HCPLive Podcasts

Welcome to HCPLive's 5 Stories in Under 5—your quick, must-know recap of the top 5 healthcare stories from the past week, all in under 5 minutes. Stay informed, stay ahead, and let’s dive into the latest updates impacting clinicians and healthcare providers like you!
Interested in a more traditional, text rundown? Check out the HCPFive!
Top 5 Healthcare Headlines for February 1-7, 2026:

1. FDA Issues CRL to Dibutepinephrine (Anaphylm) Sublingual Film for Type 1 Allergic Reactions

The FDA issued a Complete Response Letter for sublingual dibutepinephrine after identifying human factors issues that could compromise safe use during anaphylaxis, underscoring the importance of reliable administration in emergency settings.
2. Positive Topline Data Released on Roflumilast Cream in Infants with Atopic Dermatitis

Phase 2 data indicate roflumilast cream was well tolerated in infants with atopic dermatitis and showed early signs of clinical improvement, supporting potential expansion of topical PDE4 inhibition into this very young population.
3. FDA Accepts Resubmitted BLA for RelabotulinumtoxinA for Glabellar and Lateral Canthal Lines

The FDA accepted Galderma’s resubmitted BLA for relabotulinumtoxinA following manufacturing process updates, allowing regulatory review to resume for treatment of glabellar and lateral canthal lines.
4. Upadacitinib Regulatory Applications Submitted for Adults, Adolescents with Vitiligo

AbbVie submitted regulatory applications seeking to expand upadacitinib use to adults and adolescents with non-segmental vitiligo, positioning a systemic JAK inhibitor as a potential option for this underserved condition.
5. VESPER-3: Positive Results of Long-Term GLP-1 PF’3944 in Overweight and Obesity Without T2D

Positive phase 2b results suggest Pfizer’s long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist may support sustained weight management with extended dosing intervals in patients without diabetes.

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

In this episode of Liver Lineup: Updates and Unfiltered Insights, hosts Nancy Reau, MD, and Kimberly Brown, MD, tackle a paradox that continues to define viral hepatitis care: despite curative therapies for hepatitis C and highly effective suppression for hepatitis B, global and domestic elimination goals remain out of reach. The conversation reframes viral hepatitis not as a “finished” chapter in hepatology, but as an ongoing public health challenge shaped by missed screening, gaps in linkage to care, and uneven adoption of evidence-based interventions.
Key episode timestamps:
0:00:00 – Hepatitis elimination gaps; dialysis-unit success; primary-care screening barriers.
0:04:30 – Statins in HBV/HCV: reduced HCC/decompensation; safety in compensated disease.
0:08:41 – GLP‑1 agonists: improved liver outcomes and cancer/cardiometabolic profile; safety concerns addressed.
0:13:21 – HBV functional cure and Bepi: niche role, durability, small but meaningful responder group.
0:19:28 – HBV/HDV: disease severity; new mAb + siRNA regimen; comparison with existing options; access issues.
0:23:28 – Bulevirtide durability data; real‑world compassionate-use case with recompensation and early HCC.

In this episode of Liver Lineup: Updates and Unfiltered Insights, hosts Kimberly Brown, MD, and Nancy Reau, MD, break down new research on liver transplantation, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the ongoing evolution of surveillance strategies in chronic liver disease. Drawing on their extensive experience as transplant hepatologists, Brown and Reau place new data into practical context, highlighting where evidence may meaningfully inform practice and where unanswered questions remain.
Key episode timestamps:
0:00:00 – Introduction
0:00:19 – Frailty & Transplant Evaluation
0:02:54 – How Centers Use Frailty Measures
0:04:37 – Practicalities of the Six‑Minute Walk
0:06:10 – MELD 3.0 and Sex/Size Disparities
0:08:42 – Exception Points & Size Constraints
0:10:05 – Need for a Dynamic MELD System
0:10:19 – Immunotherapy as Bridge/Downstaging for HCC
0:13:34 – Real‑World Use of IO Around Transplant
0:15:22 – Managing Rejection Risk
0:19:03 – MASLD Population & Surveillance Gaps
0:20:21 – Adherence to HCC Surveillance
0:22:42 – Practical Barriers: AFP, Ultrasound, Radiology Reports
0:24:02 – Shift Toward Blood-Based Surveillance
0:26:01 – How AFP-L3 and DCP Are Used in Practice
0:27:39 – Rising AFP, Imaging Strategy & Broader Trend to Blood Tests
0:28:27 – Guidelines vs Real-World Practice
0:29:37 – Closing Thoughts on Guidelines & Early Detection

In this episode of Liver Lineup: Updates and Unfiltered Insights, hosts Kimberly Brown, MD, and Nancy Reau, MD, break down several of the most consequential hepatology developments of 2025, focusing on practical advances in the management of patients with advanced liver disease. From renal protection in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) cirrhosis to long-debated questions around albumin dosing and emerging tools for monitoring hepatic encephalopathy at home, the discussion centers on how new data may begin to shift everyday clinical decision-making.
Key episode timestamps:
0:00:00 – Dapagliflozin in MASLD cirrhosis with ascites
0:04:41 – Clinical perspective on dapagliflozin & management strategy
0:06:37 – Albumin for hyponatremia in cirrhosis
0:12:28 – How clinicians currently use albumin in practice
0:18:43 – Low‑dose vs conventional‑dose albumin in high‑risk SBP 
0:25:03 – Beacon device: at‑home critical flicker frequency for HE
0:27:47 – Future of at‑home HE monitoring & closing remarks