Endocrine Society is an advocacy leader representing the interests of members to policymakers.  During the past year we have had many advocacy victories including:

• Restoring funding for the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study and Diabetes Research Centers
• Increasing Funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and removing harmful policies for research such as arbitrary caps on indirect cost rates and expansion of multi-year funding
• Developing insulin affordability legislation and new coding opportunities for endocrinologists
• Influencing regulation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the European Union

We also have several ways for you to join us in advocacy:

• Join our online advocacy campaigns by going to: endocrine.org/take-action to join our online advocacy campaigns. These campaigns take only a minute of your time, but they are influential and make a difference.  Please take action today!
•  Visit our advocacy toolkit at: endocrine.org/advocacy/advocacy-toolkit to learn how you can participate in all kinds of advocacy activities.
• If you are attending ENDO 2026 in Chicago, Ill., please stop by the Endocrine Society Booth on the Exhibit Floor to learn more about our work and how you can participate.

Endocrine Society Advocates for Access to Affordable Anti-Obesity Medications; Medicare to Offer $50 per Month Access to GLP-1 Medications for Eligible Beneficiaries 

Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will provide access to some GLP-1 medications for $50 per month to eligible Medicare beneficiaries. The medications will be available through a new Medicare Bridge Program, a temporary demonstration program that will begin on July 1, 2026. Medicare beneficiaries must meet certain clinical criteria to qualify for coverage of the medications. More information about the bridge program including the clinical criteria and which GLP-1 medications will be available through the program can be found on the Medicare website at: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/prescription-drug-coverage/medicare-glp-1-bridge.

The Endocrine Society is a leading voice urging Congress and the administration to expand access to anti-obesity medications (AOM). We strongly support the creation of this program and have also supported previous proposals to expand access to AOMs. We also support the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) that would allow Medicare to cover AOMs for weight loss and expand Medicare coverage of Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT), which is an effective lifestyle intervention for treating obesity. We will continue to keep members apprised of developments.

Advocacy Win: Endocrine Society Partners with ESE and ESPE to Advocate for Controls on Chemicals in Cosmetics to be Maintained in European Union

On April 29, the European Parliament voted to retain important provisions to minimize exposure to carcinogens, mutagens, and reprotoxic substances (CMRs) under the Cosmetics Regulation, as part of the Chemicals Omnibus.

The Endocrine Society partnered with the European Society for Endocrinology (ESE) and European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) to advise policymakers. Prior to the vote, the Endocrine Society and ESE also contacted members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on leading committees to urge that existing protections be upheld. The final compromise negotiated between the major political parties keeps most of the existing controls intact and rejects the Commission’s proposed weakening to allow certain CMRs to be present in cosmetics. A cross-party group of over 30 MEPs also tabled amendments calling for a ban on EDCs and PFAS in cosmetics, based on the existing ban on EDCs and PFAS in toys. Those amendments, however, were not adopted since they were outside the general compromise text. Several MEPs responded to our joint letter indicating their support for our position and gratitude for providing a science-based rationale for our positions.

Society Advocates for Endocrinology Inclusions in the Draft Physician Payment Reform Legislation Proposal 

The Endocrine Society is working with the Congressional Doctors Caucus on physician payment reform legislation.

The bipartisan legislation, which is expected to be introduced shortly, would take steps to improve physician reimbursement within Medicare. The current draft of the bill would provide a small annual inflationary update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). The legislative draft also includes a provision to provide an additional add-on payment to primary care providers and other specialties over a five-year period. 

We shared our recommendations with the Doctors Caucus co-chairs earlier this spring and urged them to make endocrinologists and other non-procedural specialists eligible for this proposed add-on payment. The current draft of the legislation would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine what specialties would be eligible for the add-on. We will continue to watch this issue closely and advocate for adequate payment reform for endocrinologists.

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Each May in the U.S. is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month which is observed to raise awareness about osteoporosis as well as promote prevention and early detection. Bone health is one of the cornerstones of endocrine science and practice, so we felt that this was the perfect issue to highlight some of the recent research focusing on bone health and potential treatment breakthroughs from bone-specific sessions at ENDO 2026 taking place next month in Chicago, Ill.

In “Unpausing the Conversation: Menopause Is Having a Moment at ENDO 2026,” Kelly Horvath takes a closer look at women’s bone health as it takes center stage in Chicago during the symposium “Hot and Flashy: Topics in Menopause,” on Saturday June 13. From catching endocrinologists up regarding menopause care and past regulatory missteps to estrogen’s impact on bone health and the many non-hormonal options, this ENDO 2026 symposium will definitely give attendees something to talk about! The session chair, Gina Woods, MD, MSCP, clinical professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of California, San Diego, thinks that the reason this topic is now being featured is due to the “reevaluation of safety and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s removal of the black box warning for menopausal hormone therapy, the ongoing social media buzz, the increased patient demand,” she says. “I think another important component is that the Endocrine Society recognizes that menopause training has been largely missing from medical education. There is a huge knowledge gap, and we need to address it by bringing experts together in sessions like this.”

In “Boning Up: The Year in Bone Health,” Senior Editor Derek Bagley looks at the ENDO 2026 session, “The Year in Bone,” which will feature experts in bone research who will review and discuss the most influential and cutting‑edge publications from the past year. From basic science discoveries, translational advances, and key updates in clinical research, attendees will get a comprehensive overview of the latest progress shaping the field of bone health and disease, which is becoming more and more relevant as the years go by. “We are now living in a super-aged society, and conditions such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia are becoming increasingly important,” says Yumie Rhee, MD, PhD, professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, and one of the sessions presenters. “In this setting, I hope attendees will come away with a clear and up-to-date overview of where the field currently stands, as well as the direction in which it is moving through the efforts of many scientists and the pharmaceutical industry.”

“Breaking Point: Weight Loss Therapies and the Musculoskeletal Stakes” by Kelly highlights the ENDO 2026 session, “Weight Loss: Friend or Foe for Bone & Muscle?” Attendees to this symposium will be in for a treat as three experts weigh in on the impact of various weight loss therapies on muscle and bone. Pharmacologic, surgical, and even lifestyle impacts will be discussed and debated in this Sunday morning symposium. One of the session’s speakers will be 40-year Endocrine Society member Clifford J. Rosen, MD, director and principal investigator, Rosen Musculoskeletal Laboratory Clinical & Translational Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute; professor of medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Scarborough, Maine, who says we don’t understand the mechanisms of bone loss from the GLP-1 RAs but weight loss alone causes bone to change and thin,” he says, adding, “There might be other mechanisms as well for GLP-1 RAs.”

Next month, we take a broader look at what attendees can expect from ENDO 2026 in Chicago, so be sure to keep an eye out for the June issue! If you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, feel free to contact me at: mnewman@endocrine.org.

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Last February, a paper appeared in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research titled, “Romosozumab following denosumab improves lumbar spine bone mineral density and trabecular bone score greater than denosumab continuation in postmenopausal women.”

The authors of the paper by Namki Hong, et al., write that the drug romosozumab following anti-resorptive can be an effective sequential treatment strategy to improve bone strength. However, whether the transition to romosozumab after denosumab is associated with greater improvement in bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) compared with denosumab continuation remains unclear, the authors continue.

The researchers for this study, led by Yumie Rhee, MD, PhD, a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, analyzed data from postmenopausal women who initiated denosumab between 2017 and 2020 and found that romosozumab following denosumab improved LS BMD and TBS greater than denosumab continuation in postmenopausal women.

At ENDO 2026 in Chicago, Rhee will moderate the session, “Year in Bone” on Monday, June 15 from 3:30 to 4:15PM CT. “As endocrinologists, we cannot focus only on the one organ system we personally like best,” Rhee says. “We need to understand the body in an integrated way — how organs communicate with one another, how feedback systems work, and how discoveries in one area reshape the whole field. ENDO is where that happens at the highest level.

“It is a global gathering of endocrinologists where cutting-edge science, new therapies, and fresh ideas are introduced and shared all at once. For me, attending ENDO is like recharging a battery; you learn a tremendous amount in a short time, reconnect with the bigger picture of endocrinology, and come away energized. That is why I would strongly encourage people to attend this session.”

Rhee will be joined by Clifford Rosen, MD, director of Clinical and Translational Medicine at the Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Scarborough, and Dolores Shoback, MD, of the UCSF/VA Medical Center in San Francisco. Rosen and Shoback will review and discuss the most influential and cutting‑edge publications from the past year. Topics will span basic science discoveries, translational advances, and key updates in clinical research, offering attendees a comprehensive overview of the latest progress shaping the field of bone health and disease.

Latest and Greatest

Just a couple months ago, Rosen led a team of researchers to investigate the role bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) has on myelopoiesis and osteoclastogenesis. They hypothesized that the expansion of BMAT associated with diet-induced obesity (DIO) would have a negative impact on the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. Using a mouse model of high-fat diet (HFD)–induced obesity, the researchers classified mice as having obesity based on pre-determined changes in body weight and fat mass.

Mice with obesity showed a rapid increase in BM adiposity that altered the molecular phenotype of BMAT, which led to changes in immune cell function and skeletal homeostasis. “Here,” the authors write, “we report that in obese mice, the expansion in BMAT is directly associated with decreased trabecular and cortical bone volume through increased osteoclastogenesis by creating an immunosuppressive BM microenvironment through elevated [programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)] signaling.” According to the authors, PD-L1is an immune checkpoint protein found on antigen-presenting cells, like macrophages and dendritic cells, which regulates the immune response by functioning as an immune response “brake.”

Rosen says that he is eager to share and hear in this upcoming ENDO session about developments like these – the newer developments in bone related to obesity. “I am most excited about the microbiome and bone and the new thoughts on the mechanical loading of bone,” he says. “And to hear the latest and greatest new insights into diagnosis and treatment.”

Bone: A Mysterious and Dynamic Tissue

Rhee tells Endocrine News that her interest in bone health deepened after the discovery of FGF23 in 2001, when it became increasingly clear that that bone is not simply a passive target of hormones within the endocrine system, but an active endocrine organ in its own right. “I found that idea incredibly exciting. Bone is not just something that develops ‘holes’ with aging. It is a mysterious and dynamic tissue, influenced by genetic factors and deeply connected with many other organs and systems in the body. Realizing how much is happening within bone — and how much bone itself can influence the rest of physiology — is what truly made me fall in love with this field.”

“We are now living in a super-aged society, and conditions such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia are becoming increasingly important. In this setting, I hope attendees will come away with a clear and up-to-date overview of where the field currently stands, as well as the direction in which it is moving through the efforts of many scientists and the pharmaceutical industry.” — Yumie Rhee, MD, PhD, professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Rosen came to discover endocrinology as anyone does – at summer camp in endocrinology as a high school student. He started as primary care physician but got referrals for endocrinology even though he wasn’t a specialist; his colleagues recognized his passion for the specialty. “Bone health came later since they never taught it at med school,” he says.

Rosen goes on to say that he hopes attendees of the “Year in Bone” session will come away with better awareness about the dynamic nature of the skeleton.

Rhee echoes that sentiment: “We are now living in a super-aged society, and conditions such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia are becoming increasingly important. In this setting, I hope attendees will come away with a clear and up-to-date overview of where the field currently stands, as well as the direction in which it is moving through the efforts of many scientists and the pharmaceutical industry.”

Solving the Puzzle

This will be Rosen’s 40^th ENDO. “Back in 1986 when I joined, it was a huge accomplishment to get accepted into the Society. It’s been a great run, and I served on the Endocrine Society Board for three years, which was a great experience. I’m really looking forward to my two presentations this year.”

Rhee says her love of solving puzzles is what drew her to endocrinology, and the Endocrine Society has felt like her second home. “It may sound a little unusual, but I am someone who genuinely lights up whenever hormones come into the conversation,” she says. “My mind immediately goes to: what comes next, what does this mean, how does this connect? The Endocrine Society has been an important place that continually feeds that curiosity. It has given me a community, intellectual stimulation, and a sense of belonging in a field that I truly love.”

Bagley is the Senior Editor of Endocrine News. In the April issue, he conducted a roundtable with some of the Endocrine Society’s “Adrenal All Stars.”

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Endocrine Society member Matthias Tschöp, MD, has been awarded the 2026 Rolf Luft Award for outstanding groundbreaking scientific contributions to fields of diabetes and obesity basic research leading to important clinical implications. He shares the award with Richard Dennis DiMarchi from Indiana University in Bloomington.

Tschöp, president of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), is an internationally renowned physician and medical researcher who previously led Helmholtz Munich and was vice president of the Helmholtz Association for Health Research.

The duo were recognized for advances in peptide chemistry and the development of novel duel and triple agonists for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.

Several versions of these so-called gut hormone poly-agonists have advanced through clinical trials. One class representative, with the same active peptide ingredient named tirzepatide advanced by Eli Lilly, has already been FDA approved for treating type 2 diabetes in 2022 as Mounjaro and obesity in 2023 as Zepbound.

Treatment of obese patients with tirzepatide decreased patients’ body weight more than 20%, an excess weight where obesity is typically defined. This level of weight lowering had previously only been possible with gastric bypass surgery. The discovery and validation of these highly efficient drugs for obesity, by DiMarchi and Tschöp have accomplished a transformative breakthrough, which provides a path for reversing the obesity pandemic. Additionally, it has set a direction in drug discovery for complex diseases when there is no effective therapy and more than one integrated mechanism in action might prove equally effective as demonstrated in obesity.

Tschop also received the Endocrine Society’s 2017 Outstanding Innovation Laureate Award.

As a postdoctoral fellow, Tschöp reported on the orexigenic, adipogenic, and metabolic effects of ghrelin (Nature, 2000, >3500 citations). This groundbreaking discovery added a fundamental pathway to the model of body weight and glucose control, and established a novel set of drug targets (Nature Medicine, 2009; Science, 2010). He also was the first to report that ghrelin levels are regulated by both food intake and body weight (Diabetes, 2001; J Endocrinol Invest, 2001). He went on to collaborate with the chemist Richard DiMarchi to co-discover a paradigm shifting series of gut hormone-derived unimolecular poly-agonists that target several neuroendocrine receptors, reduce body weight and improve glucose tolerance with unprecedented efficacy (Nature Chemical Biology, 2009; Science Translational Medicine, 2013, Nature Medicine, 2015).

Tschöp’s innovative breakthroughs also encompass novel strategies for tissue-specific delivery of small molecules using peptide shuttles thereby more efficiently targeting pathological processes while minimizing toxic effects (Nature Medicine, 2012; Cell, 2016). In addition to more than 300 peer-reviewed publications, and numerous scientific awards (including Outstanding Scientific Achievement Awards of The Obesity Society 2009 and the American Diabetes Society 2011).

Rolf Luft Foundation for Diabetes Research and Karolinska Institutet are awarded annually in memory of Rolf Luft. Awardees will receive the Rolf Luft Medal, a diploma, an honorarium, and deliver a lecture on their research in September 2026.

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The field of medicine can move very fast, with advances happening in one area triggering a cascade of discoveries elsewhere — and endocrinology is no exception. With such rapid forward progress, however, it’s no wonder that some important conversations can get left behind, including one that concerns a condition that affects every woman who lives long enough to experience it: menopause. One session at ENDO 2026 in Chicago this June promises to change that.

“’Hot and Flashy’ Topics in Menopause” happening Saturday, June 13, brings together four leading experts in the field to address menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), bone health, and non-hormonal treatment options for vasomotor symptoms. Gina Woods, MD, MSCP, clinical professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of California, in San Diego, who will chair the session, puts it this way: “I think some of the reasons the Endocrine Society is featuring this topic right now are the long-overdue reevaluation of safety and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s removal of the black box warning for MHT, the ongoing social media buzz, the increased patient demand. I think another important component is that the Endocrine Society recognizes that menopause training has been largely missing from medical education. There is a huge knowledge gap, and we need to address it by bringing experts together in sessions like this.”

Joining Woods are three presenters: James A. Simon, MD, CDD, NCMP, FACOG, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., will explore the latest in MHT; E. Michael Lewiecki, MD, FACP, CCD, FASBMR, director of New Mexico Clinical Research & Osteoporosis Center and Director of Bone Health ECHO at University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque, N.M., will talk about bone health in menopause; and JoAnn V. Pinkerton, MD, FACOG, MSCP, The Midlife Women’s Health and Mamie Jessup Professor of Ob Gyn; Division Director, Midlife Health at The University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Va., will round out the session with a discussion of non-hormonal therapies in menopause. All four know each other’s work well — and all are eager to share their complementary insights and set certain records straight.

“The women who are candidates for non-hormonal therapy are fewer in number but more complex. These are the women who have been suffering the most, because they haven’t been getting effective therapies.” — JoAnn V. Pinkerton, MD, FACOG, MSCP, The Midlife Women’s Health and Mamie Jessup Professor of Ob Gyn; division director, Midlife Health, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Va.

Of the session and her role as Chair, Woods says, “This session will draw a big crowd, and I’m delighted to introduce this lineup of experts. I expect a lot of questions during the post-presentation Q&A and getting through as many of them as we can in a timely manner may be challenging. But I hope the audience is really engaged, and I anticipate they will be.” As for why Woods (as well as the co-presenters) expect a good audience turnout, this partly comes down to how topical menopause is currently as well as to correcting the short shrift it has sometimes gotten in the past. Woods invokes her colleague Cynthia A. Stuenkel, who is first author on the Endocrine Society’s clinical practice guideline on menopause: “[Stuenkel] often points out that medical students typically receive just one lecture on menopause, the same number of lectures as they receive on congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which is a rare condition. So, you can see that the time devoted to this incredibly common condition, one that affects half of all people who live long enough to experience it, is quite limited.”

Woods explains that this carries through into internal medicine residency and endocrinology fellowship training. “Historically, our fellows have had very little exposure to menopause care, either in lectures or in clinical opportunities to work in a menopause practice. Much of that work has been done by our OB-GYN colleagues. I’m glad to see that changing, because in my opinion, this falls squarely within the realm of what an endocrinologist should be able to provide. We need to do a much better job of training our endocrine fellows and our colleagues in this area.”

This session may indeed seem long overdue, and it will cover a lot of important clinical ground. According to Woods, some potentially fruitful areas of discussion include whether MHT should be used for osteoporosis prevention in women who have no menopausal symptoms as well as to treat osteoporosis in younger postmenopausal women who have no contraindications. Other areas of ongoing debate include timing of MHT and what might constitute absolute contraindications. “Another area I’d highlight is selective estrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs),” she says. “The question of how to use them, particularly in women who have an elevated breast cancer risk, deserves more focus. If a woman wants to be proactive about protecting her bones but is worried about breast cancer, where should SERMs fit into the treatment plan? I know there are ongoing studies working to address that.”

Setting the Record Straight on MHT

If the training gap Woods identified is one part of the problem, the misinformation gap is another, and few people are better positioned to set the record straight on MHT than Simon. A reproductive endocrinologist and gynecologist, he has been a long-time member of the Endocrine Society and, like his co-presenters, has attended dozens of its meetings. He also became president of the Menopause Society in 2003; in other words, he was at the epicenter of the MHT controversy when it mattered most. “About a quarter of all menopausal women were on hormones at that time,” he recalls, “which dropped to roughly 5% in the years following the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) and the black box warning.”

That black box warning, he argues, should not have been applied in the first place: “It single-handedly reversed a trend toward investigation and study of hormone therapy in women.” It also contributed to the premature morbidity and mortality of tens of thousands of women who were, in reality, candidates for therapy but who went without it. “The warning had been applied broadly based on one arm of the WHI without adequately accounting for the distinction between combined therapy and estrogen alone and without any consideration of local vaginal estrogen for genitourinary syndrome of menopause or recurrent urinary tract infections,” explains Simon. He cites a 2020 editorial published in Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society, by Philip M. Sarrel, MD, that explored these issues in relation to burgeoning healthcare costs but with an underlying cautionary message: “Failure to recognize the significance of menopause and the effects of ovarian hormone deficiency, estrogen in particular, pervades medical research, clinical care, and teaching. Menopause is simply not in the awareness of most academics and practitioners.”

“The FDA’s recent removal of the warning was long overdue,” says Simon.

That’s not the only aspect of the MHT discussion he hopes to shed more light on. Social media has elevated the dialogue (and can be at least partly credited with menopause’s current status as a “cause célèbre,” as Simon puts it) while simultaneously distorting it. “The benefits and risks of MHT are seldom discussed in context or with any balance. You have people who think it’s the most horrible thing on the planet, and then enthusiasts who think that everyone, regardless of any qualifying health issue, should be on hormones, and neither of those is correct,” says Simon. He cites a systematic scoping review of prescription drug promotion by social media influencers, published in March in JAMA Open Network  by Gell, S. et al., the conclusion of which found that such promotion “carries risks of inaccurate or misleading advice, often amplified through personal and emotionally resonant narratives in an environment with limited oversight and enforcement.” This phenomenon even has a name now: “menopause profiteering.”

Against this backdrop, Simon’s goal for the session is straightforward: to set the record straight with scientific evidence, to show both where the FDA was when they made the judgment to add the black box warning, and what the evidence has shown since. He is also hoping to bridge a longstanding divide between his own specialty and the endocrinologists in the room. OB-GYNs, he explains, tend to see younger, healthier patients and are comfortable managing the most common side effects of MHT (breast tenderness and bleeding). Endocrinologists, by contrast, frequently see an older patient population with additional underlying conditions. “My hope is that at this meeting, for this audience, I can bring those two disparate points of view closer together.”

As for what he wants attendees to take away? Simon keeps it simple: “The truth will set you free.”

Revisiting Osteoporosis Prevention

If Simon’s section of the session addresses what went wrong with MHT, Lewiecki’s asks a related but distinct question: Now that the conversation around estrogen is shifting, what opportunities does that open up? For Lewiecki, the answer lies in a concept that has been sidelined in recent years — osteoporosis prevention.

“Most of the current clinical practice guidelines for osteoporosis focus on identifying menopausal women at high risk for fracture and treating them,” he explains. “Even though, ideally, as with most diseases, we’d rather prevent than treat, osteoporosis prevention has not gotten much attention in recent clinical practice guidelines.” The stakes are significant: Women begin to lose bone density several years before their final menstrual period and may lose up to 20% within five to seven years after menopause, making early intervention and basic lifestyle counseling regarding calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise essential. The removal of the black box warning from estrogen, he notes, means that both patients and clinicians may now be more open to prevention-oriented conversations than they have been in decades.

The distinction between prevention and treatment matters more than it might initially appear. “By intervening early, before women have osteoporosis, we can hope to prevent the irreversible microarchitectural deterioration of bone structure and put them in better shape as they get older, rather than waiting until fracture risk is high before doing something,” says Lewiecki. Although several medications are approved for osteoporosis prevention, including raloxifene and bisphosphonates, as well as estrogen, awareness of prevention among both clinicians and patients has lagged.

“Most of the current clinical practice guidelines for osteoporosis focus on identifying menopausal women at high risk for fracture and treating them. Even though, ideally, as with most diseases, we’d rather prevent than treat, osteoporosis prevention has not gotten much attention in recent clinical practice guidelines.” — E. Michael Lewiecki, MD, FACP, CCD, FASBMR, director, New Mexico Clinical Research & Osteoporosis Center and Director of Bone Health ECHO, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, N.M.

Indeed, estrogen is FDA-approved for prevention of osteoporosis but has not been broadly used for that purpose, instead thought of mainly for menopausal symptom management. So, what is the role of hormone therapy for primary prevention of osteoporosis, even in the absence of symptoms? (And, perhaps, even more controversially, could MHT be used to treat osteoporosis? Although it is not FDA-approved for that indication, in the WHI study, MHT prevented spine, hip, wrist, and all-site fractures.)

“That’s where we as healthcare professionals need to use our communication skills, talk with the patient, and come to a shared decision about what’s best,” Lewiecki acknowledges. If you’re wondering why an osteoporosis-specific medication like alendronate may not be appropriate for some women, more is understood decades since bisphosphonates were first approved. Lewiecki explains: “People thought, great, we’ll put all postmenopausal women on it forever and they’ll never get osteoporosis. Then we learned about side effects that were not appreciated or recognized in the initial clinical trials. Later we learned about concepts such as pausing bisphosphonate therapy, sequencing therapy, and using different drug classes at different lifetime stages. So hopefully we’ve become wiser about when and how to use all the available medications.”

The individualized conversations Lewiecki alluded to are also important in light of the expanded therapeutic options now possible. “In some cases, estrogen and a bisphosphonate may be used together, not as combination therapy in the traditional sense,” he adds, “but as two medications addressing two different clinical needs simultaneously.”

Redefining Non-Hormonal Therapy

If the preceding sections of the session address what MHT can do and for whom, Pinkerton’s rounds out the picture by asking, what about the women for whom non-hormonal therapies are the right choice? Whether non-hormonal therapy is the better option from the outset or because MHT is not an option or not a preference, this group now has more evidence-based choices than ever before.

Pinkerton will focus on non-hormonal therapies for vasomotor symptoms, with particular attention to a class of medications that represents a genuine paradigm shift in menopause care: neurokinin-targeted therapies (NKTs), also called neurokinin receptor antagonists. When estrogen levels decline, hypothalamic KNDy neurons become enlarged and hyperactivated, triggering hot flashes. NKTs work by interrupting that process directly.

“The benefits and risks of MHT are seldom discussed in context or with any balance. You have people who think it’s the most horrible thing on the planet, and then enthusiasts who think that everyone, regardless of any qualifying health issue, should be on hormones, and neither of those is correct.” — James A. Simon, MD, CDD, NCMP, FACOG, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology, GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington, D.C.

Three FDA-approved non-hormonal therapies are now available. Low-dose paroxetine salt (Brisdelle) was approved specifically for hot flushes and remains a viable option, although it is generally considered less effective than the newer agents. Fezolinetant (Veozah), FDA approved in 2023 and works quickly and effectively, although liver monitoring is required due to a rare risk of hepatotoxicity. Elinzanetant (Lynkuet), FDA approved in October 2025, is a dual NK1/NK3 receptor antagonist (whereas fezolinetant targets only the NK3 receptor). In the OASIS 3 trial, women on elinzanetant experienced nearly 74% fewer moderate-to-severe hot flashes over the course of a year. “This is a major step forward for women,” says Pinkerton, who was a primary author on the OASIS 1 and 2 publications in JAMA. Elinzanetant has also demonstrated benefits for mood and sleep, mediated through the NK1 receptor, and has been studied in women with natural, surgical, and endocrine therapy–induced menopause.

Importantly, both NKTs may be options for women on endocrine therapy for breast cancer, a population that has historically had very few safe options for vasomotor symptom management. Elinzanetant has published one-year data on women taking Elinzanetant for hot flashes due to endocrine therapy for breast cancer, and an ongoing phase 3 trial is evaluating fezolinetant for this population. “The women who are candidates for non-hormonal therapy are fewer in number but more complex,” Pinkerton explains. “These are the women who have been suffering the most, because they haven’t been getting effective therapies.” That group includes women with estrogen-sensitive cancers, those with a history of stroke or blood clots, women with migraines with aura that worsen on MHT, and those with liver disease or recent cardiovascular events. The questions Woods raises about SERMs and breast cancer risk point toward some of the population Pinkerton has in mind.

Pinkerton will also address what she calls “repurposed” medications, agents approved for other indications that have demonstrated efficacy for hot flashes in clinical trials. Oxybutynin (Ditropan), approved for overactive bladder, has been shown in recent trials to be effective for vasomotor symptoms as well; clinicians should note that it crosses the blood–brain barrier. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin/norepinephrine–reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) including venlafaxine, escitalopram, desvenlafaxine, and paroxetine remain standard non-hormonal options, although breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen should use these medications with caution given potential drug interactions. For clinicians navigating prior authorization requirements, such as when patients may be required to try non-FDA-approved therapies before accessing newer agents, understanding the evidence base for these medications is essential.

Underlying all these treatment decisions is a commitment to protecting bone health, a concern that becomes acute when estrogen levels drop at menopause and bone loss accelerates. Clinicians should also be alert to medications that may compound bone loss. Early 2026 data identified osteoporosis in 4% of patients using glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), compared to 3% of non-users, a difference attributed primarily to rapid weight loss reducing mechanical stress on bones as well as potential reductions in dietary calcium intake and absorption. (The effect of weight loss on bone, a topic Lewiecki also touches on in his portion of the session, is serendipitously being covered at an ENDO 2026 session happening on Sunday, June 14.)

Emerging metabolic research adds another dimension: early 2026 findings have identified a link between elevated midlife insulin levels and an increased likelihood of experiencing hot flashes earlier and for longer durations, suggesting that managing metabolic health may itself be a meaningful non-hormonal strategy for some patients.

Pinkerton’s practical, evidence-based approach to the question of who gets which therapy captures the spirit of the session as a whole. “My goal is to share the clinical trial results and offer practical advice to help clinicians best care for women going through menopause, considering their different needs,” she says.

“Historically, our fellows have had very little exposure to menopause care, either in lectures or in clinical opportunities to work in a menopause practice. Much of that work has been done by our OB-GYN colleagues. I’m glad to see that changing, because in my opinion, this falls squarely within the realm of what an endocrinologist should be able to provide. We need to do a much better job of training our endocrine fellows and our colleagues in this area.” — Gina Woods, MD, MSCP, clinical professor of medicine, chief, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of California, San Diego, Calif.

The four voices in this session tell a coherent and urgent story, one in which each piece reinforces the others. Woods sets the stage by naming what has been missing: a generation of endocrinologists undertrained in menopause care and now hungry to catch up. “Endocrinologists need to be involved in menopause care,” she says, “up to date, informed, and prepared to deliver it to our patients. And, of course, there is such an urgent need for more research in women’s health.” Simon fills in the historical record, showing how a regulatory misstep rippled outward for decades, before looking forward to why the correction now underway matters so much. He makes the case that the benefits of MHT, properly understood and appropriately individualized, outweigh the risks for many more women than current prescribing patterns would suggest. Lewiecki reminds us that estrogen’s rehabilitation has a direct bearing on bone health, reopening a conversation about osteoporosis prevention that the guidelines had neglected. And Pinkerton closes the loop by equipping clinicians with an arsenal of non-hormonal options that stand on their own merits.

All four are longtime Endocrine Society members who are genuinely energized to be bringing this conversation to Chicago and genuinely committed to making sure that both clinicians and patients benefit. Both groups have been waiting long enough.

Horvath is a freelance writer based in Baltimore, Md. In the April issue, she wrote about recent journal studies that highlighted adrenal research.

The post Unpausing the Conversation: Menopause is Having a Moment at ENDO 2026 appeared first on Endocrine News.

Lilly’s Retatrutide Delivered Powerful Weight Loss in Pivotal Phase 3 Obesity Trial

On May 21, Eli Lilly and Company, the maker of Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Foundayo (orforglipron), announced positive topline results from TRIUMPH-1, a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of retatrutide, an investigational, first-in-class GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon triple hormone receptor agonist, in adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related comorbidity and without diabetes. At 80 weeks, all doses of retatrutide (4 mg, 9 mg, and 12 mg) met the primary and key secondary endpoints for obesity, delivering clinically meaningful weight loss.

“Obesity is a chronic disease, and people living with obesity deserve treatment options that match the complex biology of their neurometabolic disease,” said Ania Jastreboff, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and pediatrics (endocrinology) at the Yale School of Medicine, director of the Yale Obesity Research Center (Y-Weight), and lead investigator. “It was impressive to see that every dose of retatrutide resulted in clinically meaningful weight reduction for nearly all participants, and people with severe obesity on the highest dose lost on average 30% of their body weight over two years. Importantly, treatment with retatrutide not only resulted in robust weight reduction, but also in clear improvements in assessed cardiometabolic health measures. For patients I see in clinic, retatrutide may potentially be a highly impactful future tool to treat their obesity and transform their health trajectory.”

For the primary endpoint, participants taking retatrutide 9 mg and 12 mg lost an average of 64.4 lbs (25.9%) and 70.3 lbs (28.3%), respectively. Those taking the 4 mg dose of retatrutide, with just a single dose escalation step, lost an average of 47.2 lbs (19.0%). Notably, 65.3% of participants taking retatrutide 12 mg achieved a BMI <30, falling under the threshold for obesity at 80 weeks, including 37.5% of those who started with class 3 obesity (BMI ≥40).¹ In a pre-specified blinded extension for those with a BMI ≥35, participants who continued on retatrutide 12 mg to 104 weeks lost an average of 85.0 lbs (30.3%).² Additionally, retatrutide showed significant improvements from baseline across certain cardiovascular risk factors, including waist circumference, non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).

“TRIUMPH-1 highlights the importance of options and the potential for retatrutide to help people across various stages of their obesity journey,” said Kenneth Custer, PhD, executive vice president and president, Lilly Cardiometabolic Health. “From the 4 mg dose, reaching nearly 20% weight loss with one escalation step, to the 12 mg dose that delivered a level of weight loss long associated with bariatric surgery, retatrutide offers the potential for a patient-centric approach to obesity.⁴ Together with Zepbound and Foundayo, retatrutide could build on Lilly’s commitment to match treatments to the needs and preferences of patients.”

For the treatment-regimen estimand, each dose level of retatrutide led to improvements across the primary and key secondary endpoints, as well as the pre-specified extension, including:⁵

• Percent change in body weight at 80 weeks: -17.6% (-19.8 kg; -43.7 lbs; 4 mg); -23.7% (-26.7 kg; -58.9 lbs; 9 mg); -25.0% (-28.2 kg; -62.1 lbs; 12 mg) and -3.9% (-4.4 kg; -9.7 lbs; placebo)
• Percent change in body weight at 104 weeks: -25.7% (-30.6 kg; -67.5 lbs; 4 mg to MTD); -28.7% (-35.6 kg; -78.4 lbs; 9 mg to MTD); -29.9% (-38.1 kg; -83.9 lbs; 12 mg to MTD) and -18.9% (-22.3 kg; -49.1 lbs; placebo to MTD)

The types of adverse events seen were generally consistent with trials of other incretin-based therapies. The most common adverse events among participants treated with retatrutide (4 mg, 9 mg, 12 mg, vs. placebo, respectively) were nausea (28.6%, 38.4% and 42.4% vs. 14.8%), diarrhea (25.2%, 34.1% and 32.0% vs. 13.5%), constipation (23.8%, 25.9% and 26.1% vs. 10.9%), vomiting (10.6%, 22.8% and 25.3% vs. 4.8%), and upper respiratory tract infection (14.2%, 12.2% and 13.1% vs. 11.6%). Incidences of dysesthesia occurred in 5.1%, 12.3%, and 12.5% of patients treated with retatrutide 4 mg, 9 mg, and 12 mg, respectively, compared with 0.9% with placebo, and incidences of urinary tract infections occurred in 7.5%, 8.8%, and 8.4% of patients treated with retatrutide 4 mg, 9 mg, and 12 mg, respectively, compared with 5.3% with placebo. Events of dysesthesia and urinary tract infections were generally mild to moderate, the majority resolved during treatment, and most participants continued taking retatrutide. Discontinuation rates due to adverse events were 4.1%, 6.9%, 11.3%, with retatrutide 4 mg, 9 mg, and 12 mg, respectively, compared with 4.9% with placebo.

Additional TRIUMPH-1 results will be presented at the 86^th annual American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, along with other results from Lilly’s cardiometabolic pipeline. Additional detailed results will be presented at future medical meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. More results from the TRIUMPH Phase 3 clinical trial program will be shared later this year, including data from TRIUMPH-2, which is evaluating retatrutide in adults with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes, and TRIUMPH-3, which is evaluating retatrutide in adults with obesity or overweight and established cardiovascular disease.

About retatrutide
Retatrutide is an investigational, once-weekly, triple hormone receptor agonist, which activates the body’s receptors for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and glucagon. Lilly is studying retatrutide in several Phase 3 clinical trials to evaluate its potential efficacy and safety in obesity and overweight with at least one weight-related medical problem, type 2 diabetes, knee osteoarthritis pain, moderate-to-severe OSA, chronic low back pain, cardiovascular and renal outcomes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Retatrutide is an investigational molecule that is legally available only to participants in Lilly’s clinical trials.

About TRIUMPH-1 and the TRIUMPH clinical trial program

The initial TRIUMPH Phase 3 clinical development program is evaluating the safety and efficacy of retatrutide for the treatment of patients with obesity or overweight, moderate-to-severe OSA and obesity, and knee osteoarthritis pain across four global registrational trials. The program, which began in 2023, has enrolled more than 5,800 participants with additional results anticipated over the next year.

TRIUMPH‑1 (NCT05929066) is a Phase 3, 80‑week, randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled master trial comparing the efficacy and safety of retatrutide with placebo in adults with obesity or overweight. TRIUMPH-1 included a master trial for obesity and two basket trials for knee osteoarthritis pain or moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea. The study randomized 2,339 participants in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive either retatrutide 4 mg, 9 mg, 12 mg, or placebo. Participants randomized to retatrutide initiated treatment with 2 mg once weekly and increased the dose in a step-wise approach every four weeks until reaching the target dose of 4 mg (via one step at 2 mg), 9 mg (via steps at 2 mg, 4 mg and 6 mg) or 12 mg (via steps at 2 mg, 4 mg, 6 mg and 9 mg). TRIUMPH-1 included a pre-specified extension period of 104 weeks. The extension period enrolled 532 participants with BMI ≥35 at week 0 who completed the main 80-week study and tolerated their assigned dose of medication. Participants received retatrutide once weekly for an additional 24 weeks, including a blinded escalation to maximum tolerated dose (9 mg or 12 mg). Data described in this press release refer to the master trial and extension period; analyses of the two basket trials for knee osteoarthritis pain and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea will be released subsequently. 

Endnotes and References 

1. The proportion of participants achieving BMI <30 was a pre-specified analysis not controlled for multiplicity; the same endpoint among participants with a baseline BMI ≥40 was assessed post-hoc.
2. The pre-specified extension enrolled the first 532 participants from participating countries to complete Week 80 on study drug without discontinuation or permanent dose reduction, with BMI ≥35 at baseline and >22 at Week 80. Their follow-up continued for 24 additional weeks targeting the achievement of retatrutide MTD (9 or 12 mg once weekly), for up to 104 weeks total treatment. All original arms are eligible to preserve blinding.
3. The efficacy estimand represents efficacy had all randomized participants remained on study intervention (with possible dose interruptions and modifications) without initiating prohibited weight management treatments.
4. Courcoulas AP, Yanovski SZ, Bonds D, et al. Long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery: a National Institutes of Health symposium. JAMA Surg. 2014;149(12):1323-1329.
5. The treatment-regimen estimand represents the average treatment effect regardless of adherence to study intervention or initiation of prohibited weight management treatments.

New Endoscopic Procedure Replicated Bariatric Surgery Results

On May 19, Keyron announced via the journal Gut that its ForePass endoscopic metabolic bypass platform reproduced insulin sensitivity levels observed following biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) while substantially outperforming semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) in weight control in a randomized preclinical study.

Widely regarded as the most metabolically effective and invasive bariatric surgery ever developed, BPD has been associated with diabetes remission rates approaching ~80% and total body weight loss approaching ~40–50% in humans (SOARD, 2024). However, only ~1% of eligible patients undergo bariatric surgery due to its highly invasive nature (ASMBS/IFSO, 2024).

At the same time, 92% of patients receiving semaglutide fail to achieve even 15% weight loss (NEJM, 2021), despite patients with severe obesity and advanced metabolic disease often requiring substantially greater weight loss to achieve disease reversal (Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2025).

ForePass produced profound improvements in insulin sensitivity and glucose regulation, with insulin sensitivity levels closely matching those previously observed following BPD surgery in humans and more than two-fold higher than in semaglutide-treated animals. During oral glucose tolerance testing, ForePass-treated animals demonstrated near-complete suppression of postprandial glucose excursions with substantially reduced insulin demand, consistent with restoration of insulin sensitivity.

ForePass also dramatically outperformed semaglutide in weight control, limiting weight gain by more than eight-fold versus semaglutide-treated animals (4.3% vs 36%) and more than 10-fold versus controls (4.3% vs 47%).

The study was led by Ivo Boskoski, MD, Professor of Digestive Endoscopy at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and one of Europe’s leading gastrointestinal endoscopists. “This study demonstrates that ForePass reproduced metabolic effects typically associated only with highly invasive metabolic surgery through a minimally invasive and fully reversible endoscopic approach,” said Prof. Boskoski. “The magnitude of the insulin sensitivity improvements and glycaemic control observed in this model is remarkable.”

Giorgio Castagneto Gissey, PhD, Founder and CEO of Keyron, said: “ForePass was designed around a central concept in metabolic disease biology that the upper intestine plays a major role in insulin resistance and glucose regulation. These findings support the possibility that metabolic effects previously achievable only through highly invasive surgery may soon be achieved through a scalable, fully reversible endoscopic procedure that avoids lifelong drug dependency.”

Geltrude Mingrone, Professor of Diabetes at King’s College London, added: “For decades, BPD has demonstrated the metabolic impact of excluding the proximal intestine, but its invasiveness has limited adoption. ForePass is exciting because it seeks to reproduce these mechanisms through a minimally invasive, reversible endoscopic approach. The insulin-sensitivity improvements observed in this large-animal study support advancing toward human trials.”

The publication follows earlier peer-reviewed findings in Gut and Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism demonstrating significant metabolic improvements, enhanced insulin sensitivity, favorable microbiome changes, and superior weight control versus semaglutide in preclinical models.

Unlike bariatric surgery, ForePass is designed to be incision-free, fully reversible, and deployable through a short outpatient endoscopic procedure, potentially expanding access to surgery-level metabolic intervention for tens of millions of patients with severe obesity and metabolic disease too advanced for drugs and unwilling or unable to undergo major surgery.

Based on these findings, ForePass is advancing toward first-in-human clinical studies targeting severe obesity and metabolic disease.

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

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On Sunday, June 14, ENDO 2026 will feature “Weight Loss: Friend or Foe for Bone & Muscle?,” a session that complements the menopause session happening a day earlier (and also featured in this issue). The Sunday session will characterize the effects of different methods of weight loss on musculoskeletal health in people living with obesity and discuss current management approaches including lifestyle and pharmacologic treatments. Of the three presenters, two will discuss the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in this dynamic, and one will cover how bariatric surgery fits in.

Fractured Picture

From the start, each presenter is quick to point out that the pathophysiology underlying the deleterious effects of weight loss on musculoskeletal health — bone in particular — is not yet fully elucidated but is certainly multifactorial. Clifford J. Rosen, MD, director and principal investigator for the Rosen Musculoskeletal Laboratory Clinical & Translational Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute and Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Scarborough, Maine, for example,explains that, “We don’t understand the mechanisms of bone loss from the GLP-1 RAs but weight loss alone causes bone to change and thin. There might be other mechanisms as well for GLP-1 RAs.” Zhenqhi Liu, MD, professor of medicine and past chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, Va., agrees: “Weight loss, whether lifestyle- or pharmacologically induced, creates a negative energy balance that drives not only fat loss but also reductions in fat-free (or lean) body mass and bone mineral density (BMD). Mechanistically, lower nutrient intake, reduced mechanical loading, reduced anabolic signaling, and relative increases in catabolic pathways all contribute.”

“Weight loss, whether lifestyle- or pharmacologically induced, creates a negative energy balance that drives not only fat loss but also reductions in fat-free (or lean) body mass and bone mineral density (BMD). Mechanistically, lower nutrient intake, reduced mechanical loading, reduced anabolic signaling, and relative increases in catabolic pathways all contribute.” —  Zhenqhi Liu, MD, professor of medicine and past chief. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

Although all patients living with obesity who begin an incretin regimen are at risk of musculoskeletal health impairment, and consequent risk of fracture, populations with lower baseline BMD and muscle mass are at disproportionately increased risk. “The most vulnerable people for bone loss are postmenopausal women,” says Rosen. Liu adds to this that older adults, patients experiencing rapid or substantial weight loss, and those with inadequate protein intake or low physical activity are also at higher risk. Liu furthermore suggests that some of the leading theories on why this happens include that, “incretin-based therapies may further modulate muscle and bone health through effects on nutrient intake, gut–muscle signaling, blood vessel–muscle crosstalk, muscle–bone coupling, and possibly direct receptor-mediated pathways,” while remaining incompletely defined.

The clinical picture is similar for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, explains Elaine W. Yu, MD, MMSc associate professor, Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, but with a couple of bariatric surgery–specific mechanisms. “I think of the components that impact bone health in three categories,” she says. Mechanical unloading of the skeleton, as Liu also mentioned, is a prime culprit, insofar as higher weight loads more onto bone and therefore may be osteoprotective. “Unloading the skeleton,” says Yu, “whether because patients are sedentary, immobilized, or in this case losing weight, will inevitably lead to bone loss.”

A second mechanism is malabsorption, which varies depending on the type of bariatric surgery. The two most common types, sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, both result in some degree of nutrient malabsorption, including the calcium and vitamin D critical for bone health.

The third mechanism is hormonal. “Many of the hormonal shifts that occur after bariatric surgery mediate the beneficial impact of bariatric surgery on weight, but some of those changing hormones can have a direct impact on bone health,” says Yu. Among these include changes in gastrointestinal hormones, including potentially GLP-1, as well as other adipocytic and neurohormonal pathways.  “More research is needed to better define these bone–gut–brain interactions.”

Skeletal Guidance

The incomplete mechanistic picture is compounded by a lack of formal guidance. “Currently there are no standards,” says Rosen. Liu frames it this way: the current approach is “largely supportive and preventive,” combining weight-loss therapy with resistance exercise, adequate protein intake, and optimization of calcium and vitamin D, but he acknowledges that this is extrapolated from general obesity, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis care principles rather than derived from evidence specific to incretin-based therapies.

Yu describes a similar framework for her bariatric surgery patients but with some additional nuance. Exercise is a first line of defense; she explains: “studies have demonstrated that rigorous exercise regimens can at least partially prevent the bone loss seen after surgery, although they don’t fully prevent it.” Calcium and vitamin D supplementation is also strongly recommended, often at doses higher than those used for standard postmenopausal osteoporosis. “Making sure patients get adequate calcium and vitamin D, and monitoring related laboratory values to ensure sufficiency, is really important,” she says.

“We don’t understand the mechanisms of bone loss from the GLP-1 RAs but weight loss alone causes bone to change and thin. There might be other mechanisms as well for GLP-1 RAs.” —Clifford J. Rosen, MD, director and principal investigator, Rosen Musculoskeletal Laboratory Clinical & Translational Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute; professor of medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Scarborough, Maine

For those patient groups at elevated baseline risk, however, lifestyle measures alone fall short. In those cases, says Yu, pharmacologic intervention may be warranted, including with such antiresorptive agents as bisphosphonates or denosumab. Rosen notes that exercise and protein supplementation are currently being tested as targeted interventions, although data remain limited.

The controversies embedded in this de facto approach are significant. Liu identifies the core problem: “It is not based on standardized or evidence-based in the context of modern, highly effective incretin therapies.” Open questions persist about optimal protein intake, the type and intensity of exercise required, and whether pharmacologic adjuncts should be routinely considered as well as how aggressively clinicians should monitor body composition rather than focusing on weight alone.

Counting Losses

Perhaps the most clinically significant controversy is whether the bone loss associated with obesity treatment is an expected, proportionate response to weight loss or something more concerning. High body mass index correlates with high BMD (likely due to mechanical loading, as mentioned), and patients with obesity have historically shown lower rates of certain fractures, including, importantly, hip fractures. From this perspective, some clinicians have argued that a degree of bone loss is justified — in other words, physiologic and proportionate.

That’s not always the full story, according to Yu. “The amount of bone loss we see exceeds what you would expect for the amount of weight loss.” Large epidemiologic studies have demonstrated significant increases in fracture risk, including wrist; pelvic; and, most concerning, a twofold increase in hip fractures. “So, it does appear to be pathologic,” she says. “That’s probably the biggest controversy of clinical significance here.”

Building a Better Matrix: Prevention, Investigation, and Vigilance

Given these uncertainties, the field is moving in two parallel directions: studying novel interventions and refining the threshold for when to intervene. On the investigational front, Liu points to several active areas of inquiry, including combining incretin agents with anabolic or anticatabolic therapies like resistance-training protocols, higher-protein dietary regimens, and pharmacologic agents. Whether multi-agonist incretin therapies differentially affect lean mass and skeletal health compared with GLP-1 RA monotherapy, as alluded to earlier, is also being explored.

On the preventive side, Yu advocates for lowering the threshold for pharmacologic intervention in high-risk patients. For standard osteoporosis, the conventional T-score cutoff for initiating therapy is −2.5. For bariatric surgery patients, particularly those at risk for rapid postoperative bone loss, Yu recommends adjusting that T-score threshold to −2.0 “with an eye toward preventing the bone loss that would occur after surgery,” she explains. This more aggressive approach is also supported by published guidelines from the European Calcified Tissue Society.

“Studies have demonstrated that rigorous exercise regimens can at least partially prevent the bone loss seen after [bariatric] surgery, although they don’t fully prevent it. Making sure patients get adequate calcium and vitamin D, and monitoring related laboratory values to ensure sufficiency, is really important.” — Elaine W. Yu, MD, MMSc, associate professor, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston

What unites all three presenters, despite their different areas of focus, is a call for a shift in clinical mindset. “We need to move beyond weight-centric metrics,” says Liu, “and better understand and proactively address the effects of these therapies on muscle and bone health.” Yu echoes this while adding an important counterpoint: bone loss and fracture risk should not dissuade patients or clinicians from pursuing weight-loss interventions that are, in many cases, dramatically beneficial or even lifesaving. “At the same time,” she says, “we need to be cognizant of these potential side effects and do our best to mitigate the negative consequences.”

In addition to their clinical concerns, the three presenters share genuine enthusiasm for the work ahead and, more imminently, for ENDO itself. Liu looks forward to engaging with colleagues across clinical, translational, and basic science disciplines and hopes the meeting will seed collaborations that push the field toward more mechanistic and interventional studies. Yu, whose subspecialty keeps her day-to-day work focused on bone and osteoporosis, treasures ENDO precisely because it pulls her back into the full breadth of endocrinology. “It’s a wonderful mix of both clinically useful information and cutting-edge research,” she says, and she hopes for a robust turnout. Rosen, meanwhile, will arrive with something extra to celebrate: 40 years in the Endocrine Society. The challenges surrounding musculoskeletal health in the setting of weight loss may persist, but this particular session will make sure attendees are on solid footing.

Horvath is a freelance writer based in Baltimore, Md. In the April issue, she wrote about recent journal studies that highlighted adrenal research.

The post Breaking Point: Weight Loss Therapies and the Musculoskeletal Stakes appeared first on Endocrine News.

Mentorship is one of the most powerful forces in shaping scientific careers — guiding curiosity, building confidence, and opening doors that might otherwise remain closed. The Endocrine Society has recognized Patricia Lee Brubaker, PhD, as one of its 2026 Laureates with the Outstanding Mentor Award, honoring her career-long commitment to supporting and inspiring the next generation of researchers.

Brubaker, professor emerita in the Departments of Physiology and Medicine at the University of Toronto, retired three years ago after a distinguished 38-year tenure on faculty. Since 1985, she has mentored hundreds of postdoctoral fellows as well as graduate and undergraduate research students, helping them navigate their careers and achieve success.

We sat down with Brubaker to reflect on her approach to mentorship, the impact of her trainees, and what this recognition means to her.

Endocrine News: When you first heard the news that you won the outstanding mentor, what was your first reaction?

Brubaker: I was deeply honored to even be nominated. It really meant a lot to me because working with my trainees, of whom there have been over 200 in my career, has been the most fulfilling part of my career. In fact, I love the science, but I truly have loved working with my trainees. So, I was thrilled to be recognized by the Endocrine Society and humbled because I know that there have been a lot of outstanding mentors who’ve won this award before me.

EN: How do you describe great mentorship in science?

Brubaker: Part of being a great mentor is instilling self-sufficiency. You want your students to be able to go on into whatever career they choose with confidence and with skills, even if it’s not science. The ability to write, to prepare and deliver a presentation, to be in a question-and-answer situation. All of these are important skills. I also think a great mentor encourages exploration. So, it’s not just that you have a task to do and you don’t do anything else. You look around to see what else inspires you.

“Part of being a great mentor is instilling self-sufficiency. You want your students to be able to go on into whatever career they choose with confidence and with skills, even if it’s not science. The ability to write, to prepare and deliver a presentation, to be in a question-and-answer situation. All of these are important skills. I also think a great mentor encourages exploration. So, it’s not just that you have a task to do and you don’t do anything else. You look around to see what else inspires you.” — Patricia Lee Brubaker, PhD, 2026 Outstanding Mentor Award Laureate

Another thing that was important in my philosophy was that I assumed that pretty much anyone who came into my lab would have areas where they already had great skills and perhaps one or more areas where they would need extra assistance, whether that’s fear of presenting publicly or not understanding how to look at data analytically. So, I looked for areas in my incoming students to see where I could give them extra assistance so that by the time they finished, they were a more well-rounded individual.

And finally, what I really enjoyed with my trainees, students, postdocs, and undergrads was that we also spent some social time together. We often had lunch or we went out for coffee. We had a lab lunch every month, and then every year I would invite the entire lab back to my house where I would cook dinner for them. That was also the time that we took the lab photograph for the year. So, I have photographs of probably 199 of my 200 trainees, and I put those photographs on a wall in my office to remind me of their contributions.

EN: What mentors made the biggest impression on you when you were beginning your career?

Brubaker: I had some wonderful, very generous mentors. The person who did have the greatest impact on me was a man named Dr. Joe Schwarcz. I first met him in 1973 when I went to CEGEP in Montreal, Quebec (in Quebec, you do CEGEP [Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel] between grade 11 in high school and first year at university).

Joe was my organic chemistry teacher, and he made organic chemistry come alive. He was just a brilliant teacher, and he took me and many of us, including my future husband, under his wing. We spent a lot of time with Joe talking about what we wanted to do and also just being friends. And I’m still in contact with him, 50 years later!  He changed the trajectory of my career because until then, I had really wanted to go into medicine, but he introduced me to some of the joy of science.

EN: How do you train your students to deal with setbacks or failed experiments or any kind of frustrations that can happen in today’s science world?

Brubaker: It’s always difficult when you don’t get the result that you expect. And these are all things that we would discuss in our lab journal club, quite openly and quite frankly. Not all hypotheses are right. Not all techniques are the right way to approach a question. We would talk about whether it’s a species-dependent issue. For example, maybe it works in mice, but it doesn’t work in rats, or maybe it won’t work in humans eventually. We were very open in our discussions in the lab about reasons that things can go wrong. But in addition, sometimes the answer is no. Sometimes your hypothesis is wrong. But all knowledge is useful. In fact, I had a quote from Thomas Jefferson on my wall that I kept for many years. It says, “Knowledge is like a candle. When you light your candle from mine, my light is not diminished, it is enhanced, and a larger room is enlightened as a consequence.” It’s a wonderful quote, and I tried to live by that quote.

EN: I read that many of your mentees have continued your relationships long after they’ve left your lab. What did you attribute that longevity to?

Brubaker: I certainly don’t keep in contact with all 200, but I do receive a surprising number of emails every year from people who say, “I was just doing something in my life and it reminded me of you and things that you used to say and I wanted to write and see how you’re doing.”

But I have former trainees that I continue to meet a couple times a year by Zoom or in person when possible. Some of these go back probably 25 or 30 years. And I attribute those long-lasting relationships to the fact that I hire people that I like. During the interview process, I go through this process in my mind saying, ‘this is going to be a very close relationship for the next two years or the next five years with this student, depending on the degree that they’re doing. Do I like this person enough to spend hours and hundreds of hours with them?’ By trying to make sure that I like them to start with, it becomes easier to develop a long-term relationship. And I like them as friends.

Also, my job as a mentor was to help advise and grow my students wherever they decided where they wanted to be after they left my lab. So, of the 150 undergraduates, maybe couple of dozen stayed on in science, but many of them went on to other careers. They went to medicine and dentistry. They also went into law. They went into teaching, accounting, just a wide variety of different careers. I was trying to make sure that I supported them in whatever career choice they had.

—Shaw is a freelance writer based in Carmel, Ind. She writes the monthly Laboratory Notes column and is a regular contributor to Endocrine News.

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Hormonal Influences on Immunity and Cancer Across the Lifespan, taking place in October in Breckenridge, Colo., will be the first of three joint meetings held by the organizations, which share a reputation for hosting top-flight scientific programming with luminary speakers. The conference series also will include two events on diabetes and cardiometabolic disease, which will both take place in February 2027 in Colorado. The events focus on understanding the foundations of chronic conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. 

By combining the resources of two top scientific organizations, the Endocrine Society and Keystone Symposia are strengthening the exchange of scientific knowledge through coordinated programming. The conferences are designed to facilitate discovery and collaboration among basic and translational researchers, with the goal of catalyzing advances in foundational science. Ultimately, these discoveries can lead to breakthroughs that improve clinical outcomes for patients. 

The event series includes: 

• Hormonal Influences on Immunity and Cancer Across the Lifespan (October 5-8, 2026 | Breckenridge, Colo.) brings together researchers across endocrinology, aging, and oncology to examine how hormonal signaling shapes disease in ways that are often overlooked when studied in isolation. Registration opens in late June. 

• Reimagining Diabetes: From Molecular Mechanisms to Transformative Therapies (February 1-4, 2027 | Keystone, Colo.) connects basic science, clinical research, and industry perspectives to better understand disease drivers and identify new therapeutic strategies. 

• Cardiometabolism and Interorgan Crosstalk: Novel Mechanisms and Therapies (February 16-19, 2027 | Breckenridge, Colo.) explores how communication across organ systems influences disease, highlighting emerging insights from genetics, immunology, and computational biology. 

The conference format is designed to take scientific information from the bench to the bedside, and back to the bench—creating a continuum of learning and feedback that is vital for progress. The meetings will take place over 3.5 days, which maximizes opportunities for researchers to build relationships and network with their peers. 

Amid a challenging research funding climate, the Society and Keystone will explore the importance of strategic partnerships in scientific discovery during a joint symposium at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, ENDO 2026, on June 16 in Chicago, Ill. The joint panel, “Keystone Symposia + Endocrine Society: How Partnerships Across the Life Sciences Benefit Researchers,” will feature researchers Ines Pineda Torra, PhD, David D’Alessio, MD, Jennifer K. Richer, PhD, and Roger Cone, PhD. The session, co-moderated by Keystone Symposia’s President and CEO Jamie Baumgartner, PhD, and Endocrine Society’s Chief Learning Officer Christopher Urena, MBA, FASAE, CAE, will address how clinical observations shape research questions as well as mechanistic insights that guide new approaches to care—and how these ideas will come together in three upcoming meetings. 

“These conferences provide a valuable opportunity for researchers across the endocrine spectrum to engage deeply, challenge assumptions, and inspire new directions in science,” said Endocrine Society President Carol Lange, PhD. “We are proud to partner with Keystone Symposia in the spirit of advancing science. By bringing discovery and translation together, we are strengthening the pipeline from innovation to patient care.” 

Keystone Symposia is a nonprofit host of conferences and symposia on a range of life science and biomedical topics. Keystone Symposia specializes in holding intimate conferences in relaxed environments that encourage networking and foster connections among attendees.  
 
“This partnership reflects something the scientific community needs now more than ever: environments where fundamental discovery, translational science, and clinical insight are not separated into silos, but intentionally brought together to accelerate progress,” says Keystone’s Baumgartner. “By combining the Endocrine Society’s global clinical leadership with Keystone Symposia’s strength in highly interactive, cross-disciplinary scientific meetings, we are creating a platform where researchers can challenge assumptions, form unexpected collaborations, and move ideas more rapidly from mechanistic discovery toward patient impact. At a time of increasing complexity in human disease and growing pressure on the research ecosystem, partnerships like this are essential to advancing science in ways no single organization can accomplish alone.”
 

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Each year, the Lefoulon-Delalande Foundation awards its Scientific Prize to a scientist who has made a major contribution to cardiovascular physiology, biology, or medicine. In 2026, the Scientific Prize, endowed with €600,000, will be shared equally between two laureates and their laboratories.

The scientific council awarded the 2026 Lefoulon-Delalande Foundation Scientific Prize to the duo by majority decision.

GLP-1 plays a crucial role in the regulation of metabolic balance, particularly in the control of blood glucose levels and in the pathophysiology of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases. The therapeutic development of GLP-1 agonists has had a major impact on the management of these conditions and, more broadly, on human health.

Drucker, the 2025 recipient of the Endocrine Society’s Fred Conrad Koch Lifetime Achievement Award, is a professor of medicine at the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute of Mt. Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada. In 2020, Drucker also received the Endocrine Society’s John D. Baxter Prize for Entrepreneurship for his contributions to diabetes treatment.

Known for his discovery of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) action in the 1980s as a research fellow with Joel Habener, MD, at Massachusetts General Hospital, Drucker identified a truncated form of GLP-1 as the biologically active form and demonstrated that this shorter version of GLP-1 stimulates secretion of insulin in a glucose-dependent manner in in pancreatic beta cells.

These foundational studies supported the development of new classes of GLP-1 medications for type 2 diabetes and obesity. Drucker’s observations that GLP-1 has a protective effect on the heart, reducing heart damage from myocardial infarction and lowering inflammation, independent of changes in blood glucose or body weight, have been validated in clinical trials and in the real world. GLP-1 medicines lower rates of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and overall cardiovascular mortality. More importantly. these benefits stem partly from a reduction in inflammation – confirming Drucker’s original findings in mice.

Drucker was the first to characterize GLP-1 receptor expression in immune cells, identifying a relatively small population of immune T cells in the gut as GLP-1 receptor-positive and important for T cell driven inflammation. More recently Drucker demonstrated that GLP-1 acts on GLP-1 receptor-positive neurons
in the brain, to produce systemic anti-inflammatory effects in peripheral organs. His recent cardiovascular studies have demonstrated the importance of vascular smooth muscle cell GLP-1 receptors for the control of blood pressure, and of liver sinusoidal endothelial GLP-1R+ cells for the control of liver inflammation and fibrosis.

Collectively, his basic science discoveries have yielded multiple insights into the efficacy and safety of an expanding class of GLP-1 medicines with major benefits for human health.

Drucker received training in internal medicine and endocrinology from the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and the University of Toronto, followed by a fellowship in molecular endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital. His discoveries have enabled development of several new GLP-1-based therapies for the treatment of diabetes and obesity and GLP-2 analogues for intestinal failure. His basic science studies have elucidated multiple novel mechanisms of GLP-1 action underlying the cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1 medicines.

Drucker has received numerous international awards for his translational science and has been elected to the Order of Canada, the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, Fellowship in the Royal Society (London) and the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine.

The post Daniel J. Drucker, MD, Receives the 2026 Lefoulon-Delalande Foundation Scientific Prize appeared first on Endocrine News.

Revvity Receives FDA Clearance for Total Testosterone Assay Enabling Comprehensive Automated Testosterone Testing Solution

On May 13, Revvity, Inc., through its subsidiary, Immunodiagnostic Systems (IDS), today announced that it received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Total Testosterone automated chemiluminescence immunoassay (ChLIA).

This offering complements the Company’s FDA-cleared ChLIA tests for free testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), delivering a first of its kind, complete solution for testosterone-related disorders on a single platform.

This comprehensive portfolio enables direct ChLIA measurements of total testosterone, SHBG, and free testosterone, providing first- and second-line diagnostic testing capabilities for suspected hypogonadism in men. Processed on IDS’ random-access automation platforms, the expanded portfolio allows for single platform testing and replacement of equilibrium dialysis-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (ED-LC/MS) methods that require complex technologies and calculations with operational and reproducibility challenges, thereby significantly streamlining workflow without compromising accuracy and reliability.

“Adding the total testosterone assay to our automated ChLIA platform transforms the offering to a wholly integrated solution that supports diagnostic testing for androgen-related conditions in both men and women,” said Arvind Kothandaraman, vice president and general manager, Euroimmun North America. “This clearance demonstrates our commitment to continued expansion of our portfolio to aid in the timely diagnosis of endocrine disorders.”

Additional FDA cleared assays in the Company’s reproductive endocrine disorders portfolio include 17-OH progesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione, and prolactin.

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

The post Pharma Friday – May 15, 2026 appeared first on Endocrine News.

Angela M. Cheung, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine at the University Health Network and the University of Toronto, will lead “Beyond Basic DXA” on Day 4 (Monday, June 15), a session designed for bone and mineral metabolism specialists ready to move past standard bone density measurements.

Her presentation will explore how dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) can be expanded with advanced tools such as trabecular bone score (TBS), offering deeper insight into fracture risk, body composition, and early metabolic bone disease.

Cheung’s research interests are in metabolic bone disease, atypical femoral fractures and rare bone diseases. She obtained her MD degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and her PhD degree from Harvard University. Cheung brings extensive expertise to the topic, including currently holding a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Musculoskeletal and Postmenopausal Health and her role as a contributing author to Canada’s 2023 clinical practice guidelines on osteoporosis management and fracture prevention. Those guidelines highlight the scale of the challenge: More than 2 million people in her home of Canada are living with osteoporosis, a condition linked to fractures that drive increased mortality, diminished quality of life, and loss of independence. Globally, the burden of osteoporosis and related bone diseases continues to rise, underscoring the need for more precise diagnostic strategies.

Endocrine News spoke with Cheung ahead of her session to preview what attendees can expect and why advancing beyond “basic” DXA is becoming essential in modern endocrine care.

Endocrine News: What will be your presentation’s main message to the ENDO audience?

Cheung: I hope the audience will understand that there are other clinical tools using DXA. DXA scans are not limited to hip and spine bone density scans. Other tools and scan types are also helpful in clinical care, such as trabecular bone score (TBS) for assessment of bone health, full femur imaging (FFI) for the detection of incomplete atypical femur fracture, and total body scan for body composition. 

There are technical limitations of traditional DXA scans. For example, Asians in general have smaller bone size compared to white population. DXA is a two-dimensional projection of bone (rather than three-dimensional measurement), so the bone density of Asians can be falsely low because of bone size.

The session’s key learning objectives are:

• Manage patients at risk of fractures by using the TBS to refine 10-year fracture risk estimates.
• Explain what FFI is used for and when to use it for detecting incomplete atypical femoral fractures (AFFs).
• Illustrate how total body composition scans with DXA can be used for patients with sarcopenia.

EN: What are the key limitations of traditional DXA scans that your research is trying to address?

Cheung: There are technical limitations of traditional DXA scans. For example, Asians in general have smaller bone size compared to white population. DXA is a two-dimensional projection of bone (rather than three-dimensional measurement), so the bone density of Asians can be falsely low because of bone size.

EN: How do you see these advancements changing clinical practice or guidelines in the future?

Cheung: I do see these tools/scan types being adopted into clinical practice and guidelines in the next 5-10 years.

EN: What are most looking forward to as a presenter and attendee at ENDO 2026?

Cheung: I regularly attend the ENDO conference. I specialize in bone, so I look forward to learning updates on topics other than bone.

—Shaw is a freelance writer based in Carmel, IND. She is a regular contributor to Endocrine News and writes the monthly Laboratory Notes column.

The post ENDO 2026 Preview: Beyond Basic DXA appeared first on Endocrine News.

The findings highlight a potential “delay,” where the impact of prenatal exposure becomes more pronounced during a developmental phase known as “mini-puberty.” This phase, occurring in the first few months of life, involves a temporary surge in reproductive hormones that is vital for the maturation of organs. By showing that chemical exposure may slow growth of markers of reproductive system development during this window, the study raises concerns about long-term reproductive health, including potential impacts on fertility or hormone-related disorders later in life.

The study, “Associations of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals with Anogenital Distance Across Infancy,” part of the Illinois Kids Development Study (I-KIDS), tracked 563 mother–infant pairs between 2013 and 2019. Researchers measured levels of 10 phthalates and 9 phenols — chemicals often found in plastics, personal care products, and food packaging — in maternal urine samples collected throughout pregnancy. They then measured the infants’ anogenital distance (AGD) at birth and again at five months. AGD is a sensitive, hormone-dependent marker used by scientists to gauge reproductive system development in the womb.

The research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that everyday environmental exposures can have lasting biological consequences. Phthalates and phenols are ubiquitous in modern life, often entering the body through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact.

While findings were inconsistent at the time of birth, a clear pattern emerged by the five-month mark in female infants. For every quartile increase in maternal phthalate exposure, researchers observed a significant reduction in AGD length and a nearly 40% decrease in the growth of specific anogenital measures from birth to mini-puberty. These findings suggest that the hormonal “programming” occurring in utero may not manifest physically until the infant’s system undergoes the hormonal surges typical of early infancy. This lag suggests that assessing infants only at birth may provide an incomplete picture of environmental health risks.

“Anogenital distance in mini-puberty and growth across infancy may reflect EDC-mediated hormonal disruption in utero,” the study authors conclude. The research team emphasized that these developmental milestones are critical indicators of the “hormonal milieu” the fetus experienced during gestation. They noted that findings were particularly prominent in females, whereas the associations in male infants were less consistent across the chemical mixtures studied, although they highlighted the need for additional studies that consider the roles of prenatal phenol exposure for male reproductive health. The research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that everyday environmental exposures can have lasting biological consequences. Phthalates and phenols are ubiquitous in modern life, often entering the body through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. Because many of these chemicals are known to interfere with or mimic natural hormones, even low-level exposure during pregnancy is of significant public health concern. Moving forward, the research team emphasized the need for continued monitoring of these children to determine if these early developmental delays persist into adolescence. For now, the study serves as a reminder of the importance of the in utero period for future child health.

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The article, “Approach to the Patient—Transitions in Osteoporosis Therapy,” appearing in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, emphasizes that a “goal-directed” treatment strategy is essential for preventing fractures. While most transitions between bone-building (anabolic) and bone-preserving (antiresorptive) drugs are beneficial, the research team identified specific “danger zones” — particularly involving the drug denosumab — where incorrect timing or discontinuation can lead to rapid bone loss and increased fracture risk.

For many patients, a single medication is not enough to maintain healthy bone mineral density (BMD) over a lifetime. The article found that the most effective sequence involves starting with an anabolic agent — a drug, such as teriparatide, abaloparatide, and romosozumumab that actively builds new bone — followed by an antiresorptive agent, such as bisphosphonates or denosumab, to “lock in” and further improve those gains.

“Transition from bone anabolic treatment to antiresorptives maintains or further improves the bone mineral density increase obtained during the initial phase,” the authors write. This sequential approach ensures that the newly formed bone is preserved, providing a long-term defense against skeletal fragility. They also note that The Endocrine Society, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research recommend the sequential approach of initiating bone anabolic therapy in patients at very high fracture risk.

As the medical community moves toward personalized, goal-directed care, this research provides a vital framework for clinicians. By understanding the molecular interactions of these therapies, doctors can better tailor treatment plans to hit specific bone density targets.

The most critical findings involve denosumab, a common injectable antiresorptive. The authors warned that transitioning from denosumab to an anabolic agent, or simply stopping denosumab without a follow-up treatment plan, can be hazardous.

Unlike other medications that linger in the bone, the effects of denosumab wear off quickly. If the drug is discontinued after more than two or three years without immediate follow-up therapy, patients may experience a “rebound” effect, where bone turnover spikes, potentially leading to multiple vertebral fractures.

The article also addressed the common practice of switching from oral medications to more potent intravenous or injectable treatments. These transitions are generally considered safe and often result in further increases in BMD. However, researchers noted a “blunting” effect when patients move from long-term antiresorptives to anabolic treatments, suggesting that the order in which these drugs are prescribed can change how well they work.

As the medical community moves toward personalized, goal-directed care, this research provides a vital framework for clinicians. By understanding the molecular interactions of these therapies, doctors can better tailor treatment plans to hit specific bone density targets. For the millions of individuals living with osteoporosis, the message is clear: The success of a bone health journey depends not just on the first medication prescribed, but on the strategic plan for every transition that follows. Proper medical supervision is essential during any change in therapy to ensure that the skeletal “architecture” remains stable and secure.

The post Strategic Shifts: New Research Defines Best Ways to Switch Osteoporosis Meds appeared first on Endocrine News.

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) is the new name for the condition previously known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which impacts one in eight, or more than 170 million women worldwide. 

More than 50 patient and professional organizations, including the Endocrine Society, took part in the process to develop the new name. 

PMOS is characterised by fluctuations in hormones, with impacts on weight, metabolic and mental health, skin, and the reproductive system. 

For too long, the name reduced a complex, long-term hormonal or endocrine disorder to a misunderstanding about ‘cysts’ and a focus on ovaries. This contributed to missed diagnoses and inadequate treatment. 

Helena Teede, PhD, director of Monash University’s Monash Centre for Health Research & Implementation and an endocrinologist at Monash Health, led the name change process after spending decades researching the condition and seeing the patient impacts firsthand. 

“What we now know is that there is actually no increase in abnormal cysts on the ovary, and the diverse features of the condition were often unappreciated,” says Teede, who is an Endocrine Society member. “It was heart-breaking to see the delayed diagnosis, limited awareness and inadequate care afforded those affected by this neglected condition. 

“While international guidelines have advanced awareness and care, a name change was the next critical step towards recognition and improvement in the long-term impacts of this condition.” 

The name change journey, published today in The Lancet, took 14 years of global collaboration between experts and those with lived experience. 

Teede led the process alongside International Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Society (AE-PCOS Society) president, Professor Terhi Piltonen, an international co-lead from Oulu University and Oulu University Hospital, Finland; AE-PCOS Society executive director Anuja Dokras from the U.S. and chair of Verity (PCOS UK) Rachel Morman, with 56 patient and professional organizations, including the Endocrine Society. 

In a related paper by the same experts, researchers have found there is no increase in abnormal ovarian cysts in the condition, further demonstrating the need to change the name. 

The patient-focused effort resulted in more than 22,000 survey responses and involved multiple international workshops with patients and multidisciplinary health professionals. 

The three-year transition period is supported by a major international education and awareness campaign reaching those affected — health professionals, governments, and researchers around the world — with the new name to be fully implemented in the 2028 International Guideline update. 

Teede says it was the largest initiative to change the name of a medical condition.  “The agreed principles of the new name included patient benefit, scientific accuracy, ease of communication, avoidance of stigma, cultural appropriateness and accompanying implementation,” she says. “This change was driven with and for those affected by the condition and we are proud to have arrived at a new name that finally accurately reflects the complexity of the condition. Make no mistake, this is a landmark moment that will lead to desperately needed worldwide advancements in clinical practice and research.” 

Piltonen said an important part of the renaming process was considering the diverse needs of various cultures. 

“It was essential that the new name was scientifically correct but also considered across diverse cultural contexts to avoid certain reproductive terms that could heighten stigma and be harmful for women in some countries,” Piltonen says. “This made a culturally and internationally informed consultation critical to getting it right.” 

Lorna Berry, an Australian woman who has PMOS and played a key role in the renaming process, said the result will be life changing. 

“This is about accountability and progress,” she says. “It is about my daughters, their daughters, and the countless women yet to be born. We deserve clarity, understanding, and equitable healthcare from the very beginning.” 

Rachel Morman, chair of Verity (PCOS UK), was a lived experience expert on the global name change process and said the previous name misrepresented the true nature of this condition.  “It is fantastic that the new name now leads with hormones and recognizes the metabolic dimension of the condition,” she says. “This shift will reframe the conversation and demand that it is taken as seriously as the long-term, complex health condition it is. Despite decades of tireless advocacy to improve awareness, we recognized that the risk of change would be worth the reward.” 

Find out more about the name change and access PMOS resources in multiple languages on the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation website. 

The post Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome: New Name to Improve Diagnosis and Care of Condition Affecting 170 Million Women Worldwide  appeared first on Endocrine News.

