News Articles October 2024
New acromegaly drug on the horizon
A new drug for treatment and long-term maintenance therapy for acromegaly is now on the horizon. Crinetics Pharmaceuticals recently submitted its first new drug application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for paltusotine, which is a once-daily oral selectively-targeted somatostatin receptor type 2 nonpeptide agonist.
Crinetics says researchers used data from from 18 clinical trials in the application, including two Phase 3 trials that evaluated paltusotine for acromegaly in medically untreated and treated patients. Patients tolerated the treatment well, the medication achieved biochemical control by maintaining IGF-1 levels and improved patients’ symptoms compared to placebo. The company says it expects to hear back from the FDA by December.
Paltusotine, is the first drug of its type to complete Phase 3 clinical development for acromegaly and is now in Phase 2 clinical development for carcinoid syndrome associated with neuroendocrine tumors. Read the company’s press release here.
Can machine learning to predict hormone deficiency after pituitary surgery?
A study featured on Nature.com used machine learning algorithms to predict whether patients would develop arginine vasopressin deficiency after transsphenoidal surgery to remove a pituitary adenoma. Read more here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-72486-w
Pituitary apoplexy strikes groom on wedding day
An article in People.com tells the story of a groom in England who had to leave his wedding reception early due to a severe headache – one that turned out to be a hemorrhaging pituitary tumor. Read more here: https://people.com/groom-migraine-wedding-day-tumor-popped-8718083
Researchers try to make synthetic oxytocin for pain relief
An article in the Focus.news looks at efforts to replicate the hormone oxytocin in the lab – in an effort to develop a painkiller that would be safer than opioids. Read more here: https://www.thefocus.news/lifestyle/scientists-are-hoping-to-replicate-the-cuddle-hormone-for-healthy-long-term-pain-relief/
News Articles September 2024
Musician battles craniopharyngioma
An Irish DJ and music producer with the group Bicep named Matt McBriar is recovering after surgery for a large craniopharyngioma. Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/bicep-s-matt-mcbriar-treated-for-large-and-pretty-rare-brain-tumour/ar-AA1oLDvU?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1
Social media obsession with “cortisol face” masks true pituitary origin
The term “cortisol face” is sweeping social media, with influencers claiming that stress causes high cortisol levels and leads to puffy cheeks, or “moon facies” that can be treated with diet, creams or lifestyle changes. But doctors say this is misinformation – and true moon facies come from a pituitary disorder. Read more: https://athletechnews.com/cortisol-face/
New study challenges link between cadaver growth hormone and Alzheimer’s
A new study raises objections to past research that linked cadaver-derived human growth hormone with Alzheimer’s disease. Read more: https://www.thetransmitter.org/alzheimers-disease/skeptics-challenge-claims-of-alzheimers-disease-transmission-via-growth-hormone/
Pituitary story: At ten years old, 6’3” boy battles gigantism
A story in the Daily Mail recounts the case of a ten-year-old boy from the U.K. names Jayson who stands 6’3” tall and battles pituitary gigantism. Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13489681/rare-condition-harsh-realities-tallest-kid-world.html
Pituitary story: 62-year-old Indian man undergoes transsphenoidal surgery
An article in City Air news looks at the case of a man in India who had transnasal transsphenoidal surgery to remove a pituitary tumor. Read more:
News Articles August 2024
Pituitary story: Rare 7 cm Pituitary Macroadenoma
A story on The Health Site.com looks at the case of a 63-year-old woman in India who underwent transnasal transsphenoidal surgery to remove a 7 centimeter long pituitary macroadenoma. Read more here: https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/rare-large-tumor-removed-from-63-year-old-womans-pituitary-gland-1111633/
Spontaneous remission of Cushing’s in 14-year-old
A story in Cushing’s Disease News looks at the case of a 14-year-old South American girl with Cushing’s, whose disease went into remission after pituitary apoplexy. Read more: https://cushingsdiseasenews.com/news/rare-case-spontaneous-remission-cushings-disease-reported/
Schizophrenia and a Partially-Empty Sella
An article in Cureus looks at the case of a man whose schizophrenia worsened after 20 years, leading to the discovery of a partially empty sella. Read more: https://www.cureus.com/articles/267874-a-case-report-of-schizophrenia-with-a-partially-empty-sella-related-or-incidental#!/
Once-a-month injectable for acromegaly well-tolerated
The once-monthly octreotide subcutaneous depot finished a 52-week long-term safety study. Researchers found that patients tolerated the drug well and that the drug is was safe and boosted biochemical control. Read more: https://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/growthdisorders/111212
News Articles July 2024
Hormonal Disruptions and Pituitary Tumors
An endocrinologist in India discusses the hormonal disruption experienced by pituitary patients. Read more: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/hormonal-disruptions-caused-by-pituitary-tumours-endocrinologist-shares-insights-101718974544057.html
Novel Cushing’s Treatment in Phase 2 Trials
The pharmaceutical company Lundbeck is now in Phase 2 clinical trials to assess a “potential first-in-class” treatment for Cushing’s disease called LuAG13909. Read more:
Pain in Men vs Women: The Role of Hormones
An article in Very Well Health looks at a study on how pain is produced and felt in women versus men. The researchers found that the hormone prolactin lowered the threshold to activate specialized sensory cells called nociceptors in female cells but did not in male cells. However the neuropeptide orexin B had the opposite effect. This could have implications for pain management, as women make up a large percentage of patients seeking treatment for pain. Read more:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/women-and-men-have-differences-in-pain-production-8665947
Hormonal Disruptions and Pituitary Tumors
An endocrinologist in India discusses the hormonal disruption experienced by pituitary patients. Read more: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/hormonal-disruptions-caused-by-pituitary-tumours-endocrinologist-shares-insights-101718974544057.html
News Articles June 2024
Can machine learning improve diagnosis of hormone imbalance?
