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Updated: 18 hours 34 min ago

Shared digital NHS prescribing record could avoid nearly 1 million annual drug errors

Wed, 03/27/2024 - 11:00
Implementing a single shared digital prescribing record across the NHS in England could avoid nearly 1 million drug errors every year, stopping up to 16,000 fewer patients from being harmed, and saving up to 22 lives every year, suggests a modelling study, published online in BMJ Quality & Safety.

The figures, which are based on the assumption that such a system could reduce medication errors by at least 10%, and by as much as 50%, could also save £millions for the NHS, say the researchers.

Global study could change how children with multiple sclerosis are treated

Tue, 03/26/2024 - 11:00
A ground-breaking study - the largest of its kind globally - has found children with multiple sclerosis (MS) have better outcomes if treated early and with the same high-efficacy therapies as adults.

There are a limited number of therapies approved for children with MS, with only one considered to be of high-efficacy - meaning highly effective.

FDA approves nonsteroidal treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Mon, 03/25/2024 - 11:00
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Duvyzat (givinostat) oral medication for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in patients six years of age and older. Duvyzat is the first nonsteroidal drug approved to treat patients with all genetic variants of DMD. It is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that works by targeting pathogenic processes to reduce inflammation and loss of muscle.

Reducing the side effects of breast and ovarian cancer treatment

Fri, 03/22/2024 - 11:00
Some anti-cancer treatments not only target tumour cells but also healthy cells. If their effects on the latter are too strong, their use can become limiting. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), in collaboration with Basel-based FoRx Therapeutics, has identified the mechanism of action of PARP inhibitors, used in particular for breast and ovarian cancer in patients carrying the BRCA gene mutation.

Experimental gene therapy for giant axonal neuropathy shows promise in NIH clinical trial

Thu, 03/21/2024 - 11:00
An investigational gene therapy for a rare neurodegenerative disease that begins in early childhood, known as giant axonal neuropathy (GAN), was well tolerated and showed signs of therapeutic benefit in a clinical trial led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Currently, there is no treatment for GAN and the disease is usually fatal by 30 years of age. Fourteen children with GAN, ages 6 to 14 years, were treated with gene transfer therapy at the NIH Clinical Center and then followed for about six years to assess safety.

Bayer and Thermo Fisher Scientific collaborate to increase patient access to precision cancer medicines

Wed, 03/20/2024 - 11:00
Bayer AG and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. today announced a collaboration to develop next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based companion diagnostic assays (CDx) together. These will help identify patients who may benefit from Bayer's growing portfolio of precision cancer therapies by offering decentralized genomic testing and rapid turnaround time.

Cell therapy approach harnesses the immune system in a different way to stop cancer

Tue, 03/19/2024 - 11:00
A new cancer treatment that uses a person’s own immune cells has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Now this form of cellular therapy (tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte - or TIL therapy) is showing promise in advanced lung cancers through clinical trials underway at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James).

Bacteria commonly found in the body contribute to stomach cancer

Mon, 03/18/2024 - 11:00
A new study has discovered that a type of bacteria commonly found in the body, which usually does not pose problems for healthy people, plays a significant role in causing stomach cancer, the fifth most common cancer in the world.

Streptococcus anginosus bacteria exist alongside other germs in the mouth, throat, intestines and vagina. Occasionally, they may cause mild infections like sore throats and skin infections.

Bayer and Aignostics to collaborate on next generation precision oncology

Fri, 03/15/2024 - 11:00
Bayer and Aignostics GmbH announced a strategic collaboration on several artificial intelligence (AI)-powered approaches with applications in precision oncology drug research and development. Aignostics is a spin-off from one of the world's leading hospitals, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and a global leader in using computational pathology to transform complex biomedical data into biology insights.

AstraZeneca to acquire Amolyt Pharma, expanding late-stage rare disease pipeline

Thu, 03/14/2024 - 11:00
AstraZeneca announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Amolyt Pharma, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel treatments for rare endocrine diseases.

The proposed acquisition will bolster the Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease late-stage pipeline and expand on its bone metabolism franchise with the notable addition of eneboparatide (AZP-3601), a Phase III investigational therapeutic peptide with a novel mechanism of action designed to meet key therapeutic goals for hypoparathyroidism.

