Moderna and Merck's personalized mRNA vaccine intismeran cut the risk of melanoma returning by 42 per cent two years after surgery, in a study of more than 1,100 people with high-risk melanoma. Two years on, 82 per cent of vaccinated patients were recurrence-free, versus 70 per cent on Keytruda alone. The companies are discussing approval with regulators; full results were due at a European oncology meeting in Madrid.
A personalized mRNA vaccine, matched to each patient's tumour, is moving toward approval after a large trial showed a clear gain in living without recurrence.
Saskatchewan hospitals are now using a rapid test that gives a mother with HIV her viral load on site within about two hours, instead of waiting days for a central lab, so treatment decisions for mother and newborn can be made at once. The practice is in use in Regina and Saskatoon and is rolling out to Melfort and more remote communities. Saskatchewan is the first province to use the test this widely; in 2024 its first-time HIV diagnosis rate was three times the national average, second only to Manitoba.
A two-hour result instead of days means treatment for mother and baby can start before they leave the hospital.
Abbott has issued a recall for specific lots of i-STAT hs-TnI cartridges due to manufacturing variability. These cartridges may produce falsely elevated cardiac troponin I results because of reduced interference mitigation. There is no evidence of falsely low test results.
Check your i-STAT hs-TnI cartridge lots against the recall list and stop using any affected units immediately.
A study involving Manitoba researchers found that the time taken to start appropriate antifungal therapy is the most significant factor for survival in Candida septic shock. Patients treated within two hours of persistent hypotension had an 86% survival rate, with outcomes worsening by 5% for every hour of delay thereafter.
For patients with suspected Candida septic shock, prioritizing the rapid administration of appropriate antifungal therapy within the first two hours of hypotension is critical.
Federal, provincial, and territorial health ministers met in Winnipeg on October 16, 2026, to discuss healthcare system reforms. Key priorities included improving workforce mobility for internationally educated professionals, advancing national public health data sharing, and ensuring the sustainability of long-term funding for rare disease treatments and community care services.
A retrospective study of 14,205 pediatric croup cases in four emergency departments found that a lower 0.15 mg/kg dose of dexamethasone was as effective as the standard 0.6 mg/kg dose regarding return visits. However, the lower dose was linked to a higher rate of hospitalizations, suggesting clinicians should carefully consider the risks when selecting dosages.
When treating pediatric croup, be aware that while a lower dexamethasone dose appears effective, it may be associated with a higher risk of hospitalization.
The pharmacy team at Boundary Trails Health Centre is moving into a new, expanded space starting in October 2026. This two-phase transition includes a new chemotherapy compounding area designed to meet national regulatory standards, supporting increased service capacity for the Morden and Winkler region.
Pharmacy staff at Boundary Trails Health Centre will move into a new, expanded space with a chemotherapy compounding area starting in October 2026.
Dr. Jay Toor, an orthopedic surgeon at Concordia Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, is leading a Research Manitoba-funded initiative to use AI and large language models, a system called ORION, to cut surgical wait times at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre. Over 1,300 Manitobans face a median wait of 170 days for orthopedic surgery. In year one the team will test ORION against 10 years of HSC data, then trial it live in year two, predicting 5-8% more surgical capacity, 10-15% shorter waits, and $2-4 million a year in savings.
A Manitoba-made AI tool aims to shorten the 170-day median wait for orthopedic surgery, a number frontline staff see in their clinics every day.