A study in the journal Academic Radiology looks at the use of machine learning to analyze pituitary MRI images (radiomics) and clinical data – and finds it is helpful in the diagnostic process to differentiate between growth hormone deficiency and idiopathic short stature. Read more: https://www.academicradiology.org/article/S1076-6332(24)00293-9/abstract
Personality changes after pituitary surgery
An article in Medical News Today looks at the personality changes patients can experience after undergoing pituitary surgery. They include mood shifts, depression, anxiety, irritability, aggression, confusion and apathy. Read more:
Study: 80% remission rate after 2nd Cushing’s surgery
An article in Cushing’s Disease News looks at a study from the journal Pituitary that found that 80% of patients who had a second surgery for Cushing’s Disease achieved remission. Read more: https://cushingsdiseasenews.com/news/remission-most-cushings-patients-after-2nd-pituitary-surgery/
North Carolina Congressman battles pituitary tumor
Congressman Greg Murphy from North Carolina will be undergoing surgery to remove a pituitary macroadenoma. Dr. Murphy is also a urologist. Read more: https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/north-carolina/outer-banks/congressman-greg-murphy-surgery-brain-tumor-nc-obx/291-2dc18304-d151-426e-b792-6ef74b18708c
Ohio stuntman fights acromegaly, jumps cars
An Ohio news station featured the story of Raymond Kohn, who jumps the General Lee car over big ramps at stunt shows as part of the Northeast Ohio Dukes. But there’s a twist – Kohn is also battling acromegaly and had transsphenoidal surgery to remove the tumor. Watch the story: https://www.wfmj.com/clip/15470193/warren-stunt-driver-overcomes-brain-tumor
More Articles
News Articles May 2024
Does a form of dwarfism improve cardiovascular risk? A study in the Journal Med looks at the longevity of people with Laron’s Syndrome, who have low-growth hormone signaling that causes a form of dwarfism but may also confer lower risk of cancer and heart disease....
News Articles April 2024
PET/MRI and Cushing’s Disease A study in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine finds that PET/MRI may be more effective in diagnosing Cushing’s Disease compared to MRI alone Read more:Patient with hypothyroidism, Addison’s delivers twins An article in the Times of India...
News Articles March 2024
Comedian Amy Schumer battles Cushing’s Actress and comedian Amy Schumer revealed that she has been dealing with exogenous Cushing’s Syndrome, apparently triggered by steroid shots. Read more: Here is a Q and A about it from the University of Virginia: Read more:4th...
News Articles February 2024
Touch Endo Newsletter The latest newsletter from Touch Endo covers a range of topics, including research on diagnosing pituitary tumors, treating diabetes, lessening symptoms of menopause, and promoting liver health. Read more here: Banned Growth Hormone Linked...
News Articles January 2024
Woman diagnosed with pituitary tumor after nose, feet grow A woman in the U.K. ignored her fatigue and headaches for years, but saw a doctor after her nose and feet kept getting bigger. That led to the discovery of a pituitary tumor that had been present for 20 years....
News Articles December 2023
Effect of Antipsychotics on Prolactinoma Growth A study featured in Cureus looks the effect of antipsychotic medications on prolactinoma growth and found that when a patient stops taking risperidone, haloperidol, thioridazine, or amisulpride, prolactin levels in the...
News Articles November 2023
When an Ear Infection Turned Out to Be a Pituitary Tumor A story in the Daily Mail follows the case of a woman who visited her general practitioner for an ear infection and ended up being diagnosed with a pituitary tumor. Read more here: Study: Cushing’s More Often...
News Articles October 2023
Study: Pituitary Tumor Removal Surgery Safe in Patients over 75 An article in Express Healthcare Management looks at a study from France that found that surgery to remove a pituitary adenoma is safe for patients over age 75, with a low rate of complications. Read...
News Articles September 2023
Acromegalics More Likely to Have Diabetes, Cardiac Issues An article in Healio looks at a study that found that people with acromegaly suffer at a higher rate from a long list of conditions, including diabetes and hypertension. Read more: Isturisa Found Safe and...
News Articles August 2023
Extreme Weight Gain Leads to Cushing’s Diagnosis An article in the Daily Mail follows the story of a 35-year-old woman from the U.K. whose weight rose sharply over a few years, which led to a diagnosis of Cushing’s Disease. Read more: IGF-1 May Be Linked to Bone...
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