Titled, “Effects of Catecholamines on Bone and Mineral Metabolism in Patients with Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma” and appearing in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, the article highlights a critical but often overlooked systemic effect of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). These tumors produce catecholamines — hormones responsible for the “fight or flight” response — which the authors note are directly linked to decreased bone mineral density and increased bone resorption in affected patients.

As the medical community continues to explore the intersection of the nervous system and bone biology, this study underscores the necessity of a “whole-body” approach to treating neuroendocrine disorders. For patients battling PPGLs, protecting the heart is only half the battle; protecting the architecture of the skeleton is just as vital for a full recovery.

While the cardiovascular impacts of these tumors, such as heart palpitations and hypertension, are well-documented, the impact on bone metabolism has remained in the shadows. Research into catecholamine-driven bone loss has lagged because life-threatening cardiovascular symptoms took clinical priority, and the complex “talk” between the nervous system and the skeleton — a new field called neuro-osteology — was only recently mapped at the molecular level. Additionally, the fluctuating nature of stress hormones, such as cortisol, in patients with severe illnesses and the rarity of patients with catecholamine-secreting tumors made it difficult to isolate these hormones as the primary cause of bone degradation.

The authors synthesized data from experimental models and clinical retrospective studies, revealing that high levels of catecholamines activate specific receptors on bone cells.

“Evidence suggests that β-adrenoceptor signaling increases the rate at which the body breaks down bone tissue,” the authors write. This process, known as bone resorption, leads to lower trabecular bone scores and a higher presence of serum C-terminal telopeptides — markers that indicate the skeleton is being dismantled faster than it can be rebuilt.

The review offers a silver lining for patients diagnosed with these rare tumors. Clinical data analyzed in the article consistently showed that bone mineral density (BMD) began to stabilize or a decline reversed following surgical removal of the tumors. By eliminating the source of excess catecholamines, the skeletal “biological clock” appears to regain balance.

Furthermore, the research suggests a protective role for β-adrenoceptor blockers. Epidemiological studies included in the review indicate that these common medications, often used to treat heart conditions, may help maintain bone density by blocking the harmful signaling pathways triggered by the tumors.

The findings serve as a call to action for endocrinologists and oncologists to include bone health monitoring in the standard care package for PPGL patients. Because these tumors are rare, the skeletal symptoms can easily be mistaken for general aging or other metabolic issues if not specifically screened.

By identifying these risks early through bone turnover markers and BMD measurements, clinicians can implement primary prevention strategies to improve the long-term quality of life for survivors.

As the medical community continues to explore the intersection of the nervous system and bone biology, this study underscores the necessity of a “whole-body” approach to treating neuroendocrine disorders. For patients battling PPGLs, protecting the heart is only half the battle; protecting the architecture of the skeleton is just as vital for a full recovery.

The post Adrenaline Overload: Rare Adrenal Tumors Linked to Hidden Bone Loss appeared first on Endocrine News.

Viridian Therapeutics Sees Positive Topline Results from Elegrobart Phase 3 REVEAL‑2 Clinical Trial in Chronic Thyroid Eye Disease

On May 5, Viridian Therapeutics, Inc., announced positive topline data from the REVEAL‑2 phase 3 clinical trial of elegrobart in patients with chronic thyroid eye disease (TED). Elegrobart is a subcutaneously delivered, half‑life‑extended monoclonal antibody targeting the insulin‑like growth factor‑1 receptor (IGF‑1R). REVEAL‑2 evaluated two dosing regimens, every four weeks (Q4W) and every eight weeks (Q8W), compared with placebo.

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc., is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing potentially best-in-class medicines for autoimmune and rare diseases.

“We are excited by today’s positive REVEAL 2 results and view these data as a major step forward for the chronic TED patient population. Given the IV-like proptosis response and our plans to launch with an at-home autoinjector, we believe elegrobart can meaningfully attract chronic patients to seek treatment. Elegrobart’s unmatched simplicity and convenience could uniquely drive expansion of the large and underserved chronic TED market,” said Steve Mahoney, president and chief executive officer of Viridian Therapeutics. “With our anticipated launch of veligrotug, which is a short IV infusion course, and two positive phase 3 REVEAL pivotal clinical trials supporting both Q4 weekly and Q8 weekly subcutaneous dosing for elegrobart, our portfolio has the potential to offer anti-IGF-1R efficacy and safety in convenient treatment regimens for TED patients with active or chronic disease.”

“Chronic TED remains a challenging condition. Many patients have been living with this disease for years or decades and would benefit from an effective and convenient treatment option,” said John Mandeville, MD, PhD, an oculoplastic surgeon at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston and who is also a clinical associate at the Massachusetts General Hospital. “These REVEAL 2 results demonstrate the potential for elegrobart to provide meaningful improvement in the signs and symptoms of TED in as few as three doses. What’s more, a simple autoinjector that patients can use at home could be an attractive option for many patients living with chronic disease.”

Elegrobart REVEAL‑2 Phase 3 Topline Results

REVEAL‑2 assessed the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous Q4W or Q8W elegrobart versus placebo in patients with chronic TED. The clinical trial enrolled 204 patients, randomized 1:1:1 to elegrobart Q4W (n = 70), elegrobart Q8W (n = 68), and placebo (n = 66).

REVEAL‑2 Efficacy REVEAL-2 met its primary endpoint for both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) with high statistical significance (p < 0.0001). In addition, REVEAL-2 met all its proptosis key secondary endpoints in the Q4W and Q8W treatment arms with high statistical significance, and the Q4W treatment arm showed a statistically significant diplopia responder rate at week 24. Efficacy was generally consistent regardless of baseline Clinical Activity Score (CAS).

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals Expands Access Program for Adults with Post-Bariatric Hypoglycemia

On May 5, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  announced the launch of a U.S. Expanded Access Program (EAP) for up to 250 adults with post-bariatric hypoglycemia (PBH) to provide treatment access to avexitide, an investigational, first-in-class glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor antagonist.

The EAP allows U.S. physicians to request avexitide for adults with PBH following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery who have a serious unmet medical need, are unable to participate in an ongoing clinical trial, have exhausted available management options, and meet all other eligibility criteria. Initial eligible patients include individuals who have completed the pivotal Phase 3 LUCIDITY clinical trial and participants in a prior trial of avexitide in PBH following RYGB surgery.

“Listening to the PBH community is central to our work, and this dialogue directly informed our approach to the U.S. Expanded Access Program for avexitide,” said Camille L. Bedrosian, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Amylyx. “The experiences shared by those living with PBH underscore the profound unmet medical need they face every day. This program reflects our commitment to providing a potential option for eligible individuals as we continue to advance avexitide through clinical development.”

Avexitide is an investigational drug and has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any indication. Avexitide is being evaluated in the pivotal Phase 3 LUCIDITY clinical trial, a 16-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of avexitide in adults with PBH following RYGB surgery. Participants who complete the 16-week double-blind period are eligible to enter a 32-week open-label extension period. The trial has enrolled 78 participants, with topline data readout anticipated in Q3 2026. If approved, commercial launch of avexitide is anticipated in 2027.

Physician Inquiry and Patient Eligibility

Individuals with PBH who are interested in learning more about potential access to avexitide through the EAP should speak with their treating physician or care team to determine whether they may be eligible. Access to avexitide through the EAP is limited, may change over time, and participation is not guaranteed. Additional information about the EAP is available at amylyx.com/global-access-policy.

About Avexitide

Avexitide is an investigational, first-in-class glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor antagonist that has been evaluated in five Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials for post-bariatric hypoglycemia (PBH) and has also been studied in congenital hyperinsulinism (HI). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted avexitide Breakthrough Therapy Designation for both indications, Rare Pediatric Disease Designation in congenital HI, and Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (which includes PBH and congenital HI). In PBH, an exaggerated GLP-1 response leads to excessive insulin secretion, resulting in recurrent hypoglycemic events. Avexitide is a competitive GLP-1 receptor antagonist designed to bind to the GLP-1 receptor on pancreatic islet beta cells and inhibit the exaggerated GLP-1-driven insulin response characteristic of PBH, reducing inappropriate insulin secretion and stabilizing blood glucose levels. In two Phase 2 PBH clinical trials, avexitide demonstrated highly statistically significant reductions in hypoglycemic events.

About Post-Bariatric Hypoglycemia (PBH)

PBH is a chronic metabolic condition that is estimated to affect approximately 8% of people in the U.S. who have undergone the two most common types of bariatric surgery, sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (approximately 160,000 people in the U.S.). PBH is thought to be driven by an exaggerated glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) response, primarily in response to food intake, leading to persistent, recurrent, and often debilitating rapid drops in blood glucose, known as hypoglycemia. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recognizes hypoglycemia as a potential medical emergency because low blood glucose levels can compromise the body’s ability to maintain essential physiologic processes. In addition, hypoglycemia in the context of PBH may manifest as neuroglycopenia – an inadequate supply of glucose to the brain – which can cause confusion, cognitive dysfunction, loss of consciousness, and seizures. PBH can be associated with substantial disability, compromising safety, disrupting independent living, and affecting nutritional status and overall quality of life. Despite the substantial burden, there are currently no FDA-approved therapies for PBH.

About the LUCIDITY Trial

LUCIDITY (NCT06747468) is a 78-participant, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of avexitide in participants with PBH following RYGB surgery. The Phase 3 trial is being conducted at 21 sites in the U.S. Participants were randomized 3:2 to receive either 90 mg of avexitide subcutaneously once daily or placebo. The trial includes an up to six-week screening period, including a three-week run-in period, a 16-week double-blind treatment period, and an open-label extension (OLE) period with a duration of 32 weeks. The primary efficacy objective of LUCIDITY is to evaluate the FDA-agreed upon primary outcome of reduction in the composite of Level 2 and Level 3 hypoglycemic events through Week 16. Safety and tolerability will also be evaluated.

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

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Delbert A. Fisher, past-president of the Endocrine Society and former editor of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, passed away March 4, 2026, at the age of 97. Fisher was a pediatric endocrinologist best known for his work in delineating fetal and newborn thyroid physiology, which led to the launch of newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism in North America.  

Fisher received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where he met his wife, Beverly. They moved across the bay where he earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and stayed on to complete internship and residency in pediatrics. It was here that he began studying hypothyroidism in a primate model with pediatric endocrinologist Donald Pickering.

After serving in the United States Air Force for two years during which time son David was born, Fisher commenced fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology at Oregon Health Sciences University and resumed his research with Donald Pickering. Twins Tom and Mary were born during this time in Oregon. Fisher moved to the University of Arkansas for his first faculty position as director of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism from 1960 to1968. During this time, he published multiple studies with radiation physicist Thomas Oddie on iodine uptake in thyroid hormone metabolism. His group trained Arkansas’s first pediatric endocrinologist, Joycelyn Elders, who would later become U.S. Surgeon General under President Bill Clinton.

Fisher’s scientific vision, leadership, and mentorship profoundly shaped the field of endocrinology, and have enduring impact on the lives and careers of the many colleagues and trainees who worked with him.

In 1968, Fisher was recruited to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and its Research and Education Institute by UCLA’s Chair of Pediatrics Joseph St. Geme, Jr., and Division Chief of Endocrinology (Internal Medicine) William Odell. As the institution’s first pediatric endocrinologist, he collaborated on development of radioimmunoassay for thyroid hormone testing, delineated fetal thyroid physiology in a sheep animal model, and characterized human perinatal thyroid function.  The research culminated in thyroid hormone testing for broad dissemination in screening newborns for congenital hypothyroidism across North America. Initially serving as Division Head, he later became chair of the Department of Pediatrics from 1985 to 1989. During this time at Harbor-UCLA, he left a lasting impression on the field and numerous trainees including medical students, residents, fellows, and visiting scholars.

Fisher advanced the dissemination of scientific research through numerous editorial positions. He was the editor-in-chief of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism from 1978 to 1983, with Beverly serving as a managing editor. Afterwards, he was editor-in-chief of the Journal of Pediatrics from 1984 to 1989.

In 1991, Fisher moved on from Harbor-UCLA to join the Nichols Institute reference laboratories as president, where he remained until his retirement in 2007.

Fisher holds the unique distinction as having served as president of numerous endocrinology societies: the Pediatric Endocrine Society (1982 – 1983), the Endocrine Society (1983 – 1984), and the American Thyroid Association (1988 – 1989). He served as editor-in-chief of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism from 1978 to 1983. Additional presidencies in pediatrics include the Western Society for Pediatric Research (1982 – 1983), and the American Pediatric Society (1992 – 1993). Together, Fisher and his wife, Beverly, demonstrated a lasting commitment to preserving scientific legacy by establishing scholar awards with the Endocrine Society and the Pediatric Endocrine Society to support work chronicling the history of endocrinology.

Fisher’s scientific vision, leadership, and mentorship profoundly shaped the field of endocrinology, and have enduring impact on the lives and careers of the many colleagues and trainees who worked with him.

Each year, the Endocrine Society honors Fisher with the Delbert A. Fisher Research Scholar Award, which provides a $2,000 honorarium to a scholar demonstrating exceptional work in the preservation of the history of endocrinology. The scholar also delivers the Clark T. Sawin Memorial History of Endocrinology Lecture at ENDO. This award is made possible by the generous support of Dr. and Mrs. Delbert A. Fisher, MD.

Yee is an investigator at The Lundquist Institute; chief, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center; HS Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif.; Swerdloff is the Distinguished Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Division of Endocrinology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center; Senior Investigator, The Lundquist Research Institute, Torrance, Calif.

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Pilatone and Milan are research biologists in the Endocrine and Metabolic Lab at the Department of Medicine, University of Padova, and at the Center for the Study and Integrated Treatment of Obesity, University Hospital of Padova in Padova, Italy.

The art competition celebrates the beauty of endocrine science as seen through the lens of a microscope. This year’s 29 entries were judged by a panel of Society members who based their assessments on the aesthetic value of the images and their significance to endocrine research.

Pilatone and Milan’s entry is titled “Pre-adipocyte Intriguing Scaffold.” Adipose tissue, initially described simply as body fat, has been recognized as a very complex endocrine organ characterized by different depots and composed of many cell types, including white, brown, and beige adipocytes. Dysregulation of these cells causes pathological adipose tissue expansion, leading to obesity and metabolic complications such as diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

The immunofluorescence image depicts the cellular architecture of a murine pre-adipocyte used in a project aimed at investigating the role of the protein kinase CK2 in adipose tissue biology. The green cytoskeletal actin filaments and the red collagen fibers around the blue nuclei paint the fascinating complexity of the pre-adipocyte scaffold involved in the adipogenic differentiation process.

One member of the grand prize-winning team will receive complimentary registration to the Society’s annual meeting, ENDO.

Two other winners also were announced in this year’s competition. 

The second-place winner is the team of Antonio Fernandes de Oliveira Filho, MD, and João Batista Guedes of the University of Sao Paulo – USP and Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG) in Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. Their image (left) features a rare fatty tumor known as a liposarcoma in the adrenal gland. Retroperitoneal liposarcomas are often aggressive and may present to the endocrinologist as an adrenocortical carcinoma.

The third-place winner is Luis Cedeño-Rosario, PhD, of the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Cedeño-Rosario submitted an image of the mitochondria in the kidney’s proximal tubular epithelial cells (right).

All three winners will have their art displayed at ENDO 2026 from June 13-16 in Chicago, Ill. The display will be seen by thousands of endocrine scientists and researchers from all over the world.

Visit the Endocrine Images Art Competition website for more information and to view this year’s top endocrine images along with previous year’s winners.

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Senior Editor Derek Bagley has rounded up some of the Endocrine Society’s “Adrenal All Stars” for a roundtable discussion where these leaders in adrenal endocrinology discuss everything from the latest developments in treatment and research, the gaps to some developments, as well as how research informs the treatment and vice versa. According to William Rainey, PhD, the Jerome W. Conn Professor of medicine in the Departments of Molecular & Integrative Physiology and Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, the Endocrine Society and its adrenal experts should continue to call out the social media-driven headlines that adrenal excess or deficiency is extremely common and that non-tested supplements should be used as a non-prescription therapy for non-existent adrenal diseases. “I realize this is not easy and some would say correcting these misconceptions actually provides them with a new audience,” he says, “but these non-scientific ideas are starting to have audiences at high levels within the public and governmental domain.

As it turns out, April is Adrenal Disease Awareness Month so we are highlighting some recent studies that are “Piecing Together the Adrenal Puzzle.” Kelly Horvath talks to the authors of some of these studies about how their research can hopefully improve patient outcomes going forward. All of this research was published across the Endocrine Society journal collection and they show how improved diagnostic accuracy, proper postoperative management, and a better understanding of rare adrenal pathologies can offer clinicians valuable tools when treating these patients.

Former Endocrine News associate editor and current writer of our monthly Trends and Insights column, Jackie Oberst, deals with the complexities of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in “A Delicate Balance.” While it’s well known that constant vigilance is a much-needed asset for both the patient and the clinicians when treating people with CAH, early screening, diligent monitoring, and a comprehensive holistic approach can be vital to ensure that complications are kept at bay while the patient maintains the highest quality of life possible.

Glenda Fauntleroy Shaw talks to award-winning “Adrenal Investigator” Kotaro Sasaki, MD, PhD, about his unique research that centers around building a human adrenal gland from stem cells, why all endocrine researchers should attend ENDO every year, and even touches on the often-challenging aspects of scientific publishing. His lab began its current work about five years ago when there were few, if any “high-quality studies showing how to generate the adrenal gland in a dish from stem cells in a robust physiologically meaningful way,” he says. “Our approach has been to first understand how nature builds the adrenal gland during development, and then carefully recapitulate that process in a dish, step by step, using stem cells.”

Let me know what you thought of Endocrine News’ first adrenal issue and if you have any thoughts about future issue ideas, don’t hesitate to speak up and let us know. As always, you can always reach me at: mnewman@endocrine.org.

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When Gary D. Hammer, MD, PhD, professor of Internal Medicine, Cell and Developmental Biology, and Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and past president of the Endocrine Society, was interviewing for his job at Michigan, he was taken to a famous restaurant in Ann Arbor to meet with the head of the cancer center, and the legendary Wolverines football coach Bo Schembechler. (Schembechler’s wife passed away from adrenal cancer.)

Schembechler told Hammer he only had one question for him: “Did you or did you not negotiate football tickets?” The room of 500 people erupted in laughter, but Schembechler stood silent and crossed his arms.

“I stood up, looked him in the eye and said, ‘Bo, I think that’s why I’m here with you tonight,’” Hammer says. “We were best friends until the day he died.”

For patients with adrenal disease  – congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing syndrome ,  adrenakl insufficiency, primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma and adrenal cancer– endocrinologists and other adrenal experts have been joining forces – locally, nationally and internationally –   to collaborate and leverage expertise in both the clinical care of patients and research into disease mechanisms as they  search for novel therapies for these rare  diseases,. There have been some incredible developments even in the past five years: new and still-experimental medications, gene therapies, new surgery techniques, even coalitions of international researchers cooperating.

Endocrine News caught up with Hammer; Deborah Merke, MD, MS, senior investigator and chief of the Department of Pediatrics at the National Institutes of Health; Nancy Dugal Perrier, MD, Walter and Ruth Sterling Endowed Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology; chief, Section of Surgical Endocrinology; associate director, Multidisciplinary Endocrine Center, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; Emilia Modolo Pinto, PhD, a researcher in the Department of Pathology at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.; and William Rainey, PhD, Jerome W. Conn Professor of medicine in the Departments of Molecular & Integrative Physiology and Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan, to discuss the recent breakthroughs, things still on the horizon, and the gaps that still need to addressed before reaching it.

Endocrine News: How do you view the current state of adrenal research and clinical care? Are there any gaps that need to be addressed? Are there areas in adrenal that need more attention?

Emilia Pinto: Adrenal research has advanced significantly over the past two decades, particularly in uncovering the molecular mechanisms behind adrenal tumors and congenital adrenal disorders. Still, important gaps remain. Rare adrenal diseases are still underrepresented in large-scale studies, and clinical care often relies on limited evidence or extrapolation from other patient populations. One critical point is that pediatric and adult adrenocortical tumors are biologically distinct diseases, with different genetic drivers, developmental contexts, and clinical behaviors, yet they are often treated and studied under the same framework. Recognizing and operationalizing this distinction is crucial for both research and patient care. There’s also a gap between genomic discoveries and their integration into everyday care, especially for risk assessment, surveillance, and counseling of individuals with predisposing variants. While preclinical models, such as patient-derived cell lines, organoids, and animal models, are increasingly available, current treatments remain only loosely connected to the underlying biology, which limits the translation of molecular insights into targeted therapies. At St. Jude, and through collaborative efforts such as the International Pediatric Adrenocortical Tumor Registry (IPACTR), we have a unique opportunity to study these questions in the context of rare pediatric tumors, where deeply annotated clinical cohorts can be directly integrated with genomic and developmental data. Thanks to these efforts, we can now turn insights from rare pediatric adrenal tumors into real strategies to improve patient care.

William Rainey: This is an amazing time to be an adrenal researcher with recently developed technologies having a significant impact on our abilities to take a deeper dive into adrenal biology and disease. On the basic and translational science side, I would highlight four areas where the field is moving ahead but where additional work is needed. First, we need a stronger foundational understanding of adrenal stem cell biology and its role in normal adrenal homeostasis, so that our research can be translated into tissue engineering and adrenal cell–based therapies. Second, we need deeper insight into the genetic, epigenetic, and hormonal mechanisms that drive the sexual dimorphism observed in adrenal disorders such as primary aldosteronism, Cushing syndrome, and adrenocortical carcinoma. Third, we need to clarify the physiologic and pathologic regulators of adrenal androgen production. This area remains one of the least understood of human adrenal biology, in part because mice are unable to model human adrenal androgen synthesis. Finally, as in all areas of biomedical research, the adrenal field needs to adopt appropriate artificial intelligence tools in ways that can strengthen our basic research and accelerate translation.

On the clinical side of adrenal research, two areas are likely to remain especially active in the coming years. First, we still lack therapies that reliably reproduce physiologic cortisol circadian rhythms in adrenal insufficiency as well as restoring these patterns after patients are treated for Cushing syndrome. The clinical benefits of re-establishing normal cortisol rhythmicity could have a significant impact on patient quality of life. Second, there is growing momentum to expand screening for adrenal steroid–excess disorders, particularly primary aldosteronism and Cushing syndrome. Hopefully these efforts will be accelerated by the increasing use of artificial intelligence in primary care, which could improve recognition of adrenal (and other endocrine) diseases and lead to earlier diagnostic evaluation.

Deborah Merke: Now is a very exciting time to be doing adrenal research as we are making major advances in the clinical care of adrenal disorders, especially congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).  I have spent my entire career studying CAH, the most common cause of adrenal insufficiency in children and a complex and challenging disorder to manage due to the many hormonal imbalances. We are now entering a new era with the availability of novel drugs to treat CAH.  The treatment of CAH with glucocorticoids that began in the 1950’s was lifesaving, and since that time we have used glucocorticoids to not only treat the adrenal insufficiency, but also to suppress the ACTH-driven adrenal androgen production characteristic of CAH. Excess glucocorticoids have been needed to adequately suppress adrenal androgens. 

Many years of studying the pathophysiology of CAH and the adverse outcomes due to both disease-related and treatment-related factors has finally resulted in the availability of new drugs. In the EU, a modified-release form of hydrocortisone that approximates physiological cortisol circadian secretion has improved outcomes and was approved in 2021.  In the US, a CRF-1 antagonist is FDA approved for patients four years of age and older with classic CAH since December 2024.  This drug is an adjunctive treatment to glucocorticoid replacement and for the first time allows clinicians to control adrenal androgens using a non-glucocorticoid medication and therefore reduce glucocorticoid dose.

Several gaps exist.  Importantly, the use of alternative strategies is in its infancy and there is a lack of worldwide access to newly developed drugs.  An oral modified-release form of hydrocortisone that was designed to mimic physiological circadian cortisol secretion (marketed as Efmody) is available in the EU; while the CRF-1 antagonist (marketed as Crenessity) is available in the US. Long-term follow-up is lacking. Although we have learned that circadian physiological glucocorticoid dosing is ideal, much needs to be learned about how best to replace glucocorticoid to optimize quality-of-life and disease control.

Nancy Dugal Perrier: As a committed surgical endocrine oncology oncologist for 25 years now, it has been fascinating watching the progression over these last 25 years of what has happened with technology and new information. In particular, I think where we stand with the ability to do two things in the perioperative space: First is to be able to identify the mutation of adrenal tumors, particularly for fetal pheochromocytomas and the surrounding paragangliomas. I think knowing the more than two dozen mutations that are affiliated and using that as a predictor of how to personalize treatment for that patient has just been explosive in the last decade. And now we see it as being a part of all of our operative decision making, not only our postoperative, but also our preoperative decision making.

I think the complexity of thinking through disease at presentation and then being able to really predict and prevent downstream disabilities from that, predicting who’s at high risk for bilateral disease, that’s asynchronous, who, at what age are they presenting with the aggressiveness of the disease and what we can expect. I think we can anticipate that much better now, and our surgical deployments are certainly more specific. Things like intentional cortical-sparing adrenalectomy early on at the time of the first adrenalectomy is really critical for doing enough operating on that patient, but not too much, anticipating that they’re going to need another operation. People are living longer, we’re identifying things earlier, we have better management, and we’re managing for a normal lifetime now. When we’re managing VHL patients, when we’re managing MEN 2 patients, they’re not dying of disease in midlife anymore. They’re living long lives. Having treatment that matches the longevity and ensuring that we are not treating everything the exact same as if we only had one way to treat it. It really is personalizing care.

Gary Hammer: If I think about the last few years, the global gains that I see are in  large part “organizational” gains. I’m very proud of the development of the two large cooperative groups.  ENS@T, the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumor has been around 20 years, while the A5 (the American Australian Asian Adrenal Alliance), which we spawned out of Michigan, is now an international organization with over 50 institutions. Together we’re over 100 institutions working together cooperatively on adrenal science and disease treatment. I’m really proud of these organizations because they are now both mature, respected, valued groups that work together on a variety of fronts. They’re really points of leverage with both big pharma and the governmental agencies to prove that even in rare endocrine diseases, we have the power to engage in large research projects and international clinical trials

In the last few years, various cooperative groups, sometimes with engagement of patients, have developed multiple guidelines for the treatment of adrenal disease. To name a few:  The adrenal cancer guidelines sponsored by ESE and  ENS@T with endorsement  by A5, Adrenal Incidentaloma Guidelines by ENS@T and ESE, operative standards for adrenal disease by the American College of Surgeons, and adrenalectomy guidelines by the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (with Endocrine Society members serving on the writing committee) and additional guidelines for  congenital adrenal hyperplasia, glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency (ESE and ES) and various primary aldosteronism and pheochromocytoma guidelines.

“We’re beginning to really understand the nuts and bolts of organ homeostasis, which means we’re starting to understand the rules of engagement of stem cells and progenitor cells and individual organs, how they are regulated, how they stay alive, self-renew, and differentiate continually.” — Gary D. Hammer, MD, PhD, professor of Internal Medicine, Cell and Developmental Biology, and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

The gaps are obvious.  While there are technical  and scientific challenges, industry and governmental  agencies have slowly become more risk tolerant to funding such research and translation into the clinical realm for rare (adrenal)  diseases. While operational funding of cooperative groups  like ENS@T and A5  have been a historic hurdle, as both groups have gained trust and proven value to  investigator and clinicians alike,  member dues  and growing industry support are proving support for sustainable financial operations.

EN: What are some exciting developments or breakthroughs in the adrenal arena?

Pinto: One of the most exciting advances is our growing understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment, including how immune infiltration, antigen presentation, and immune evasion shape adrenal tumor behavior, opening new avenues for immunotherapy. Equally important is the recognition that developmental gene regulation plays a key role in adrenal tumorigenesis. Advances in long-read sequencing, single-cell approaches, spatial transcriptomics, and methylation profiling are revealing complex genomic architectures that were previously invisible. These approaches are redefining how we understand adrenal development, from embryogenesis to differentiation of fetal zones, and how disruptions in these programs predispose to tumor formation. By combining developmental biology with population genetics and clinical endocrinology, we’re gaining insight into how founder variants, genetic modifiers, and ancestry influence disease risk. This allows for more precise screening strategies and frames adrenal disease not just as a rare clinical curiosity but as a public health consideration in specific populations. For example, studies of the TP53 p.R337H founder variant in Brazil illustrate how population-level genetics, interpreted in the context of developmental timing, can directly inform surveillance and risk assessment strategies.

Rainey: I’m particularly excited by the translational and clinical research momentum in primary aldosteronism. First, multiple research teams have shown that most primary adrenal disorders of steroid excess arise from germline or acquired somatic gene mutations that drive inappropriate cortisol or aldosterone production. These studies pair with translational studies that suggest primary aldosteronism is more common than previously appreciated and represents a continuum of disease—beginning with subclinical aldosterone excess and, over time, progressing to classic, hypertension-associated primary aldosteronism. This shift has challenged earlier approaches that restricted screening to selected subgroups of patients with hypertension. As a result, the most recent Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for primary aldosteronism recommend screening all patients with hypertension.

Second, clinical advances are poised to simplify primary aldosteronism subtyping into surgically curable unilateral disease versus medically managed bilateral disease. Promising approaches include nuclear medicine techniques such as PET imaging with tracers that can target aldosterone-producing tumors. Research is ongoing, but initial studies show potential for decreasing the role of adrenal vein sampling in disease subcategorization. Complementing these developments is the growing use of steroidomics—mass spectrometry–based profiling that quantifies an expanding panel of steroid hormones and metabolites in serum and urine. This strategy also has the potential to streamline and shorten diagnostic workflows and better match patients with the most effective therapy. Finally, I’m encouraged by therapeutic innovation across several adrenal steroid excess disorders. Most significant is the successful advancement of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor blockers to treat congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Its success is being followed by newly developed aldosterone synthase inhibitors for primary aldosteronism, as well as ACTH receptor antagonists for conditions such as Cushing disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. While studies are ongoing, early clinical applications appear promising.

Merke: The development of new drugs for use in the management of CAH is by far the most exciting development. 

“Adrenal research and adrenal clinical care are rare, so a shared forum is essential to advance research and improve the care of our patients.  The Endocrine Society has created a global community where adrenal researchers and clinicians can network, collaborate and work together to advance science and improve the care of our patients.” — Deborah Merke, MD, MS, senior investigator, chief, Department of Pediatrics, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.

Perrier: I’m really excited about the modeling that we’re able to render preoperatively. We can use CT scanning and MRI, and it allows us to also be able to use software to recreate the anatomy, particularly in cases where we’re preserving particular aspects of the blood supply, to give us information about where to dissect, where not to dissect, and to guide that. And that is really exciting, because that is capable and available to us on a regular basis.

Using that computer-aided technology and high-definition planning and really doing it in a multidisciplinary fashion — in coordination with our radiologist, in coordination with how we set the expectations for our patients, and then using it to inform and educate patients, using it with our shared partnership of our endocrinologist about the timing, and setting the expectations really has been exciting and very rewarding.

On that same front, that ability for preoperative planning and that unique way to better understand anatomy, not just from a two-dimensional image or even from a three-dimensional image of recons, but being able to actually [3-D] print out the tumor surrounding structures: extent of parenchyma attachment, for instance, in adrenal cortical carcinoma, being able to really multivisceral resect and collaborate with structure reconstruction. If we need an interface with the vena cava, thrombus extension, attachment, the tumor into the renal hilum, all of that is much better delineated now, and that lets us plan together in a way that really maximizes teaming.

[Using 3-D models] we can identify potential anatomic challenges. It can guide our teaming for maximal efficient operative planning. And really, it engages everyone at a level that exceeds anything we’ve participated with in the past.

Hammer: The emerging acceptance of rare and ultra-rare diseases (often defined as rare clinical and genetic variants)  by governmental agencies and the incentives provided for development of therapies for such have facilitated the development of quite a number of  companies  dedicated to rare adrenal diseases (ie: steroidogenesis inhibitors, drugs for adrenal cancer and pheochromocytoma)  including two companies emerging out of work at University of Michigan.

Collectively, we are beginning to understand the nuts and bolts of organ homeostasis, which means we’re starting to understand the rules of engagement of adrenocortical stem and progenitor cells , how they are regulated, how they stay alive, self-renew, and differentiate continually. Moreover, at increasing frequency, studies have begun to uncover what goes awry in development and homeostasis that results in diseases of hormone deficiency, hormone excess and neoplasia.

Dueing my tenure as president of Endocrine Society, I made a case that the Society should start moving into support/advocacy for the emerging field of  regenerative endocrinology. It is arguably  one  the lower hanging fruit for regenerative medicine. We need to be able to grow  cells that can cell-renew and divide,  live in a host and release hormone into the bloodstream. The endocrine system is an ideal test case / early adopter of new cell- and gene-based approaches to correct monogenic disorders of organ failure.

Gene therapy is now approved and used for various neurologic diseases. It is time. AAV technology and nanoparticles usedifferent techniques to deliver genes into cells. Such technologies are now being tested  experimentally in vivo to correct genetic defects like congenital adrenal hyperplasia. There are over 40 monogenic diseases of adrenal failure. The goal is to correct them. Labs  are now able to differentiated  iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cells) into fetal adrenal organoids. In our lab, we can now take progenitor cells out of the  adult adrenal, grow them and induce them to  differentiate. Our goal is to then correct genetic defects ex-vivo and put them back into the organ in vivo to repopulate the failing organ..

I posit that  this is one area where the field fendocrinology needs to go: parathyroid, pituitary, adrenal, thyroidovary and testis. And I think we’re making real progress and understanding cell lineage, signaling and transcriptional egulation of homeostasis in many of the endocrine organs.

EN: On that note, can you share what you consider to be defining moments in your career?

Pinto: An early defining moment in my career was identifying the TP53 p.R337H variant as a major risk factor for pediatric adrenocortical tumors and recognizing its founder effect in Brazil. That discovery reshaped our understanding of cancer risk in that population and showed that even low-penetrance variants can have a profound population-level impact. Another pivotal moment was realizing that genetic risk alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Pediatric adrenal tumors can now be classified based on their genetic alterations, revealing distinct molecular subgroups with different developmental origins, clinical behaviors, and outcomes. Discovering modifier variants and, more recently, insights into developmental mechanisms such as genome-wide paternal uniparental disomy, highlighted that cancer susceptibility is dynamic, context-dependent, and tightly linked to early development. I’m deeply passionate about adrenal research, and because these diseases are extremely rare, every observation matters. Even small discoveries, whether molecular, clinical, or developmental, can help advance understanding, improve patient care, and ultimately change outcomes in this underexplored field.

Rainey: Like many paths in life, serendipity played a major role in my becoming an adrenal researcher. As a financially strapped undergraduate, I joined my university’s work-study program and interviewed for several jobs, from working in the library to washing dishes in laboratories. In the end, I chose the lab of a new assistant professor who was just setting up his group. He devoted extraordinary amounts of time to my training and served as a career mentor and life coach. But the real “hook” was his unrelenting excitement about his research and about our experimental data—whether the experiments succeeded or failed. It so happened that his focus was adrenal cell biology.

After earning my BS and MS under his tutelage, I continued my training with an outstanding team of basic and clinician-scientist mentors during my PhD dissertation work, postdoctoral fellowship, and mentorship that continued as I became an independent faculty researcher. While certain publications might be seen as my team’s career-defining highlights, I believe my career was ultimately defined most by the privilege of learning from exceptional mentors who truly loved adrenal research.

It has now been nearly 50 years since I stumbled into this field. At this stage of my career, I now feel a responsibility to provide the same defining career moment to my trainees and to share my excitement about adrenal research so that there will be a next generation ready to lead the field.

Perrier: There were two [defining moments] that I can absolutely relate. One is the whole reason I became an endocrine surgeon, which at the time there really was no such thing as a dedicated endocrine surgeon. But it was my interaction and engagement with a patient who had a cortisol-producing tumor, making that diagnosis in a classic way and then being a part of the time when we were really seeing the introduction of laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Tangibly being able to touch that tumor and cure that patient in a defined time forever shot me on a course that then defined where I did a residency, what I did a fellowship in, and what my career has become.

The second is watching Martin Walz early on do a posterior approach to an adrenalectomy using a retroperitoneoscopic approach of insufflating CO2. That really changed the course of the way I approach adrenal glands, which we were able to come back and deploy, and has changed the face of our operations at MD Anderson and there about.

“I think the complexity of thinking through disease at presentation and then being able to really predict and prevent downstream disabilities from that, predicting who’s at high risk for bilateral disease, that’s asynchronous, who, at what age are they presenting with the aggressiveness of the disease and what we can expect. I think we can anticipate that much better now, and our surgical deployments are certainly more specific.” — Nancy Dugal Perrier, MD, Walter and Ruth Sterling Endowed Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology; chief, Section of Surgical Endocrinology; associate director, Multidisciplinary Endocrine Center, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

The ability to preserve vein, the ability to do adrenal cortical-sparing operations, the ability to operate on young children at early diagnosis — it really has changed our care for VHL patients and MEN 2 patients, as well as our enthusiasm for earlier intervention to save parenchyma. We used to delay intervention, because we were not confident in being able to save normal adrenal cortex or surrounding tissue, and we can now be much more timely.

EN: We’ve talked before about the iterative process of discovery when it comes to the adrenal gland – how research informs care and vice versa. Can you tell us a little about what you’re working on now?

Pinto: Right now, my current work is focused on defining the key differences between pediatric and adult adrenocortical tumors. I’m particularly focused on building new experimental models, including models carrying the p.R337H variant, to study tumor initiation, progression, and potential vulnerabilities. These models help us understand why certain tumors appear early in life and how developmental context shapes cancer risk. Ultimately, our goal is to translate these insights into biologically informed, effective interventions to improve outcomes for children affected by these rare tumors.

“I’m deeply passionate about adrenal research, and because these diseases are extremely rare, every observation matters. Even small discoveries, whether molecular, clinical, or developmental, can help advance understanding, improve patient care, and ultimately change outcomes in this underexplored field.” — Emilia Modolo Pinto, PhD, researcher Department of Pathology, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.

Rainey: Our team investigates the mechanisms that regulate normal adrenal steroid hormone production and the processes that drive disorders of steroid excess, including adrenal androgen excess, primary aldosteronism, and Cushing syndrome.

Our research on normal adrenal steroid biosynthesis has maintained continuous NIH funding for 25 years with the goal of defining the mechanisms underlying adrenocortical zonation, with a particular focus on zonal differences in steroid hormone synthesis. This work continues in collaboration with Dr. Gary Hammer’s lab, combining our expertise in cell and molecular biology with the Hammer lab’s transgenic mouse models for adrenal manipulation.

In adrenal androgen research, the University of Michigan teams (William Rainey, Adina Turcu and Richard Auchus Labs) have spearheaded efforts to understand human adrenal production of 11-oxygenated C₁₉ steroids. These steroids represent a series of androgen precursors and bioactive androgens that are now recognized as important contributors to normal sexual development at adrenarche and as key mediators in conditions such as premature adrenarche, certain forms of polycystic ovary syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Over the last decade, a conceptual shift has transformed our understanding of the mechanisms underlying adrenal steroid excess. Our team (William Rainey and Juilee Rege Labs) have contributed to defining the cellular origins and genetic causes of primary aldosteronism and adrenal Cushing syndrome. Using a next-generation sequencing pipeline optimized for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival adrenal tumor samples, we have built strong multicenter collaborations with adrenal referral centers worldwide. Through this work, we have mapped the somatic mutation landscape of disease-causing adrenal lesions and characterized how age, sex, and race influence the genetic drivers of these disorders. Ultimately, we aim to translate these findings into more personalized approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of adrenal disease.

Merke: So many of the research questions I have asked over the years were due to impactful patient encounters.  I have a vivid memory of the mom of a patient of mine showing me the “sludge” she noticed in the bottle of hydrocortisone suspension she had just picked up from the pharmacy.  This led to a clinical study and the suspension being recalled by the FDA. My encounter with a 3-year-old child with classic salt-wasting CAH who had loose joints and spongy skin on physical exam was the beginning of my studies of the contiguous gene deletion syndrome, CAH-X.

We need to listen better to patients and do a better job at incorporating the patient voice in our management of patients. In 2024, we created CAHQL, the first validated CAH-specific patient-reported outcome instrument to capture health-related quality of life. We are now using this tool to evaluate our management of CAH. Our research builds on and contributes to the unique aspects of the NIH. We continue to develop new approaches to diagnosis, management and treatment using our large natural history cohort of over 450 patients with CAH at the NIH Clinical Center.  Studies that focus on new treatments, disease management, novel biomarkers, improved genetic methodology and evaluating the long-term health of affected individuals continues. 

Perrier: It’s important to really understand the molecular genetics of these patients. We have a dedicated endocrine geneticist and genetic counselor who’s available so that we can off-the-cuff educate the patient: inform, help them understand the disease, understand the platform for testing, the molecular basis of the disease to help not only educate the patient, but to really be forward-thinking with defining that treatment plan. The advent of bringing that into the clinical space is paramount to the way we approach patients.

We have a robust platform of looking at metabolomic and proteomic markers in serum, predicting aggressiveness or onset of disease. We’ve made progress in a collaborative way with our basic scientists and really having a robust animal model program, looking at being able to use receptors to target.

Hammer: Leadership is a verb, not a noun. Leadership embodies a  team –  in action.  As Bo Schembechler said,  Its all about …. “the team, the team, the team”.

Building on the legacy of Jerome Conn ( primary aldosteronism), Norm Thompson (one of fathers of Endocrine Surgery who created the first Endocrine Surgery Training Program) and William Beierwaltes, (MIBG and NP59), our adrenal team  at the University of Michigan  currently includes  Rich Auchus, Adina Turcu, Bill Rainey, Tom Giordano, Tobias Else,  Frank Worden and Katherine Wolf  together with leaders in Endocrine Surgery, Adrenal Radiology and Adrenal Nuclear Medicine.    – We’ve  been working together now for over two decades, with a multidisciplinary team that’s  encumbers and integrates both basic science and clinical care. I’m proud that all of these different people who we’ve been able to pull together, trust each other, and work together with a passionate focus on curing disease. I’m proud of the fact that we’ve been able initiate and grow the International Adrenal Cancer Symposium, coordinate the International Adrenal Meetings  build A5 and become deeply  embedded within the fabric of the Endocrine Society.

When discussing the outstanding graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in my own laboratory group, I am most proud of their work  unraveling some of the rules of engagement of what we call the Sonic hedgehog-expressing  adrenocortical progenitor cell andthe Sonic-Wnt relay of the cortical -apsular unit that is  essential for normal homeostasis in health and goes awry in various diseases. Half of my lab studies this biology and as I discussed,  we hope to  use cell and gene-based therapies to correct various  diseases of adrenal failure.

In the adrenal cancer space, others in our broader Unierwsity of Michigan adrenal team have  linked adrenal cancer to a number of  familial cancer syndromes with , Li-Fraumeni syndrome and Lynch syndrome being the most common, but most recently, Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome,  where over 3% to 4% of patients with adrenal cancer have a mutation in the folliculin geneI think some of the most exciting work emerging from the lab is our burgeoning  understanding  of how metabolic programming coordinates different epigenetic profiles in  three varieties of adrenal cancer As we learn how cancer usurps normal well-oiled programs  that control normal homeostasis– we hope to exploit these cellular and molecular vulnerabilities to develop new therapies.

EN: In your opinion, what role has the Endocrine Society had in advancing adrenal research and care?

Pinto: The Endocrine Society has been invaluable for adrenal research and care. It brings together basic scientists, clinician-scientists, and practicing endocrinologists, creating a space where rare adrenal diseases get the attention they deserve and where young investigators can connect with leaders in the field. Through education, guidelines, and a global perspective, the Society helps ensure that discoveries reach patients. In such a rare and complex area, this support, and mentorship across generations, is priceless. Attending these meetings, you see role models in action and the inspiration they provide to young scientists. It’s a reminder of why nurturing the next generation of adrenal researchers and clinicians is so important.

Rainey: Sustained, adequate funding is essential to support basic, translational, and clinical research in adrenal biology and disease. At present, no adrenal researchers serve as standing members on the NIH study sections that review adrenal grant applications. The Endocrine Society should continue to encourage, and support qualified members to participate on these panels whenever possible. Without adrenal-specific expertise in the review process, U.S. adrenal research risks reduced funding and, consequently, diminished leadership in the field.

At the same time, the Endocrine Society should continue to invest in and elevate new and early-career adrenal investigators. Many fundamental questions in adrenal biology and disease remain unanswered and require a next generation of dedicated adrenal scientists.

Finally, the Endocrine Society and our adrenal experts should continue to proactively counter social media–driven misinformation that portrays adrenal excess or deficiency as widespread while promoting untested supplements as safe or effective treatments for nonexistent “adrenal disorders”. While public correction can be challenging because it could inadvertently amplify false claims, the expanding reach of these misconceptions into mainstream lifestyle publications needs a consistent evidence-based response by the Endocrine Society and its members.

It has now been nearly 50 years since I stumbled into this field. At this stage of my career, I now feel a responsibility to provide the same defining career moment to my trainees and to share my excitement about adrenal research so that there will be a next generation ready to lead the field. — William Rainey, PhD, Jerome W. Conn Professor of medicine in the Departments of Molecular & Integrative Physiology and Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Merke: The Endocrine Society is the professional home to endocrinologists worldwide and brings together clinicians and researchers in many areas of endocrinology such as adult endocrinology, pediatric endocrinology, and reproductive endocrinology.  Adrenal research and adrenal clinical care are rare, so a shared forum is essential to advance research and improve the care of our patients.  The Endocrine Society has created a global community where adrenal researchers and clinicians can network, collaborate and work together to advance science and improve the care of our patients.

Perrier: The Endocrine Society is the go-to for the science of endocrine tumors. It is a fertile feeding ground of having a finger on the pulse for what we need to be paying attention to. The Endocrine Society does a terrific job of — particularly in the adrenal space — allowing a space for us to engage and interact. And it’s really the only place that we come together with our researchers in endocrine disease. It’s where science “meets the road.”

It does a terrific job of still being able to bring people together. I think today there is a lot of instant gratification and things being available with a touch and go on the phone, on PubMed online. And we’ve lost a little bit of the engagement that comes from knowing people and engaging. I think our younger peers are not as committed to multiple meetings as was once the case to actually engage. I think we have to be more selective now with our travel, because it’s not as necessary, but I think the Endocrine Society still puts forth the effort for the science to be there, and it is the worthwhile trip for the year.

Hammer: We would benefit for  more engagement in the Society at the level of both industry and individuals (patients and advocates)  to push the adrenal needle forward. I’m on the Board of Trustees of the newly -minted  Hormone Foundation.  Our aim is to  raise  funds to support the Society’s missions to optimize  care,  advance science, educate and advocate.  We aim to  engage individuals and groups that have capacity to support these noble goals.

While the Endocrine Society has limited resources, support should not only be defined by money.  For example, Mila [Becker] and her team do an amazing job at advocacy for endocrine patients and for ES member research and care delivery.  But, since I’m on the adrenal soapbox  today –  I  would be delighted to see the ES increasingly be an enabler that can leverage and facilitate the interactions of empowered cooperative groups like A5 with  governmental agencies, industry and patient groups to  help our unified voice be heard and push the  adrenal agenda forward

If  the collective “we” continues to ground our questions in the best science and our goals in the best patient care,  the ES will continue to the global leader in endocrinology.

Bagley is the senior editor of Endocrine News. In March, he wrote about the link between obesity and dementia.

The post Adrenal All Stars: Catching Up with a Handful of the Endocrine Society’s Leaders in Adrenal Research and Treatment appeared first on Endocrine News.

• Expanding support for women’s health research
• Funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Insulin affordability
• Obesity Coverage
• Physician payment
• Regulation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)

We have provided additional details on some of these topics below.  If you are interested in learning more, please contact advocacy@endocrine.org or visit: endocrine.org/advocacy.

President’s Budget Calls for Significant Cuts to NIH

Last month, the White House released the administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget request to Congress. The request includes significant funding cuts for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and proposes some restructuring that would eliminate three institutes/centers. Specifically, the administration calls for the elimination of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the Fogarty International Center, and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Also slated for elimination are specific initiatives within the National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The rest of the NIH would see an overall budget reduction of $5 billion.

the Endocrine Society will continue to analyze budget documents from the White House and the agencies to understand how these cuts will impact our members and we will update the Society’s website and share through Endocrine News.

The president’s budget is only a proposal, and it now falls to Congress to make final spending decisions through the appropriations process. The Endocrine Society conducted a “Hill Day” earlier this year to connect some of our members in key states with their representative and senators’ offices to share our message about the importance of funding research and our recommendation to provide $51.3 billion for the NIH in the coming fiscal year. We also have led and worked with several coalitions of patient advocacy and professional organizations to share our message.  Most recently we created a statement opposing the requested budget and urging Congress to not only increase funding but also to protect the NIH from policies recommended in the president’s Budget Request that would harm research, such as arbitrary caps on indirect costs, multi-year funding, delaying awards and convening advisory councils, and restructuring the NIH by eliminating institutes and Ccenters. 

It is also critical that all representatives and senators hear from the medical research community about how these proposed cuts would affect research programs and jeopardize public health. U.S.-based Endocrine Society members can take action through our online advocacy campaign (endocrine.org/advocacy/take-action) to urge Congress to increase funding for medical research.

As more details are made available, the Endocrine Society will continue to analyze budget documents from the White House and the agencies to understand how these cuts will impact our members and we will update the Society’s website and share through Endocrine News.

Urge Your Senators to Make Insulin More Affordable by Supporting the INSULIN Act 

The Endocrine Society successfully advocated for the introduction of historic legislation to make insulin more affordable that was introduced in the Senate. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act of 2026. 

The INSULIN Act would expand the $35 monthly cap on out-of-pocket insulin costs, currently available for Medicare beneficiaries, to those with private insurance. The legislation also would create a program to provide lower-cost insulin to the uninsured. The Endocrine Society has endorsed this bipartisan legislation, and we need your help asking your senators to cosponsor and advance the INSULIN Act in the Senate HELP Committee. 

It is imperative that your senators hear from you about the importance of cosponsoring this legislation and supporting this bill. We urge all Endocrine Society members to take action today and ask your Senators to cosponsor and pass this legislation quickly. You can take action today by visiting: endocrine.org/advocacy/take-action.   

Endocrine Society Recognized for Advocacy in the European Union

Last month, the European Parliament voted on revisions to the Cosmetics Regulation under the Chemicals Omnibus. Prior to the vote, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) had a chance to introduce amendments to the proposed legislation from the European Commission to achieve a majority vote in the Parliament. Recognizing that cosmetics are a source of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), the Endocrine Society and European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) drafted a joint letter to MEPs on the Environment (ENVI) and Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committees urging them to adopt amendments that would strengthen the regulation and reduce exposure to EDCs.

Important protections were included in the negotiated text that we advocated for, including restrictions on carcinogens, mutagens, and reprotoxic substances without exemption for certain routes of exposure. Additionally, and consistent with our requested amendments proposal, a faster timeline for restrictions on hazardous substances is included to ensure that implementation of regulations moves quickly.

Important protections were included in the negotiated text that we advocated for, including restrictions on carcinogens, mutagens, and reprotoxic substances without exemption for certain routes of exposure.

Our societies faced an uphill battle as the chemicals industry lobbied extensively to weaken the overall regulation.  Martin Hojsik, vice president of the European Parliament, responded to our letter saying that our support was “crucial” as very few organizations contacted the Parliament in support of stronger standards for safe cosmetics. We will continue to work with ESE on all aspects of the Chemicals Omnibus as they come up for debate to urge policymakers in the EU to implement strong regulations to minimize exposure to EDCs throughout consumer products.

The post Endocrine Society Advocates on behalf of its Members on Variety of Policy Issues appeared first on Endocrine News.

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Novel Glucagon/GLP-1 Dual Agonist Survodutide Shows Promise in Phase 3 Trial

On April 28, Boehringer Ingelheim announced positive topline results from the Phase III SYNCHRONIZE-1 trial, in which survodutide (BI 456906) met the co-primary endpoints using both the efficacy and treatment-regimen estimands. 

Adults living with obesity or overweight, without type 2 diabetes, who were treated with survodutide experienced sustained weight loss of up to an average of 16.6% after 76 weeks using the efficacy estimand, a statistically significant decrease versus 3.2% in the placebo arm (p<0.0001)^.  This level of weight loss supports survodutide’s potential as a clinically meaningful treatment option for people living with obesity or overweight.¹ Full data from the Phase III trial will be presented at the upcoming American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 2026 Scientific Sessions in June. 

The trial met its other co-primary endpoint, with up to 85.1% of adults treated with survodutide achieving a body weight reduction of ≥5% after 76 weeks of treatment, using the efficacy estimand, versus 38.8% in the placebo arm (p<0.0001). Initial analysis indicates that body weight reduction with survodutide was driven predominantly by loss of fat tissue, with lean mass contributing only a small proportion of total weight. 

In a key secondary endpoint, adults treated with survodutide experienced a statistically significant reduction in waist circumference – a clinical marker closely linked to visceral fat and cardiometabolic risk² – after 76 weeks versus placebo. Excess visceral fat, particularly around the abdomen, is a known contributor to metabolic dysfunction and is closely connected to impaired liver function^. As a dual glucagon/GLP‑1 receptor agonist, survodutide has the potential to address obesity while also supporting liver function, a key regulator of metabolic health. 

Survodutide’s GLP‑1 agonism decreases appetite while increasing fullness and satiety, while its glucagon agonism is thought to directly act on the liver to reduce hepatic fat, regulate metabolic function, resolve inflammation, and improve fibrosis.

As expected with GLP-1-based therapies, participants in the trial experienced gastrointestinal events, with discontinuations happening more frequently during the dose escalation phase. These events were both mild to moderate in severity and temporary, with no new safety concerns observed outside of what is expected for the GLP-1 class. 

Survodutide is an investigational agent and has not been approved for use; its efficacy and safety has not been established. SYNCHRONIZE-1 is part of a comprehensive global Phase III obesity program, evaluating survodutide in people living with overweight and obesity, among key sub-populations.¹⁴ Additional trial results are expected to read out during 2026. Survodutide is also being studied in two global Phase III clinical trials LIVERAGE and LIVERAGE-Cirrhosis investigating the efficacy and safety of survodutide in adults with MASH and fibrosis stages 2 or 3 and in those with compensated MASH cirrhosis (fibrosis stage 4).

Survodutide is the first in a broader portfolio of therapies being developed for people living with obesity or obesity and connected metabolic health conditions, with multiple approaches under investigation. This includes an investigational, potential first-in-class triple GLP-1, GIP, NPY2 receptor agonist peptide (BI 3034701), which will be entering Phase II in the middle of 2026, as well as additional experimental approaches including oral treatment options.

Biomea Fusion Announces Positive 52-Week Results from Phase 2 COVALENT-112 Trial in Type 1 Diabetes Showing C-Peptide Improvement and Durability Following 12-Weeks of Icovamenib Treatment

On April 27, Biomea Fusion, Inc., a clinical-stage diabetes and obesity company, today announced positive 52-week results from its Phase 2 COVALENT-112 trial evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of icovamenib in patients with type 1 diabetes. These data are based on a proof-of-concept study enrolling small subsets of Stage 3 type 1 diabetes patients dosed with icovamenib at 100 mg and 200 mg in two cohorts (patients diagnosed within 3 years and those diagnosed within 3-15 years).

“The results we presented today mark an encouraging step forward for Biomea. The magnitude and durability observed are not typically seen in type 1 diabetes, which makes these findings particularly compelling. These data further validate targeting menin as a potential approach across both type 1 and type 2 diabetes,” said Mick Hitchcock, PhD, Interim CEO and Board Member of Biomea Fusion. “We look forward to presenting additional data at an upcoming scientific meeting and advancing our type 1 diabetes program in collaboration with leading clinical centers in the United States”

The COVALENT-112 trial demonstrated encouraging results in patients with type 1 diabetes. In patients diagnosed within 0-3 years, treatment with icovamenib 200 mg once daily for 12 weeks resulted in a 52% increase in mean C-peptide area under the curve (AUC) at Week 12 (p < 0.001; n=5), representing a magnitude of improvement that is not commonly reported in published studies of type 1 diabetes. Importantly, the effect was durable following only 12 weeks of dosing, mean C-peptide AUC was largely preserved through Week 52, representing approximately a 7% decline from baseline. A dose response was observed, with the 200 mg dose demonstrating greater activity compared to 100 mg. Published natural history data suggest that patients with Stage 3 type 1 diabetes typically experience substantial declines in C-peptide over time, underscoring the significance of preserved C-peptide following only a 12-week dosing period.

In patients with longer-standing disease (3-15 years since diagnosis), C-peptide levels were generally preserved through Week 52 (12-week treatment period + 40-week follow-up), with only a modest decline from baseline.

Icovamenib was generally well tolerated, with no new or unexpected safety signals identified throughout the 52-week observation period. Unlike investigational approaches in type 1 diabetes that rely primarily on immune suppression or cellular transplantation, icovamenib is designed as a short course, orally administered therapy targeting beta cell biology, with effects that appear to persist beyond the treatment period.

Based on these data, Biomea, in collaboration with four U.S. academic centers, is planning a Phase 2 trial in patients with type 1 diabetes diagnosed within the past three years. The study will evaluate whether extended dosing (up to 6 or 12 months) at 200 mg further improves C-peptide and whether the addition of an immunosuppressive agent enhances clinical outcomes. This study is planned to be initiated within the second half of this year at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Joslin Diabetes Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Diabetes Division, and the University of Miami Diabetes Research Institute.

“Efforts to intervene against type 1 diabetes have historically focused on preserving remaining insulin secretion in people just diagnosed with type 1 diabetes,” said G. Alexander Fleming, MD, Founder & Executive Chairman of Kinexum and former FDA Senior Medical Officer and Division Leader for Metabolic & Endocrine Drugs, involved in the review of landmark diabetes and metabolic therapies including metformin, the first rapid acting insulin analogs, early statins, and PPAR agonists. “These icovamenib data are unique in showing increased C-peptide-reflected insulin secretion in patients with established type 1 diabetes during dosing and persistence of this effect after treatment was stopped. In people with established type 1 diabetes, endogenous insulin secretion progressively declines to very low levels. Any evidence of improvement in endogenous insulin secretion even among a few type 1 diabetes individuals is unprecedented and of immense biologic and clinical significance. These findings warrant rigorous and longer-term evaluation.”

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

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One of the initiatives of which I’m particularly proud is the one-year expansion of our ENDO 2026 travel grant programs for early-career researchers.

The expansion was designed to address cuts in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding, which directly affected many of our research members. Researchers represent a significant part of our ENDO attendance each year, and many were considering not coming this year due to budget shortfalls. As such, we decided to:

• Increase the amount to $1,500 per award recipient for Early Investigator Awards, Outstanding Abstract Awards, and Early Career Forum; and
• Provide up to 200 additional grants of $1,500 per award recipient for the Outstanding Abstract Awards. ($1,750 per award for international recipients)

I’m pleased to say this effort paid off. Notably, we received 2,435 total abstracts submitted by the regular submission deadline (excluding late-breaking abstracts), which was the highest number of submissions since ENDO 2013.

By way of breakdown, this year we received 1,283 clinical abstract submissions, versus 913 in 2025, resulting in a 40.5% increase. We also received 241 basic science abstracts submissions this year, versus 155 in 2025, resulting in a 55.4% increase.

These increases are a direct result of our additional support for researchers.

Obesity: Upcoming Scientific Statement and Clinical Practice Guideline

As you know, obesity is a key area of focus for the Society. I’m proud to note that we are making significant progress on several important projects for both our research and clinical members.

We sent out for member comment a draft Scientific Statement on obesity in April. This statement, developed by a writing group led by Daniel J. Drucker, MD, and Ania M. Jastreboff, MD, PhD, has already undergone several stages of a rigorous review process.

It has been my honor to serve as your president. I am truly grateful for this amazing opportunity and to have served all our members. We should all be proud to belong to such an outstanding organization as the Endocrine Society.

The final statement is scheduled for release later this summer. Like others, this one will provide an authoritative review on the current state of research and provide recommendations for additional areas of study in this rapidly changing field.

For clinicians, we’re also making progress on a new Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) on the pharmacological management of obesity. This highly anticipated CPG is expected to be published in late 2026 and will replace our 2016 CPG on this topic.

In preparation for the new CPG, we invited a group of patient partners – i.e., people who have experience living with obesity – to share their perspectives, ideas, and values around treatment options. More than 80 people took part in one of two listening sessions held by trained facilitators over four days in late January.

The updated CPG will reflect the latest best practices in treatment and current research, together with the patient perspectives. The recommendations will help international healthcare professionals and patients to make informed decisions about obesity care.

These resources will be part of the Society’s new Center on Obesity, which is slated to launch later this year. Leveraging our members’ expertise, this initiative will seek to advance our scientific understanding of obesity and treatments for the one in eight people worldwide who has obesity.

Education & Meetings: ENDO 2026 Offers New and Enhanced Features

Our educational offerings have always been a top feature of the Society. We hold multiple educational meetings throughout the year. And last fall, we saw record attendance at Endocrine Board Review (EBR) and Clinical Endocrinology Update (CEU) 2025.

And, of course, ENDO remains the largest gathering of endocrinology researchers and clinicians in the world.

I’m delighted to report that ENDO 2026 in Chicago, IL, US, June 13–16, will provide more convenience, more presentations, more science, and more opportunities for networking. Among other things, ENDO 2026 will:

• Provide more presentation opportunities for early career investigators by scheduling oral and rapid-fire presentations throughout the day.
• Offer more Meet the Professor (MTP) sessions, with time slots each day throughout the meeting.
• Enhance the Meet the Scientist (MTS) sessions and basic science networking space, with an extended basic science reception.
• Add more engagement opportunities for attendees and exhibitors on the ENDOExpo floor.
• Provide more corporate-supported presentations outside the exhibit hall.
• Extend registration hours and offer a satellite badge pick-up location at the Palmer House on Friday to ensure lines are not overly long.

I am deeply grateful to the Annual Meeting Steering Committee Chairs and committee members who designed such an exciting ENDO 2026 program.

Outside of ENDO, we always are looking for new educational opportunities to meet the needs of our diverse membership. To this end, we recently launched the Rare Endocrine Disease (RED) Fellows Program, developed by the Society with support from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).

The program addresses critical gaps in awareness, diagnosis, and care of rare endocrine diseases. It also aims to equip fellows with the knowledge and practical skills needed to improve patient outcomes. A total of 50 U.S. fellows participated in the in-person component, April 17-18, at the Society headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C.

We are excited to announce that the Society will host a Science Summit on nuclear receptors in age-related diseases in Málaga, Spain, this September. I am also looking forward to the Society holding additional basic research events in 2027 that will build on the success of our International Conference on Steroid Hormones and Receptors.

Advocacy: Making a Difference

During the past year, funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was in jeopardy with calls from the White House to cut funding by 40%, cap indirect cost rates, and restructure the NIH in ways that would disrupt endocrine research.

Thankfully, the Society’s advocacy arm is second to none, and our efforts have resulted in significant wins. Chief among them, Congress recently passed a fiscal year 2026 funding bill for NIH that includes an increase of roughly $415 million for the NIH, along with a $10 million increase for diabetes research.

The bill also includes language that we had advocated for to protect NIH by limiting a budget maneuver called multi-year funding, prohibiting arbitrary caps to indirect cost rates, requiring grants to be paid within five business days, as well as reclaiming congressional authority over spending.

Our Advocacy team didn’t rest on these victories. The Society continued to advocate for the introduction of the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act, a bipartisan bill to address insulin affordability.

The Society endorsed the legislation that was introduced in March. We will fight hard for its passage, as the bill aligns with recommendations in the Society’s Insulin Access and Affordability Position Statement. We call for lowering the price of insulin through rebate reform and limiting co-pays to no more than $35 per month.

Thank You and Please Stay Engaged!

There is much, much more that the Society does on a daily basis for its members. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the current board of directors and officers, as well as the Society staff, particularly CEO Kate Fryer and the senior leadership team. I’d also like to acknowledge the incoming President, Nanette Santoro and President-Elect Joy Wu, who will take over the reins this summer at ENDO 2026.

 It has been my honor to serve as your president. I am truly grateful for this amazing opportunity and to have served all our members. We should all be proud to belong to such an outstanding organization as the Endocrine Society.

The post Looking Back on Presidential Term: Highlights Include Support for Research Members, Progress on Obesity and Advocacy Fronts appeared first on Endocrine News.

Sanofi’s Tzield Approved in the US to Delay Onset of Stage 3 Type 1 Diabetes in Young Children

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental biologic license application for Tzield (teplizumab-mzwv), expanding the indication from eight years and older to as young as one year of age to delay the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes in patients diagnosed with stage 2 type 1 diabetes. The approval was granted under a priority review process and is supported by one-year data from the PETITE-T1D phase 4 study (clinical study identifier: NCT05757713), evaluating safety and pharmacokinetics in young children.

“This approval opens an important new chapter in diabetes care for young children with stage 2 type 1 diabetes and their families,” said Kimber Simmons, MD, MS, associate professor of pediatrics at the Barbara Davis Center, Aurora, Colo. “This is especially important because these children are often at the highest risk of progressing quickly and without warning. Delaying the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes during the years when management is often most difficult because of a child’s small size and dependence on caregivers could have a truly meaningful impact for families.”

“The autoimmune attack driving this disease often begins early in life, and the burden that autoimmune type 1 diabetes poses in this very young population and their families is significant,” said Christopher Corsico, global head of Development at Sanofi. “This approval underscores the importance of targeting the immune system early in autoimmune type 1 diabetes, aiming to impact its natural progression by delaying the loss of insulin production in the pancreas.”

Tzield is also being reviewed by the FDA for a potential indication to delay the progression of stage 3 type 1 diabetes in patients eight years of age and older recently diagnosed with stage 3 type 1 diabetes.

Tzield is approved in the EU (under the name Teizeild), in the UK, China, Canada, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Brazil to delay the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes in adults and pediatric patients eight years and older diagnosed with stage 2 type 1 diabetes. Other regulatory reviews are ongoing. Tzield was previously granted FDA breakthrough therapy designation and orphan drug designation, for medicines that treat rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US.

Novo Nordisk’s Oral Semaglutide Demonstrates Potential to Be the First Oral GLP-1 RA Therapy for Children and Adolescents with Type 2 DNeurocrine Biosciences Presents New Two-Year CRENESSITY® (crinecerfont) Data Showing Sustained Glucocorticoid Dose Reductions While Maintaining Androgen Control in Adults with Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasiaiabetes

On April 23, Novo Nordisk announced positive topline results from PIONEER TEENS, a phase 3a trial evaluating oral semaglutide for type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents aged 10–17 years with type 2 diabetes.

Oral semaglutide demonstrated a superior reduction in HbA_1c (a measure of blood sugar control) over placebo in the trial and showed a well-tolerated safety profile consistent with previous Novo Nordisk semaglutide trials. Oral semaglutide is available today as Rybelsus^® in the EU and US and will be available in the US as Ozempic^® pill soon.

“Over the past two decades, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents has increased substantially, yet treatment options for this population remain limited, underscoring a significant unmet need. Oral semaglutide has already demonstrated clinically meaningful glycemic efficacy and a well-established safety profile in adults with type 2 diabetes, alongside proven cardiovascular benefits unique to this molecule,” said Martin Holst Lange, chief scientific officer and executive vice president, Research & Development, at Novo Nordisk. “These results from the PIONEER TEENS trial confirm that oral semaglutide is an effective treatment option for children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes who require glycemic control beyond that provided by the current standard of care.”

Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents is a severe and progressive condition that is strongly associated with increased risks of early mortality in adulthood. Current management for glycaemic control in youth-onset type 2 diabetes remains constrained, and there is an unmet need for more treatment options. In 2021, 14.6 million adolescents were living with type 2 diabetes globally. By 2030, this number is projected to increase to 20.9 million.

Current guidelines recommend metformin and insulin as first-line treatments ; however, metformin is associated with failure in glycaemic control in approximately half of adolescents¹³, and insulin is associated with hypoglycaemia and weight gain^4,5. This is the first clinical trial of an oral GLP-1 RA therapy in this age group, addressing a critical unmet need. Pending regulatory approvals, oral semaglutide has the potential to be the first and only oral GLP-1 RA to demonstrate superior glycemic efficacy versus placebo in children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes, while maintaining the well-established safety profile seen across the semaglutide portfolio.

Neurocrine Biosciences Presents New Two-Year CRENESSITY® (crinecerfont) Data Showing Sustained Glucocorticoid Dose Reductions While Maintaining Androgen Control in Adults with Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. recently announced the first presentation of new two-year data from the Phase 3 CAHtalyst^® Adult study demonstrating sustained, substantial reductions in glucocorticoid (GC) doses in adults with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia treated with CRENESSITY^® (crinecerfont), with approximately 70% of patients achieving GC doses within the physiologic range. These data build upon previously reported one-year results.

Chronic exposure to supraphysiologic GC doses is associated with cardiometabolic comorbidities, bone density reductions, mental health issues and other long-term health risks that contribute to the cumulative treatment burden faced by patients over their lifetimes. Reducing high-dose, long-term GC exposure represents one of the most important goals in the management of classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).

“For decades, the management of classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia has relied exclusively on supraphysiologic glucocorticoid dosing to control adrenal androgen and adrenocorticotropic hormone excess, exposing patients to significant cumulative long‑term risks,” says Sanjay Keswani, MD, chief medical officer, Neurocrine Biosciences. “These two‑year findings demonstrated that CRENESSITY provided durable androgen control while enabling meaningful reductions in glucocorticoid exposure. Importantly, these reductions were sustained over time without new safety or tolerability concerns, supporting CRENESSITY as a long‑term treatment option that advances the standard of care for people living with this complex condition.”

At Month 24 of the study, 69% (103/149) of participants achieved a physiologic GC dose (≤11 mg/m²/day hydrocortisone equivalents), with many participants eliminating nonphysiologic GC types. Of participants originally taking dexamethasone (n=20), 75% switched to a dexamethasone-free regimen, while 62% (37/60) of patients taking more than two doses of hydrocortisone per day were able to eliminate a dose outright. GC dose reductions and regimen changes were achieved without worsening androstenedione levels relative to baseline, indicating that lowering the GC dose was not achieved at the expense of androgen control.

*HCe denotes hydrocortisone equivalents.

Long‑term treatment with CRENESSITY was generally well tolerated, with more than 80% study retention at two years and no new safety signals observed.

“Many years of supraphysiologic glucocorticoid exposure increase the risk for long-term health consequences, which include obesity, diabetes, reduced bone density and psychosocial struggles,” says Richard J. Auchus, MD, PhD, professor of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School and Principal Investigator for the CAHtalyst Adult study. “These sequelae significantly impact quality of life and commonly develop with traditional CAH treatment regimens. The two-year findings provide important information on the durable benefit of treatment with CRENESSITY. Providers can confidently incorporate this additional knowledge to guide their management of adult patients with CAH into the future.”

Neurocrine will be sharing additional two-year data across clinical endpoints and outcomes at upcoming medical meetings.

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

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Bass is the Charles F. Kettering Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Ill. As a world leader in circadian biology and endocrinology, his creativity and insights as an endocrinologist were instrumental in his discovery that a mutation in a core circadian clock gene lead to abnormal glucose metabolism, hyperphagia, and alterations in the control of feeding time in mice. This pioneering work provided the molecular underpinning for current thinking about how shift work leads to obesity and diabetes and set the stage for studies on how meal timing affects health.

Bass earned both his MD and PhD at the Medical College of Pennsylvania and completed fellowships in endocrinology as well as Molecular Biology. Since joining the faculty at Northwestern at the start of 2000, Bass has become one of the world’s leaders in circadian biology and endocrinology. In 2023, he received the Endocrine Society’s 2023 Roy O. Greep Outstanding Research Laureate Award. 

“We celebrate the achievement of each new member and the collective breadth and depth of their excellence – this is a fitting commemoration of the nation’s 250^th anniversary,” said Academy President Laurie Patton. “The founding of the nation and the Academy are rooted in the inextricable links between a vibrant democracy, the free pursuit of knowledge, and the expansion of the public good.”

The Academy, chartered in 1780, was established to recognize accomplished individuals and engage them in addressing the greatest challenges facing the young republic. The first members elected to the Academy include George Washington, who said – in his first annual message to Congress in 1790 – “Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.”

Read an Endocrine News Q&A with Bass here.

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What if adrenal disease could be treated not with lifelong pills, but with lab-grown human tissue designed to restore what the body has lost? That question lies at the heart of the work of Kotaro Sasaki, MD, PhD.

Sasaki is Richard King Mellon associate professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine and of Laboratory Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine. Before joining the faculty in 2018, he earned his medical degree from Hokkaido University School of Medicine (Sapporo, Japan) and PhD from Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine (Kyoto, Japan). Sasaki also completed his pathology residency and fellowship training at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Washington.

In 2023, Sasaki was recognized by the Endocrine Society as one of five endocrinologists to receive the Early Investigator Award. At the time, although he was fairly new to the field of adrenal gland research, his contributions were significant. Sasaki’s research discoveries are helping lay the foundation for understanding the molecular basis of human reproduction, and endocrinology. 

The Sasaki Lab has built first-in-class human pluripotent stem-cell derived adrenocortical organoids that are capable of producing cortisol and androgens in ACTH-responsive manner both in vitro and in vivo. This platform recapitulates key features of prenatal human adrenocortical development, providing a foundation for mechanistic studies and translational applications. “Our technology is poised to transform the field,” he tells Endocrine News.

We spoke with Sasaki about his groundbreaking discoveries and how he manages the multitude of challenges he faces daily in the Sasaki Lab.

Endocrine News: How do you see your research eventually improving the lives of people with adrenal diseases?

Sasaki: Our goal is to build a human adrenal gland “in a dish” from stem cells. One long-term application is cell therapy for people with primary adrenal insufficiency, such as Addison’s disease, in which the adrenal gland can no longer produce essential steroid hormones. Today, patients must rely on lifelong steroid replacement, and there is no curative treatment for patients with primary adrenal insufficiency. Our vision is to recreate adrenal tissue as organoids from stem cells and ultimately transplant those cells back into patients to restore adrenal function.

The adrenal gland is an essential organ for our life and there’s millions of patients who are suffering from primary adrenal insufficiency worldwide. The adrenal gland is a critical endocrine organ for our stress response, right? So, when our body faces stress, such as infection, injury, or emotional stress, the pituitary gland transmits signal to the adrenal gland to produce essential stress hormone, called cortisol. That, in turn, increases the blood pressure, increases the blood glucose levels, thus enabling the body to cope with these challenges. Without adequate adrenal function, we cannot survive.

“Today, patients must rely on lifelong steroid replacement, and there is no curative treatment for patients with primary adrenal insufficiency. Our vision is to recreate adrenal tissue as organoids from stem cells and ultimately transplant those cells back into patients to restore adrenal function.” — Kotaro Sasaki, MD, PhD, Richard King Mellon associate professor, biomedical sciences, University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine; associate professor, laboratory medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa.

So, we started this project about five years ago, and back then, there were few, if any, high-quality studies showing how to generate the adrenal gland in a dish from stem cells in a robust and physiologically meaningful way. Our approach has been to first understand how nature builds the adrenal gland during development, and then carefully recapitulate that process in a dish, step by step, using stem cells.

EN: You were honored with one of the Early Investigator Awards in 2023 and, at the time, had only been a member of the Endocrine Society for two years. How has your involvement with the Society changed since then?

