Articles tagged with Drug Studies
A study by Cleveland Clinic found that combining a weight management program with FDA-approved anti-obesity medications leads to significant weight loss among adults with obesity. The research showed that participants who had access to the medications averaged -7.7% weight loss at 12 months, compared to -4.2% in those without medication.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo are using mathematical models to simulate COVID-19 infections and test drug efficacy. The models allow for virtual trials, helping narrow down effective treatments before clinical trials begin.
The global Phase 2/3 study with opaganib in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 pneumonia has completed patient treatment and follow-up. The company expects to report top-line results in the coming weeks, which will determine the efficacy of opaganib in treating COVID-19.
The DAPA-CKD trial found that dapagliflozin significantly reduced kidney function decline, cardiovascular events, and mortality rates in patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease. The study also showed similar safety profiles for dapagliflozin and placebo in this patient population.
A study found that adolescent girls and young women in Africa consistently used daily oral PrEP and monthly dapivirine vaginal ring to prevent HIV. The results exceeded expectations, with 97% of participants using the products, indicating high acceptability and adherence.
A study found that high-dose buprenorphine administered in emergency departments is safe and tolerable, providing extended withdrawal relief and helping patients navigate barriers to follow-up care. The therapy may enhance opioid use disorder treatment outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (z-drugs) significantly increase the risk of death when used in combination with opioid pain medications. The risk is particularly high for those taking benzodiazepines, which had a 221% increased risk of death.
A new study published in the North American Menopause Society's journal Menopause found that a plant-based diet rich in soy reduces moderate-to-severe hot flashes by 84%, with nearly 60% of women becoming free of these symptoms. The study also showed improvements in sexual symptoms, mood, and overall energy.
Researchers found a 40% objective response rate for patients with advanced malignant peritoneal mesothelioma treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab. The treatment was well-tolerated, with improved progression-free and overall survival rates compared to standard chemotherapy.
A new trial found that remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine have no impact on viral clearance in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Despite not affecting mortality, the treatment groups showed a decrease in SARS-CoV-2 load within the first week.
A study by the University of Nottingham found that managing medications at the end of life can be a significant 'work' task for families. The research highlights the need for healthcare professionals to provide tailored support and for simplifying Health and Social Care services to make them more navigable.
Two new studies aim to reduce vaccine hesitancy among long-term care workers, a key population group vulnerable to severe illness and death from COVID-19. The studies will test different approaches to increasing vaccine confidence, including virtual webinars, social media content, and peer-led interventions.
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine developed a new AI methodology to hunt for disease targets and predict drug success. The approach, which uses machine learning to analyze big data, was tested in a Phase '0' clinical trial and showed high accuracy across diverse IBD patient cohorts.
A vaccine to protect against hepatitis C could be developed and rolled out within five years, according to Professor Sir Michael Houghton. The development of a vaccine is crucial for reducing new infections and mortality rates by 90% and 65%, respectively, by 2030.
A new study found that using an existing immunotherapy drug for late-stage kidney cancer at an earlier stage can reduce the risk of cancer returning by a third. The KEYNOTE study involved over 1000 patients and showed similar side effects to other cancer treatments.
A recent trial by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases found that azithromycin does not prevent mild COVID-19 cases from progressing to hospitalization or death. The study showed no difference in the risk of progression between those treated with azithromycin and those who received standard care alone.
Researchers found that general internal medicine and family medicine clinicians spent an average of two hours actively using the EHR each day, while pediatricians spent around one hour and a half. The study suggests improvements in messaging and placing orders could reduce burnout among primary care clinicians.
A new study analyzing 1,200 RCTs found that reporting of adverse effects has only improved slightly over the past 17 years. Researchers argue that many trials focus on benefits rather than harms, and selective reporting can misinform clinical decisions.
Researchers analyzed 41 studies on myocarditis in COVID-19 patients, finding median age of 43.4 years and male predominance. The study highlights the importance of healthcare professionals knowing about this cardiac complication to prevent sudden worsening of patient conditions.
A study led by Regenstrief Institute found that most electronic health record (EHR) alerts attempting to deprescribe high-risk medications linked to dementia went unread, raising questions about their effectiveness. The goal was to facilitate the deprescribing of anticholinergics through both provider and patient-based alerts.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that nearly half of people living with HIV have coronary artery plaque, even those considered at low-to-moderate risk. The plaque was linked to increased arterial inflammation and immune system activation, independent of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors.
