The Pituitary World News Podcast

S12E8: Inside the PWN Books Series 11.06.2026 27min

In today’s LIVE-TALK podcast, we chat about our recently published series of books. We highlight Dr. Blevins’ prolific writing output in the PWN self-published book series, with five titles on pituitary adenomas, diabetes insipidus, Cushing’s, hypopituitarism, and pituitary disorders; a TSH-producing tumor book (in editing); a prolactinoma volume heading to the publisher; and an acromegaly book planned.

S12E7: After 36 Years a Breakthrough for Hypothalamic Obesity 08.06.2026 28min

Our live talk sessions of the pituitary and adrenal podcasts continue with this extremely informational conversation on hypothalamic obesity. If you are interested in learning more about his devastating disorder, please listen to Dr. Blevins as he shares his insights and extensive expertise on its causes, new treatments, and latest developments. He explains the underlying biology: fat cells produce leptin, which signals the hypothalamus to regulate appetite, metabolic rate, and activity level. When the hypothalamus is damaged, that signal fails, and patients feel constantly starving, their metabolism slows, activity drops, and severe weight gain follows.

S12E6: A spontaneous, candid exploration of health insurance issues, and what can we do about it 03.06.2026 41min

In today's podcast, Dr. Blevins and I discuss the health insurance landscape as it relates to medication, tests, and procedure approvals and denials. Dr. Blevins gives us an unfiltered look at what it is like to deal with these challenges and their effects on the practice of medicine and medical decision-making. Don't miss this segment and stay tuned for more of these insightful, genuine, and unguarded discussions from one of the most prolific and experienced teams in a leading neuroendocrine practice in the world. If you'd like to send your thoughts and comments please click on this link

S12E5: Acromegaly up close: struggles, awareness, and why early diagnosis matters 18.05.2026 36min

In today’s podcast, we’ll dive into the personal journeys of two very interesting and accomplished people who have dealt with this disease and will share their experiences, and importantly, their opinions, shedding light on symptoms, diagnosis, the struggles and frustrations, and the importance of awareness to affect early diagnosis and to manage the condition effectively. I’m delighted to welcome Jonathan Kahan and Darro Chea and bring you this engaging, insightful conversation. Acromegaly is a complex condition that requires knowledge and understanding. I am very thankful to both Jonathan and Darro for sharing their stories and helping in our mission to help and educate.

S12E4: The science behind three-month Octreotide formulation 02.04.2026 19min

In today's podcast, we talk to Anne Vaslin Chessex, Global Program Leader at Debiopharm International. In this dynamic chat, we explore Debiopharm's innovative three-month formulation of Octreotide for acromegaly, highlighting the science, clinical trials, and patient benefits. Gain insights into drug development, patient-centered approaches, future treatment options, and learn how to participate in the clinical trial. Dr. Vaslin Chessex has a PhD in Neurosciences and currently oversees the global strategy for drug development programs in rare diseases. This is a fascinating talk about the science and expertise behind long-acting formulations, patient needs in acromegaly, treatment challenges, and the specifics on the clinical trial design, sites, and recruitment.

S12E3: Closing the Gap: Dr. Francesca Galbiati on Diagnosis, AI, and the Promise of Better Care 11.03.2026 40min

Today we welcome to our podcasts Dr. Francesca Galbiati who recently joined the California Center for Pituitary Disorders at UCSF, where she cares for patients with pituitary tumors, acromegaly, Cushing's disease, and related hypothalamic conditions. She is originally from northern Italy and the first in her family to attend college, her path into medicine was driven by a love of science, a desire to work with people, and a passion for understanding how the human body works. We had a delightful, candid discussion about delays in diagnosis , noting that pituitary disease remains underrepresented in medical education and that primary care physicians often miss early signs. Among other subjects, we talked abut the promise of AI to aid in early diagnosis, and talked about the new emerging therapies and neuroimaging techniques

S12E2: Behind the scenes with Crinetics cofounders Drs. Scott Struthers and Stephen Betz. 08.02.2026 42min

In today's podcast, Crinetics co-founders Dr. Scott Struthers and Dr. Steve Betz share their views and experiences in drug discovery and development, revealing what it really takes to bring a new medication from concept to patients. We discuss their recently approved drug for acromegaly, Paltusotine (Palsonify™), along with their pipeline plans for Cushing's disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) Atumelnant. Palsonify™ represents the first drug developed and marketed by Crinetics—a significant milestone for the company. This rare, candid look inside a complex industry offers insights you won't want to miss. Drs. Struthers and Betz are both frequent guests on the Pituitary World News podcast.

S12E1: Inside Camurus: Dr. Markus Johnsson talks about FluidCrystal® technology and next-generation treatment Innovations 19.01.2026 30min

In the latest episode of the Pituitary World News podcast, Jorge D. Faccinetti sits down with Dr. Markus Johnsson, Senior VP of R&D at Camurus, to explore the fascinating world of FluidCrystal® technology. This innovative approach promises to revolutionize the way we think about drug delivery, providing long-lasting solutions for chronic diseases particularly for people with acromegaly. Markus shares insights into the development process, the importance of patient feedback, and the future of drug delivery systems. The discussion highlights the significance of sustained release medications and the convenience of self-administration for patients. Click on the link to learn more about FluidCrystal®.