Sasaki: I attend ENDO almost every year and it has become an invaluable community for me. It’s the best opportunity for me to interact with other scientists working on the adrenal gland and related endocrine biology. Because I am relatively new to the adrenal field, building these connections has been especially important, learning how others approach science, and tackle challenges such as tissue regeneration. ENDO provides a unique forum for those exchanges, and my involvement with the Society has continued to grow through those interactions.

EN: What’s the biggest challenge facing the Sasaki Lab at this time? Is it the research, managing a lab team, or, perhaps, financial resources?

Sasaki: Honestly, all of them are challenges. Managing people, doing the science, and securing funding all require constant attention. Another major challenge I often encounter is the publication process. When we submit a paper, we often receive extensive and thoughtful critiques from reviewers, some of which can be tangential and not directly related to the scope of the study, and addressing all of them takes a significant amount of time. These days, it is not uncommon for the process from initial submission to publication to take a year or more. Now, I am fortunate to have the stability to work through long revision cycles, but for my postdoc and students, time is a real constraint as they need to move forward with their careers. Sometimes, trainees are unable to see a project through to publication before transitioning to their next position, which is a shame. Ideally, I want everyone in the lab to complete a project from start to finish, including publication, but the length of the current review process makes that increasingly difficult.

“[ENDO] is the best opportunity for me to interact with other scientists working on the adrenal gland and related endocrine biology. Because I am relatively new to the adrenal field, building these connections has been especially important, learning how others approach science, and tackle challenges such as tissue regeneration. ENDO provides a unique forum for those exchanges, and my involvement with the Society has continued to grow through those interactions. — Kotaro Sasaki, MD, PhD, Richard King Mellon associate professor, biomedical sciences, University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine; associate professor, laboratory medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa.

There’s a paper I’m currently working on that we started in 2021, so it’s already taken about four years. During that time, we have focused on building and refining a new platform, continuously improving it until it reached a truly solid state. We are now close to resubmission, and I expect it to be published. It will be a substantial paper that represents the culmination of five years of our intense, sustained effort, and I believe it will have a major impact on the field.

EN: Juggling all of those challenges can be all-consuming. What’s your favorite way to unplug when you leave the bench?

Sasaki: Outside of the lab I like reading books, working out in the gym, and traveling. One of the nice aspects of research is that travel often overlaps with conferences, where you can meet new people and exchange ideas, so that has become one of my favorite activities outside day-to-day lab work. Research is very competitive, so working hard is extremely important, but at the same time, you need some time to just relax. I often tell my lab members that finding the right balance matters, as does having people around you who support and understand your science, such as family, spouse, or friends. Having those who appreciate the nature of this work is especially important, because research can be difficult for outsiders to fully grasp. It is extremely time consuming and labor intensive, and there are days when we spend the entire day in the lab to move a project forward.

Shaw is freelance writer based in Carmel, Ind. She is a regular contributor to Endocrine News and writes the monthly Laboratory Notes column.

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“We showed that three months of a ketogenic diet was able to improve beta-cell function in patients with type 2 diabetes, and these improvements were associated with changes in the proinsulin-C-peptide ratio, a biomarker of pancreas stress,” said Marian Yurchishin, MS, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala. “Other than bariatric surgery or large-volume intentional weight loss, interventions for improving beta-cell function in type 2 diabetes do not currently exist.”

A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate eating plan that shifts hepatic metabolism to favor the burning of fat over the storage of fat. The biochemical changes involved ultimately yield numerous health benefits that may include improved beta-cell function and can occur without substantial weight loss.

The authors studied 51 people with type 2 diabetes (71% female) between 55 and 62 years old on either a ketogenic or low-fat diet, both prescribed to be weight-maintaining, and compared the changes in their proinsulin to C-peptide ratio. The proinsulin to C-peptide ratio reflects beta-cell stress and has been shown to decrease following diet-induced weight loss.

They found that although both groups lost on average a modest amount of weight, a ketogenic diet decreases the proportion of proinsulin secreted to a greater extent than a low-fat diet in patients with early type 2 diabetes, a change that was associated with an improvement in beta-cell function.

“We suggest that a ketogenic diet may reduce stress on the pancreas and improve the ability of beta-cells to secrete insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes,” Yurchishin said.

Other authors are Amanda Finn, Lauren Fowler and Barbara Gower of the University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Sara Vere-Whiting of the University of Glasgow in Glasgow, U.K.

The study was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the Nutrition Obesity Research Center of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Diabetes Research Center of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

“Greater Reduction in the Proinsulin-C-Peptide Ratio with a Ketogenic vs. Control Diet in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes” will be published online.

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One of our newer programs is the Medical School Engagement Program (MSEP), which in April will welcome 10 new member universities to join the 21 other institutions already taking part.

Since 2024, the MSEP has offered a pathway for the most talented medical students in the United States to explore the field of endocrinology and connect with some of our top leaders. The MSEP provides participating schools with curated resources and structured programming to highlight the vibrancy of our field.

By all indications, the program is achieving its aims. Participating schools averaged seven to 10 interest group sessions throughout the academic year, with an average of 20-25 students participating, based on data from our first year of programming.

Spring in the northern hemisphere is a time of exploration, growth, and transition. That’s why I’m excited this month to highlight our Society programs that help rising clinicians and researchers explore, grow, and transition to careers in endocrinology.

We’re delighted to recognize the dedication of these future clinicians…and, hopefully, endocrinologists. Forty-two MSEP students will travel to ENDO 2026 in Chicago, Ill., in June to receive an Excellence in Endocrinology Award at our MSEP awards reception.

Mentoring Programs

As an added benefit, MSEP medical students – as well as other students and residents – will have the opportunity to participate in ENDO’s Endocrine Mentor Day.

This popular daylong event connects mentees with accomplished endocrinologists who can answer questions and share their excitement for endocrinology. Together, they will attend sessions on the latest groundbreaking science as well as special interactive sessions.

Another mentoring program for early-career researchers is our Grant Aims Accelerator Program, which allows experienced mentors to review the mentees’ specific aims draft (or international specific aims equivalent) for grant proposals.

Offered exclusively to Society members, our mentors and mentees are matched by research interests. Pairs will meet informally at ENDO 2026 to discuss how mentee’s specific aims draft can be improved. Registration for the program ends Monday, May 4.

Career and Leadership Training

The Society also offers programs for early-career researchers and clinicians to grow their professional lives.

The Future Leaders Advancing Research in Endocrinology (FLARE) program is designed for promising graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, and junior faculty to learn how they can establish independent research careers.

We recently welcomed 25 FLARE participants into the 2026 class. These individuals, who hail from top universities across the United States, gathered at the Society’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., March 26 – 28, for the in-person FLARE workshop.

The workshop focuses on the “business of research,” and provides leadership training on challenges that early-career researchers often face. Participants heard sessions on the skills needed to market themselves for employment, as well as on transitioning into full-time research positions, and building long-term, successful careers. 

FLARE offers benefits that extend well beyond the workshop. A vast FLARE network of alumni, faculty leaders, and peers are committed to supporting each other’s growth.

Early-career clinicians also have a program designed to help them grow in their profession.

The Excellence in Clinical Endocrinology Leadership (ExCEL) program offers comprehensive leadership training and mentorship to early career physicians in medicine and science.

As with FLARE, we recently welcomed 16 members into the 2026 ExCEL class, which is set to hold a two-day workshop, April 8 – 10, in Washington, D.C.

As I look back on my long career, I’m always seeking ways to welcome more researchers and clinicians into the field that I love so much. The Society shares this passion. If you are starting out in your career, I encourage you to take advantage of these and other opportunities to maximize your success.

The ExCEL workshop offers practical leadership training on topics such as financial management, contract negotiation, and effective communication. Participants should walk away knowing how to navigate the transition into clinical practice and build the skills needed to grow as leaders in endocrinology.

ExCEL also has a vast mentoring network, from which participants can gain access to accomplished clinicians who provide career advice, feedback, and connections that continue long after the workshop ends.

Training to Pass Board Exam

The Society takes seriously its mission to grow the profession, including by helping clinicians gain their credentials to become endocrinologists. Our long-running Endocrinology Board Review (EBR) program prepares physicians for success on the demanding American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism certification exam.

EBR 2026 will offer online study sessions September 18 – 20, but the program is much more than that. Registration includes an interactive practice exam, a comprehensive board review book, in addition to the live study sessions with faculty who are experienced in preparing physicians for their certification.

Last but not least, I’m proud to highlight the expansion of our ENDO 2026 travel grant program. The one-year initiative, announced in January, provides additional support for more early-career researchers to attend our annual meeting. The program provides:

• Increases to $1,500 per award recipient for Early Investigator Awards, Outstanding Abstract Awards, and Early-Career Forum; and
• Up to 200 additional grants of $1,500 per award recipient for the Outstanding Abstract Awards. ($1,750 per award for international recipients).

We look forward to seeing these researchers at ENDO 2026 in Chicago, Ill., along with our many other members.

As I look back on my long career, I’m always seeking ways to welcome more researchers and clinicians into the field that I love so much. The Society shares this passion. If you are starting out in your career, I encourage you to take advantage of these and other opportunities to maximize your success.

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In the quiet exam rooms of specialized endocrine clinics, a high-stakes balancing act plays out every day. It is a clinical tightrope walk where the safety net is made of synthetic hormones and the stakes are measured in lifelong metabolic health. This is the world of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a group of rare genetic disorders that transform the adrenal glands — the body’s chemical powerhouses — into sites of profound dysfunction.

The treatment of CAH has evolved from being a childhood disease with high mortality to one where most patients now survive into adulthood. Richard J. Auchus, MD, PhD, professor of internal medicine Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes (MEND) and chief of the Endocrinology & Metabolism Section at the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Mich., points out that although children with CAH have received effective treatment for years, it is only over the past two to three decades that many individuals have reached later adulthood, presenting new challenges in adult care.

“Adults with CAH is somewhat of a new disease,” Auchus says, mentioning that it is only recently that these patients have been able to navigate complications that occur later in life such as infertility, menopause, and osteoporosis. “When the disease is managed properly during childhood, patients tend to experience fewer complications. Problems usually occur if good endocrinology management is inconsistent and control of the disease is lost.”

The Biological Disruption: What is CAH?

At its core, classic (severe) CAH is a breakdown in the body’s internal hormonal manufacturing line. Due to an autosomal recessive genetic defect — most commonly a deficiency in the enzyme 21-hydroxylase, but there are also deficiencies in enzymes like 11β-hydroxylase, 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase, or 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase — the adrenal glands are unable to produce cortisol, the “stress hormone” essential for maintaining blood pressure, blood sugar, and immune response.

“Adults with CAH is somewhat of a new disease. When the disease is managed properly during childhood, patients tend to experience fewer complications. Problems usually occur if good endocrinology management is inconsistent and control of the disease is lost.” — Richard J. Auchus, MD, PhD, professor of internal medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes (MEND) and chief of the Endocrinology & Metabolism Section, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Because the pituitary gland senses a lack of cortisol, it goes into overdrive, pumping out adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to stimulate the adrenals. However, since the production line is broken, the building blocks meant for cortisol are diverted into the production of other steroids, most commonly androgens (male sex hormones). This results in a double-edged sword: a dangerous deficiency in vital steroids and a toxic surplus of androgens.

This biochemical imbalance creates a lifelong “Goldilocks” problem:

1. Too little medication: Excess androgens lead to rapid bone aging, premature puberty, and virilization.
2. Too much medication: Excessive glucocorticoids (GCs) lead to stunted growth, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

The Pediatric Tightrope: Growth and Puberty

For pediatric endocrinologists, the challenge begins at birth. As mentioned in the 2018 The Endocrine Society Guidelines for CAH, universal newborn screening via 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) levels is “the gold standard” for early detection, preventing fatal salt-wasting crises. However, the following years involve a struggle over height and development timing.

“Until we have a medication that more closely mimics the daily secretion patterns of our own adrenal glands, we have to constantly readjust,” says Phyllis Speiser, one of the guideline authors and a pediatric endocrinologist from the Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York at Northwell Health and Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, N.Y.

The primary tool for treatment remains GCs like hydrocortisone. However, GCs are potent growth inhibitors. If a child is slightly over-treated to suppress androgens, their linear growth slows. Conversely, if under-treated, the excess androgens cause the “growth plates” (epiphyses) in the bones to fuse too early. The result in both scenarios is the same: a significant loss in final adult height.

Furthermore, the androgen surge in poorly controlled CAH can trigger precocious (early) puberty. This is not just a physical change; it carries immense psychological weight for a young child and further complicates the hormonal milieu, often requiring additional medications like GnRH agonists to “pause” puberty while the adrenal management is refined.

The Cardiometabolic Toll of Treatment

As patients transition into adulthood, the focus shifts from growth to metabolic survival. For decades, the medical community relied on “supraphysiologic” doses of steroids to keep adrenal androgens in check. We now know this comes at a heavy price.

Published in a 2010 JCEM article, the landmark CaHASE study (Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Adult Study Executive) in the UK exposed a sobering reality: Many adults with CAH have the metabolic profile of people much older.

The study first exposed the “failure of balance” in adult CAH care, revealing that standard glucocorticoid treatments often resulted in poor metabolic health (e.g., metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and osteopenia/osteoporosis), stunted growth, and impaired fertility (e.g., PCOS and irregular ovulation in females and testicular adrenal rest tumors in men). CaHASE pushed the medical community to move beyond the hyper-reactive 17-OHP biomarker, which often led to overtreatment. This shift directly paved the way for more stable monitoring through androstenedione and, most recently, the adoption of 11-oxygenated androgens (like 11-ketotestosterone). These newer biomarkers are highly adrenal-specific, allowing clinicians to precisely target androgen excess without the collateral damage of excessive steroid use.

The High Cost of Poor Control: A Cautionary Tale

A recent case study highlights the extreme consequences of chronic ACTH overstimulation. Published in JCEM Case Reports, the study details a patient with poorly controlled CAH who developed giant bilateral adrenal myelolipomas — benign tumors composed of mature adipose tissue and hematopoietic elements.

“Even in the case of very large myelolipomas that do not cause any symptoms, I would not see a compelling indication for surgery and would only recommend surgery if the patient absolutely wants it. Of course, the risk of rupture of the giant myelolipoma is not zero, but it is not extremely high either. We must be careful not to make patients who are not ill ‘unnecessarily’ ill.” — Martin Fassnacht, MD, head of Endocrinology and Diabetology at Medical Clinic 1 at the University Hospital, Wurzburg, Germany

While small lesions (under 5 cm) are typically left alone, those exceeding 6 cm are classified as “giant” and often require intervention due to the risk of serious complications. The European Society of Endocrinology (ESE)’s clinical practice guidelines for incidental adrenal masses in 2023 recommended “against adrenal biopsy during workup in any adrenal mass unless there is a history of extra-adrenal malignancy.”

Under the relentless lash of high ACTH levels, the adrenal tissue does not just work harder; it morphs. In this specific case, the masses grew to a staggering 30 cm and 27.5 cm — roughly the size of watermelons — filling the abdominal cavity, displacing the kidneys, and compressing the vena cava.

The decision to undergo a bilateral adrenalectomy (removal of both adrenal glands) is a heavy one. It renders the patient permanently dependent on life-sustaining medication with zero internal backup. However, when a mass is displacing organs or causing chronic pain, surgery becomes the only viable path.

“For me, such symptoms would be a reason for surgery and almost the only clear indication for surgery. Even in the case of very large myelolipomas that do not cause any symptoms, I would not see a compelling indication for surgery and would only recommend surgery if the patient absolutely wants it,” says Martin Fassnacht, MD, head of Endocrinology and Diabetology at Medical Clinic 1 at the University Hospital in Wurzburg, Germany and one of the ESE guideline authors. “Of course, the risk of rupture of the giant myelolipoma is not zero, but it is not extremely high either. We must be careful not to make patients who are not ill ‘unnecessarily’ ill.”

A New Toolkit: Decoupling Treatment

The most exciting development in 2026 is the emergence of therapies that “decouple” the management of adrenal insufficiency from the suppression of androgens. For 70 years, we used one hammer (steroids) for two different nails. Now, we have specialized tools.

1. CRF-1 Antagonists

Drugs like crinecerfont (Crenessity), approved in late 2024 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for children as young as four years, block the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 in the pituitary gland. This lowers ACTH production at the source without requiring extra steroids and advances the idea that better control of children with CAH can improve prospects for long-term health.

2. ACTH Antagonists

For patients who do not respond to pituitary blockers, newer agents like atumelnant (CRN04894, currently in Phase 3) block the ACTH receptor on the adrenal gland itself. This provides a “safety valve” to prevent the adrenals from overproducing androgens even if ACTH levels remain high.

3. Chronotherapy

New delayed-release formulations, such as Efmody, are designed to be taken at bedtime. They release cortisol in the early morning hours to mimic the natural human “dawn phenomenon,” suppressing the morning ACTH surge more effectively than traditional tablets.

These new tools are not substitutes but can be used in conjunction with standard medication regimens including hydyrcortisone and fludrocortisone.

“Future guidelines may prioritize non-steroidal adjuncts as first-line therapy for androgen control, fundamentally altering the long-term complication profile of the disease, says Maximilien Rappaport, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Greenville and first author of the JCEM Case Reports study.

A New Era of Care

The journey of a CAH patient is one of resilience. It is a journey that requires constant vigilance from both the patient and a dedicated medical team. The transition from the “brute force” hormone suppression of the past to the “precision management” of today offers hope for better quality of life and fewer surgical complications.

Recent literature offers us clear lessons: We must screen early, monitor precisely, and treat holistically. By integrating the rigorous clinical guideline standards with the multidisciplinary care models advocated by modern researchers, we can ensure that “giant” complications remain a rarity, and that every patient with CAH can live a healthy, balanced life.

Oberst is a freelance writer and former associate editor of Endocrine News. She contributes to the monthly Trends & Insights column.

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Since April is Adrenal Disease Awareness Month, Endocrine News is highlighting recent studies that shed light on important advances and insights in the field. These studies, all published in Endocrine Society journals, show how improved diagnostic accuracy, postoperative management, and a better understanding of rare adrenal pathologies offer clinicians tools that could improve patient outcomes.

Given the adrenal glands’ enormous hormonal reach — governing inflammation, blood pressure, stress response, and more — when they are dysfunctional, the consequences are serious. According to the Endocrine Society’s Endocrine Facts and Figures, the prevalence of primary adrenal insufficiency is estimated at 40 to 100 cases per million in the United States, while Cushing syndrome affects an estimated 8 people per million in those under age 65 years.

Rarer still, Cushing disease occurs in roughly 2.3 to 2.7 cases per million per year, and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) affects an estimated 3 to 10 people per 100,000. Those numbers may look modest, but behind each one is a clinical journey often fraught with challenges. Two research studies advance our understanding of cortisol testing and postoperative management, while two case reports serve as vivid reminders that the adrenal gland can still confound even the most experienced clinicians.

Central Adrenal Insufficiency

In “CAI Score for the Diagnosis of Central Adrenal Insufficiency,” published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society in February, Mussa H. Almalki, MBBS, MHSc, of the College of Medicine of Alfaisal University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and team have truly moved the needle forward when it comes to day-to-day, in-clinic management. As to what prompted this study, Almalki credits the well-known frustration that comes from wanting to help patients but being hemmed in by existing clinical parameters. “We often see patients who we suspect might have central adrenal insufficiency (CAI) — perhaps they have a pituitary tumor, have had head trauma, or have other hormone deficiencies,” he recounts. “We order a morning cortisol test, hoping for a clear answer. But so often, the result comes back in what we call the ‘gray zone’—typically between 4 and 18 µg/dL. It’s not low enough to confidently diagnose CAI, but it’s not high enough to rule it out.”

This dilemma generally creates the need to order a dynamic test (e.g., short Synacthen test [SST]), but this, says Almalki, is time-consuming, requires patients to come to a dedicated unit, can be unpleasant, and is not a perfect test itself. “We realized we needed a better way to stratify risk in these ‘gray zone’ patients before deciding on next steps. We wanted to see if we could combine the information we already had — like the specific cortisol level, the presence of other pituitary issues, and imaging findings — to build a more sophisticated tool than just looking at the cortisol number in isolation. The goal was to help clinicians make a more informed, data-driven decision about who truly needs that dynamic test.”

For their retrospective single-center study from a Riyadh tertiary referral center, the team enrolled 341 adults with suspected CAI and indeterminate morning cortisol levels, using the SST as the reference standard for diagnosis. They developed and validated a predictive scoring system that integrates morning cortisol levels, pituitary hormone deficits, tumor size, sex, and treatment history to help stratify CAI risk in the diagnostically challenging “gray zone” where cortisol results alone are inconclusive. Where traditionally, the “gray zone” is defined as about 3 to 15 µg/dL, the team deliberately expanded it to 4 to 18 µg/dL to be useful in the real world, where different labs use different cutoffs. “But more importantly,” explains Almalki, “we know a cortisol of 5 µg/dL isn’t the same as 15 µg/dL, even if both are ‘gray.’ By widening the range, we could let the data show us how risk changes as cortisol drops, rather than forcing it into arbitrary boxes.”

The resulting tool — the CAI score — which also incorporates a machine learning model and is freely available as a web-based application, demonstrated stronger diagnostic accuracy than morning cortisol alone. Along the way, the researchers encountered a couple of surprises. The first was what Almalki calls “the sheer power of pituitary hormone deficits.” In their model, having three or more additional hormone deficiencies was a very strong predictor (odds ratio >35). “This really drove home the point that CAI is very rarely an isolated event. It’s often a sign of more widespread pituitary damage. The health of the pituitary gland as a whole is a massive clue to corticotroph function,” he says. The second was the comparatively modest role tumor size played. “While larger tumors did increase the risk, size wasn’t as powerful a predictor as the number of other hormone deficits. This suggests that it’s not just the size of the tumor, but how it’s impacting the function of the surrounding healthy pituitary tissue — as evidenced by the other hormone losses — that truly matters for CAI risk,” explains Almalki.

“Endocrinology is a field defined by complex, interacting feedback loops. A single lab value rarely tells the whole story. AI-assisted tools are perfectly suited to integrate multiple data points — labs, imaging, symptoms, other diagnoses — and recognize patterns that are too subtle or complex for the human brain to consistently process. I see these tools not as replacing the endocrinologist, but as powerful allies that will handle the ‘noise’ and allow us to focus on the ‘signal.’” — Mussa H. Almalki, MBBS, MHSc, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The future for the CAI score certainly looks promising, but two things need to happen for its widespread adoption, according to Almalki: “First, external validation — seeing the model perform consistently across different hospitals and patient populations. Second, demonstrating practical value. If we can show that using the score reduces unnecessary testing, saves money, and doesn’t compromise patient safety, that creates a compelling case for integration into electronic health records or clinical workflows.” The team is not actively pursuing additional related studies, because, as Almalki puts it, “My immediate focus is shifting toward clinical application and direct patient care, rather than driving the next prospective study. I’m happy to leave the door open for other researchers to pick this up and validate it if they see value in it.”

As for the importance of integrating AI-assisted tools in medicine, these researchers emphasize such tools are intended to support rather than replace clinical judgment. “Endocrinology is a field defined by complex, interacting feedback loops. A single lab value rarely tells the whole story. AI-assisted tools are perfectly suited to integrate multiple data points — labs, imaging, symptoms, other diagnoses — and recognize patterns that are too subtle or complex for the human brain to consistently process. I see these tools not as replacing the endocrinologist, but as powerful allies that will handle the ‘noise’ and allow us to focus on the ‘signal,’” Almalki says.

Finally, for those clinicians similarly frustrated by how to manage a condition in the face of ambiguous results, Almalki has actionable advice: “Stop looking at that gray-zone cortisol in isolation. It’s just one piece of the puzzle. Ask yourself: How low is it? Do they have other hormone issues? What does their MRI show? The CAI score just helps you put those pieces together quickly. A low score might save a patient an unnecessary test. A high score tells you to stop messing around and act. It’s free, it’s fast, and you can use it right now on the website.”

[Go to https://cai-predictor.streamlit.app/.]

Post-Adrenalectomy Adrenal Insufficiency

In “Cortisol Testing to Diagnose Adrenal Insufficiency Following Adrenalectomy for Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion,” published just last month in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, a team of researchers led by Oksana Hamidi, DO, MSCS, associate professor of medicine of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and corresponding author Irina Bancos, MD, MSc, professor of medicine and Adrenal Lab Principal Investigator of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., sought contemporary data using standardized cortisol thresholds and modern assays on the true prevalence and duration of adrenal insufficiency after adrenalectomy for mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS). “Prior studies were heterogeneous, and there remains uncertainty about the optimal postoperative testing strategy,” says Bancos. “Specifically, we aimed to clarify three issues: (1) how often adrenal insufficiency occurs after unilateral adrenalectomy for MACS; (2) whether basal cortisol alone is sufficient, or whether cosyntropin stimulation testing adds value; and (3) whether biochemical/clinical severity correlates with postoperative adrenal suppression and recovery.”

The impetus for quantifying these aspects of post-adrenalectomy adrenal insufficiency is patient driven. When recognized and treated appropriately, explains Bancos, this condition is manageable. It becomes problematic, however, when it is unrecognized or unnecessarily prolonged or when patients are empirically treated without appropriate testing. In these situations, patients can experience glucocorticoid withdrawal symptoms, like fatigue, myalgias, and mood changes, that can significantly affect daily functioning. “During this time, patients require education, structured tapering, and close follow-up,” continues Bancos. “Importantly, glucocorticoid withdrawal occurs not due to adrenal insufficiency, but due to abrupt decline in supraphysiologic cortisol before adrenalectomy and lower, more physiologic cortisol levels after adrenalectomy. In this paper, we have not investigated glucocorticoid withdrawal, but we did previously report it in other studies.”

Zeroing in on empiric glucocorticoid therapy, why wouldn’t all post-adrenalectomy patients benefit? This team advocates for reserving such treatment for those who truly need it rather than exposing all to steroid hormone exposure with its potential adverse effects — including osteoporosis and bone fractures, increased risk of infections, hyperglycemia/diabetes, weight gain, Cushingoid features, hypertension, myopathy, cataracts/glaucoma, and mental health issues.

Their multicenter retrospective study examined 281 patients with MACS, 80% female with a median age of 57 across five U.S. institutions and compared the diagnostic utility of two postoperative cortisol tests: basal cortisol and the cosyntropin stimulation test (CST). Slightly more than half of patients developed postoperative adrenal insufficiency, with younger age (<60 years) and higher biochemical severity scores (BSS) emerging as key risk factors, and a 22% discordance rate between the two tests — highest in patients with bilateral adrenal nodules — supporting the case for using both assessments together. Their data suggest that adrenal insufficiency reflects the degree of preoperative hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis suppression. In unilateral disease, for example, prolonged cortisol autonomy leads to suppression and partial atrophy of the contralateral adrenal gland, which may not recover after surgery.

To account for the increased severity among younger patients, Bancos elaborates: “A possible explanation is that younger individuals may have more biochemically active or more prolonged unilateral disease, resulting in deeper HPA suppression. This requires further study.” Higher BSS also correlated with duration of recovery: Patients with mild scores recovered in approximately three months, whereas those with more severe scores required longer (4–14 months).

Age being a strong predictor and the discordancy between tests surprised the researchers, but both findings led to critical insights. “First, basal cortisol and CST were discordant in 22% of patients. This suggests that relying on a single test may misclassify a meaningful subset of patients,” says Bancos. “Second, the strong inverse association with age was unexpected. That challenges prior assumptions and highlights the need for further prospective validation.”

Ultimately, their findings could influence endocrinology practice. “In my view,” says Bancos, “adrenal insufficiency is not intolerable when it is anticipated, explained, and carefully managed.” The implication is clear — implement earlier testing. Although the exact optimal timing of testing in the first weeks after surgery remains an area for further research, Bancos says, “our findings support structured reassessment beginning around four to six weeks postoperatively and continuing at regular intervals. Earlier reassessment may prevent unnecessary prolonged glucocorticoid exposure in patients who recover quickly.”

Importantly, the scores that come from this earlier testing can inform individualized approaches to management. “Instead of speaking in generalities, we can now say: ‘Based on your biochemical severity, you have a higher likelihood of needing temporary steroid replacement, and recovery may take several months. That improves preparedness and shared decision-making,’” says Bancos.

“Prior studies were heterogeneous, and there remains uncertainty about the optimal postoperative testing strategy. Specifically, we aimed to clarify three issues: (1) how often adrenal insufficiency occurs after unilateral adrenalectomy for MACS; (2) whether basal cortisol alone is sufficient, or whether cosyntropin stimulation testing adds value; and (3) whether biochemical/clinical severity correlates with postoperative adrenal suppression and recovery.” — Irina Bancos, MD, MSc, professor of medicine and Adrenal Lab Principal Investigator of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Postoperative stratification is thus clearly beneficial, but what about a validated preoperative risk score? Bancos explains that, while possible, a preoperative score would have built-in limitations. “Biochemical severity and age were strong predictors, yet one critical variable we cannot accurately measure is the duration of cortisol autonomy. MACS is often missed and detected incidentally, making disease duration uncertain,” she says. “While a predictive model could help stratify risk, I do not anticipate that any preoperative score would eliminate the need for postoperative cortisol testing. Objective biochemical assessment remains essential.”

The team has several avenues to pursue from here, thanks to their ongoing prospective cohort, which allows them to validate predictors of duration and recovery more rigorously. “Future directions include refining recovery trajectories using longitudinal ACTH and cortisol modeling, exploring mechanistic explanations for age-related differences, developing and validating risk prediction tools, and standardizing postoperative testing protocols across centers,” says Bancos.

Rare Presentations, Important Lessons

The two case reports, both published in JCEM Case Reports in March 2025, arrive at the same uncomfortable truth: that adrenal pathology can be diagnostically ambiguous.

In “Adrenocorticotropin-Secreting Pure Adrenal Ganglioneuroma Leading to Cushing Syndrome,” corresponding author Daniel Alban, MD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, N.Y. and team describe the second-only documented instance of an ACTH-producing pure adrenal ganglioneuroma (AGN) causing ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome. (AGNs are typically benign, slow-growing, and hormonally inactive.)

When a 23-year-old man presented to the team with hypertension, a right adrenal mass, anxiety and excessive sweating, and laboratory workup demonstrated ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism, with elevated 24-hour urinary free cortisol and failure to suppress on low-dose dexamethasone suppression testing, they suspected pheochromocytoma, a known precipitator of an ACTH-dependent hypercortisolemic state. However, normal plasma metanephrines and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of his pituitary undermined this working diagnosis without suggesting another cause of the hypercortisolism, prompting the team to pursue right adrenalectomy.

Subsequent pathologic examination revealed a pure AGN, confirmed by positive ACTH immunostaining. This finding is remarkable not only for its rarity but also for what it suggests about microenvironmental influence on neoplastic behavior in that the authors hypothesize that the tumor’s location in the adrenal medulla may have exposed it to local corticotropin-releasing hormone, potentially stimulating ACTH production.

Postoperatively, the patient’s blood pressure normalized without antihypertensive medication and his urinary free cortisol returned to normal. As this case demonstrates, AGNs present numerous diagnostic challenges: They are capable of demonstrating secretory properties with clinical presentations that vary based on the hormone(s) involved, secretory AGNs often mimic other adrenal pathologies (particularly pheochromocytomas), and definitive diagnosis requires histopathologic assessment. Moreover, it alerts clinicians to include ACTH-secreting AGN in the differential diagnosis when evaluating ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism in the presence of an adrenal lesion, even when the biochemical picture seems to point elsewhere.

In “Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 With Adrenal Cortical Adrenocortical Carcinoma: A 25-Year Follow-Up and Family Report,” Mei Yang, MD, and team of the Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, in Chengdu, China, describe a 49-year-old woman who presented with recurrent hypoglycemia and was found on workup to have insulinoma, primary hyperparathyroidism, and a massive (>10 cm) left adrenal mass producing ACTH-independent hypercortisolism. Combined with her 25-year history of surgically treated pituitary macroprolactinoma, this constellation of symptoms pointed to MEN1, and genetic testing confirmed a heterozygous mutation in the MEN1 gene. On pathology, her adrenal tumor proved to be a rare and aggressive mucinous adrenocortical carcinoma.

Despite surgery (adrenalectomy and distal pancreatectomy), the patient died from postoperative sepsis and septic shock, complications for which her concurrent Cushing syndrome increased her risk. Though sobering, this case has positive reverberations. Subsequent genetic testing of family members revealed that her 11-year-old son also carries the MEN1 mutation, which itself confers a high likelihood of future tumor development. The authors emphasize that this is precisely why genetic testing and family screening matter — not only for diagnosis, but also for the early detection that can change outcomes.

Taken together, these four studies fill in important pieces to a puzzle that, for patients with adrenal disease, can have profound consequences when left unsolved.

Horvath is a freelance writer based in Baltimore, Md. In the March issue, she wrote about how GLP-1s have been helping other conditions aside from diabetes and obesity.

The post Piecing Together the Adrenal Puzzle appeared first on Endocrine News.

Amgen Announces Positive Top-Line Phase 3 Results for TED Treatment

On April 6, Amgen announced positive topline results from a Phase 3 trial of TEPEZZA (teprotumumab-trbw) administered by subcutaneous injection via an on-body injector (OBI) in participants with moderate-to-severe active thyroid eye disease (TED). TEPEZZA OBI provides comparable efficacy to, and builds upon the success of, intravenous (IV) TEPEZZA, the first and only medicine approved for the treatment of TED, which has now treated more than 25,000 patients worldwide.

The Phase 3 TEPEZZA OBI trial met its primary endpoint in moderate-to-severe active TED, showing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 77% proptosis response rate during the 24-week placebo-controlled period (76.7% TEPEZZA OBI vs. 19.6% placebo [p<0.0001]). Importantly, the mean proptosis reduction, a key secondary endpoint, was -3.17 mm at week 24 (-3.17 mm TEPEZZA OBI vs. -0.80 mm placebo; p<0.0001).

“These results extend and support the best-in-class efficacy of TEPEZZA for people living with Thyroid Eye Disease, now with subcutaneous administration delivering IV-level efficacy,” said Jay Bradner, MD, executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. “With a well-understood mechanism and established impact in the clinic, we can evolve how the medicine is delivered to potentially reach even more patients through a more convenient subcutaneous option.”

The trial also showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements across the following additional secondary endpoints: overall responder rate; percentage of patients achieving a Clinical Activity Score (CAS) of 0 or 1; change in diplopia as ordinal response categories; diplopia response rate; complete diplopia responder rate; and mean change from baseline in week 24 in the Graves’ Ophthalmopathy Quality of Life (GO-QoL) appearance subscale. Although not statistically significant, there was a numerical trend favoring TEPEZZA OBI in the mean change in baseline at week 24 in the GO-QoL visual functioning subscale. Full results from the study will be presented at an upcoming medical congress.

The overall safety results were generally consistent with the known safety profile of TEPEZZA IV. Mild-to-moderate injection site reactions were observed with subcutaneous administration in some patients, which did not result in treatment interruption or discontinuation. The most common adverse events (≥10%) were muscle spasms, tinnitus, weight decrease, ear discomfort, nausea and diarrhea.

TED is a serious, progressive and potentially vision-threatening rare autoimmune disease that can cause proptosis (eye bulging), diplopia (double vision), eye pain, redness and swelling.³

“Thyroid eye disease can be a profoundly debilitating condition, affecting not only vision but also daily functioning with symptoms like double vision and eye bulging,” said Madhura A. Tamhankar, MD, professor of ophthalmology and neurology at the Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania. “Expanding administration options through subcutaneous delivery opens the possibility of a more accessible experience for patients with thyroid eye disease and is critical to serving diverse patient needs. The potential to achieve comparable efficacy to IV makes this advancement compelling.”

Garetosmab Biologics License Application Accepted for FDA Priority Review for Treating FOP

In February, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for Priority Review the Biologics License Application (BLA) for garetosmab for the treatment of adults with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Garetosmab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks Activin A, a protein that Regeneron scientists discovered to be critical in the development of heterotopic ossification (HO) lesions in people with FOP. The target action date for the FDA decision is August 2026.

FOP is a relentless, ultra-rare genetic disorder in which muscles, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues are progressively infiltrated by abnormal bone formation, a process known as HO, which results in significant disfunction of these structures and skeletal deformity. HO of the jaw, spine, hip and rib cage can make it difficult to speak, eat, walk or breathe, leading to weight loss and escalating loss of mobility. Most people with FOP are wheelchair bound by 30 years old, and the median age of survival is approximately 56 years. Approximately 900 people are diagnosed with FOP worldwide, with many others thought to remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

The BLA is supported by efficacy and safety data from the positive Phase 3 OPTIMA trial evaluating garetosmab in adults with FOP. Both garetosmab doses (3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) evaluated in the trial were highly efficacious in reducing the total number and volume of new HO lesions at 56 weeks, compared to placebo. Regarding the primary endpoint analysis of reduction in total number of new HO lesions compared to placebo (n=21), those receiving the 3 mg/kg dose (n=19) experienced a 94% reduction (1 lesion vs. 19 lesions; p=0.0274), while those receiving the 10 mg/kg dose (n=23) experienced a 90% reduction (2 lesions vs. 19 lesions; p=0.0260). A post-hoc analysis also found both doses of garetosmab demonstrated a greater than 99% reduction in mean total volume (cm³) of new HO lesions compared to placebo (3 mg/kg: 0.01 cm³ vs. 10.45 cm³; nominal p=0.0013; 10 mg/kg: 0.02 cm³ vs. 10.45 cm³; nominal p=.0005).

At 56 weeks, among all 63 people with FOP aged 18 years and older who participated in the OPTIMA trial, serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 1 patient treated with 3 mg/kg garetosmab, 2 patients treated with 10 mg/kg garetosmab and 2 patients treated with placebo. The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥30%) are epistaxis, increased hair growth, abscess and acne.

Priority Review is granted to regulatory applications seeking approval for therapies that have the potential to provide significant improvements in the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of serious conditions. The FDA previously granted Fast Track designation and Orphan Drug Designation for garetosmab for the prevention of HO in patients with FOP. Garetosmab has also been granted Orphan Designation in the European Union, and additional garetosmab regulatory submissions are planned in countries around the world.

The safety and efficacy of garetosmab, as well as its potential use for the treatment of FOP, are investigational and have not been fully evaluated or approved by any regulatory authority.

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

The post Pharma Friday – April 10, 2026 appeared first on Endocrine News.

The study, “Hyperinsulinemia, an overlooked clue and potential way forward in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease,” led by researchers from the Radcliffe Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford, highlights a dangerous feedback loop between the liver and the pancreas. In patients with MASLD, the liver often fails to clear insulin from the bloodstream effectively. This reduced hepatic insulin clearance leads to chronic hyperinsulinemia, which in turn accelerates the progression of liver fibrosis — the most significant predictor of mortality and severe liver outcomes in metabolic patients.

Historically, clinical focus has remained largely on insulin resistance and blood glucose levels. However, this research argues that the absolute level of fasting insulin provides a unique window into liver health. When the liver’s ability to adjust peripheral insulin levels is compromised, it signals a decline in hepatic function that precedes many traditional diagnostic markers. This metabolic shift marks a transition from simple fat accumulation to more aggressive tissue damage.

Integrating these measures into routine clinical practice could allow for earlier intervention, potentially preventing the progression from simple fatty liver to cirrhosis and cardiovascular disease. Ultimately, prioritizing insulin clearance could redefine the standards of care for millions of patients at risk of chronic liver failure.

“The associated fasting hyperinsulinemia has been independently associated as a predictor of major adverse liver outcomes (MALO) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE),” the authors noted. This finding suggests that measuring fasting insulin could serve as a non-invasive “hepatic functional test,” providing clinicians with a low-cost tool to identify high-risk patients before irreversible scarring occurs. By tracking these levels, physicians can better anticipate the risk of cirrhosis or liver failure in patients who might otherwise appear stable.

The implications for patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome are significant. Because MASLD is so closely entwined with these conditions, the researchers hypothesize that managing insulin levels directly — rather than just focusing on glucose control — could be a way forward in treating steatotic liver disease. This shift in perspective moves hyperinsulinemia from a “background” metabolic feature to a central target for therapeutic intervention, potentially utilizing newer agents that improve metabolic clearance.

As the global prevalence of metabolic syndrome continues to rise, the need for reliable non-invasive tests (NITs) has never been greater. By adding fasting insulin to the current “armamentarium” of diagnostic tools, healthcare providers may be better equipped to assess the entanglement between liver fibrosis and metabolic dysfunction. This approach offers a more holistic view of the patient’s health, bridging the gap between endocrinology and hepatology. The review concludes that recognizing the role of reduced insulin clearance and subsequent hyperinsulinemia offers a potential path toward more personalized treatment strategies. Integrating these measures into routine clinical practice could allow for earlier intervention, potentially preventing the progression from simple fatty liver to cirrhosis and cardiovascular disease. Ultimately, prioritizing insulin clearance could redefine the standards of care for millions of patients at risk of chronic liver failure.

The post Hyperinsulinemia Emerges as Critical Predictor of Severe Liver Outcomes appeared first on Endocrine News.

A new prospective study has found that initiating continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) at the point of hospital discharge is associated with significantly improved glycemic control and may halve the risk of hospital readmission for patients with type 2 diabetes. The research, published in Journal of the Endocrine Society, suggests that providing patients with real-time data during the high-risk transition from inpatient to home care is both feasible and safe. This clinical “bridge” addresses a long-standing gap in diabetes management where patients often struggle to maintain the stability achieved under professional supervision once they return to their daily routines.

The study, “Effect of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Following Hospital Discharge of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes,” conducted by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, focused on 108 hospitalized adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (HbA1c > 8.0%) who required basal insulin therapy. By equipping participants with a Dexcom G6 CGM system upon leaving the hospital, clinicians were able to monitor their transition over a 12-week period. The results were striking: Average HbA1c levels plummeted from an initial median 12% to 8.2% by the conclusion of the study. This rapid improvement underscores the transformative power of real-time biofeedback in patient self-management.

As healthcare systems look for ways to reduce the burden of chronic disease management, these findings highlight CGM as a potential standard of care for the transition period. By providing a digital safety net, hospitals can empower patients to manage their diabetes more effectively, ensuring that the progress made during a hospital stay is not lost once the patient returns home.

This transition period is particularly critical because the weeks following hospital discharge are often fraught with medication errors and fluctuating glucose levels. Traditionally, initiation of CGM is deferred to the outpatient setting and patients rely on intermittent finger-stick tests, which offer only a disconnected snapshot of their metabolic state. In contrast, CGM provides a continuous stream of data, allowing for immediate adjustments to insulin dosing and diet. By visualizing how specific meals or activities impact their blood sugar, patients can make informed decisions in real-time, effectively preventing the dangerous “peaks and valleys” that often lead to re-hospitalization.

The data revealed that patients who consistently utilized the CGM technology were significantly more stable than those who did not. Most notably, the readmission rate within the 12-week follow-up period was just 23% for those with consistent CGM data, compared to 50% for those without. Furthermore, patients equipped with the device were nearly eight times more likely to follow up with an outpatient endocrinologist (49% vs. 6%), suggesting either a need for ongoing diabetes-focused care in CGM users or potentially that CGM promotes better engagement with the healthcare team. “Initiating CGM at hospital discharge was feasible, safe, and associated with significant glycemic improvement,” the researchers concluded. The study noted that time in range (TIR) — the percentage of time a patient’s glucose stays between 70 and 180 mg/dL—increased steadily throughout the 12 weeks, moving from 37% to 43%. This improvement, if sustained, is a vital indicator of reduced long-term complications, such as nerve damage and kidney disease. As healthcare systems look for ways to reduce the burden of chronic disease management, these findings highlight CGM as a potential standard of care for the transition period. By providing a digital safety net, hospitals can empower patients to manage their diabetes more effectively, ensuring that the progress made during a hospital stay is not lost once the patient returns home.

The post Continuous Glucose Monitoring Cuts Readmission Risks appeared first on Endocrine News.

At its core, XLH is a rare genetic disorder typically driven by mutations in the PHEX gene located on the X chromosome. This genetic anomaly leads to an overproduction of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a hormone that regulates blood phosphate levels. Elevated FGF23 inhibits the kidneys’ ability to reabsorb phosphate into the bloodstream and simultaneously reduces the production of active vitamin D.

The resulting “phosphate wasting” creates a state of chronic hypophosphatemia, which starves developing bone of mineral. Thus, children with XLH often develop rickets and osteomalacia, characterized by impaired mineralization of the growth plate. The physical consequences of these biochemical aberrations include short stature and significant skeletal deformities, such as bowing of the legs (genu varum) or “knock knees” (genu valgum).

By integrating these specific bone age trends into daily clinical practice, healthcare providers can better navigate the complex relationship between phosphate management and skeletal development, ultimately improving long-term physical outcomes for children living with XLH.

Bone age is a primary metric used by pediatric endocrinologists to assess a child’s growth potential. It is determined by comparing X-rays of a patient’s hand and wrist against standardized atlases of skeletal development. Understanding the precise nature of maturation delays is essential for determining the optimal window for growth-promoting therapies and for setting realistic expectations for final adult height.

The retrospective and longitudinal assessment of 56 children revealed significant differences in how the disease affects the sexes. Researchers found that male patients exhibited an average bone age delay of 1.2 years, while females showed a more modest average delay of 0.4 years. This disparity was even more striking when examining the frequency of severe delays: Approximately 58% of male participants were delayed by one to two years, compared to just 21% of females. Furthermore, a subset of patients in both sexes showed delays exceeding two full years, a factor that significantly complicates traditional growth monitoring and the timing of surgical or hormonal interventions.

Despite these significant lags in skeletal maturation, the research offers a silver lining: Standard height prediction models remain relatively reliable for this population. By utilizing both the Bayley-Pinneau and Tanner-Whitehouse methods, researchers determined that predicted adult heights generally fell within the standard ±2-inch margin typical for healthy children.

However, the study, “Bone Age Delay in X-linked Hypophosphatemia,”did identify subtle nuances in these tools. There was a slight tendency for the Bayley-Pinneau method to overestimate height in males, while the Tanner-Whitehouse method trended toward overestimation in females. For clinicians, these findings emphasize that bone age delay is a systemic feature of XLH rather than an isolated symptom. The research indicates that while male patients may appear to be “falling behind” on growth charts more rapidly, this lag can be viewed as a predictable byproduct of the disease’s pathology. As precision medicine continues to evolve within the rare disease space, data regarding sex-specific growth patterns allows for more tailored therapeutic approaches. By integrating these specific bone age trends into daily clinical practice, healthcare providers can better navigate the complex relationship between phosphate management and skeletal development, ultimately improving long-term physical outcomes for children living with XLH.

The post Beyond the Curve: How XLH Impacts Skeletal Maturation and Predicted Height appeared first on Endocrine News.

Endocrine Society Calls on Congress to Increase NIH Funding and Protect Research 

Because Congress is considering funding for fiscal year 2027 right now, the Endocrine Society organized a virtual Hill Day on March 13, to call on lawmakers to increase National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and protect NIH research. We also urged representatives and senators to provide funding for women’s health research and establish a dedicated Women’s Health Research Fund within the Office of the Director. In addition, we informed congressional offices about continued delays in funding opportunities and obstacles for researchers to draw down on approved funds, so that they could address with the NIH and the administration. 

More than 40 members of the Society from states and congressional districts of lawmakers who serve on the appropriations committee participated, resulting in 100 congressional meetings. Our virtual meetings amplified the voice of endocrine research and the Society’s influence. You can help maximize our impact! Please join our online advocacy campaign by visiting endocrine.org/advocacy/take-action and share our message with your representative and senators. 

We will continue to keep members posted about funding developments and we will participate in an in-person Hill Day later this Fall as well.  

CMS Releases Additional Information on Pilot Program to Expand Access to Obesity Medications  

This week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provided additional information on its proposed model to expand access to anti-obesity medications for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth (BALANCE) Model aims to increase access to GLP-1 medications and healthy lifestyle interventions to improve health.  

The latest information includes a list of the medications that will be included in the model, and the clinical criteria beneficiaries must meet to be eligible for coverage. The model, which is expected to launch in 2027, will provide certain Medicare beneficiaries with GLP-1 medications at $50 per month. More information about the model can be found at: cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/balance.  

The Society is pleased to see CMS taking steps to expand access to these medications for beneficiaries. We have supported previous efforts by the agency to expand access to obesity medications. We also support the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), which would allow Medicare to cover obesity medications for weight loss. We will continue to analyze this proposal and the clinical criteria for beneficiaries to better understand how this program would work and who would benefit. We will also continue to educate members of Congress and congressional staff about obesity.

In January, we hosted a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill to discuss obesity and its impact on liver disease and shared Society educational resources related to obesity. We will also soon be releasing an updated version of our Obesity Playbook, which contains educational information for congressional staff who work on obesity issues and policy.   

Delays in Grant Funding Persist – Share Your Story With Us 

Multiple news outlets are reporting that, despite the influx of funding provided by Congress in the recently passed funding bill, there remain significant obstacles preventing those funds from being used to support research grants.

Scientists are expressing concern about the slow pace to the release of Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) and the substantial number of “forecasted” opportunities that many expected to be formally published months ago. Congress needs to understand what these delays and disruptions mean to the lifesaving work that endocrine scientists do. If you are concerned about a specific NOFO or grant opportunity or have otherwise had difficulty in applying for or receiving information about grants please let us know via e-mail to: advocacy@endocrine.org. 

For more information about the Endocrine Society’s advocacy endeavors, go here.

The post Endocrine Society Advocacy Update – April 2026 appeared first on Endocrine News.

FDA Approves Lilly’s Foundayo Weight Loss GLP-1 Pill

On April 1, Eli Lilly and Company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Foundayo (orforglipron) for adults with obesity, or overweight with weight-related medical problems.

When used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, Foundayo helps individuals lose excess body weight and keep the weight off. Foundayo will be available via LillyDirect^®, with prescriptions accepted immediately and shipping beginning April 6, followed shortly after by broad availability through U.S. retail pharmacies and telehealth providers.

“People living with obesity need treatment options that meet them where they are – and for many, a once-daily pill that can be taken with no food or water restrictions can offer them greater flexibility in how they approach their treatment,” said Deborah Horn, DO, director of the Center for Obesity Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “With Foundayo, we now have an oral option that delivered an average of 12.4% weight loss at the highest dose in clinical trials – addressing both the clinical realities of obesity and the practical challenges patients face every day.”

Supported by the rigorous ATTAIN clinical trial program, Foundayo was proven to help people lose weight and keep it off. In the ATTAIN-1 trial, individuals taking the highest dose of Foundayo and who stayed on treatment lost an average of 27.3 pounds (12.4%) compared to 2.2 pounds (0.9%) with placebo.¹ Participants taking Foundayo, regardless of trial completion, lost an average of 25 pounds (11.1%), compared to 5.3 pounds (2.1%) with placebo.² In the ATTAIN program, Foundayo also led to reductions in many markers of cardiovascular risk, including waist circumference, non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure across all doses.

“Today, fewer than 1 in 10 people who could benefit from a GLP-1 are taking one, held back by access, stigma, perceived complexity or the belief that their condition isn’t serious enough for treatment. We believe Foundayo can help level the playing field for those living with obesity or who are overweight and living with weight-related complications,” said David A. Ricks, chair and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. “As a convenient, once-daily oral pill that delivers meaningful weight loss, this is obesity care designed for the real world.”

Lilly is committed to making Foundayo accessible and affordable. Eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $25 per month with the Foundayo savings card.³ Individuals opting for self-pay can access Foundayo starting at $149 per month for the lowest dose. Additionally, eligible Medicare Part D individuals may be able to get Foundayo for $50 per month, beginning as soon as July 1, 2026.

Use of Foundayo with other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines is not recommended. It is not known whether Foundayo is safe and effective for use in children. Foundayo may cause tumors in the thyroid, including thyroid cancer. Watch for possible symptoms, such as a lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, tell your health care provider. The most common side effects of Foundayo include nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach (abdominal) pain, headache, swollen belly, feeling tired, belching, heartburn, gas, and hair loss. These are not all the possible side effects of Foundayo. Please see Indication and Safety Summary with Warning below and full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

“There is no single path that works for everyone living with overweight or obesity,” said Joe Nadglowski, president and CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition. “New treatment options expand choice and help more people find care that fits their lives, their goals and where they are in their journey – whether they’re just starting to explore treatment or looking for a different long-term approach.”

Lilly has submitted orforglipron for weight management and/or type 2 diabetes in more than 40 countries and plans to launch in each country shortly after approval.

For more information about Foundayo, please visit www.foundayo.lilly.com. 

Viridian Announces Positive Topline Results in TED Clinical Trial

On March 30, Viridian Therapeutics, Inc., announced positive topline data from the elegrobart REVEAL-1 phase 3 clinical trial in patients with active thyroid eye disease (TED).

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc., is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing potentially best-in-class medicines for serious and rare diseases. Elegrobart is a subcutaneously delivered, half-life-extended monoclonal antibody targeting the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R). REVEAL-1 evaluated two dosing regimens, every four weeks (Q4W) and every eight weeks (Q8W), compared with placebo.

“We are excited to report these results from REVEAL-1, the largest pivotal clinical trial conducted in active TED to date, which position elegrobart as potentially the first ever subcutaneous autoinjector treatment for TED,” said Steve Mahoney, president and CEO of Viridian Therapeutics. “REVEAL-1 met its primary endpoint with high statistical significance. Elegrobart treatment drove robust proptosis responses in a treatment regimen comprised of as few as three subcutaneous doses. Further, in the Q4W arm, we saw clinically meaningful diplopia responses and diplopia resolution. Currently, the only marketed treatment for TED requires eight intravenous infusions and, despite low market penetration, annualized in 2025 to approximately $2B in revenues. We believe there is a significant opportunity with subcutaneous elegrobart in TED, including the potential to expand the market as an at-home and self-administered treatment option, if approved.”

“Subcutaneous elegrobart showed rapid and clinically meaningful reductions in proptosis and diplopia in REVEAL-1 with a highly convenient, well-tolerated dosing profile,” said Prem Subramanian, MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology at Colorado University Anschutz, and chief of neuro-ophthalmology at the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center. “Patients are seeking more treatment choices for TED, and there remains a clear need for a more conveniently administered therapy. I am very encouraged to see the data for elegrobart and believe it has the potential to reach more TED patients than an intravenous therapy and to provide them with an attractive treatment option.”

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

The post Pharma Friday – April 3, 2026 appeared first on Endocrine News.

Redefining obesity based not only on body mass index (BMI) but on whether excess body fat is causing measurable health problems may complicate diagnosis and delay treatment, according to an Endocrine Society guideline communication published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

“How obesity is defined has real consequences for patients. Diagnostic definitions influence who qualifies for treatment, how clinicians manage care and how insurers determine coverage for medications and surgery,” says author Ranganath Muniyappa, MD, PhD, of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Bethesda, Md. “Any new framework must be grounded in strong evidence, practical for everyday clinical use and designed to improve, rather than restrict equitable access to effective obesity treatment.”

The authors highlight major conceptual and practical challenges with the Lancet Commission’s proposed framework which requires clinicians to prove that organ dysfunction is caused by body fat to diagnose clinical obesity and introduces a “preclinical obesity” category for individuals without evidence of organ dysfunction.

The authors discuss how this approach may delay and complicate treatment and focus on three major concerns:

• The framework’s reliance on demonstrating that organ dysfunction is caused by excess body fat is difficult to implement in routine clinical care and may delay treatment or create barriers to access.
• The definition of “preclinical obesity” is conceptually unstable and dependent on the intensity of diagnostic testing, while the exclusion of type 2 diabetes from clinical criteria is inconsistent with current scientific and clinical evidence.
• The framework requires complex measurements and diagnostic evaluations that may not be feasible in many clinical settings and could exacerbate existing health inequities.

The authors propose a more practical approach to diagnosing obesity that emphasizes clinical risk and functional impact, uses established staging approaches and ensures that new definitions improve care without creating barriers to treatment.

“We need simpler ways to identify obesity earlier that don’t involve rigid diagnostic thresholds and to focus on making sure people with obesity can access treatment based on how much it’s likely to improve their daily lives and how safe it is—not on proving a single, exact cause,” says Amy Rothberg, MD, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. “Future diagnostic frameworks should prioritize increasing access to obesity care and take a more nuanced approach.”

Other authors are Tariq Chukir of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar in Doha, Qatar; Dimpi Desai of Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, Calif.; Michael Weintraub of NYU Langone in New York, N.Y.; and Roma Gianchandani of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

The study was funded by the Endocrine Society. The views expressed by Muniyappa are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or the U.S. Government.

“Defining Disease or Delaying Care? A Conceptual and Clinical Appraisal of the Lancet Obesity Framework” was published online, ahead of print.

The post Could Moving Obesity Diagnosis Beyond BMI Delay Treatment? appeared first on Endocrine News.

Once again, Endocrine News is devoting an issue to the obesity epidemic, but this year things don’t look as dire as they have in past years. Yes, overweight and obesity is still running rampant around the world. That’s the bad news. The good news is that with the help of the spate of new pharmaceuticals, things are definitely getting better.

When the Endocrine Society held a science writers conference dedicated to the current landscape and future horizons of GLP-1 therapies, Endocrine News Senior Editor Derek Bagley was in attendance and wrote about the presentations in “Moving Forward: The Future of GLP-1 Therapies.”  He caught up with the two experts who spoke at the conference — Priya Jaisinghani, MD, DABOM, and Mehmet Furkan Burak, MD — to learn what’s next for these medications and what they mean for people with obesity. According to Jaisinghani, a clinical assistant professor from NYU Langone in New York, these medications do much more than simply improve the number on the scale. “They have improved insulin resistance, blood pressure, lipids, inflammatory markers, knee osteoarthritis, and have gained indications for glycemic control, fatty liver disease, cardiovascular risk, chronic kidney disease in those living with type 2 diabetes. That’s why calling them ‘weight loss meds’ undersells what they actually do.”

Derek explores another aspect of obesity that was published recently in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism that linked this problematic condition to yet another comorbidity: vascular-related dementia. In “Heavy Wears the Crown: Obesity’s Link to Dementia,” Derek takes a deeper dive into the paper, “High Body Mass Index as a Causal Risk Factor for Vascular-Related Dementia: A Mendelian Randomization Study,” that posits that targeting obesity and hypertension with various pharmacological treatments might actually prevent dementia from developing in some patient populations. “In this study, we found high body mass index (BMI) and high blood pressure are direct causes of dementia,” according to Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, MD, PhD, professor and chief physician at Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet and the University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the study’s corresponding author. “The treatment and prevention of elevated BMI and high blood pressure represent an unexploited opportunity for dementia prevention.”

More Endocrine Society journal research is highlighted by Kelly Horvath for “No Patient Left Behind: Expanding Semaglutide’s Reach.”  demonstrates how GLP-1 RAs, well known and rightly praised for reducing obesity, are also showing some surprising results regarding a variety of other conditions. Studies from JCEM, JCEM Case Reports, and The Journal of the Endocrine Society are well represented here as Kelly discusses studies that run the gamut of topics: improving taste sensitivity in patients, positive results in a pediatric patient with various comorbidities, and even being effective treatments for patients with a variety of psychiatric disorders, these drugs are continuing to go “above and beyond.”

Maureen Corrigan, MA, the Endocrine Society’s director of evidence-based practice, discusses a new obesity measure that could potentially make a real difference in managing the disease. In “Closing the Obesity Diagnosis Gap: A New EHR-Based Measure Could Improve Population Health Outcomes,” she delves into a recent Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism paper that posits that documenting obesity in electronic health records for those patients who meet the body mass index criteria, regardless of clinical specialty. “At the population level, the lack of consistent documentation limits the ability of health systems to measure quality of obesity care, track outcomes, or identify disparities in recognition and treatment,” Maureen writes. “Additionally, whereas failing to provide a diagnosis of obesity can reinforce bias, official acknowledgement of it as a chronic disease can reduce weight stigma.”

In “When the Scale Isn’t the Whole Story: Three Principles for Practicing Person-Centered Obesity Care,” Endocrine Society member Zeb I. Saeed, MD, shares with clinicians three patient-centered principles for treating overweight and/or obesity. According to Saeed, years of societal messaging has led many people to believe that weight is purely a matter of willpower, discipline, or personal failure. “One of the most powerful things we can do as weight management clinicians is to help our patient unlearn this narrative,” she writes. “We now understand that obesity, just like any other chronic medical condition, is strongly influenced by genetics, epigenetics, neurohormonal regulation, and environmental factors.” She adds that as endocrinologists taking care of people living with overweight and obesity, “we all have the unique opportunity and responsibility to shape how obesity care is delivered for years to come,” both individually and on a larger, society-wide level.

As you can see, Endocrine News and the Endocrine Society are both focused on doing our part to conquer the worldwide epidemic of obesity. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any future story ideas on obesity-related topics or other topics that would be of interest to our readers. You can reach me at: mnewman@endocrine.org.

The post Battling the Bulge: The War on Obesity appeared first on Endocrine News.

FDA Approves Novo Nordisk’s Awiqli®

On March 26, Novo Nordisk announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Awiqli® (insulin icodec-abae) injection 700 units/mL, the first and only once-weekly, long-acting basal insulin, indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control (blood sugar) in adults living with type 2 diabetes.

This new approval offers the only once‑weekly basal insulin option, recognizing the importance of personalized care and the need for treatments that fit different patient routines and preferences for adults living with type 2 diabetes

“Awiqli® is an important new option that meets a real need as the first FDA-approved, once-weekly basal insulin for adult patients with type 2 diabetes. It’s helping to reframe what basal insulin care can look like,” said Anna Windle, PhD, Group Vice President, Clinical Development, Medical & Regulatory Affairs at Novo Nordisk Inc. “Awiqli® may address challenges associated with the frequency of daily basal injections, by reducing them from seven to one per week. It is an important advancement for adults with type 2 diabetes who may benefit from an alternative treatment option.”

This approval is based on results from the ONWARDS type 2 diabetes phase 3a program for once-weekly Awiqli® injection which comprises four randomized, active-controlled, treat-to-target trials in approximately 2,680 adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, used in combination with a mealtime insulin or in combination with common oral anti-diabetic agents and/or GLP-1 receptor agonists.

The clinical program evaluated once-weekly Awiqli® vs. daily basal insulin and demonstrated efficacy in the primary endpoint of reduction of A1C across the ONWARDS pivotal clinical trial program for adults with type 2 diabetes. Across these ONWARDS trials, the safety profile of Awiqli® was overall consistent with the daily basal insulin class.3-6 Common adverse events include hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), serious allergic reactions (whole body reactions), reactions at the injection site, skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy), itching, rash, swelling of your hands and feet, and weight gain.

Diadia Health Exits Beta as First AI Causal Reasoning Platform for Precision Medicine in Complex Endocrine and Chronic Disease Cases

On March 19, Diadia Health officially launched its AI causal reasoning platform nationwide following successful beta validation across 12+ clinical sites and thousands of patient cases. The platform analyzes genetic variants and lab results to help clinicians identify potential root causes in complex chronic disease cases and generate personalized treatment recommendations with 60% less trial-and-error than standard protocols. The platform focuses particularly on complex endocrine, metabolic, and hormonal conditions, where under-researched pathways create significant diagnostic gaps. Diadia brings precision medicine insights to cases where standard lab tests return normal results despite persistent symptoms.

Diadia’s platform analyzes patterns across nearly one million genetic variants, over 100 metabolic pathways, and hundreds of biomarkers simultaneously to generate prioritized treatment protocols. Functioning as a vendor-agnostic intelligence layer on top of existing lab data sources, Diadia augments rather than replaces clinician judgment, with 98% of AI-generated reports requiring zero revision before clinical use.

“Precision medicine will be AI-first because of large data volumes. There’s no way a single physician could streamline all that information,” said Dr. Anil Bajnath, MD, founder of the American Board of Precision Medicine. “I already know, after going through iterations of it, that Diadia is going to be one of the best technologies I’ve seen to help bring precision medicine to the forefront of healthcare.”

Diadia draws on a growing database of 310,000+ peer-reviewed research papers and was developed by AI veterans and precision medicine specialists from Stanford, Berkeley, Penn Medicine, Uber, and IBM. Unlike consumer wellness apps or LLM-based tools that can produce unreliable outputs, Diadia utilizes genomic data and predictive biomarker patterns to determine not only genetic predisposition but also whether specific genes are actively expressed. The platform maps biological relationships among genetics, lab results, and patient history to generate transparent reports that show clinicians the exact medical logic and nearly 100 peer-reviewed research citations behind every rationale and recommendation.

“A recent study supported by Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins, and other expert institutions noted that 91.8% of clinicians have ‘encountered medical hallucinations.’ If AI hallucinates upstream, you get garbage downstream,” Bajnath said. “What’s exciting about Diadia is they’ve accounted for that hallucination potential and eliminated those choke points. This is a non-hallucinating, evidence-driven AI copilot.”

After leading AI at Reddit and prototyping technology for Google, Dr. Ikonomovska founded Diadia to address blanket treatment protocols and bring interpretability to the complex interconnections between genetic expression, biomarkers, and clinical presentation in chronic disease. Born from her own experience navigating unexplained symptoms with normal lab results, Diadia’s research-backed platform focuses specifically on cases where standard diagnostic approaches fail to identify root causes.

Backed by Salesforce Ventures, Sound Ventures, Tribe Capital, and others, Diadia validated the platform across dozens of clinical sites during beta testing, and is now scaling to meet demand for AI diagnostic support tools that provide transparent, evidence-based clinical reasoning.

​​Diadia is now available to healthcare providers nationwide. Clinicians interested in integrating the platform can learn more at: diadiahealth.com.

Rezolute Provides Update on its Congenital Hyperinsulinism Program Following FDA Meeting

On March 24, Rezolute, Inc., announced outcomes from an in-person Type B meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held on March 17, 2026, related to sunRIZE, a Phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy study of ersodetug for the treatment of congenital hyperinsulinism (HI). Rezolute is a late-stage rare disease company focused on treating hypoglycemia caused by all forms of hyperinsulinism (HI).

In December 2025, the Company reported that sunRIZE demonstrated reductions from baseline in hypoglycemia events, but the study did not meet its primary endpoint because the reductions were not statistically significant compared to placebo, which the Company believes was a result of a pronounced study effect.

Although consistent and clinically significant improvements in time in hypoglycemia by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) were observed compared to placebo over the course of the entire pivotal treatment period, nominal statistical significance was not achieved in this key secondary endpoint at the pre-specified Week 24 end-of-treatment period.

During the meeting with FDA, the company presented summary results from sunRIZE including: (i) information to support the Company’s belief that the primary endpoint was confounded as a result of behavioral factors; (ii) evidence of pharmacologic activity, as target therapeutic drug concentrations were achieved in both treatment groups with highly sensitive biomarker responses of decreased insulin cell signaling; (iii) consistent improvements compared to placebo in time in hypoglycemia and a variety of other CGM-based glycemic endpoints; and (iv) preliminary favorable observations from the ongoing open-label extension portion of the study (OLE), which indicate continued improvement in glycemic parameters in the ersodetug treatment arms and placebo roll-over, concurrent with a notable reduction of other background standard-of-care therapies.

The FDA acknowledged the challenges posed by the potential impact of varied behavioral factors on clinical trials in this heterogeneous patient population, including the associated limitations of self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG) based metrics in measuring hypoglycemia in congenital HI.

Rezolute says it believes that the unblinded nature of self-monitored glucose necessary for patient standard of care, together with perceptions of treatment assignment, may have led to divergent behaviors between treatment groups during the study, which may have impacted the measurement of hypoglycemia by SMBG. While acknowledging these challenges, the agency reiterated the expectation for adequate and well-controlled studies and outcomes as the standard for evaluating substantial evidence of efficacy criteria as the basis for approving new therapies.

The agency and the company then discussed summary outcomes from various CGM-based glycemic endpoints and preliminary observations from the OLE. These and other outcomes from the pivotal portion of the sunRIZE trial will be shared by oral presentation at an upcoming scientific conference. As a next step for the program, FDA encouraged the Company to submit study reports and analysis datasets for the agency’s independent evaluation. Following that review, the Company believes that a determination may be made whether there is sufficient evidence to support the submission of a marketing application for sunRIZE or if additional information is required. The Company expects to have an update on the program in the second half of 2026.

“We are extremely encouraged by the outcome of our meeting with FDA including the fact that, while acknowledging their feedback was preliminary, the agency did not dismiss sunRIZE outright on the basis of not meeting its primary endpoint,” said Nevan Charles Elam, CEO and Founder of Rezolute. “FDA was engaged with the content we presented, asked astute questions necessary to fully understand the results, and expressed a desire to conduct a thorough review that would assist in decision making regarding advancement of the program.”

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

The post Pharma Fridays – March 27, 2026 appeared first on Endocrine News.

As endocrinologists, we enter clinical practice having been well trained in the physiology and pharmacological management of obesity, what the BMI cutoffs are, and what the trial data show. However, we are far less prepared for the human experience of managing obesity in patients, many of whom have spent decades being blamed for their body size (and worse, even blaming themselves) and how to help them reframe that story.

Over my last five years of practicing weight management, one thing has become increasingly clear to me: How we frame obesity care matters just as much as what medications we prescribe. The words we choose, the goals we emphasize, and the assumptions we carry going into the patient’s room shape their engagement, trust, and long-term success. With that in mind, I want to offer three practical person-centered principles that I truly believe in and abide by in my approach to obesity care.

1. Go Beyond the Scale: Focus on Non-Scale Goals and Victories

One of the most meaningful changes I made in my own practice was moving past the weight/BMI as the primary goal and instead focusing on what truly matters to people: their physical and psychological health and quality of life. When a patient shares a weight goal, I always pause and ask why. Often and if not always, the answer has little to do with the number itself and much more to do with what they hope will change: more energy, decreasing food noise, improving mobility, improving certain food-related habits, reducing cardiometabolic risk, or simply feeling more like themselves again.

These patient-defined, non-scale victories (NSVs) along with improvements in weight-related comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, etc.) are the outcomes that truly define success. Taking the time to elicit these shared goals, putting them in your visit note, and revisiting them longitudinally shifts the focus from short-term weight change to meaningful, sustained improvement in health and life. It makes progress feels tangible even when the scale plateaus (which it may inevitably do so) and care becomes collaborative rather than transactional. Most importantly, it signals to our patients that their lived experience matters, that we are treating the whole person, not just a number. And in doing so, it makes our jobs as clinicians much more fulfilling too!

2. Remove the Blame

Unfortunately, years of societal messaging has led many people to still believe that weight is purely a matter of willpower, discipline, or personal failure. By the time they seek help, so many patients are already carrying an enormous amount of guilt and shame. We have all heard our patients say that they just need to “try harder,” or “if only I had more willpower” even though most have spent years already trying that.

Unfortunately, years of societal messaging has led many people to still believe that weight is purely a matter of willpower, discipline, or personal failure. By the time they seek help, so many patients are already carrying an enormous amount of guilt and shame. We have all heard our patients say that they just need to “try harder,” or “if only I had more willpower” even though most have spent years already trying that.

One of the most powerful things we can do as weight management clinicians is to help our patient unlearn this narrative. We now understand that obesity, just like any other chronic medical condition, is strongly influenced by genetics, epigenetics, neurohormonal regulation, and environmental factors. Satiety, food intake (the “willpower”) and energy balance are biologically driven processes, not moral ones. It can be so liberating for our patients to hear this: I always see such visible relief (often with tears) when I tell my patients that being overweight or having obesity does not reflect a personal failure or that they are broken! I do want to emphasize that this reframing is not about removing accountability. It essentially replaces shame with understanding and creates space for patients to engage in their care without self-blame. In other words, when patients stop fighting themselves, they are able to partner in their care and move forward with better resolve.

3. Obesity is a Chronic Disease: Not a “Quick Fix”

 One of the most common misconceptions I hear from patients, perhaps due to the portrayal in social media, is the belief that weight loss is something people with obesity need to “kick-start with meds” and then can stop anti-obesity medications successfully. The most important thing that I do before prescribing any pharmacotherapy for overweight and obesity is address and correct this assumption. Early on, I discuss with patients that obesity is a chronic, relapsing medical condition much like hypertension or hypothyroidism. We would never tell a patient with chronic hypertension, “Let’s treat you with an ACE inhibitor for a few months, and then you should be able to manage on your own if you just try harder.” Then why would we do that for obesity management? Framing obesity through a chronic disease lens before starting any anti-obesity medications is essential. It allows patients to understand why ongoing treatment is needed and why discontinuation will lead weight regain biologically, as consistently demonstrated in clinical trials (STEP-1 trial extension and SURMOUNT-4).

When we move beyond the scale, empower patients to release themselves from blame, and counsel them to approach obesity as a chronic, biologically driven condition that it is, we not only practice better medicine, but we also create space for mutual trust and long-term change.

This reframing also normalizes the use of medication as part of long-term disease management rather than a shortcut or personal failure. I will note that some patients may not agree initially with this perspective. In such instances, I have found it helpful to have patients reflect on their prior experiences with weight loss such as meal replacements, structured programs, commercial diets and recognize the pattern there: weight loss followed by regain. Not because they failed, but because biology pushed back. Having a shared framework of understanding of obesity also results in more realistic expectations from patients who are less likely to internalize setbacks as failures but as part of the disease process. 

As endocrinologists taking care of people living with overweight and obesity, we all have the unique opportunity and responsibility to shape how obesity care is delivered for years to come; both on an individual level but also at a broader cultural and societal level. When we move beyond the scale, empower patients to release themselves from blame, and counsel them to approach obesity as a chronic, biologically driven condition that it is, we not only practice better medicine, but we also create space for mutual trust and long-term change.

Saeed is an adult endocrinologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, where she began a new role in January 2025 as principal clinical experience (PCE) core faculty in the Medicine Core I Clerkship. Before joining Brigham and Women’s Hospital, she was an assistant professor of medicine at Indiana University. During her time at Indiana University, she served as an associate clerkship director for the Internal Medicine Clerkship for four years. Additionally, she was the appointed key clinical educator for the Division of Endocrinology and the associate program director for endocrinology fellowship. She has led multiple workshops at the Academic Internal Medicine Week and is deeply passionate about undergraduate medical education. Her particular interests include improving precision education and rethinking methods of longitudinal assessment in medical students to support learner growth and success.

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The Endocrine Society today endorsed the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act, a bipartisan bill to address insulin affordability introduced by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA).  

This historic legislation would cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month for people on private insurance, protecting access to this life-saving medication for millions of people with diabetes. The legislation also would create a program to provide insulin to the uninsured. 

The INSULIN Act expands the $35 cap on out-of-pocket costs of insulin currently available for Medicare beneficiaries, extending the cap for those with private insurance, and addresses the underlying problems in the insulin market that contribute to escalating prices. The bill also includes provisions ensuring that patients are receiving any insulin rebates and discounts that are normally collected by Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), and a provision to encourage more competition for generic and biosimilar insulins. 
 
Insulin affordability is a life-or-death matter for millions of people living with diabetes in the United States. People with type 1 diabetes rely on insulin to live, and many people with type 2 take insulin as part of their treatment plan. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 38.4 million people — or 11.6% of the U.S. population — have diabetes. In 2021 alone, nearly one in five American adults with diabetes — about 1.3 million people — rationed their insulin. 

“Many people living with diabetes struggle to pay for the insulin they need to survive,” said Endocrine Society Clinical Affairs Core Committee Chair Whitney Goldner, MD. “This important legislation would ensure that people living with diabetes on private insurance are able to access this life-saving medication at no more than $35 per month. The legislation also includes provisions to help people who are uninsured afford their insulin. We are pleased to endorse this bipartisan bill and thank Sens. Shaheen, Collins, Warnock, and Kennedy for their commitment to addressing this urgent issue.” 

The INSULIN Act aligns with recommendations in the Society’s Insulin Access and Affordability Position Statement, which calls for lowering the price of insulin through rebate reform and limiting co-pays to no more than $35 per month for insulin.  

