{"slug": "the-7-next-big-things-in-health-and-medicine-for-2026", "title": "The 7 next big things in health and medicine for 2026", "summary": "The FDA cleared Aidoc's comprehensive abdomen CT triage tool in January 2026, enabling diagnosis of 15 acute conditions—including appendicitis, aortic dissection, and bowel obstruction—from a single scan, according to Fast Company's 2026 health and medicine honorees. Aidoc's aiOS radiology operating system now spans 30-plus FDA-cleared algorithms, has analyzed more than 120 million patient cases at over 1,600 hospitals, and the company has raised more than $500 million to date. The same list also cites Akido's ScopeAI clinical automation platform, trained on more than 10 million real-world clinical encounters, which doubled patients served in a Los Angeles street medicine program and drove a 55% reduction in emergency department visits.", "body_md": "As these honorees show, the future of medicine is looking more and more . . . futuristic. They include [AI](https://www.fastcompany.com/section/artificial-intelligence) that diagnoses more than a dozen serious conditions from a single abdominal scan, a sci-fi-worthy clinic that reimagines the preventive care model, and a psychedelic that tackles treatment-resistant depression with a synthetic version of a Sonoran Desert toad secretion. Need help with paying rising out-of-pocket medical costs? There’s even a solution for that.\n\n**Aidoc*** For massively streamlining the interpretation of medical imaging* \n\nRoughly one in four adults will need medical imaging this year, creating a daunting caseload for radiologists who interpret the scans. AI can help, but most tools assess single conditions, resulting in diagnostic blind spots and critical care delays. [Aidoc](https://www.aidoc.com)’s operating system for clinical radiology, called aiOS, consolidates these separate workflows. In January 2026, the FDA cleared Aidoc’s comprehensive abdomen CT triage tool, which can diagnose 15 acute conditions—including appendicitis, aortic dissection, and bowel obstruction—from a single scan. With a total of 30-plus FDA-cleared algorithms to date—spanning cardiology, oncology, and vascular conditions—Aidoc has analyzed more than 120 million patient cases at over 1,600 hospitals and raised more than $500 million to date. In August, the company announced the creation of the Diagnostic AI Consortium, in which a dozen of the largest hospitals and health systems in the U.S. will develop standards for AI usage in clinical decision-making. \n\n**Akido*** For expanding healthcare capacity through improved teamwork* [Akido](http://www.akidolabs.com)‘s ScopeAI clinical automation platform expands the effectiveness of  multidisciplinary care teams by enabling nonmedically trained outreach workers to begin patient intake and diagnosis before a doctor is available. Trained on more than 10 million real-world clinical encounters, it listens to patient interviews on a tablet or laptop and suggests follow-up questions. An initial diagnosis and treatment plan is then sent to a physician to sign off on or modify. In Akido’s street medicine program in Los Angeles, ScopeAI enabled provider teams to double the number of patients they could serve, driving a 55% reduction in emergency department visits and achieving 82% retention at three months in a population with traditionally high dropout rates. The company has expanded into clinics in Rhode Island and New York, including a chronic-disease management program for New York City rideshare drivers. Akido now serves 500,000 patients annually across nearly 100 clinics and 26 specialties. \n\n**AtaiBeckley*** For bringing next-generation psychedelics into the mainstream*\n\nIn July, Eli Lilly announced it would acquire [AtaiBeckley](https://www.ataibeckley.com/) in a deal worth up to $3.8 billion—a major validation of a pioneer in regulated psychedelic therapies. Its lead asset, BPL-003 (mebufotenin benzoate), is a nasal spray based on a compound found in the defensive secretions of the Sonoran Desert toad. After early studies showed substantial improvement over existing approaches to treatment-resistant depression, the FDA granted BPL-003 Breakthrough Therapy Designation in October 2025. The spray could shrink clinical visits to about two hours, versus six to eight hours for first-generation therapies based on psilocybin. With phase 3 trials initiated in June 2026, the drug could become the first next-generation psychedelic medicine to obtain FDA approval.