European Commission approves Pfizer's PREVENAR 20® to help protect infants and children against pneumococcal disease

Wed, 03/13/2024 - 11:00
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for the company's 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, marketed in the European Union under the brand name PREVENAR 20®, for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease, pneumonia and acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in infants, children and adolescents from 6 weeks to less than 18 years of age.

Novel molecules from generative AI to Phase II

Tue, 03/12/2024 - 11:00
There are thousands of diseases worldwide with no cure or available treatments. Traditional drug discovery and development takes decades and billions of dollars and more than 90% of these drugs fail in clinical trials. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) holds promise for streamlining and improving the entire process. However, ushering in a new era of AI-driven drug discovery requires costly and lengthy validation in preclinical cell, tissue, and animal models and human clinical trials.

Key protein linked to immune disorders

Mon, 03/11/2024 - 11:00
A new study has shed light on the importance of the protein STAP-1 in activating certain immune cells. Understanding the role of STAP-1 in these cells could give researchers a better glimpse into immune-related disorders and ways to treat them.

The researchers found that STAP-1 plays an important role in the activation of T cells, which are white blood cells that play a critical role in defending the body against infections and maintaining overall health.

Researchers open new leads in anti-HIV drug development, using a compound found in nature

Fri, 03/08/2024 - 11:00
A team of University of Michigan researchers has successfully modified a naturally occurring chemical compound in the lab, resulting in advanced lead compounds with anti-HIV activity.

Their results, published March 7 in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, offer a new path forward in the development of drugs that could potentially help cure - rather than treat - HIV.

Researchers discover new cancer-fighting role for neutrophils

Thu, 03/07/2024 - 11:00
In a study published in Cell on March 5, Prof. ZHANG Xiaoming at the Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection (SIII) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Profs. GAO Qiang, FAN Jia and YANG Li at Fudan University have uncovered an unexpected level of complexity hidden within neutrophils, which were previously thought to be a relatively uniform population of short-lived immune cells.

A smart molecule beats the mutation behind most pancreatic cancer

Wed, 03/06/2024 - 11:00
Scientists discover a new way to disarm a deadly protein that also appears in cancers of the lung, breast and colon.

UC San Francisco researchers have designed a candidate drug that could help make pancreatic cancer, which is almost always fatal, a treatable, perhaps even curable, condition.

The new molecule permanently modifies a wily cancer-causing mutation, called K-Ras G12D, that is responsible for nearly half of all pancreatic cancer cases and appears in some forms of lung, breast and colon cancer.

Sildenafil (Viagra) as a candidate drug for Alzheimer's disease

Tue, 03/05/2024 - 11:00
New Cleveland Clinic-led research points to sildenafil (Viagra) as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The study provides evidence from computational models, insurance claims data and observations from brain cells in Alzheimer's patients.

Sildenafil is the main component of drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction (Viagra) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (Revatio).

Novartis presents new data on safety and efficacy of Zolgensma

Mon, 03/04/2024 - 11:00
Novartis today presented new data that continue to support the clinical benefits of Zolgensma® (onasemnogene abeparvovec), the only one-time gene therapy for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Final data from the SMART study highlight the safety and efficacy profile of Zolgensma in children with SMA weighing ≥ 8.5 kg to ≤ 21 kg, with a mean age of 4.69 years, most of whom (21/24, 87.5%) had discontinued use of another disease modifying therapy at the time of treatment.

Cleveland Clinic researchers uncover how virus causes cancer, point to potential treatment

Fri, 03/01/2024 - 11:00
Cleveland Clinic researchers have discovered a key mechanism used by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), to induce cancer. The research points to effective new treatment options for KSHV-associated cancers, including Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and HHV8-associated multicentric Castleman disease.

Pfizer announces positive top-line data for full season two efficacy of ABRYSVO® for RSV in older adults

Thu, 02/29/2024 - 11:00
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced top-line ABRYSVO® vaccine efficacy and safety data for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in adults 60 years of age and older following a second season in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres from the ongoing pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial (NCT05035212) RENOIR (RSV vaccine Efficacy study iNOlder adults Immunized against RSV disease).