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the policies in the legislation to improve access and affordability of insulin:

• Ensuring group and individual health plans waive any deductible and limit cost-sharing to no more than $35 per month or 25% of list price, for at least one insulin of each type and dosage form. 

• Mandating Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) pass through 100% of insulin rebates and other discounts to insurance plan sponsors so that patients can share in any savings. 

• Promoting competition from generic and biosimilar drugs. 

• Creating a competitive grant program that would provide 10 states with funds to create programs to identify people with diabetes who are uninsured and provide them with insulin. 

• Establishing an insulin resource center and hotline for people with diabetes who are uninsured to connect them with resources about diabetes and programs to help them secure insulin.  

The Endocrine Society looks forward to working with Congress to ensure the legislation is passed this year.

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Martin Savage was a kind, generous, quietly spoken man, an inspirational pediatrician and an internationally renowned clinician scientist. He was passionate about teaching and led many flagship educational activities. He nurtured the careers of many people in the UK and internationally. Those of us who had the privilege of being taught by him will never forget the experience of learning from him in the clinic. How he gently took the medical history from a child and their parents, examined them with great respect, cared for them through childhood and puberty, before then transitioning their care to his adult colleagues. One of Martin’s major contributions to medicine was his founding of “Transition Endocrinology.” He was one of the first to recognize the fundamental importance of pediatric-adult collaboration and joint care and taught this model widely.

Martin was a gifted writer and in 2023 he complied a memoir titled; “Reflections of an Itinerant Lecturer.” Reading this, you can see that his gentle and quiet confidence came from, “A Life well Lived.” Medicine is both an art and science. It is a creative endeavor, and the influence of Martin’s early life, his family and education, molded him into the successful clinical scientist he became. Martin’s mother, Kitty, half-American through her mother, was a journalist and a published writer of history books for children and Martin inherited her literary skills. Martin’s father, Oswald, trained at Barts, and was one of the first UK rheumatologists. Oswald was a great fan of the Americans both through the family connections and his respect for their science. He introduced Martin to his friends, most notably Dr Philip Hench, who received the Nobel prize in 1950: ‘For synthesis and development of cortisone’. Martin’s childhood was marked by yearly European family holidays and Martin was a great Europhile and talented linguist. He was Secretary-General of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and worked tirelessly for the Society between 1997 and 2024. He was an outstanding leader and a senior statesman for the Society. He formed collaborations and friendships that remained with him for the rest of his life.

Martin didn’t immediately strike you as a competitive sportsman, but he had great skill in skiing, golf, and tennis and represented Cambridge University in skiing for which he achieved a “Blue.” Martin states in his memoir, “I left Eton with a sense of achievement, having got a distinction in the end of year ‘trials’, their name for exams, and having secured a place at Magdalene College to read modern languages.” He had a gap year and when he returned, encouraged by his godfather, an enthusiastic general practitioner, he changed to study medicine. When Martin was awarded his MD degree by Cambridge University, Sir John Butterfield told him that he had made a significant contribution to British science. At the time, Martin dismissed this as an exaggeration, but it is true.  Martin’s outstanding novel descriptions of, and molecular dissection of, growth hormone resistance, were ground-breaking. Martin’s memoir reads like a Baedeker’s guide to a “Grand Tour” of the world. Martin travelled and lectured in every quarter of the globe.

Martin described his marriage to Elisabeth as a whirlwind romance. He was clearly lucky in love and grew a close, happy, healthy family with two children, Caroline and Oliver. The church played an increasing role in Martin and Elisabeth’s life, bringing meaning and comfort. At the end of his memoir Martin describes himself as, an ambitious and serious man. However, we saw him as a modest, thoughtful man who enjoyed life to the full, gave pleasure to many, was dedicated to his family, and trained a generation of pediatric and adult endocrinologists.

He made numerous major, wide-reaching academic contributions to pediatric endocrinology to directly improve patient care, particularly in disorders of growth, the GH-IGF-I axis, and Cushing’s syndrome. His outstanding achievements have been recognized by numerous honors including the RCPCH James Spence Medal in 2025, BSPED James Tanner Award in 2022, the American Human Growth Foundation Visionary Award in 2018, and the ESPE Andrea Prader award in 2007.

Martin touched so many people’s lives through his boundless energy and immense kindness, wisdom, generosity, friendship, and mentorship. He had a lifelong devotion to improving the endocrine care of children. He leaves a lasting legacy in pediatric endocrinology.

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In a 2007 paper published in Obesity Reviews, the late Sir David Haslam wrote that the origins of obesity can be traced back 30,000 years. In the paper, “Obesity: a medical history,” Haslam explains that humans who could store energy in the most efficient way would survive inevitable fasts and famine.

“But natural selection has turned on us,” Haslam writes. “Life now favours inefficient phenotypes who fail to store energy in adipose depots, while those who lay down fat in the abdomen are condemned to premature death. To fight obesity, we are flying in the face of evolution and instinct, consciously countermanding the urge to eat for survival, and be as inactive as possible in order to conserve energy.”

Obesity has had a complicated history these past 30,000 years. In some cultures, obesity was viewed as something to attain. Now, many still view it as simply a lack of willpower. The ancient Greeks recognized obesity as a disease. Hippocrates wrote that not only is obesity a disease itself, “but the harbinger of others.”

Obesity is linked to more than 200 diseases – type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer. And now, new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism suggests that people with obesity and hypertension may be at a higher risk of dementia.

Establishing Causality

The authors of the January 2026 paper, “High Body Mass Index as a Causal Risk Factor for Vascular-Related Dementia: A Mendelian Randomization Study,” by Nordestgaard et al, point out that the relationship between obesity and dementia has been debated for decades with conflicting results from a range of case-control and prospective studies. “An important finding was, however, that midlife obesity but not late-life obesity was associated with risk of dementia,” the authors write.

The authors go on to write that recent meta-analyses and reviews have shown that antihypertensive, cholesterol-lowering, and antidiabetic medications have documented lower risk of dementia in treated individuals. The researchers set out whether body mass index (BMI) might cause vascular-related dementia. A randomized controlled trial would be the best way to establish or reject causality, according to the authors, but randomized controlled trials are expensive and difficult, especially when including subjects with dementia.

The researchers analyzed data from hundreds of thousands of participants in Copenhagen and the U.K. and identified a causal link between higher body weight and dementia.

The researchers were able to establish a direct causal link between high BMI and dementia because they used a so-called Mendelian randomization design that mimics a randomized controlled trial. In the Mendelian randomization study design, common genetic variants causing high BMI are used as proxies for BMI-altering medications.

As active drug versus placebo is randomly assigned due to the randomization process in drug trials, and as BMI-increasing genetic variants versus neutral variants are randomly assorted from parents to offspring, the effects on the disease endpoint will be clear and not affected by confounding factors.

Therefore, this strategy enabled the researchers to establish a direct causal link between high BMI and risk of dementia. Much of this increased dementia risk appeared to be driven by high blood pressure, suggesting that preventing or treating obesity and high blood pressure could help reduce dementia risk.

“In this study, we found high body mass index (BMI) and high blood pressure are direct causes of dementia,” says study corresponding author Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, MD, PhD, professor and chief physician at Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet and the University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark. “The treatment and prevention of elevated BMI and high blood pressure represent an unexploited opportunity for dementia prevention.”

“Unexploited Opportunity”

In the Discussion section of the JCEM paper, the authors write that obesity affects more than 600 million people globally, while more than 50 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, and both numbers are growing. “Treatment and prevention options for dementia are scarce,” the authors write, “underscoring the need to identify causal modifiable risk factors, as demonstrated here for risk of vascular-related dementia by high BMI mediated via high blood pressure.”

This paper raised a few questions. For example, while many studies have shown that a BMI over 30 is associated with a higher risk of vascular dementia, it’s been reported that a BMI below 18.5 also carries a higher risk of dementia. “However, this latter association is likely to be a result of reverse causation, since the prodromal phases of dementia are accompanied by loss of appetite and weight loss,” the authors write.

“An open question that remains to be tested is if weight-loss medication initiated before the appearance of cognitive symptoms may be protective against dementia. Our present data would suggest that early weight-loss interventions would prevent dementia, and especially vascular-related dementia.” — Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, MD, PhD, professor and chief physician, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet; University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Studies have shown that antihypertensive and weight-loss medications are associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s, and while there are ongoing clinical trials of the effect of semaglutide on the risk of dementia, they haven’t shown much promise yet. Last November, Novo Nordisk released topline results of their phase Evoke trial of semaglutide in people with Alzheimer’s, but the trial did not meet its primary endpoint.

The authors of the JCEM paper remain hopeful though, writing, “The presently observed positive linear relationship between BMI and risk of IHD is well established and serves as a positive control for our study.”

“In conclusion,” the authors write, “we find that high BMI is likely to be on the causal pathway to vascular-related dementia, and that a substantial fraction of this risk is mediated through high blood pressure. This is important, as the treatment and prevention of elevated BMI and high blood pressure represent an unexploited opportunity for dementia prevention in the clinic.”

“This study shows that high body weight and high blood pressure are not just warning signs, but direct causes of dementia,” Frikke-Schmidt says. “That makes them highly actionable targets for prevention.”

“Weight-loss medication has recently been tested for halting cognitive decline in early phases of Alzheimer’s disease, but with no beneficial effect,” she continues. “An open question that remains to be tested is if weight-loss medication initiated before the appearance of cognitive symptoms may be protective against dementia. Our present data would suggest that early weight-loss interventions would prevent dementia, and especially vascular-related dementia.”

Bagley is the senior editor of Endocrine News. In the February issue, he wrote about the positive and negative unintended impacts of GLP-1 RAs.

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The Early Investigators Awards were established to help develop early career investigators and recognize their accomplishments in endocrine-related research. Recipients will receive a $1,500 monetary award, complimentary registration and the opportunity to present at ENDO 2026, one year of free membership to the Society, and public recognition of research accomplishments in various Society platforms. 

The Endocrine Society’s 2026 Early Investigator Award winners are: 

• Sreekant Avula, MD, FACP, Hennipen Healthcare and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn. — Avula is an endocrinologist at Hennepin Healthcare and an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. He specializes in diabetes, thyroid disorders and endocrine emergencies. He established the thyroid biopsy clinic and introduced molecular testing for thyroid cancer at Hennepin Healthcare. He mentors fellows and residents and conducts outcomes research using national databases to improve endocrine care. 

• Emily Hilz, PhD, University of Texas, Austin, Texas — Hilz is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology at The University of Texas at Austin. As a behavioral neuroendocrinologist, her research examines how early life environmental exposures disrupt neurodevelopment and metabolism across generations. Her work combines behavioral, endocrinological, and neuromolecular methods to understand how endocrine-disrupting chemicals promote comorbid disease, such as co-occurring obesity and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  

• Stéfanie Parisien-La Salle, MD, FRCPC, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Quebec, Canada — Parisien-La Salle is an endocrinologist and clinician-scientist at CHUM who specializes in adrenal disease. She is currently completing her PhD on the genetics of adrenal diseases and participates in the Clinician-Scientist Program at CHUM. Her research examines factors contributing to the variable clinical presentation of primary aldosteronism, with the long-term aim of improving detection through screening programs. 

• Jagriti Upadhyay, MD, FACP, ECNU, of Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Mass., and UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Mass. — Upadhyay is an endocrinologist focused on diabetes and metabolic disorders. She serves as an academic vice chair and an associate program director at the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, and as an assistant professor at UMass Chan Medical School. Her work includes continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) studies and innovative care delivery research that empower primary care. She also conducts pituitary research.  

• Qilin Zhang, MD, PhD, MMSci, Mass General Brigham, Boston, Mass., and Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China — Zhang is an endocrine researcher in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at Mass General Brigham and an associate professor of neurosurgery at Huashan Hospital. His research focuses on pituitary neuroendocrine tumors and integrates multi-omics, molecular imaging and large international clinical cohorts to advance molecular classification, improve precision diagnosis and enable personalized management of pituitary tumors. 

Additional information about these awards and the application process can be found at: https://www.endocrine.org/awards/early-investigators-awards.  

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PFAS are synthetic chemicals found in water, food and everyday products. These “forever chemicals,” many of which persist in the environment and in the human body, may interfere with normal development, including bone growth.

“Adolescence is a key period for building strong bones, and achieving optimal bone mass during this time can reduce lifelong risks of fractures and osteoporosis,” said Jessie P. Buckley, PhD, MPH, of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health in Chapel Hill, N.C. “Our findings suggest reducing PFAS exposure during key developmental windows could support healthier bones throughout life.”

The authors studied the blood PFAS concentrations of 218 teens from a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort at delivery and ages 3, 8, and 12 years old. They measured bone density at age 12 and found that teens with higher blood perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) levels had lower forearm bone density.

For other PFAS, the links to bone density varied depending on when exposures occurred, suggesting that certain developmental stages may be especially vulnerable. The associations of PFAS levels with lower bone density were stronger among females than males.

“These findings add to growing evidence that PFAS exposure during early life may carry long-term health consequences, underscoring the importance of efforts to reduce contamination in drinking water and consumer products,” Buckley said.

Other study authors are Katherine Marquess of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Md.; Joseph Braun of Brown University in Providence, R.I.; Antonia Calafat of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga.; Kim Cecil, Halley Wasserman, Yingying Xu and Kimberly Yolton of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Ohio; Aimin Chen of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn.; Bruce Lanphear of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada; and Jordan Kuiper of The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health in Washington, D.C.

The study received funding from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.  “Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances and Adolescent Bone Mineral Density: Assessing Periods of Susceptibility,” was published online.

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The earliest stages of life can shape health for decades, and Rebecca Reynolds, MD, PhD, has dedicated her career to understanding why. Her discoveries have transformed how scientists and clinicians view pregnancy and metabolic health, and in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions, the Endocrine Society has named her one of its distinguished 2026 Laureates and awarded her the International Excellence Award.

Reynolds serves as Personal Chair of Metabolic Medicine and Dean International at the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. Her research has transformed our understanding of how endocrine pathways influence both maternal and child health. By uncovering the cardiometabolic risks associated with obesity in pregnancy, she has not only advanced scientific knowledge but also translated those discoveries into clinical trials and practical therapies — directly improving outcomes for mothers and babies.

Her impact extends far beyond the laboratory. Reynolds’ work has shaped international medical policy and clinical care, informing major guidelines such as those from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Scottish Diabetes Prevention Programme, and the Obstetric Ultrasound Guideline, Malawi 2021. Through her leadership, research, and commitment to women’s health, Reynolds continues to influence practice worldwide — helping ensure healthier futures for mothers and their children.

“Rebecca’s work has significant impact for women and children’s healthcare, particularly benefiting those living with poor healthcare infrastructure and challenging socioeconomic circumstances,” wrote professor Ruth Andrew, PhD, chair of Pharmaceutical Endocrinology and director Edinburgh CRF MS Core, in her nomination of Reynolds for the Laureate Award.

“Women represent half the population, yet we know that research in women’s health is underfunded and evidence lags behind health research in men. Pregnancy is such an important time for women, acting as a ‘stress test’ to reveal potential longer term health risks and also identifying shorter term risks for the child.” — Rebecca Reynolds, MD, PhD, Personal Chair of Metabolic Medicine and Dean International at the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Edinburgh, UK

Endocrine News spoke with Reynolds to learn more about what inspired her to pursue her area of research and what she hopes to be the short- and long-term impact of her research.

Endocrine News: Congratulations on being named the recipient of the International Excellence Award. What did news of the recognition of mean to you? 

Reynolds: This was truly surprising news to me. I’m extremely grateful to those who nominated me and have supported me over the years. The award would not be possible without all the amazing people and patients that I have worked with. 

EN: Your work has been a major contribution to improving pregnancy outcomes. What impact do you hope your work will have for women in the short and long term?

Reynolds: Women represent half the population, yet we know that research in women’s health is underfunded and evidence lags behind health research in men. Pregnancy is such an important time for women, acting as a “stress test” to reveal potential longer term health risks and also identifying shorter term risks for the child. Better understanding of pregnancy complications opens up a real opportunity to better improve the health of women, their children, and future generations.

EN: What inspired you to pursue your current area of research?

Reynolds: When doing my PhD, I was fascinated to find out more about how and why long- term health outcomes could be influenced by events occurring in utero. Pregnancy is particularly interesting for endocrinology due to the major changes that occur in physiology and the accompanying dramatic hormonal changes. There are still many unanswered questions about human pregnancy and fetal growth. It is an exciting and challenging area to work in as for every question we ask, we need to consider the consequences for both mother and child.

EN: Science can be all-consuming. What’s your favorite way to unplug when you step away from the bench?

Reynolds: I am an Iyengar yoga teacher and practitioner. I am also a keen hillwalker and love to get out into the beautiful Scottish countryside.  I’ve nearly “bagged” all of the 282 Munro across Scotland. These are mountains 3,000 feet (914.4 meters) or more. Both yoga and walking are refreshing and energizing and sometimes I get my best ideas when I’m out walking. 

“There are still many unanswered questions about human pregnancy and fetal growth. It is an exciting and challenging area to work in as for every question we ask, we need to consider the consequences for both mother and child.” — Rebecca Reynolds, MD, PhD, Personal Chair of Metabolic Medicine and Dean International at the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Edinburgh, UK

EN: What are you most looking forward to when you attend ENDO 2026 to accept your Laureate award.

Reynolds: The conference is a great opportunity to meet old and new friends as well as hear about the latest highlights in endocrine clinical and basic research and I’m looking forward to it.

• Shaw is a freelance writer based in Carmel, IND. She is a regular contributor to Endocrine News and writes the monthly Laboratory Notes column.

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On December 10 last year, the Endocrine Society hosted a virtual Science Writers Conference focusing on what’s next for anti-obesity medications (AOMs), including the first pill formations of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). Indeed, the FDA approved the pill form of semaglutide (name brand Wegovy) just a couple of weeks later.

The webinar featured Priya Jaisinghani, MD, DABOM, clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone in New York, N.Y. – who discussed new and upcoming oral formulations of AOMs — and Mehmet Furkan Burak, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. – who highlighted double and triple agonists and spoke to patients who may be intolerant of these medications and what providers can do for them.

Obesity is a medically consequential disease, linked to over 200 diseases and complications, including cardiovascular disease, liver disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and more. “For decades, we’ve treated metabolic diseases backwards,” Jaisinghani says. “When complications and diseases like diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea develop we then treat each one in isolation, often with multiple medications. If we intervene earlier and more effectively on excess adiposity itself, we can improve, reverse, or even prevent many of these downstream diseases. Treating weight first isn’t simply cosmetic, it’s disease modification. It’s about changing the trajectory of metabolic health before damage occurs.”

Metabolic Therapeutics

Oral semaglutide was just approved for weight loss by the FDA, and now it looks like the small-molecule, nonpeptide oral GLP-1RA orforglipron isn’t far behind it. A paper recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed promising results. The authors of the paper (Wharton et al) titled “Orforglipron, an Oral Small-Molecule GLP-1 Receptor Agonist for Obesity Treatment” write in their conclusion: “In patients with obesity, the use of orforglipron resulted in statistically and clinically significant weight reductions and an adverse-event profile that was consistent with that observed with other GLP-1 receptor agonists.” (The results come from Eli Lilly’s ATTAIN-1 clinical trial. Lilly also sponsored the Science Writers Conference.)

“These medications improve much more than the number on the scale. They have improved insulin resistance, blood pressure, lipids, inflammatory markers, knee osteoarthritis, and have gained indications for glycemic control, fatty liver disease, cardiovascular risk, chronic kidney disease in those living with type 2 diabetes. That’s why calling them ‘weight loss meds’ undersells what they actually do.” — Priya Jaisinghani, MD, DABOM, clinical assistant professor, NYU Langone, New York, N.Y.

Jaisinghani also pointed to Lilly’s ACHIEVE-3 study, which is looking at orforglipron’s efficacy on diabetes, finding that the drug significantly reduced the glycated hemoglobin level over a period of 40 weeks. During her talk, Jaisinghani said that these medications should really be called metabolic therapeutics, rather than “weight loss meds.” “These medications improve much more than the number on the scale,” she tells Endocrine News. “They have improved insulin resistance, blood pressure, lipids, inflammatory markers, knee osteoarthritis, and have gained indications for glycemic control, fatty liver disease, cardiovascular risk, chronic kidney disease in those living with type 2 diabetes. That’s why calling them ‘weight loss meds’ undersells what they actually do.”

As these medications become more and more widely used and indications expand, that means other clinicians beyond endocrinologists (who have long used these therapies in diabetes care) now prescribe them. “Prescribing these medications is far more than simply writing a prescription,” Jaisinghani says. “It requires identifying appropriate candidates, titrating thoughtfully, managing side effects, integrating nutrition and behavior change, and planning for long-term maintenance. Patients also need guidance to set realistic expectations, reduce stigma, and understand that this is treatment for a chronic disease, not a short-term solution.”

Jaisinghani goes on to say that we are in the middle of a fundamental shift in how we treat metabolic disease. Obesity is no longer something we manage on the margins while we treat its complications, it is something we can now treat directly, effectively, and earlier. “These therapeutics give us a chance to change lives and long-term health outcomes if we use them thoughtfully, equitably, and as part of comprehensive metabolic care,” Jaisinghani says. “We are just at the tipping point of a new era in obesity and metabolic therapeutics, with oral agents and next-generation injectables targeting multiple hormone receptors poised to further transform how we treat these diseases.”

Obesity: A Disease Modifier

During his talk, Burak pointed out that GLP-1RAs aren’t just treating obesity, but all the diseases caused by obesity, echoing Jaisinghani’s sentiment above. As Burak puts it, obesity itself is already a standalone disease but it most often comes packaged metabolic diseases: heart failure, fatty liver disease, even asthma.

“[Obesity] is a disease modifier,” Burak says, who goes on to explain that the complication of obesity in heart failure means you’re not able to treat with classic heart failure medications like diuretics. “But when you use GLP analogs or [gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP)] GLP analogs, it decreases hospitalizations by 70%.”

“Even with low dose GLP-1, there’s a cardiovascular benefit of people having fewer heart attacks and strokes, even with just a 2.5-kilogram weight loss. GLP-1s are really addressing increasing the access by any means, from simple manufacturing, for easier access to the world. These drugs might be utilized as a primary prevention drug like aspirin to really reduce the cardiovascular rate in a big portion of the population.” — Mehmet Furkan Burak, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) – the most common cause of liver transplantation used to be untreatable. But Burak says medications like Zepbound and Ozempic have been shown to reverse hepatitis and even fibrosis. “It treats the untreatable disease,” he says.

And while that’s all great news, there’s still work to be done. According to Burak, the main problem in treating obesity – even with bariatric surgery – is regaining the weight while losing muscle mass. “We call it weight cycling — even your immune system, autonomous nervous system — can cause arrhythmias. The biggest reason [for that] is losing the muscle, which decreases your metabolic rate.”

Burak says a big agenda for him and his colleagues is preventing muscle loss in those they treat for obesity, but it’s an extremely hard task. There are ways to minimize muscle loss – resistance training, a high protein diet – but it’s still a tall order, so they’re looking into mechanisms of muscle loss.

Burak explains that the body enters a catabolic state the body releases myostatin which breaks down the muscle to make up for the energy deficit. “When you inhibit the myostatin signaling, people preserve muscle and they increase the lipolysis,” he says. “It’s basically directing this energy deficit or energy demand to the fat source, which is really favorable. So we are just testing what is the safest way to inhibit this myostatin pathway.”

Another problem with some GLP-1 alone therapies is that sometimes patients taking them express anhedonia, claiming they can’t even enjoy family dinners anymore. Burak says that sometimes GLP-1 medications can cause nausea or a depressed appetite, even some losing the ability to taste. “Some people really live around the meal clocks and social interactions through the meals or with some of the drinks and stuff,” he says says. “When they lose this and then they stop socializing, they stop going out to dinners, they stop having family dinners and just take little things, which can cause some anhedonia — not feeling the same pleasures when they eat.”

But Burak says that GIPs have shown promise in this area, because the nausea effect is much less, which also lessened the feeling of anhedonia. “We didn’t see as much anhedonia with a GIP/GLP analog as much as we observed in GLP-alone analogs,” he says.

Access to these medications still remains a barrier for a lot of patients who need them. For many GLP-1 therapies are unaffordable, especially if they’re not covered by insurance. Burak says that it’s quite expensive to produce injectables, and in some parts of the world, injectables are taboo. But pills are much less expensive to produce, and as more medications are introduced to the market, prices of these therapies will continue to decrease.

“That brings us to a point that I think since we are seeing, even with low dose GLP-1, there’s a cardiovascular benefit of people having less heart attack and stroke, even with just a 2.5-kilogram weight loss,” Burak says. “GLP-1s are really addressing increasing the access by any means, from simple manufacturing, for easier access to world. These drugs might be utilized as a primary prevention drug like aspirin to really reduce the cardiovascular rate in a big portion of the population.”

Bagley is the senior editor of Endocrine News. In the January issue he wrote about the connection between the thyroid and cardiac health.

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Hochbaum, an assistant professor in the Program in Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He is investigating how age-related declines in thyroid hormone signaling in the brain may contribute to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. His project will define how inflammation disrupts local production of the active thyroid hormone T3 and test whether restoring brain T3 signaling can rescue synaptic and behavioral deficits in Alzheimer’s models, potentially revealing a new endocrine-based strategy to slow neurodegeneration.

Hochbaum is one of eight recipients of the “MIND” Prize.

Through the Prize, the Foundation strives to change the paradigm of neuroscience research by creating a community of next-frontier thinkers who can uncover a deeper understanding of the brain and cognition. Breakthroughs in basic scientific and translational research will yield critical tools for and knowledge of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, which affect millions of people worldwide.

The MIND Prize will catalyze novel interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work by facilitating collaborations across academic departments and institutions and amongst the academic, biomedical industry, philanthropic, and business communities. The 2026 Prize winners will each receive $750,000, distributed $250,000 per year for three years.

“Thanks to advanced technologies and human creativity, Alzheimer’s Disease and her siblings are finally being considered remediable disorders of the human condition,” said Pershing Square Foundation Trustee, Neri Oxman, PhD. “This year’s cohort reflects the promise of technological and biological research serendipity, tying molecular structures with behavioral patterns and genetic predispositions with the power of AI. We are excited to step into a future where the power of research can untangle the Eldredge knot that is AD.”

The Pershing Square Foundation (PSF) is a family foundation established in 2006 to support exceptional leaders and innovative organizations that tackle important issues and deliver scalable and sustainable global impact. PSF has committed more than $930 million in grants and social investments in target areas including health and medicine, education, economic development, environment, and innovation. Bill Ackman and Neri Oxman are co-trustees of the Foundation. For more information, visit: www.pershingsquarefoundation.org.

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Despite growing awareness of obesity as a chronic disease, many patients who meet body mass index (BMI) criteria still go undiagnosed in clinical practice. A new article in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism introduces a validated process measure designed to flag patients who meet body mass index BMI criteria for obesity who are not formally diagnosed in the electronic health records (EHR).

This effort was a collaboration between the Endocrine Society and MN Community Measurement (MNCM), initiated in 2021 to develop meaningful measures that focus on addressing obesity as a chronic multifactorial disease that requires the same systematic recognition, documentation, and management as other chronic health conditions. This collaboration gives endocrinologists and health systems a practical tool to ensure obesity is consistently recognized, documented, and treated with the same rigor as other chronic diseases, supporting better health outcomes for patients.

Consequences of Under-Documentation

Although obesity is widely recognized as a serious, costly disease associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and premature mortality, it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in clinical practice. National data show that many adults who meet BMI criteria for obesity do not have a formal obesity diagnosis recorded in the EHR. This gap likely results from a combination of clinical and systemic barriers. On the clinical side, limited time, competing priorities, and apprehension or perceived stigma around discussing weight can discourage formal diagnosis. System level challenges such as EHR designs that do not facilitate documentation, or the absence of clear incentives and quality measures, may also make documentation inconsistent.

This under-documentation has several important consequences. Without a recorded diagnosis, patients miss opportunities for evidence-based interventions and are less likely to be evaluated for obesity-related complications. According to author and chair of the measure development group Amy Rothberg, MD, of the University of Michigan, a documented obesity diagnosis is key for early intervention. “We really want to intervene as early as obesity is recognized, before the onset of problems, or at least at the very early onset of other downstream health risks or consequences,” Rothberg emphasizes.

“The typical trajectory for the U.S. population is, on average, annual weight gain between 1.5 to 2.2 lbs. per year. If we can stop that change, we are already winning. We showed that those who had that diagnosis were more likely to receive care and lose weight.” – Amy Rothberg, MD, clinical professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

At the population level, the lack of consistent documentation limits the ability of health systems to measure quality of obesity care, track outcomes, or identify disparities in recognition and treatment. Additionally, whereas failing to provide a diagnosis of obesity can reinforce bias, official acknowledgement of it as a chronic disease can reduce weight stigma.

A Multidisciplinary Analysis

To address this problem, a multidisciplinary team of 15 experts came together to create a standardized, EHR-based process measure that flags patients who meet BMI criteria for obesity but lack a corresponding diagnosis in their problem list. The panel represented the diverse fields of endocrinology, family medicine, internal medicine, clinical administration, data analysis, quality improvement, health plans, patient advocacy, and state government.  

The concept for this specific measure resulted from a landscape review showing that most existing obesity-related quality measures were either indirect or focused on screening and education, without addressing the fundamental question of whether obesity is being formally recognized and documented. As Rothberg notes, “If we are not aware of the disease, we simply cannot help patients manage it.”

After a 30-day public comment period, the measure was refined and pilot-tested across six large medical groups, including a federally qualified health center. In total, 124 clinics and 3,483 providers participated, covering 295,372 adult patients with BMI values consistent with obesity (BMI ≥ 30). The authors then assessed how many of these patients lacked a formal obesity diagnosis in their EHR problem list.

Providing Practical Care Benchmarks

Results of the pilot testing showed that rates of obesity diagnosis varied significantly among the medical groups (37.6% to 50.8%). This variability could reflect differences in clinical practice, patient demographics, and effectiveness of screening protocols. While low diagnosis rates may reflect a busy clinical practice (as Rothberg reports, it takes approximately six clicks to get from BMI to the problem list), it could also reflect the perception of stigmatization. Among those diagnosed with obesity, 35.4% were diagnosed as adult obesity class III, whereas 61.2% of adults with obesity class I lacked a formal diagnosis, indicating missed opportunities for early identification and early intervention with counseling and referrals for these patients.

The variation in diagnosis rates across and within medical centers presents opportunities for quality improvement that can be tracked with this process measure. Endocrinology practices often operate within health systems, accountable‐care organizations, and/or value‐based care models. For endocrinologists, the measure can provide a practical benchmark to track progress in obesity care.

A key finding of the pilot testing was that across the six centers, those with a documented obesity diagnosis lost on average 0.34 lbs. over the year, while those without the diagnosis gained on average 1.78 lbs. Though the weight difference in the follow-up cohort may seem modest, it matters. According to Rothberg, “The typical trajectory for the U.S. population is, on average, annual weight gain between 1.5 to 2.2 lbs. per year. If we can stop that change, we are already winning. We showed that those who had that diagnosis were more likely to receive care and lose weight.” In endocrine practice, official diagnosis may prompt more referrals, enrollment in lifestyle interventions, medication discussions, and long-term follow up.

The Pros and Cons of BMI

It is important to also consider the context and limitations of this measure. Critics point out that BMI remains an imperfect surrogate for adiposity and metabolic risk. A recent Lancet Commission report on the diagnostic criteria for obesity emphasized that clinical obesity definitions must go beyond BMI alone. The authors acknowledge the limitations of BMI as a diagnostic tool and the need for clinical judgement. However, BMI is correlated with body fat and disease risk and is simple and practical to implement in clinical practice.

“At the population level, the lack of consistent documentation limits the ability of health systems to measure quality of obesity care, track outcomes, or identify disparities in recognition and treatment. Additionally, whereas failing to provide a diagnosis of obesity can reinforce bias, official acknowledgement of it as a chronic disease can reduce weight stigma.”

In contrast, measures such as waist circumference or advanced imaging techniques like DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), while more precise, are less practical for routine use, and will take longer to implement effectively in current health settings particularly in the absence of any incentive or reimbursement. Beyond individual patient care, BMI data can also provide valuable insight into population level trends and health disparities, helping to inform public health strategies and guide interventions aimed at improving community health outcomes.

A First Step to Endocrinologist Reimbursement

For members of the Endocrine Society, this measure is particularly relevant. The Society has long emphasized that obesity should be managed like other chronic diseases requiring consistent recognition, documentation, and management. The finding that up to half of patients meeting BMI criteria had no documented obesity diagnosis underscores that this principle fails to translate into practice and presents an opportunity for quality improvement.

Formal recognition and inclusion of obesity on the problem list will not only initiate appropriate patient care but also serve as the first step toward endocrinologist reimbursement. This measure can serve as a foundation to strengthen the Society’s advocacy work around equitable access to care and physician reimbursement. Furthermore, the Endocrine Society’s clinical practice guidelines on pediatric obesity and pharmacological management, which are both currently undergoing updates, emphasize early recognition and intervention.

As the Endocrine Society continues its multi-year obesity strategy, tools like this process measure help practicing endocrinologists, primary care and family physicians, and other providers to achieve measurable, actionable improvement in obesity care. Recognizing obesity as a disease formally in the EHR problem list is not simply an administrative step. Rather, it is a formal validation that may reduce barriers to early intervention and evidence-based-care, improving long-term health outcomes for patients with obesity.

Maureen Corrigan, MA, is Director of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice at the Endocrine Society. Her work focuses on improving the quality, rigor, and trustworthiness of evidence-based clinical guidance, and translating research into improved endocrine care.

The post Closing the Obesity Diagnosis Gap: A New EHR-Based Measure Could Improve Population Health Outcomes appeared first on Endocrine News.

Three recent studies published in Endocrine Society journals reveal converging evidence about semaglutide’s effects beyond simple weight reduction. From the molecular changes occurring in taste perception to its application in young patients with complex metabolic needs, and finally to its effectiveness across psychiatric populations, these investigations illuminate both the mechanisms and clinical utility of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in managing obesity and its complications.

These articles approach the story about semaglutide’s role in treating complex obesity from different perspectives, moving from mechanism (“why it works”) through application (“how we use it” through evidence (“what the evidence shows”), all in all providing a fuller picture, and an attractive one at that.

A Matter of Taste

In “Semaglutide and Taste in Women With Obesity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study,” published in JCEM in May, Andrej Janež, MD, PhD, of the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, in Zaloska, Slovenia, and team sought to better understand the complex, often inconsistent relationship between obesity and taste perception, coupled with a major evidence gap on how GLP-1 analogues like semaglutide affect taste function.

“In humans, the tongue has not yet been addressed as a clinically relevant target for GLP-1 based therapies,” says Janež. “Anecdotal reports note altered food preferences in mixed-sex obesity trials like in a STEP clinical program, but these focus on energy intake, not sensitivity metrics. One meta-analysis suggests GLP-1RAs may impair taste function overall, though without sex stratification.” In the team’s previous studies with liraglutide, they observed different eating behaviors measured with validated questionnaires, which prompted the desire to broaden their understanding with a randomized study using a methodology that clinically answers the question, namely chemical gustometry and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). To date, no previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or large trials report taste outcomes in men using validated gustometry or biopsies.

Semaglutide is known to lower relative preference for high-fat, sweet foods. “We usually see about 20% to 35% reduced intake from fatty foods, better eating control, and fewer cravings for energy-dense options, leading to 24% total daily energy reduction,” says Janež. “It is important to stress that unlike broad suppression, this targets hedonic over homeostatic drive, preserving interest in nutrient-balanced foods.”

“We knew that individuals living with obesity often perceive tastes as less intense. Subjects prone to obesity have an inherently elevated desire for sweet and energy-dense foods. We found the findings of our study interesting, because we think about all the factors that this new second generation of antiobesity medications are able to improve, but taste is often not something that we look at, though there have been very strong associations.” — Andrej Janež, MD, PhD, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska, Slovenia

Against this backdrop, the researchers hypothesized that semaglutide would alter taste recognition in women with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). “Anovulatory, premenopausal women with obesity and PCOS, without any severe chronic illness, provided us a homogeneous clinical population to control key variables known to affect taste perception, including sex, age, smoking, diabetes and other chronic conditions, as well as variability related to cyclical hormonal fluctuations,” says Janež. They randomized 30 participants meeting their criteria to a semaglutide or placebo group, each receiving once weekly injections.

The primary outcome was change in overall taste recognition threshold of four concentrations each of four basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, and bitter). Semaglutide improved the overall taste recognition score from 11.9 ± 1.9 points to 14.4 ± 1.0 points, with an estimated treatment difference of 2.5 points, which was mainly attributed to the improved ability to detect lower concentrations of sweet and salty tastes in the semaglutide group. Says Janež: “We knew that individuals living with obesity often perceive tastes as less intense. Subjects prone to obesity have an inherently elevated desire for sweet and energy-dense foods. We found the findings of our study interesting, because we think about all the factors that this new second generation of antiobesity medications are able to improve, but taste is often not something that we look at, though there have been very strong associations.”

Secondary outcomes were alterations in the transcriptomic profile of tongue tissue and brain responses to visual cues of high-caloric sweet and savory foods as well as to a sweet solution dripping directly on the tongue while scanned by fMRI before and after a standardized meal intake. They looked specifically at EYA, PRMT8, CRLF1, and CYP1B1, genes associated with taste transduction, taste bud development and, the pathway involved in the renewal and differentiation of taste bud cells. “Aligned with a clinically detectable change in the taste recognition threshold,” says Janež, we demonstrated that semaglutide treatment affected gene transcription in the tongue. Our mRNA expression analysis could indicate potential improvements in taste transduction, neural maturation and plasticity of gustatory nerve fibers, and taste bud cell renewal. Notably, no significant gene expression changes were detected in the placebo group after correction for multiple testing. This absence of transcriptomic response in the placebo arm supports the specificity of semaglutide’s effects on peripheral taste related pathways.”

Janež points out that the team’s study did have limitations in terms of generalizability — specifically, that the study environment may not reflect everyday experience and that the study cohort was strictly defined. Nevertheless, he explains, “A new generation of drugs for the pharmacologic treatment of obesity offers more than just weight loss,” he says. “They affect many interesting pathways, and with our study results give a hint that GLP-1RAs could also be a matter of taste.”

The team is currently investigating GLP-1RAs’ effects on brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation, the results of which they plan to present at ENDO 2026 in Chicago. “We will present for the first time the effects of tirzepatide treatment on BAT activation and browning of white adipose tissue beyond weight loss in obese subjects. In a large, randomized study — TABFAT — lasting 24 weeks, we have studied these effects with a very complex methodology. The results are very interesting and indicate a new mechanism of action for tirzepatide and suggest a potential new mechanism for BAT activation.”

When Obesity Can’t Wait: Treating Metabolic Disease in Early Childhood

In “Type 2 Diabetes in a 4-Year-Old With Obesity: Considerations for Use of Semaglutide and Bariatric Surgery in Children,” published in JCEM Case Reports in July, Alaina Vidmar, MD, medical director, Obesity Medicine, and Bariatric Surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in California and team describe a case they believe may help other clinicians treat the growing population of very young children with similar conditions. Says Vidmar: “We were seeing increasing numbers of very young children presenting with severe obesity and metabolic disease, but virtually no real-world data existed on how to manage type 2 diabetes and hyperphagia in children this young. When this four-year-old patient presented with rapid-onset obesity, hyperphagia, and new type 2 diabetes, it became clear that her case highlighted multiple gaps in pediatric obesity and diabetes care. We felt it was important to document her clinical course to inform clinicians facing similarly complex patients.”

Indeed, children with early-onset obesity develop insulin resistance, liver dysfunction, and beta cell decline much more rapidly than adults because their organs and metabolic systems are developing, which makes them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of excess adiposity. Youth-onset type 2 diabetes progresses faster, is harder to control, and carries earlier and more severe complications, making early intervention critical.

However, no GLP-1RAs are currently approved for children younger than six, representing a therapeutic gap. Although this patient showed improvements in HbA1c and a decrease in body mass index ([BMI] from 205% of the 95th percentile, BMI 41 kg/m² to 202%, BMI 39 kg/m²) with all prescribed medications (e.g., metformin, topiramate), adherence challenges prompted introduction of semaglutide to simplify her regimen. Additionally, explains, Vidmar, “Topiramate provided minimal appetite suppression for her, which is consistent with what we sometimes see, its effects are modest, and individual response varies widely. Additionally, her hyperphagia was quite severe, and medications with stronger mechanisms for appetite regulation (like GLP-1 RAs) were ultimately more impactful.”

Despite extensive evaluation for monogenic and syndromic causes of hyperphagia, a clear diagnosis was not reached. Genetic testing for monogenic diabetes and Prader-Willi syndrome was negative. Her phenotype raised concern for rapid-onset obesity with hypoventilation, hypothalamic dysfunction, and autonomic dysregulation (ROHHAD), a potentially life-threatening disorder, although this was not definitively confirmed. “Ultimately, her hyperphagia is best understood as part of her complex obesity phenotype, possibly with hypothalamic involvement, but without a clearly identifiable single underlying disorder,” says Vidmar.

“Liraglutide was available and studied earlier, and the infrastructure for pediatric trials was already established around that molecule. Semaglutide, although more effective in older populations, entered the pediatric research pipeline later. Trials in younger children require cautious stepwise evaluation, and liraglutide was simply the first GLP-1 RA far enough along in the pediatric research timeline. Semaglutide may eventually be studied in younger children, but those trials take years to launch and complete.” — Alaina Vidmar, MD, medical director, Obesity Medicine, and Bariatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, Calif.

Clinical trials have only recently begun enrolling younger children. “Pediatric drug development typically lags behind adult studies because of safety, ethical considerations, and logistical challenges. Before regulatory approval, the FDA requires age-specific efficacy and safety data, and until the SCALE Kids trial (published in 2025), we had essentially no randomized controlled data for GLP-1 RAs in children under 12. Approval can only follow evidence, and that evidence is just now emerging,” says Vidmar. “Liraglutide was available and studied earlier, and the infrastructure for pediatric trials was already established around that molecule,” she explains. “Semaglutide, although more effective in older populations, entered the pediatric research pipeline later. Trials in younger children require cautious stepwise evaluation, and liraglutide was simply the first GLP-1 RA far enough along in the pediatric research timeline. Semaglutide may eventually be studied in younger children, but those trials take years to launch and complete.”

The bottom line is, “very young children can and do present with severe, rapidly progressive metabolic disease, and they require early, aggressive, multidisciplinary treatment. GLP-1 RAs may be a valuable tool, even off label, with careful monitoring,” says Vidmar. “And importantly, clinicians should remain open to considering rare diagnoses like ROHHAD when the phenotype includes hypoventilation, autonomic dysregulation, or extreme hyperphagia.” Perhaps one of the most exciting takeaways is that this patient’s hyperphagia improved markedly (and likewise quickly worsened during medication interruptions), suggesting that some of her hyperphagia was being modulated by GLP-1 RA therapy.

With that in mind, the team has plans for important future studies. “This case underscores the need for structured clinical trials evaluating GLP-1 RAs and other obesity medications in younger children. We are actively working on research initiatives focused on early onset obesity, hyperphagia phenotyping, and optimizing multimodal treatment, including the integration of metabolic surgery, in younger pediatric populations.” In this case, the team titrated semaglutide very slowly and were extremely proactive about education, hydration, and recognizing side effects. “Interestingly, she had none of the nausea or vomiting typically seen with GLP-1 RAs,” says Vidmar, a finding that surprised the team. “This may suggest that some younger children, when closely monitored and titrated conservatively, may not experience the same level of gastrointestinal sensitivity described in adolescent trials. It may also reflect individual physiology or gut–brain signaling differences at younger ages.”

Most importantly of all, their patient is doing well: “Her most recent HbA1c was 5.1% (from an initial 8%), her BMI trajectory has significantly improved (35 kg/m²), her sleep apnea has lessened, and her hyperphagia is much better controlled. The family is continuing discussions with our bariatric surgery program to determine long-term treatment options.”

GLP-1 RAs and Psychiatric Treatment Related Weight Gain

In the November issue of the Journal of the Endocrine Society, Luciana Verçoza Viana, PhD, post-graduate program in Medical Sciences, Endocrinology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and team also looked at an important, possibly understudied population. In “GLP-1R Agonists for Weight Loss in Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis,” the team correctly guessed that GLP-1 RAs could be beneficial for patients with psychiatric disorders who gain a substantial amount of weight after starting psychotropic medications. “For a long time, metformin was essentially the only option available to help mitigate weight gain and manage related metabolic complications,” says Viana. “GLP-1RAs represent a promising new strategy for patients with psychiatric disorders, offering the possibility of meaningful weight loss while also improving metabolic health — changes that can significantly enhance quality of life.”

They undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of ultimately nine RCTs to assess the efficacy and safety of GLP-1 RAs in individuals with psychiatric disorders (specifically, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, psychosis, major depressive disorder, binge-eating disorder, or a combination) and obesity/overweight, focusing on weight and metabolic outcomes. The trials compared liraglutide, exenatide, or oral semaglutide with usual care. Although GLP-1 RAs have been shown to promote greater weight loss than lifestyle intervention in patients without psychiatric disease, the efficacy, safety, and overall applicability of this strategy for patients with psychiatric disease was uncertain.

Their primary outcomes were changes in body weight and BMI. Secondary outcomes were cardiometabolic risk factors (e.g., fasting glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and waist circumference) and adverse effects.

Says Viana, “Although there has been concern that psychiatric medications might blunt the metabolic effects of improving glycemic control and promoting weight loss, we still anticipated clinically meaningful weight loss. Our findings confirmed this expectation, showing that even earlier GLP-1 agents, such as liraglutide, were associated with significant weight reduction in this population. It is also important to note that these medications were well tolerated by these groups of patients without major adverse effects described in the evaluated trials.”

Specifically, GLP-1 RAs produced a mean weight loss of 5.03 kg (corresponding to 4.15% body weight reduction) compared to controls, along with significant improvements in BMI (−1.59 kg/m²), waist circumference (−3.40 cm), and fasting glucose (−0.29 mmol/L). Semaglutide showed the greatest effect with 6.14-kg weight loss (an expected effect, given the pharmacological profile, including a longer half-life and stronger receptor activity, of this newer agent) followed by liraglutide at 4.83 kg and exenatide at 3.91 kg. GI side effects were more common in the GLP-1RA groups — with relative risks of 1.84 for diarrhea, 2.01 for nausea, 2.46 for vomiting, and 2.69 for constipation — but these were generally mild and did not increase treatment discontinuation rates. Although the weight loss observed in this study was less pronounced than in populations without psychiatric comorbidities, this could be due to shorter trial durations and concurrent use of medications known to promote weight gain, such as clozapine or olanzapine, and the influence of antidepressants.

“It is also worth noting that, since the publication of our review, RCTs evaluating subcutaneous semaglutide in psychiatric populations — particularly among patients with schizophrenia and those receiving antipsychotic medications — have reported findings consistent with ours. These trials typically used overweight status and metabolic abnormalities as inclusion criteria, like the studies we reviewed,” explains Viana.

“GLP-1RAs are an effective option for managing weight gain and metabolic complications in patients with psychiatric disorders without serious adverse events. Clinicians should recognize these agents as an important and underutilized tool when caring for this high-risk population.” — Luciana Verçoza Viana, PhD, post-graduate program, Medical Sciences, Endocrinology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Looking ahead, the team is planning a long-term review of metabolic complications among their outpatient population with schizophrenia over the past two decades, a project led by Professor of Psychiatry Clarissa Gama and her student Luiza Sperb that aims to identify key factors associated with increased metabolic risk. “We believe RCTs are needed to determine which psychiatric populations may benefit most from early initiation of GLP-1RAs to prevent medication-related weight gain and metabolic complications. Unfortunately, funding for such trials is not currently available to us,” says Viana. She also laments the current limited access to these medications in Brazil, noting that, “From a clinical standpoint, broader affordability would represent a major step forward in expanding access to evidence-based obesity and diabetes treatments.”

For now, she says the message for clinicians is clear: “GLP-1RAs are an effective option for managing weight gain and metabolic complications in patients with psychiatric disorders without serious adverse events. Clinicians should recognize these agents as an important and underutilized tool when caring for this high-risk population.”

Horvath is a freelance writer based in Baltimore, Md. In the February issue, she wrote about the impact of GLP-1 RAs on cardiovascular health.

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Read more about Wu and her career in the Endocrine News May 2024 cover story, “The Joy of Endocrinology.”

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Spread out along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, the Windy City is a quintessential American metropolis, with iconic skyscrapers, beautiful parks, charming neighborhoods, fabulous restaurants, and one of the largest convention centers in the world — McCormick Place West!

The superlatives of this beautiful city are matched only by ENDO itself.

Each ENDO brings together more than 7,200 endocrine clinicians and researchers from around the world for an intensive week of learning and networking.

The meeting provides us with an opportunity to share our latest findings and best practices. It allows us to explore new innovations and services that enhance our caregiving and research endeavors. It allows us to celebrate our field’s luminaries who have paved the way for our current success, and to help nurture those who will make our field thrive well in the future. And much more.

Yes, ENDO is a big deal!

I’m excited we’re returning to Chicago for this meeting. I want to share some ENDO highlights that you won’t want to miss.

ENDO 2026 Offers Wealth of Programming

Education lies at the heart of our meeting. This year, ENDO will offer more than 200 sessions that explore the latest developments across the full array of hormone science and clinical topics. These sessions will be led by top investigators, expert clinicians, and renowned educators from around the world.

Education lies at the heart of our meeting. This year, ENDO will offer more than 200 sessions that explore the latest developments across the full array of hormone science and clinical topics. These sessions will be led by top investigators, expert clinicians, and renowned educators from around the world.

To help make the most of your attendance, ENDO programming is divided into a series of tracks:

• Symposia, which offers the chance to explore topics from virtually every major therapeutic area of endocrinology and hormone science;
• Basic Science Pathways, which highlight presentations tailored to deliver updates and latest breakthroughs in hormone research.
• Meet the Professor and Meet the Scientist sessions, which provide insights from experts on treating a variety of endocrine conditions as well as the latest scientific research; and
• Professional Development Workshops, which offer attendees the chance to learn from professionals who have experienced the ups and downs of careers in endocrine care and research and learn how to accelerate your own future.

I’m always excited to hear the real-life experiences of our field’s successful colleagues. One that stands out is the Meet the Scientist session, “How Did I Get Here? A Career Perspective from a Basic Scientist,” presented on Saturday, June 13 from 3:30–4:15 PM CT by Keith Yamamoto, PhD, vice chancellor for science policy and strategy and vice dean for research, School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Sessions like these are always illuminating.

Exploring the ENDOExpo

Another highlight of our annual meeting is the ENDOExpo. The bustling exposition hall is home to more than 100 exhibitors, Science & Innovation Theaters, and a series of Industry Connect sessions, all showcasing the latest products, technologies and insights tailored to the endocrine community.

The hall also will host nearly 2,000 poster abstracts covering the latest scientific discoveries and advancements in endocrinology. I’m always impressed, and a bit awed, by seeing the sheer number of these detailed research posters each year. Poster presentations provide an important opportunity for early career researchers to showcase their work for our global community.

As you walk the poster floor, I encourage you to engage with the self-guided Poster Highlight Tour, which will feature presentations of the highest-scored posters at ENDO.

The meeting provides us with an opportunity to share our latest findings and best practices. It allows us to explore new innovations and services that enhance our caregiving and research endeavors. It allows us to celebrate our field’s luminaries who have paved the way for our current success, and to help nurture those who will make our field thrive well in the future. And much more.

While you’re in the ENDOExpo, I invite you to visit the Endocrine Society booth where you can connect with our staff members and participate in interactive programs and experiences designed to inspire and engage. Also, don’t forget to check out the popular Bark Park, where our furry friends return to brighten your day and bring a little joy to your meeting experience.   

Networking Opportunities

My final ENDO advice: Never underestimate the life-changing value of networking.

ENDO is filled with many informal networking events, activities, and receptions that allow attendees to make new friends and reconnect with old ones — friends who may give you a leg up on a potential job. This includes the International Welcome Reception, taking place Friday, June 12, from 6:00-7:00 PM CT.

Another popular networking activity is our popular ENDO Mentor Program. Attendees starting out in their careers can shadow seasoned veterans and learn from their experiences. And if you want to get a bit of fresh air and exercise, I suggest the ENDO 2026 5K Fun Run/Walk, taking place on Sunday, June 14 at 6:00 AM CT.

Finally, I’d like to extend a huge thank you to our generous sponsors who help make ENDO a reality.

I look forward to ENDO each year, especially in the big, beautiful city of Chicago. See you there!

The post ENDO 2026 Offers the World of Endocrinology in the City of Chicago appeared first on Endocrine News.

The study, “Gestational Glucose Intolerance and Risk of Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence,” led by researchers from the Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, analyzed a data set of 27,876 children and adolescents. The team investigated the impact of varying degrees of maternal glycemia — ranging from normal glucose tolerance (NGT) to gestational glucose intolerance (GGI) and full gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

While the prevalence of obesity was 13.5% among two-to-five-year-olds, it climbed to 23.4% in the 11-to-18-year-old demographic. Most importantly, children exposed to even one abnormal glucose value (GGI-1) or GDM during pregnancy showed significantly increased odds of obesity compared to those born to mothers with normal glucose levels. This indicates that high blood sugar itself may “program” the developing fetus’s metabolism in ways that manifest years later during the hormonal shifts of puberty.

A primary strength of this study is its sheer scale and the duration of follow-up: The researchers provided a rare longitudinal look at how prenatal exposures play out over two decades. The study also used rigorous statistical adjustments for “confounders” like insurance status, race/ethnicity, and gestational weight gain.

However, as a retrospective cohort study, it relies on existing medical records, which can contain gaps. Furthermore, while the researchers adjusted for maternal BMI, they noted that the association was weakened after this adjustment. This suggests that a mother’s weight and her blood sugar are deeply intertwined, making it difficult to separate their individual impacts on the child’s future health.

Despite these complexities, the risk remained significantly elevated in older children even after adjusting for the mother’s weight. For the adolescent group (ages 11–18), the odds ratio for obesity remained significantly higher for those exposed to even mild glucose intolerance (GGI-1 OR: 1.44) and GDM (OR: 1.28). This suggests that glucose management during pregnancy is a distinct and vital lever for preventing obesity in the next generation.

This research aligns with the growing field of precision medicine as it maps the “biological blueprint” laid down during pregnancy. By identifying these high-risk profiles early, healthcare providers can potentially implement targeted interventions long before a child reaches adolescence. The study underscores the importance of rigorous glucose screening during pregnancy — not just to manage GDM, but to identify milder forms of intolerance that still carry long-term risks. As the competitive landscape of metabolic health evolves, the focus is shifting toward “primordial prevention” — treating the root causes of disease before they even begin. While further research is needed to determine if aggressive glucose control can fully mitigate these risks, the message is clear: The window for impacting a child’s lifelong weight may open much earlier than we once thought.

The post Maternal Blood Sugar Levels Linked to Heightened Obesity Risk in Adolescents appeared first on Endocrine News.

Goncalves joined NYU Langone in 2024 from Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He also serves as the Clarissa and Edgar Bronfman, Jr., associate professor of endocrinology and director of Systemic Metabolism Research in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and as an associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology. A nationally recognized endocrinologist and physician-scientist, he leads a robust research program at the intersection of metabolism, cancer, and endocrine signaling. His work has advanced understanding of conditions including cachexia, obesity, insulin resistance, and the metabolic effects of dietary sugars such as fructose, with a consistent focus on translating discovery into better care for patients.

As director, Goncalves will guide the division’s clinical, research, and training missions. Priorities include enhancing NYU Langone’s comprehensive programs in diabetes, thyroid, and pituitary disease; expanding multidisciplinary initiatives in bone health, obesity, and cancer-associated cachexia; and growing the portfolio of investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored clinical trials to accelerate the translation of scientific discovery into novel therapies.

“I am honored to lead the division and to build on the extraordinary foundation established by Dr. Goldberg and our faculty,” Goncalves says. “Our goal is to bring the very best science to our patients — through innovative clinical trials, expanding and refining our subspecialty programs, and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration that leads to new therapies and better outcomes while reinforcing NYU Langone’s position as a destination for complex endocrine care.”

The post Marcus Goncalves Named Director of NYU Langone’s Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism appeared first on Endocrine News.

Using advanced untargeted lipidomic profiling, scientists from Fudan University and the Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases analyzed hundreds of plasma lipid species. They discovered that specific “lipidomic signatures” — particularly those involving glycerophospholipid metabolism and short-chain fatty acids — are significantly altered in HIV-positive individuals who eventually develop subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (SCA), a precursor to strokes and heart attacks.

The findings are particularly critical for the modern management of HIV. While antiretroviral therapy has turned HIV into a manageable chronic condition, patients still face a disproportionately high risk of cardiovascular disease compared to the general population. This study suggests that even when the virus is suppressed, an underlying “collision” between metabolic imbalances and chronic inflammation continues to damage the vascular system. “Our findings underscore specific lipidomic-inflammatory networks that may underlie the heightened risk of atherosclerosis in HIV infection,” the study authors write.

As the HIV-positive population ages, the focus of care is rapidly shifting from viral suppression to the prevention of “age-related” complications. By uncovering the metabolic triggers of atherosclerosis, this research moves the medical community one step closer to a future where heart health is managed through personalized chemistry.

Using untargeted lipidomic profiling, scientists analyzed 649 plasma lipid species and 20 inflammatory markers. They found that a specific protein, interleukin (IL)-18, acted as a central hub. The researchers noted that “the differential involvement of IL-18 suggests a central role of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in HIV-associated vascular inflammation.”The study suggests that IL-18 may be a key indicator of NLRP3 inflammasome activation — a specific type of biological alarm system that triggers vascular inflammation.

The research followed a cohort of nearly 350 individuals, comparing HIV-positive patients who developed arterial plaque against both HIV-positive and HIV-negative controls. The data revealed that the metabolic shifts — specifically involving lysophospholipids — were present at baseline, long before the physical onset of atherosclerosis was detected.

This shift toward “precision medicine” mirrors broader trends in the industry. Much like the work being done by spatial biology leaders to map protein expression in tissues, this study provides a molecular map of how lipids and proteins interact in the bloodstream to degrade heart health.

Experts say the identification of these signatures offers a dual benefit: It provides a new way to screen high-risk patients early and points toward potential new drug targets that could block the inflammatory pathways leading to heart disease. As the HIV-positive population ages, the focus of care is rapidly shifting from viral suppression to the prevention of “age-related” complications. By uncovering the metabolic triggers of atherosclerosis, this research moves the medical community one step closer to a future where heart health is managed through personalized chemistry. Much like how spatial biology leaders map protein expression in tissues, this study provides a molecular map of how lipids and proteins interact in the bloodstream. By uncovering these metabolic triggers, doctors may soon be able to screen and treat high-risk patients long before a heart attack or stroke occurs.

The post Metabolic “Fingerprints” Found to Predict Early Arterial Damage in People Living with HIV appeared first on Endocrine News.

Last month, Congress finally passed a funding bill for the Department of Health & Human Services for fiscal year (FY) 2026. The bill includes an increase of about $415 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including a $10 million increase for diabetes research, and language the Endocrine Society had advocated for to protect the NIH by limiting a budget maneuver called multi-year funding, prohibiting arbitrary caps to indirect cost rates, requiring grants be paid within five business days, and reclaiming congressional authority over spending. 

This was a major victory considering that originally the administration proposed a 40% cut to NIH research, cancelled thousands of grants, and proposed restructuring the NIH in ways that would disrupt endocrine research.  

While the Endocrine Society was not the only group advocating for funding for the NIH, we were one of the most vocal. We worked for a year to achieve our goals and successfully used online advocacy campaigns, Hill Days, visits to congressional offices, and briefings to influence. 

While the Endocrine Society was not the only group advocating for funding for the NIH, we were one of the most vocal. We worked for a year to achieve our goals and successfully used online advocacy campaigns, Hill Days, visits to congressional offices, and briefings to influence. 

In addition, the Endocrine Society convened other professional medical societies, patient advocacy groups to share the same messages. Our last effort was a letter to congressional leadership that we obtained over 140 organizations to join, bolstering our individual efforts.  

Attention now turns quickly to the upcoming budget cycle for FY 2027. President Trump is expected to release his budget in mid-March, and we anticipate the budget again will include proposals to cut research funding. We will continue to push for steady, sustainable increases in funding for the NIH and we are conducting a virtual Hill Day for Endocrine Society members March 13 to ensure that Congress continues to prioritize and protect NIH. If you are not among the members who are joining us to meet with Congressional staff – stay tuned for ways to add your voice and influence critical funding decisions by sending letters to Congress through our campaigns.  

Endocrine Society Successfully Advocates for Reauthorization of the SDP and Extending Medicare Telehealth Coverage  

In February, Congress passed and the president signed into law legislation to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program (SDP) and extend the Medicare telehealth waivers.

The legislation was part of a large appropriations package, which funds several agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services. The new law funds the SDP at $200 million per-program per-year, a $40 million increase for each of the two components of the program. 

The Society was successful in advocating for this funding increase, and we worked closely with Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, and Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), the co-chairs of the House Diabetes Caucus who championed the program. 

 Endocrinologists are the largest user of telehealth in Medicare, and the Society has been a leading voice in urging Congress to extend these important flexibilities and expand access to telehealth.  

The Endocrine Society is a leading advocate for the SDP, which is made up of two components. SDP funds type 1 diabetes research being done by the National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK). It also supports prevention, education, and treatment programs for indigenous communities across the nation, which is administered through the Indian Health Service.  

Collins posted a press release on her website celebrating the SDP funding increase, which featured a quote from the Endocrine Society’s Chief Medical Officer, Robert W. Lash, MD. The legislation also extends the Medicare telehealth waivers for two years, which ensures that Medicare beneficiaries can receive care from their physician via telehealth from their home. Endocrinologists are the largest user of telehealth in Medicare, and the Society has been a leading voice in urging Congress to extend these important flexibilities and expand access to telehealth.  

We thank all of our members who participated in these activities because it made a difference.  

Senators Continue to Consider Ways to Modernize the NIH  

Over the last few years and in 2025 particularly, there were several proposals by Congress and the administration to restructure the NIH, including cutting funding by restructuring and reducing the number of NIH Institutes and Centers from 28 to 9.

We continue to hear policymakers propose changes to the NIH. Last month, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), which oversees the NIH, held a hearing on modernizing it. Jayanta Bhattacharya, director of the NIH, answered questions from members of the committee about topics ranging from drug pricing to gain-of-function research to vaccine scheduling and several policy issues that affect endocrine researchers.  

Several of the senators on this committee expressed concerns about the impacts of canceled grants and clinical trials on patients and research progress and what the future of the biomedical workforce would look like moving forward. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) expressed concerns about how cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion have negatively impacted women’s health research and research on health disparities and how the current funding environment is negatively influencing early career scientists’ decisions to remain in the research field. Both Sens. Lisa Murkowski (AK-R) and Tammy Baldin (WI-D) raised concerns about gaps in the leadership of the NIH’s Institutes and Centers (IC). 

The Endocrine Society will continue to advocate for funding for endocrine research and policies that support and protect its researchers and will keep members posted on developments.  

Baldwin reminded the NIH director about the language she included in the NIH funding bill that the Endocrine Society supported directing the NIH to ensure that external scientists are included in the search process for new IC directors and pressed the director about the consequences of increasing multi-year funding. Sen. Patty Murray (WA-D) pressed Bhattacharya about the impacts of funding cuts on NIH-supported clinical trials and raised concerns about the expiring appointments of Advisory Council members, which are required by law to meet and provide final review of grant applications before grant awards can be distributed.  

Throughout the hearing, Bhattacharya reiterated his commitment to restoring trust in science, supporting and retaining early-career researchers, and ensuring that the NIH’s focus remains on improving the health of Americans. When asked about the impact of canceled clinical trials on patients, he repeatedly expressed that he had instructed for those patients to receive continuity of care, though that was at the responsibility of the researchers and not the NIH.  

The Endocrine Society will continue to advocate for funding for endocrine research and policies that support and protect its researchers and will keep members posted on developments.  

Endocrine Society Hosts Educational Briefing on Obesity & Liver Disease for Congress 

As part of the Endocrine Society’s policymaker obesity education initiative, we partnered with the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) to conduct a congressional briefing titled “GLP-1s: A Game Changer for the Treatment of Liver Disease” for congressional staff on January 22.

The speakers included former Endocrine Society President, Dale Abel, MD, PhD, who educated congressional staff about how GLP-1s work and how obesity affects many diseases, including liver disease.  Following the briefing Abel made additional visits to the offices of congressional leadership to discuss obesity and policy options, which helped elevate the Society’s visibility as an authoritative voice in this area. 

The post Endocrine Society Advocacy In Action – March 2026  appeared first on Endocrine News.

As a child, I knew I wanted to be a scientist without really knowing what a scientist actually did. Perhaps it was due to my family’s influence; my mother was a biochemist and my grandfather and uncle were both agronomists and engineers and they all taught me to be curious about the world. These influential family members were who first introduced me to the marvelous world of the life sciences when I was very young.

In 2007, I began my studies in biological sciences at the Faculty of Natural and Exact Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), a very prestigious public university in Argentina. The university was a bustling environment, and I felt lucky to be there where I could learn from excellent professors who were also active scientists. Their commitment and motivation were inspiring.

In 2011, I met Graciela Díaz, a recognized researcher in pituitary tumors, and joined her lab at the Institute of Biology and Experimental Medicine (IBYME) for a student fellowship. She was initiating her independent career at the time. Graciela showed me all the aspects of becoming a neuroendocrinology researcher, including the obstacles of doing science in a country with various economic challenges. Most importantly, she got me profoundly engaged with the pituitary gland.

This tiny gland, located in the base of the brain, controls many essential body functions, including reproduction, growth, behavior, metabolism, and overall homeostasis.

“Immersing myself in bioinformatics and clinical genomics was both a challenging and rewarding experience. Working with patient data allowed me to exchange research results with renowned experts and physicians managing pituitary disorders from different hospitals across Argentina.” — Maria Andrea Camilletti, PhD, assistant researcher, Laboratorio de Investigaciones Aplicadas en Neurociencias (LIAN), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU-CONICET), Fundacion para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurologicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Buenos Aires, Argentina

After completing my PhD, I was convinced I wanted to stay on the pituitary research path, so I joined the laboratory of María Inés Pérez Millán, a brilliant, young researcher who had just set up her lab in Buenos Aires after a six-year postdoc at the University of Michigan. My postdoc project was part of María Inés’s ambitious idea to create a multigene panel for congenital hypopituitarism (CH), a complex genetic disease characterized by a deficiency of one or more pituitary hormones. The goal was to improve the molecular diagnosis of CH by detecting gene-specific candidate variants.

Immersing myself in bioinformatics and clinical genomics was both a challenging and rewarding experience. Working with patient data allowed me to exchange research results with renowned experts and physicians managing pituitary disorders from different hospitals across Argentina. We screened more than 170 pediatric patients for genetic alterations using our own custom-based sequencing panel, ultimately solving 15.3% of the sporadic cases. However, most of the variants we found were classified as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). This meant that additional functional assays were necessary to dissect the pathogenic mechanism, if one was present definitively.

New Questions Demand New Approaches

To find a reliable tool for exploring the role of novel genes and genetic variants for CH, we turned to induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies as an excellent cellular model for our studies.

With this shift in focus, I joined the Institute of Neuroscience at FLENI, one of the leading neurological institutes in Argentina and Latin America, with a new position as an independent researcher in the Laboratory of Applied Research to Neurosciences.

iPSCs were first generated through groundbreaking technology developed by Shinya Yamanaka and Kazutoshi Takahashi in Kyoto, Japan, in 2006, and since then, they have revolutionized medicine. They possess two unique features that make them attractive for health research: their capacity for self-renewal and the ability to differentiate into virtually any specialized cell type, including endocrine cells. Because iPSCs can be generated directly from a patient’s own mature somatic cells (like skin or blood), they circumvent many of the ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cells.

Modeling Disease for Personalized Medicine

My current research is specifically centered on expanding our knowledge of congenital hormonal deficiencies by generating iPSC-based in vitro models.

To achieve this, we generated an iPSC line from a patient diagnosed with GH deficiency and craniofacial malformations who carries a novel, heterozygous nonsense variant in FOXA2 (c.686C>A; p.S229*). This gene is poorly characterized in hormonal diseases, and its role in pituitary development is largely unknown. This study, a collaboration with specialists from the Garrahan Hospital and the Faculty of Natural and Exact Sciences, represents the crucial first step for disease modeling. The next steps are aimed at obtaining pituitary cells from the generated patient iPSCs (and comparing them with control-iPSCs) to examine the effect of the FOXA2 variant on the clinical phenotype.

“I hope our research contributes to the community by offering better diagnosis, genetic counseling, and future treatments for patients and their families. [Induced pluripotent stem cell]-based technologies have shown potential for modeling hormonal deficiencies and hold promise for cell transplantation to treat hypopituitarism in the future, offering new opportunities for personalized therapies.” — Maria Andrea Camilletti, PhD, assistant researcher, Laboratorio de Investigaciones Aplicadas en Neurociencias (LIAN), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU-CONICET), Fundacion para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurologicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Buenos Aires, Argentina

This is particularly relevant for providing better diagnoses of pituitary hormonal deficiencies locally, and for helping to fill the gap of why FOXA2 heterozygous variants can cause CH in children. Additionally, my lab is currently working on generating a FOXA2 knockout iPSC line using gene-editing tools. We will use genomics and proteomics approaches to investigate the role of this gene in pituitary differentiation and to reveal the transcriptional regulatory landscape of this novel gene during this process.

The Thrill of the Lab and Mentorship

I personally have a lot of fun in the laboratory. Culturing iPSCs is complicated, but it’s incredibly satisfying when you finalize protocols without contamination or technical problems. Working with iPSCs can be challenging because they stress easily, and antibiotics are not allowed to maintain the cultures! As a lab mate often says, you have to become a kind of “ninja-culture technician” when working with this cellular type.

Additionally, teaching new PhD students is very motivating, especially when we discuss scientific data or get the chance to exchange results with a broader audience at national or international conferences. The feeling of mentoring the next generation of scientists is deeply rewarding.

At the end of the day, I hope our research contributes to the community by offering better diagnosis, genetic counseling, and future treatments for patients and their families. iPSC-based technologies have shown potential for modeling hormonal deficiencies and hold promise for cell transplantation to treat hypopituitarism in the future, offering new opportunities for personalized therapies.

Camilletti is an assistant researcher at the Laboratorio de Investigaciones Aplicadas en Neurociencias (LIAN), Instituto de Neurociencias (INEU-CONICET), Fundacion para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurologicas de la Infancia (FLENI), Buenos Aires, Argentina

The post A Personal Pituitary Journey: From Pituitary Tumors to iPSCs-Based Models for Congenital Hypopituitarism appeared first on Endocrine News.

This month’s issue features a wealth of information on the studies that are spilling out of every peer-reviewed journal you can think of. Truly, an embarrassment of riches, and yet we barely scratched the surface with what we discuss on the following pages as more and more studies are released every day. So, while no means an exhaustive list – and if you check this month’s Endocrine Society journals, you’ll see even more recently released research! – but it’s what we had to work with at the time of planning this issue.

Kelly Horvath looks at the cardiac outcomes in patients taking these obesity conquering drugs in “Compare and Contrast.” Specifically, she talks to the researchers about their recent studies to get more insights into how this new class of pharmaceuticals could affect the user’s cardiac health. “It is important to understand whether the cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1RAs are limited to those who also experience glycemic and/or weight benefits, or we see benefits in hard outcomes more broadly,” according to Rozalina G. McCoy, MD, MS, from the University of Maryland School of Public Health THRIVE (Transforming Health through Real-world Insights, Values, and Evidence) Lab, in Baltimore, Md., and Stacey M. Sklepinski, MD,  from the Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill. “Current indirect evidence from the cardiovascular outcomes trials suggests that cardiovascular benefits are at least partly independent of glucose-lowering, but the same analysis was not done for weight loss.”

In “Beyond the Scale: What Else Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Can Do,” Kelly takes a look at a variety of journal studies that examine the impact of incretin-based therapies on cardiovascular health, as well as how they affect the liver, quality of life, insulin resistance, and much more. According to Ambarish Pandey, MD, MSCS, from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, clinicians shouldn’t hesitate to administer semaglutide because a patient with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) looks too frail. “They’re the ones who stand to benefit most,” he explains. “In our analysis, the frailest patients saw the largest symptom gains, were far more likely to improve their frailty status, and experienced fewer serious adverse events on semaglutide than on placebo. If you’ve been hesitant because a patient seems fragile, reconsider. That’s exactly who should be getting this therapy.”

Endocrine News Senior Editor Derek Bagley takes a look at some recent studies published in Endocrine Society journals in “Side Effects” that examine both the positive and negative unintended impacts of GLP-1RAs. On the positive side, GLP-1RAs have apparently been shown to reduce consumption of alcohol and drugs as well as curtailing addictions to sex and gambling. However, there are cases of fatal, albeit rare, complications that endocrinologists need to be aware of. “Although GLP-1 receptor agonists show impressive efficacy and favorable side effect profiles, it is necessary that we determine all risks and side effects, particularly rare ones, to minimize chances of poor outcomes,” says Endocrine Society member Eli J. Louwagie, MD, PhD, of the Department of Internal Medicine at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg, Va., and one of the authors of a study discussed. “This is especially important considering the increasing use of these medications.”

Derek has also written a tribute to the life and career of Joel Habener, MD. Habener died in December at the age of 88, but he left behind a legacy that has certainly led to where we are today in terms of these GLP-1s and many other obesity-fighting drugs. According to Daniel J. Drucker, MD, senior investigator, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health; professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Ontario, Canada, and a former member of Habener’s lab, Habener will be “remembered as a visionary scientist whose discoveries transformed the field of metabolic medicine and as a highly sought after mentor who trained generations of independent investigators.”

Until next month, if you have any story ideas that you think Endocrine Society members would be interested in, feel free to drop me a line at: mnewman@endocrine.org.

The post Miracle Drugs or Too Good to Be True? appeared first on Endocrine News.

Titled “Drug-Induced Liver Injury After Zoledronic Acid Infusion and Literature Review,” this case involves a 50-year-old female breast cancer patient, already on hormonal therapy with anastrozole and abemaciclib, who developed severe body aches, nausea, and abdominal bloating within hours of her first annual ZOL infusion for aromatase inhibitor-induced osteoporosis. Laboratory testing revealed a dramatic and acute elevation of liver enzymes, leading to a diagnosis of hepatocellular DILI. Notably, her previously normal liver enzymes returned to baseline within 11 days after the event.

“Although a rare side effect, the risk for liver injury secondary to zoledronic acid in patients taking other potentially hepatotoxic medications should be considered,” says Christopher Boldt, a physician at Baylor College of Medicine and primary author. “In these cases, patients may be trialed on a different bisphosphonate or other antiresorptive medication.”

This rare complication underscores a growing challenge in modern medicine: managing polypharmacy and navigating unexpected drug–drug interactions, particularly for oncology patients. The rapid onset and severity of the reaction — in this case, within hours of infusion — highlight the importance of close post-infusion monitoring, especially for patients taking other hepatotoxic drugs.

As medicine advances toward increasingly complex, multi-drug regimens for chronic diseases and cancer survivorship, this case serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing need for vigilant pharmacovigilance and personalized risk assessment.