S11E12: Un programa de Inteligencia Artificial para la diagnosis precoz de la Acromegalia 30.10.2025 38min

En el podcast de hoy hablamos con el Dr. Manel Puig Domingo sobre un estudio innovador que él encabezó y que se describe en un artículo reciente publicado en la revista PITUITARY. El artículo plantea la posibilidad de que los algoritmos de IA y el aprendizaje automático podrían proporcionar un enfoque revolucionario para el diagnóstico temprano de esta enfermedad compleja, cuyo diagnóstico actualmente tarda un promedio de 6 a 10 años. El artículo describe un sistema de reconocimiento facial impulsado por IA, AcroFace, que podría detectar la acromegalia mediante el análisis de fotografías faciales. Estos hallazgos preliminares presentan un sistema con un 93% de precisión. Si la investigación avanza y el programa se valida e implementa, promete ahorrar años de enfermedad no detectada. Sin duda prevendrá el desarrollo de complicaciones de condiciones relacionadas, transformará la acromegalia de una enfermedad incapacitante diagnosticada tardíamente a una condición detectada tempranamente y más manejable sin las molestas comorbilidades, y servirá como modelo para otras enfermedades raras con características faciales.

S11E11: Game Changers: An AI Facial Recognition System that detects acromegaly 10 years before diagnosis 30.10.2025 36min

In today's podcast we talk with Dr. Manel Puig Domingo about an innovative study he spearheaded and outlined in a recent paper published in the journal PITUITARY. The paper raises the possibility that AI algorithms and machine learning could provide a game-changing approach to the early diagnosis of this complex disease, which now takes an average of 6 to 10 years to diagnose. The paper outlines an AI-driven facial recognition system, AcroFace, that could detect acromegaly by analyzing facial photographs. These early findings present a system that is 93% accurate. If further research goes forward and the program is validated and deployed, it promises to save years of undetected disease. It will undoubtedly prevent the development of complications from related conditions, transform acromegaly from a late-diagnosed crippling disease to an early-detected, more manageable condition without the pesky comorbidities, and serve as a model for other rare diseases with facial features.

S11E10: For a clinicians perspective we talk with Dr. Kevin Yuen about Crinetics' new acromegaly drug Palsonify™. 15.10.2025 29min

In today's podcast, Dr. Kevin Yuen, a world-renowned neuroendocrinologist, frequent PWN contributor, and medical director of the Barrow Neurological Institute, discusses Crinetics' new acromegaly drug Paltusotine (Palsonify™). The drug was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Yuen explains how this new medication works and provides an excellent clinical perspective on his views to evaluating new therapies. Read Dr. Kevin Yuen's PWN articles here.

Trust But Verify: The Rise of AI-Generated Health Information 08.09.2025 21min

Can Artificial Intelligence make medical research easier to understand? This AI-generated content (we hesitate to call it a traditional "podcast") was brought to our attention by one of Dr. Blevins' patients, who discovered it in a Facebook patient group. The creator used a well-known AI platform to analyze one of Dr. Blevins' recently published papers on PWN, translating the complex medical language into plain English with more accessible terms and less technical jargon. As you will hear, the platform generated a dialog. The goal was simply to better understand the content. You can read Dr. Blevins' original paper, "The Evolution of Our Understanding of the Nuances of Pathologic Cortisol Secretion," [here]. After carefully reviewing the AI-generated content for accuracy, Dr. Blevins found that the platform did an excellent job of simplifying the material and making the language more approachable for patients and general audiences. Following thorough consideration, we decided to publish it on PWN—and here it is! We Want to Hear From You What are your thoughts on AI-generated medical content? Does this approach help bridge the communication gap between complex research and patient understanding? Please share your opinions with us at info@pituitaryworldnews.com or comment on this article.

S11E9: Dr. Lewis Blevins on Corcept's CATALYST Study: The Cortisol-Diabetes Link 26.08.2025 10min

In today's podcast, Dr. Lewis Blevins dives into the fascinating findings from a study by Corcept Therapeutics on the prevalence of hypercortisolism in people with type 2 diabetes. Results from this study, called CATALYST, were recently published by Corcept and presented at various scientific and medical conferences. Dr. Blevins explains the findings and offers his expert insight.

S11E8: Dr. Lewis Blevins on promising developments in cortisol management 25.08.2025 8min

In today's podcast, Dr. Lewis Blevins discusses relacorilant, a drug currently in development by Corcept Therapeutics for the treatment of hypercortisolism. Clinical trials to date have shown encouraging results, with improvements in blood pressure, glucose control, weight, and body composition. Corcept Therapeutics specializes in developing drugs that modulate the glucocorticoid receptor. Stay tuned for the next Podcast on hypercortisolism, diabetes, hypertension and weight management.

