Endocrinology Today—January 27, 2026

This weekly update in Endocrinology covers regulatory actions, clinical research signals, device and digital health clearances, market launches, access initiatives, and one retraction impacting evidence interpretation

In Today’s Newsletter

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🧠 Incretins and dementia risk in T2D [1] [19 Jan 2026]

https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/incretin-based-drugs-may-reduce-risk-of-dementia-in-patients-with-type-2-diabetes
Context: UK CPRD cohorts, initiators 2007–2021, follow-up 740,846 person-years; comparisons vs sulfonylureas.
Key point: DPP-4 inhibitors and GLP-1 RAs were associated with lower dementia incidence vs sulfonylureas, with stronger association at higher dose and longer use (GLP-1 RA estimates imprecise).
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🩺 AI flags prediabetes from ECGs, no blood test required [2] [19 Jan 2026]

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-ai-prediabetes-ecg-blood.html
Context: Science Tokyo team, Cardiovascular Diabetology; trained LightGBM on 16,766 checkups, validated externally.
Key point: “DiaCardia” identified prediabetes using 12-lead or single-lead ECGs alone (AUROC 0.851 internally), with SHAP features aligning to known physiology.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

💉 Gonal-f Pen gets shorter 31G 8-mm needle in Korea [3] [KR • 19 Jan 2026]

https://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30331
Context: Merck Healthcare Korea update; same pen structure and dosing, subcutaneous use.
Key point: Needle changed from 29G 12-mm to 31G 8-mm to reduce pain and burden for infertility self-injection.
Implication: May expand screening, initiation, and follow-up at scale.

🧬 African proteome–genome map for T2D biomarkers [4] [20 Jan 2026]

https://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2026/medicine-and-dentistry/mapping-proteins-in-african-genomes-reveals-new-paths-to-fight-type-2-diabetes-.html
Context: Nature Genetics; Ugandan cohort integrating genomics and plasma proteomics. Key point: ~400 pQTL regions mapped, including 58 not previously known in African ancestry; 18 proteins with likely causal links to T2D, some druggable.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🦴 Hikma launches denosumab biosimilars Enoby and Xtrenbo in US [5] [US • 19 Jan 2026]

https://www.marketscreener.com/news/hikma-pharmaceuticals-announces-launch-of-enobya-denosumab-qbde-and-xtrenboa-denosumab-qb-ce7e58dfdf8df621
Context: License with Gedeon Richter; US commercialization; safety includes hypocalcemia risks and ONJ warnings.
Key point: Enoby and Xtrenbo reference Prolia and Xgeva, with identical dosing presentations to the reference products.
Implication: Introduces competition that may affect pricing and formulary access.

❤️‍🔥 Medtronic adds EU PFA catheter nod, MiniMed Go clearance, Anteris stake [6] [25 Jan 2026]

https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/healthcare/nyse-mdt/medtronic/news/medtronic-advances-cardiology-and-diabetes-portfolio-with-ne
Context: Investor summary; cardiology and diabetes devices focus.
Key point: EU approval and initial US use for Affera Sphere-360 mapping and PFA catheter, FDA clearance for MiniMed Go, and investment in Anteris Technologies.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🦴 Thailand study links T2D to higher osteoporosis rates [7] [TH • 23 Jan 2026]

https://www.geneonline.com/study-in-thailand-finds-higher-osteoporosis-rates-among-type-2-diabetes-patients/
Context: Observational analysis; large T2D cohort, osteoporosis prevalence assessment.
Key point: T2D associated with increased osteoporosis prevalence vs non-diabetic comparators, with age, sex, and duration as factors.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🧪 Retraction: ceRNA network in PCOS (HOTAIRM1–miR-433-5p–PIK3CD) [8] [26 Jan 2026]

https://bioengineer.org/cerna-network-accelerates-pcos-progression-hotairm1-mir-433-5p-pik3cd/
Context: Retraction note for a molecular study on PCOS pathogenesis.
Key point: Authors withdrew findings on a proposed HOTAIRM1–miR-433-5p–PIK3CD ceRNA axis implicated in PCOS progression.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🌙 Mubadala Bio launches locally produced dydrogesterone in UAE [9] [UAE • 26 Jan 2026]

https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/mubadala-bio-expands-womens-health-portfolio-with-launch-of-new-hormone-therapy-pzr5vcd6
Context: Press release; Bioventure Healthcare subsidiary; local manufacturing.
Key point: Dydrogesterone launch expands women’s health portfolio to support hormone balance, fertility, and menstrual disorders.
Implication: Introduces competition that may affect pricing and formulary access.

Why it matters

Incretin neuroprotection signals could broaden value beyond glycemic control [1].
ECG-only AI screening may shift prediabetes detection toward wearables [2].
Device tweaks that lower injection burden can improve adherence in fertility care [3].
Africa-centric pQTL maps address diagnostic inequities and enable tailored therapeutics [4].
Denosumab biosimilar entry pressures bone health costs and access in oncology and osteoporosis [5].

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FAQ

What incretin classes were linked to lower dementia risk in T2D?

DPP-4 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists showed associations with reduced dementia risk vs sulfonylureas in CPRD analyses, with stronger effects at higher dose and longer use, though GLP-1 RA estimates were less precise [1].

How accurate is the DiaCardia ECG model for prediabetes?

Internal testing reported AUROC 0.851 using ECG alone, with external validation showing generalizability. Single-lead performance was comparable to 12-lead, per Cardiovascular Diabetology report [2].

What changed on the Gonal-f Pen in Korea?

The injection needle shifted from 29G 12-mm to 31G 8-mm to reduce pain and improve convenience, with no changes to dosing mechanics or administration route [3].

Which proteins emerged from the African T2D proteogenomic map?

The study identified ~400 protein-regulating loci, 58 previously unknown in African ancestry, and 18 proteins with likely causal links to T2D, including apolipoprotein F and lipoprotein lipase patterns distinct from Europeans [4].

Which denosumab biosimilars did Hikma launch, and where?

Enoby (denosumab-qbde) and Xtrenbo (denosumab-qbde) launched in the US, referencing Prolia and Xgeva, with safety profiles including hypocalcemia risks and ONJ warnings [5].

What did Medtronic announce across cardiology and diabetes?

EU approval and initial US use of the Affera Sphere-360 mapping and pulsed field ablation catheter, FDA clearance of MiniMed Go, and an investment in Anteris Technologies for structural heart development [6].

Entities / Keywords

Incretin therapies; DPP-4 inhibitors; GLP-1 RAs; dementia; CPRD [1]
DiaCardia; ECG; prediabetes; LightGBM; wearables [2]
Gonal-f (r-hFSH); self-injection; 31G 8-mm needle; Merck Healthcare Korea [3]
Proteomics; pQTL; Ugandan cohort; African ancestry; T2D biomarkers [4]
Denosumab biosimilars; Enoby; Xtrenbo; Prolia; Xgeva; Hikma; Gedeon Richter [5]
Medtronic; Affera Sphere-360; pulsed field ablation; MiniMed Go; Anteris [6]
Thailand osteoporosis study; T2D bone health [7]
PCOS; HOTAIRM1; miR-433-5p; PIK3CD; retraction [8]
Dydrogesterone; women’s health; Mubadala Bio; UAE manufacturing [9]