According to the study, this is only the sixth reported instance of ZOL-induced hepatotoxicity in the literature, making it an exceptionally rare event. Nonetheless, the quick resolution of liver enzymes after holding the ZOL, while the aromatase inhibitor and abemaciclib were also briefly paused, strongly suggests ZOL as the primary culprit. The patient later tolerated the resumption of her other therapies without incident.

The main takeaway for physicians is to keep DILI in mind as a possible, though rare, differential diagnosis for patients presenting with acute, non-specific symptoms following ZOL infusion. While most adverse events are mild and flu-like, the presence of severe bone pain, nausea, abdominal symptoms, and elevated liver function tests should prompt immediate investigation for potential liver injury.

The patient’s successful transition to an alternative oral bisphosphonate (alendronate) without recurrence of liver issues offers a clear management pathway: Once ZOL is identified as the cause, alternative medications can provide continued bone protection. As medicine advances toward increasingly complex, multi-drug regimens for chronic diseases and cancer survivorship, this case serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing need for vigilant pharmacovigilance and personalized risk assessment. Ensuring the benefits of powerful therapies like ZOL are not compromised by rare but severe reactions remain essential. Awareness and rapid action can make a significant difference, even when the complication is exceptionally uncommon.

The post The Hidden Hepatotoxicity of Zoledronic Acid appeared first on Endocrine News.

Thyroid artery embolization (TAE) is a minimally invasive technique performed by interventional radiologists to reduce the blood supply to the thyroid gland. By injecting embolic agents, such as microspheres, into the arteries feeding the thyroid, the procedure causes the targeted tissue to shrink, alleviating pressure symptoms like difficulty breathing and swallowing. Traditionally, TAE involves accessing both the inferior and superior thyroid arteries — routes that carry technical challenges and increased procedural risks, including the possibility of non-target embolization and even strokes.

The latest advancement uses a pressure-enabled drug delivery device (PEDD) to create a forward pressure gradient, allowing the microspheres to be delivered evenly through the inferior thyroid artery alone. This change bypasses the risky superior artery, potentially lowering the risk of complications and improving the safety profile of the procedure.

Embolization was initially used for tumors and uterine fibroids, and its application to thyroid disease is relatively new—the first TAE for Graves’ Disease was performed in 1994. Despite its growing use, there are currently no long-term studies directly comparing TAE to thyroidectomy. Thyroidectomy, while effective, carries its own risks, such as recurrent laryngeal nerve damage and the need for lifelong hormone replacement due to permanent hypothyroidism.

The latest advancement uses a pressure-enabled drug delivery device (PEDD) to create a forward pressure gradient, allowing the microspheres to be delivered evenly through the inferior thyroid artery alone.

In the recent retrospective cohort study, 22 patients with symptomatic thyroid conditions underwent PED-TAE. Among these, half had multinodular goiters, six had toxic nodules or goiters, three chose the procedure before thyroidectomy, one had Graves’ disease, and one had a solitary nodule. Importantly, none experienced neurovascular complications. Mild pain or discomfort was reported by 18 patients, but these symptoms resolved within two weeks.

Of those with hyperthyroidism, 71% achieved normal thyroid function following treatment. For the 18 patients who completed six months of follow-up, the average thyroid gland volume decreased dramatically — from 184.5 mL to 49.9 mL, a significant 73% reduction. This compares favorably to the 56% average reduction observed with traditional TAE, which involves embolizing both major thyroid arteries.

Researchers conclude that PED-TAE is a safe, feasible, and effective alternative to thyroidectomy for selected patients, offering substantial volume reduction and rapid symptom relief. To build on these promising early results, a multi-institutional registry study is being planned to further evaluate the procedure’s long-term outcomes and broader applicability.

“Thyroid diseases pose a considerable threat if left untreated for an extended period and are linked to higher cardiovascular disease risk, compromise of cerebral blood flow, and osteoporosis,” the authors write, encouraging “prompt treatment” whether it is major surgery such as thyroidectomy or a minor one such as PED-TAE. — Jackie Oberst

The post Pressure-Enabled Embolization Shows Promise as Safer Alternative to Thyroid Surgery appeared first on Endocrine News.

Historically, PCOS has been tied to cardiovascular risk factors like obesity and insulin resistance. However, the study clarifies that not every woman with PCOS has high androgen levels (hyperandrogenaemia, HA), and conversely, not all women with HA have PCOS. By analyzing a diverse group, researchers were able to pinpoint that it’s the elevated androgen levels — not just the PCOS diagnosis — that independently raise long-term cardiovascular risk. The study found that PCOS alone did not account for differences in fitness; rather, hormone levels, specifically HA, were the critical factor.

As research continues to shed light on the complex connections between hormones, physical fitness, and heart health, clinicians must evolve their recommendations to safeguard patients against this hidden but serious threat.

One of the most compelling results involved the Free Androgen Index, a marker of bioavailable testosterone. Women in the highest quartile of this index were significantly more likely to fail a standardized step-test from exhaustion. This is a key insight because low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a stronger predictor of overall and cardiovascular mortality than other common risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes.

While this study points to HA as a main culprit compromising heart health, it only measured serum testosterone — other androgens might also play a role. Future studies to look at these as well as other hormones such as estrogen, insulin, and cortisol, should be considered, the authors write.

The clinical implications are immediate and significant. The research supports a movement toward more tailored exercise recommendations for women with HA and PCOS. Whereas existing guidelines focus largely on weight management, the new evidence suggests greater emphasis should be placed on boosting heart endurance and aerobic capacity. Women with high androgen levels may seem physically fit or active, yet they harbor an invisible risk that general exercise advice may not sufficiently address. Healthcare professionals are urged to look beyond surface-level strength and consider interventions, such as brisk walking, swimming, and cycling, that target and improve cardiorespiratory fitness. Standard advice to simply “exercise more” is inadequate — programs must specifically aim to build aerobic stamina to counteract the increased cardiovascular risk linked to hyperandrogenaemia. As research continues to shed light on the complex connections between hormones, physical fitness, and heart health, clinicians must evolve their recommendations to safeguard patients against this hidden but serious threat.

The post Why High Testosterone Poses a Silent Threat to Women’s Hearts appeared first on Endocrine News.

KERENDIA^® (finerenone) Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase III Clinical Trial for Adults with Type 1 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease

On Nov. 6, Bayer announced new Phase III investigational data from the pivotal FINE-ONE trial showing that KERENDIA^® (finerenone) significantly reduced urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) from baseline over six months by 25% compared to placebo in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) who were receiving standard of care (95% CI=0.75 [0.65; 0.87]; p=0.0001). 

These late-breaking data were presented at the opening plenary session of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2025 in Houston by Dr. Hiddo Lambers Heerspink, Professor of Clinical Trials and Personalized Medicine at the University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands, and Chair of the study’s Steering Committee.

“We are excited to announce the results of the FINE-ONE trial, which represents the first positive Phase III study in 30 years dedicated to patients with type 1 diabetes and chronic kidney disease — a research advancement underscored by the trial’s inclusion in the opening plenary session,” said Endocrine Society member Janet McGill, MD, MA, professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Co-Chair of the study’s Steering Committee. “By significantly reducing UACR—a key marker of cardiovascular risk and kidney damage—finerenone has the potential to become an important addition to the treatment landscape for patients with type 1 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.”

Up to 30% of Americans living with T1D are affected by CKD.

Since July 2021, KERENDIA has been approved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death, hospitalization for heart failure, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline, and end-stage kidney disease in adult patients with CKD associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In July 2025, KERENDIA also received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction (HF LVEF) of ≥40%.⁷

FINE-ONE (FINErenone efficacy and safety in chronic kidney disease and type ONE diabetes; NCT05901831) is a pivotal, global, randomized, prospective, double-blind, multicenter, Phase III study in people with T1D and CKD. It enrolled 242 adult participants with the primary objective to demonstrate whether the addition of finerenone, 10 or 20 mg once daily, to standard of care is superior to placebo in reducing UACR over six months. The primary endpoint was the relative change in UACR from baseline over six months. UACR is being investigated as a bridging biomarker to demonstrate delayed kidney disease progression. Elevated UACR is strongly associated with CV risk and kidney disease progression in multiple patient populations, including T1D and T2D.^8,9,10 Safety of finerenone was also assessed in the study. Finerenone is the first investigational treatment, since the 1990s, to show positive results in a Phase III study dedicated to people living with T1D and CKD and works by selectively and potently blocking mineralocorticoid receptor overactivation in the heart and kidneys.⁷

In FINE-ONE, safety and tolerability with finerenone were largely consistent with the existing evidence for people with T2D and CKD. The rate of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was 47.1% for those treated with finerenone and 49.2% for placebo. The rate of treatment-emergent serious adverse events (TESAEs) was 11.8% and 11.5%, respectively. Hyperkalemia, an adverse event of special interest (AESI), was observed more frequently with finerenone (10.1%) compared to placebo (3.3%). The rate of treatment discontinuation due to hyperkalemia was 1.7% and 0%, respectively.

Bayer plans to submit a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. FDA based on the results of FINE-ONE in 2026.

Veracyte Announces First Publications Using Afirma GRID Research Tool To Help Usher in Next Generation of Thyroid Nodule Testing

On Nov. 3, –Veracyte, Inc. announced the publication of two studies demonstrating the Afirma GRID (Genomic Resource for Intelligent Discovery)research tool’s ability to help define the future of thyroid nodule evaluation. Using the company’s innovative whole-transcriptome-derived research-use-only platform, researchers analyzed molecular data from thyroid nodules to develop signatures with potential to provide enhanced prognostic information prior to surgery.

The first study describes the development and validation of mRNA-based classifiers to preoperatively predict low-risk thyroid tumor features in collaboration with researchers at Memorial Healthcare System in South Florida and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. The second study, published independently by researchers at Cleveland Clinic, explores whether mRNA-based expression signatures can be used to differentiate higher-risk tumors prior to surgery.

“We introduced Afirma GSC in 2017 to primarily help patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules—those that were not clearly benign or malignant—avoid unnecessary diagnostic surgery. Now, Veracyte is working to help clinical researchers better answer the next critical question for thyroid nodule care: ‘For those patients whose nodules are likely cancerous, how much surgery is needed?’ These studies, which evaluate biomarkers to determine a likely cancer’s aggressiveness, may one day enable us to answer this question,” said Endocrine Society member Joshua Klopper, MD, Veracyte’s medical director for Endocrinology.

In the Cleveland Clinic study, 445 thyroid samples had undergone Afirma GSC testing. Researchers then evaluated these samples using 30 molecular signatures available for research use only through the Afirma GRID to determine whether any could differentiate nodules, based on risk groups developed by the American Thyroid Association to categorize a thyroid nodule’s likelihood of being low or intermediate/high risk thyroid cancer. Two of the signatures stood out: an “invasion signature” for which a higher score predicted a 30% greater likelihood of intermediate- or high-risk cancer and a “NIS expression” signature for which higher expression levels predicted low-risk cancers.

Dr. Gustavo Romero-Velez, an endocrine surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic and senior author on the study, said, “The next phase in thyroid nodule care is to find a preoperative prognostic marker with clinical utility. Veracyte with Afirma GRID is giving us a path to do that work to get to a clinically useful prognostic marker.”

While the study does not yet provide the necessary data or validation for clinical use of these signatures, it highlights several with potential clinical utility. The study authors concluded that with further validation studies, gene expression profile signatures may serve as a preoperative predictive tool for high-risk features, potentially enhancing recurrence risk stratification and helping guide extent-of-surgery discussion with patients.

These publications demonstrate the power of Afirma GRID—enabling clinicians and scientists to explore molecular markers and signatures that may one day help guide patient treatment. Veracyte’s commitment to making Afirma GRID available for research is rapidly fueling the expansion of thyroid cancer insights.

About Afirma GRID

The Afirma GRID database is derived from the sequencing of over 21,000 expressed genes for over 200,000 patients with thyroid nodules (benign and malignant) and is used by Veracyte and its partners to contribute to continued research that helps advance understanding of thyroid tumors. Afirma GRID information is available on a Research-Use-Only basis. More information about Afirma GRID can be found here.

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

The post Pharma Friday – November 7, 2025 appeared first on Endocrine News.

You could say that treating people with diabetes was the “family business” for Manasi Shah, MD, since both of her parents were involved with treating such patients, especially pediatric patients. When she was growing up in India, her first exposure to the world of endocrinology came at a very young age when she witnessed one of her friends undergoing a fingerstick to measure blood sugar levels. “Those moments made me realize how much impact timely care could have,” Shah says, “and I decided early on that I wanted to help people with diabetes.”

Fast forward to her current position as an assistant professor of medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Va., where she researches as well as treats patients undergoing kidney and pancreas transplants who have developed post-transplant diabetes. “Clinically, I was struck by how often our transplant patients struggle with glycemic control, weight gain, and complex insulin regimens after surgery,” Shah explains. “When I began prescribing GLP1-RA in this population, I saw dramatic improvements — better glucose control, fewer hypoglycemic episodes, and simpler regimens. Additionally, there are reports of improved graft function and long-term survival with these drugs.”

However, despite the progress she has seen, Shah says that there are still many unanswered questions, “particularly about appetite suppression, protein intake, and lean body mass, which are critical in patients who often lose muscle during pre-transplant dialysis.” Shah speaks to Endocrine News about her circuitous career path, her earliest mentors (hint: her parents!), and how a recent grant will help further her research on transplant endocrinology.

Endocrine News: You’ve had a fascinating journey in India as well as United States through endocrinology. What first sparked your interest?
Manasi Shah: I was very lucky to grow up around endocrinology! Both my parents are physicians specialized in diabetes in Mumbai, and I often tagged along to the diabetes camps they organized for children with type 1 diabetes. I remember being five years old and watching my friend Rachita check her fingerstick blood sugars before we could get back to playing.

EN: You’ve had an unusually rich research journey — from multinational clinical trials to basic science labs. Can you share how those experiences shaped you as a physician-scientist?

Shah: My research journey really began in Mumbai, where I volunteered with my parents, who were principal investigators for multinational trials like SAVOR TIMI-53 and TECOS. With Dr. Shashank Joshi, I worked on some retrospective research studies and presented our work at ENDO in 2014. After observing basic science research for the first time at Barbara Davis Center of Childhood Diabetes, I was curious to learn more. Fortunately, I was able to join Michael Brownlee’s lab at Albert Einstein College of Medicine as a research volunteer to study mechanisms underlying metabolic memory in diabetes complications. I learned to perform qPCR, gel electrophoresis, tissue culture, and histology — and co-authored a paper in Diabetes showing how a GLP-1 cleavage product disrupts ROS-generating feedback loops. One of my proudest achievements was co-writing an invited review on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cardiovascular disorders in diabetes for Circulation Research — creating original figures on design software and watching that paper become highly cited.

During my internal medicine residency at University at Buffalo, I worked with Dr. Paresh Dandona on clinical trials and designed my first investigator-initiated biomarker study on galectin-3 in hypogonadism-related insulin resistance, presenting the results at ENDO 2018.

“I believe we’re entering an era where endocrinologists will play a larger role in transplant medicine — not only in diabetes management but also in obesity treatment, bone health, and metabolic optimization pre- and post-transplant. We need more evidence to guide diabetes and metabolic care around transplant, and endocrine researchers are perfectly positioned to lead this effort.” — Manasi Shah, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Va.

In endocrine fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical School (UTSW), I immersed myself in adipose tissue biology under Dr. Philipp Scherer. I performed human fat biopsies, histology, adipocyte sizing, RNA extraction, and metabolomics for Dr. Kyaw Soe’s multi-institutional study of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) on metabolism. This work won the Outstanding Achievement in Research Award at UTSW and later the ENDO 2022 Outstanding Abstract Award and is now under submission for publication.

As clinical faculty at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) at Old Dominion University, I went back to clinical trials; being a co-PI on seminal trials in diabetes with my chair, Dr. Elias Siraj.

None of this would have been possible without the amazing mentorship I have received! Over the last 10 years, my mentors, research coordinators, post-doc researchers, students and patients have taught me to critically analyze data, design rigorous studies, and connect molecular mechanisms to real-world clinical outcomes — skills I now apply in my current transplant endocrinology research.

EN: That’s right! You’ve moved from diabetes research into a very specialized area — transplant endocrinology. How did that transition happen?

Shah: It wasn’t planned! At Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), I was asked to serve as the director of Inpatient Diabetes Program and lead endocrinologist at the Sentara Kidney-Pancreas Transplant Center. Suddenly, I was evaluating transplant candidacy for patients with type 1 diabetes, making ethically complex decisions about living donors with prediabetes, and managing post-transplant diabetes in a very vulnerable population. This experience really changed the trajectory of my research career.

EN: What kinds of questions come up when you’re working with transplant donors and recipients?

Shah: A big one is whether it’s safe to clear a living kidney donor who has prediabetes. We don’t have much long-term data, which makes it a very difficult decision for both clinicians and patients. That question inspired one of my research projects — a study using the TriNetX global database to look at long-term risks of diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease in more than 5,000 living donors with prediabetes. Along with a research statistician and medical master’s student, we performed this analysis and found some exciting results (stay tuned)!  

EN: You also manage post-transplant diabetes. What have you learned from your patients?

Shah: Managing diabetes after transplant is incredibly nuanced. These patients have just gone through major surgery, are on high doses steroids and immunosuppression, and are trying to rebuild their strength. I co-run a shared clinic with our diabetes educator, Diane Snyder, where patients talk about their experiences in a very open way. It’s inspiring — patients with long-standing diabetes share their struggles and often their regrets too; they help motivate those who are newly diagnosed after transplant.

EN: Congratulations on receiving research funding for your work in transplant diabetes! Can you tell us more about this project and why it matters?

Shah: Thank you — this institutional career development grant is incredibly meaningful to me. It supports my research studies in patients with post-transplant diabetes under the mentorship of Dr. Salvatore Carbone and others. This grant allows me to systematically study kidney transplant recipients in the early post-transplant period, combining clinical outcomes with metabolic assessments.

“Endocrine Society conferences and committees have been central to my life in endocrinology. I would like to use this opportunity to inspire early-career members to explore this exciting field of endocrinology and offer my guidance, mentorship and collaboration to anyone who is interested in connecting!” — Manasi Shah, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Va.

Receiving this funding means I have protected time and money to follow patients closely, learn new research skills, collect objective data, and collaborate with my multidisciplinary team — including nutritionists, transplant surgeons, nephrologists, diabetes educators and basic scientists — to generate evidence that can directly guide patient care. For me, this is the perfect blend of bench-to-bedside science: translating what I observe in clinic into studies that could shape future guidelines and improve long-term transplant outcomes.

EN: What’s next for you and for transplant endocrinology?

Shah: I believe we’re entering an era where endocrinologists will play a larger role in transplant medicine — not only in diabetes management but also in obesity treatment, bone health, and metabolic optimization pre- and post-transplant. We need more evidence to guide diabetes and metabolic care around transplant, and endocrine researchers are perfectly positioned to lead this effort. Recently, I joined American Society of Transplantation (AST) taskforces and received enthusiastic responses from transplant colleagues around the world; they were thrilled to have an endocrinologist on board! Of course, Endocrine Society conferences and committees have been central to my life in endocrinology. I would like to use this opportunity to inspire early-career members to explore this exciting field of endocrinology and offer my guidance, mentorship and collaboration to anyone who is interested in connecting!

Lam is a division chief and medical director at Meritus Endocrinology, Meritus Medical Center, Hagerstown Md.

The post Building Bridges: Manasi Shah, MD, discusses how endocrinologists can play an important role in transplant medicine. appeared first on Endocrine News.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the cancer treatment landscape but also introduced new complexities in the recognition and management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), particularly those involving the endocrine system.

While several guidelines have provided valuable direction for clinicians, differences in terminology and diagnostic criteria across studies and clinical settings have led to variability in how endocrine irAEs are described and classified. This, in turn, poses challenges for data comparison and harmonization of care.

To address these gaps, we brought together an international panel of 25 experts across endocrinology, oncology, dermatology, and immunology. Using a two-round modified Delphi process guided by the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method, we achieved consensus on disease definitions, diagnostic workup, and severity grading for six major endocrine irAEs: ir-thyroiditis (thyrotoxic and hypothyroid phases), ir-Graves’ disease, ir-hypophysitis, ir-adrenalitis, and ir-type 1 diabetes mellitus. The results of this work were published as “Consensus-based disease definitions for endocrine immune-related adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors” in the October issue of the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.

The framework establishes clear definite, probable, and possible diagnostic tiers, along with structured evaluation and severity grading tables aligned with CTCAE v5.0. Beyond providing diagnostic precision, the effort represents a shared commitment among oncologists and endocrinologists to create a common language for identifying and managing endocrine irAEs, improving both clinical communication and research consistency.

To get more details about the paper and the processes of the working group, I talked to corresponding author and principal investigator of the study, Afreen Shariff, MD, associate professor of medicine and member of the Duke Cancer Institute at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C.

What prompted the need for the standardization of disease definitions for endocrine irAEs?

Afreen Shariff: When immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) became a mainstream treatment for many cancer types, we started seeing the emergence of endocrine toxicities affecting various endocrine organs. There was great variation in how patients were diagnosed and monitored. It was like we were speaking different languages while trying to communicate the same thing. This created a lot of confusion on nomenclature and criteria.

“The goal is to complement, not replace, existing guidelines by adding diagnostic clarity that supports consistent data reporting, clinical trials, and registry work. Ultimately, standardization leads to better recognition of endocrine irAEs, timely and appropriate treatment, and continuity of care.” — Afreen Shariff, MD, associate professor of medicine; member, Duke Cancer Institute at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C.

For instance, ICI-induced thyrotoxicosis (or hyperthyroidism as reported in some studies) and ICI-induced hypothyroidism are now known to be different presentations and stages of thyroiditis. Such inconsistency created problems in reporting, research comparison, and most importantly, patient safety. As endocrine irAEs often present subtly, lab interpretation and timing matter a lot. So, we wanted to develop a “common language,” a structured framework and agreement on terms and conditions that clinicians and researchers across disciplines could use to communicate, recognize, diagnose, and grade these events in a consistent way.

How did the collaboration come together?

Shariff: It grew organically initially by a few of us with a special interest in oncoendocrinology (many of whom are members of the Oncoendocrinology SIG), and later through the irAE Program with Project Data Sphere, which had already produced consensus-based definitions for neurologic and dermatologic irAEs. We realized endocrine events were the next major gap. A core group of endocrinologists from the U.S., Australia, and Singapore drafted the survey and definitions. Then we convened an international multidisciplinary panel of 25 experts in endocrinology, oncology, dermatology, immunology, and related specialties to participate in a two-round modified Delphi process. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method gave us a rigorous yet flexible way to achieve consensus across disciplines.

What were some of the most interesting challenges along the way?

Shariff: Balancing precision with usability. We wanted the definitions to be detailed enough for researchers but still practical for clinicians in busy oncology clinics. For instance, defining what constitutes probable versus definite ir-hypophysitis or ir-adrenalitis meant reconciling endocrinology’s traditional diagnostic standards with real-world oncology practice. It helped that our panelists were experienced in both research and patient care.

How do you see these definitions adding value to existing guidelines?

Shariff: We aimed to provide granular guidance in the diagnostic process for clinicians by defining clinical, laboratory, and imaging criteria for diagnosis. We outlined definite, probable, and possible diagnostic tiers; structured evaluation tables for thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, and pancreatic irAEs; and severity grading linked to the CTCAE framework. The goal is to complement, not replace, existing guidelines by adding diagnostic clarity that supports consistent data reporting, clinical trials, and registry work. Ultimately, standardization leads to better recognition of endocrine irAEs, timely and appropriate treatment, and continuity of care.

Zhu is a senior consultant endocrinologist at Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. She graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2009 and obtained her MRCP (UK) in 2012. She completed her specialist training in endocrinology in 2017.  

Citation:

Zhu L, Cheung YM, Chiang C, Gallagher EJ, Hamnvik OR, Mammen J, et al. Consensus-based disease definitions for endocrine immune-related adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. 2025;13:e011865. https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2025-011865

The post Towards a Shared Language: Defining Endocrine-Immune-Related Adverse Events appeared first on Endocrine News.

I’d like to take this opportunity to recap some of the diabetes-related initiatives at the Endocrine Society over the past 12 months. These efforts include diabetes practice, education, advocacy, research, and more.

In July, the Endocrine Society, along with the European Society of Endocrinology, released an important new joint Clinical Practice Guideline on pre-existing diabetes and pregnancy.

The new guideline was developed “as diabetes rates are rising among women of reproductive age and very few women with diabetes receive proper preconception care,” explains Guideline Chair Jennifer Wyckoff, MD.

In addition to preconception planning, Wyckoff adds, “the guideline discusses advances in diabetes technology, delivery timing, medications and diet.”

Suggestions from the guideline include:

• Screening — Ask all women with diabetes of reproductive age about intent to conceive at every reproductive, diabetes, and primary care visit. 
• Delivery timing — Before 39 weeks for pregnant individuals with diabetes as the risks associated with continued pregnancy may outweigh those of early delivery 
• Medications — Discontinue anti-obesity medications called GLP-1s prior to pregnancy; avoid prescribing metformin in pregnant individuals with preexisting diabetes already on insulin. 
• Diabetes technology — Recommend hybrid closed loop systems for pregnant individuals with type 1 diabetes. 
• Contraception — Suggest women with diabetes use contraception until they are ready to become pregnant.

This guideline was published online in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) and the European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE) and joins other important Society clinical guidelines on diabetes.

Diabetes Treatment Education

The Society’s diabetes guidelines are designed to improve clinical practice. So, too, are our diabetes-related continuing medical education (CME) programs. This year we launched many new CME online programs related to diabetes care, many of them free, including:

• Metabolic Health and Obesity in Children
• Uncomplicating the Complications of Type 2 Diabetes Through a Tailored Approach to Comorbidity Management
• Understanding the Interconnectivity of Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease
• Evaluating Modes of Insulin Delivery for Improved Patient Experiences
• Revolutionizing Type 1 Diabetes Care Through Advanced Screening and Monitoring
• Patient POV: Shared Decision Making in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes with Comorbidities
• Evaluating Advanced Technology for Patient-Specific Management of Type 1 Diabetes

Access these and other diabetes-related educational resources in our Center for Learning.  

Advocacy: Funding for Diabetes Research and Access to Affordable Treatments

Capitol Hill is another area where the Society is advancing diabetes interests. This year, the Society successfully advocated to restore funding for the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS) and funding for the Diabetes Research Centers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

This effort was needed after the presidential administration earlier this year abruptly canceled funding for both programs, which are critical for diabetes research.

DPPOS examines the long-term effects of diabetes prevention on other health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and heart disease. This long-term study follows the surviving participants of the original Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) cohort.

Our advocacy staff and member volunteers urged the administration to reverse its decision, while we worked closely with co-chairs of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. Ultimately, funding for DPPOS and the research centers was restored this summer.

On another important diabetes front, the Society continues to urge Congress to pass a long-term reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program (SDP).

SDP provides funding for type 1 diabetes research through the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and funding for type 2 diabetes prevention and education programs for American Indian and Alaska Natives at the Indian Health Service.

We are one of the only organizations advocating for SDP funding, and we will continue to press Congress for long-term funding of this critical program.

Diabetes Research in our Journals

Research is still another area where the Society continues to make important contributions to diabetes knowledge.

In July, we released a Scientific Statement that provides an overview of scientific challenges and highlights opportunities for improving our understanding of the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Access the statement here: Challenges and Opportunities for Understanding the Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes.

In addition, various ground-breaking articles have been published in our suite of journals. Articles in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) include:

• Preexisting Diabetes and Pregnancy: An Endocrine Society and European Society of Endocrinology Joint Clinical Practice Guideline 
• Effects of a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet on β-Cell Response in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes research in our other journals include:

• Insulin Resistance in Type 1 Diabetes: Pathophysiological, Clinical, and Therapeutic Relevance  Endocrine Reviews, Review article
• The Impact of Hypothyroidism on Cardiovascular-Related Healthcare Utilization in the US Population With Diabetes  Journal of the Endocrine Society, Clinical Research Article
• Interaction of B⁰AT1 Deficiency and Diet on Metabolic Function and Diabetes Incidence in Male Nonobese Diabetic Mice Endocrinology, Research article
• A Case of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis With Coexisting Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young Type 5 JCEM Case Reports, Case Report

As you can see, we’re always raising awareness of diabetes, in November and every other month of the year. We encourage you to submit your diabetes research as ENDO abstracts and journal publications. Our EndoForum platform offers members a place to discuss research advances and best practices with peers from around the globe.  

The post Diabetes Awareness Month: Updates on Society’s Diabetes Guidance, Education, Advocacy, and Research All Year Long appeared first on Endocrine News.

Research presented at ENDO 2025 suggests that adolescents with both obesity and type 2 diabetes could be at a higher risk for fractures and osteoporosis later in life. Lead researcher Fida Bacha, MD, discusses her group’s findings as well as the impact of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia on bone development in this population.

In new research presented in July at ENDO 2025 in San Francisco, Calif., lead researcher Fida Bacha, MD, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and team shed new light on one of the major public health challenges of the 21st century: the childhood obesity epidemic. While this epidemic is a global problem, reaching across ethnicity and socioeconomic classes, in the United States, Hispanic youth bear a disproportionate burden. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hispanic children have an obesity prevalence of 26.2%, which is the highest among all racial/ethnic groups.

At Bacha’s laboratory at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center (CNRC) at Baylor, researchers study the risk factors and mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of the metabolic complications related to childhood obesity and insulin resistance. Among their latest discoveries is a potentially devastating long-term consequence of these intertwining conditions —compromised bone development during the adolescent years when lifelong skeletal strength is established. While these effects may have gone unnoticed until recently in this population, their implications for long-term health are all too obvious. Impaired skeletal development could mean early osteoporosis in adulthood and increased fracture risk, with all of the associated increased morbidity and mortality that carries.

Growing Bodies of Evidence

Bacha’s latest research builds on her team’s previous work published in 2022 in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. In “Adiposity, Insulin Resistance, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Bone Health in Hispanic Children,” they demonstrated the striking finding that insulin resistance seems to be a culprit mediating the negative relationship between fat mass and bone mass. “While adults with type 2 diabetes are known to have increased risk of fractures, this has not been investigated in youth with type 2 diabetes,” Bacha explains. “We wanted to understand how childhood obesity and early type 2 diabetes affect bone health as children grow.”

Although that study was partly undertaken to fill a gap in the existing literature that had focused thus far on adults, it also served to debunk a prevalent myth. Higher body weight was thought to contribute to osteogenesis in children, given the increased mechanical loading on bones; however, other factors were found to disrupt that process, namely the compounding effects of adiposity and insulin resistance. The current research, says Bacha, is a “logical extension” of that work. “We know childhood obesity is associated with insulin resistance, and children with type 2 diabetes have the severe phenotype. Regarding the comorbidities and complications related to childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes, the skeletal system is another target organ that could be impaired.”

For the current study, partially funded by both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health, the team followed 48 teenagers (average age 15.5 years) for one year. Of the cohort, 27% had normal weight, 31% were classified as overweight with normal blood glucose levels, and 42% had overweight with impaired blood glucose control, including prediabetes (four teens) and type 2 diabetes (16 teens). Researchers measured participants’ adiposity, fitness level, and glucose and insulin levels, along with detailed bone structure and strength assessments of the lower leg (tibia) and forearm (radius). “Although not a lot of work had been done previously on the effect of obesity on the skeletal system, our study published in JCEM showed that insulin resistance does contribute to the relationship between obesity and whole body bone mineral content. Here, we took it a step further to look more into the microarchitecture using high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT,” Bacha says.

“Although not a lot of work had been done previously on the effect of obesity on the skeletal system, our study published in JCEM showed that insulin resistance does contribute to the relationship between obesity and whole-body bone mineral content. Here, we took it a step further to look more into the microarchitecture using high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT.” — Fida Bacha, MD, professor of pediatrics, Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine; professor of pediatrics, Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas

Bacha explains that the study findings supported their ongoing hypothesis that teens with obesity, especially those with type 2 diabetes, showed less improvement in upper and lower extremity bone strength and quality over time compared to adolescents of normal weight, and, again, that insulin resistance seemed to correlate with less increase in bone strength. Details of this research are soon to be published.

Adolescence and Bone Development

These findings carry particular significance given the nature of adolescent bone development. The teenage years represent the most important period for building lifelong bone strength, with approximately 40% of peak bone mass accrued during adolescence. Bone mass in childhood is likewise known to be a strong predictor of bone status in early adulthood. This makes any interference with bone development during this period especially concerning for long-term skeletal health. From their prior research, Bacha and team are aware of the particular vulnerability of the pubertal population, in whom the negative relationship between obesity and bone outcomes was more pronounced compared to prepubertal youth, again deepening concern about this critical window for bone mass accumulation.

“We see insulin resistance playing a role, but we also need to look further into hyperglycemia,” Bacha explained, regarding the underlying mechanisms. “We studied a relatively small number of children with type 2 diabetes and across a very narrow range of hyperglycemia, so we really need to study a larger number of children across the glycemia spectrum to understand better the effect of hyperglycemia on these relationships,” she says.

The research suggests that the negative effects of obesity on bone health are not simply due to excess weight but rather involve complex metabolic pathways. Insulin resistance, and potentially also hyperglycemia, appear to disrupt normal bone metabolism, potentially affecting both bone formation and resorption processes. This metabolic interference may undermine potential benefits from increased mechanical loading.

Future Research

Bacha’s research program continues to evolve, with several important directions for continuing investigation. “We hope that our future studies will try to also uncover the effects of different therapeutics and what ages may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of diabetes on bone,” she explains. The team also sees the need to expand their work to include larger numbers of children across a broader range of glycemic control, which could provide more definitive answers about the relationship between hyperglycemia and bone health.

Future research will also need to extend follow-up periods to better understand the long-term skeletal consequences of adolescent metabolic dysfunction. In addition to establishing clearer causal mechanisms and exploring therapeutic interventions on bone outcomes, they hope to undertake comparative analyses between adult and adolescent populations.

What We Can Do Now

While definitive answers to pathophysiology and management questions are being sought, lifestyle changes are an important intervention clinicians can counsel patients to make. Said Bacha: “One of the things our previous results showed in terms of the relationship of obesity to whole body bone mineral content is that having better cardiorespiratory fitness would be protective and counter the effect of insulin resistance.” In that study, youths with higher cardiorespiratory fitness showed better bone outcomes, independent of their weight status.

“So, what we would advocate for clinicians to understand,” Bacha continues, “is that the skeletal system could be negatively affected and that we should emphasize the importance of optimizing nutrition to reduce weight but also increase physical activity.”

The team’s research contributes to a growing body of evidence that pediatric obesity affects multiple organ system, with consequences that extend far into adulthood. The skeletal implications add another layer of urgency to obesity prevention and treatment efforts in youth. The findings also highlight the importance of early intervention. Given that peak bone mass is largely determined during the first two decades of life, any compromise in bone development during childhood and adolescence can have lifelong consequences for fracture risk and osteoporosis development.

“We know childhood obesity is associated with insulin resistance, and children with type 2 diabetes have the severe phenotype. Regarding the comorbidities and complications related to childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes, the skeletal system is another target organ that could be impaired.”  — Fida Bacha, MD, professor of pediatrics, Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine; professor of pediatrics, Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas

Bacha says the research was well received at ENDO and that she fielded lots of great questions from the audience. “I appreciate the interest in our work,” Bacha says, “and I think we are hoping that we raise awareness about this issue and advance the science related to bone health in childhood. Obesity and type 2 diabetes affect the whole body system and bone health is yet another aspect that we’re uncovering that is really important.”

More will be revealed in their upcoming manuscript, but Bacha and team have given us lots to think about in the meantime about how to make care more comprehensive and reaching vulnerable populations.

Horvath is a freelance writer based in Baltimore, Md. In the October issue, she wrote about the historical perspective of Human Growth Hormone and protein-misfolding diseases.

The post Hidden Skeletal Consequences of Adolescent Obesity appeared first on Endocrine News.

In July, the Endocrine Society published a Scientific Statement that highlights potential research directions related to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) that should help with the development of new and improved treatment options.

The Scientific Statement summarizes research and suggested directions for new research in these areas related to T1D: genetics, heterogeneity, pathology of the pancreas, assessment of β cell function and mass, immunologic biomarkers in peripheral blood, changes in the exocrine pancreas, and screening to identify individuals at-risk for T1D.

“The Endocrine Society chose type 1 diabetes for a Scientific Statement because research related to T1D is rapidly expanding, and the field is poised for new advances. The hope is that the Scientific Statement will provide scientists, physicians, and funding agencies with a guide for areas of research that seem particularly promising,” says Alvin C. Powers, MD\, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., a member of the writing group.

The statement is based on the authors’ updated version of the widely cited and often modified Eisenbarth model, which outlines the different stages of progression to type 1 diabetes. The Scientific Statement proposes that Stage 0 be added to this model which already included Stages 1, 2, and 3, to highlight that there are likely events occurring earlier in the disease that currently are not understood or being studied.

How Far We’ve Come – and Still Have to Go

Four years ago marked the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin; Leonard Thompson’s life was saved, and it changed the world. Until then, type 1 diabetes was basically a death sentence, and even when insulin became available, the average person with diabetes had to spend about half their income on insulin.

“The centennial celebration of the discovery of insulin in 2021 provided a reminder that this breakthrough has saved millions of lives, especially those with [T1D],” the authors of the Scientific Statement write.

Aaron W. Michels, MD, a professor of medicine at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes at the University of Colorado Anschutz, tells Endocrine News that centennial of insulin underscored how far we’ve come—yet also how far we still have to go, as T1D remains associated with significant morbidity and mortality. With rapid advances in immunotherapy, pancreas research, and disease staging, the field needed a unifying document to summarize current knowledge gaps and chart priorities for the next era of prevention and cure.

“We’re more than a century past the discovery of insulin and yet type 1 diabetes still carries a heavy burden,” Michels says. “With so many breakthroughs happening at once — from immunotherapies to studying the human pancreas — we felt the field needed a roadmap to identify what we know, what we don’t, and where we must go next.”

Theory to Reality

The authors of the Scientific Statement write that research in T1D is expanding and currently fall into 3 broad categories: (1) delivery of exogenous insulin (eg, insulin analogs, automated insulin delivery devices), (2) disease-modifying therapies to treat the underlying β-cell-directed autoimmunity (eg, teplizumab, B- or T-cell-directed interventions, anti-cytokine therapies, antigen-specific immunotherapies), and (3) therapies that seek to increase endogenous insulin production and secretion (eg, transplantation of insulin-producing cells or islets, protection or expansion of remaining endogenous β-cells, transdifferentiation of other cell types into insulin-producing cells). 

According to Michels, the approval of teplizumab marked a paradigm shift in treating T1D as an immune-mediated disease rather than solely a metabolic one. Second, novel insights into human disease pathogenesis from studying the pancreas (pancreata) from organ donors with type 1 diabetes are rapidly expanding what’s biologically possible.

“The approval of teplizumab was a watershed moment because it proved we can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes by targeting the immune system,” Michels says. “At the same time, technologies like automated insulin delivery and stem cell-derived beta-cell replacement are moving from theory to reality – it’s an incredibly hopeful time.”

The authors write that programs like Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes (nPOD)and Human Islet Research Network and the Human Pancreas Analysis Program (HPAP) have revolutionized access to high-quality human pancreatic tissue from donors across the T1D disease spectrum. These resources now allow researchers to study early lesions, immune infiltration patterns, and cellular stress responses within islets in unprecedented detail.

Another point the authors make is that it is becoming increasingly clear that T1D is not a single disease, but a spectrum influenced by age of onset, genetic background, immune signatures, and rate of beta-cell loss. Defining subtypes could allow researchers to match therapies to disease mechanisms and clinicians to predict who will respond — or not respond — to specific interventions.

“We used to view type 1 diabetes as one disease, but we now realize there are multiple ‘flavors’ of it,” Michels says. “A child who develops T1D at age five may have very different biology than someone diagnosed at 35, and recognizing those differences could help us match the right therapy to the right person.”

Emerging Evidence

These new research avenues have led to new evidence that lead to breakthroughs and better outcomes for people with T1D. For instance, the authors of the ask a question in one of the Knowledge Gaps section on beta-cell function assessment about whether these beta-cells in someone with T1D could be “sleeping” and maybe recoverable. “Emerging evidence suggests that some beta-cells may be functionally silent rather than fully destroyed,” Michels says. “If we learn how to reactivate or rescue these dormant cells, it could open a path to restoring endogenous insulin production even in people with established T1D.”

A future effort the authors suggest is the continued development of clinically safe beta-cell tracers for in vivo imaging in humans. Michels explains that imaging pancreatic beta cells is a significant challenge as there are very few beta cells dispersed throughout the pancreas. “Having a safe and specific tracer would improve our ability to directly measure beta cell mass in real time,” he says.

Insulin Rationing Is Unacceptable

In November 2021, Endocrine News published an article titled “The Cost of Living (with Diabetes),” referencing a paper that appeared in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings detailing the account of a patient with type 1 diabetes in his mid-20s who worked as a restaurant manager in Minnesota. He couldn’t afford the deductible and monthly premiums of his insurance, and he couldn’t afford to pay for his insulin with cash, so he tried to ration his insulin. He was found dead in his apartment from diabetic ketoacidosis.

“Insulin rationing in a century-old disease is unacceptable,” Michels says. “Policy reform, expanded biosimilar competition, and decoupling insulin access from insurance status are all critical steps—alongside emergency access programs—to ensure that no one lacks a medication that’s been around for 100 years.”

In March 2023, Eli Lilly lowered the price on its most popular insulins, with Novo Nordisk and Sanofi following suit shortly thereafter, but only after the $35 monthly price cap for people on Medicare that was mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act. And while this was a dose of good news, experts warned that the Act was just the first step on a long journey.

The authors of the Scientific Statement pose the question of whether early screening for diabetes (which could be expensive, especially if implemented on a national scale) should be cost-effective or cost-agnostic, especially if early detection could offset financial burden on patients later in life.

“While cost is an unavoidable consideration for policymakers, I would argue that early screening may ultimately save money by preventing life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and delaying disease onset,” Michels says. “In that sense, the real question may not be ‘Can we afford to screen?’ but ‘Can we afford not to screen for type 1 diabetes?’”

Transformational Era

Michels says that T1D research is entering a transformational era—where prevention and beta-cell restoration are no longer theoretical. But realizing that the future will require collaboration, investment, and a shift from managing disease to modifying its course.

“The biggest message we want to send is this: type 1 diabetes is no longer just something to be managed – it’s something we can delay and potentially reverse,” he continues. “But getting there will take collaboration across science, policy, and patient advocacy.”

The post Challenges and Opportunities: Developing New and Improved Treatment Options for Type 1 Diabetes appeared first on Endocrine News.

Omodamola Aje, MD, a clinical endocrinologist at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Mass., had a patient starting menopause, suffering all the symptoms that it carries — hot flashes, night sweats, poor sleep. After careful evaluation, Aje put the patient on hormone replacement therapy after a full assessment, and not long after, she got a call from the patient’s husband, who thanked Aje for “giving [his] wife back.”

That moment changed everything. “It reminded me that good medicine is not just science, it’s humanity,” Aje says. Inspired, she began sharing bitesize, evidence-based videos on social media. Her posts, covering menopause, fertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, and hypothyroidism, have now reached women around the world, some garnering hundreds of thousands of views.

This kind of digital health advocacy is crucial here in 2025, when everyone is online, and especially for women, whose access to healthcare is not equal in many parts of the world, whether through geographical location, financial situations, or culture. “It’s my way of bringing knowledge to people where they already are,” Aje says. “Women are already online, so giving them that knowledge there just makes it easier for everybody.”

Half-Baked Knowledge

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the healthcare industry to pivot to the
digital world with the rise of telemedicine and electronic prescribing. The
pandemic, of course, was never a good thing, but some good things did
come out of it. Now, people who might not have had access to healthcare
could have a virtual consultation with a doctor; they could have needed
medications sent in. People could connect with others about their medical
problems and feel a sense of community. “Lots of people who didn’t have a
voice started speaking,” Aje says.

The pandemic may have accelerated telemedicine, but it also unleashed a
flood of misinformation. “Half-baked knowledge is worse than no knowledge
at all,” Aje explains. “If you don’t know, you can learn. But when you think
you know and you’re wrong, you spread confusion.”

Her platform challenges popular myths, such as claims that hormone therapy always causes breast cancer, or that diet alone can “cure” hypothyroidism. “I didn’t set out to become the voice for women,” she says, “but my page has become a space where women feel seen, heard, and not judged.”

Crossing Borders

Aje tells Endocrine News that each month, she comes up with a topic in women’s health that she wants to discuss. She started with PCOS for the first month and created an evidence-based guide that women could sign up for to access. Soon, women from signing up from Korea, Guyana, Kenya. “Sitting in my bedroom, creating this guide, I can actually reach people across borders,” she says. “It’s not like we’re trying to replace the clinic. We’re just trying to break down the walls of these barriers to reach people.”

But Aje’s outreach can also come from something as simple as a short TikTok video. One of her most viral TikTok posts is of her explaining the difference between clomid and letrozole in 60 seconds, with the caption “Took Clomid and it didn’t work?” Aje says that one of her patients even mentioned the video after realizing her OBGYN had put her on letrozole, and that now the patient understood why.

“It’s good to know that what I’m doing is helpful for people and it’s actually feeding back to me,” Aje says. “It is good to know that what you’re doing is helpful. I get the comments all the time: “Thank you, finally somebody explained it the way that my doctor didn’t explain it to me,” but to actually see a real-life patient tell me, that was very gratifying for me.”

Simplifying Things

Aje makes it clear that her platform is for educational purposes only, no diagnoses, no prescribing medications, just a guide on what patients might want to ask their doctors about. A racing heart might be more than anxiety; sudden weight loss might mean something needs to be checked up. A video from a board-certified endocrinologist on Instagram or TikTok carries more weight than a Google search. 

And Aje says building this platform has helped her in the clinic as well. She’s learned how to simplify things, how to talk to patients in terms they can better understand. “Then for my patients in the community, in my online community too, they get to see things I’ve lived through, experiences that I’ve seen in my clinic,” she says. “They’re interconnected, my online platform and my clinical practice, but at the same time they’re separate.”

Science of Balance

For Aje, her educational platform is especially relevant for endocrinology, since it’s a science of balance. Hormones affect every system, and if even one thing gets off balance, it can cause chaos. “I can’t imagine myself doing anything else,” she says. “It literally helps you to put things back into perspective, into balance.”

As a fellow, Aje earned an Early Career Award from the Endocrine Society and has been an active member ever since. She’s taken her passion for endocrinology and now wants to convey that not just to her patients, but to others who are interested in endocrinology. “If it’s something that you have a passion about, don’t let the fear of what people are going to say, judgment, or even critics or backlash, stop you.”

Aje stresses the importance of separating out the educational material in social media posts from visits in the clinic. Providing good medical education, especially now when misinformation can spread so quickly (the Endocrine Society had to host a webinar about the falsehoods of “hormone balancing”), is key to helping patients understand what they’re actually dealing with.

“You’ll be surprised, the amount of people that have never even heard half of the things that you want to say,” Aje says. “For upcoming residents, there’s just so much to be done. There’s so much to be uncovered. We want your voice. We want you to speak. Lots of people want to hear what you have to say.”

The post Reaching Out: Digital Advocacy in Women’s Hormonal Health appeared first on Endocrine News.

The post Thyroid Dysfunction During Pregnancy May Increase Autism Risk in Children appeared first on Endocrine News.

The study (the SURPASS-PEDS trial), led by Tamara Hannon, MD, of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, and colleagues was presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria and published in The Lancet. The study is sponsored by Eli Lilly and company, the manufacturer of tirzepatide.

Youth-onset type 2 diabetes  is a rapidly progressing disease with rising incidence in recent years, primarily driven by the increase in the global prevalence of obesity. The overall incidence of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents in USA has nearly doubled across 15 years, going from 9.0 to 17.9 cases per 100,000 persons per year between 2002-03 and 2017-18. 

There are limited treatment options to improve blood sugar (glycemic) control in youth-onset type 2 diabetes. Existing therapeutics have generally demonstrated lower glycemic efficacy in youth-onset type 2 diabetes compared to adults with type 2 diabetes, without clinically meaningful impact on weight as measured by body mass index (BMI). Tirzepatide is a once weekly GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in the U.S. for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and obstructive sleep apnea.

In this phase 3 trial, 99 young people aged 10-17 years with youth-onset type 2 diabetes with inadequate glycaemic control with metformin, basal insulin, or both, were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive blinded treatment with tirzepatide (5 mg or 10 mg) or placebo (PBO) once weekly for 30 weeks followed by a 22-week open-label extension. The primary aim was to demonstrate superiority of tirzepatide (looking at the pooled results of both doses combined) versus placebo for change in glycated hemoglobin at 30 weeks. Analyses included all participants who received at least one dose of study drug, excluding data after discontinuation of study drug or initiation of glycemic rescue therapy.

At baseline, the mean age was 14.7 years, mean duration of diabetes was 2.4 years, and participants were treated with metformin (68.7%), basal insulin (8.1%), or both (23.2%). At 30 weeks, tirzepatide was superior to placebo for improving HbA1c, fasting serum glucose, BMI, and incidence of HbA1c of 6.5% or less (below the range for diabetes) and 5.7% of less (below the range for prediabetes). In the placebo group, these indicators barely changed or did not change across the 30 weeks of the study.

At the start of the study all of the children had HbA1c above 6.5%, classifying them as having type 2 diabetes. At 30 weeks, the pooled tirzepatide results shows that more than three quarters (79%) of children taking tirzepatide had HbA1c of less than 6.5%, and more than half (53%) had and HbA1c of less than 5.7%, compared to 29% and 14% respectively for those taking placebo

And while mean BMI fell just 0.4 points across the 30 weeks in the placebo group, from 34.7 to  34.3 kg/m², in the pooled tirzepatide group mean BMI fell 9.3 units from 35.6 to 26.3 kg/m².  Fasting glucose levels fell by around 6 times more in the pooled tirzepatide group (2.46 units) than the placebo group (0.44 units)

The estimated mean treatment difference (between tirzepatide pooled results and placebo) for change from baseline were: HbA1c -24.9 mmol/mol (-2.3%), FSG -2.0 mmol/L (-36.3 mg/dL) and BMI -8.9%.  At 52 weeks, estimated mean change from baseline in HbA1c was -24.2 mmol/mol (-2.21%) and percent change in BMI from baseline was -12.0%, for TZP pooled.

The most common adverse events on tirzepatide were gastrointestinal, mild to moderate in severity, occurred mostly during dose escalation, and generally decreased over time (consistent with trials in adults). Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events occurred in 6.3% of participants in tirzepatide 5 mg and 0% in tirzepatide 10 mg and placebo. No severe hypoglycemia episodes were reported during the study. Glycemic rescue therapy was initiated by 18% of participants in the placebo group and 0 participants in the tirzepatide pooled group.

The authors conclude: “Tirzepatide demonstrated significant and clinically meaningful improvements in blood sugar control and BMI in youth with type 2 diabetes. The impact on blood sugar control was sustained over the one year trial period and improvements in BMI continued through the year and did not plateau.”

“Tirzepatide is the first drug used for type 2 diabetes in this age group that has shown sustained clinically, meaningful BMI lowering effects…These results support tirzepatide as a potential safe and efficacious treatment option for youth-onset type 2 diabetes,” they continue.

The post Tirzepatide Improves Blood Sugar Control in Children Aged 10-17 Years with Type 2 Diabetes appeared first on Endocrine News.

Early-career Endocrine Society member and dental student TyShawn Harris became fascinated with endocrinology after working with Stanley Andrisse, PhD, in his laboratory at Howard University. He talks to Endocrine News about his ongoing research and the remarkable connection between endocrinology, diabetes, and dentistry.

When TyShawn Harris began dental school at Howard University, he never expected his studies to intersect with endocrinology. But a course with a well-known researcher sparked new ideas and opened doors that have reshaped his journey.

Harris grew up in Queens, N.Y., and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Queens College. After completing a post-baccalaureate program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he was first introduced to dentistry, he set his sights on dental school. At Howard University College of Dentistry, a first-year class taught by Stanley Andrisse, PhD, an endocrine scientist and professor at Howard’s College of Medicine, sparked a new interest that would eventually take him to ENDO 2025.

Endocrine News spoke with Harris to learn more about how he first connected his dentistry studies to endocrinology and where his goals will lead him next.

Endocrine News: How did you first become involved with Dr. Andrisse’s lab team?

Harris: As a first-year dentist student at Howard, you must take physiology to learn about the physiology of the human body. Dr. Andrisse was our endocrinology course professor, so for that block he taught us all about hormones, and I didn’t know there was much of a relationship between endocrinology and dentistry. Also, he was one of the first Black professors I’d ever had, so that was great. Then I later learned that he and I had similar pasts. I know people know Dr. Andrisse got into trouble when he was young, and so did I. I became intrigued with his program, From Prison Cells to PhD, which helps formerly incarcerated individuals gain an education. I was one of those who was once incarcerated but was able to break out of the legal system. And now I’m going to be a doctor in 1½ years. To give a little background, when I was 17 and a two-sport student athlete, I made a poor decision that led to legal consequences. As a result, I withdrew from school and returned home. The incident was covered by the news and spread on social media, which was very difficult and humbling. Although it was one of the hardest times of my life, it forced me to reflect deeply on who I was and who I wanted to become. With the help of my strong supporting cast, I was able to ultimately return to school and get back on the right track. That experience shaped me into a more mature, accountable, and resilient person, and I genuinely don’t think I’d be who I am today without it.”

So, in Dr. Andrisse’s course, I learned about the connection between dentistry and the endocrine system, especially diabetes, which is so common in minority communities. I knew then that I wanted to work with him, so I applied to work in his lab. He’s become my mentor, and we have conducted research and collaborated on a few good ideas so far.

EN: Having a professor like Dr. Andrisse who, first looks like you, and then learning that you both have succeeded beyond mistakes you made as youths must be so inspirational. What type of research did you do in his lab that connects dentistry to endocrinology?

Harris: Yes, having a professor like Dr. Andrisse has been incredibly inspiring. Learning about how he turned past challenges into motivation for success has pushed me to do the same. I actually had the opportunity to conduct research in his lab, and we recently presented our findings at ENDO 2025.

Our study focused on how high-fat and high-fructose diets contribute to insulin resistance and obesity, partly through the activation of a liver enzyme called protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε). We investigated how deleting PKCε specifically in the liver affects insulin signaling in mice fed a high-fructose diet. What we found was those mice lacking PKCε showed improved insulin sensitivity, meaning their bodies responded better to insulin. This suggests that targeting PKCε could be a potential therapeutic strategy for diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

“Diabetes and oral health are closely linked — when blood glucose is poorly controlled, it increases the risk of periodontal (gum) disease, delayed wound healing, dry mouth, and oral infections. For example, if a diabetic patient needs a tooth extraction, they might experience prolonged bleeding or slower recovery. Conversely, chronic periodontal inflammation can make it harder to control blood sugar levels, creating a cycle that worsens both conditions.”  — TyShawn Harris, first year dental student, Howard University, Washington D.C.

The connection to dentistry is actually very direct. Diabetes and oral health are closely linked — when blood glucose is poorly controlled, it increases the risk of periodontal (gum) disease, delayed wound healing, dry mouth, and oral infections. For example, if a diabetic patient needs a tooth extraction, they might experience prolonged bleeding or slower recovery. Conversely, chronic periodontal inflammation can make it harder to control blood sugar levels, creating a cycle that worsens both conditions.

So, the work we’re doing in Dr. Andrisse’s lab helps deepen the understanding of metabolic dysfunctions like insulin resistance, and that knowledge directly informs how we manage oral health in patients with diabetes.

EN: Do you think a lot of patients know this connection of how the endocrine system can affect their dental health?

Harris: Honestly, I don’t think most patients — or even some healthcare professionals — fully understand how much the endocrine system affects oral health. When I was at ENDO, I came across a medication at a vendor booth that listed “increased risk of dental cavities” as a side effect. I asked the representative why that was, and even after making a few calls, no one could explain it. That really stood out to me and showed how often this connection is overlooked. It’s an area that needs more awareness and education, both for patients and providers.

EN: What are your long-term plans after graduation?

Harris: Once I graduate, I plan to complete a residency — either a general practice residency or, if I decide to specialize, possibly in endodontics, since I’ve developed a strong interest in that area. I want to gain more hands-on experience and deepen my understanding before making that decision. After residency, I’d like to work in private practice to really learn the business side of dentistry — things like patient management, operations, and the day-to-day responsibilities of running a practice.

“I want to continue doing research that explores the connection between diabetes, endocrinology, and dentistry. My work in Dr. Andrisse’s lab showed me how metabolic health and oral health are deeply intertwined, and I want to keep contributing to that growing body of knowledge.” — TyShawn Harris, first year dental student, Howard University, Washington D.C.

At the same time, I want to continue doing research that explores the connection between diabetes, endocrinology, and dentistry. My work in Dr. Andrisse’s lab showed me how metabolic health and oral health are deeply intertwined, and I want to keep contributing to that growing body of knowledge.

Ultimately, my goal is to open my own dental practice in a low-income community. I want to provide high-quality care to individuals who might not otherwise have access to it and use my platform to help bridge the gap in oral health disparities.

Shaw is a freelance writer based in Carmel, Ind. She is a regular contributor to Endocrine News and writes the monthly Laboratory Notes column.

The post Tooth or Consequences: TyShawn Harris Discusses the Intriguing Link Between Endocrinology and Dentistry appeared first on Endocrine News.

“Dr. Gloyn is an internationally recognized leader in endocrinology who has made extraordinary contributions to our understanding of the genetic basis of diabetes and has collaborated with colleagues on both sides of the Atlantic on landmark studies,” says Endocrine Society President Carol Lange, PhD. “Her ground-breaking contributions to endocrine research across the globe and her outstanding work ethic make her an exceptional candidate for this award.” 

ESE’s President Wiebke Arlt, MD, DSc, FRCP, FMedSci, says, “I am extremely pleased that Anna Gloyn is our 2026 Award winner. She is an inspiring example for emerging researchers who has shown exemplary leadership, and her contribution to endocrine and diabetes research has been invaluable. Her career embodies true transatlantic scientific exchange, reflected in her contributions to major international research alliances, editorial boards and her receipt of multiple accolades.” 

“For me, science is all about collaboration, and I continue to be fortunate to collaborate with so many incredible clinicians and scientists across Europe and the United States,” Gloyn says. “I am honored to be recognized by both societies for doing what I truly love and would like to thank all my trainees, mentors and collaborators for enriching my scientific journey.” 

She continues, “I believe collaboration results in more than the sum of the parts. I learnt this as a trainee funded by an EU Horizon 2020 team science project and subsequently through multiple international consortia, which bring people from both sides of the Atlantic together to move the needle in our collective efforts to improve the lives of people with diabetes.” 

Gloyn is Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif. She earned her DPhil at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England, followed by post-doctoral training at the University of Exeter in Exeter, England, and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn. Her early research centered on the impact of genetic variation in KATP channel genes, first in type 2 diabetes and later in neonatal diabetes. 

In 2004, she returned to Oxford to establish an independent research program dedicated to elucidating beta-cell biology through functional characterization of genetic variants that cause monogenic diabetes. She is a member of the ClinGen expert review panel for monogenic diabetes and recently co-led the Precision Diagnostics working group for the International Precision Medicine Diabetes Initiative. 

Gloyn’s major focus for the past ten years has been on translating discoveries from genome-wide association studies into biological and clinical insights. Her research combines genetic discovery and functional genomics with clinical phenotyping and disease modeling in human cell models to elucidate how changes in DNA sequence alter diabetes risk. Highly collaborative, she plays roles in multiple international consortia, including the Accelerated Medicines Partnership for Common Metabolic Disease (AMP-CMD) and the Human Islet Research Network (HIRN). 

Gloyn has received multiple national and international awards for her research, including the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Rising Star (2005) and Minkowski (2014) awards and the American Diabetes Association Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award (2022). In 2025, she was elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences in the United Kingdom.    

Gloyn will present her award lecture at the European Society of Endocrinology’s Annual Congress, the European Congress of Endocrinology (ECE) 2026, which is taking place from May 9-12 in Prague, Czech Republic. 
 

Nominations for the 2027 Transatlantic Alliance Award will open early next year. 
 

The post Anna Gloyn Wins 2026 Transatlantic Alliance Award in Endocrinology  appeared first on Endocrine News.

On January 28 this year the Endocrine Society released a statement warning members against solicitations from a journal called “Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.” The Society cannot verify the authenticity or accuracy of this “journal” with the statement going on to say that the authentic journal goes by the name of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Two days later, the editor-in-chief of (the real) The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), Paul M. Stewart, MD, FRCP, wrote an editorial in the journal titled, “‘Houston We Have a Problem….’: Raising the Quality and Authenticity of Manuscripts Submitted to JCEM.” Stewart begins by pointing to the demographic shift in submissions to JCEM – China is now regarded as a scientific superpower and has overtaken the U.S. and Europe in size of research workforce and its scientific output. “We are processing thousands of manuscripts per year from China, the vast majority of them either out of scope or lacking a mechanistic or experimental basis,” Stewart writes.

But make no mistake; no on here is trying to blacklist China or anyone else. “We embrace geographical diversity in our governance (we have editors from 12 countries and editorial board members from 25 countries, with China well represented), and are committed to publishing the best research wherever it is undertaken around the world” Stewart writes. “Indeed we publish outputs from submitting authors based in 42 countries (2023 data). So what is the problem? In a nutshell, quality.”

Publish or Perish

Stewart tells Endocrine News he is passionate about journal quality, but is concerned that quality risks being eroded, and he wants to do what’s right for the sector. JCEM is an extremely well-regarded journal globally. When Stewart took over as editor-in-chief, he aimed to maintain that reputation by soliciting exciting content, but found he was being deflected. “We were getting to a stage where it was just getting ridiculous in terms of the volume of content being submitted that just didn’t make sense biologically,” he says. “my editorial in-box was increasingly swamped with scores of submissions each week that were basically nonsensical.”

So why is this happening? Why submit a paper you know is not up to scientific standards or even downright fraudulent? For many early career researchers particularly in developing countries with an emerging science sector, the pressure on them to churn out papers is crushing. They have no chance at career progression unless they get something in a journal. Publish or perish.

“My concern is that [specious papers] clog up the review process and lead to reviewer fatigue. It’s really important for handling editors to weed them out before review, but in my experience junior handling editors often feel unsure about what to do, so they err on the side of caution and give authors benefits of doubt — we have to weed them out before review.” — Zane B. Andrews, PhD, deputy head, Metabolism, Diabetes, and Obesity Program, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; editor-in-chief, Endocrinology

“We’re now working in a global context where the pressure on researchers in many countries is unacceptably intense. And we’ve all seen over the years the odd figure that’s probably been incorrectly doctored in a paper and raised red flags” Stewart says. “That’s in no way excusable, but is nothing compared to what we’re seeing now. Over and above a proliferation of fraudulent papers, there is no biological reason why anybody in their life would ever measure the association of serum rhubarb with thyroid function tests but papers of this ilk are now the norm.”

Reviewer Fatigue

Zane B. Andrews, PhD, deputy head of the Metabolism, Diabetes, and Obesity Program at Monash University in Victoria, Australia and editor-in-chief of the Endocrine Society’s flagship basic science journal Endocrinology (END), agrees that as an experienced editor, it’s pretty easy to spot to the “dodgy” papers, especially when those submitted papers have nothing to do with the journal.

“My concern is that they clog up the review process and lead to reviewer fatigue,” Andrews says. “It’s really important for handling editors to weed them out before review, but in my experience junior handling editors often feel unsure about what to do, so they err on the side of caution and give authors benefits of doubt – we have to weed them out before review.”

Stewart says that JCEM receives up to 4,000 submissions a year now, half of which are from China, and the editors are a small percentage of these. “There is a very large number of manuscripts that are at best of poor quality and at worse complete rubbish or fabricated,” he says. “And that’s a huge amount of work for staff.”

Stewart writes in his editorial that these low-quality submissions have led to the “reject without review rate” being unacceptably high, so editors have to focus more on “firefighting” than content strategy or journal enhancement.

Fire Prevention

Education is probably the most effective way to prevent fires, and Stewart says there are plenty of authentic researchers who are just misguided and don’t have a supportive research culture environment. “Hence our inclusion of more expert Chinese endocrinologists into editorial leadership roles ,” he says.

Then there are noninstitutional email accounts. Stewart says that of those 1,900 aforementioned manuscripts, possibly 50% are fraudulent. They come in from amorphous email accounts with no way of confirming the identity of the author. When the editors email them back requesting authenticity, radio silence. “The singular most important issue here,” Stewart says, “is to ensure an authentic email address for example one that tracks to a definite individual that is actually employed within an institution.”

And Stewart is careful in his editorial to note that requiring an institutional account might be unpopular in some countries where junior researchers or PhD students don’t have access to these types of official email accounts yet. “I get there may be those in transition between institutions or there may be those who say they are working in partnership with a university group but based in a hospital, where they may not have that email address,” Stewart says. “That’s easy; we can accommodate for this with the principal author on the paper confirming that this individual is who he/she claims to be ”

Stewart also says that the implementation of this email rule has already caught on with other journals.

Andrews says that END makes sure corresponding authors have an institutional email address and appropriate ethics documentation. He goes on to say that END put guidelines and policy around certain types of studies where it’s easy to generate data fast, like from publicly accessible databases where scientists place datasets, often mandated by funders to ensure transparency and promote open science. “While this is good practice and most scientists support this approach, it can lead to quick data generation without rationale, hypothesis to generate any data that can become a manuscript,” he says.

Any Data Can Become a Manuscript

Earlier this year, the Endocrine Society published a “Notice about Predatory Publishing” warning researchers about the deceptive practices of “journals” who will sure, publish your article about the association of serum rhubarb with thyroid function tests, but you’ll have to pay handsomely for it.

“We were getting to a stage where it was just getting ridiculous in terms of content: stuff coming in that just didn’t make sense biologically. I was getting 60 to 70 emails a week of submissions that were basically nonsensical.” — Paul M. Stewart, MD, FRCP, executive dean and professor at the University of Leeds School of Medicine in the United Kingdom; editor-in-chief, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

“Predatory journals or publishers cheat authors (and their funders and institutions) through charging publishing-related fees without providing the expected or industry standard services,” the statement reads.

And again, the pressure to publish that rhubarb study is enormous. It could mean a promotion, a better job. But it might not have to be that way. (Especially if you have to get cheated to publish it.) “Our training mantra was very much an inquiring mind and if you see something that doesn’t quite look right in the clinic and investigate why, or you advance a new clinical therapy or come up with a new concept, innovation or technology, this is where JCEM is here to support you in disseminating your research to others,” Stewart says. “That’s very different from sitting at a desk and in perhaps in a single day coming up with meaningless comparisons from an already published data set. For this reason, generally JCEM will no longer accept association studies in isolation without a strong mechanistic/ experimental base”. 

Bagley is the senior editor of Endocrine News. In the November issue, he wrote about the Endocrine Society’s recent Scientific Statement, “Challenges and Opportunities for Understanding the Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes.”

The post Quality Time: How Endocrine Society Journals Continue to Maintain the Highest Standards Possible appeared first on Endocrine News.

I’d like to recap some highlights from 2025!

Meetings: Making Connections Between Members and Ideas

Meetings lie at the heart of our mission as a society. Whether in person or virtual, meetings provide the perfect opportunities for learning, networking, mentoring, and advancing our overall profession.

Our meetings are all about making connections and finding your people.

Nowhere are these multiple goals more evident than at ENDO, which, this year, took place in the beautiful city of San Francisco.

More than 7,000 attendees gathered from around the world, July 12-15, to take in 200-plus educational sessions, three plenary sessions, 75-plus symposia sessions, 40-plus Meet the Professor sessions, four Master Clinician panels, and six Meet the Scientist sessions.

Our ever-expanding ENDOExpo hall hosted more than 2,500 scientific posters and was the site of many social and networking activities.

From the ENDO abstracts, we launched a video series featuring 17 authors discussing the latest research on obesity, diabetes, reproductive health, puberty, cancer, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The videos have racked up nearly 54,000 views on our Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channels as of mid-November. 

We all look forward now to ENDO 2026 in Chicago, June 13 – 16.

While ENDO is our biggest meeting each year, not to be overlooked are our third-quarter meetings.

Endocrine Review Board (EBR) 2025, held September 5 – 7, is considered the gold standard in preparing rising endocrinologists for the board examination. And Clinical Endocrinology Update (CEU) 2025, held October 23-25, offered sessions on the latest advancements in hormone care across nine topical tracks. Both meetings were widely attended and broadly praised by attendees.

Also in the realm of meetings are the Society’s highly popular Fellows programs.

The Type 1 Diabetes Fellows conference, July 10 – 11, is designed for endocrine fellows as they begin careers as practicing clinicians and diabetes experts. The in-person and online resources included educational and career development opportunities for building practical knowledge, skills, and a lasting network of colleagues.

The Obesity Fellows program, held September 19-20, included in-person educational and leadership programming at our headquarters in Washington, DC, as well as six on-demand lectures with related pre- and post-test questions covering foundational topics on obesity clinical practice.

Fostering Science and Sharing Research

This year, we also took steps to create a new series of meetings for our research members.

In September, we issued a call for proposals on what we call  “Science Summits.’These small meetings, of no more than 200 attendees, will serve the educational and collaborative needs of basic and clinical scientists.

Advocacy is another foundation of the Society. Well known on Capitol Hill, our advocacy staff and volunteer leaders have played a leading role in some of the biggest healthcare issues of the day, including insulin affordability and funding of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In today’s uncertain research environment, we recognize the need to provide forums where scientists can gather and discuss topics that advance endocrine and related knowledge.

Stay tuned for exciting information on these events.

The Society also remains focused on expanding opportunities for our research members to share their knowledge.

On July 9, we issued a Scientific Statementthat proposes research into the development of new and improved treatment options for people with type 1 diabetes.

Additionally, our suite of five scientific journals remains the top destination for scientists publishing research on hormone conditions and diseases. Together, the Society journals published roughly 1,700 articles in 2025.

To expand research opportunities, the Society’s publisher Oxford University Press (OUP) this year established Read and Publish agreements with hundreds of institutions worldwide that provide funding for Open Access publication.

And in August, the Society extended a benefit to Global Endocrine Leadership Coalition (GELC) member organizations, previously available only to Endocrine Society members, allowing individual members of GELC societies to incur no fees to publish under a standard license in Endocrinology, the Society’s flagship basic science journal.

We’ve also marked a milestone in our podcasts that focus on the latest clinical and research advances.  The Endocrine News Podcast marked its 100th episode and is well on its way to the next milestone. And our Endocrine Feedback Loop podcast passed its 65th episode talking to leading endocrine scientists about recent journal articles.

Guiding the Profession

Another area where the Society plays an indispensable role is in the issuing and updating of Clinical Practice Guidelines. In 2025, we updated two important CPGs.

“Preexisting Diabetes and Pregnancy: An Endocrine Society and European Society of Endocrinology Joint Clinical Practice Guideline,”published July 12, recommends that women with diabetes receive proper preconception care and access to emerging diabetes technology and therapeutics to manage their blood sugar before, during, and after pregnancy.

“Primary Aldosteronism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline,” published July 15, calls for more widespread screening of primary aldosteronism, which is known to cause high blood pressure. The CPG noted that an estimated 5% to 14% of people with high blood pressure, seen in primary care, and up to 30% of people, seen in referral centers, have primary aldosteronism.

Advocating for our Profession and Healthcare

Advocacy is another foundation of the Society. Well known on Capitol Hill, our advocacy staff and volunteer leaders have played a leading role in some of the biggest healthcare issues of the day, including insulin affordability and funding of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Here is a sampling of our 2025 advocacy activities:

• Endocrine Society and other associations express disappointment in Supreme Court decision on transgender care that increases the likelihood other states will limit or eliminate families’ and patients’ ability to access medical care. (June 18)
• Endocrine Society’s resolution to improve access to anti-obesity medications is passed by the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates. (June 10)
• Endocrine Society expresses concern over the Department of Health and Human Services’ major restructuring, which threatens scientific progress to drive the economy and improve public health. (March 28)
• Endocrine Society calls for restoration of Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study: The three decades of landmark research into type 2 diabetes prevention abruptly ended this month due to government funding cuts. (March 19)

Meanwhile, our advocacy efforts continue full steam ahead. Members are encouraged to lend their voices to ongoing campaigns on our Take Action page. These include:

• Urging Congress to Immediately Pass Long-Term Telehealth Fix
• Urging Congress Members to Cosponsor the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act
• Urging Congress to Reopen the Government and Protect Funding for NIH in FY 2026
• Telling Congress How Cutting Federal Funding Has Affected Your Work

Learn about these and many other advocacy and policy efforts.

Our voice also is being heard in the media. This year, we secured nearly 10 thousand articles about the Society and research from our journals in health and science news outlets. Top media outlets included NBC, TODAY.com, CNN, HealthDay, and New Scientist.

Growing the Profession

Ensuring a healthy pipeline of new endocrine clinicians and researchers is another key focus of our Society.

Founded in 2024, the Society’s Medical School Engagement Program (MSEP) aims to encourage greater interest among medical students in endocrinology. This year, 11 U.S. universities joined the initial 10 MSEP institutions. The 2025 cohort includes some of the largest and most prestigious schools in the United States.

Other Society initiatives to expand the field of endocrinology also remain extremely popular.

The Early Career Forum once again attracted nearly 120 students, fellows, and residents to participate in the July 11 in-person workshop, which offered career guidance and training from established endocrine professionals.

The ExCEL program drew a maximum of 14 early-career physicians in medicine and science to the April 2-4 workshop in Washington, DC. Sessions addressed topics from financial management and business matters to team building and communicating across settings. 

The FLARE program attracted a maximum of 25 graduate students, postdoctoral and clinical fellows, and junior faculty to an in-person workshop, March 13-15 in San Diego, California. The program teaches the “business of research” and the leadership skills needed to establish successful research careers.

The Research Experiences for Graduate and Medical Students (REGMS) program, held for eight weeks over July and August 2025, offered a maximum of 14 first-to-third-year medical or graduate students to take part in a comprehensive endocrine research experience. Participants engaged in collaborative lab work, received expert mentorship, built professional networks, and enhanced their professional skills through year-round activities.

Boosting Membership Engagement

Last, but certainly not least, the Society exists to boost you, the member. I’m proud to point out several important efforts this year that helped members advance their careers.

Among them is our expanding list of Special Interest Groups (SIGs). In September, we launched our latest one, the Women’s Health SIG.

This SIG joins our Adrenal and Pituitary SIG, Bone & Mineral SIG, Early Career SIG, Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals SIG, Endocrine Cancers SIG, Entrepreneurship SIG, Neuroendocrinology SIG, Obesity SIG, Oncoendocrinology SIG, and Transgender Research and Medicine SIG.

Collectively, the SIGs have held dozens of webinars on their specific topics. These events allow members to actively engage with like-minded colleagues, and to expand their knowledge and networks.

To better foster such dialogue among SIG members and others, we recently moved our EndoForum online community to a more user-friendly platform called Hivebrite. Here you can connect instantly with peers across the globe, engage in meaningful discussions, and exchange insights that elevate your work.

As always, this is just a taste of the many things our Society does for members and the field. I look forward to an exciting 2026!

The post Taking Stock of 2025: Highlights appeared first on Endocrine News.

For more than a decade, Endocrine News talks to editors from Endocrine Society publications to unearth the top endocrine discoveries of the past year. These studies, as selected by Endocrine Society journal editors-in-chief as well as deputy editors, represent what they consider the top endocrinology studies published in 2025.

