First Half 2026 Recap - Endocrinology

Endocrinology saw significant advancements throughout the first 6 months of 2026, between major approvals from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and key trial readouts regarding everything from obesity to type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

The FDA’s approval of inhaled insulin Afrezza for pediatric patients opened and entirely new treatment pathway for a group disproportionately affected by injection burden, while the expansion of teplizumab’s approval presents a wider safety net for pediatric patients at risk of T1D progression. Meanwhile, retatrutide made leaps and bounds in both T2D and obesity – the triple agonist brought about staggering weight loss results in phase 3 trials in May.

With all of the data presented over the last 6 months, the editorial team at HCPLive has taken 9 of the most impactful headlines from the first half of 2026. Catch up on any major news you may have missed:

FDA News

FDA Approves Inhaled Insulin Afrezza for Pediatric Patients With Diabetes

On May 29, 2026, parent company MannKind Therapeutics announced the FDA’s approval of inhaled insulin Afrezza for pediatric patients with either T1D or T2D. Afrezza, the first and only ultra-rapid-acting inhaled insulin with FDA approval for glycemic control in adults with diabetes mellitus, is administered at the start of every meal with a portable inhaler. The drug was first approved in 2014 – in January 2026, the FDA approved an updated label providing clinicians with starting dose guidance when switching from an insulin pump or daily injections.

FDA Clears MiniMed Flex, A Smaller and Smartphone-Controlled Insulin Pump

On March 18, the FDA cleared MiniMed’s MiniMed Flex, a next-generation, smartphone-controlled insulin pump, for patients ≥7 years old with T1D and individuals ≥18 years old with insulin-requiring T2D. The new device is roughly half the size of the 780G pump and is MiniMed’s first screenless design, created in partnership with patients with diabetes to optimize ease of use and convenience.

FDA Expands Teplizumab Approval to Children 1 Year & Older to Delay Type 1 Diabetes Onset

On April 22, 2026, parent company Sanofi announced the FDA’s extension of prior approval of teplizumab-mzwv (Tzield) to include children ≥1 year of age with stage 2 type 1 diabetes (T1D) to prevent or delay progression into stage 3 disease. The initial approval was limited to patients ≥8 years; this decision has established teplizumab as the first disease-modifying therapy available for extremely young patients at high risk of developing symptomatic T1D.

Trial Results

Crinecerfont Reduces Glucocorticoid Doses in CAH, With Richard Auchus, MD, PhD

New data from the CAHtalyst Adult study have reflected that crinecerfont substantially reduces glucocorticoid doses among patients with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), sustaining these reductions over 2 years. The selective oral corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 receptor antagonist was first approved by the FDA in December 2024 to treat CAH in conjunction with glucocorticoids in adults and children ≥4 years.

TRIUMPH-1: Retatrutide Substantially Lowers Weight, BMI in Patients With Obesity or Overweight

Retatrutide, the first triple GIP/GLP-1/glucagon agonist to reach phase 3 clinical trials, has demonstrated significant weight loss in patients with obesity or overweight, according to the TRIUMPH-1 trial. Presented alongside positive data from TRANSCEND-T2D-1 at ADA 2026, this study saw an average weight loss of 64.4 lbs with retatrutide 9 mg and 70.3 lbs with retatrutide 12 mg by week 80. Additionally, 65.3% of patients on retatrutide 12 mg achieved a body mass index <30, the minimum threshold for clinical obesity.

Genentech Reports Positive Results from Phase 2 Trial of CT-388 in Obesity

On January 27, Genentech announced positive topline results from their study of CT-388, an investigational dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist designed for once-weekly subcutaneous administration in patients with T2D and obesity. At week 48 of the trial, 95.7% of participants receiving CT-388 saw weight loss ≥5%, and 87% lost ≥10%.

Clinician Insights

Ketone Monitoring in Diabetes: Making The Case For When and How to Test

At ADA 2026, HCPLive spoke with Viral Shah, MD, of Indiana University, regarding the importance of – and the shifting attention towards – continuous ketone monitoring. An ADA consensus published prior to the conference established universal diabetes education on ketones as a minimum standard – Shah framed prevention of diabetic ketoacidosis as the central priority of the field, highlighting the critical need to identify elevated ketones early on to intervene.

GLP-1 Discontinuation Results in Significant Weight Regain, With Michael Weintraub, MD

According to a January 2026 study, ≥50% of patients with obesity or T2D regained weight within a year of discontinuing GLP-1 RA therapy, with those who lost the most weight regaining the most. This is particularly relevant with increasing reports of challenges in GLP-1 RA adherence, especially due to injection burden.

Tegoprubart Improves Glycemic Control Following Islet Transplantation for T1D, With Piotr Witkowski, MD, PhD

Eledon Pharmaceuticals announced updated results from their trial of the investigative anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody tegoprubart in patients undergoing allogeneic islet transplant for long-standing T1D. The pilot study resulted in rapid improvement in glycemic control after transplantation, with stable islet graft observed across the entire cohort.