Endocrinology Today—November 11, 2025

This week in endocrinology: fresh clinical readouts, market-moving industry moves, and updates from top biopharma players.

In Today’s Newsletter

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💡 Fertility history linked to higher osteoporosis risk in postmenopausal women [1] [03 Nov 2025]

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/fertility-issues-tied-osteoporosis-risk-post-menopause-2025a1000u81
Context: Pooled analysis of 141,222 women with natural menopause from five cohorts, median follow-up to age 72, led by Chen Liang, PhD (Univ. of Queensland).
Key point: Infertility, recurrent miscarriage, stillbirth, and low parity were associated with higher osteoporosis risk (directional, effect sizes reported in source).
Implication: Clinical detection and prevention strategies may need to consider reproductive history when assessing osteoporosis risk.

🧬 New UK pathway for early-stage type 1, plus G6PD genetics may delay type 2 diagnosis [2] [UK • 03 Nov 2025]

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-us/news-and-views/new-type-1-care-guidelines-genetics-type-2-diagnosis-research-highlights-october-2025
Context: Diabetes UK summarizes October 2025 research, including a new care pathway for children/young people with autoantibody-positive early-stage type 1, and a Genes & Health/UK Biobank analysis on G6PD.
Key point: Pathway supports autoantibody confirmation, monitoring, and family support; G6PD deficiency may cause HbA1c underestimation, delaying type 2 diagnosis in some Black and South Asian men (diagnosis delayed ~4 years in study).
Implication: May expand screening, initiation, and follow-up at scale, and highlights need for ethnicity-aware diagnostic strategies.

🏥 HMC strengthens bone-health services in Qatar [3] [Qatar • 04 Nov 2025]

https://www.gulf-times.com/article/714258/qatar/hmc-strengthens-bone-health-services
Context: Hamad Medical Corporation expanded specialist osteoporosis clinics, fracture-liaison services, and advanced DXA with VFA and trabecular bone score.
Key point: HMC provides coordinated post-fracture care, a full formulary of osteoporosis therapies, and uses FRAX-based risk assessment.
Implication: May improve early diagnosis and secondary prevention of fractures at a systems level.

📣 North Carolina expands Minority Diabetes Prevention Program (NC MDPP) [4] [US • 04 Nov 2025]

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2025/11/04/ncdhhs-expands-minority-diabetes-prevention-program-recognizes-diabetes-awareness-month
Context: NCDHHS announced statewide expansion, a new program website, and a campaign focused on culturally responsive screening and year-long lifestyle classes.
Key point: NC MDPP offers free 12-month classes in English and Spanish, regional screening, and community conversations; program aims to reduce progression from prediabetes by up to 58% (source-stated program estimate).
Implication: May expand screening, initiation, and follow-up at scale for populations with disproportionate diabetes burden.

💊 Oral GLP-1 orforglipron reduces weight and HbA1c in ATTAIN-2 [5] [05 Nov 2025]

https://www.healio.com/news/endocrinology/20251105/oral-glp1-reduces-body-weight-hba1c-for-adults-with-obesity-plus-type-2-diabetes
Context: ATTAIN-2 randomized 1,613 adults with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes, comparing daily 6 mg, 12 mg, 36 mg orforglipron vs placebo for 72 weeks.
Key point: Dose-dependent weight loss (efficacy estimand: 10.5% at 36 mg) and HbA1c reductions (up to 1.78 percentage points at 36 mg) vs placebo; GI adverse events were most common.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending regulatory outcomes and postmarketing safety surveillance.

🤝 Avant Technologies and SGAustria form JV to develop encapsulated stem-cell diabetes therapy [6] [06 Nov 2025]

https://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=182262&sid=2
Context: Nevada-based Avant and Singapore’s SGAustria announced a joint venture and license to develop a differentiation and encapsulation platform, creating Insulinova, Inc for US clinical development.
Key point: JV aims to combine stem-cell differentiation with SGAustria’s encapsulation and GMP manufacturing to support cell-based, potentially insulin-producing therapies for type 1 and insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes (clinical endpoints not specified).
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion in regenerative diabetes approaches.