This year’s selections span the breadth of endocrinology, from advances in treating endocrine tumors to groundbreaking insights into the hypothalamus’s role in metabolic regulation to addressing critical issues in diabetes care (and so much more), while also confronting urgent questions of health equity. These discoveries collectively promise to revolutionize patient care through more precise, personalized treatment strategies and to deepen our understanding of the endocrine system’s molecular intricacies and its far-reaching effects on human health. Add to these the spotlight on the real-world challenges of delivering equitable, effective care, and these advances will ultimately leading to better outcomes across a broad spectrum of endocrine disorders.

From the Editor of Endocrine Reviews

Endocrine Reviews Editor-in-Chief Ashley Grossman, FMedSci, emeritus professor of endocrinology, University of Oxford; senior research fellow, Green Templeton College; consultant NET endocrinologist, Royal Free London; professor of neuroendocrinology, Barts and the London School of Medicine; and consultant endocrinologist at the London Clinic Centre for Endocrinology, in the UK, chose six Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism papers that concern somatotroph tumors causing acromegaly, medullary thyroid carcinoma, and parathyroid carcinoma, as endocrine tumors are his specialty.

“In terms of acromegaly, the most fascinating data come from an explanation of the paradoxical biochemical response in some patients with acromegaly, a rise in serum growth hormone (GH) rather than a fall in response to a glucose challenge,” Grossman says. In healthy people, GH falls to very low levels after a glucose tolerance test, but in most patients with acromegaly only a partial fall occurs. As Mette H. Jensen and colleagues show in “GIP receptor antagonism eliminates paradoxical growth hormone secretion in some patients with acromegaly,” published in February, however, the serum GH actually rises in a subset of patients with acromegaly due to the ectopic expression of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors. In other words, explains Grossman, “in four out of seven of these patients, the paradoxical response was abolished by GIP receptor blockade.”

A second paper, “The preoperative GH response to oral glucose load predicts a low risk of recurrence in acromegaly,” by Marco Losa, et al. and published in April, also looks at the paradoxical response. “Losa and colleagues have now shown that where this paradoxical response is seen, in approximately a third of patients, recurrence after surgery is very infrequent compared to patients not showing the paradoxical response,” Grossman says. “This suggests that such tumors are a distinct biological subgroup, and future research should explore the specific molecular characterization of these tumors.”

Two additional papers look at the pharmacologic aspect of treating acromegaly. Explains Grossman: “In terms of medical therapy, the mainstay of treatment for acromegaly has for long been somatostatin analogues, octreotide LAR, and lanreotide autogel, given by monthly injection. A new long-acting analogue based on liquid crystal technology, CAM2029, was shown by Diego Ferone and coauthors to be highly effective, and indicating that self- or partner-injection can be used, as for lanreotide autogel.” That study, “Octreotide subcutaneous depot for acromegaly: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial, ACROINNOVA 1” published in May.

“But a more innovative approach has been the use of oral octreotide,” Grossman continues. “This has been developed as a formulation with a transepithelial enhancer, but paltusotine is a non-octreotide molecule effective as once-daily administration, taken first thing in the morning before breakfast, similar to thyroxine dosing.” This latter paper is “Acromegaly disease control maintained after switching from injected somatostatin receptor ligands to oral paltusotine” and published in December 2024, by Mônica R. Gadelha and colleagues. “These exciting developments should offer patients more choice,” Grossman says.

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare tumor developing from thyroid C cells, not infrequently associated with a germline mutation of the RET oncogene in multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN)2, MEN3, and familial MTC. Asks Grossman: “While surgery is all-important, many metastatic tumors can be indolent over many years; if progressive, tyrosine kinase inhibitors — especially the highly RET-selective selpercatinib and pralsetinib — can be very effective. But ‘how progressive is progressive’? When should we be more active in therapy?” He found some of the answers he was looking for in “Tumor volume doubling time of less than 1 year is associated with a higher risk of death from medullary thyroid cancer,” by Noha Behairy, et al. from June. This study of 51 patients showed that three baseline and three follow-up scans calculate tumor doubling-time accurately, with a one-year doubling time predicting increased mortality, and genetic cases showing less progression. “Calcitonin can be a surrogate marker but is less sensitive (albeit more convenient). This should help plan the need for interventions more accurately,” Grossman says.

Grossman’s final choice is “A comparative genomic analysis of parathyroid adenomas and carcinomas harboring heterozygous germline CDC73 mutations,” by Yulong Li, William F. Simonds, and Haobin Chen from January. “Parathyroid carcinoma is rare but especially occurs in parathyroid-jaw tumor syndrome, with a germline mutation of CDC73, but with very incomplete penetrance for either a parathyroid adenoma or a carcinoma,” Grossman explains. “Now, in a group of 12 tumors, the authors show that both adenomas and carcinomas in this syndrome show biallelic loss or mutation of CDC73, with the carcinomas showing other molecular aberrations; this complete loss of CDC73 activity is a necessary but not sufficient cause for parathyroid carcinoma in these patients, but with other changes leading to a cancer phenotype.”

From the Deputy Editor of Endocrine Reviews

E. Dale Abel, MD, PhD, William S. Adams Distinguished Professor of Medicine and chair and executive medical director of the Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine and UCLA Health in Los Angeles, chose five papers that spotlight the incredibly complex role of the hypothalamus. “The hypothalamus represents a small area at the base of the brain that plays an outsized role in endocrine regulation and homeostasis,” he says. “It represents a node for the integration of many systemic and neural signals that regulate appetite and feeding behavior.

Starting with one from Endocrine Reviews from May 2024 by Hoong-Wei Gan, Manuela Cerbone, and Mehul Tulsidas Dattani, “Appetite- and Weight-Regulating Neuroendocrine Circuitry in Hypothalamic Obesity,” says Abel, “provided a comprehensive overview of the complex interacting pathways by which the hypothalamus receives numerous peripheral hormonal signals from the gut and adipose tissue, such as leptin, ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1), and others and integrate these to regulate feeding behavior, energy expenditure, and body weight. The review is timely, as a number of primary reports shed exciting new insights into the role of the hypothalamus in regulating novel aspects of metabolic homeostasis including fatty liver disease.”

Abel’s next paper, “Obesity disrupts the pituitary-hepatic UPR communication leading to NAFLD progression,” homes in on this mechanism. Published in Cell Metabolism in July 2024 and written by Qingwen Qian and colleagues, it “described a novel mechanism by which activation of the integrated stress response pathway, known as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, in the hypothalamus is induced by obesity-related inflammation,” Abel says. “Importantly this phenomenon contributed to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NFLD) via mechanisms involving the hypothalamic and pituitary regulation of thyroid hormone. This work is also significant in light of recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the thyroid hormone beta agonist resmetirom, for the treatment of fatty liver disease” (see Thyroid hormone receptor-β analogues for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis [MASH],” published in February 2020 in the Journal of Hepatology by Vlad Ratziu, Thomas S. Scanlan, and Eveline Bruinstroop).

“Finally,” Abel continues, “two landmark trials of GLP1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. GLP-1 acts in part via hypothalamic pathways to regulate food intake, energy intake, gut motility, and body weight.” A.J. Sanyal, et al.’s “Phase 3 Trial of Semaglutide in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis” from June, “indicated significant efficacy of the GLP1-RA semaglutide in treating fatty liver disease, where it led to resolution of steatohepatitis without worsening of fibrosis in 63% of treated participants relative to 34% in the placebo group.”

“The second trial demonstrated a dramatic effect of tirzepatide, a dual GIP and GLP-1RA, revealing a 10-fold reduction in the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes, relative to placebo, in individuals with obesity who were treated with tirzepatide,” Abel says. “Tirzepatide for Obesity Treatment and Diabetes Prevention” was published in March by Ania M. Jastreboff and colleagues.

“Hormones and therapeutics that act in part via the hypothalamus have made tremendous waves in the past year, underscoring the importance of endocrine regulation in the pathophysiology and treatment of prevalent metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease,” Abel concludes.

From the Editor of Endocrinology

Editor-in-Chief Zane B. Andrews, PhD, from the Department of Physiology at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and deputy head of the Metabolism, Diabetes, and Obesity Program at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute selected five main papers from Endocrinology.

First up is “Role of Serotonin on Gene Expression and Physiology in Human Cytotrophoblasts and Placenta,” from Nolwenn S. Morris and coauthors from September. “Serotonin is usually associated with the control of mood in the brain, but in this study maternal serotonin promoted placental and fetal development,” Andrews says.

Andrews also especially liked Mai Otsuka, et al.’s paper “Neuromedin U Deficiency Disrupts Daily Testosterone Fluctuation and Reduces Wheel-Running Activity in Rats” from the August issue. Says Andrews: “Neuromedin U (NMU) has a role in energy metabolism; in this study, the authors show a novel function for NMU to enhance exercise (running wheel activity) via testosterone.”

“Tenascin-C Potentiates Wnt Signaling in Thyroid Cancer,” from Heather A. Hartmann and colleagues in March made Andrews’ list because is showed that the secreted extracellular matrix protein tenascin-C (TNC) increased tumor burden in a model of thyroid cancer. “This discovery could help identify novel biomarkers and new therapies,” he says.

From Ji Soo Yoon, Daniel Gamu, William T. Gibson, and Francis C, Lynn comes “NPAS4 Depletion in POMC Neurons Protects From Obesity and Alters the Feeding-regulated Transcriptome in Male Mice” published in July. Andrews says, “Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons reduce appetite and increase energy expenditure, and POMC gene deletion causes obesity in humans and animal models. This study identified a molecular target that is required to efficiently activate POMC neurons and control appetite.”

Finally, from May, “Lipotoxicity Induces β-cell Small Extracellular Vesicle–Mediated β-cell Dysfunction in Male Mice,” is by Abhishek Roy, et al. “The study shows that lipotoxicity, commonly linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes, increases the release to small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) causing impaired function of pancreatic insulin–producing cells and exacerbating type 2 diabetes. These findings highlight potential avenues for therapeutic interventions targeting sEV-mediated pathways to preserve β-cell health in metabolic disorders,” Andrews says.

From the Deputy Editor of Endocrinology

Gail S. Prins, PhD, the Michael Reese Endowed Professor in the Departments of Urology, Physiology and Biophysics, and Pathology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) as well as co-director of the Prostate Cancer Research Program at the UIC Cancer Center reviewed  several top candidate papers, settling on two from her journal. “Polychlorinated Biphenyls Alter Estrogen Receptor β-mediated Epigenetic Regulation, Promoting Endometriosis,” by Yuri Park et al. just published in November, and “Mice Lacking the Fructose Transporter Glut5 Exhibit Excessive Androgens and Reduced Sperm Motility,” by Aikaterini Kallianioti et al. published in February.

From the Editor of the Journal of the Endocrine Society

For Journal of the Endocrine Society Editor-in-Chief Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, PhD, associate professor of nutrition; Sylvia D. Stroup Scholar at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, “Direct sensing of dietary ω-6 linoleic acid through FABP5-mTORC1 signaling” was a favorite. This paper from Science by Nikos Koundouros and colleagues published in March. “The team uncovered a mechanism that is directly linking dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids to breast cancer progression,” Madak-Erdogan says. “The study presents major implications for personalized nutrition in cancer treatment.”

From the Deputy Editor of Journal of the Endocrine Society

Stephen R. Hammes, MD, PhD, Louis S. Wolk Distinguished Professor of Medicine; chief, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism; and executive vice chair, Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in NY, chose two papers from JES.

“Determining Insulin Pump Candidacy: The Disconnect Between Clinical Care Guidelines and Clinical Practice,” by Estelle Everett, et al. from July, earned his appreciation for demonstrating that the clinical care guidelines for insulin pump candidacy do not always align with the reality of clinical practice. The authors surveyed 299 endocrinologists about how they determine who will get an insulin pump and whether they were aware of the current guidelines. About half of the respondents were aware of the guidelines but not following them, instead relying on their own judgment. “I think this article points out two things,” Hammes says. “First, that a large percentage of physicians are not using the guidelines to make their decisions despite knowing about them, suggesting that we need to do a better job of educating diabetologists regarding the guidelines. However, to me, this also points out that perhaps the guidelines are not based on reality — meaning, it may not be so easy in the real world of insurance issues, unequal social determinants of health, education, etc., to follow these ‘ideal’ guidelines.”

Hammes’ second choice is “The Association of Bone-related Biomarkers With Incident Hip Fracture: A Nested Case-control Study,” by Sara J. Cromer, Elaine W. Yu, Elisabetta Patorno, Gary C. Curhan, and Julie M. Paik from September. “Here the authors look at bone turnover markers as an independent predictor of fracture risk. This seems simple enough, but some people are still measuring bone turnover markers in untreated people with osteoporosis to determine whether to treat,” Hammes explains. “In fact, this article confirms what most bone experts already knew — checking them is not necessary and should not be part of the decision-making process of whether to treat or not.”

From the Editor of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

Editor-in-Chief of JCEM, Paul M. Stewart, MD, FRCP, FMedSci, executive dean and professor at the University of Leeds School of Medicine in the United Kingdom, selected three papers from JCEM, which as he pointed out, was not an easy task given that JCEM publishes more than 500 articles a year. But, using altimetrics, he narrowed down that vast pool to focus on publications that have generated the most interest and attention.

“Adrenalectomy Reduces the Risk of Vertebral Fractures in Patients With Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion,” by Valentina Morelli and coauthors published in April and comprises two separate studies. Stewart says: “Firstly, a retrospective analysis of 53 patients with adrenal incidentaloma in the setting of hypercortisolism that failed to suppress to below 1.8 µg/dL following a 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (note I am deliberately avoiding the term ‘mild autonomous cortisol secretion’ or MACS): 31 patients received surgery, 22 did not and were followed conservatively. Secondly a more robust (albeit small study) prospectively randomized patients to either adrenalectomy (n=21) or conservative treatment (n=28). In both studies, bone mineral density (BMD) didn’t really change across treated and conservative groups, but there were significant reductions in the incidence of new vertebral fractures in surgically treated groups in both studies.” He further notes that the diagnosis and management of these patients remains challenging: “more so the unresolved issue of whether dysregulated cortisol secretion plays any pathogenetic role in what could easily be age-related comorbidities. These data are tantalizing, but larger prospective randomized studies powered to provide data on markers of bone formation/resorption and BMD are required.”

From April, “Characterizing Disparities in Access to Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas: A National Cancer Database Analysis,” by Miguel Angel Jimenez, et al., likewise garnered a lot of attention and represents a call to action. “One of the most shameful facts we all face as clinicians is the unacceptable disparity in health outcomes of our patients,” Stewart says. “Studies from the UK have shown life expectancy gaps of up to 19 years between patients from the most and least deprived areas. Social determinants of health, systematic and unconscious bias, and healthcare access are all underpinning factors and tough obstacles to overcome. Endocrinology is not spared, and in this thorough analysis of access of 58,000 patients with pituitary adenomas to surgery in centers of excellence in the U.S., the same racial and socioeconomic outcome data emerge, with significantly worse outcomes in Black and Hispanic patients and in those of lower socioeconomic groups. Some of these determinants are hard to crack and perhaps beyond the control of the practicing endocrinologist. But it is within our power to abolish any racial bias in our own practices,” he concludes.

Finally, from Richard C. Frank, et al. and published in May, comes “Pancreatic Cancer Screening in New-onset and Deteriorating Diabetes: Preliminary Results From the PANDOME Study.” “The majority of endocrinologists will be well aware of the link between pancreatic cancer and new onset diabetes mellitus,” Stewart says. “Cancer rates are six- to eight-fold higher in patients with new-onset diabetes (NOD). This elegant study — reported as early outcomes of the PAncreatic cancer screening in New-onset and DeteriOrating diabetes MEllitus (PANDOME) study — details the follow-up of the first 109 enrolled patients (all over 50 years of age) with either NOD or deteriorating diabetes control. Although numbers are small, pancreatic cancer was detected in one patient with deteriorating diabetes with suspicions findings in three others. The study will run its course, but endocrinologists should be vigilant and have a low threshold for referring patients with deteriorating diabetes for further pancreatic cancer screening.”

From the Deputy Editors of JCEM

Raghu G. Mirmira, MD, PhD, professor of medicine; vice chair for research director, Translational Research Center at the University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill., likewise highlights three JCEM papers that caught his eye.

“Obesity Is Associated with Hyperandrogenemia in a Nationally Representative Sample of US Girls Aged 6 to 18 Years” from May, written by Su Hee Kim and colleagues, used nationally representative U.S. data to show that girls with obesity have consistently higher free testosterone levels across childhood and adolescence compared with healthy-weight peers. “The relationship was independent of age, puberty, and race, suggesting an intrinsic endocrine effect of obesity rather than developmental confounding,” Mirmira says. “These findings are important because they demonstrate that androgen excess begins early in life in the context of obesity, establishing a potential mechanistic link to later reproductive and metabolic disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome. The work is impactful in reframing pediatric obesity as not only a metabolic but also an endocrine condition that alters the hormonal milieu well before adulthood, highlighting a window for early detection and preventive strategies,” he concludes.

“Effect of Time-Restricted Eating on β-Cell Function in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes” from May evaluated the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) on metabolic function in 39 adults with early type 2 diabetes. Coauthors Caroline Kaercher Kramer, Bernard Zinman, Denice S. Feig, and Ravi Retnakaran found that TRE led to a 14% improvement in β-cell function and a 14% reduction in hepatic insulin resistance over six weeks, compared with a standard lifestyle.  Participants also experienced a modest HbA1c reduction (−0.32%) and decreases in body weight (−3.9%) and waist circumference (−3.8 cm), despite similar fasting glucose levels. “These results indicate that adjusting meal timing alone can meaningfully enhance both insulin secretory capacity and insulin sensitivity in early diabetes,” Mirmira says. “The findings are impactful because they suggest that circadian alignment through TRE may restore β-cell responsiveness and metabolic efficiency independent of medication.”

Mirmira’s third pick, “Genetic Risk and Transition Through Preclinical Stages of Type 1 Diabetes,” from July, “demonstrates that genetic risk continues to shape disease progression even after autoimmunity has begun in type 1 diabetes.” Using a large TrialNet cohort, Andrea K. Steck, et al. showed that individuals with higher composite genetic risk scores, especially those carrying HLA class II and DR4 haplotypes, were more likely to progress through successive preclinical stages toward overt diabetes. “The findings are important,” Mirmira says, “because they move beyond simple disease susceptibility to define how genetics influences disease tempo.  This has potential impacts for precision prevention — allowing clinicians and researchers to stratify at-risk individuals not only by likelihood of disease but by the expected rate of progression, which could guide enrollment and timing in prevention trials and inform personalized surveillance strategies.”

Elizabeth N. Pearce MD, MSc, Boston University School of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, in Mass., also selected three JCEM papers, two on thyroid dysfunction (her specialty area) and a third on bone with the highest altimetric score.

Pearce selected “Effects of low-dose methotrexate with methimazole in patients with Graves’ disease: results of a randomized clinical trial” from July 2024 by Pu Xie and colleagues because it potentially simplifies the treatment for Graves disease. “In this clinical trial, 144 patients with newly diagnosed Graves’ hyperthyroidism were randomized to treatment with methimazole alone vs. methimazole in combination with methotrexate 10 mg weekly. The methotrexate-treated group had a more rapid decline in thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody titers and were more likely to be able to discontinue methimazole treatment at 12 to 18 months. There were no methotrexate-associated serious adverse events. This was limited by a small sample size, short duration of follow-up, and a lack of blinding. However, this is novel and I think warrants a larger trial to see if this result can be replicated. Although there are multiple targeted Graves’ drugs currently in the pipeline, methotrexate is inexpensive and already available,” she notes.

“Treatment Preferences in Patients With Hypothyroidism,” from February, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), earned her nod by comparing the three available thyroid treatments for adults with hypothyroidism (levothyroxine alone, LT3/LT4 combination therapy, and desiccated thyroid extract). “Fabyan Esberard de Lima Beltrão and coauthors found that patients with hypothyroidism preferred combination therapy (LT3/LT4 or desiccated thyroid) over levothyroxine monotherapy by a considerable margin (52% compared to 24%),” Pearce says. “The reason for this is not entirely clear, but these data suggest that it may be reasonable to offer a therapeutic trial of combination therapy in patients who feel unwell on levothyroxine alone. An ongoing RCT being conducted in the Netherlands aims to more definitively evaluate whether combination therapy improves fatigue in those who feel unwell on levothyroxine monotherapy, but results from this trial are not anticipated for several years.”

Lastly, “Efficacy and Safety of TransCon PTH in Adults With Hypoparathyroidism: 52-Week Results From the Phase 3 PaTHway Trial,” by Bart L. Clarke, et al. from April, was a phase 3, multicenter RCT assessing the effects of palopegteriparatide (TransCon PTH) versus placebo extension in 78 adults with hypoparathyroidism. Says Pearce: “Results of a 26-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled period had previously been reported; this paper described results of an open-label extension at week 52. At week 52, 81% of subjects met a composite efficacy endpoint, 95% were able to stop conventional therapy, and none required active vitamin D. In addition, there were appropriate decreases in bone densitometry and 24-hour calcium excretion and improved quality of life. Longer-term study will still be needed and is planned.”

From the Editor of JCEM Case Reports

William F. Young, Jr., MD, MSc, professor of medicine in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minn., chose five papers from JCEM Case Reports.

In “Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation After Incomplete Adrenalectomy in a Lateralized Case of Primary Aldosteronism,” from October, “Pierre-Antonin Rigon and colleagues remind all clinicians that complete unilateral adrenalectomy is mandatory to a successful operation in patients with primary aldosteronism,” Young explains. “They also show that when an incomplete unilateral adrenalectomy is performed, there still may be an opportunity for cure with CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation.”

In “Successful Surgical Removal of GH-secreting Adenoma in Early Childhood: Long-term Follow-up into Adulthood,” also from October, “Baha M. Arafah reports on a remarkable case of successful resection of a GH-secreting adenoma in a prepubertal female with detailed clinical and biochemical data documenting partial GH deficiency postoperatively along with height and bone age measurements throughout adolescence and into adulthood,” Young says. “Arafah highlights that his case raised questions about the conundrum of the therapeutic use of GH in children who develop isolated partial deficiency of the hormone after successful treatment of gigantism.”

From August, “Unanticipated Adverse Events With Tirzepatide: Three Cases Underscoring the Importance of Postmarketing Monitoring” by Maria Colorado, Jose Gomez Miranda, and Carlos E. Arias-Morales, leaves no one guessing. Says Young: “Colorado and colleagues remind us of the importance of reporting on medication-related side effects of endocrine medications following FDA approval. They report on tirzepatide, a novel dual GIP/GLP-1RA, that was associated with palpitations, musculoskeletal pain, and headaches.”

“Gebeyaw Addis Bezie and colleagues caution that thyroid storm can be precipitated by thyroid fine-needle aspiration FNA),” Young says. “They advise that clinicians should exercise caution when performing FNA in patients with thyrotoxicosis.” “Thyroid Storm Precipitated by Fine-needle Aspiration” published in August.

Young’s last pick was “Functional Suppression of a Prolactinoma by a Dopamine-Secreting Paraganglioma,” from April. “Fox and colleagues report the endogenous treatment of a prolactin (PRL)-secreting tumor by a dopamine (DA)-secreting paraganglioma (PGL) in a 52-year-old man who presented with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea and was found to have an invasive, 4.2-cm pituitary mass with mild hyperprolactinemia,” he explains. “Additional imaging discovered a mediastinal mass suspicious for a thoracic PGL. Biochemical screening demonstrated marked elevation of plasma and urinary DA. Following PGL resection, DA levels normalized, but PRL rose seven-fold, suggesting an endogenous dopamine agonist–like effect from the PGL to suppress pituitary PRL hypersecretion.”

From the Deputy Editor of JCEM Case Reports

Adina Turcu, MD, MS, assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, takes this chance to promote the “Primary Aldosteronism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline,” published in August, which presents a major shift towards universal screening in all patients with hypertension. “Primary aldosteronism (PA) has been in the spotlight across all Endocrine Society journals in 2025,” Turcu says. “In previous years, mounting evidence has shifted the paradigm of a long-presumed rare disease to the most common cause of endocrine hypertension and established PA as an independent risk for cardiovascular morbidity. These major background developments have propelled Gail K. Adler et al. to recommend PA screening in all individuals with hypertension, encouraging personalized treatment of hypertension in early stages.”

Turcu then turns her focus to how case reports/case series can teach valuable lessons that spark future studies. “A series of exciting new therapies for adrenal disorders have emerged in recent years,” she says, “and these medications are increasingly used in clinical practice. For example, separate publications in JCEM and JCEM Case Reports indicate that osilodrostat, an 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) inhibitor approved for treating Cushing syndrome, has the potential to cause prolonged adrenal insufficiency and adrenal gland shrinkage. In most cases, treating adrenal insufficiency is much simpler than treating hypercortisolism.”

“Osilodrostat-associated Adrenal Gland Shrinkage: A Case Series of Patients With ACTH-dependent Cushing’s Syndrome,” by Elena V. Varlamov, Brian J. Park, and Maria Fleseriu, published in the October issue of JCEM, and “Prolonged Adrenal Insufficiency After Failed Cryoablation and Osilodrostat for Cushing Syndrome in Nodular Adrenal Disease,” by Colleen Veloski, Amanda Sturgeon, and Julie Hallanger Johnson, published in JCEM Case Reports in June. “Signals emerging from such case reports are likely to spark future, large-scale clinical studies and mechanistic research, investigating a potential medical cure of Cushing syndrome,” Turcu says.

Horvath is a freelance writer based in Baltimore, Md. This is her ELEVENTH outing as the author of the annual Eureka! feature for Endocrine News.

The post EUREKA! The Top Endocrine Science of 2025 appeared first on Endocrine News.

In sunny San Diego, Calif., where the ocean beckons nearly year-round, Christopher Glass, MD, PhD, starts his day with a morning swim, a ritual he says helps him “clear his brain” before heading into the lab. A former competitive swimmer, Glass credits the discipline and stamina from years in the pool with shaping his approach to research.

At the Glass Laboratory, he investigates how nuclear hormone receptors and other signal-dependent transcription factors control macrophages — immune cells that play critical roles in health and disease. His work has revealed new insights into how these cells develop and function, offering implications for nearly every chronic disease.

Glass’ contributions have earned his place among the Endocrine Society’s 12 distinguished leaders in endocrinology, as recipient of the 2026 Edwin B. Astwood Award for Outstanding Research in Basic Science. He is a professor of cellular and molecular medicine and professor of medicine at the University of California San Diego in San Diego. We asked about his path to macrophage research as well as the advice he shares with the young postdocs on his team.

Endocrine News: The award is named after Dr. Edwin Astwood who is known for his contributions to the treatment of hypothyroidism. What did hearing the news of the award mean to you?

Glass: This award has gone to many of the all-stars of basic science and endocrinology over the years, so being included in that group was really thrilling. Getting the phone call that I had been awarded this honor just put a spring in my step. Especially now when there’s so much bad news, having some incredibly good news come along was really rejuvenating.

EN: Do you recall when you first realized that science would be your career?

Glass: It was a bit of a process, really. I was an undergrad biophysics major at UC Berkeley with a long-term interest in being a physician. I went from being an undergraduate at Cal to UC San Diego to start medical school with the idea of being a physician, but I was also attracted to UC San Diego as a very young medical school that put the science of medicine as one of its core principles. And so, it was really that transition into the UCSD environment and getting connected with some mentors very early on who were great physician-scientists who pointed me in the direction of doing biomedical research.

“The research on the steroid hormone receptors indicated that they were actually inside the cell, and they were transcription factors that were regulated by the hormones. And I was just sort of knocked over by that. It was the very beginning of a new field of molecular endocrinology…” — Christopher Glass, MD, PhD, professor of cellular and molecular medicine, professor of medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, Calif.

And to make a long story, short, even though I went to UC San Diego as a straight medical student, my experiences there with the faculty led me to enroll in the MD-PhD program and what I worked on as a graduate student was lipoprotein metabolism. And then I finished my clinical training and was launched as a physician-scientist.

EN: How did exploring macrophages become your life’s work?

Glass: So that also was not a completely linear path. As I mentioned, I worked on lipoproteins when I was a graduate student, and at that time, some of the major discoveries that had to do with cholesterol metabolism were being made by the labs of Brown and Goldstein at University of Texas Southwestern. They had worked out what we call the LDL receptor pathway and that’s the pathway that is targeted by statins, which are the most common form of medicines used to lower cholesterol levels. We knew from their studies and others that macrophages were very important in cardiovascular disease, and that it’s the macrophage within the arterial wall that is the cell that accumulates cholesterol and begins the process of atherosclerosis that then leads to cardiovascular disease. There were people in the lab where I was working on that, so that relationship was embedded in my mind.

When I later left UCSD to do my internship and residency, I went to the Brigham and Women’s Hospital with the idea that I would be a cardiologist, and that I would study lipids and cardiovascular disease. It was while I was in Boston that some major discoveries related to regulation of gene expression were made. And some of the first discoveries that related to the steroid hormone receptors were made that indicated that steroid receptors were not like other classes of receptors that were well known at the time, like insulin receptors, which are on the cell surface. The research on the steroid hormone receptors indicated that they were actually inside the cell, and they were transcription factors that were regulated by the hormones. And I was just sort of knocked over by that. It was the very beginning of a new field of molecular endocrinology, so in mid-stride at Boston, I changed my career focus from being a cardiologist to be to becoming an endocrinologist…And with that new perspective of my career path, I looked for researchers who I could do a post-doc with and learn about how hormones regulate gene expression through this class of proteins. I ended up back here at UCSD working with Geoff Rosenfeld. He was then and still is one of the leading investigators in studying hormone-dependent gene expression.

So now, I thought how can I put those two things together in a new way that would allow me to make a significant impact on research going forward? And that’s when I remembered macrophages. No one knew how they were regulated at the level of gene expression, so when I started my laboratory, it was really to understand the molecular mechanisms that controlled macrophage development and function. And the initial emphasis was on studying roles of macrophages in cardiovascular disease, and to study the genes that enabled macrophages to take up cholesterol particles in the arterial wall that would lead to cardiovascular disease. So, that’s it in a nutshell.

EN: How has the Endocrine Society played a role in your career?

Glass: I’ve been a long-standing member of The Endocrine Society since I’ve been a postdoc, so that’s a long time. I’ve had a consistent thread of activity with The Endocrine Society. Most recently, I was a member of the Laureate Awards Committee, and I actually chaired that committee for a year. That’s probably my most significant service to the Society. But you know, between The Endocrine Society and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, those have been pillars of my professional career.

EN: Your Glass Laboratory boasts a great diverse team including postdocs, undergraduates, and a mathematician. Is there a core methodology or life lessons that you offer your team?

Glass: What I tell postdocs who are thinking about heading off on their own, and setting up their new laboratory, is they have to find the intersection between three different facets of biomedical science.

The first facet is they need to latch on to some problem that they’re absolutely passionate about and they must solve it. So, given that there are lots of those types of problems that you could become passionate about solving, then the next thing that you have to do is figure out which of those problems intersect a significant unmet medical need. And so, if you can do that, then all of a sudden the significance of whatever that problem is that you’re working on goes way up. That’s the second piece of advice. And then the third factor is that it has to be fundable. You cannot do science without money, and it costs more than ever to push our boundaries of knowledge to the next level. So, that’s the third essential pillar of the three pillars.

To the extent that I can help my post-docs shape their vision and let them leave the lab and hit the ground running, that’s one of my goals, as well.

“You cannot do science without money, and it costs more than ever to push our boundaries of knowledge to the next level.” — Christopher Glass, MD, PhD, professor of cellular and molecular medicine, professor of medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, Calif.

EN: When you’re not in the lab what’s your favorite pastime to unwind?

Glass: One of the things that I do, almost every day, before I come in to work, is I swim. I was a competitive swimmer in college and high school, and I’ve just continued to love swimming as a form of exercise. But what’s great about San Diego is that not only can I swim in the pool, which I do frequently in the winter, but in the spring, summer, and fall, the ocean warms up, and I can swim in the ocean. This is one of the few places in the world where you can go for a swim in the ocean and be in your office by 8:30. So for me, that’s been the way I stay fit and active, and it clears my brain, so that when I get into the office, I’m absolutely awake and ready to go.

The Endocrine Society will present Glass with the Outstanding Research in Basic Science Award at ENDO 2026 being held June 13-16, in Chicago, Ill.

—Shaw is a freelance writer based in Carmel, Ind., and a regular contributor to Endocrine News. She writes the monthly Laboratory Notes column.

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With both her parents working as scientists in the United States Army, it was only natural for Zari McCullers to go into the “family business” when she got the chance. She discusses her career path, how she became focused on the science of addiction, and how making music keeps her grounded when she’s not making science.

Never one to back down from a challenge, Zari McCullers picked up the 100-pound marimba as her instrument of choice back in ninth grade. These days, she’s traded it for the “lighter” harp —and when she’s not in the lab, you can often find her making music.

Now a biomedical sciences PhD candidate in the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics at Penn State College of Medicine, McCullers works under the mentorship of Yuval Silberman, PhD. Her research explores sex differences in diet- and alcohol-induced binge behaviors in mice, focusing on the neuroimmune and neuroendocrine mechanisms that drive these interactions. Since binge eating and binge drinking often co-occur, her work aims to uncover the shared brain pathways that may explain how, and why, these behaviors develop.

McCullers earned her Bachelor of Science from Towson University in Baltimore before completing the NIH PREP Scholar Program at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. A chance encounter with the Endocrine Society booth at a neuroscience convention sparked her interest in becoming a member— connecting her scientific pursuits with a long-standing fascination for endocrinology. She is currently a Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellow, representing the Endocrine Society and the American Society for Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology.

Endocrine News caught up with McCullers to discuss her journey to Penn State, her passion for neuroscience, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

Endocrine News: What inspired you to pursue a career in research science?

Zari McCullers: I decided to pursue STEM because first, both of my parents were scientists in the United States Army, based at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. Having family members who were in STEM was inspirational and a driving force in me deciding to choose life sciences in college. Even then, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career, and I really didn’t understand what research was until I did a summer research internship at Alabama A&M University in environmental science. I absolutely loved doing research and being able to contribute to knowledge in general.  

Later, I was fortunate to get a postbaccalaureate position at LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans through NIH PREP and they placed me in an addiction neuroscience lab. It was my first time working with animals and I came to love doing addiction research because it’s easy for so many people to understand that studying impacts of alcohol use and drug use is important. Many people have been touched in some way by the impacts of addiction and so it’s very translational in a way that I hadn’t experienced before. That’s when I decided to pursue biomedical science research, with a focus on studying addiction.

“Many people have been touched in some way by the impacts of addiction and so it’s very translational in a way that I hadn’t experienced before. That’s when I decided to pursue biomedical science research, with a focus on studying addiction.” — Zari McCullers, PhD student, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pa.

EN: Can you pinpoint one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned in your career?

McCullers: I think the biggest lesson is that whatever career that you want to pursue, and this is specifically for those getting a PhD in life sciences, is that it should be a top priority to pave your own way. Most likely, the main pathway that’s going to be taught to you is how to stay in academia and become a PI because all that’s around you are PI’s. So, if you want something other than that, you have to make that pathway for yourself at an early point. If you want to go into industry, then it’s on you to pursue those opportunities outside of lab to make those connections and to get those additional mentors. If you want to go into policy like me, it’s on you to talk with your program directors and make sure you make yourself competitive enough to make that segue.

EN: What do you think the future for your field looks like?

McCullers: Well, for biomedical research and for students going into graduate school, it’s going to be competitive because funding is changing, and priorities are shifting. I think it’s just imperative that students make good choices in undergrad to really to set themselves apart. Also, the top huge fellowships and programs that everybody talks about might not be the best pathway going forward. It might be something smaller and closer to home, so thinking outside the box is going to be a big theme.

EN: Where do you see yourself in the next five to 10 years?

McCullers: I’m not 100% sure, but I have a tiny door open for possibly a postdoctoral fellowship. If I were to do a postdoc, there’s this very specific project that I want to work on. It’s the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, which I’ve had the opportunity to conduct research within a part-time capacity. But I have a much larger plan for pursuing science policy. I really enjoy program management and program design. Program management could deal with broadening participation, policy education, STEM capacity building, and mentoring in science, maybe someday at a federal level, but I’m hoping to make an impact at the state level or for a private nonprofit first. These kinds of programs need people to run them, and I want to be one of those people.

EN: How do you unwind when you’re not in the lab?

McCullers: I’ve been doing performing arts since the fourth grade. I started out in the concert band and stayed with music through high school and college where I minored in music. I played an instrument called the marimba, which is a melodic percussion instrument that looks like a xylophone. And then, when I got to grad school, I switched from marimba, because it was too heavy and too big, to the harp, which is also very heavy and big! I’ve been playing the harp since starting grad school, so it’s been four years. I’ve also done a little bit of theater. So, the performing arts have been my main thing outside of lab.

Shaw is a freelance writer based in Carmel, Ind., and a regular contributor to Endocrine News. She writes the monthly Laboratory Notes column.

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A critical gap in medical knowledge is severely limiting care for patients with hormonal disorders: A new review in Endocrine Reviews delivers a wake-up call to endocrinologists, asserting that these specialists must drastically expand their training in contraception. The paper argues that hormonal birth control is a powerful, yet overlooked, weapon for managing complex metabolic and endocrine diseases.

The review highlights that while endocrinologists are hormone experts, many are insufficiently trained in the diverse contraceptive options available, missing a crucial chance to utilize these drugs for their non-contraceptive benefits. This isn’t about preventing pregnancy — it’s about stabilizing conditions from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to diabetes.

Medical science has advanced dramatically from the desperate, often dangerous, methods of the past. For millennia, women relied on crude, often toxic, attempts at birth control, such as pessaries or suppositories made of crocodile dung, honey, and lint, or a cervical cap of lemon halves, as purported by Casanova. Similarly, men used linens or animal intestines as condoms. By contrast, modern hormonal contraception represents a victory of precision pharmacology. Yet, the review emphasizes that specialists today are failing to fully leverage this advanced science.

The review, titled “Contraceptive Selection for the Endocrine Patient,” fundamentally challenges the traditional view of birth control in the clinic. Researchers highlight that contraceptives — of which there are nearly 20 types available — are instrumental in achieving therapeutic goals often faced by endocrinologists, including regulating chaotic menstrual cycles and suppressing excessive androgens (male hormones) that drive symptoms like acne and unwanted hair growth.

The authors state that the effects of these hormones are profound, directly influencing the complex hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis — the body’s central hormonal communication system. Without a deep understanding of these interactions, specialists risk suboptimal outcomes for millions of patients.

The authors state that the effects of these hormones are profound, directly influencing the complex hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis — the body’s central hormonal communication system. Without a deep understanding of these interactions, specialists risk suboptimal outcomes for millions of patients.

The knowledge deficit means that patients with conditions like hyperthyroidism or adrenal disorders may not be receiving the most tailored and effective hormonal management. The review details how components like estrogens, progestins, and androgens interact with underlying diseases. For instance, the choice of progestin formulation can carry different risks for a patient with insulin resistance or a high risk of blood clots. The review also touches on emerging areas, such as contraception in transgender patients, noting it remains a “poorly studied area” as well as new contraceptive methods such as such as estrogen 4 and the vaginal ring Ovaprene for women and progestin and testosterone transdermal gel and pills for men. This groundbreaking paper delivers a clear mandate for medical education reform. The guidance helps specialists select the safest and most effective method — whether it be an IUD, a specialized pill, or an injection — for patients who also have complex co-existing conditions like obesity or pituitary tumors. The ultimate goal is to close this critical knowledge gap, ensuring patients receive immediate and informed decisions that utilize every available hormonal arsenal to improve their long-term health.

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Scientists have uncovered a new, fundamental mechanism behind the severe skeletal abnormalities seen in Jansen metaphyseal chondrodysplasia (JMC), a rare genetic disorder characterized by short-limbed dwarfism. A new study reveals that the causative H223R-PTH1R gene mutation directly impairs mature bone cells, known as osteocytes, leading to bone structural irregularities and poor quality, a finding that refocuses therapeutic efforts away from cartilage alone and onto the bone’s cellular infrastructure.

Titled “Jansen’s Disease: Bone Abnormalities Beyond Chondroplasia” and recently published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, the research fundamentally shifts the understanding of JMC, showing that the mutant parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R) has a multifaceted impact extending far beyond initial theories of growth plate dysfunction. The study, which analyzed bone biopsy samples from two pediatric brothers with the mutation and nine healthy control males of similar age, found that the disease’s severity is linked to abnormal osteocyte morphology and a disruptive change in the proteins these cells produce.

Often called the “architects of bone,” osteocytes, reside within the hardened bone matrix and maintain its health by communicating through tiny channels called canaliculi. In the JMC patients, these osteocytes were found to have abnormal shapes, with canalicular networks that were both shorter and less abundant. Most critically, researchers identified an altered expression of vital regulatory proteins: FGF23 (Fibroblast Growth Factor 23), which was enhanced, and sclerostin, which was diminished.

The study authors concluded that their findings underscore the multifaceted impact of the mutant PTH1R on bone physiology and focus attention on the osteocyte as a critical target. They suggest that future clinical trials for JMC therapeutics should consider using the assessment of osteocyte morphology and function as novel diagnostic endpoints.

The H223R-PTH1R mutation, which leads to constitutive (always-on) activation of the receptor, resulted in several severe defects in the patients’ iliac crest bone samples. Histologic analyses of the siblings showed widespread evidence of bone structural irregularities and hypomineralization — a lack of proper bone hardening. Specifically, the bone tissue displayed poorly formed bone scaffolding; unmineralized, soft bone matric buildup, indicating a prolonged or failed maturation process; and areas of excessive bone breakdown, alongside scattered marrow scarring.

These findings suggest that while JMC is characterized by chondrodysplasia (abnormal cartilage development), the H223R-PTH1R mutation simultaneously exerts a direct, devastating influence on the bone’s maintenance and quality control system managed by the osteocytes.

The identification of the osteocyte as a cellular target offers a clear path for future drug development. Currently, treatments for JMC primarily address symptoms or rely on orthopedic interventions. By pinpointing the specific cellular mechanism — the altered protein signaling (FGF23/sclerostin) — researchers now have a viable target for pharmacological intervention.

The study authors concluded that their findings underscore the multifaceted impact of the mutant PTH1R on bone physiology and focus attention on the osteocyte as a critical target. They suggest that future clinical trials for JMC therapeutics should consider using the assessment of osteocyte morphology and function as novel diagnostic endpoints. “Whether normalizing gene expression in osteocytes is possible and can improve bone health in JMC patients remains to be seen,” the authors write. Yet this research provides crucial, granular detail needed to develop targeted therapies aimed at correcting the fundamental defect at the cellular level, bringing new hope for improved outcomes for children living with this rare and debilitating disease.

The post Research Redefines Bone Abnormality in Jansen’s Disease appeared first on Endocrine News.

Insulet Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance of Omnipod® 5 Algorithm Enhancements that Redefine Insulin Delivery and Simplify the Pod Experience

On December 4, Insulet Corporation, announced it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for significant enhancements to the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System. These updates to the Omnipod 5 algorithm set a new benchmark in tubeless diabetes technology by offering a lower 100 mg/dL Target Glucose option and a more seamless automated experience.

“This is the most significant algorithm advancement to our Omnipod 5 System since its launch in 2022,” said Eric Benjamin, Insulet Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “These new features address the two most requested enhancements and reflect our relentless commitment to delivering meaningful innovation for those living with diabetes and the healthcare providers who support them. Every improvement we make is designed to strengthen clinical outcomes while making the Pod experience simpler, more personalized, and so seamless it disappears into everyday life.”

More Flexibility with a Lower Target Glucose Setting

The new 100 mg/dL Target Glucose expands Omnipod 5’s customization range to six settings between 100-150 mg/dL in 10 mg/dL increments. This flexibility allows healthcare providers to tailor insulin delivery more precisely, supporting individuals seeking tighter glucose management or those striving to meet specific glucose goals. It also directly impacts automated insulin delivery and improves the algorithm’s responsiveness. Real world evidence has shown that lowering the glucose target is associated with increased time in range, with no clinically meaningful change in Time Below Range¹ (TBR).

Designed with Patients and HCPs in Mind

In addition, the upgraded Omnipod 5 algorithm helps users stay in Automated Mode with fewer interruptions, even during prolonged high glucose events. These advancements are designed to deliver strong clinical results with increased flexibility and greater ease of use, with fewer interruptions to daily life.

“These enhancements to the Omnipod 5 algorithm are a meaningful step forward. As a clinician, it’s exciting to offer patients a system that not only supports strong clinical outcomes but also builds their confidence in managing diabetes daily. More target glucose options and fewer interruptions mean a better experience for people with diabetes and their families,” said Anita Swamy, MD, Pediatric Endocrinologist and Medical Director of the Chicago Children’s Diabetes Center.

The updates to the Omnipod 5 algorithm are anticipated to launch in the United States in the first half of 2026, where Omnipod 5 is cleared for people aged 2 and older with type 1 and aged 18 and older with type 2 diabetes.

May Health Announces CE Mark for Innovative Treatment for Women with PCOS-related Infertility

On December 16, May Health announced that its novel technology to treat PCOS-related infertility, the Anavi System, has received CE Mark certification. The CE Mark, granted under the European Union’s Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR) 2017/745, is a significant regulatory milestone that enables commercialization in the European Union.

PCOS affects approximately 10% to 13% of women worldwide and is the most common endocrine condition impacting reproductive-age women, as well as a leading cause of female infertility. Women with PCOS-related infertility often struggle to become pregnant because they are unable to ovulate consistently or at all. This lack of ovulation in PCOS is linked to dysregulation of androgen production and other hormonal signals within the ovary. First-line pharmacologic therapies are current options to induce ovulation, but they do not work for all patients. For women who do not respond to first-line treatments, care pathways typically progress to more expensive and invasive options such as laparoscopic ovarian surgery or in vitro fertilization (IVF), but many families discontinue fertility treatments rather than proceed with these steps.

May Health introduces a new option: a treatment offered as a one-time, office-based procedure intended to restore natural ovulation in women with PCOS-related infertility who do not respond to, are contraindicated for, or decline first-line medications. Building on the established success of laparoscopic ovarian surgery to restore ovulation,⁴ this approach translates a laparoscopic procedure into a more accessible, ultrasound-guided in-office option. The Anavi System delivers targeted radiofrequency (RF) energy to ablate a small fraction of ovarian tissue with the aim of re-initiating ovulatory cycles, offering an alternative for women who are not ready, willing, or able to advance to IVF.

“Approximately 80% of women with PCOS have oligo-anovulatory infertility, a condition characterized by lack of ovulation. Moreover, 20–30% of those women do not respond to first-line ovulation induction therapies,” said Saad Amer, lead investigator of the ULTRA EU study, expert in PCOS, endometriosis, and infertility, and professor at the University of Nottingham. “The Anavi System provides a compelling treatment option that restores ovulation in women with PCOS without the use of any hormonal therapy, and as a single, in-office procedure that can be efficiently incorporated into the care pathway for appropriate PCOS women.”

CE Mark certification for the Anavi System was supported by safety and feasibility data from the ULTRA clinical studies conducted in Europe and the United States. Participants were women with PCOS who were anovulatory or oligo-ovulatory and had failed to respond to first-line pharmacologic treatments, or who were contraindicated for or declined such treatment. A preliminary analysis from the ULTRA studies presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Annual Meeting in 2025 demonstrated:

• In 26 of 32 women evaluable at 12 months, 77% (20/26) reported ovulation, with 13 women experiencing spontaneous ovulation and seven women ovulating after first-line medications were resumed.
• At 12 months, a 46% (12/26) cumulative pregnancy rate was observed, including 10 spontaneous pregnancies (seven with and three without the restart of first-line medication) and two pregnancies with assisted reproductive technology (one intrauterine insemination (IUI), one IVF), resulting in six live births at the time of reporting.
• The most common procedure-related adverse events were reported as mild and included vaginal bleeding, pain, and headache.

The CE Mark permits commercialization of the Anavi System in the European Union, with rollout planned on a country-by-country basis.

In addition, May Health is currently conducting the REBALANCE study in the United States, a pivotal Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) trial designed to support submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing authorization.

“The CE Mark represents a significant achievement and an important step toward expanding options for women affected by this challenging condition,” said Colby Holtshouse, President and Chief Executive Officer of May Health. “We are encouraged by these clinical results, which reinforce the potential of this approach to restore ovulation without systemic hormones through a single in-office procedure. We look forward to making the Anavi System available to women across Europe who are struggling with the difficult challenge of PCOS-related infertility.”

About the REBALANCE Study

The REBALANCE Study (NCT06206746) is an ongoing prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of May Health’s technology for restoring ovulation in eligible women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-related infertility. The study is currently recruiting women ages 18–40 who have been diagnosed with PCOS and who have failed, are contraindicated for, or decline first-line ovulation-induction therapies. More than 15 fertility centers across the United States are enrolling participants. Learn more at www.mayhealth.com/rebalance-study.

Zydus and Formycon Enter into an Exclusive Partnership for the Licensing and Supply of Biosimilar to Keytruda® (Pembrolizumab), in U.S. and Canada

On December 9, Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Zydus Lifesciences Global FZE, United Arab Emirates has entered into a strategic partnership with Formycon AG for the exclusive licensing and supply of checkpoint inhibitor FYB206, a biosimilar of Keytrud¹ (Pembrolizumab) in the U.S. and Canada market.

Under the terms of this agreement, Formycon AG will develop, register, manufacture and supply the product, while Zydus Lifesciences Global FZE, United Arab Emirates will be responsible for the commercialization of FYB206 in the defined territories. The BLA application is expected to be submitted to the USFDA in the near future and is aimed at making immunotherapy affordable and accessible to patients in need.

Commenting on this strategic partnership, Managing Director of Zydus Lifesciences Limited, Dr. Sharvil P. Patel, stated, “We are happy to collaborate with Formycon to develop and commercialize a biosimilar of Keytruda® across US and Canada. This venture marks Zydus’ entry into the North American biosimilar market, debuting with an immunotherapy product. This collaboration also complements Zydus’ recent proposed acquisition of Agenus Inc.’s California, USA based manufacturing facilities, which we plan to integrate and leverage for manufacturing in the future. By combining our expertise and resources, we aim to drive significant organizational growth and deliver maximum value to patients through expanded access to affordable oncology care.”

Dr. Stefan Glombitza, CEO of Formycon, stated, “FYB206, a biosimilar of Keytruda®, demonstrates Formycon’s advanced expertise in developing biosimilar medicines for highly regulated countries. Partnering with Zydus, an organization recognized for its regulatory proficiency and commercial presence, enables us to deliver this important therapeutic option to the patients. This collaboration strengthens our collective commitment to expanding access to medicines.”

*Inclusion in Pharma Fridays does not suggest an endorsement by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society.

The post Pharma Fridays – December 19, 2025 appeared first on Endocrine News.

Every year the Endocrine Society recognizes endocrinologists who are in the early stages of their research careers with the Early Investigator Awards. Endocrine News spoke to the five award recipients from around the world to find out more about their award-winning research, the award’s potential impact, as well as the biggest challenges facing them today.

When the recipients of the Endocrine Society’s 2025 Early Investigator Awards presented their research at ENDO 2025, the atmosphere was electric and filled with anticipation at San Francisco’s Moscone Center.

One by one, as each of this year’s winners got up to speak, attendees in the room were treated to an eclectic array of research ranging from acquired and congenital hypopituitarism; the influence of non-skeletal tissues on skeletal health; the microenvironment of pituitary tumors; the impact of glucocorticoids on immunity, specifically tissue- and cell-specific steroid production and signaling in T lymphocytes; and the causal relationships of immune cells to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Moderating the proceedings was Endocrine Society Past-President Stephen R. Hammes, MD, PhD, the Louis S. Wolk Distinguished Professor of Medicine, chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, and executive vice-chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y. “There is nothing more important to the Endocrine Society than our early-career physicians, educators, and researchers,” Hammes tells Endocrine News. “The Society helped launch and support my own research career many years ago, and it continues to do the same for this current generation of rising stars.”

The 2025 winners are: Muriel Babey, MD, assistant professor, adjunct, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of California – San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.; Hironori Bando, PhD, associate professor, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Pedro Marques, MD, PhD, endocrinologist, CUF Descobertas Hospital; assistant professor and researcher, Medical Faculty of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal, and at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands; Dequina Nicholas, PhD, assistant professor, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.; and Matthew Taves, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Cancer Center at Illinois; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Ill.

Endocrine News was fortunate enough to catch their presentations in San Francisco and caught up with them to learn more about their research, the unique challenges they’ve each faced, and what the award means for their work.

Endocrine News: Tell us a little bit about your research and your motivation to apply for the Early Investigator Award.

Muriel Babey: My research focuses on how non-skeletal tissues, such as the hypothalamus influence skeletal health in the context of metabolic disease and aging. My work builds on our recent discovery of CCN3, a brain-derived osteoanabolic hormone that plays a critical role in maintaining maternal bone mass during lactation (Babey, Krause, et al., Nature 2024). We found that CCN3 acts on mouse and human skeletal stem cells at low, sub-nanomolar concentrations, independent of sex and age, to promote bone formation. As a clinical endocrine fellow, I joined the Ingraham Laboratory at UCSF, which offered an outstanding environment for scientific growth and mentorship. This supportive, collaborative setting allowed me to develop cross-disciplinary expertise and shape my early-stage research program, now funded by an NIH K08 Career Development Award, to define CCN3’s actions in bone and marrow fat metabolism, characterize its dynamics in physiologic states such as lactation, and explore its therapeutic potential in skeletal fragility.

“The Endocrine Society has been a cornerstone in my professional development, providing access to leading-edge science, mentorship, and opportunities to present and refine my work. I see the Endocrine Society as an enduring partner in my career, offering a platform for scientific exchange, leadership growth, and advocacy for the next generation of physician-scientists.” – Muriel Babey, MD, assistant professor, adjunct, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of California – San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.

My motivation to apply for the Early Investigator Award is to gain support and visibility for this translational work, accelerate its impact for patients, and deepen my engagement with the Endocrine Society’s vibrant scientific community

Hironori Bando: I have been conducting research on acquired and congenital hypopituitarism to elucidate the pathogenesis. Originally trained as an adult endocrinologist, I have encountered numerous cases of acquired hypopituitarism, providing a natural foundation for clinical and translational research. As my understanding of acquired forms deepened, I gradually broadened my focus to include congenital hypopituitarism. Transitions from research on acquired to congenital hypopituitarism are relatively rare, and few investigators pursue both domains in depth. In this context, I believe my trajectory represents a distinctive research pathway. With this in mind, I applied for this award to highlight the existence of such cross-cutting researchers and to present this atypical yet valuable research approach. 

Pedro Marques: My research is focused on the microenvironment of pituitary tumors. We have been carrying out a range of studies aimed to understand the composition of the microenvironment and the role of its different components, such as immune cells, stromal cells and cytokines/chemokines in the biological behavior, phenotype, and clinical outcomes of pituitary tumors, as well as their impact in several tumorigenic mechanisms, like tumor cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis and epitelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway activation. I applied for the Early Investigator Award because this is specifically designed to support and recognize early-career researchers in endocrinology, like myself. I believe that this award may truly advance my career in many different ways. Firstly, it is a very competitive and prestigious award which validates the significance and quality of my research. Secondly, it gives visibility to my work and to my research topic, not to mention the unique opportunity to present my research at the world’s largest endocrine conference. Thirdly, I saw it as a good opportunity to further boost my CV and network connections, as award ceremonies and presentations like this allow connections with other researchers and leaders in the field. Lastly, I believe that this award will be a strong motivator for me and my colleagues, further boosting our drive and dedication to endocrine research.

“One of my biggest ongoing challenges is figuring out how to manage both time and projects effectively. In research, this often involves balancing high-risk/high-reward projects with more foundational, “safer” projects. It’s not always clear when a high-risk idea is worth pushing through versus when it’s better to move on to something else. I’ve gotten better at recognizing when to let go of something that isn’t working, but it’s still a skill I’m working hard at developing.” – Matthew Taves, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Cancer Center at Illinois; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Ill.

Dequina Nicholas: My lab aims to determine causal relationships of immune cells to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Throughout my career, my goal has been to use collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to solve long-standing questions in the field. When merging the fields of immunology and endocrinology, we know the immune system becomes active in disease, but rarely are we clear on how this happens in the absence of infection. Over the past 15 years of my academic research career, I have asked out-of-the-box questions which required developing new techniques and approaches to determine the role of immune cells in type diabetes and PCOS. My ideas were not always well received and generally have been difficult to publish. Applying for the Early Career Investigator Award felt like an opportunity to have not just my contributions to endocrinology recognized, but a chance to showcase the importance of questioning dogma, doing the difficult experiments, and the reward for pushing boundaries despite not being easy in the moment. I never honestly thought I would get this award and to be frank, it still does not feel real. I am humbled and honored by this recognition and hope that it is the start to truly build bridges across disparate academic fields to drive discovery in endocrinology.

Matthew Taves: My research focuses on how glucocorticoids regulate immunity, with an emphasis on tissue- and cell-specific steroid production and signaling in T lymphocytes. I study how these pathways shape immune development, anti-pathogen responses, and cancer progression. Because this work intersects endocrinology, immunology, and oncology, I’ve explored different meetings to try and find a scientific community that I feel would be a good home in which to develop my research program and career. Over the past few years, I’ve found that the Endocrine Society has done a great job of fulfilling this role, particularly through formal and informal mentoring efforts. I’ve really settled on the Endocrine Society as my central community, and this has motivated me to become more actively engaged. I decided to apply for the Early Investigator Award as an opportunity to contribute to and grow within this community.

EN: What were some of your biggest challenges at this point in your career as a scientist and researcher?

Babey: The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with my entry into the Ingraham Laboratory, requiring rapid adaptation to a very restrictive research environment, including disruptions of mouse studies and shifts in research priorities. As I transition to independence, securing sustained funding in this uncertain funding climate and building a multidisciplinary team with the right technical expertise will be a significant undertaking. I aim to expand my research program beyond CCN3 to identify new secreted factors that regulate bone remodeling, an effort that requires bridging molecular discovery with translational models, which is both scientifically exciting and technically demanding at this career stage.

Bando: Currently working in the clinical department, I am required to dedicate a greater portion of my time to patient care and the education of medical students and junior physicians, resulting in less time available for research compared to my postdoctoral period. I aspire to achieve a more balanced allocation of duties that would allow me to devote additional time to research work.

“I attended ENDO at a time when I was grappling with how to advance my original research. By engaging with the presentations, I discovered a new direction for my work and connected with a mentor who would guide my next steps. Similarly, I hope the Endocrine Society will continue to serve as a nurturing environment where young investigators can forge new career paths and establish meaningful mentorships.” – Hironori Bando, PhD, associate professor, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

Marques: As an early-career clinician-scientist aiming to consolidate my lab and line of research, the biggest challenge has been related to funding and access to key resources, particularly talented PhD students or postdocs, which in turn depends very much on financial aspects. The funding opportunities and grants are relatively scarce, and grant applications are always very competitive and have limited funds available. The field of pituitary tumors (the focus of my research) tends to receive lower priority when competing with other more prevalent and possibly more impactful diseases for human health, such as breast cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, lung cancer, or diabetes, which therefore limits the chance of obtaining funding. Another key aspect relates with the fact that I am originally from Portugal, where my current lab is based. Portugal is a relatively small country where national funding opportunities are scarce, which further limits access to funding crucial to acquire key reagents/materials, but also to recruit talented colleagues and expand the research group.

Nicholas: So many challenges! Where to start? Navigating publishing as a new PI and managing the impact of personal life on my career and vice versa. As a new PI doing interdisciplinary work, my lab’s findings do not necessarily fit nicely within the scope of many journals. Editors of immunology journals do not immediately see the significance of the reproductive endocrinology, and many times editors of endocrinology journals do not have the tools to evaluate the minutiae of immunologic approaches. Layered on top of that, we mix clinical and basic science approaches which make finding appropriate reviewers difficult. Though difficult, my team will better learn how to navigate publishing interdisciplinary work with persistence, just as I have throughout my career. The second biggest challenge at this point in my career is managing the demands of motherhood with running an academic lab. I constantly feel pulled in opposite directions. When I’m working, I feel like a bad mom. When I am spending time with my family, I feel like I am getting behind on work. The Endocrine Society has been wonderful in demonstrating that I can integrate both aspects of my life. On site day care at the meetings and members that are supportive of scientists with family are just two examples. It has been at the ENDO Early Career Forum that I have received and still use advice from members on how to navigate this crazy yet rewarding journey.

“I hope that receiving this award will make the field a little more receptive to my out-of-the box ideas. What I truly hope is that the early-career researchers that come after me will embrace the ethos of interdisciplinary approaches and that the Endocrine Society can become the new home for scientists working at the interface of immunology and endocrinology.” – Dequina Nicholas, PhD, assistant professor, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.

Taves: One of my biggest ongoing challenges is figuring out how to manage both time and projects effectively. In research, this often involves balancing high-risk/high-reward projects with more foundational, “safer” projects. It’s not always clear when a high-risk idea is worth pushing through versus when it’s better to move on to something else. I’ve gotten better at recognizing when to let go of something that isn’t working, but it’s still a skill I’m working hard at developing. Rather than thinking that I’m “dropping a project,” I now try to think of it as choosing between alternate projects — this (perhaps obvious) shift in thinking helps me avoid getting stuck. I’m also much quicker to run ideas by colleagues for perspective. I also tend to let work spill into all available hours, so maintaining a healthy work-life balance is something I have to keep working at.

EN: How do you hope receiving the Early Investigator award will help support your goals as an endocrine scientist, and what role do you see the Endocrine Society playing in your career?

Babey: The Early Investigator Award will strengthen my progress toward establishing an independently funded, translational research program in skeletal endocrinology. The recognition will enhance opportunities to form new collaborations, recruit talented trainees, and disseminate our findings to both basic and clinical audiences. The Endocrine Society has been a cornerstone in my professional development, providing access to leading-edge science, mentorship, and opportunities to present and refine my work. I see the Endocrine Society as an enduring partner in my career, offering a platform for scientific exchange, leadership growth, and advocacy for the next generation of physician-scientists.

Bando: I attended ENDO at a time when I was grappling with how to advance my original research. By engaging with the presentations, I discovered a new direction for my work and connected with a mentor who would guide my next steps. Similarly, I hope the Endocrine Society will continue to serve as a nurturing environment where young investigators can forge new career paths and establish meaningful mentorships.

Marques: I believe it will advance my career further and it will help me in many ways in establishing myself as a leading clinician-scientist in the field of pituitary and neuroendocrinology. Firstly, it validates my past and current work, and it enhances its visibility in the world-stage of endocrine research. The credibility and recognition in academia is really important, and this is something that this award may significantly impact. This award is an important boost to my CV, which certainly will help in future grant or job applications, as I trust it will have a positive effect on the various selection procedures. Furthermore, it may open some new opportunities, for example it may lead to invitations to conferences, workshops, editorial roles, panels, or leadership promotions, which are crucial for the continuous development of my career. Additionally, this award grants a wide visibility to my work and research field through its promotion in the various channels of Endocrine Society, including at ENDO 2025, which is important for future projects and successful collaborations. I believe that this award will also act as a strong motivator, boosting our dedication to pituitary research and helping to sustain the momentum for new long-term projects and ambitious scientific goals.

“I applied for the Early Investigator Award because this is specifically designed to support and recognize early-career researchers in endocrinology, like myself. I believe that this award may truly advance my career in many different ways. Firstly, it is a very competitive and prestigious award which validates the significance and quality of my research.” – Pedro Marques, MD, PhD, endocrinologist, CUF Descobertas Hospital; assistant professor and researcher, Medical Faculty of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal, and at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands

Nicholas: I hope that receiving this award will make the field a little more receptive to my out-of-the box ideas. What I truly hope is that the early-career researchers that come after me will embrace the ethos of interdisciplinary approaches and that the Endocrine Society can become the new home for scientists working at the interface of immunology and endocrinology. It would be awesome to formalize the dream of my shero Dr. Cherie Butts to feature ImmunoEndocrinology in our society. The Endocrine Society is already my scientific home. I foresee growing in service to the society that has already given me so much opportunity. The Endocrine Society will be a pillar in my scientific career. It is where my trainees will network and become part of the scientific community. It is where they will have a peer network and find collaborators just as I have. It is where I will be supported by mentors, sponsors, and advocates, and it is where I will continue to lift up others as I advance in my career, just as my mentors have lifted me up.

Taves: Receiving the Early Investigator Award is a real thrill and I’m excited to carry that momentum into the lab as we take on new questions in steroid hormone biology and T cell function. Recognition at this early stage helps build confidence for me but also my growing research team, especially trainees who are involved in these projects. I hope to use this opportunity to grow and strengthen connections within the Endocrine Society’s mentoring and scientific networks, and to contribute to the Society’s work through service, collaboration, and by encouraging my trainees to engage with ENDO meetings and programs.

This award also affirms the value of interdisciplinary approaches in endocrine research. I loved seeing aspects of immunology highlighted in several of the Early Investigator Award research projects, and I absolutely agree with Dr. Dequina Nicholas that the ENDO meeting should continue growing into a hub for endocrine-immune discovery and translational research. As someone whose work bridges those fields, I’m excited to pitch in and continue building this to support the next generation of endocrine scientists.

For his part, despite the many activities Hammes participated in over the course of ENDO 2025 in San Francisco, he says that was he saw and heard during the five winners’ presentations will stay with him for a long time. “Having the opportunity to listen to the amazing science being performed by this year’s Early Investigator awardees was the highlight of my ENDO 2025 experience,” he says, “and I could not be more pleased to see that the future of endocrine research is in great hands.”

The post 2025 Researchers Roundtable: Discussing Endocrine Science with the 2025 Early Investigator Award Winners appeared first on Endocrine News.

Our members can serve as mentors to help develop the next generation of endocrine clinicians and scientists. We have many opportunities to advise early-career professionals as part of programs such as the Research Experiences for Graduate and Medical Students (REGMS), Future Leaders Advancing Research in Endocrinology (FLARE), and Excellence in Clinical Endocrinology Leadership (ExCEL). Members can share their insights with participants at our Endocrine Mentor Day (eMD) during ENDO 2026. The hard work of our volunteers makes these professional development programs valuable for the participants, and the mentoring experience is rewarding for those looking to advance their leadership skills.

As we embark on a new year, make a resolution to engage with the Society to advance your career.

To participate, visit the volunteer resources section of our website where you can find all the information you need to get started. Simply fill out our online form to express interest in the programs and initiatives that interest you most.

Our Medical School Engagement Program (MSEP) offers another way to support promising professionals entering our field. Currently, 21 medical schools have started Society-supported programs to educate students about endocrinology careers. We are always looking for additional medical schools to join the program and grow the endocrine pipeline. Program leaders and our staff have compiled many resources to make it easy to plan events and engage students at your institution. Fill out our interest form online to learn more about starting your own Endocrinology Interest Group and to be informed when the next application cycle opens.

Another way to make your voice heard and help shape our field is to take part in our advocacy programs. Our grassroots advocacy program makes it easy for United States-based members to reach their members of Congress. It only takes two minutes to send an email supporting funding for the National Institutes of Health or access to telehealth services using our online platform.

If you want to meet with your congressional office, our staff can help you arrange an in-person visit or a video call. Our team also organizes Hill Days where members represent the endocrine field on Capitol Hill. Get in touch with the staff to share the issues that you want to advocate for.

For those who are just starting their careers, let this be the year you join us for ENDO 2026, the world’s leading meeting for endocrine research and clinical care. ENDO offers a chance to present your research and meet luminaries in the field. This year’s meeting takes place from June 13 to 16 in Chicago, Ill.. We offer several travel awards designed to help early-career professionals and trainees gain exposure, present their work, and build networks that will last a lifetime. The deadlines are approaching on February 2, so be sure to submit your application soon.

Committees are the foundation of our Society’s work. Serving here is often the first rung on the leadership ladder, giving you a chance to influence initiatives, gain visibility, and prepare for future leadership roles. As a committee member, your voice helps guide the Society’s initiatives and ensures we continue to advance science, clinical care, and education.

The hard work of our volunteers makes these professional development programs valuable for the participants, and the mentoring experience is rewarding for those looking to advance their leadership skills.

Long-time members who want to be more involved in the Society’s future direction can apply to join our Nominating Committee. This committee determines the slate of Board of Directors candidates and plays a key role in shaping the Society for years to come. We currently are looking for candidates to fill several slots on this important committee. Nominate yourself or a colleague by January 30 to be considered.

Whenever you have a few minutes available, use that time for your professional development. You can reach out to the global endocrine community on our digital platform EndoForum, which gives you a place to communicate with your peers. Whether you want to share an interesting research paper or ask a question about a challenging case, this is the place to start online conversations with your peers. With the revamped platform we launched in October, interacting with your peers is easier than ever.

EndoForum includes discussion spaces for our 12 member-led Special Interest Groups (SIGs), which connect you to others who share your passion for specific endocrine topics. We just launched a new SIG focused on men’s health last month, and we continue to introduce more topics. Our SIGs hosted 18 webinars last year, offering great opportunities to get involved. Whether your interests lie in endocrine-disrupting chemicals, endocrine cancers, or entrepreneurship, join our SIGs to interact with peers and expand your network.

I hope you’ll consider sharing your talents and engaging with the Society in new ways this year. Volunteering benefits your own professional growth as well as our global community.

The post Find New Ways to Contribute to the Society This Year appeared first on Endocrine News.

In this month’s cover story, we let the up-and-coming endocrine scientists tell their own stories in the “2025 Researchers Roundtable” where I talk with this year’s Early Investigator Award winners who all presented their research at ENDO 2025 in San Francisco in July. These presentations were such an exciting highlight as people piled into the seminar room to learn about the latest breakthroughs in endocrine science presented by these five researchers from around the world who’ve spent their fair share of waking hours at the bench!  When asked how he thought receiving the Early Investigator Award would impact his goals as an endocrine scientist, Pedro Marques, MD, PhD, an endocrinologist at CUF Descobertas Hospital and assistant professor and researcher at the Medical Faculty of Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon, Portugal, and at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands, says he feels it will advance his career further and help him establish himself as a leading clinician-scientist in the field of pituitary and neuroendocrinology. “It validates my past and current work, and it enhances its visibility in the world-stage of endocrine research,” he says. “The credibility and recognition in academia is really important, and this is something that this award may significantly impact,” adding that he also things that receiving the ward will further motivate him and boost his dedication to pituitary research.

In “A Change of Heart,” Glenda Fauntleroy-Shaw talks to the recipient of the 2026 Edwin B. Astwood Award for Outstanding Research in Basic Science, Christopher Glass, MD, PhD, about how endocrinology lured him away from cardiology so many years ago. He also discusses his lab’s macrophage research and what he tells his postdocs about “the intersection between three different facets of biomedical science.” He says the first facet is a need to latch on to a problem that you’re absolutely passionate about solving, and the second facet is making sure that solving that problem intersects an unmet medical need. The third factet is simple: “It has to be fundable,” Glass says. “You cannot do science without money, and it costs more than ever to push our boundaries of knowledge to the next level.”

Senior Editor Derek Bagley takes a look at a growing problem facing scholarly publishers in recent years: predatory journals. In “Quality Time,” Endocrine Society journal editors weigh in on this phenomenon and how the Society is combatting it. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Editor-in-Chief Paul M. Stewart, MD, FRCP, says that the publishing team has been working on a global footprint because the pressure is especially intense on scholarly publishers in developed countries. “And we’ve all seen over the years the odd figure that’s probably been incorrectly doctored and we’ve been through that kind of thing,” Stewart says. “That’s in no ways excusable, but that’s really nothing compared to what we’re seeing now. There’s no biological reason why anybody in their life would ever measure the association of serum rhubarb with thyroid function tests.”

It would be extremely easy to devote every issue of Endocrine News to the endocrine scientists around the world, that’s why this annual basic science issue is always such a treat. However, you can rest assured that online and in print, we will always play our part in championing endocrine researchers and how their discoveries are improving health for all of us. Feel free to reach out if you have any ideas or suggestions: mnewman@endocrine.org.  

The post Was 2025 the Year of the Endocrine Scientist? appeared first on Endocrine News.

Bert W. O’Malley, MD, Distinguished Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Chancelor at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, passed away on November 11, 2025, at 88 years of age.

He was a wonderful person, a great family man, an extraordinary scientist, and a very proud Irishman. He served as President of the Endocrine Society (1984) and in collaboration with Tony Means he founded the flagship journal Molecular Endocrinology, which was one of the most influential journals in the field of endocrinology for nearly 20 years. His contributions to the Society were recognized by his receipt of the Ernst Oppenheimer Award (1977), Women in Endocrinology Mentor Award (2009), Robert H. Williams Distinguished Leadership Award (2010), Outstanding Innovation Award (2015), and the 1988 Fred Conrad Koch Award.

Bert was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa., and graduated cum laude with a degree in psychology and chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh where he also obtained his MD in 1963. He subsequently moved to Durham, N.C., to complete his internship in internal medicine at Duke University under the mentorship of Eugene Stead. In 1965, he was recruited as a clinical associate/fellow to the endocrine branch at the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Bert quickly rose through the ranks at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and for a while served as a laboratory chief. However, in 1969 he and several colleagues moved to Vanderbilt University, to establish the Center for Reproductive Hormone Action, where he served as the founding director. His last move was in 1973 to Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston, Texas, where he built the Department of Cell Biology (now called the Department Molecular and Cellular Biology) which has been a powerhouse of endocrine research for the past 52 years. He served as the chair of this department for 45 years before taking on the position as chancellor of the Medical School in 2018, a leadership position that he held until his passing.

Innovative Ideas and Countercurrent Hypotheses

Throughout his career Bert emphasized the importance of fundamental research and how it enabled the rational discovery of practice changing medicines and procedures. Time and again his innovative ideas and countercurrent hypotheses were met with skepticism and outright disbelief. But a brief overview of his scientific accomplishments and how they advanced the field of hormone action/molecular endocrinology reveals that he was nothing short of a genius, whose visionary ideas took a while for most of us to appreciate.

Bert’s interest in hormone action can be traced back to his time during medical school when he worked with James B. Field to probe the mechanisms by which thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) regulated glucose oxidation in a thyroid explant model. This work resulted in his first primary authored publication in 1963. However, his specific interest in steroid hormone action really started when he moved to the NCI to work with Stanely Korenman and Mortimer Lipsett. Korenman had developed the chick oviduct as a model to explore the mechanism(s) by which estrogens and progestins increase the growth and function of the chick oviduct.

Time and again his innovative ideas and countercurrent hypotheses were met with skepticism and outright disbelief. But a brief overview of his scientific accomplishments and how they advanced the field of hormone action/molecular endocrinology reveals that he was nothing short of a genius, whose visionary ideas took a while for most of us to appreciate.

This was a remarkable model that Bert employed for over 30 years allowing him to establish the linearity of the relationship between hormone exposure, an increase in the number of specific ovalbumin mRNA transcripts and increased ovalbumin protein expression in the oviduct. This work, performed in collaboration with Tony Means, Jeff Rosen, John Comstock, Steve Harris, and Gary Rosenfeld, was described in two landmark papers (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (1972) and Biochemistry (1975)) which together represent one of the most important findings in our field and that which essentially started the field of molecular endocrinology. Subsequent work in the following years allowed Bert, in collaboration with Bill Schrader, Nancy Weigel, Ming Tsai, Sophia Tsai, and others to define the biochemical basis for the gene-specific transcriptional activity of estrogen and progestin receptors. 