A new modeling study suggests that randomization and early recruitment in COVID-19 clinical trials can help identify effective antiviral drugs. The researchers found that timing of treatment initiation also plays a crucial role, with treatments administered within the first day of symptom onset showing improved outcomes.
Researchers analyzed all relevant COVID-19 studies to determine if cardiovascular drugs affect disease severity, hospitalizations, and deaths. The study found that patients with COVID-19 should continue taking their prescribed cardiovascular medications.
Researchers have successfully repurposed two existing medications to reduce the severity of sleep apnoea in people by at least 30 per cent. The study showed that reboxetine and butylbromide increased muscle activity around participants' airways, reducing the number of breathing stoppages and improving oxygen intake.
A new study published in The Journal of Physiology shows that two existing medications can reduce sleep apnoea severity by up to one third. Almost everyone who participated in the study showed some improvement, with increased muscle activity around the airway and reduced breathing stoppages.
A recent trial found that consuming a diet high in omega 3 fatty acids significantly reduces headache frequency and severity compared to a typical diet. The study, published in The BMJ, suggests that increasing omega 3 intake can lead to reduced levels of pain-reducing oxylipins and improved quality of life for those with migraines.
A large study found that pregnant women using over-the-counter painkillers have a higher risk of preterm delivery, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Healthcare guidance for pregnant women regarding non-prescription painkiller use should be reassessed.
Researchers explored whether ivermectin administration influences malaria transmission, finding large effects on mosquito mortality but no significant impact on malaria incidence in children. Further studies are underway to determine the efficacy of community-wide ivermectin treatment for reducing malaria transmission.
Researchers found that LSL60101 improved cognitive deficit and biomarkers related to Alzheimer's disease in animal models. The compound acts on I2 imidazoline receptors, which are altered in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
The ACTIV (Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines) workgroup has developed nine master protocols to evaluate therapeutic agents for COVID-19. The protocols aim to accelerate drug development and improve treatment outcomes for patients with COVID-19.
Researchers have linked specific genes to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using genome-wide analysis, pointing toward novel avenues for treatment. The study identified a strong correlation between OCD and rare mutations in genes such as SLITRK5.
A European gene therapy trial for Crigler-Najjar syndrome has demonstrated the first therapeutic effects of the treatment, allowing patients to stop phototherapy. The trial's preliminary results are encouraging, suggesting that gene therapy could become an alternative treatment for this severe liver disease.
Antacids have been found to lower HbA1c levels by 0.36% and fasting blood sugar by 10 mg/dl in individuals with diabetes. However, taking antacids had no effect on the risk of developing diabetes in non-diabetic individuals.
A new study found that many younger adult dental patients are taking medications, highlighting the importance of reviewing medication histories. Medications such as antidepressants and opioids can increase the risk of dry mouth, tooth decay, and tooth loss.
The ACTG announced that the Camostat treatment group in the ACTIV-2 Outpatient Monoclonal Antibodies and Other Therapies Trial will not move to phase 3. The phase 2 data failed to meet criteria for graduation, based on demonstrating early changes in viral shedding or improvement in symptoms.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai are conducting a clinical trial to transplant neural progenitor cells into the brains of ALS patients to slow disease progression. The cells have been genetically reprogrammed to express GDNF, which may help keep motor neurons healthy and extend survival.
Opaganib was shown to reduce supplemental oxygen support, improve discharge time and be well-tolerated in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The study's findings suggest a potential role of SK2 inhibition in combating the effects of the virus.
The NIH ACTIV-4B trial found that not treating certain symptomatic but stable outpatients with anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy may be the best course of action, suggesting a very low rate of thrombotic complications. This recommendation has immediate implications for prophylactic treatment and management of mild COVID-19 symptoms.
The study found that gantenerumab reduced amyloid plaques, lowered soluble tau and phospho-tau levels, and slowed neurofilament light chain rise in participants with dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease. The drug showed potential benefit as a secondary endpoint.
A meta-analysis of 14 studies found that ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers may confer the greatest benefit to long-term cognition. These medications, which cross the blood-brain barrier, were associated with improved memory recall in older adults with hypertension.
Researchers conducted a clinical trial on losartan for mildly-ill COVID-19 outpatients and found it was ineffective in reducing hospitalization rates. The medication also did not worsen symptoms of COVID-19 or cause significant side effects, according to the study published in EClinicalMedicine.