\n\n**Axoft*** For developing a more brain-friendly brain-computer interface*\n\nMade from a bio-inspired material called Fleuron that mimics the soft tissues of the brain, [Axoft](https://axoft.us/)‘s minimally invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) can be surgically implanted through two tiny holes in the skull. With 32 times more sensors per thread than current flexible probes and 60% less signal loss than BCIs made from conventional polyimide, it gives high-resolution access to neural activity not available through traditional exams or external imaging. Because it can be safely implanted in any brain region, including previously unreachable deep areas, Axoft’s device is uniquely suited to evaluating patients in a coma or vegetative state. The device has been implanted in 11 patients so far across three clinical sites, including Mass General Brigham.\n\n**Neko Health*** For making the annual physical fast—and kind of fun* \n\nCofounded by Spotify founder Daniel Ek and Hjalmar Nilsonne, [Neko Health](http://www.nekohealth.com) is reinventing preventive healthcare through a growing network of spa-like clinics offering a comprehensive health assessment in one hour. Combining data from its proprietary Dermascan imaging device, biometric measurements, blood testing, advanced sensor readings, and a consultation with a human physician, the Neko Health exam identifies early indicators of cardiovascular disease, metabolic conditions, circulation issues, and skin cancers. The company has opened two clinics in Sweden, six in London, and one in New York City. Neko Health has raised over $1 billion to fund growth, including a $700 million funding round this July.\n\n**Paytient*** For making out-of-pocket health costs more manageable*\n\nAmericans spent $98 billion out of pocket on medications in 2024, a cumulative 25% increase over five years, according to analytics firm IQVIA. [Paytient](http://www.paytient.com)’s healthcare affordability platform, which is typically underwritten by employers, acts like an interest-free line of credit to help people pay for things that health insurance doesn’t, including copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. Members get a Paytient card that pays providers in full up front, then repay over time via payroll deduction, bank account, or HSA/FSA. The company now serves more than 26 million members and partners with nearly 7,000 employers, insurers, and providers. In 2026, Paytient expanded into pharmacy benefits, partnering with GoodRx and Cost Plus Drugs and adding transparent drug pricing to its app.\n\n**SetPoint Medical*** For easing rheumatoid arthritis pain without pills* [SetPoint Medical](https://setpointmedical.com/)‘s is the first FDA-approved neuroimmune modulation device for rheumatoid arthritis. The multivitamin-size wireless neurostimulator is implanted on the vagus nerve and delivers a daily one-minute electrical signal to regulate inflammation without drugs. In a trial of 242 patients with RA, 75% of participants managed their symptoms with SetPoint alone at 12 months. Since the FDA nod in July 2025, adoption has accelerated*—*the therapy is now available in six markets, with expansion planned in up to 30 new cities by the end of 2026. In April 2026, the company began enrollment for a pilot study evaluating the device as a potential therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis.\n\n*The companies and individuals behind these technologies are among the honorees in Fast Company’s* *Next Big Things in Tech awards* *for 2026. Read more about the winners across all categories and the* *methodology* *behind the selection process.*", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-7-next-big-things-in-health-and-medicine-for-2026", "canonical_source": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91612096/health-medicine-next-big-things-in-tech-2026", "published_at": "2026-10-06 11:00:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-10-06 11:48:27.364385+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-products", "ai-research"], "entities": ["Aidoc", "aiOS", "FDA", "Akido", "ScopeAI", "AtaiBeckley", "Axoft", "Eli Lilly"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-7-next-big-things-in-health-and-medicine-for-2026", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-7-next-big-things-in-health-and-medicine-for-2026.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-7-next-big-things-in-health-and-medicine-for-2026.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-7-next-big-things-in-health-and-medicine-for-2026.jsonld"}}