August 2026

New ‘Smart’ Cancer Drug Targets Tumor Cells While Sparing Healthy Tissue. Scientists in India have developed a promising experimental cancer drug designed to activate mainly inside cancer cells, potentially offering a more selective approach than conventional chemotherapy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pasatru (garetosmab-grts) as a treatment for adults with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), an extremely rare genetic disorder in which muscles, tendons and ligaments can gradually turn into bone. The approval makes Pasatru the second FDA-approved treatment for FOP, providing another therapeutic option for people affected by this debilitating condition.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized Aletta, a first-of-its-kind standalone robotic device designed to draw blood from a patient’s arm without hands-on intervention by a phlebotomist.

The authorization, announced on August 19, 2026, allows Aletta to be used in adults in outpatient settings under the supervision of a trained phlebotomist. According to the FDA, one trained phlebotomist can oversee up to three Aletta devices at the same time, potentially helping healthcare facilities manage shortages of trained blood-collection professionals.