TAVR may be a safe, effective treatment strategy for patients with moderate aortic stenosis and at least one other warning sign of heart disease. That was the key takeaway from a highly anticipated late-breaking study presented by Philippe Généreux, MD, at TCT 2026 in San Diego. 

“A drug that can both decrease the risk for diabetes along with the risk for having a heart attack or stroke could be a turning point in our ability to safely treat this growing population in the U.S. and abroad,” one researcher said.

Researchers reviewed an FDA safety database, finding that these products were commonly involved in reports related to cardiac arrest, heart attacks, ventricular arrhythmias, heart palpitations, chest pain and fainting.

Two lots of a generic blood pressure medication were recalled because the drugs may be ineffective. The FDA ruled this as a Class II recall. 

A new-look cerebral embolic protection device for TAVR is safe to use and consistently captures debris. According to late-breaking data presented at TCT 2026, however, the device failed to demonstrate any tangible clinical benefits.

The 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule includes conversion factors lower than what CMS originally proposed. In addition, a controversial policy many cardiologists are required to participate in is still set to go live on Jan. 1. 

Metformin is typically the therapy of choice for patients with prediabetes, but GLP-1 drugs appear to offer several benefits.

The real-world benefits of renal denervation were a hot topic at TCT 2026 in San Diego.

In terms of the study's primary endpoint, using CCTA to guide procedures was noninferior to IVUS. CCTA was also linked to certain advantages over IVUS, including improved cath lab efficiency. 

The prospective trial will include up to 585 patients in the United States, Canada and Europe.