Bert was an early adopter of recombinant DNA technologies, and his group was among the first to join the “receptor cloning frenzy” in the early 1980s. This exciting initiative, led by Orla Conneely, resulted in the isolation of the cDNAs for several members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. These enabling reagents (cDNAs encoding full length receptors) allowed the reconstitution of hormone dependent transcription systems in heterologous cells which Bert’s group exploited to define the structure-function relationships of several nuclear receptors and to establish facile assays to study, at scale, the pharmacology of endogenous ligands and compounds/drugs which impacted receptor activity.The results from these studies instructed the development of mechanism-based screens for receptor-modifying drugs.

Ligand-Independent Receptor Activation

In the 1990s, he described the process of “ligand-independent” receptor activation demonstrating that steroid receptors could be activated absent a canonical ligand through direct phosphorylation of the receptor (or associated proteins). As with a lot of Bert’s ideas, this one was initially received with a high level of skepticism as it was at odds with the established models of hormone action that we were comfortable with at that time. Not surprisingly, he was correct and ligand-independent receptor action is now an important component of contemporary models of hormone action. It has had far reaching implications with respect to how steroid hormone receptor activity is regulated during development and in the maintenance of reproductive function.

However, this finding had specific importance in cancer where it helped to redirect efforts to develop new therapeutics for patients with breast cancer that functioned by eliminating estrogen receptor (ER) expression as opposed to developing classical competitive antagonists. The recent development and approval of a new class of estrogen receptor (ER) modulators, Selective Estrogen Receptor Degraders (SERDs), one of the most important advances in the past 20 years in the management of breast cancer, can trace their roots to this fundamental observation of “ligand-independent” receptor activation.

A Lasting Legacy of Discovery

The discovery of receptor-associated transcriptional coregulators (coactivators and corepressors) is one of the most consequential discoveries made by Bert and his research team. This large family of proteins, by some estimates exceeding 200 in number, interact directly or indirectly with nuclear receptors and enable their actions to be coordinated with multiple different signaling pathways in cells. In more than 300 papers published on this topic since the identification of the first coactivator, Steroid Receptor Coactivator 1 (SRC1), Bert demonstrated the importance of coregulators in every aspect of disease and organismal physiology. Unperturbed by the difficulty of identifying drugs to regulate these “unconventional targets” and ignoring the widely held opinion that such an effort would be futile, he, in collaboration with his colleague David Lonard, established a drug discovery initiative at BCM which has resulted in the identification of drug-like molecules, which can either activate or repress the activity of specific transcriptional coregulators. A new biotechnology company, Oxia, was recently formed to bring these new drugs to the clinic.

He provided an outstanding training environment and challenged his mentees to be innovative, careful, and mission focused. His work ethic was legendary, his mind was never at rest, and his infectious enthusiasm for science was very motivating…

While exploring the biology of coregulators in immune cells, he made the important observation that genetic depletion of the coregulator SRC3 in a specific subset of immune cells (regulatory T-cells (Tregs)), altered their properties such that their autologous transfer into tumor-bearing hosts resulted in substantial (with emphasis) antitumor activity. As significant was the observation that these engineered Tregs cells confer a long lasting immunity to tumor rechallenge in mice. The findings were remarkable and, not surprisingly, the PNAS paper describing this work was awarded the prestigious Cozzarelli Prize. Recently, Bert proposed that, similar to what was observed in mice disruption of SRC3 expression in human Tregs would enable the  development of a curative immunotherapy for certain solid tumors. To ensure his idea would be tested, he founded and secured substantial funding for a second “coactivator” company, CoRegen, the focus of which is to bring this potential new therapy to the clinic. The translation of Bert’s fundamental research into practice-changing medical interventions will be his lasting legacy.

Not surprisingly, Bert was recognized for his exceptionally important accomplishments being an elected member of the National Academy of Science (1992), the National Academy of Medicine (1993), and the National Academy of Inventors (2019). In 2007 he was presented with the National Medal of Science by President George W. Bush. He was also a recipient of the Komen Brinker Award (2001), the Pasarow Award in Cancer Research (2006) and the Horowitz Prize (2018) among many others.

He received numerous honorary doctorates from different institutions all over the world. His receipt of his parchment from the National University of Ireland was especially treasured.

A Mentor to Hundreds

Beyond his science, Bert will be remembered for his dedicated mentorship of over 300 scientists, most of whom have remained in science holding leadership positions in academia and industry.  Given his strong Irish roots and regular visits to Ireland, it is not surprising that over 30 Irish graduate students and postdoctoral fellows elected to move to the United States to work under his mentorship. He provided an outstanding training environment and challenged his mentees to be innovative, careful, and mission focused. His work ethic was legendary, his mind was never at rest, and his infectious enthusiasm for science was very motivating; something I really appreciated as a graduate student working in his laboratory. He and Sally, his wife of 65 years, made sure that all the trainees also learned how to enjoy themselves! Most will remember the legendary St. Patrick’s Day parties hosted at the O’Malley home.

The field has lost the “(grand) father” of Molecular Endocrinology but the impact of his research for over 60 years will endure.  Thank you, Bert, for everything you have done for the field of endocrinology (RIP).

McDonnell is the Glaxo-Wellcome Professor of MCB, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C.

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John Newell-Price, MD, PhD, FRCP, professor of endocrinology at the University of Sheffield, honorary consultant physician at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and past-president of the Endocrine Society, has been appointed as the new Clinical Research Director at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Newell-Price’s clinical expertise includes pituitary and adrenal disorders, genetic endocrine disease, and neuroendocrine tumors and cancer. His research group focuses on glucocorticoid excess and deficiency, with discoveries that have resulted in new paradigms of diagnosis and treatment.

Together with colleagues, Newell-Price has developed Sheffield into a world-leading patient-centered clinical endocrine service where clinical and translational research and innovation is embedded, being funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), industry and charities.  

He has led nationally with NHS England and the Royal College of Physicians to set standards of care in his field, and internationally on numerous evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. In addition to his extensive leadership, Newell-Price has a longstanding commitment to developing, championing and training medical students and researchers in the early stages of their careers, as well as a long track-record of working closely with patient groups. 

“I am honored to take on the role of clinical research director at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Our research and innovation, led by our senior research and innovation leadership and talented CRIO team, is built on a foundation of clinically excellent collaboration and innovation.” – John Newell-Price, MD, PhD, FRCP, on his new position with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Newell-Price will be part of the team that drives forward the Trust’s new research and innovation strategy which also supports the 10 Year Health Plan for England, aiming to create a future-ready NHS using new technologies, medicines, and innovations to support prevention and treatment of clinical conditions. He will also be responsible for co-leading the Clinical Research and Innovation Office (CRIO).  

“I am honored to take on the role of clinical research director at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,” Newell-Price says. “Our research and innovation, led by our senior research and innovation leadership and talented CRIO team, is built on a foundation of clinically excellent collaboration and innovation.”

Newell-Price succeeds Simon Heller, MD, professor of clinical diabetes at the University of Sheffield, who served in that position for 19 years. “I am indebted to him for his invaluable leadership and the significant strides he has made in advancing clinical research and innovation at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.”

“I look forward to working with everyone including patients, staff, public, industry, universities, charities and stakeholders to ensure our research and innovation continues to make a real difference to patients’ lives in the region and beyond,” Newell-Price says.  

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[Editor’s Note: We are bumping up this 2021 interview with Joel Habener, MD, MD, who spoke to us about the best practices on writing staff recommendation letters.]

Grad schools, fellowship applications, and potential employers all depend on recommendation letters to help reveal applicants’ best accomplishments and strengths. As a lab manager or senior-level faculty member, odds are high that you have been asked to author such a letter for students or young employees advancing to the next stages of their careers.

Writing recommendation letters are a familiar process. Good letters are specific and include facts and anecdotes whenever possible. For instance, share whether the applicant has any unusual competence, talent, or leadership skills. What excites this person? What do remember most about him or her?

As the Endocrine Society’s 2018 Outstanding Mentor Laureate Award winner, Joel Habener, MA, MD, has written more than his fair share of recommendation letters in his position as the chief of Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of medicine at the Harvard Medical School in Boston. Endocrine News caught up with him to share his best advice for others who get the “ask.”

Endocrine News: Do you follow any set guidelines when asked to write a recommendation letter?

Habener: The guidelines I follow are: 1) Determine when the recommendation is required by the requestor;2) Place the preparation of the recommendation at the top of the list of things to do. Remember that letters are extremely important for the career development of the individual requesting the recommendation; 3) Focus on the positive aspects of the experience with the individual, such as accomplishments, effort, personality, and relationship with peers. Invite the recipient of the letter to phone with requests for additional information, meaning information that would be considered negative, such as problems with performance, behavior, or interpersonal relations. This keeps the negative information “off the record.”                                                               

EN: Is it OK to ask the requesters to write what information they want the recommender to include? 

Habener: Absolutely. It is helpful, if not essential, to sit down with the requestor and obtain a good understanding of the purpose of the letter and if there is specific information that is requested. In reality, many recommendation letters are forms requesting numerical evaluations of certain criteria relating to the individual, followed by a section for inserting comments.

EN: Is there a best way to decline writing a recommendation?

Habener: That is an interesting question. I don’t recall ever declining writing a recommendation. I imagine that such would occur under two circumstances. First, if I did not have sufficient information about the requestor, such as a very limited contact, relationship, or experience, and second, if the relationship/experience was not a good one.

“Invite the recipient of the letter to phone with requests for additional information, meaning information that would be considered negative, such as problems with performance, behavior, or interpersonal relations. This keeps the negative information ‘off the record.’” – Joel Habener, MA, MD, chief, Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital; professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.                                                             

In the former instance, I would prepare a brief letter documenting the nature of the experience, the time spent, and that objectives were met.

EN: Do you often hear from the requester about the outcome of their application?

Habener: Yes, and by “often” I would say maybe 75% of the time I receive a thank you and an update of the outcome. Most of the letters I have written have been for trainees who are moving up to the next step in their career ladder, such as an application to medical school, a graduate program, or to a junior faculty position. The letters precede their leaving the lab so we can keep informed on the progress of the applications. My last research student was accepted to all five medical schools he applied to, requiring an additional request for advice from me.

—Fauntleroy Shaw is a freelance writer based in Carmel, IN. She is a regular contributor to Endocrine News.

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As Thyroid Awareness Month begins, three studies offer new insights into the management of common thyroid conditions, from the promise of noninvasive drug therapies to reassurance about the safety of established treatments.

The management of thyroid nodules and thyroid dysfunction represents a substantial clinical challenge given the high prevalence of these conditions in clinical practice. Three recent studies published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism address complementary aspects of this clinical backdrop. Two studies sought to answer similar questions about less-invasive treatment for benign thyroid nodules (BTNs), which have an extremely high prevalence.

BTNs are found in about half of adults on autopsy and in up to two-thirds of patients when evaluated with high-frequency ultrasound. While most BTNs can be safely observed, some affect patient quality of life, and treatments that balance patient preferences with the benign nature of the disease and minimize procedural risk represent an important unmet clinical need. The third study looks at the purported risk of developing thyroid cancer after treatment for Graves disease.

Together, these studies shed light on both established and emerging therapeutic strategies for thyroid disorders, while addressing fundamental safety concerns that will influence clinical decision-making and patient counseling.

Pharmacologic Treatment for Benign Thyroid Nodules

In “Drug Repurposing for Reducing the Size of Benign Thyroid Nodules: A Systematic 1 Review,” Cristian Soto Jacome, MD, and Juan P. Brito, MD, MSc, both of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and team cite a gap in available treatments as the impetus for their investigation. When treatment for BTNs becomes desirable, current treatment options are either invasive or minimally invasive.

“This project grew out of a very common clinical tension in thyroid care. Surgery or ablation are effective but invasive and not always aligned with patient preferences for a benign condition,” explains Brito. “At the same time, a number of small studies have explored whether existing medications used for other indications might influence BTN size.” These heterogenous studies, however, involved different drug classes, populations, and study designs, and they often reported mixed or “difficult-to-interpret” results. Without a clear synthesis of the literature, whether any of these findings were meaningful or whether they justified further investigation was unclear. “We undertook this systematic review to consolidate the available evidence, assess whether there was any consistent signal across studies, and identify where the real gaps in knowledge remain,” says Brito.

For the subset of patients with BTNs experiencing a negative impact on their quality of life, treatment becomes important when BTNs interfere with their daily comfort (e.g., by causing neck pressure, discomfort, or swallowing difficulties), body image (e.g., from visible neck asymmetry), or peace of mind (e.g., when progressive nodule growth raises concern about future symptoms or the need for surgery). Even when nodules are asymptomatic, repeated imaging, biopsies, and follow-up visits can cause patient anxiety and distress despite reassurance that the condition is benign. “Because current effective treatments are invasive,” says Brito, “identifying safe, noninvasive ways to reduce nodule size could meaningfully improve quality of life by relieving symptoms, reducing anxiety, and potentially avoiding procedures in patients with otherwise benign disease.”

Twenty studies met the team’s inclusion criteria for their systematic review: six randomized controlled trials (RCTs), six prospective cohorts, three retrospective observational studies, three case reports, one cross-sectional study, and one preclinical study. “We did not start with a predefined list of medications or specific drug classes,” explains Brito. “Instead, our approach was intentionally broad and driven by what has already been studied in the literature. We searched systematically for any pharmacologic agent that had been evaluated for an effect on BTNs, regardless of the original indication of the drug.”

Overall, metformin presents the strongest case for pharmacologic management of BTN, particularly when metabolic dysfunction coexists, but this finding comes with caveats. It was the most extensively studied drug (n=7), with five reports — including two RCTs — showing statistically meaningful volume reductions in dominant nodules. One prospective trial noted diameter reduction without statistical significance, and one RCT found no effect. Results for statins (n=4) and somatostatin analogues (n=4) were variable. Limited evidence from isolated studies suggests possible efficacy for myo-inositol-selenium combinations, botanical formulations, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

 As the authors are quick to point out, however, the evidence base remains incomplete and inconsistent, necessitating rigorous, adequately powered trials before clinical implementation can be recommended.

To dig into metformin’s particular efficacy in the setting of metabolic dysfunction a bit, observational studies have reported an association between obesity, insulin resistance, or other metabolic conditions and the presence of BTNs. But, says, Brito: “These findings need to be interpreted with caution. One important consideration is detection bias. Patients with obesity or metabolic diseases are often more engaged with the healthcare system and may undergo more frequent laboratory testing and thyroid imaging, particularly ultrasound. This increased surveillance can create an apparent association between metabolic conditions and thyroid nodules that does not necessarily reflect a true biological relationship.” He further explains that plausible biological mechanisms nevertheless link metabolic dysfunction and thyroid tissue growth, and the repeated observation of this association across studies suggests a genuine signal may be present. The current evidence supports an association rather than a causal relationship, however.

“From a clinical standpoint, this review does not support the routine use of metformin or any other medication as a treatment to shrink [benign thyroid nodules]. Although some studies, particularly those evaluating metformin, reported statistically significant changes in nodule size, the evidence is heterogeneous, often based on small samples, and in many cases the magnitude of change is unlikely to be clinically meaningful. As a result, these findings should not be interpreted as practice changing.” — Juan P. Brito, MD, MSc, Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Those caveats mentioned above? “From a clinical standpoint, this review does not support the routine use of metformin or any other medication as a treatment to shrink BTNs. Although some studies, particularly those evaluating metformin, reported statistically significant changes in nodule size, the evidence is heterogeneous, often based on small samples, and in many cases the magnitude of change is unlikely to be clinically meaningful. As a result, these findings should not be interpreted as practice changing,” cautions Brito.

He says the primary value of the work he, Jacome, and team undertook is in guiding future research. “By assembling and critically appraising the existing literature, the review identifies early signals, clarifies their limitations, and helps define where more rigorous investigation is needed.” Larger, well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm whether any repurposed medications can achieve clinically meaningful reductions in BTN size, not just statistically significant changes. According to Brito and team, these studies should use standardized outcome measures, include clear thresholds for meaningful response, and follow patients long enough to assess durability.

He says their work also aims to stimulate a research agenda in which traditional clinical studies are complemented by newer approaches, including the use of large datasets and artificial intelligence methods, tools that may allow the field to better identify patterns, generate hypotheses, and uncover new candidate medications that influence thyroid nodule growth. “Together, these efforts could help move the field from scattered early signals toward evidence that is strong enough to inform future noninvasive treatment strategies.”

“For now, the takeaway for clinicians is that observation and procedural treatments remain the standard, while pharmacologic approaches should be viewed as an emerging research opportunity rather than a ready-to-use therapy,” says Brito.

Long-Term Ablation Efficacy

The search for less-invasive alternatives to surgery for BTNs has also driven advances in procedural techniques. In “Percutaneous Laser Ablation for Thyroid Nodules: Efficacy and Safety in 1,492 Patients With Median Follow-up of 10 Years or More,” Giovanni Gambelunghe, MD, PhD, of the Clinica Liotti in Perugia, Italy, and team adopted percutaneous, ultrasound-guided laser ablation in 2004 and progressively refined the technique during the following years.

“From the outset, we recognized the importance of this approach in minimizing surgical trauma in patients with thyroid nodular disease,” says Gambelunghe. “This awareness led us to perform a retrospective evaluation of all treated patients, which confirmed what we observed in daily clinical practice — namely, the method’s safety and effectiveness.” The patients he refers to underwent one session of laser ablation at various sites in Taormina and Perugia between May 2009 and July 2024.

Gambelunghe explains that thermoablative techniques are now a well-established alternative to surgery for BTN, multiple studies having demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life among patients treated with these approaches: “The principal benefits include reduction in nodule volume — often 50% to 80% within six to 12 months — which leads to decreased sensation of a foreign body in the throat, reduced dysphagia, improvement in dysphonia or cervical pressure, and better breathing in cases associated with compressive symptoms,” he says. These overall improvements in daily functioning, including speaking, eating, and sleeping, are complemented by improved cosmetic outcomes; avoidance of hormone replacement therapy, as the energy delivery is confined to the nodule and spares the healthy thyroid tissue; and rapid recovery and absence of scarring, since the procedure is outpatient, and patients can typically resume work almost immediately,” he continues.

“The study confirms that laser thermoablation is both safe and effective not only in the short term but also over long-term follow-up, which is one of its most noteworthy findings. What impressed me most, however, was that the overwhelming majority of patients reported they would willingly undergo the procedure again — strong evidence of the technique’s truly minimally invasive nature. Clinicians should feel confident in adopting this technique as part of their therapeutic armamentarium.” — Giovanni Gambelunghe, MD, PhD, Endocrine Unit, Clinica Liotti, Perugia, Italy

Notably, laser ablation is the only ablative technique that does not require sedation or even local anesthesia. Says Gambelunghe: “Laser ablation demonstrates efficacy and safety comparable to other thermal ablation techniques, while offering lower procedural complexity, smaller applicators, lower energy delivery, improved safety in critical areas, and a shorter learning curve.” Its minimal invasiveness also has cost implications. “Although a formal economic evaluation was beyond the scope of this study, a recent Italian cost-analysis showed that thermal ablation is less expensive than both hemithyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy, mainly due to the avoidance of the operating room, shorter hospital stay, and reduced productivity loss,” explains Gambelunghe. “Accordingly, laser ablation is expected to be cost-competitive or potentially more economical than other treatment options, particularly because it is performed in an outpatient setting without anesthesia and requires low-cost disposable devices.”

The sole remaining issue for Gambelunghe and team to investigate was whether all of these benefits would persist for the long term, with patients with nontoxic nodules followed for a median of 10.4 years. “The study confirms that laser thermoablation is both safe and effective not only in the short term but also over long-term follow-up, which is one of its most noteworthy findings,” he says. “What impressed me most, however, was that the overwhelming majority of patients reported they would willingly undergo the procedure again — strong evidence of the technique’s truly minimally invasive nature. Clinicians should feel confident in adopting this technique as part of their therapeutic armamentarium.”

Safety of Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Graves Disease

In “Occurrence of Newly Diagnosed Thyroid Cancer Is Not Increased After Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Graves’ Disease,” Natsuko Watanabe, MD, of the Ito Hospital in Tokyo, Japan, and team took on the controversial question of whether radioactive iodine therapy (RAIT) for Graves disease could be a risk factor for the development of thyroid cancer and secondarily whether specific characteristics of thyroid cancer develop after RAIT, considering the patient background, histology, and genotype.

Their study was prompted by ongoing debates about cancer risks associated with RAIT. Study authors note that recent reports indicate that the number of patients opting for RAIT has decreased, with more than half of patients in the United States instead choosing antithyroid drugs because of concerns about possible worsening of thyroid eye disease or even developing cancer.

Indeed, previous research has yielded conflicting results. A 2021 meta-analysis suggested that RAIT might increase thyroid cancer incidence and mortality, finding a linear dose–response relationship between radiation dose and solid cancer mortality. However, the patient populations in those studies were highly varied, including not only Graves’ disease but also functional thyroid nodules, and some studies used the general population rather than patients with hyperthyroidism as controls. As the authors point out, “hyperthyroidism itself and possibly anti–thyroid receptor autoantibodies may also be associated with developing thyroid cancer,” making appropriate control groups essential.

To address these limitations, Watanabe and team conducted two parallel analyses using their institution’s extensive database. First, they retrospectively analyzed 13,874 patients diagnosed with untreated Graves’ disease from January 2007 to December 2016, comparing thyroid cancer incidence rates across three treatment groups: RAIT (n=2,273), surgery (n=287), and medication (n=11,314). New-onset thyroid cancer was identified in eight patients in the RAIT group and 39 in the medication group, with no cases in the surgery group. Using person-years (107,218) to compare treatment groups, they found no significant difference in cancer incidence rates.

Second, they analyzed all 23,179 patients who underwent RAIT for Graves’ disease at their institution from April 1997 to December 2022. Of the 17 cases that developed thyroid cancer after RAIT, only one was anaplastic thyroid cancer, while the remaining 16 were papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), of which 15 were microcarcinomas. Notably, four of these were incidental findings discovered during thyroidectomy performed for other indications, primarily recurrent Graves’ disease.

Logistic regression analysis failed to identify any significant risk factors for thyroid cancer development after RAIT. Parameters including thyroid size, administered radiation dose, absorbed radiation dose, and cumulative number of RAIT procedures showed no significant associations with cancer development. “Despite previous studies’ concern about a dose–response relationship between the administered radiation dose and cancer development,” the authors report, their analysis “did not identify any significant risk factors for thyroid cancer development.”

The team also investigated whether thyroid cancers developing after RAIT exhibited concerning histologic or genetic features. Reassuringly, “no instances of overlapping TERT promoter and BRAF mutations, which is considered to suggest a poor prognosis, were found” in cancers that developed after RAIT.

The authors acknowledge important study limitations, including its retrospective design at a specialized institution and the possibility that strict inclusion criteria resulted in a relatively small number of confirmed cancer cases. They also note that geographic and clinical practice differences may limit generalizability, particularly as Japan is an iodine-excess area and Japanese practice patterns for RAIT differ from those in other countries. “In Japan, there is not always a goal to achieve early hypothyroidism in all cases, and there is a tendency to monitor patients for several years after RAIT,” they explain, whereas American Thyroid Association guidelines recommend considering additional RAIT if hypothyroidism has not occurred within six months. Future studies should include extended observation periods and further follow-up.

Their findings nevertheless provide important reassurance: “This study demonstrated that the incidence of new thyroid cancer cases did not increase following RAIT. When cancer did develop, most cases were micro-PTCs, with no evidence of a particularly poor prognosis.” These results, drawn from one of the largest and longest-followed cohorts of patients with Graves’ disease treated with RAIT, may help inform more confident clinical decision making and patient counseling regarding this effective treatment option.

______________________________________________________________________________

These three studies collectively advance our understanding of thyroid disorders and illustrate how contemporary research is expanding treatment options while addressing longstanding safety concerns. Drug repurposing, although as yet unproven, represents a plausible pathway for developing noninvasive treatments for BTNs; laser ablation demonstrates proven long-term efficacy as a minimally invasive option; and concerns about carcinogenic effects of RAIT appear unsubstantiated, potentially removing a barrier to this effective treatment for hyperthyroidism.

Future research should continue to build on these foundations, with the ultimate goal of providing patients with thyroid disease a spectrum of evidence-based treatment options that align with their values, minimize risk, and optimize quality of life.

Horvath is a freelance writer based in Baltimore, Md. For the eleventh year running, she undertook the December issue’s “Eureka!” article where she spoke with Endocrine Society journal editors about the top endocrine science discoveries of 2025.

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The comprehensive guideline, “European Society of Endocrinology clinical practice guideline for evaluation and management of menopause and the perimenopause,” published recently in the European Journal of Endocrinology, emphasizes that while Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) is highly effective for severe symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, the method of delivery is key to patient safety.

The guidance is particularly pointed for high-risk patients: Women with a history of migraine aura are already at a higher baseline risk for stroke. For this group, the ESE strongly suggests transdermal estrogen due to its proven superior cardiovascular safety profile compared to oral forms.

The ESE analysis found that standard oral hormone treatments — the traditional pills — carry an increased risk of ischemic stroke. The guideline now clearly advises that for women who are appropriate candidates for MHT, low-to-standard dose transdermal oestradiol (delivered via a patch or gel on the skin) is the preferred method, as it demonstrated a neutral effect on stroke risk.

“This is a crucial distinction,” says Mary Ann Lumsden, an endocrinology specialist at the University of Glasgow and one of the guideline authors. “We know MHT works, but now the consensus is moving away from oral pills toward transdermal patches to safeguard the cardiovascular health of patients, especially as they age.”

The guidance is particularly pointed for high-risk patients: Women with a history of migraine aura are already at a higher baseline risk for stroke. For this group, the ESE strongly suggests transdermal estrogen due to its proven superior cardiovascular safety profile compared to oral forms.

The guidelines stress that treatment is not just about hormones. The ESE called for a fundamental shift toward a holistic approach, recommending that clinicians address diet, exercise, and mental health rather than focusing solely on hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

The new ESE document also clarifies the diagnostic pathway for women who experience menopause prematurely. The guidelines recommend that Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) should be considered for any woman under the age of 40 experiencing irregular periods, subfertility, or classic menopausal symptoms. Biochemical testing is recommended for this younger group. Furthermore, the experts urge immediate referral of women with POI to a specialized menopause expert or multidisciplinary team. This is particularly important for those who have complex medical histories, such as a high risk of hormone-dependent cancers.

Finally, the guideline mandates clear communication on cancer risk. Doctors are instructed to ensure that all women initiating MHT are informed about the increased risk for breast cancer. With the lifetime risk of breast cancer in Western women exceeding 10%, according to the ESE, American Cancer Society, and the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the ESE emphasized that transparency and informed consent are non-negotiable parts of the prescribing process. The comprehensive document ultimately serves as a call to action for healthcare professionals, ensuring they possess the fundamental knowledge to evaluate, counsel, and optimally manage women through the perimenopausal and postmenopausal phases of life, navigating the balance between symptom relief and long-term health risks.

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Habener became interested in how the hormone glucagon fits into the puzzle of how the body regulates blood sugar levels in the 1970s. When Habener cloned the gene for glucagon, he discovered that it encodes not only glucagon itself, but also another molecule that resembles glucagon-like-peptide-1.

“Joel Habener was a pioneer in molecular endocrinology who utilized the power of molecular biology to gain unique insights into the structure and processing of prohormones,” says Daniel J. Drucker, MD, senior investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, and a university professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine in Ontario. “Habener was widely recognized for welcoming clinical trained fellows who often gained their first real exposure to basic science in his lab. His foundational science was fundamental to the birth of the nascent field of GLP-1 biology and changed the fields of endocrinology and clinical medicine.”

Awards Season

Habener, along with colleagues Drucker; Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, DMSc, chief scientific advisor and head of the GLP-1 Centre of Excellence at Novo Nordisk; and Svetlana Mojsov, PhD, research associate professor at Rockefeller University in New York, have received many awards and accolades in recent years for their discovery of these GLP-1 therapies that led to blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which the FDA in December 2025 approved as a once-daily pill for weight loss (20 years after the FDA approved the first GLP-1 drug for type 2 diabetes).

“That two-decade progression cleanly captures how Joel’s career has sent ripples through health care,” George Q. Daley, MD, PhD, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Harvard, wrote in a statement honoring Habener.

“Habener was widely recognized for welcoming clinical trained fellows who often gained their first real exposure to basic science in his lab. His foundational science was fundamental to the birth of the nascent field of GLP-1 biology and changed the fields of endocrinology and clinical medicine.” – Daniel J. Drucker, MD, senior investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, and a university professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine in Ontario

In 2020, Habener, along with Drucker and Jens Juul Holst, MD, DMSc, professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences; Group Leader, Translational Metabolic Physiology, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, took home the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize their discoveries about the function of key intestinal hormones, their effects on metabolism, and the subsequent design of treatments for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and short bowel syndrome — the first time in many years in this prestigious award has gone to investigators in the field of endocrinology.

“These are diseases with a high morbidity and mortality and are attracting greater research efforts to understand the pathophysiology and to develop effective therapies to combat them,” Habener told Endocrine News at the time. “Obesity and its ensuing constellation of ensuing disorders known as the metabolic syndrome include diabetes, steatohepatitis, hypertension, and even dementia and certain types of cancer.”

The next year, Habener, Drucker, and Holst were recognized with the 2021 Canada Gairdner International Award for their research on glucagon-like peptides that led to major advances in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and intestinal disorders. The independent and collaborative work of Habener, Drucker, and Holst enhanced the understanding of how gastrointestinal organs function and created new classes of drugs for the treatment of metabolic disorders, specifically type 2 diabetes, obesity and short bowel syndrome.

The three discovered glucagon-like peptides (GLP-1 and -2) and elucidated their biology and physiological function and played critical roles in the design and testing of therapies informed by their initial and subsequent discoveries. These three scientists were awarded for a combined body of work with significant impact on the field of diabetes and short bowel syndrome but were also recognized for their individual discoveries that underpin the translational results.

Habener, Knudsen, and Mojsov won the 2024 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award again for their work on GLP-1RAs. Habener, Mojsov, and Knudsen, also received the Friends of the National Library of Medicine’s (FNLM) 2025 Distinguished Medical Science Award for their groundbreaking contributions to the development of GLP-1 therapies.

The 2025 Breakthrough Prize for Life Science was awarded to Habener, Drucker, Knudsen, Mosjov, and Holst. Nicknamed “the Oscars of Science,” the Breakthrough Prize for Life Science recognizes the world’s top scientists. Each prize is $3 million and is presented in the fields of Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics and Mathematics. “Joel’s receipt (along with his co-awardees) of the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and the 2024 Lasker–DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award has made him a likely contender for the Nobel Prize,” Daley wrote in a statement. “Although he did not live to see that recognition, the value of Joel’s discoveries will continue to accrue with time, as millions of lives are improved and saved. That extraordinary impact is its own enduring honor.”

Discovery Channel

According to Habener, his interest and work in the field of gut hormones as therapeutic targets evolved stepwise with several discoveries over several decades starting in the 1970s. “That was a time when recombinant DNA technology was being developed and my experience at the NIH convinced me to pursue a career in basic discovery research and to exploit the power of recombinant DNA technology,” Habener said.

Habener completed his training in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in1972 and became an investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute, while at the same time being named chief of the newly established Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology at MGH.

Habener used pancreatic cells from anglerfish to demonstrate that glucagon and somatostatin were encoded in the pancreatic cells as larger, precursor hormones. During additional mammal studies, he discovered two new hormones related to glucagon which are known as GLP-1 and GLP-2.

“Habener will be remembered as a visionary scientist whose discoveries transformed the field of metabolic medicine and as a highly sought after mentor who trained generations of independent investigators.” – Daniel J. Drucker, MD, senior investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, and a university professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine in Ontario

Habener explained that each of the individual anglerfish proglucagons encoded the fish versions of glucagon and a second peptide resembling but distinct from glucagon. Habener and his colleagues named these distinct second peptides GRPs — glucagon-related peptides. Comparisons of the amino acid sequences of the GRPs, suggested sequence similarities with mammalian GIP, termed gastric inhibitory peptide, later re-named glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide.

“The remarkable findings in the studies of mammalian proglucagons was that they contained the sequence of glucagon, and not one but two additional GRPs, re- named GLP-1 and GLP-2. One of the GLPs (GLP-1) appears to be the homolog of anglerfish GRP,” Habener explained at the time. “In addition, at the level of the gene structure and organization, each of the three peptides, glucagon, GLP-1, and GLP-2 are encoded in separate exons.”

Drucker served as a fellow in Habener’s lab in the 1980s, outlined the processing of proglucagon and the biology of GLP-1 action on insulin-producing cells, which led to the development of multiple types of treatments for type 2 diabetes.

“During the three years that he spent in my lab before returning to Toronto, he first-authored, or co-authored, 12 publications describing his work, a clearly impressive accomplishment for someone who had little prior background in basic research,” Habener said of Drucker. “This high level of research productivity focused on the GLP-1s continued in Toronto. Notable early accomplishments were the creation and characterization of the GLP-1 receptor knock-out mouse and the demonstration that GLP-2 promoted the growth of the intestinal epithelium.”

Together, Habener, Drucker, and their colleagues made major contributions to endocrinology and changed the treatment of metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases. Their work is both basic and translational, a true example of bench to bedside research.

“Habener will be remembered as a visionary scientist whose discoveries transformed the field of metabolic medicine and as a highly sought after mentor who trained generations of independent investigators,” Drucker says.

The post Remembering Joel Habener, MD appeared first on Endocrine News.

Rezolute Provides Insights from its Phase 3 sunRIZE Study in Congenital Hyperinsulinism and Shares Findings from its Expanded Access Program in Tumor Hyperinsulinism

On January 7, Rezolute, Inc., a late-stage rare disease company focused on treating hypoglycemia caused by all forms of hyperinsulinism (HI), shared observations from the Phase 3 sunRIZE study in patients with congenital HI and provided details on the treatment of tumor HI patients with ersodetug under the Company’s EAP.

While sunRIZE did not meet its primary (hypoglycemia events) or key secondary (time in hypoglycemia) endpoints, the Company believes that the totality of the data further supports previous clinical evidence that ersodetug is active against hypoglycemia in patients. Specifically, there was evidence of pharmacologic activity as target therapeutic drug concentrations were achieved in both treatment groups (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) with highly sensitive biomarker responses (increases in circulating insulin) in the active treatment groups that are indicative of reduced insulin activity at its receptor. Notably, these responses were consistent with those of the Company’s Phase 2 RIZE study (see Figure 1).

The study also demonstrated reductions from baseline in events and time in hypoglycemia in both treatment groups, but not enough to be statistically significant compared to the pronounced study effect in the placebo arm. While in the early stages of evaluating study data and understanding the results, learnings in the field of glycemic control and initial observations from sunRIZE inform the Company’s belief that the pharmacologic response can translate to clinical efficacy. The magnitude of the placebo response observed for hypoglycemia events reveals a significant challenge in studying glucose in an ambulatory setting, where factors such as intensive monitoring where caregivers receive alerts regarding hypoglycemic events and frequent clinical interactions can independently influence outcomes.

The Company believes that the extent of reduction from baseline in hypoglycemia events and time in hypoglycemia relative to placebo may have been impacted by the prolonged treatment duration of six months and the fact that glucose monitoring is necessary for safe patient management while also serving as the key endpoint in the study. This sentiment has been shared with the Company by investigator physicians as well as study participants. The Company is currently exploring how to characterize the overall study dynamic including evaluating patient-reported quality of life outcomes.

In light of these limitations, assessing the potential benefit in the ongoing open-label extension (OLE) portion of the study will be important. All 59 participants who completed the study elected to continue to receive ersodetug in the OLE. To date, 57 participants remain in the OLE, with an exposure duration ranging from ~6 weeks for the most recently entered patients, to ~18 months. The Company believes that a potential indicator of ersodetug’s underlying efficacy is that several children in the OLE have been able to stop taking all other therapies and are now receiving ersodetug as monotherapy.

The Company looks forward to interacting with FDA in Q1 2026 under its Breakthrough Therapy Designation to further characterize these and other clinical outcomes to inform a review of the full sunRIZE dataset with the intent of exploring options for this indication.

Tumor HI

Over the past two years, Rezolute has collaborated with investigators across the United States and in Europe to provide ersodetug to more than a dozen patients with severe and refractory hypoglycemia due to tumor HI, including malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (insulinomas) and non-islet cell tumors. The Company has previously reported that the therapy was generally well-tolerated, and that patients experienced substantial improvement in hypoglycemia, which led to a reduction in the rate of glucose infusion in the hospital (GIR) or the complete discontinuation of infusion and discharge from the hospital.

Presented in a table filed today on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission are cumulative data from the initial 9 participants in the EAP, including patient characteristics, ersodetug dosing, and observed outcomes. This same data cohort was provided to FDA last year in support of the Company’s request for Breakthrough Therapy Designation and subsequently informed the discussion with FDA that led to revision of the Phase 3 upLIFT study in tumor HI to a single arm, open-label study. In summary, 75% of the patients receiving IV dextrose/total parental nutrition (TPN) in the EAP achieved a complete discontinuation of IV dextrose/TPN.

This outcome is highly relevant to the ongoing upLIFT study and provides additional evidence of the activity and potential efficacy of ersodetug across various forms of HI. Notably, the GIR assessment in the EAP is the primary endpoint in upLIFT, which measures the number of participants (out of ~16) who achieve at least a 50% reduction in GIR, an objective endpoint in a highly controlled hospital setting. For statistical significance, 9 of 16 open-label participants need to achieve this threshold. Topline results are anticipated in the second half of 2026.

About sunRIZE

The Phase 3 sunRIZE study (RZ358-301) was a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel arm study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ersodetug in patients with congenital hyperinsulinism (HI), ages 3 months to 45 years old, who were experiencing continued hypoglycemia on currently available standard of care (SOC). Eligible participants were randomized to one of three treatment arms to receive either ersodetug (5 or 10 mg/kg) or matched placebo-control as add on to existing SOC. Study drug was administered every other week during an initial loading phase, and then every 4 weeks during the 6-month controlled pivotal treatment period. Following the pivotal treatment phase of the study, participants could roll-over into an optional open-label extension phase to continue to receive ersodetug.

The study enrolled 63 participants in more than a dozen countries around the world, inclusive of U.S. patients. The primary and key secondary efficacy endpoints in the study were the change from baseline in the average number of hypoglycemia events per week and the average percent time in hypoglycemia, respectively, over six months of treatment.

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals Announces Nomination of AMX0318 as a Novel, Long-Acting GLP-1 Receptor Antagonist Development Candidate, Identified in Collaboration with Gubra A/S

On January 8, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced the selection of AMX0318, a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor antagonist, as a development candidate for post-bariatric hypoglycemia (PBH) and other rare diseases. AMX0318 was identified through a research collaboration with Gubra A/S (“Gubra”), a company specializing in peptide-based drug discovery and preclinical contract research services.

“We are very pleased to nominate AMX0318 as a development candidate and were highly impressed by Gubra’s proprietary and innovative process, which identified a peptide that surpassed our research target profile for a long-acting GLP-1 receptor antagonist. AMX0318 has thus far shown robust preclinical and chemical properties, including a pharmacokinetic profile that may support long-acting administration,” says Endocrine Society member Camille L. Bedrosian, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Amylyx. “We are excited about the opportunity to develop additional therapeutic possibilities for people who may benefit from inhibiting GLP-1 receptor activity, including people with PBH and other rare diseases. The GLP-1 receptor is a well-characterized biological target and one of the key regulators of glucose-insulin homeostasis.”

Bedrosian continued, “We have strong conviction that inhibiting GLP-1 receptor activity represents an important therapeutic approach given the statistically significant data that avexitide, our investigational, first-in-class GLP-1 receptor antagonist, has generated to date. We continue to expect completion of recruitment in our pivotal Phase 3 LUCIDITY trial of avexitide in Q1 2026, with topline data expected in Q3 2026.”

“We are excited about the opportunity to develop additional therapeutic possibilities for people who may benefit from inhibiting GLP-1 receptor activity, including people with PBH and other rare diseases. The GLP-1 receptor is a well-characterized biological target and one of the key regulators of glucose-insulin homeostasis.” – Endocrine Society member Camille L. Bedrosian, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Amylyx

AMX0318 has completed extensive preclinical evaluation, including stability, solubility, potency, in vivo pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and in vivo tolerability studies. Amylyx expects the program to advance into investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies later this year, with an IND targeted for 2027, pending successful completion of IND-enabling studies.

“We are pleased to see AMX0318 advance as a development candidate, a milestone that reflects both the strong collaboration between the Gubra and Amylyx teams and the capabilities of Gubra’s proprietary peptide drug discovery platform,” said Louise S. Dalbøge, Chief Science Officer at Gubra. “Our AI-driven streaMLine platform enables multi-parameter optimization of peptide candidates, and we are excited to see this applied successfully to AMX0318 in close collaboration with Amylyx.”

Under the terms of the research collaboration, Gubra is eligible to receive more than $50 million in success-based development and commercialization milestones plus mid-single digit royalties on worldwide net sales. The selection and handover of the development candidate will provide milestone payments of $4 million to Gubra.

Interim Clinical Results Shows First-in-Human Non-Fibrotic Engraftment and Viable Encapsulated Human Islets in Subjects with Type 1 Diabetes

On January 6, Encellin, a biotechnology company pioneering Encapsulated Cell Replacement Therapy (ENCRT), announced interim clinical results from its ongoing Phase 1 investigational trial (NCT06408311) in study subjects with type 1 diabetes. Analyses of explants from the initial five subjects at prespecified timepoints demonstrated non-fibrotic engraftment with robust vascularization around the ENCRT implant after a 4-month implantation. Importantly, in the initial evaluated explant Encellin observed viable islets, providing the first clinical support that therapeutic cells can persist within the ENCRT implant in humans.

These early findings represent the first reported human evidence suggesting that Encellin’s proprietary ENCRT can potentially be used to mitigate fibrosis, a challenge that has historically limited encapsulated approaches. Moreover, the presence of viable encapsulated human islets suggests that by addressing the fibrotic response, the local microenvironment created by the ENCRT may be capable of supporting living therapeutic cells in the human body, an important step towards the development of cell-based therapies for patients with Type 1 Diabetes.

“These findings represent an exciting milestone for our team and the field,” said Crystal Nyitray, PhD, CEO and Founder of Encellin. “While much work remains, these findings suggest that Encellin’s proprietary ENCRT approach may be capable of supporting cell therapies in humans. If confirmed in larger studies, these observations provide an important foundation for the continued development of ENCRT in Type 1 Diabetes and, over time, other endocrine indications.”

“Outside the body, we can now engineer cells in all sorts of ways. For example, we can engineer them to be little factories producing medicines like hormones and therapeutic peptides in response to outside signals,” said Alex Morgan, Partner at Khosla Ventures. “However, what we can’t currently do is easily keep these foreign cells alive inside the human body. Showing that foreign cells can be kept alive for months within these implanted packets points to a possible future where instead of needing to take medications via an injection or pill, they are just made within us, as needed, from universal cell lines. Demonstration that non-fibrotic, vascularized integration can be achieved and foreign cell viability sustained is a key milestone toward this goal, although there is still a lot of work ahead.”

The Phase 1 trial is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of ENCRT devices containing therapeutic cell cargo. Specifically, in this case, subjects were patients with Type 1 Diabetes implanted with allogeneic islets. While analyses are ongoing, these initial observations show early supportive human evidence of non-fibrotic, vascularized integration of ENCRT with viable encapsulated human islets—important foundations for future encapsulated cell-based therapies. Beyond Type 1 Diabetes, Encellin is exploring its ENCRT platform in additional endocrine and metabolic indications, assessing its potential as a modular and scalable solution with the long-term vision of enabling cell-based therapies across multiple diseases.

The post Pharma Friday – January 9, 2026 appeared first on Endocrine News.

For more than 80 years, the Society has recognized the achievements of its members with the annual Laurate Awards. Established in 1944, the awards recognize the field’s highest accomplishments in areas of research, service, leadership, mentorship, innovation, international contributions, education, translation of bench to bedside, and lifetime achievement.

Laureate winners represent all stages of the profession, from those at the pinnacle of the field to young endocrinologists just starting their careers.

In the following pages, you can learn about our 2026 Laureates. We’ve also asked them to describe how the Endocrine Society has helped shape their careers as well as what advice they have for those aspiring, early-career endocrinologists.

The winners will be recognized at ENDO 2026 in Chicago, Illinois, June 13-16, 2026.

Robert M. Carey, MD, MACP

Fred Conrad Koch Lifetime Achievement Award

The Society’s highest honor, this annual award recognizes lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions to the field of endocrinology.

Rober. M. Carey, MD, MACP, is Professor of Medicine and Dean Emeritus at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, Va.

A world-renowned clinical endocrinologist and leader in cardiovascular endocrinology, Carey received the Endocrine Society’s highest honor this year in recognition of his leadership in clinical hypertension, which includes a long career treating patients, conducting groundbreaking research, and enhancing our understanding of hormonal control of blood pressure.

Among his many contributions and accomplishments to the field, he has co-authored two Endocrine Society clinical practice guidelines on primary aldosteronism, served as vice-chair of the 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) hypertension guideline writing committee, and chair of the 2018 AHA scientific statement on resistant hypertension.

Carey was Dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine from 1986 to 2002. At the conclusion of his 16-year deanship, he received the Thomas Jefferson Award, the highest honor at the University of Virginia, for transforming academic medicine at the university.

An active and long-time member of the Endocrine Society, Carey has served on many committees and task forces. He was president of the Society in 2008 and is a past recipient of the Distinguished Physician Award and the Outstanding Leadership Award. He is currently a member of the Society’s Primary Aldosteronism Guideline Development Panel. 

From Nominations:

“Bob Carey is a leader in the hormonal control of blood pressure (BP) and hypertension; he has made major contributions to our understanding of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), the renal dopaminergic system, and mechanisms of pressure-natriuresis. His studies encompass a combination of cellular and molecular approaches, in vivo animal experiments, and patient-oriented clinical investigation…

“Bob has devoted his life to biomedical research in the hormonal control of blood pressure and service to academic medicine. His contributions to the hormonal control of BP and hypertension are widely recognized. He is most deserving of the Fred Conrad Koch Award.” – William F. Young, Jr., MD, MSc, Tyson Family Endocrinology Clinical Professor; Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science; Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition

Christopher Kevin Glass, MD, PhD

Edwin B. Astwood Award for Outstanding Research in Basic Science

Originally awarded from 1967 and renamed to honor the scientific contributions of the late Dr. Edwin B. Astwood, this award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of endocrinology via their outstanding basic science research.

Christopher Kevin Glass, MD, PhD, is Professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Diego.

He is recognized for his novel research that uncovered how nuclear hormone receptors and other signal-dependent transcription factors regulate the development and functions of macrophages, which play key roles in immune responses and are major contributors to nearly all chronic diseases.

His findings provided evidence that therapeutic targeting of macrophages could inhibit the development of atherosclerosis independent of changes in circulating cholesterol levels. 

Glass has received many honors and awards, including the Endocrine Society’s Ernst Oppenheimer Award, the NIH Director’s Transformative R01 Award, and the Grand Prix Scientifique, Fondation LefoulonDelalande, Institute de France.

As a longtime member of the Endocrine Society, Glass served as chair of the NIH Endocrinology Study Section (2002-2004), and as a member and chair (2022) of the Endocrine Society Laureate Award Committee. Glass also is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Sciences.

From Nominations:

“Dr. Glass is an endocrinologist and physician-scientist who has discovered transcriptional mechanisms that specify macrophage identities and regulate inflammation in endocrine, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. His work has established diverse anti-inflammatory actions of nuclear hormone receptors, explained how broadly expressed transcription factors exert cell-specific functions, and revealed how different tissue environments induce distinct macrophage phenotypes…

“In summary, Chris Glass is a global leader in the fields of nuclear hormone receptors, lipid metabolism, and inflammation, and a truly outstanding candidate for the 2025 Edwin B. Astwood Award for Outstanding Research in Basic Science.” – Mitchell A. Lazar, MD, PhD, Willard and Rhoda Ware Professor in Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases; Director, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

How has the Endocrine Society supported your professional development/career journey?

The Endocrine Society and the NIDDK were the two intertwined organizations that gave me critical boosts both at the very beginning and at mid-career.  I benefitted tremendously from leadership of the Endocrine Society for career guidance.  If I were to single out one individual who exemplified the values of the Endocrine Society and made the biggest difference to me beyond my individual PhD and post-doctoral mentors, it would be Bert O’Malley.  Bert gave me ‘tough love’ at key points and was a constant supporter.  I was greatly saddened to learn of his passing this year and he will be in my thoughts when I receive the Astwood Award at the 2026 meeting. 

As a Laureate Award recipient, do you have any advice for those just beginning their careers?

My advice to people just starting independent careers is to first define the set of significant biological problems that they could be passionate about and that have the potential to be solved in a five to 10-year time frame.  Second, intersect that set of problems with areas of unmet medical need. Third, intersect this overlapping set of problems with plausible sources of funding.  You can’t do science without funding, and picking significant biological problems that link to unmet medical need is the best chance to get funding in the current climate. 

Rebecca Reynolds, MD, PhD

International Excellence in Endocrinology Award

This award is presented to an endocrinologist who has made exceptional contributions to the field in geographic areas with underdeveloped resources for hormone health research, education, clinical practice or administration.

Rebecca Reynolds, MD, PhD, is Personal Chair of Metabolic Medicine and Dean International at the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Reynolds’ research focuses on women’s health in pregnancy, as well as the health of next and future generations, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

As a physician scientist, her research has given key insights into endocrine pathways linking women’s health in pregnancy and child health, and quantified cardiometabolic risks to mother and child of obesity in pregnancy. She has converted these insights into clinical trials and recommendations for pregnancy therapies, including those that directly impacted pregnancy outcomes.

Her research has contributed directly to the discovery of new interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes, and her work has had wide-reaching impact. Among these, her research outcomes have been translated into policies and guidelines, including RCOG Green Top Guideline 2018 Management of Obese Pregnancy; the Scottish Diabetes Prevention Programme 2020; and the Obstetric Ultrasound Guideline, Malawi 2021.

In addition, Reynolds has fostered partnerships between her university and LMICs and leads a teaching program with numerous international students.

From Nominations:

“Rebecca excels in training and mentorship. As Dean International, she has catalysed partnerships between University of Edinburgh and LMICs. She leads an endocrinology and diabetes teaching program. Her research group hosts numerous students from LMICs, including Malaysia and Pakistan. She champions public engagement with science e.g. Chairing Diabetes UK Clinical Studies Group, improving information for pregnant women (with Tommy’s charity)…

“In summary, Rebecca’s work has significant impact for women and children’s healthcare, particularly benefiting those living with poor healthcare infrastructure and challenging socioeconomic circumstances. She is thus a highly suitable candidate for the international award.” – Professor Ruth Andrew; Chair of Pharmaceutical Endocrinology and Director Edinburgh CRF MS Core; General Secretary, Society for Endocrinology

How has the Endocrine Society supported your professional development/career journey?

My main experience with the Endocrine Society is attending the fantastic annual conference where you not only have the opportunity to present your own data from your research but can also hear about the latest breakthroughs in endocrine basic science and clinical research.

As a Laureate Award recipient, do you have any advice for those just beginning their careers?

My main advice is to be inquisitive. If you are a clinician, your patients will drive this curiosity. Also be prepared that many of your grant applications will be rejected. Be willing to take on board reviewer comments to improve your applications. Also be willing to be flexible and adaptable in your research — you may well have skills that can be used to address a new problem you had not previously considered, and this may lead to new avenues of research.

Samuel Klein, MD

Outstanding Clinical Investigator Award

This annual award honors an internationally recognized clinical investigator who has contributed significantly to understanding the pathogenesis and therapy of endocrine and metabolic diseases.

Samuel Klein, MD, is the William H. Danforth Professor of Medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo.

His research is focused on understanding the cellular and multi-organ system physiological mechanisms responsible for the heterogeneity in metabolic dysfunction associated with obesity, prediabetes, diabetes, and the therapeutic effects of weight loss.

Klein has conducted groundbreaking clinical trials that evaluated the efficacy and metabolic effects of weight reduction therapies. He conducted the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of a low-carbohydrate (CHO) diet for obesity, which demonstrated that a low-CHO diet produces greater short-term (six-month) but not longer-term (12-month) weight loss than a conventional low-fat diet.

Klein’s work has applied a combination of sophisticated basic and clinical science research techniques to address clinically relevant questions in human subjects, which are ultimately directed to improving health and patient care.

His research has been highly cited over the years (H Index 129), and his articles have appeared in many high-impact journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Science, Nature, Nature Medicine, Nature Metabolism, Cell Metabolism, Annals of Internal Medicine, and the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

From Nominations:

“Dr. Klein is one of the pre-eminent clinical investigators in the world. His research is focused on understanding the mechanisms responsible for the heterogeneity in metabolic dysfunction associated with obesity and the therapeutic effects of weight loss. His research is characterized by the use of sophisticated research tools to test clinically relevant hypotheses in human subjects; he has successfully integrated the use of stable isotope tracers, abdominal vein catheterization, microdialysis probes, multiomics, and cellular analyses of tissue samples to simultaneously study cellular, regional, and whole-body metabolic function…

“Samuel Klein, MD, is an outstanding candidate for the Endocrine Society’s Outstanding Clinical Investigator Award. He is a unique physician-scientist who conducts studies in human subjects that are directed at understanding the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of obesity and diabetes in an effort to ultimately improve health and clinical care. I support his nomination with the highest enthusiasm.” – Rexford S. Ahima, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing; Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Diabetes; Director, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism; Director, Osler Medical Residency Physician-Scientist Pathway

How has the Endocrine Society supported your professional development/career journey?

The Endocrine Society has provided direction and leadership for promoting scientific advances and interactions in endocrinology, metabolism, and clinical care. The ability to present our own work at the Annual Meeting and publish in the Endocrine Society journals has led to opportunities for rewarding feedback and research collaborations.  

As a Laureate Award recipient, do you have any advice for those just beginning their careers?

For young investigators pursuing a research career, it is important to follow the data and not become personally invested in a particular hypothesis. Research is an exploration to find the truth — there is nothing wrong in being wrong.  

Lisa B. Nachtigall, MD

Vigersky Outstanding Clinical Practitioner Award

This annual award recognizes extraordinary contributions by a practicing endocrinologist to the endocrine and/or medical community.

Lisa B. Nachtigall, MD, is the Clinical Director of the Neuroendocrine Clinical Center at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. She also is Director of MGH International Education Programs for the MGB/MGH Endocrine Division, and of the MGH/Harvard Medical School advanced clerkship in Clinical Neuroendocrinology.

Nachtigall has extensive clinical experience in all pituitary disorders, particularly acromegaly. She is an internationally recognized clinical expert who speaks nationally and internationally and has published extensively in the field of pituitary care. She co-founded and directs a visiting scholars program encouraging a pipeline of students and trainees in endocrinology. She has been an impactful advocate for patients with rare disorders, including organizing educational programs for patients with acromegaly.

Nachtigall is recognized as a scientific expert in both neuroendocrinology and bone metabolism. She receives consults from around the country and the world and serves on external scientific advisory boards and on data safety monitoring committees. Her depth of clinical and research expertise is broad, including pituitary tumors, acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome, bone metabolism, and Turner’s Syndrome. She also has served on multiple Endocrine Society committees and task forces.

From Nominations:

“What is special about Lisa as a clinician is that she combines an unusually impressive bedside manner with top level scientific expertise. Patients comment on how well she listens and how well she explains very complex procedures so that they feel fully able to make difficult care choices. She does this not as an academician who rarely sees patients, but as one who has an extremely heavy clinical load…

“Finally, she has made significant contributions to teaching at the local, national and international levels, from medical students to faculty, including supporting the careers of several trainees. She has recognized the urgent need to encourage minority students to seek a career in healthcare and has volunteered her time as a mentor. This is a remarkable number of contributions on top of her very active clinical practice, demonstrating her dedication and commitment to clinical care improvement.” – Ann E. Taylor, MD, Chair, Women in Endocrinology Nominating Committee

How has the Endocrine Society supported your professional development/career journey?

The Endocrine Society has provided me with unique opportunities as a speaker, advocate, clinical educator and learner. In my first oral presentation, at the 1996 annual meeting, I learned from the challenges of an early-career presenter to an audience of global experts. As 2025 CEU faculty, presenting “Pituitary: Year-in-Review,” I experienced the challenge of making my narrow area applicable and accessible to all. Committees enabled networking and collaborations and offered me a novel role in advocacy via “Hill Day” meetings with congressional staff. I am grateful for the Society’s outstanding educational content through annual meetings, review courses and superior journals. The Endocrine Society sets the bar high, and this is motivating.

As a Laureate Award recipient, do you have any advice for those just beginning their careers?

Stay open-minded in the path you choose. Find a balance within research, practice, education, or administration. For example, if you’re an investigator, consider honing clinical skills to fall back on if funding becomes limited. If you’re a clinician, consider finding additional support as an educator or a collaborator in investigation, to increase your satisfaction and prevent burn out. One of the best parts of being in endocrine practice is learning from your patients, following them over time, and understanding their individual needs. Guidelines and algorithms are helpful but for optimal care, adjust these for the person and their context.

Bradley David Anawalt, MD

Outstanding Educator Award

This annual award recognizes exceptional achievement as an educator in the discipline of endocrinology and metabolism.

Bradley David Anawalt, MD, is Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Wash.

His long tenure at the University of Washington is marked by regular citations for excellence in teaching, and he has received most of the major awards that his institution gives for medical education. He has been a leader in the Endocrinology Fellowship program at the UW as well as Endocrine Days, an outstanding quarterly meeting of endocrinologists in the Pacific Northwest that has been held for nearly 40 years.

He is a world expert in andrology and the diagnosis and treatment of male hypogonadism. He also is a dedicated teacher, known for his ability to convey not only factual material, but a sense of collegiality and joy in learning among his students.

He has held numerous service positions with the Endocrine Society and currently is a member of its Endocrine Self-Assessment Program (ESAP) Faculty Group and CoDI. He’s also a regular presenter at ENDO where he has contributed scientific presentations, plenary lectures, work as a session chair, and meeting planning.

From Nominations:

“It is difficult for me to name another society member who has dedicated more energy and spirit to teaching and learning endocrinology at our meetings than Brad Anawalt. Besides the international audience who learn from Brad at ENDO meetings, his well-deserved reputation has come with invitations to speak around the world, such as Canada, Vietnam, India, Australia, China, Russia…

“For those who have attended a Brad Anawalt event, the combination of enthusiasm, goodwill, objectivity, and intellectual rigor is unmistakable. His passion and curiosity are contagious, and his presentations convey not only factual material, but a sense of collegiality and joy in learning. Dr. Anawalt is a world expert in andrology and the diagnosis and treatment of male hypogonadism, but his interests are broad and he is an engaging, compelling speaker on a wide range of topics in our specialty…

“Overall Dr. Anawalt is arguably as fine a representative of the Endocrine Society as I can name, but he certainly represents the core values of education and learning that are central to Endocrinology at the highest level.” – David A. D’Alessio, MD, James B. Wyngaarden Distinguished Professor of Medicine; Chief, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism; Duke University Medical Center

Patricia Lee Brubaker, PhD

Outstanding Mentor Award

This annual award recognizes a career commitment to mentoring and a significant positive impact on mentees’ education and career.

Patricia Lee Brubaker, PhD, is Professor Emerita in the Departments of Physiology and Medicine at the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada.

Since 1985, Brubaker has mentored hundreds of post-doctoral fellows and graduate and undergraduate research students. Under her mentorship, she provides her students with a roadmap for success in their chosen careers, and her students have gone on to publish papers in high-impact journals.

She has received numerous awards for her mentorship activities, several of which required nomination by her own trainees, including: Excellence in Graduate Student Mentorship (2009); Linking Undergraduate Teaching and Research in Life Sciences Award (2012); Sustained Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentorship (2016).

Many of her undergraduate trainees remain in her laboratory over extended terms, and she has continued to mentor many of them for years post-graduation. She currently is Chair of the Endocrine Society’s Publications Core Committee and was the Associate Editor of Endocrinology, the Society’s basic science journal.

From Nominations:

“Brubaker’s goals in mentoring are to provide all of her trainees with the necessary skills to fulfil their ambitions. She takes great pleasure in working individually with each trainee to uncover their strengths as well as any areas that need reinforcement, on topics ranging from experimental design, statistical analyses and ethics to written and oral communication…

“Her goal is to provide them with a roadmap for success in their chosen careers, which include academia, education, industry, law, medicine- and related disciplines. As one measure of her dedication, she has continued to mentor many of her trainees for years post-graduation.” – Denise D. Belsham, PhD, Tier 1 CRC, Professor of Physiology, Medicine, Ob/Gyn; Daniel Drucker MD, FRS, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology at the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute of Mt. Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada.

How has the Endocrine Society supported your professional development/career journey?

As a graduate student, the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting was the first conference I attended where I could ‘see’ myself in my fellow participants: a female basic scientist. Throughout my career, the Society has offered me a forum for collegial interactions as well as opportunities to publish our research findings in prestigious journals. I have also been privileged to give back to the endocrine community through service as a journal reviewer, as Associate Editor of Endocrinology and, most recently, as Chair of the Publications Core Committee.

As a Laureate Award recipient, do you have any advice for those just beginning their careers?

The greatest joy of my career was working with my trainees, recognizing that “Knowledge is like a candle. When you light your candle from mine, my light is not diminished. It is enhanced and a larger room is enlightened as a consequence.” (Thomas Jefferson). You need to trust your trainees – they will keep the lab going while you are gaining all the other skills you need to be successful (i.e., grant writing, teaching). But you also need to ensure that they have the opportunity to present their work at conferences such as the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting, where they will grow in confidence and build the networks essential to their own careers.

Martin Reincke, MD

Outstanding Scholarly Physician Award

This annual award recognizes outstanding contributions to the practice of clinical endocrinology in academic settings.

Martin Reincke, MD, is Professor of Endocrinology and Chair of Medical Department IV at the Ludwig-Maximilians University Hospital in Munich, Germany — one of the leading institutions in German academic medicine.

He is an internationally recognized leader in the diagnosis and management of adrenal and pituitary disorders who played a key role in building a large-scale international research consortia to address major therapeutic challenges in patients with primary aldosteronism and Cushing’s syndrome.

He was founding member of the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) in 2001. This network has become an international benchmark for successful translational research, created a seminal basis for continuous collaboration and clinically relevant discoveries, leading to outstanding publications and highly recognized guidelines (jointly with the European Society of Endocrinology).

Reincke has served the global endocrine community in multiple roles, including his Presidencies of the German Society of Endocrinology (2014-2017) and the European Society of Endocrinology (2021-23). He previously served on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

From Nominations:

“Prof. Reincke is renowned for his initiative to build national disease-specific registries and biobanks for primary aldosteronism and Cushing’s syndrome, connecting major German centers as translational research hubs. Based on hypothesis-driven design and deep clinical and biochemical phenotyping, he and his team made major scientific discoveries in pathophysiology, diagnosis, subtyping and treatment resulting in more than 310 publications…

“He is well known for his integral personality, sharp mind, clear words, and close interaction with team members, colleagues, students and patients. He is a role model par excellence for aspiring early-career clinical and translational endocrinologists.” – Márta Korbonits MD, PhD, Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism

How has the Endocrine Society supported your professional development/career journey?

I joined the Endocrine Society as a young medical doctor in training in 1989 and was thrilled to become a member. I was even more excited to attend my first ENDO meeting, where I presented our work on incidentally detected pituitary masses — at the time, a relatively new topic. During my poster session, I was surprised to see so many distinguished colleagues and professors, whom I had only known from the literature, come by to discuss my data. Even more remarkably, I later found a business card pinned to my poster from a subeditor of JAMA, suggesting I submit the manuscript to the journal. To my astonishment, it was eventually accepted and published! This experience remains impactful even 30 years later. The Endocrine Society has continuously supported me at every stage of my career, being the lighthouse of endocrine excellence.

As a Laureate Award recipient, do you have any advice for those just beginning their careers?

Be ambitious and focus on significant topics!

In the early stages of my scientific journey, I prioritized publishing in top journals. During my mid-career years, my focus shifted to securing large-scale funding and grants. Nowadays, I find that being an inventor and entrepreneur is paramount, as this role transforms knowledge and science into life-saving therapies. Mentorship is key when starting a scientific career. I was fortunate to have the late Bruno Allolio in Cologne and Würzburg, and George Chrousos at the NIH as lifelong mentors. They sharpened my intellect and offered unwavering support.

Having trustworthy collaborators or even better friends in biomedical science, such as Wiebke Arlt, Martin Fassnacht, Felix Beuschlein, Nicole Reisch, and many others, has been invaluable in tackling seemingly insurmountable challenges, especially in the realm of rare diseases.

Katrin J. Svensson, PhD

Richard E. Weitzman Outstanding Early-Career Investigator Award

This annual award recognizes an exceptionally promising young clinical or basic investigator.

Katrin J. Svensson, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University, and the Metabolic Core Director and Affinity Group Leader at the Stanford Diabetes Research Center in Palo Alto, Calif.

Her research focuses on understanding intercellular communication to maintain metabolic homeostasis, with a particular emphasis on secreted signaling molecules and peptides.

Svensson’s laboratory discovered Isthmin, a secreted protein that regulates insulin independent glucose uptake and lipid homeostasis. Additionally, her group developed computational methods to predict new peptides and ligand-receptor pairs, advancing the discovery of novel endocrine pathways.Since 2018, she has published 15 papers as a senior author, in addition to the discovery of Isthmin.

Beyond publishing, Svensson’s laboratory also has a track record of patenting its discoveries for potential future commercialization. Since 2018, seven patents have been filed and/or are in the process of being filing from her laboratory, two of which are already licensed to Merrifield Therapeutics, a biotech startup company co-founded by Katrin focused on translating biological endocrinology findings into therapeutic targets for obesity and diabetes.

Her commitment to advancing endocrinology is further reflected in her ongoing service on the NIH Pathophysiology of Obesity and Metabolic Disease (POMD) study section and her work as a reviewer for leading journals, including Nature, Cell Metabolism, and Nature Metabolism.

From Nominations:

“Katrin’s influence extends beyond research through her dedicated service to the scientific community, particularly within the Endocrine Society, where she has served as an associate editor for Endocrine Reviews for the past four years. In this role, she works closely with the editor-in-chief and other associate editors to manage submissions, oversee peer review, and uphold the journal’s high standards. These prestigious roles highlight her standing as a trusted and established leader in the field…

“Besides her scientific traits, Katrin’s defining personal characteristics include an openness and unbounded enthusiasm for new ideas as well as a deep affection for her peers and colleagues. Katrin has emerged as a leader amongst her colleagues. In her first years, she initiated efforts to foster communication and community within Stanford by establishing the first Metabolic Core facility. As one of the Affinity Group Leaders at the Diabetes Center at Stanford, she promotes cohesiveness and communication between faculty with interests in diabetes, obesity, and metabolism.” – Ashley Grossman BA BSc MD PhD FRCP FMedSci, Emeritus Professor, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Anna L Gloyn, DPhil, Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Chair of Basic Research, Stanford University, School of Medicine; and Joy Wu, MD, PhD, Gerald M. Reaven, MD Professor of Endocrinology; Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Stanford University, School of Medicine

How has the Endocrine Society supported your professional development/career journey?

The Endocrine Society has given me a community where I could talk openly about ideas and get early feedback. Serving as an associate editor for Endocrine Reviews has also connected me with colleagues whose perspectives have shaped my own thinking.

As a Laureate Award recipient, do you have any advice for those just beginning their careers?

Early in my career, I pursued secreted peptides that nobody knew existed yet, and that willingness to explore the unknown has defined my work ever since. These molecules were simply undiscovered, but the scientific environment made it feel natural to follow ideas outside established categories. I try to pass that mindset to my trainees. Early in your career, curiosity is your greatest advantage.

Alvin C. Powers, MD

Roy O. Greep Award for Outstanding Research

This annual award recognizes meritorious contributions to research in endocrinology.

Alvin C. Powers, MD, is the Joe C. Davis Chair in Biologic Science, Professor of Medicine and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and Director of the Vanderbilt Diabetes Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Powers is a physician-scientist who has made fundamental research discoveries revealing how alterations in islet biology are linked to the pathogenesis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, monogenic diabetes and post-transplant diabetes.

The work of his research group, especially the emphasis on translating research on human islet biology into advancing human diabetes research, has redefined our understanding of islet structure and function and its role in glucose homeostasis and diabetes.

Using a range of complementary experimental approaches, Powers’ research group has defined the morphology, cell composition, gene expression, innervation, vascularization, and stimulated-hormone secretion of the pancreatic islet. These findings have promoted the concept of the islet as a “mini-organ” with interactions of islet endocrine cells, endothelial cells, immune cells, and the extracellular matrix being critical for islet function and development.

His group showed how the islet becomes highly vascularized and highly innervated through a coordinated series of cellular interactions and paracrine signals that begin at the earliest stages of islet development and continue in the adult islet. These interactions are crucial for normal islet mass and function and by modifying the islet microenvironment Powers showed that islet cell function or proliferation could be enhanced.

Powers has served on various Endocrine Society committees and task forces and is an author of the Society’s recent Scientific Statement on type 1 diabetes.

From Nominations:

“Powers has been a leader in discoveries that show important similarities and differences in human islets and islets from rodent models. His work has greatly influenced the field as he has advocated for translational approaches involving both human islets and model systems…

“Recognizing the difficulty, but also the importance, of integrating studies of both the pancreas and isolated islets from the same individual in combination with clinical history and phenotype, Powers and his group established over the past decade new infrastructure and approaches to study the pancreas and islets in donors with various forms of diabetes and appropriate controls…

“Working with organ procurement organizations across the US and with organizations that match human tissue with researchers, Al and his group have collected and studied in new ways the pancreas and islets from more than 300 individuals, leading to a new understanding of human diabetes… – Daniel Drucker MD, FRS, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology at the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute of Mt. Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada.

R. Paul Robertson, MD

Sidney H. Ingbar Distinguished Service Award

This award recognizes distinguished service to the Endocrine Society and the field of endocrinology.

R. Paul Robertson, MD, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Wash.

He has made numerous scientific contributions to endocrinology over the course of his career with research that improves our understanding of pancreatic islet function in humans, animals and clonal cell lines.

He’s served in numerous leadership roles, including at the National Institutes of Health, and the American Diabetes Association (ADA), where he served as the ADA’s President for Medicine and Science.

At the Endocrine Society, he’s served as Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism and Endocrine Reviews, and as a member of the Society’s Publications Core Committee. He also has been Editor-in-Chief of Diabetes and was the founding Editor-in-Chief of Translational Endocrinology & Metabolism. Since 2019, he has served as Editor-in-Chief of De Groot’s Endocrinology, a leading textbook in the field of endocrinology.

From Nominations:

“Paul is unequivocally one of the most discerning, prolific, creative, and impactful editors in our field. He has been a member of the Endocrine Society’s Journals Operating Committee and currently serves on the Endocrine Press Editorial Advisory Board.

“I want to highlight his leadership as an Editor of Endocrine Reviews and JCEM — the flagship journals of the Endocrine Society. Both of these journals flourished under his leadership, and he mentored a next generation of associate editors…

“Perhaps less obvious, he has helped to strategically integrate the academic communities that publish in fields of diabetes and obesity into journals of the Endocrine Society. Dissemination of knowledge is a primary mission of the Endocrine Society.” – J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, Dean, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; and Jerrold M. Olefsky, MD, Professor of Medicine, Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine

How has the Endocrine Society supported your professional development/career journey?   

A major part of my academic life has been to support the publication of scientific information.  The results of experiments and the careers of young scientists do not come to fruition if their data do not leave notebooks and transform into information on pages of journals and textbooks.  The Endocrine Society enabled my ambition by selecting me to be editor-in-chief of two major journals (Endocrine Reviews and JCEM).  Working with scientists and shepherding their work through the review process, both as authors and reviewers, taught me a great deal about endocrine science and nurturing many friendships. 

As a Laureate Award recipient, do you have any advice for those just beginning their careers? 

Becoming an endocrinologist and treating patients with endocrine diseases is a never-ending and fascinating journey of a lifetime.  Embrace it and you will discover amazing medical facts as well as the opportunity to treat a huge spectrum of important medical diseases that affect people of all ages.

Ismaa Sadaf Farooqi, MD, PhD

Gerald D. Aurbach Award for Outstanding Translational Research

This annual award recognizes outstanding contributions to research that accelerates the transition of scientific discoveries into clinical applications.

Ismaa Sadaf Farooqi, MD, PhD, is a Clinician Scientist at the Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, U.K.

She is being honored for her discoveries of fundamental mechanisms that control human energy homeostasis. With colleagues, she discovered the first genes whose disruption causes severe obesity. In pioneering clinical studies, she established that the principal driver of human obesity is a failure of the central control of appetite and that the leptin-melanocortin pathway regulates food intake, macronutrient preference, food reward and body weight.

In children with congenital leptin deficiency treated with recombinant leptin, she showed that leptin reduced hyperphagia, permitted the onset of puberty at an appropriate developmental stage and reversed T cell mediated immune dysfunction.

This work has shaped our understanding of how physiological states are characterized by a fall in leptin levels (starvation, the weight-reduced state) and pathological states characterized by low leptin levels (anorexia nervosa, lipodystrophies), impact on reproduction and immunity.

Her work is an exemplar of how understanding disease mechanisms can change diagnostic practice, inform the development of mechanism-based therapies and improve the lives of patients. Genetic investigation is now part of the diagnostic evaluation of severe childhood-onset obesity, recommended in clinical guidelines globally.

From nomination:

“Sadaf has played a leading role in the design and conduct of clinical trials of medicines which enhance signaling through the leptin-melanocortin pathway. As a result, subgroups of children with severe, life-threatening obesity can now be treated effectively with therapies which have been licensed…

“By demonstrating that severe childhood obesity can represent a medical disorder, her work has prevented children from being taken away from their families and placed into social care due to concerns about parental neglect. Alongside her scientific contributions, Sadaf has been actively involved in public engagement and advocacy, leveraging the knowledge derived from her translational research to encourage a more sympathetic understanding of the challenges faced by people with severe obesity.” – Sir Stephen O’Rahilly, Professor, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science-Metabolic Research Laboratories and Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge; R.V. Thakker, FRS FMedSci, Professor of Medicine, University of Oxford

How has the Endocrine Society supported your professional development/career journey?

Since my early days as a clinical fellow, I have benefited from the training and networking opportunities provided by the Endocrine Society. In particular, the many ways in which the Society connects endocrinologists from around the world has allowed me to establish a global network of friends, colleagues and collaborators who have benefited my research and my career.

As a Laureate Award recipient, do you have any advice for those just beginning their careers?

We are entering an exciting era for translational research driven by technological advances. The challenge we face is how can we deploy new technologies to advance science and ultimately benefit patients. My advice for those beginning their careers is to be bold, ask questions, seek answers. Listen to patients, keep an open mind and be willing to explore areas outside your comfort zone.

The post Meet the 2026 Laureates appeared first on Endocrine News.

Ten years ago, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) launched a database called dkNET to better serve the needs of clinicians and researchers in those spaces, created to address the challenge of connecting researchers in metabolic and digestive diseases to research resources through community databases and web portals, creating a search engine for data.

Since then, dkNET has progressively enlarged and updated information available to investigators centered on the NIDDK community. dkNET maintains and communicates resources to include data Science, the Resource Information Network, authentication reports, and data management for investigators at all levels to access with the goal of enhancing the ability to create added value in their research.