🩺 Fluconazole lowered cortisol in retrospective Cushing’s series, with limited liver-safety signals [7] [07 Nov 2025]

https://cushingsdiseasenews.com/news/antifungal-drug-fluconazole-cuts-cortisol-levels-cushings-patients/
Context: Taiwanese retrospective analysis of 22 patients with Cushing’s syndrome treated with oral fluconazole (112.5–450 mg daily) between 2015–2020.
Key point: Urinary cortisol fell ~39% on average, normalization in ~25% of patients, greater efficacy in Cushing’s disease subgroup; ALT elevations occurred in some but severe liver injury was uncommon.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions as an alternative to ketoconazole, but requires larger, prospective safety and durability data.

🧑‍⚕️ 3rd Diabetes & Endocrine Conference convenes in Abu Dhabi [8] [UAE • 08 Nov 2025]

https://www.wam.ae/en/article/bmm4h1b-3rd-diabetes-endocrine-conference-explores-latest
Context: Imperial College London Diabetes Centre and HealthPlus Diabetes and Endocrinology Centre hosted a two-day meeting focusing on Type 1 and Type 2 clinical updates, workshops, and technology sessions.
Key point: Conference emphasized diagnostic and therapeutic innovation, practical workshops, and international clinical exchange (programme details not specified).
Implication: Signals regional investment in clinician education and technology adoption.

🇬🇧 NHS Wales developing new support package for people with type 2 diabetes [9] [UK • 08 Nov 2025]

https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/25605712.nhs-wales-developing-new-support-people-diabetes/
Context: Beaufort Research qualitative study informed NHS Wales’ Tackling Diabetes Together Programme, with input from 50 adults with type 2 diabetes and 15 clinicians.
Key point: Planned initiatives include an enhanced digital support hub, healthcare worker support pack, NHS Wales app updates, and expanded peer support to improve self-management from diagnosis.
Implication: May improve access to ongoing self-management support and reduce barriers to care.

Why it matters

Reproductive history may be an underused risk marker for postmenopausal osteoporosis, with potential to change screening thresholds [1].
New care pathways and genetics-focused findings highlight equity gaps in diabetes diagnosis and the need for tailored testing strategies [2].
Expanded prevention and support programs in NC and Wales, and system-level bone-health upgrades in Qatar, demonstrate policy-level responses to rising chronic disease burdens [3][4][9].
Orforglipron’s oral, nonpeptide GLP-1 profile could broaden therapeutic access if approved, but safety and real-world monitoring are essential [5].
Early-stage cell-encapsulation alliances and repurposing antifungals for endocrine disease show diversification of development strategies across modalities [6][7].

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FAQ

How strong is the link between fertility issues and osteoporosis?

Pooled data from 141,222 women showed elevated osteoporosis risk for infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, and low parity, with adjusted hazard ratios reported in the publication; findings were robust after adjusting for age at menopause, but rely on self-reported reproductive history [1].

What are the key elements of the new UK early-stage type 1 pathway?

The pathway covers confirmation of autoantibody results, monitoring of autoantibody-positive children, timing of insulin initiation, management for single-autoantibody positives, and program evaluation, supported by a national Islet Autoantibody Registry [2].

What were the main efficacy and safety signals for orforglipron in ATTAIN-2?

Dose-dependent weight loss (up to ~10.5% at 36 mg) and HbA1c reductions (up to ~1.78 percentage points) at 72 weeks; gastrointestinal events were common, serious adverse events similar to placebo range, and hepatic signals were not observed in trial data presented [5].

Is fluconazole ready to replace existing steroidogenesis inhibitors for Cushing’s?

Not yet. A retrospective series showed cortisol reductions and limited severe liver injury, but the dataset is small and retrospective; prospective trials are needed to confirm long-term efficacy and safety [7].

Will the NC MDPP expansion materially lower diabetes incidence?

The NC MDPP uses year-long lifestyle interventions that the program estimates can lower progression risk by up to 58% in people with prediabetes (program-sourced estimate); statewide expansion may improve reach among minority groups [4].

Entities / Keywords

University of Queensland; Chen Liang; Fertility and Sterility; Diabetes UK; autoantibody pathway; G6PD deficiency; Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC); FRAX; NCDHHS NC MDPP; Orforglipron (Eli Lilly); ATTAIN-2; Avant Technologies; SGAustria; Insulinova, Inc; Fluconazole; Taipei Veterans General Hospital; Cushing’s syndrome; Imperial College London Diabetes Centre; NHS Wales; Tackling Diabetes Together; peer support; digital support hub.