Recent studies from the University of Minnesota Medical School have found that dramatic drug price increases lead to higher outpatient costs and decreased patient access to appropriate treatment. The studies recommend transparency laws and separate review thresholds for off-patent drugs to address extreme pricing.
A recent study by the National Food Institute found that clotrimazole, an over-the-counter fungicide, can significantly alter sex hormones in pregnant rats and their developing fetuses. This exposure was observed at concentrations comparable to those experienced by human mothers taking clotrimazole to treat vaginal thrush. The research...
Researchers have identified seven genes responsible for excessive inflammation and damage to the lungs in tuberculosis. A new drug treatment, doxycycline, has shown promise in reducing lung damage and accelerating recovery in patients with pulmonary TB.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Data and Safety Monitoring Board reviewed three formal interim efficacy analyses of trials for Moderna, Janssen, and AstraZeneca. The board's goal is to assure public independence and lack of interference while operating under exceptional conditions.
A recent UCLA clinical trial has shown encouraging results in helping daily smokers who are also heavy drinkers quit smoking and cut down their alcohol intake. The study found that nearly 36% of participants had quit smoking, with varenicline alone showing a highly encouraging quit rate.
Researchers at Flinders University have developed AI2 software that analyzes patient data to detect gaps in care and trigger interventions. The tool showed potential in reducing hospitalization rates among patients with severe mental illnesses.
Researchers developed a new dosage form, amorphous solid dispersion (ASD), to increase drug bioavailability. The study showed that ASD increased efavirenz absorption by up to 16.7 times, making it a promising solution for improving medication efficacy.
Researchers at University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center found that combination ibrutinib and venetoclax provided lasting disease remission in patients with newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with a three-year overall survival rate of 96%
A nationwide study found that blood sugar control among US adults with diabetes declined significantly between 2007-2010 and 2015-2018. The proportion of adults achieving glycemic control dropped from 57.4% to 50.5%, while blood pressure control decreased, but cholesterol control levels remained stable.
The AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) has added BMS-986414 and BMS-986413, two monoclonal antibodies, to the ACTIV-2 outpatient treatment study for COVID-19. The combination therapy aims to improve efficacy, cover multiple variants, and reduce resistance. Participants will receive subcutaneous injections of the antibodies or placebo.
A live-cell screening strategy identified Kv7.2/7.3 as a key target for treating hyperexcitability-induced neurodegeneration in ALS patients. QurAlis' therapeutic candidate QRL-101 (QRA-244) shows promise in decreasing spinal and cortical motor neuron excitability.
A new vaccine called KCONVAC has been shown to be safe and induce antibody production in healthy Chinese adults. The phase 1 and 2 clinical trials demonstrated that the vaccine is well-tolerated and generates a robust immune response, with stronger antibody production seen when participants received their second dose four weeks apart.
A large research project found that children of women with epilepsy who took antiseizure medication during pregnancy have similar cognitive outcomes at age 2 as those born to healthy women. However, higher levels of medication were linked to lower scores on motor and general adaptive tests related to self-care.
A global multicentre clinical trial found that a one-hour ultrasound-based procedure called 'renal denervation' significantly reduced blood pressure in resistant hypertension patients. The study, published in The Lancet, suggests this procedure could offer hope to patients who do not respond to recommended treatments.
RedHill Biopharma has completed enrollment and randomized the last patient in its global Phase 2/3 study of orally-administered opaganib for treating severe COVID-19. The study captured outcomes such as breathing room air without oxygen support by Day 14, hospital discharge time, and intubation rates.
Researchers have found a new four-month antibiotic regimen using rifapentine to be effective in treating TB, reducing the treatment duration by two months. The study showed that patients with HIV also cleared their TB just as well as those without HIV.
The Phase II study showed that sotorasib achieved a 37.1% objective response rate and 12.5 months median overall survival in previously treated patients with KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The drug was found to be safe and tolerable, with manageable toxicities.
A new drug, sotorasib, has shown significant benefit in treating non-small-cell lung cancer patients with a specific KRAS mutation. The study found that 37.1% of patients experienced tumor shrinkage and 82% saw slowing of tumor growth.
Researchers have found a new treatment with the potential to improve outcomes for patients with hereditary BRCA mutations and high-risk, early-stage breast cancer. The study shows that olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer returning in high-risk patients following standard therapies.