S11E7: We dive into the new indications for Isturisa® with Recordati's Dr. Mario Maldonado 20.08.2025 32min

This is a very informative discussion about the new indications of the Cushing's Drug Isturisa® (osilodrostat) with Dr. Mario Maldonado, who heads global development for endocrinology at Recordati Rare Diseases. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the drug for endogenous hypercortisolism (excessive production of cortisol in the body). If you want to learn more about this fascinating subject, Dr. Maldonado gives us an insider's view of how companies recognize and make decisions to pursue new indications, the intricacies of studying, analyzing, and understanding data, and the advantages that AI may bring to accelerate the development of new therapies. Our thanks to Dr. Maldonado and the Folks at Recordati for taking time from a busy conference to chat with us. You don't want to miss this talk!

S11E6: Camurus: an inside look and my conversation with CEO Fredrik Tiberg 07.07.2025 37min

CAM2029 represents a significant advance replacing cumbersome deep muscle injections with a user-friendly pen device similar to modern insulin and GLP-1 delivery systems. The practical benefits are remarkable: monthly administration, storage at room temperature, and no more traveling with cooling equipment. These improvements may seem incremental to outsiders, but for patients managing acromegaly, they represent important quality-of-life enhancements. But I'll let Fredrik and the Camurus team tell you all about it in this podcast. I met Dr. Tiberg at his new offices, toured the lab, and had a fantastic chat about the new drugs and the challenges and opportunities for people with rare diseases, and, importantly, for those working to make their lives a little bit better. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did producing it.

S11E5: When It Looks Like Cushing’s But It Isn’t 02.07.2025 29min

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Leena Shahla to the Pituitary Podcast. She is the director of The Duke Pituitary Program. Today she joins PWN co-founder and medical director of the California Center for Pituitary Disorders at UCSF, Dr. Lewis Blevins, for an in-depth discussion about pseudo-Cushing's syndrome. In the Duke Health web portal, Dr. Shahla says endocrinology captured her heart because it combines medical science with unique challenges. "My passion for solving puzzles drives my deep interest in pituitary disease, the most complex area of endocrinology." You can read more about Dr. Shahla, her practice and background here. This is a fascinating discussion about a complex, often misunderstood condition by two of the leading experts in the field you won't want to miss it. Pseudo-Cushing's syndrome or non-neoplastic hypercortisolism is a medical condition in which people with this disorder display the signs, symptoms, and abnormal cortisol levels. Common causes can include pregnancy, alcohol use disorder, morbid obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, end-stage renal disease, severe major depressive disorder, and poorly controlled diabetes.

S11E4: Side effects of dopamine agonists: a discussion 28.05.2025 14min

In this podcast, Dr. Blevins reviews the side effects of dopamine agonist drugs. These are drugs that activate certain types of cells in the brain to regulate various functions, including hormone regulation, movement, and motivation. Dr. Blevins's discussion focuses on the drug cabergoline and its side effects, citing several research studies. This is a fascinating review of side effects you won't want to miss, even if you don't use or are unfamiliar with cabergoline and its use in treating prolactinomas. For more information on prolactinomas and other pituitary disorders, visit pituitaryworldnews.org. Stay tuned for an upcoming book on prolactinomas, scheduled for release later this year. While you’re there, browse through the website for more resources and explore our current selection of books on Cushing’s syndrome, diabetes insipidus, vasopressin resistance, and hypopituitarism—available for purchase. Additionally, a new book focusing on pituitary tumors will be released later this month. Explore. Learn. Stay Ahead. Visit us today!

S11E3: Cool chats 29.04.2025 26min

Sometimes conversations take interesting turns and often lead to surprising and unexpected discussions. If you're a regular listener of the Pituitary Podcast, you may have caught a few of our live broadcasts where these unscripted discussion are common. Today I'm joined by Risa August, a patient and advocate and a frequent guest sharing her work, adventures and advocacy efforts, for one of those engaging chats. In this podcast we explored the importance of listening. We also discussed the stories that spark the interest needed to capture the attention of people who may know little or nothing about pituitary conditions. With greater awareness, and since early diagnosis is such a game changer with these devastating conditions, perhaps more people will be mindful of the subtle signs that deserve medical attention — and maybe, just maybe, they'll ask the right questions that guide their doctors toward considering a potential pituitary diagnosis sooner rather than later. Here'e another example of this discussion from a recent Grand Rounds Video with physicians and endocrine fellows discussing an acromegaly case. Click here to order the book and learn more about Risa's work.

S11E2: Acromegaly; a discussion about psychological and emotional health support initiatives 27.02.2025 33min

Today's podcast is about an important Chiesi Rare Diseases initiative to learn more about the psychological, social, and emotional health issues facing acromegaly patients. We talked to Stuart Siedman, Chiesi's Vice President of advocacy. Stuart has an extensive background in rare diseases and a personal connection as an advocate. This is an important subject. We hope you will help by participating in the survey. Click here to take the survey.