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November 5, 2026

Takeaways from the most recent news in the technology and policies shaping healthcare.

Finance

Alkermes Orexin Agonist Shows Early Promise in ADHD

By Healthcare Technology News ·

Alkermes said its experimental orexin agonist showed potential to treat people with ADHD in an early-stage study, according to STAT News. It is the first time this class of drugs has signaled promise against the condition.

Orexin agonists work on brain signaling tied to wakefulness and arousal. Until now, drugmakers have chased them mainly for sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, where boosting orexin activity helps patients stay awake. Applying the same mechanism to ADHD is a new direction, and a positive early readout suggests the pathway may influence attention and focus, not just sleep.

The practical stakes are large. ADHD treatment still leans heavily on stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin, which carry abuse potential and supply shortages. A non-stimulant option with a novel mechanism could reshape prescribing if later trials hold up. Early-stage results are preliminary, and Alkermes will need larger, controlled studies to confirm the effect and define safety before the therapy nears approval.

Sources

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Finance

CMS Lifts Outpatient Pay 2.3%, Cuts 340B Rates for 2027

CMS finalized its 2027 outpatient payment rule, raising rates 2.3% while cutting 340B drug payments and expanding site-neutral pay to imaging.

Why it matters: The rule reshapes hospital outpatient revenue for 2027, with cuts to 340B and site-neutral expansion pressuring safety-net and facility-based margins.

Finance

Kymera's Eczema Trial Readout Could Challenge Dupixent

Kymera Therapeutics approaches a pivotal mid-stage eczema trial readout in its bid to rival the blockbuster Dupixent with an oral drug.

Why it matters: An oral drug that rivals Dupixent could reshape eczema treatment and threaten one of pharma's biggest franchises.

Finance

Rural Ohio System Awaits $80M in Delayed CMS Payments

Memorial Health System in Ohio is waiting on about $80 million in Medicaid supplemental payments pending CMS approval, including $60 million from a new rural pilot program.

Why it matters: Delayed CMS approvals can choke cash flow for thin-margin rural hospitals that increasingly rely on state-directed Medicaid payments to stay open.