Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny are donating $1.1 billion to Providence Health, one of the largest gifts to a U.S. healthcare institution. The funds will support construction of Oregon's first women's health hospital at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, along with expanded cardiovascular services.
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the US, but most strokes are preventable and treatable when recognized early. The BE FAST acronym helps identify stroke symptoms—balance loss, eye problems, facial drooping, arm/leg weakness, speech difficulty, and time-critical emergency response. Up to 80% of strokes can be prevented by managing risk factors like blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, physical activity, smoking, diet, and alcohol consumption.
Novartis's pelacarsen failed in a seven-year clinical trial designed to reduce heart attacks and strokes by lowering Lp(a), a lipid linked to cardiovascular disease. The failure may dampen industry investment in similar Lp(a)-targeting drugs being developed by competing pharmaceutical companies.