“At its core, dkNET is a community research resource portal designed to assist users in finding resources relevant to their research through tools, services, and support, as they face new mandates for sustainable and reproducible research,” says Ronald Margolis, PhD, visiting scholar at the University of California San Diego and consultant on dkNET. “In this way dkNET serves as a hub for the NIDDK community.”

Margolis was the senior advisor for molecular endocrinology at NIDDK for 28 years. He initiated a project in 2002 to coalesce data being developed at NIDDK into one place so it could be transmitted to everyone. “And 2002, this was embryonic,” Margolis says. “Really, it was a glean in my eye.”

The Advent of AI

Since dkNET’s launch, we’ve seen the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), which, while it does have its problems, has been shown to predict gestational diabetes, extend time in range and reduce hypoglycemia events in patients with type 1 diabetes, improve detection of fractures in patients with osteoporosis, reduce unnecessary thyroid surgeries by better detecting benign nodules, and predict how patients with acromegaly respond to first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands.

Margolis, an emeritus Endocrine Society member who first joined in 1981, tells Endocrine News that AI is already making an impact on diabetes research. “In basic and translational science, AI is helping us analyze large and complex datasets, identify previously unrecognized biological patterns, generate new hypotheses, and predict drug–target interactions,” Margolis says.

“At its core, dkNET is a community research resource portal designed to assist users in finding resources relevant to their research through tools, services, and support, as they face new mandates for sustainable and reproducible research. In this way dkNET serves as a hub for the NIDDK community.” — Ronald Margolis, PhD, visiting scholar, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California

Margolis and the dkNET team say that AI will fundamentally reshape diabetes research — by integrating genetics, immune profiles, metabolomics, imaging, and wearable data, AI will enable much earlier identification of people at risk for diabetes and help define disease subtypes and early biological triggers. “AI-enabled laboratories and automated robotic platforms will accelerate data analysis, hypothesis generation, and high-throughput drug discovery,” Margolis says. “AI-guided clinical trial design will also help identify the right patient populations, speeding the development of new therapies and biomarkers.”

“These tools are also improving how we prioritize therapeutic candidates for downstream validation, making discovery more efficient and data driven,” Margolis continues. “On the clinical side, AI is advancing diabetes management through better interpretation of CGM data, more sophisticated automated insulin-dosing algorithms, and FDA-cleared deep-learning systems for early detection of diabetic retinopathy. These applications are already enhancing patient monitoring, supporting clinical decision-making, and improving outcomes. Overall, AI is becoming an integral part of how we study diabetes and how we care for people living with the disease.”

Finding New Hypotheses

dkNET holds summer “bootcamps” for data science and bioinformatics for students and fellows with an emphasis on diabetes, endocrinology and metabolic diseases, which enables students at early and formative stages of their careers to understand how the data science resources inherent in dkNET can help to inform their research and foster greater progress toward their goals.

The students use a new computational core that provides AI and machine learning (ML) resources to assist researchers in developing hypotheses and utilizing emerging AI/ML concepts and tools. “With the addition of the computational core, students in the bootcamp use a specialized collaboration platform, Texera, to learn data science, AI, and ML,” Margolis says. “Exposure at early and formative stages in career development helps students to harness these tools to enhance their own research. The goal is to catalyze a deeper understanding of the questions they are posing. Through open-source collaboration they can design novel approaches to important questions.”

Margolis explains that the computation is important, allowing simultaneous collaboration online by investigators who are going to pose questions to a dataset and have the AI help them to identify the data and sort through it. “If you have a genome set, let’s say a single-cell RNA sequencing set, there’s a lot of data in there,” he says. “What you want is going to be a small fraction of it. To sort through it could require enormous amounts of computation time, where AI can potentially cut that down and give you at least predictions of where you can look. And in so doing, it can help you to identify new hypotheses. Then through the rest of dkNET, it can help you to formulate that hypothesis and really work through what you need to do to test it.”

A Link Across Disciplines

Even ten years ago, dkNET saw the value of not only its database, but community news and social networking as well. “An important capability built into dkNET is the ability to connect researchers within and across disciplines,” Margolis says. “We hope that by providing tools, data, webinars, social media channels and newsletters, researchers in the NIDDK community can increase the impact of their research.”

“AI-enabled laboratories and automated robotic platforms will accelerate data analysis, hypothesis generation, and high-throughput drug discovery. AI-guided clinical trial design will also help identify the right patient populations, speeding the development of new therapies and biomarkers.” — Ronald Margolis, PhD, visiting scholar, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California

Margolis says that he hopes anyone researching metabolic and digestive diseases will be energized by the knowledge that there is a portal with real and relevant content that can help them in their efforts to maximize their investigations. “dkNET provides a single-entry point to a wealth of information, data, services, and community-wide knowledge with pathways to enhance connectivity to colleagues and others interested in their work,” he says.

Bagley is the senior editor of Endocrine News. In the December issue, he wrote about how Endocrine Society journals work to maintain the highest integrity possible.

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A rare case study published in JCEM Case Reports details the first known instance of a decades-dormant hormonal disorder, Cyclic Cushing Syndrome (CS), relapsing after a patient contracted COVID-19 and received standard glucocorticoid treatment. The relapse occurred after a remarkable 19-year period of remission, leading researchers to suggest that the stress of the infection and the administered steroids may have triggered a rare “positive feedback” loop, reigniting the life-threatening condition. The case highlights the critical need for long-term patient follow-up and caution when administering steroids to individuals with a history of the disorder.

The patient, a 49-year-old man, had initially been diagnosed with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent CS at age 30 but achieved spontaneous remission after initial treatment with steroidogenesis inhibitors (trilostane and mitotane). A subtype of Cushing’s syndrome, patients with CS have phases of cortisol excess—hypercortisolemia–alternating with phases of normal and low cortisol. Each of these phases can vary from days to even months or years. For nearly two decades, this patient’s condition remained stable, with no cushingoid symptoms or abnormal hormone levels noted during annual checkups.

The clinical picture changed drastically when he was infected with COVID-19. Following the infection, and after receiving a month-long regimen of high-dose glucocorticoid treatment (including methylprednisolone and prednisolone) to manage the viral symptoms, the patient developed classic signs of Cushing’s syndrome relapse. These symptoms included general fatigue, 11 kg of weight gain, “moon face,” and dangerously high blood pressure, leading to his readmission to the hospital.

Researchers at The University of Osaka noted that the mechanism of relapse appeared to be highly unusual. Cyclic CS, characterized by fluctuating hypercortisolemia, typically operates under a negative feedback system. However, in this case, the introduction of exogenous glucocorticoids (the COVID-19 treatment) seemed to have paradoxically driven a positive feedback mechanism, stimulating the body to produce even more ACTH and cortisol. The authors hypothesize that this rare mechanism made the patient susceptible to a relapse when faced with the combined stress of the infection and the administered steroid therapy.

The authors urge clinicians to “pay attention to the development of cushingoid symptoms after infection stress and glucocorticoid treatment,” emphasizing that long-term, careful follow-up is essential for patients with uncured cyclic CS, even after years of apparent remission.

The relapse was confirmed by severely elevated plasma ACTH and hypercortisolism. Initially, diagnostic tests suggested Cushing’s disease (a pituitary cause), but subsequent imaging failed to detect a pituitary tumor. Further investigative scans ultimately revealed an 8-mm tumor in the anterior mediastinum. This led to a diagnosis of an ACTH-secreting thymic typical carcinoid tumor, a form of ectopic CS, which was confirmed when partial thymectomy resulted in the patient’s third remission. This fluctuation in hormone levels also complicated the diagnostic process, underscoring the challenge of accurately diagnosing CS during its natural “trough phase.”

The report, “Relapse of Cyclic Cushing Syndrome With a 19-Year Remission: Potential Involvement of COVID-19 in the Relapse,” concludes that the stress from a severe infection, such as COVID-19, coupled with the administration of glucocorticoids, can potentially act as a trigger for relapses in uncured cyclic CS patients who harbor this rare positive feedback mechanism. The case serves as a vital learning point for physicians globally. The authors urge clinicians to “pay attention to the development of cushingoid symptoms after infection stress and glucocorticoid treatment,” emphasizing that long-term, careful follow-up is essential for patients with uncured cyclic CS, even after years of apparent remission.

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Menopause can accelerate age-related weight gain and increase the likelihood of developing overweight and obesity, which are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other conditions. The decline in estrogen levels characteristic of menopause is also linked to changes independent of weight that can potentially raise cardiovascular risk. “This study provides important insights for developing more effective and personalized strategies for managing cardiometabolic risk in postmenopausal women,” says Regina Castaneda, MD, postdoctoral research fellow at Mayo Clinic and first author of the study.

This study was also highlighted at ENDO 2025 in San Francisco in July.

Hormone therapy is the most effective first-line treatment for menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats, which affect up to 75% of postmenopausal women. While evidence on how this therapy may interact with weight-loss medications is limited, some research has shown that postmenopausal women using hormone therapy experience greater weight loss when treated with the GLP-1-based obesity medication semaglutide.

No previous studies have examined whether hormone therapy might influence outcomes with tirzepatide. Castaneda and a team of researchers set out to investigate this relationship by reviewing data from 120 participants with overweight or obesity who received tirzepatide for weight management for 12 or more months. Patients receiving tirzepatide along with hormone therapy were compared to participants with similar characteristics who were not using hormone therapy.

“In this observational study, women who used menopausal hormone therapy lost about 35% more weight than women taking tirzepatide alone. Because this was not a randomized trial, we cannot say hormone therapy caused additional weight loss,” says Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade, MD, PhD, endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic and senior author of the study.

“It is possible that women using hormone therapy were already engaged in healthier behaviors, or that menopause symptom relief improved sleep and quality of life, making it easier to stay engaged with dietary and physical activity changes.”

Castaneda says that while more studies that control for these factors are needed, the findings are clinically meaningful. “The magnitude of this difference warrants future studies that could help clarify how GLP-1-based obesity medications and menopausal hormone therapy may interact. Interestingly, preclinical data suggest a potential synergy, with estrogen appearing to enhance the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1,” Castaneda says.

“Next, we plan to test these observations in a randomized clinical trial and determine if benefits extend beyond weight loss — specifically, whether hormone therapy also enhances the effects of these medications on cardiometabolic measures,” adds Hurtado Andrade. “If confirmed, this work could speed the development and adoption of new, evidence-based strategies to reduce this risk for millions of postmenopausal women navigating this life stage.”

Click here to see the interview the Endocrine Society conducted with Castaneda.

This research was funded by the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health Research.

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The study found that having higher insulin levels at age 47 predicted younger onsets of hot flashes and night sweats,” says Faria Athar, lead author of the study, which is published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.  

“Higher insulin at age 47 was also associated with longer durations of hot flashes and cold sweats, and a rise in testosterone levels across the menopausal transition.  

Hot flashes, night sweats and cold sweats — collectively referred to as vasomotor symptoms — affect around 75% of women during the menopausal transition.  

These symptoms can appear two years before a woman’s final menstrual period and persist for as long as 10 years beyond it. They dramatically impact women’s quality of life. 

It is hard to present at a board meeting while experiencing a sudden sensation of feverish warmth, with a face turning beet red. It is tough to care for elders or children, and to show up for work as a police officer or surgeon, when nightly sleep is disrupted by drenching sweats. 

These symptoms do not impact all women equally. Age of onset, severity, and duration of vasomotor symptoms vary between women. 

Prior research shows factors such as race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status to play a role.  For instance, more Black women report symptoms than women of Asian descent, and the symptoms of women with the same ethnicity may vary depending on where they live and their socioeconomic status. 

“There’s been a growing awareness of the interplay between metabolic health and reproductive health,” says Nicole Templeman, assistant professor of biology at UVic, and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Metabolic Determinants of Reproduction and Aging. 

For example, women with higher body fat percentages report more frequent and severe vasomotor symptoms, and particularly early in the menopausal transition. Insulin resistance is also associated with a greater incidence of these symptoms. Finally, increased vasomotor symptom severity has been associated with a higher risk of incidental type 2 diabetes. 

“Given that insulin may be elevated in the early stages of metabolic disorders, we decided to investigate whether insulin levels prior to menopause might inform the incidence and severity of menopause symptoms,” says Templeman. 

The research drew upon data from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), which followed women longitudinally from a pre-/perimenopausal baseline (42-52 years of age) over 10 years, across seven sites in the United States.  

Using metabolic measurements collected from participants at the age of 47, Athar, Templeman, and their coauthors tested how metabolic traits at this early study time point related to physiological features of the menopausal transition. 

The researchers observed that insulin levels and body mass index (BMI) at 47 years old were both predictors of vasomotor symptom timing and duration. The most pronounced statistical association for each was a correspondence between higher insulin or BMI and a younger onset of hot flashes. 

The analyses showed that insulin may be a stronger predictor of hot flashes when taking other metabolic variables into account, whereas BMI appeared more closely associated with the dynamics of estrogen level changes.  

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The common phrase “heart in my throat” usually refers to a feeling of anxiety, excitement, expectation, or anticipation. It can even mean that the person undergoing this sensation is experiencing a sudden amount of stress as the carotid vein in the neck is suddenly throbbing.

Recent cases in JCEM Case Reports (JCEM CR) actually take this age-old phrase to, well, heart, as they take a closer look at the thyroid – or, in two patients, the parathyroid – in studies that examine how a dysfunction in the “butterfly gland” can have a surprising and sometimes frightening impact on the heart.  

Here, we summarize those cases, as endocrinologists should be aware of this connection.

Weathering a Thyroid Storm

In “Severely Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Cardiogenic Shock in a Patient with Thyroid Storm,” the authors, Mehdia Amini, MD; Jessica Liebich, MD; and Guoyu Ling, MD, of St. Louis University present the case of a 39-year-old patient with thyroid storm complicated by cardiogenic shock and severe dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), an exceedingly rare manifestation of thyroid storm.

The patient was admitted to the hospital after someone witnessed her going into ventricular fibrillation arrest. She has a history of hypothyroidism and asthma. The EMTs got her blood flowing again, but when she was admitted, she was unresponsive, intubated, and in cardiogenic shock. She had acute kidney shock, liver shock, severe metabolic acidosis, and a severely dilated heart. She had a fever of almost 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

The endocrinology team were brought in because there was a concern of thyroid storm. The patient’s family informed the team that the patient had been previously diagnosed with Graves’ disease, but she was not adherent to medical therapy. The patient lived by herself, and the authors write that in the weeks leading up to her admission she had experienced insomnia, heat intolerance, diarrhea, weight loss, and proptosis.

“More recently,” the authors continue, “she developed shortness of breath, orthopnea, and lower-extremity edema. She had no prior history of cardiac disease or arrhythmia. Her mental status was reported to be intact at baseline.”

A thyroid test confirmed Graves’ disease. The patient was started on 20 mg of methimazole every six hours, 100 mg of intravenous hydrocortisone every eight hours, and 4 g of cholestyramine every six hours. The authors note that beta-blockers weren’t used as they are contraindicated in cardiogenic shock due to their negative inotropic and chronotropic effects, which can further impair cardiac output and exacerbate hemodynamic instability.

“Thyrotoxicosis can lead to significant cardiac dysfunction, but timely intervention can reverse myocardial damage and improve outcomes. This report emphasizes the need for individualized treatment approaches, especially in cases complicated by coexisting conditions such as hepatic dysfunction.” —  Mehdia Amini, MD; Jessica Liebich, MD; and Guoyu Ling, MD, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo., in “Severely Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Cardiogenic Shock in a Patient with Thyroid Storm”

The patient showed significant clinical improvement over the following days. At the time of discharge, however, she showed signs of encephalopathy, but those symptoms had resolved on follow-up.

What makes this case especially complicated was that the DCM was induced by thyrotoxicosis, since thyrotoxicosis exerts profound effects on cardiac function through T3-mediated mechanisms, according to the authors.

“This case highlights the rare occurrence of DCM secondary to thyroid storm, underscoring the importance of early recognition and treatment,” the authors write. “Thyrotoxicosis can lead to significant cardiac dysfunction, but timely intervention can reverse myocardial damage and improve outcomes. This report emphasizes the need for individualized treatment approaches, especially in cases complicated by coexisting conditions such as hepatic dysfunction.”

Navigating Two Cases of Parathyroid Tumor Crises

For another study, “Dialysis for Parathyroid Tumor Crises to Combat Ventricular Arrhythmia Risk: A Report of Two Cases,” Qi Yang Damien Qi, MD; Joanna Y. Gong, MBBS; Michelle So, PhD; Christopher J. Yates, MBBS, PhD, FRACP; and Spiros Fourlanos, MBBS, FRACP, PhD – all affiliated with Royal Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia – present two cases of severe hypercalcemia secondary to parathyroid tumors managed with dialysis prior to definitive surgery.

The first case involves a 41-year-old man who presented with three days of lower abdominal pain and constipation, as well as arthralgias of the knee and ankle. The authors write that there were no neurological or urinary symptoms. A goiter with a large, hard, left-sided irregular mass was palpable. There was no family history of endocrine tumors.

He was found to have severe hypercalcemia and parathyroid carcinoma, complicated by ventricular arrhythmias requiring cardioversion. Despite aggressive medical therapy with intravenous therapy with 0.9% saline and subcutaneous salmon calcitonin (100 IUs) every six hours, dialysis was initiated, but persistent arrhythmias necessitated emergency surgery – a left hemithyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy.

In the second case, a 30-year-woman presented with two weeks of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and significant muscular cramps involving both lower limbs. Neck examination revealed a large palpable neck mass, according to the authors. This patient also had no family history of endocrine tumors. “Neck imaging identified a large cystic mass abutting the inferior aspect of the right thyroid gland, with associated retrosternal extension, measuring 5.7 cm in size,” the authors write.

“These cases of parathyroid tumor crises, although rare, highlight the need for rapid intervention with treatments such as dialysis and expediting to parathyroidectomy to prevent life-threatening cardiac complications. With the increasing availability of dialysis and experience to support its use in this context, its prompt utilization should be considered for managing parathyroid crises.” —  Qi Yang Damien Qi, MD; Joanna Y. Gong, MBBS; Michelle So, PhD; Christopher J. Yates, MBBS, PhD, FRACP; and Spiros Fourlanos, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in “Dialysis for Parathyroid Tumor Crises to Combat Ventricular Arrhythmia Risk: A Report of Two Cases”

This patient was also treated aggressively with IV fluids with 0.9% saline, 100 IUs subcutaneously of salmon calcitonin every eight hours, and intravenous administration of 60 mg of pamidronate. Her hypercalcemia persisted, so she also required dialysis. She was stabilized but required definitive parathyroidectomy.

The surgeries were successful in both patients, with serum calcium normalizing. “Calcium plays a critical role in cardiac conduction, such that disorders of calcium homeostasis can cause arrhythmias,” the authors write. “Management of the parathyroid crisis must involve multiple simultaneous investigative and management strategies.”

The authors point out that these cases highlight the critical role of dialysis in stabilizing severe hypercalcemia prior to surgical intervention, particularly when arrhythmia risk is of concern. Given the possibility of cardiac complications, early consideration of dialysis should be considered in the management of parathyroid crisis, they write.

“These cases of parathyroid tumor crises, although rare, highlight the need for rapid intervention with treatments such as dialysis and expediting to parathyroidectomy to prevent life-threatening cardiac complications,” the authors conclude.” With the increasing availability of dialysis and experience to support its use in this context, its prompt utilization should be considered for managing parathyroid crises.”

Bagley is the senior editor of Endocrine News. In the December issue, he wrote about how Endocrine Society journals work to maintain the highest integrity possible.

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This ongoing uncertainty has impacted NIH’s ability to award grants, with consequences for our member scientists and their work. Meanwhile, the Trump administration aims to release their budget for FY 2027 in the coming weeks, kicking off next year’s budget negotiations.

With so much at stake for this fiscal year and next, we have elevated our efforts to advocate for medical research, engaging members to explain to policymakers why robust NIH funding matters for scientists, patients, and the nation’s health. 

With so much at stake for this fiscal year and next, we have elevated our efforts to advocate for medical research, engaging members to explain to policymakers why robust NIH funding matters for scientists, patients, and the nation’s health. Two high-impact actions in particular aim to influence both FY 2026 and FY 2027 negotiations. 

Engaging the Medical Research Community 

In January, the Endocrine Society spearheaded an organizational sign-on letter to Congressional leadership urging them to complete work on a full-year appropriations bill for FY 2026 that increases funding for the NIH.

The letter also calls for Congress to protect the NIH from interference in grantmaking. Specifically, we asked Congress to prevent the administration from imposing arbitrary caps on negotiated facilities and administrative cost rates and minimize near-term impacts on grant success rates by limiting the number of forward-funded grants to levels consistent with previous years.

More than 100 research, medical professional, and patient advocacy organizations endorsed the letter, reflecting the breadth of support for the NIH and the Endocrine Society’s leadership in convening the community.

Meeting with Members of Congress 

On March 13, the Endocrine Society will conduct a virtual Hill Day for our member scientists to with their elected officials as the process for FY 2027 funding gets underway and congressional offices identify their priority areas for funding next year. 

As we look back on 2025, it is clear that if we are going to be successful, we will need everyone to take action and make their voices heard.

While the Endocrine Society has conducted a March Hill Day focused on research funding every year by bringing our members to Washington, this year we are scaling up our engagement with Congress by organizing a virtual Researcher Hill Day so that we can engage more of members and conduct more congressional meetings via Zoom. During these meetings, we will urge representatives to increase funding for the NIH and share stories of how endocrine research impacts their districts and states.

For those who volunteer to participate, the Society will conduct a training call, provide materials, and schedule meetings. 

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In “Meet the 2026 Laureates,” we feature this year’s stellar array of legends of endocrinology from around the world. This year, Neal Learner asked them for their advice to younger endocrinologists just starting out as well as the impact the Endocrine Society has had on their own careers. When asked what advice she would give to early-career endocrinologists, 2026 Outstanding Mentor Award recipient Patricia Lee Brubaker, PhD, stresses how you need to trust your trainees because “they will keep the lab going while you are gaining all the other skills you need to be successful (i.e., grant writing, teaching),” she says. “But you also need to ensure that they have the opportunity to present their work at conferences such as the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting, where they will grow in confidence and build the networks essential to their own careers.” Attending ENDO is always good advice no matter what stage of your career you find yourself!  

To commemorate Thyroid Awareness Month, Kelly Horvath has looked at some recent studies from The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism that give even more evidence of how endocrine science is continually impacting and improving how patients are receiving care. In “Minimizing Risk, Maximizing Choice:  New Directions in Thyroid Care,” studies that look at how radioiodine therapy for Graves’ disease can impact cancer occurrence and the potential usefulness of pharmacologic treatments for benign thyroid nodules to how percutaneous laser ablation for thyroid nodules could be minimally invasive treatment option. Regarding the latter procedure, Giovanni Gambelunghe, MD, PhD,  from the Endocrine Unit at Clinica Liotti in Perugia, Italy, says that the study he authored confirms that the procedure is not only safe and effective in the short term, but in the long term as well. “What impressed me most, however, was that the overwhelming majority of patients reported they would willingly undergo the procedure again,” he says, adding that in itself is “strong evidence of the technique’s truly minimally invasive nature. Clinicians should feel confident in adopting this technique as part of their therapeutic armamentarium.”

The National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has created a new research portal that promises to be a boon for endocrine scientists around the world. Senior Editor Derek Bagley speaks to emeritus Endocrine Society member and longtime researcher Robert Margolis, PhD, about how this new avenue will improve scientists’ ability to reach fellow researchers from all corners of the globe. In “New Research Connections,” we delve into the details of dkNET, which will give researchers and clinicians cross-disciplinary access to critical new information. Margolis says that he hopes researchers will be energized by the knowledge that there is a portal with real and relevant content that can help them in their efforts to maximize their investigations. “dkNET provides a single-entry point to a wealth of information, data, services, and community-wide knowledge with pathways to enhance connectivity to colleagues and others interested in their work,” he says.

Again, if you have any story ideas you think Endocrine Society members would be interested in, feel free to reach out to me at: mnewman@endocrine.org. You’d be surprised at the number of story ideas that come from people just like you! Happy New Year to you and yours!

The post And Just Like That, It’s 2026! appeared first on Endocrine News.

According to results from the OASIS (Oral Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity) 4 clinical trial recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a daily 25 mg dose leads to significant weight reduction and improved physical function. The study positions this mid-dose oral option as a potent alternative for patients who prefer the convenience of a pill over standard weekly injections or higher-dose oral formulations.

“The reasons patients may prefer oral administration over the subcutaneous route are most often needle aversion and local skin reactions,” the authors write. They further noted that oral pills do not require refrigeration, a factor that could “widen the reach of obesity care in many regions of the world where lack of refrigeration is a barrier to access.”

The 71-week, double-blind, randomized trial enrolled 307 participants without diabetes across four countries. Eligible participants had a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 with at least one obesity-related complication, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, or obstructive sleep apnea. Results revealed that participants taking 25 mg of oral semaglutide achieved an estimated mean weight loss of 13.6% from baseline, compared to just 2.2% in the placebo group. This offers a strategic “middle-ground” therapeutic window for patients who may not require the maximum 50 mg dose but seek more robust results than those offered by lower-dose oral options.

“Oral pills do not require refrigeration, a factor that could “widen the reach of obesity care in many regions of the world where lack of refrigeration is a barrier to access.”

Beyond primary weight loss, the study measured several confirmatory secondary endpoints, including waist circumference reduction and improvements in systolic blood pressure. Participants in the semaglutide group were significantly more likely to reach major milestones than those on placebo, achieving weight reductions of 10%, 15%, and even 20% or more. Furthermore, patients reported a marked improvement in their physical function scores via the IWQOL-Lite-CT assessment. These scores indicate that the weight loss translated into tangible improvements in mobility and quality of daily life.

“The weight loss and improvements in metabolic markers seen with oral semaglutide is significant and will positively impact the field of obesity medicine and metabolic conditions,” said Sean Wharton. primary author and head of the Wharton Weight Management Clinic in Burlington, Canada. As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, oral semaglutide works by mimicking a natural hormone that regulates appetite and caloric intake. While highly effective, the 25 mg dose was associated with a higher frequency of side effects than the placebo. Gastrointestinal adverse events — primarily nausea and diarrhea — were reported by 74.0% of the semaglutide group, compared to 42.2% of the placebo group. These findings remain consistent with the established safety profile of the GLP-1 class.

The post Novo Nordisk’s OASIS 4 Study Validates Daily Oral Pill for Chronic Weight Management appeared first on Endocrine News.

• An immersive in-person workshop held April 17-18 at the Endocrine Society Headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C., where fellows can engage directly with leading experts in rare endocrine diseases, participate in interactive, case-based discussions, and gain access to the NORD rare patient panel; and
• Five on-demand, multi-module courses featuring short micro-lessons covering individual rare endocrine diseases. 

The program accepts up to 50 domestic fellows, and the deadline for program directors and other faculty to nominate a fellow is March 2, 2026.

For more details on the program, including eligibility, learning objectives and the program agenda, visit: endocrine.org/education-and-training/rare-endocrine-disease-fellows-series.

This program is supported by educational grants from Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., BridgeBio Pharma, Inc., Chiesi USA, Inc., Corcept Therapeutics, Inc., and Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The post Endocrine Society Launches Rare Endocrine Disease Fellows Program appeared first on Endocrine News.

The findings, released in October 2025, show that orforglipron achieved significant reductions in A1C levels — the standard measure of average blood sugar — and body weight over a 40-week period. Unlike current oral GLP-1 options, orforglipron is a non-peptide, small-molecule drug. This chemical structure is clinically significant; while “peptide” drugs are proteins usually digested by stomach enzymes, this non-peptide version is sturdy enough to be absorbed as a pill without restrictive food or water requirements.

Orforglipron belongs to the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist class, mimicking a gut hormone that triggers insulin release and slows digestion. In contrast, SGLT-2 inhibitors work through the kidneys by flushing excess sugar out through urine. Lilly’s latest data suggests that orforglipron’s hormonal pathway offers more robust glycemic lowering than this renal-focused approach.

The ACHIEVE program evaluates orforglipron across five global registration trials. While earlier studies outperformed oral semaglutide, the results from ACHIEVE-2 and ACHIEVE-5 provide the definitive evidence of superiority over existing standards of care.

Beyond glycemic control, orforglipron delivered improvements in cardiovascular risk factors. The safety profile remained consistent with the broader GLP-1 class; mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal events were the most common side effects, with no liver safety concerns observed.

In the ACHIEVE-2 trial, which compared orforglipron directly to the SGLT-2 inhibitor dapagliflozin, patients inadequately controlled on metformin who received a 36 mg dose of orforglipron saw an A1C reduction of 1.7%. This more than doubled the 0.8% reduction observed in the SGLT-2 group. “Orforglipron has now demonstrated superiority over two active comparators,” stated Jeff Emmick, senior vice president of product development at Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, reinforcing its potential as a new standard of care.

The ACHIEVE-5 trial evaluated a more complex population: adults using titrated insulin glargine. In this trial, the glargine dose was constantly adjusted to find the exact amount needed to keep fasting blood sugar stable. The study was significant because it showed that adding orforglipron to insulin glargine helped patients lower their A1C by an additional 2.1%, compared to 0.8% in the placebo group. This is important because many patients find that insulin alone is not enough to reach their health goals, or it causes unwanted weight gain. Adding orforglipron helped manage blood sugar more aggressively while also promoting weight loss. Beyond glycemic control, orforglipron delivered improvements in cardiovascular risk factors. The safety profile remained consistent with the broader GLP-1 class; mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal events were the most common side effects, with no liver safety concerns observed. Lilly plans to submit orforglipron for regulatory approval in 2026. If authorized, it would remove the logistical barriers of injections and strict fasting, offering a flexible, “no-restriction” oral option for the global diabetes community.

The post Lilly’s Oral GLP-1 Orforglipron Demonstrates Superiority in Phase 3 Diabetes Trials appeared first on Endocrine News.

Two studies published in late 2025 examined cardiovascular outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes treated with various glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), providing real data suggesting that, although they clearly have multiple therapeutic benefits, not all agents within this drug class are created the same.

With recent federal policy changes aiming to make the GLP-1RAs and related drugs more affordable to potentially reach millions more patients who could see significant health improvements with treatment, this is a good time to scrutinize their safety and efficacy profiles. Collectively, these studies advance our understanding of within-class differences among GLP-1RAs, which may allow more individualized therapy, depending on patient-specific factors.

Tirzepatide Versus Dulaglutide

In “Cardiovascular Outcomes with Tirzepatide versus Dulaglutide in Type 2 Diabetes,” from NEJM in December,” Stephen J. Nicholls, MB, BS, PhD, of Monash University in Clayton, Australia, and team compared tirzepatide and dulaglutide head-to-head. They conducted the Study of Tirzepatide Compared with Dulaglutide on Major Cardiovascular Events in Participants with Type 2 Diabetes (SURPASS-CVOT) to settle a couple of questions, explains Nicholls: “Given that there is a lot of interest in developing new incretin therapies, can we achieve better outcomes (metabolic or clinical) with combination therapy, and can we develop agents that are better tolerated? For all of these agents, there will ultimately be interest in knowing their effect on cardiovascular events.”

For their active comparator–controlled, double-blind, noninferiority trial that began in 2020, 6,586 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to a tirzepatide (dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide [GIP]/GLP-1RA) treatment group and 6,579 to a dulaglutide (selective GLP-1RA) group and followed for four years. The primary end point was time to first major cardiovascular adverse event (MACE), a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular and all-cause death; additional composite cardiovascular outcomes (including coronary revascularization and heart-failure events), kidney function change over 36 months; and changes in A1c, weight, blood pressure (36 months), and triglycerides/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (24 months). Tirzepatide proved as safe and effective as dulaglutide for major cardiovascular events (death, MI, or stroke) in high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes (noninferior, not clearly superior), with more gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, but better A1c and weight loss. However, the broader composite including revascularization was lower with tirzepatide, as was all-cause mortality.

Nicholls says they were not surprised that tirzepatide demonstrated noninferiority, but he underscores the significance of the latter findings. “While we expected that tirzepatide would have better metabolic benefits (weight loss, glycemic control),” he says, “we didn’t know if it would have better effects on clinical outcomes. The benefits on extended MACE including coronary revascularization and all-cause mortality are important. They highlight that people with CVD and type 2 diabetes are at risk of a range of complications. Tirzepatide fared well from that perspective.” Digging a little deeper into why and how tirzepatide prevented more deaths, Nicholls says, “the death benefit is really interesting and appears to involve a reduction in non-cardiovascular death. The degree to which that is less death in the setting of infection has been reported previously. We need to do more investigation.”

 “Given that there is a lot of interest in developing new incretin therapies, can we achieve better outcomes (metabolic or clinical) with combination therapy, and can we develop agents that are better tolerated? For all of these agents, there will ultimately be interest in knowing their effect on cardiovascular events.” – Stephen J. Nicholls, MB, BS, PhD, Monash University, Clayton, Australia

A big question remains: what is it about the incretin agonists’ mechanism of action that makes them effective against CVD/events? “I think we’re still trying to work that out from all of the studies,” says Nicholls. “It is likely to be a combination of factors. It’s not all about the weight loss or the improved glycemic control. The combined metabolic benefits are likely to be important, direct effects on blood vessels and the heart may be important, and there may be additional factors that remain unknown. It highlights that there is more research needed — we need to understand this data to a greater degree.” For example, he cites an ongoing placebo-controlled trial of tirzepatide in high-risk patients with CVD but without type 2 diabetes. “That will be an important study to follow,” he says. He adds that researchers should continue to strive for diversity in the makeup of study participants, “so our findings more reflect the diversity of patients we see in the clinic.”

The bottom line here is that tirzepatide has proven its worth. Regarding the increased incidence of GI side effects, Nicholls points out that overall tirzepatide was similar to dulaglutide in terms of adverse events and drug discontinuation and thus tolerability. “Tirzepatide has good metabolic benefits and is at least comparable to dulaglutide regarding cardiovascular events,” he says. “The benefits on mortality and extended MACE further highlight its potential utility. This is good for patients as it suggests we have more choice of therapies.”

Dulaglutide, Exenatide, Liraglutide, and Semaglutide

From the September issue of Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, “Comparative effectiveness of GLP-1 receptor agonists on cardiovascular outcomes among adults with type 2 diabetes and moderate cardiovascular risk: emulation of a target trial” compared the cardiovascular outcomes of four GLP-1RAs among adults with type 2 diabetes at moderate cardiovascular risk. Stacey M. Sklepinski, MD, Family Medicine Resident Physician (PGY1) at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill. and Rozalina G. McCoy, MD, MS, of the University of Maryland School of Public Health THRIVE (Transforming Health through Real-world Insights, Values, and Evidence) Lab in Baltimore, Md., and team sought to address a research gap: comparing cardiovascular outcomes following initiation of GLP-1RAs among people with type 2 diabetes at moderate cardiovascular risk (recalling Nicholls’ stated research need), which they defined as individuals whose predicted risk of experiencing a MACE like MI or stroke, or dying from any cause, was 1% to 5% in the coming year. “More fundamentally,” say Sklepinski and McCoy, “there has been no head-to-head evidence comparing different GLP-1RAs for cardiovascular outcomes. Clinicians and patients often select agents based on insurance formulary preferences rather than comparative efficacy or effectiveness data. Payors make formulary decisions based, in large part, on manufacturer rebates and contract negotiations, particularly when comparative efficacy/effectiveness information is limited. With dramatic increases in GLP-1RA prescribing, potential shortages of semaglutide, in particular, and the recent availability of generic options for liraglutide, evidence-based guidance on preferential agents within this drug class became even more important.”

They chose to emulate a target trial as their study design because such a framework provides the closest approximation to randomized-controlled trial (RCT)-level evidence when head-to-head trials are unlikely to be conducted due to time, cost, and feasibility constraints.

Their study included adults with type 2 diabetes and moderate CVD risk who initiated dulaglutide (35,572), exenatide (4,376), liraglutide (8,843), or semaglutide (33,063) between 2019 and 2021. Semaglutide and liraglutide fared best: semaglutide was associated with lower risk of MACE, expanded MACE, all-cause mortality, acute stroke, and arterial revascularization compared to dulaglutide. Liraglutide was also associated with a lower risk of MACE and all-cause mortality compared to dulaglutide.

“It will also be important to examine use of GLP-1RAs and SGLT2is together. Both classes are highly effective in reducing cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes across the spectrum of CVD risk (notably, our prior work comparing across mediation classes suggests that SGLT2is may be even more favorable than GLP-1RAs for some outcomes, and are comparable on others), and we assume that taking both together is likely to be even more beneficial. But we do not have direct evidence to back this up.” – Rozalina G. McCoy, MD, MS, University of Maryland School of Public Health THRIVE (Transforming Health through Real-world Insights, Values, and Evidence) Lab, Baltimore, Md. (pictured) and Stacey M. Sklepinski, MD, Family Medicine Resident Physician (PGY1), Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Illinois

Possible mechanisms include differences in receptor-binding and pharmacokinetic properties, say Sklepinski and McCoy. “While all GLP-1RAs activate the same receptor, they differ in their structures (e.g., semaglutide has 94% homology to native GLP-1 with specific amino acid substitutions and fatty acid side chain allowing albumin binding) and half-life (~ 1 week for semaglutide, five days for dulaglutide, and 13 hours for liraglutide). Longer engagement with the receptor may translate to more sustained signaling effects. Beyond glycemic control and weight loss, GLP-1RAs exert direct cardiovascular effects including endothelial function improvement, reduction in inflammatory markers and inflammatory cytokines, anti-atherosclerotic effects, blood pressure reduction, and potential direct myocardial effects. The magnitude of these effects may vary by agent based on receptor pharmacology and tissue penetration.”

Of note, exenatide showed noninferiority to each of the other three agents, a finding that surprised the team, as it had not demonstrated cardiovascular benefits in the EXSCEL trial. Sklepinski and McCoy explain that treatment contamination in the EXSCEL trial could be diluting exenatide’s effects, specifically, higher rates of open-label use of other GLP-1RAs and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) in the placebo arm. However, post-hoc analyses revealed statistically significant benefits similar to liraglutide and approaching those of dulaglutide. “This highlights the value of real-world evidence when trial execution issues may obscure true drug effects and suggests that analysis of RCT effects may benefit from incorporating some of the same causal methods as observational studies. Indeed, RCTs are only randomized on treatment assignment (i.e., what medication the participant is assigned to take) not treatment exposure (i.e., what medication the patient actually takes and is exposed to), and when RCTs exhibit significant post-randomization variation, we need to account for those or at least consider them when interpreting study results,” they say.

Another surprising result — that there were no significant differences between semaglutide and liraglutide for any outcome despite prior studies demonstrating semaglutide’s superiority — led the researchers to make other important observations about study design. “The finding suggests that liraglutide’s cardiovascular benefits may be underappreciated, study populations and contexts matter (in higher-risk patients, differences in efficacy may be more pronounced), and/or that real-world effectiveness may differ from efficacy in selected trial populations,” they say.

They likewise found no difference between the GLP-1RA drugs in heart failure (HF) hospitalization risk, despite semaglutide’s benefits in the STEP-HFpEF trial for HF symptoms in patients with HFpEF, obesity, and type 2 diabetes (see the Targeting Frailty section of  “Beyond the Scale: What Else Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Can Do” in this issue). “The current study found no differences in these risks between any GLP-1RAs, suggesting that HF benefits may be restricted to patients with significant obesity (as in STEP-HFpEF), HF benefits may emerge primarily in those with existing HF rather than for primary prevention, and/or that the mechanism of semaglutide’s benefit may involve weight loss rather than direct cardiac effects,” say Sklepinski and McCoy. They conclude that a future study should focus specifically on potential heterogeneous treatment effects as a function of obesity and HF risk.

Speaking of future studies, the team has identified several avenues to explore, including further research on how to best care for people with type 2 diabetes, with obesity, and cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome risk factors more broadly. “First and foremost, it will be important to examine the potential mediating effects of weight loss and glucose-lowering on the effectiveness of different GLP-1RAs to understand both why we are seeing the observed benefits and why differences between drugs exist,” they say. “This will also help us better tailor treatment, particularly in patients who may not respond to GLP-1RA therapy with respect to weight loss or glucose-lowering as expected. It is important to understand whether the cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1RAs are limited to those who also experience glycemic and/or weight benefits, or we see benefits in hard outcomes more broadly. Current indirect evidence from the cardiovascular outcomes trials suggests that cardiovascular benefits are at least partly independent of glucose-lowering, but the same analysis was not done for weight loss.”

They also want to examine oral semaglutide separately from the subcutaneous formulation, particularly now that an oral version has been approved for weight loss, and to consider dose effects. Tirzepatide was not clinically available for the current study, so they would include it in future comparisons. Future work should also focus on other outcomes important to patients like MASLD/MASH, arthritis, sleep apnea, and others.

“It will also be important to examine use of GLP-1RAs and SGLT2is together,” state Sklepinski and McCoy. “Both classes are highly effective in reducing cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes across the spectrum of CVD risk (notably, our prior work comparing across mediation classes suggests that SGLT2is may be even more favorable than GLP-1RAs for some outcomes, and are comparable on others), and we assume that taking both together is likely to be even more beneficial. But we do not have direct evidence to back this up.”

They also want to highlight the importance of implementation research, asking, “how do we improve prescribing, access, affordability, and tolerability? We continue to see many patients who would benefit from these drugs not receive them, and there are many reasons for this: clinicians do not consistently prescribe them due to lack of awareness or training, high administrative burden, bias, or other reasons; patients cannot fill them due to cost, insurance coverage, or shortages; or patients stop them, again, due to cost, insurance coverage, shortages, or side effects (see the Discontinuation section of “Beyond the Scale” in this issue). Thus, administrative hurdles, worsening insurance coverage, and high costs are major barriers needing to be addressed. “Indeed,” say Sklepinski and McCoy, “most patients with type 2 diabetes would benefit from a GLP-1RA (or SGLT2i) for cardiovascular risk reduction, and we should continue to work on multilevel strategies to reduce barriers to prescribing, access, and use.”

Horvath is a freelance writer based in Baltimore, Md. In the January issue, she wrote about a number of new directions for treating patients with thyroid cancer.

The post Compare and Contrast: As Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Access Expands, Comparative Heart Outcomes Matter appeared first on Endocrine News.

February is heart month at Endocrine News, making it an opportune time to examine four recent studies that explore various aspects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and related incretin-based therapies, given obesity’s profound impact on cardiovascular health.

Recent advances in obesity pharmacotherapy have shown unprecedented efficacy in weight reduction and cardiometabolic improvement. GLP-1RAs (and their offshoots that add agonists of other key metabolic regulation substances) have shown particular promise in patients with obesity-related cardiovascular and metabolic complications, offering synergistic benefits that extend beyond weight loss. The picture is not yet perfect, however, and a substantial proportion of patients discontinue treatment within the first year due to barriers related to cost, access, and tolerability. Nevertheless, evidence suggests these therapies may be especially valuable for high-risk patient populations who have been underserved or excluded from aggressive treatment approaches.

Novel Agents

Published in Endocrinology in August, “Novel Dual and Triple Agonists Targeting GLP-1, GIP, Glucagon, and GDF15 for Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity Management” sets the stage for how remarkably these agents have transformed the treatment landscape and what additional benefits may lie on the horizon. Chao Zheng, PhD, from The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, and team sought to expand the potential patient populations who can benefit by exploring novel peptide-based therapies, citing GLP-1RAs’ lack of effectiveness in a significant proportion of patients. While it is as yet premature to integrate these agents into clinical practice, the researchers undertook a comprehensive overview of what we know so far about dual and triple agonists that target glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), another incretin; glucagon; and/or growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) in addition to GLP-1.

As the team points out, strong, sustained agonists at the GIP receptor (GIPR) inhibit appetite and stimulate insulin secretion. And, since GIPRs and GLP-1 receptors belong to a related family, the logical next step was to develop a coagonist that targets both — enter tirzepatide. With its demonstrated superior potency and efficacy compared to the single GLP-1RAs such as semaglutide, tirzepatide paved the way for continued experimentation with combined agents.

Dual and triple incretin-based agonists show remarkable potential to more effectively treat the intertwined metabolic problems of type 2 diabetes and obesity, with all the cardiovascular and other comorbidities they confer. These multitarget drugs are designed to create synergy across pathways that regulate appetite, insulin secretion, hepatic metabolism, and energy expenditure, producing broader metabolic benefits than single-receptor therapies. For example, pairing GLP-1 with glucagon aims to merge GLP-1’s strong appetite-suppressing and glucose-lowering effects with glucagon’s lipolytic and thermogenic actions (possibly mediated indirectly through factors such as FGF21).

Early coagonists showed improved glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism alongside weight loss driven by both reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure, such as cotadutide, a daily injectable, improves liver metabolism and has reduced HbA1c in clinical trials while also showing kidney-protective effects (e.g., reduced albumin-to-creatinine ratio).

Another, efinopegdutide, produces dose-dependent weight loss and may reduce liver fat more than semaglutide, but has shown more adverse events and less consistent glycemic benefit. Bamadutide improved weight and glycemic measures and sometimes outperformed liraglutide, although its activity appears biased toward GLP-1R. Other dual agonists include survodutide, mazdutide, and pemvidutide, with evidence of meaningful weight loss and cardiometabolic improvements.

GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonists like the aforementioned tirzepatide enhance glycemic control by increasing insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon, and slowing gastric emptying — while potentially improving satiety via central mechanisms.

Triple GLP-1/GIP/glucagon agonists aim for even more comprehensive metabolic control. Long-acting retatrutide, for example, produced substantial HbA1c and weight reductions and showed promise for reducing hepatic fat and improving metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)-related biomarkers. Efocipegtrutide shows potential benefits in obesity, MASLD/fibrosis, dyslipidemia, and even neuroinflammation in preclinical models.

Despite their demonstrated potential in preclinical and clinical studies, challenges persist with these agents. The research team cites mechanistic complexities, long-term safety uncertainties, and the need for optimized dosing regimens, all of which require further investigation. Personalized approaches, guided by patient-specific biomarkers and phenotypes, may maximize therapeutic efficacy. “Future research must prioritize head-to-head trials (e.g., tirzepatide versus retatrutide) and validate predictive biomarkers (e.g., GDF15 for anti- inflammatory responses) to advance precision medicine. Collaborative efforts across research, clinical, and pharmaceutical domains are essential to translate these innovations into transformative therapies, ultimately improving outcomes for the global diabetes population,” say the study authors.

Targeting Frailty

In “Frailty and Effects of Semaglutide in Obesity-Related HFpEF: Findings From the STEP-HFpEF Program,” published in JACC: Heart Failure in September, Ambarish Pandey, MD, MSCS of the Divisions of Cardiology and Geriatrics in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas, Texas, and team demonstrated just how effective semaglutide can be in the setting of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and accompanying frailty. Based on the results in 1,145 participants from the Research Study to Investigate How Well Semaglutide Works in People Living with Heart Failure and Obesity (STEP-HFpEF), Pandey and team sought to answer a nagging question. “This question has been on our minds since the completion of the STEP-HFpEF trial,” says Pandey. “Over 60% of participants fell into the ‘most frail’ category. That’s a striking number. And it raised a concern we kept hearing: if someone is already frail, won’t a medication that causes significant weight loss, particularly muscle loss, make things worse? We needed real data to settle that question.”

Semaglutide was the logical choice for this specific patient population he explains: “The STEP-HFpEF trials were built around semaglutide from the start. But there’s a broader rationale. GLP-1RAs do more than promote weight loss. They tamp down inflammation, improve cardiac hemodynamics, and offer metabolic benefits we’re still learning about. In obesity-related HFpEF, where inflammation and metabolic dysfunction sit at the center of the disease, semaglutide was a natural fit.”

So, while weight loss across the board was anticipated (about 8% to 9% of body weight compared to placebo), the results this team found intriguing were semaglutide’s stratum-dependent ability to reduce frailty burden (strata = less frail, more frail, most frail). “Symptom improvements were far more pronounced in the frailest patients,” says Pandey. “That disconnect tells us something important. The benefit isn’t coming from weight loss alone.” He further explains that obesity-related HFpEF and frailty share common ground at the biological level: chronic inflammation, skeletal muscle dysfunction, depleted metabolic reserve. “Semaglutide seems to act on these overlapping pathways. There’s also growing evidence that GLP-1RAs improve muscle quality by clearing out the fat that infiltrates muscle tissue. Frail patients start with the most dysfunction, so they have the most to gain.” In fact, after one year, patients on semaglutide demonstrated an 11-point improvement on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire–Clinical Summary Score, which represented a shift into a less-frail stratum for many. “That’s enormous,” says Pandey. “It’s the kind of change patients actually feel in their daily lives. We may not just be managing symptoms here. We may be changing the trajectory of the disease itself.”

“Don’t hold back semaglutide because a patient with obesity-related HFpEF looks too frail. They’re the ones who stand to benefit most. In our analysis, the frailest patients saw the largest symptom gains, were far more likely to improve their frailty status, and experienced fewer serious adverse events on semaglutide than on placebo. If you’ve been hesitant because a patient seems fragile, reconsider. That’s exactly who should be getting this therapy.” – Ambarish Pandey, MD, MSCS, Divisions of Cardiology and Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas

These results are striking for another important reason — they counter what Pandey dubs “therapeutic nihilism.” Returning to the “nagging question” at the heart of this study, he says that the concern makes sense on the surface. “With GLP-1RAs, 25% to 40% of total weight loss can come from muscle rather than fat. Picture a 70-year-old with HFpEF who already has sarcopenia. The natural worry is that you’re speeding up their decline. But there’s a deeper issue. Frail patients routinely get undertreated because clinicians fear they won’t tolerate medications well.”

With such promising findings, Pandey says the team’s next step is confirming these results with objective physical measures: the Fried frailty phenotype, Short Physical Performance Battery, grip strength, gait speed. “We also want detailed body composition imaging through MRI to understand whether the muscle patients retain is actually healthier. Longer follow-up will tell us whether improvements in frailty lead to fewer hospitalizations and better survival. That’s the ultimate question.”

He has some strong advice for clinicians: “Don’t hold back semaglutide because a patient with obesity-related HFpEF looks too frail. They’re the ones who stand to benefit most. In our analysis, the frailest patients saw the largest symptom gains, were far more likely to improve their frailty status, and experienced fewer serious adverse events on semaglutide than on placebo. If you’ve been hesitant because a patient seems fragile, reconsider. That’s exactly who should be getting this therapy.”

Targeting Alström Syndrome

In “Effectiveness of the Dual GIP/GLP1-Agonist Tirzepatide in 2 Cases of Alström Syndrome, a Rare Obesity Syndrome,” published in JCEM in April, Thomas Scherer, MD, of the Medical University of Vienna, in Vienna, Austria, and team showed tirzepatide’s efficacy even in the particularly difficult-to-treat Alström syndrome (AS), a rare, genetic, multisystemic disorder, characterized by, among other conditions, diabetes with profound insulin resistance due to marked hyperphagia.

Scherer cares for patients living with rare obesity syndromes and recounts a recent particular struggle to treat two male patients ages 20 and 23 years with AS, who did not respond to multimodal obesity therapy including GLP-1RAs. “We tried the mono agonists available on the European market at that time, which were dulaglutide, liraglutide, and semaglutide,” he explains, “but hyperphagia was unaffected and body weight only temporarily mildly dipped and eventually stagnated.”

Scherer explains that the situation was particularly critical for one of the men who was experiencing obesity-related metabolic complications including MASLD, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes requiring insulin doses greater than 100 IU/day despite maximal antidiabetic therapy with metformin 1,000 mg bid, dapagliflozin 5 mg bid, pioglitazone 45 mg qd, and semaglutide 1 mg once weekly. “We decided to start the patient on tirzepatide (imported from the United States at that time) as a final option before considering bariatric surgery,” he says. “The second patient followed shortly after, since we saw a marked weight response in our first patient (body weight –27%) and massive reductions in insulin doses (–83%) and resolution of insulin resistance upon starting tirzepatide.”

Their choice stands to reason. As described in the first study mentioned here, dual (and triple agonists) work in complementary and synergistic ways. In the case of tirzepatide, Scherer believes the mechanism may relate to its GIPR action: “Since tirzepatide is an imbalanced dual agonist with stronger GIPR action and weaker binding to GLP-1R compared to classic GLP-1 agonists, a GIP-mediated mechanism seems likely. Studies in rodents showed, for example, that GIPR agonism mediates weight-independent insulin sensitization by improving glucose disposal into white adipose tissue (WAT). This suggests that maybe tirzepatide ameliorates WAT function in AS, thereby improving overall metabolism and insulin sensitivity (also demonstrated by the rapid decline insulin demand). This is particularly interesting since, in contrast to GLP-1Rs, only GIPRs are expressed in WAT. In addition, loss of function of the ALMS1 gene in adipose tissue or preadipocytes recapitulates the metabolic phenotype of a global ALMS1 loss of function, suggesting that adipose tissue failure is a major pathophysiologic component of AS. Ultimately, rodent studies in ALMS1 knockout mice are needed to get at the exact mechanism at work.”

“Patients and caregivers should be instructed to be mindful of below-target fasting and postprandial glucose readings and be instructed to make adjustments to the insulin doses in close contact with the treatment center. Using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) device with alarm function and the possibility of remote monitoring of CGM data would also help mitigate hypoglycemic events in this context.” – Thomas Scherer, MD, deputy chief, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

For Scherer’s two patients, uptitration of tirzepatide to the maximal dose of 15 mg a week was necessary, but in addition to the weight they lost, they did achieve significant improvements in insulin resistance (which can be quite pronounced in the setting of AS) as well as reduced hyperphagia. This success prompts future studies to not only confirm the findings in larger cohorts but also to explore similar avenues. “It would be great to undertake studies with the newer dual agonists and polyagonists also in rare obesity syndromes such as AS, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Bardet-Biedl syndrome (just to name a few) as the clinical need for effective obesity/hyperphagia therapies in these patients is especially high,” says Scherer. “This is an effort where industry and academia need to closely collaborate to find the right patient cohorts, which is not an easy task in rare disease.”

Meanwhile, he wants clinicians to know that tirzepatide is a good option for treating obesity, hyperphagia, MASLD, and type 2 diabetes in AS, but because of the rapid therapeutic response it produces, patients require careful monitoring. “Care should be taken in patients with insulin therapy as rapid adjustments in insulin doses should be anticipated,” he says. “Therefore, close meshed control intervals during the uptitration phase of tirzepatide with biweekly to monthly visits are merited to avoid hypoglycemia. Furthermore, patients and caregivers should be instructed to be mindful of below-target fasting and postprandial glucose readings and be instructed to make adjustments to the insulin doses in close contact with the treatment center. Using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) device with alarm function and the possibility of remote monitoring of CGM data would also help mitigate hypoglycemic events in this context.”

Discontinuation

As mentioned, the news is not all perfectly rosy, as “Reasons for Discontinuation of Obesity Pharmacotherapy With Semaglutide or Tirzepatide in Clinical Practice” shows. Even in this study published in Obesity in August and written by Hamlet Gasoyan, PhD, of the Center for Value-Based Care Research at the Cleveland Clinic and the Department of Medicine, at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, in Cleveland, Ohio, and team, however, researchers have reason to be hopeful.

“Discontinuation of injectable semaglutide and tirzepatide for obesity is common in clinical practice,” says Gasoyan. “Although potential causes of this have been speculated by clinicians and third-party payers, no U.S.-based study to date has quantified the reasons for it. We believe that a better understanding of the reasons could help address the barriers to continued use of these medications.”

Their cross-sectional study examined electronic health record (EHR) data of 288 patients with overweight or obesity and without type 2 diabetes who initiated injectable semaglutide or tirzepatide and discontinued treatment within the first year, 145 of whom received semaglutide, and 143 tirzepatide. The researchers found that 137 patients (47.6%) discontinued their medication due to cost or insurance-related issues, 42 (14.6%) due to side effects, 34 (11.8%) due to shortages, 7 (2.4%) due to switching to a compounded medication, and 5 (1.7%) due to unsatisfactory weight loss. Another 31 (10.8%) discontinued for other reasons, and the discontinuation reason was not specified in the EHR for 32 (11.1%) patients.

“Our findings are in line with studies that examined the association of insurance type, copayment amount, and socioeconomic factors with the initiation and persistence with novel obesity medications,” says Gasoyan. “Discontinuation due to factors typically irrelevant in clinical trial settings (i.e., cost or insurance-related issues and medication shortages) could contribute to the substantial discrepancy between discontinuation rates in pivotal phase 3 trials and those reported in real-world studies.”

Regarding discontinuation due to side effects, Gasoyan says we do not currently know of patient-level predictors that would help identify who might experience side effects and why. “The most helpful recommendation for patients would be to work closely with their clinician on gradual dosing and making specific dietary and lifestyle adjustments,” he says.

“Discontinuation of injectable semaglutide and tirzepatide for obesity is common in clinical practice. Although potential causes of this have been speculated by clinicians and third-party payers, no U.S.-based study to date has quantified the reasons for it. We believe that a better understanding of the reasons could help address the barriers to continued use of these medications.” – Hamlet Gasoyan, PhD, Center for Value-Based Care Research, Cleveland Clinic; Department of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio

Indeed, the team’s next steps involve individualizing therapy. “In our future work, we will be generating evidence on what alternative obesity treatment works best for whom, to help patients and providers make evidence-based decisions when continuing with a specific novel obesity medication is not possible,” says Gasoyan. Helpfully, recent policy changes regarding cost may make having a variety of options to readily choose from more possible from an affordability perspective. “These are positive developments that will improve access and treatment persistence among patients needing obesity medications, particularly those covered by Medicare, state Medicaid programs in states that will choose to participate, and those who can afford the cash pay option.”

Meanwhile, he says, “recognizing the primary reasons for discontinuation may facilitate more informed discussions between clinicians and their patients, helping to address challenges in long-term persistence with these highly effective medications.”

Horvath is a freelance writer based in Baltimore, Md. In the January issue, she wrote about a number of new directions for treating patients with thyroid cancer.

The post Beyond the Scale: What Else Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Can Do appeared first on Endocrine News.

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, consisting primarily of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) — which accounts for the vast majority of cases — and medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), a rarer form making up about 3% of diagnoses. Early rodent studies showed increased MTC incidence, leading the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to mandate a black box warning for patients with a family history of the disease. However, human data remained mixed, leaving a gap between preclinical fears and clinical reality.

This latest study provides the mechanistic evidence needed to alleviate these concerns. Using mouse models implanted with PTC tumors and cell cultures, researchers found that semaglutide significantly reduced tumor size. Crucially, the drug did not directly affect cancer cell proliferation. Instead, it targeted the tumor microenvironment (TME) — specifically, immune cells known as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs).

TAMs often make up over 50% of a tumor’s mass. In a typical cancer setting, they act as a “double-edged sword” favoring the tumor by adopting a “supporter” (M2) phenotype. The research team discovered by their experiments that semaglutide forces these cells to undergo a “polarization shift,” increasing “attacker” (M1) macrophages that actively inhibit tumor growth.

Ultimately, the research indicates that semaglutide could revolutionize the way clinicians think about GLP-1 receptor agonists in oncology. While further research is required to translate these preclinical findings into clinical practice, the identification of the GLP-1R/PPARG/ACSL1 pathway provides a clear roadmap for future investigations into the intersection of metabolic drugs and cancer immunotherapy in the future.

This immune reprogramming occurs through the GLP-1R/PPARG/ACSL1 signaling pathway. Semaglutide downregulates PPARG, modifying lipid metabolism within macrophages. By modulating downstream genes like ACSL1 and RSAD2, the drug prevents the lipid accumulation required for M2 macrophage survival. This effectively “flips the switch” to an M1 state, enhancing anti-cancer activity.

The study concludes that this metabolic modulation represents a promising frontier for semaglutide. Beyond its established roles in blood sugar and weight management, semaglutide could eventually be explored as an adjunctive therapy in oncology.

“These findings suggest that semaglutide may improve therapeutic strategies, reduce unnecessary screenings, and broaden its clinical applications,” the authors write in “Semaglutide Reprograms Macrophages via the GLP-1R/ PPARG/ACSL1 Pathway to Suppress Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Growth.” If validated in human trials, this research could fundamentally change care for millions of patients, moving semaglutide from a perceived risk to a potential protective asset in thyroid health.

The authors acknowledge shortcomings. For instance, immunocompromised mice used in the PTC xenograft model may not fully reflect human patients. Secondly, macrophages obtained were stimulated in vitro with growth factors and cytokines, which might not reflect how TAMs switch in vivo. Lastly, due to its rarity, MTC cells were not used, so findings may not apply beyond PTC. Ultimately, the research indicates that semaglutide could revolutionize the way clinicians think about GLP-1 receptor agonists in oncology. While further research is required to translate these preclinical findings into clinical practice, the identification of the GLP-1R/PPARG/ACSL1 pathway provides a clear roadmap for future investigations into the intersection of metabolic drugs and cancer immunotherapy in the future.

The post New Research Challenges Fears of Semaglutide-Linked Thyroid Cancer Risk appeared first on Endocrine News.

For more than three decades, Samuel Klein, MD, has pondered a seemingly simple question: why do some people with obesity develop serious metabolic disease while others remain remarkably healthy? The answers — grounded in meticulous human studies and translational science — have transformed how clinicians and researchers understand fat biology and metabolic risk. In recognition of these contributions, the Endocrine Society has named Klein one of its 2026 Laureates, awarding him the Outstanding Clinical Investigator Award.

Klein is the William H. Danforth Professor of Medicine and Nutritional Science at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. He is also the director of the Center for Human Nutrition and the Division of Nutritional Science & Obesity Medicine. He earned his medical degree at Temple University and master’s degree in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Klein completed a subsequent fellowship in gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and has been a member of the Washington University School of Medicine faculty since 1994.

Throughout his career, Klein’s research efforts have also help unlock the mystery of how weight loss improves the metabolic problems caused by obesity.

“He is a unique physician-scientist who conducts studies in human subjects that are directed at understanding the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of obesity and diabetes in an effort to ultimately improve health and clinical care,” wrote Rexford S. Ahima, MD, PhD, director of Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in his nomination of Klein for the Laureate award.

Endocrine News asked Klein more about the short- and long-term impact of his research and the advice he gives to today’s aspiring investigators.

Endocrine News: What did the news of receiving the Laureate recognition mean to you, and how do you hope it might influence your future work or opportunities?

Klein: Receiving the Endocrine Society’s Outstanding Clinical Investigator Award is obviously a great honor. I want to acknowledge that this award recognizes the many contributions from research staff, trainees, and colleagues that made the work happen. The Laureate recognition of our work supports the importance of combining clinical and basic science techniques in studying multi-organ system biology in people to enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of obesity-related metabolic diseases.

EN: What impact do you envision your work will have in the short and long term? 

Klein: Obesity is typically associated with a constellation of metabolic abnormalities and diseases, including insulin resistance, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease, which are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, there is considerable heterogeneity in these metabolic complications and some people with obesity are protected from many of the adverse metabolic effects of excess body fat and can be considered “metabolically healthy.”

“It is important to follow the data and not become personally invested in a particular hypothesis. Research is an exploration to find the truth. There is nothing wrong in being wrong, but it’s a mistake to remain locked into a position that is not supported by new data.” – Samuel Klein, MD, William H. Danforth Professor of Medicine and Nutritional Science, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.

We hope that our work encourages the study of groups of people at the two ends of the metabolic heterogeneity spectrum (i.e., those with metabolically healthy and metabolically unhealthy obesity) because a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the ends of the spectrum will provide insights into the mechanisms that can cause or prevent obesity-related metabolic diseases and identify novel pathways for therapeutic intervention.

EN: What advice would you give to aspiring scientists just beginning their careers in research.

Klein: It is important to follow the data and not become personally invested in a particular hypothesis. Research is an exploration to find the truth. There is nothing wrong in being wrong, but it’s a mistake to remain locked into a position that is not supported by new data.

EN: If you could turn the calendar back to the start of your research career, what would you do differently?

Klein: I would have spent less time at work and more time developing hobbies that I could pursue in retirement.

EN: Science can be all-consuming. What’s your favorite way to unplug when you step away from the bench?

Klein: I like to escape with exercise and by reading true crime novels.

Shaw is a freelance contributor based in Carmel, Ind. She is a regular contributor to Endocrine News and writes the monthly Laboratory Notes column.

The post Both Ends of the Spectrum: Talking Obesity Science with Samuel Klein, MD appeared first on Endocrine News.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are certainly making a lot of headlines these days. They’ve been around for decades, helping treat patients with type 2 diabetes and short bowel syndrome, but when it was discovered that they could also help patients with obesity, they became several household names – Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc.

Until a couple months ago, these medications were only available as injectables, which discouraged some patients; yet about 12% of U.S. adults reported taking GLP-1RAs for weight loss, diabetes, or another chronic condition, according to a November 2025 KFF Health Track poll. Now that Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy has been approved in pill form, a recent Sunlight.com Survey suggests that number may jump to 40% in 2026.

As these drugs soar in popularity, researchers and physicians are finding uses form them outside the realm of obesity and diabetes. Clinicians have reported using GLP-1RAs to short-circuit addictions to gambling and sex. A paper recently published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society (JES) even describes how GLP-1RAs might be used to treat alcohol and drug addictions.

GLP-1s and Addiction

The authors of “GLP-1 Therapeutics and Their Emerging Role in Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders: An Endocrinology Primer,” appearing in October 2025 in JES, point out that the World Health Organization reported 890 million adults and 60 million children and adolescents had obesity in 2022 globally. They go on to connect obesity and addiction. They admit that can be controversial, but they write that obesity may have phenotypic characteristics that resemble addiction, including neurocircuitry mechanisms. “Pathways implicated in addiction also contribute to pathological overeating and obesity,” they write.

“Clinical research also shows that some neuroimaging features observed in people with obesity resemble those seen in people with addiction,” says Lorenzo Leggio, MD, PhD, clinical director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and corresponding author of the JES paper. “Finally, in clinical practice, some medications used to treat addiction can also affect appetite and body weight. Taken together, evidence from neuroscience, human research, and clinical practice suggests meaningful overlap between obesity and addiction-related mechanisms.”

Leggio says that his lab has long been interested in how gut-brain neuroendocrine pathways may influence alcohol use disorder (AUD). “Our overarching framework is that gut–brain (and other periphery-to-brain) endocrine signaling may play a role in AUD (and potentially other substance use disorders) and could therefore represent novel targets for treatment development. With that in mind, we have studied pathways involving insulin, ghrelin, and GLP-1,” he says.

“Clinical research also shows that some neuroimaging features observed in people with obesity resemble those seen in people with addiction. Finally, in clinical practice, some medications used to treat addiction can also affect appetite and body weight. Taken together, evidence from neuroscience, human research, and clinical practice suggests meaningful overlap between obesity and addiction-related mechanisms.” – Lorenzo Leggio, MD, PhD, clinical director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, Md.

Current treatments for alcohol and other substance use disorders include behavioral therapy and rehabilitation and a few FDA-approved medications, but the irony is that while these disorders can carry a stigma, so can seeking treatment for them. The authors write that there can be self-stigma or internalized stigma, which can lead to reluctance in seeking treatment.

“We need to expand addiction medicine education in medical school and residency training,” Leggio says. “Alcohol and other substance use disorders are common, and clinicians should be prepared to recognize them, just like hypertension and diabetes. Education alone isn’t the whole solution, but it’s an important part of reducing stigma. And reducing stigma is critical if we want current and future medications for substance use disorders to have their full impact.”

The authors write that the effects of GLP-1RAs on alcohol use have been studied extensively. Preclinical trials in rodents and nonhuman primates show these medications reduce alcohol intake. Humans have shared anecdotal reports about how taking GLP-1RAs for other indications helped them reduce their alcohol consumption as well. “I have heard that from some patients, typically in calls or emails: they have noticed reduced drinking and/or smoking after starting a GLP-1 receptor agonist,” Leggio says. “But these are anecdotal observations, not clinical evidence, and they shouldn’t be taken as a basis for changing treatment without medical guidance.”

Alcohol and other substance use disorders are common, but they remain substantially underdiagnosed and undertreated. Leggio says that it is important to emphasize that these are not “bad behaviors” or “bad habits” but chronic medical conditions, like diabetes, hypertension, or rheumatoid arthritis. “The possibility that GLP-1 receptor agonists may be effective for some substance use disorders is promising, but we need large randomized controlled trials to confirm benefit and clarify for whom they work best,” he says.

Unforeseen Reactions

In February 2025, the paper, “Euglycemic Ketoacidosis Following Coadministration of an SGLT2 Inhibitor and Tirzepatide,” appeared in JCEM Case Reports, describing a patient who was admitted to the intensive care unit after being placed on both medications. Tirzepatide is a novel dual GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonist recently approved for diabetes and weight loss.

The authors write that they suspect the two medications had synergistic effects in the patient, leading to adequate control of his blood sugars yet a state of starvation, ketone production, and resultant systemic acidification. “The patient required treatment and monitoring in an ICU to make a full recovery,” they write. “As tirzepatide is a relatively new medication whose side effect profile has yet to be fully characterized, clinicians should be aware of this rare yet potentially fatal complication.”

“Although GLP-1 receptor agonists show impressive efficacy and favorable side effect profiles, it is necessary that we determine all risks and side effects, particularly rare ones, to minimize chances of poor outcomes,” says the paper’s first author Eli J. Louwagie, MD, PhD, of the Department of Internal Medicine at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg, Va. “This is especially important considering the increasing use of these medications.”

The authors write that, to their knowledge, this is the first case detailing a patient developing this serious condition after starting tirzepatide for diabetes (in contrast to those treated with tirzepatide for weight loss). Louwagie tells Endocrine News that that he and his co-authors would want clinicians to keep this potential side effect in mind for all patients presenting with signs of ketoacidosis while on tirzepatide.

“There were several factors varying between our patient and the other cases, particularly our patient also taking an SGLT2 inhibitor, but our case may suggest greater risk of EKA for a patient on synergistic regimens,” Louwagie says. “Further studies are needed to investigate this hypothesis, but we suspect recent changes in medication prescribing practices and medication prices will result in large datasets allowing scientists to investigate these potential relationships.”

Christine Rode Schwarz, PhD, of the Steno Diabetes Center in Copenhagen, and her co-authors pointed to this case in a commentary titled, “Mechanism and Context: Making Sense of Adverse Events With GLP-1-based Therapy,” also published in JCEM Case Reports later that year. The authors write that Louwagie’s case report (and others’) should not detract from the substantial value of GLP-1 based therapies, but they do speak yet again to the importance of individualized therapy.

“Although clinical, empirical data guides medical practice, every patient is unique and deserves individualized considerations. Many patients are on a combination of an SGLT2 inhibitor with a GLP-1 receptor agonist or tirzepatide (a dual agonist) and have incredible success without adverse reactions, but we are still figuring out the patient characteristics that would put them at higher risk of poor outcomes.” – Eli J. Louwagie, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, Blacksburg, Va.

Schwarz says the commentary is a call for disciplined use, not a warning against the class of medications. “GLP-1–based therapies deliver major benefits for glycemia, weight, and in some settings cardiovascular risk,” she says. “Most adverse events reflect expected pharmacology interacting with patient context. When prescribing is supervised and thoughtful, these medicines are effective and safe.”

Louwagie agrees that the case report highlights the need for individualized care. “Although clinical, empirical data guides medical practice, every patient is unique and deserves individualized considerations,” he says. “Many patients are on a combination of an SGLT2 inhibitor with a GLP-1 receptor agonist or tirzepatide (a dual agonist) and have incredible success without adverse reactions, but we are still figuring out the patient characteristics that would put them at higher risk of poor outcomes.”

Bagley is the senior editor of Endocrine News. In the January issue he wrote about the connection between the thyroid and cardiac health.

The post Side Effects: Endocrine Society Journals Look at GLP-1RAs and the Positive and Negative Unintended Impacts appeared first on Endocrine News.

Our initiatives in this area rest on three prongs: Presenting, Publishing, and Mentorship.

Presenting

For the first prong, Presenting, I was pleased to announce in January a one-year expansion of our ENDO 2026 travel grant programs. This move provides significant additional financial support that will allow more researchers to attend our annual meeting, taking place June 13 – 16, 2026 in Chicago, Ill.

Approved unanimously by the Board of Directors, this initiative:

• Increases to $1,500 the grant amount for each recipient of the Early Investigator Awards, Outstanding Abstract Awards, and Early Career Forum.
• Provides up to 200 additional grants of $1,500 per award recipient for the Outstanding Abstract Awards ($1,750 per award for international recipients).

We hope this allows more scientists to submit their abstracts for presentation in our ENDOExpo. Always a highlight of ENDO, the hall features more than 2,500 abstracts on display during the poster sessions.

We recognize that in today’s funding climate, many researchers face increased financial uncertainty, making the Society’s support more important than ever. I’m proud of the many things we’re doing to unite and grow the global endocrine research community.

Members who submit their abstracts also may be selected to share highlights of their research via video interviews posted on the Society’s social media channels. Last year, these research videos received thousands of views.

Publishing

Another key aspect of submitting an abstract to ENDO is the opportunity for the research to be published in a supplement of our open access journal, Journal of the Endocrine Society (JES). Each abstract is assigned a digital object identifier (DOI), a unique string assigned to online journal articles, ensuring the research is accessible and citable worldwide.

This is just one way we help research members publish their work.

The Society’s entire suite of top-ranked journals have been on the forefront of publishing major developments and discovery milestones in endocrine science since 1917.

Researchers are encouraged to submit their manuscripts to the Society’s prestigious journals.  Members receive special rates on production costs for accepted manuscripts.

Each submission receives consideration by thought leaders in the field, with rigorous attention to research integrity throughout the peer review and publication process. Our team of expert editors and editorial board members adhere to the strictest publishing standards.

Mentorship

The third prong on our research stool is Mentorship. As noted, we are committed to growing our field, both in terms of researchers and clinicians. The Society offers several crucial programs for early-career researchers.

One of them is the Research Experiences for Graduate and Medical Students (REGMS), which offers promising students a chance to engage in collaborative lab work, receive expert mentorship, build professional networks, and enhance their professional skills through year-round activities.

Our staff is currently reviewing applications. This year, REGMS participants will:

• Receive funding for a summer research project with an Endocrine Society mentor;
• Participate in virtual career-development training;
• Present their work at ENDO 2027 with a travel grant;
• Receive a $2,500 honorarium and a $1,500 travel grant.

Another wonderful opportunity for early endocrine researchers is our Future Leaders Advancing Research in Endocrinology (FLARE) program. FLARE participants, comprised of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, and junior faculty, receive training in how to establish independent research careers and develop leadership skills.

We look forward to hosting this year’s FLARE participants at a workshop March 26 – 28. It is so rewarding to see how the participants’ confidence grows during the course of this event.

Bonus: Knowledge Development

On top of these three specific research prongs, we continue to offer an array of outstanding educational programs for researchers. At ENDO, these include:

• Basic Science Pathways offering curated content tracks in Diabetes and Metabolism, Neuroendocrinology, Nuclear Receptors and Signaling, and Reproductive Endocrinology.
• Meet the Professor and Meet the Scientist sessions providing insights from experts on treating a variety of endocrine conditions as well as the latest in scientific research.

In addition, the next focused Basic Science Summit on Nuclear Receptors will be held this fall in Chicago, Ill. Stay tuned for further announcements and a call for abstracts.

We recognize that in today’s funding climate, many researchers face increased financial uncertainty, making the Society’s support more important than ever. I’m proud of the many things we’re doing to unite and grow the global endocrine research community.

We are committed to our members, the field of endocrinology, scientific discovery, and hormone health while we invest in improving the endocrine research pipeline for a healthier tomorrow.

The post Society Boosts Support for Researchers to Attend ENDO 2026 and Provides Career Development Opportunities appeared first on Endocrine News.