A new vehicle has been found to carry therapeutic proteins into living cells, overcoming a major hurdle in the delivery of protein-based drugs. The discovery uses small peptides to substitute for bulky components of bacterial toxins and deliver therapeutic proteins into cells.
Researchers challenge conventional wisdom that scraping off bee stings is more effective than pinching them out. Immediate removal of the sting, rather than its method of removal, reduces the amount of venom injected. Delaying removal increases welt size and envenomization.
NeXstar Pharmaceuticals has created an aptamer-based diagnostic assay for its VEGF inhibitor, enhancing cancer treatment possibilities. The ELONA system uses an aptamer to detect small amounts of clinically important substances, overcoming limitations of traditional antibodies in diagnostic assays.