Healthcare & Biotech

Survey: 75% of Voters Urge Congress to Halt 2027 Medicare Lab Cuts

Secaucus, N.J. – September 18, 2026 -- A new national survey commissioned by Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) finds that 75% of 1,024 registered voters surveyed consider diagnostic lab testing "very important" to their care, with a bipartisan majority pressing Congress to pass the RESULTS Act before scheduled Medicare payment cuts take effect January 1, 2027.

83% of voters relied on a lab test in the past two years to guide a medical decision

The survey found 96% of registered voters view diagnostic lab tests as important to their or their family's care, while 88% expressed concern if Medicare lab payment rates were set too low. Half of respondents said Medicare seniors, rural communities, and people managing cancer or chronic disease would be hurt most if the cuts take effect.

Study: 80% of AI Health Users Return to Trusted Sites

San Diego – September 18, 2026 -- A new AI Patient Journey Study from Luth Research finds that roughly 80 percent of patients who use AI for health information pair it with other sources, forming a group the firm labels "hybrid researchers." The study tracked more than 1,500 consumers digitally and surveyed over 500 patients to map movement between AI tools, search engines, and health information sites.

AI speeds initial queries but trusted sites close the decision loop

Patients turn to AI first for speed and plain-language answers: 47 percent use it to explore a doctor's explanation more deeply, and 44 percent say asking AI is easier than asking their physician. When preparing for an appointment or making a treatment decision, reliance shifts to established health information sites trusted for clinical accuracy, which are used by 6 in 10 AI users as a companion source.

UpRight Science Names Advisory Board Ahead of Falls Prevention Week

West Palm Beach, Fla. – – September 18, 2026 -- UpRight Science has assembled a five-member advisory board to accelerate adoption of its FDA-cleared balance measurement software, timed to Falls Prevention Awareness Week running Sept. 21-25.

Falls remain the top injury cause for older Americans, with 14 million reporting incidents annually

More than 14 million U.S. adults aged 65 and older, roughly one in four, report a fall each year, according to figures cited by the company. UpRight Science positions its technology as a way to make balance measurable and trackable as a clinical biomarker rather than a subjective assessment.

Aurora Cannabis Reaffirms Q2 Growth Guidance on EU, UK Expansion

Edmonton – September 18, 2026 -- Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX: ACB) (NASDAQ: ACB) reaffirmed its fiscal 2027 second-quarter guidance for sequential growth in net revenue and adjusted EBITDA, citing new EU-GMP capacity and expanding market share in Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom.

Safari Flower Company adds EU-GMP capacity after July certification

The Canadian medical cannabis producer said its recently acquired Safari Flower Company, which received EU-GMP certification in July, is expected to generate incremental net revenue and adjusted EBITDA in the coming quarters. The certification adds to Aurora's position as one of the world's largest indoor EU-GMP certified producers.

45% of Facial Surgeons See Rise in Menopause-Linked Patient Requests

Washington – September 18, 2026 -- Forty-five percent of facial plastic surgeons report an increase in female patients citing menopause or perimenopause as a reason for seeking treatment, up sharply from 28% in 2024, according to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery's (AAFPRS) 2025 annual member survey.

Survey data shows a 17-point jump in menopause-related consultations year over year

The AAFPRS, representing more than 2,200 facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons worldwide, tracked the shift among its membership base as part of its annual industry survey. The increase indicates a growing willingness among patients to link hormonal transition directly to visible facial changes during consultations.

New Study: 80% of Countries Fall Short of Dermatology Care Benchmark

Global – September 18, 2026 -- More than two billion people worldwide live with skin disease, yet a new benchmark study finds over 80% of countries fall below the dermatologist density needed to meet demand, with 74% of nations reporting skin health is not a national government priority.

Global dermatologist density falls nearly half short of the new benchmark

The study, which supports implementation of the World Health Assembly's 2025 Resolution on Skin Diseases as a Global Public Health Priority, establishes the first evidence-based benchmark for adequate dermatology care. It finds a global average of 2.66 dermatologists per 100,000 people, against an estimated requirement of 5.63 per 100,000.

Brainomix Joins UK's Future Fifty Scale-Up Programme

Oxford – September 18, 2026 -- Brainomix, an Oxford-based AI-powered medical imaging company, has been selected to join Future Fifty, the UK's invitation-only scale-up programme run by Tech Nation and Founders Forum Group.

Brainomix joins 24 other companies in a cohort that has raised £1.47 billion collectively

The latest Future Fifty cohort spans 10 sectors including AI, healthtech, biotech, fintech, energy and advanced manufacturing, and employs more than 3,800 people across the group. The programme has previously supported 30% of all UK tech unicorns and 40% of the country's decacorns, including Revolut and Wise.

DentScribe Launches Benchmark Exposing AI Dental Note Accuracy Risks

Sunnyvale, Calif. – September 18, 2026 -- DentScribe, an AI platform for dental documentation, released Dental AI SOAP Note Benchmark 1.0 and a companion white paper titled "Beyond Transcription" to expose how AI-generated clinical notes can misrepresent patient care despite reading smoothly.

Benchmark tests whether AI scribes preserve clinical accuracy across ten focused cases

The benchmark includes ten focused test cases plus two source-based cases built from de-identified clinical excerpts that retain the original scattered order of a real chairside conversation, including interruptions, corrections, and unrelated asides. Test instructions require each AI product to process the same encounter with one standard request, with the first output compared against expected clinical content. A passing note must include every essential fact, contain no invented or conflicting clinical detail, and be organized for direct clinical use.

GHIT Fund Launches NTDpedia to Drive R&D Funding for 1.5 Billion People

Tokyo – September 18, 2026 -- The Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund has launched NTDpedia, a digital encyclopedia targeting the awareness gap that keeps neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) underfunded despite affecting 1.5 billion people worldwide.

GHIT Fund targets awareness gap as root cause of NTD underfunding

The platform, titled "NTDpedia: Your Guide to Neglected Tropical Diseases," is designed as an accessible digital resource covering all 21 disease groups recognized by the World Health Organization, including viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections, snakebite envenoming, and noma. Supervised by Prof. Kenji Hirayama of Nagasaki University, the site aims to make complex health issues understandable to a general audience, including students, teachers, companies, and advocates.

ZBeats Wins FDA Clearance for ZBPro v2.0, Expands ECG Analysis to 14 Days

Stony Brook – September 18, 2026 -- ZBeats Inc. has secured U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance (K261580) for its ZBPro Diagnostic v2.0 software, extending its independent ECG analysis platform to cover recordings ranging from one minute to 14 days.

FDA clearance broadens device compatibility to Holter monitors and wearable patches

The updated clearance allows ZBPro to process data from a wider range of recording technologies, including Holter configurations and wearable patch devices, positioning the software as a device-agnostic layer for cardiac diagnostics providers.