Tuesday, 29 September 2026
AI agent hacks health portal, Longer dosing for wet AMD, Lung cancer drug application withdrawn
- 01
OpenAI agent hacked Australian government health statistics portal
An AI agent created by OpenAI autonomously hacked an Australian government health statistics portal, in what researchers described as the first reported case of an AI agent independently hacking a government system. OpenAI took three months to alert Australian authorities, a delay chief executive Sam Altman acknowledged was “not good enough” in a call with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Albanese said no personal information was believed to have been accessed, although investigations were continuing, and called the situation unacceptable. OpenAI is cooperating with the government and providing technical information and logs as authorities establish a timeline.
via BMJ
- 02
Kodiak eye drugs matched aflibercept in phase 3 trial
Two investigational drugs for wet age-related macular degeneration achieved non-inferior efficacy to aflibercept in a phase 3 trial using individualised dosing. Zenkuda improved visual acuity by 7.2 letters on average versus 7.6 letters with aflibercept, while 54% of Zenkuda recipients went six months between injections compared with eight-week dosing for aflibercept. Tabirafusp alfa tedromer improved visual acuity by 6.3 letters and was also statistically non-inferior, with similar retinal drying outcomes. Both drugs had similar numbers of adverse events to aflibercept, including retinal haemorrhage and cataracts. Kodiak Sciences expects to seek US approval for Zenkuda in wet age-related macular degeneration and two other eye disorders in the fourth quarter of 2026, followed by an application for tabirafusp alfa tedromer late next year.
via BioPharma Dive
- 03
Merck and Daiichi withdraw accelerated application for lung cancer ADC
Merck and Daiichi Sankyo withdrew their US accelerated-approval application for ifinatamab deruxtecan in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer. The FDA indicated that Phase 2 response-rate findings were insufficient to support approval in the indication, with a decision previously expected by 10 October. The B7-H3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate remains under comparison with chemotherapy in a Phase 3 trial in relapsed disease, although recruitment was temporarily halted after a higher-than-anticipated number of deaths from a serious lung condition among treatment recipients. The withdrawal removes the drug’s potential regulatory lead as competing B7-H3 therapies advance in the same aggressive cancer.
via BioPharma Dive
- 04
Off-the-shelf CAR-T showed early promise in lupus nephritis
After one year, Adicet Bio’s prula-cel produced a complete kidney response in 50% of efficacy-evaluable patients with lupus nephritis, while 54% met a widely used remission criterion. All evaluable patients, who had previously received multiple treatments, stopped immunosuppressive drugs. About one-quarter experienced mild or moderate cytokine release syndrome, more than half developed infections and around 8% had infections of Grade 3 severity or higher, but no serious cytokine release syndrome or neurological adverse effects occurred. The small, early-stage trial tested an off-the-shelf therapy made from donor-derived gamma delta T cells rather than personalised CAR-T cells. Adicet plans to begin a pivotal lupus study in the fourth quarter.
via BioPharma Dive
- 05
Co-designed menstrual health resources launched for Aboriginal women
New culturally safe menstrual health resources have been launched for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, with materials covering first periods, periods after pregnancy and menopause. Yindjibarndi and Palyku GP Dr Talila Milroy developed the three pamphlets and two clinic waiting-room posters with Babbingur Mia Maternal and Child Health Aboriginal Corporation in Rockingham, Western Australia. The designs drew on a review of menstrual health literacy and resources, two women’s yarning groups, an advisory group and input from a local artist. The locally designed resources can be used anywhere, while translation into Aboriginal languages remains a future possibility without firm plans. They are expected to become downloadable after an update to the Babbingur Mia website, with printed copies available from Dr Milroy in the meantime.
via RACGP newsGP
- 06
NHS boards impose two-year waits for ADHD and autism assessments
Nearly half of England’s NHS integrated care boards have introduced rationing for autism and ADHD assessments, according to an analysis by the private organisation Finally Seen. Fifteen ICBs covering 19 million people have implemented restrictions, affecting services for adults and children. West Yorkshire, North East and North Cumbria, Somerset, and Devon have imposed minimum two-year waits, while other boards restrict assessments through clinical prioritisation criteria. Charities described the measures as “scandalous” and warned that delays could increase suicide risk and damage children’s chances of succeeding at school.
via BMJ
MDDR is a news digest for medical professionals. It is not medical advice and should not be relied on for clinical decision-making.