News from Thursday, February 26, 2026
Articles
Orforglipron Offers Greater Weight Loss for People with Diabetes than Oral Semaglutide
(2/26, Joanna Robertson, The Pharmaceutical Journal) reports “Novel weight-loss pill orforglipron (Emgality; Eli Lilly) offers patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) better blood sugar control and more weight loss than semaglutide — the only other GLP-1 receptor agonist pill currently available — according to the results of a phase III clinical trial.” Full
EU HTA Regulation: How To Make The Most Of Joint Scientific Consultations
(2/26, Francesca Bruce, Pink Sheet) reports “...Joint scientific consultations are an important opportunity for companies to seek advice on how to optimize their clinical research for joint clinical assessments under the Health Technology Assessment Regulation, although the number of slots available remains too low.” Subscription Required
UK: Driving Biosimilar Adoption Through Collaboration
(2/26, Danielle Lees, John Spoors, NICE Blog) comments “...In 2025, we introduced a new collaborative Biosimilar Taskforce to address this potentially transformative area. The taskforce coordinates activity across the system, optimise biosimilar uptake and reduce barriers to market entry...In a short time, the taskforce has demonstrated what's possible when government organisations work as one system. By aligning NICE guidance updates, NHSE commissioning activity and MHRA regulatory decisions, we're accelerating access to cost-effective medicines, improving population health and delivering better value for taxpayers.” Full
Press Releases
Nexus Precision Health Acquires Leal Health to Accelerate Precision Medicine at Scale
(2/25, Nexus Precision Health Press Release) “...The acquisition creates an integrated platform designed to match patients with cancer, rare genetic diseases, and mental health conditions to the right therapy, clinical trial, or expanded access pathway—at scale. Leal Health brings a patented GEN- AI engine that generates personalized treatment plans, along with a live ecosystem of 40,000+ clinicians, 90+ biopharma partners, and engagements with two of the five largest U.S. health insurers.” Full
Journals
Use of Clinical Outcome Assessments in Specialty Drug Coverage Policies
Julia A. Rucker, MSW, MPH, Jiat Ling Poon, PhD, Fariel C. A. LaMountain, BA, Yichen Lin, BA, Megan N. Klopchin, MPH, MHA, Molly T. Beinfeld, MPH, and James D. Chambers, PhD
February 4, 2026, Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy
The Comparative Effectiveness of Enlonstobart and Camrelizumab as Second-Line Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer Therapies: Matching-Adjusted and Simulated Treatment Comparisons
Huiqiao Gu, et al.
February 19, 2026, ImmunoTargets and Therapy
Cardiovascular Outcomes with a1 Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists vs 5a-Reductase Inhibitors
Logan Kirkland, et al.
February 25, 2026, medRxiv
Oral GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Competition for Efficacy and Tolerability
Michael A Naucka, Michael Horowitz
February 26, 2026, The Lancet