Articles tagged with Drug Studies
CAR T-cell therapies have demonstrated durable remission and survival rates of over 59% for patients with refractory NHL. Researchers found that sustained responses were consistent across long-term follow-up analyses, suggesting potential for these therapies as the standard of care for hematologic malignancies.
PharmaMar's plitidepsin demonstrated improved progression-free survival and overall survival compared to dexamethasone alone, with a significant reduction in the risk of progression. The study also showed better quality of life evolution and a novel mechanism of action that targets eEF1A2 protein.
Researchers report remarkable benefits from new therapies for bleeding and clotting disorders, including emicizumab's high effectiveness in preventing bleeds in children with hemophilia A. Additionally, a gene therapy treatment provides durable improvement in clotting factor levels and long-term protection from bleeds.
A new clinical trial found that combining oral immunotherapy with omalizumab increased the speed and safety of treating multiple food allergies in children. The study showed significant efficacy and safety improvements, allowing patients to tolerate more foods without severe reactions.
A new review study suggests that nicotine replacement therapy is safer for pregnant women than smoking and should be recommended to more pregnant patients who are not able to quit on their own. The therapy can improve smoking cessation rates by up to 40 percent, even if the user receives less nicotine than while smoking.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center have shown encouraging results in treating multiple myeloma patients with CAR T cell therapy and an experimental monoclonal antibody. The studies targeted the B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) receptor, which is highly expressed in myeloma cells.
Novel targeted cancer therapies have been shown to improve progression-free survival, response rate, and quality of life for patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Mogamulizumab has demonstrated significant clinical activity in clearing malignant T-cells in the blood and lymph nodes.
Preliminary results from a clinical trial of nivolumab indicate effectiveness and significant side effects, prompting further trials in this group. The drug ipilimumab also produced responses in nearly one-third of patients with relapsed hematologic malignancies after an allogeneic stem cell transplant.
Researchers at Penn Medicine found that individuals with schizophrenia's own perceptions of their experiences can influence treatment outcomes. Cognitive insight, measured by the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale, is a significant predictor of neurocognition and not vice versa.
A University of Liverpool-led trial found that sildenafil, commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, is ineffective in improving outcomes for pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction. The study recruited 135 pregnant women with severely growth-restricted fetuses and found no benefits from administering sildenafil.
The I-SPY 2 TRIAL found that achieving pathological complete response (pCR) is a strong predictor of event-free and distant disease-free survival in high-risk breast cancer patients. pCR rates varied by breast cancer subtype, but the relationship between pCR and EFS was significant across all subtypes.
A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals that medications like opioids and antidepressants for chronic pain management increase the risk of obesity and poor sleep. The research found that these medications double the risk of obesity and are associated with poor sleep, highlighting the need to reduce their use.
Two studies comparing buprenorphine and naltrexone found that both medications are equally effective in preventing relapse and reducing illicit opioid use. However, naltrexone can be more difficult to initiate due to the 'detox hurdle' faced by many patients.
A large clinical trial shows that clot-busting drugs do not prevent post-thrombotic syndrome, a complication that can cause chronic limb pain and swelling. The procedure did reduce the severity of the syndrome, but with an increased risk of major bleeding.
A new study found that an infliximab biosimilar is safe and effective for treating inflammatory bowel disease, with comparable drug levels to the original medication. However, a high rate of discontinuation was observed due to subjective disease worsening or elective withdrawal after switching to the biosimilar.
A new intervention by Dr. Stacey Sigmon reduces illicit opioid use and injection drug use among waitlisted patients by providing daily medication via a computerized dispenser. This regimen allows patients to start potentially life-saving treatment immediately, while waiting for access to comprehensive counseling services.
A new Army-developed Zika vaccine has induced a robust immune response in healthy adults, with over 90% of volunteers developing an immune response against the virus. The vaccine, developed by Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, was tested in three phase 1 studies and showed promising results.
Cedars-Sinai finds that pharmacy staff taking medication histories reduces errors in both patient records and medication orders by over 80%. Pharmacy staff are now assigned to take medication histories for high-risk patients admitted through the Emergency Department.
A recent study found that less than one-third of glaucoma patients discuss medication costs with their doctor. High costs are a significant barrier to adherence, and doctors should consider discussing medication costs during visits to prompt a discussion. The study analyzed video recordings of 275 office visits and suggested further re...
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center presented significant advances in patient survival for various blood cancers, including multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. The studies showed promising results for new treatments, such as combination chemotherapy and targeted therapies.
The phase III clinical trial showed that fremanezumab reduced the number of headache days by an average of 4.3 days with quarterly treatment and 4.6 days with monthly treatment. The therapy also demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with most common adverse event being irritation at injection site.
The first large-scale clinical trial of a long-acting injectable medication for HIV prevention in sexually active women has begun. The study will examine whether a long-acting form of the investigational anti-HIV drug cabotegravir can safely protect women at risk for HIV infection.
The HPTN 084 study enrolls 3,200 HIV-uninfected women in seven countries to test the safety and efficacy of a long-acting injectable cabotegravir compared to daily oral TDF/FTC. The study aims to increase HIV prevention choices for women, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where they bear a disproportionate burden.
A phase 2b clinical trial of a novel HIV vaccine regimen has begun in southern Africa, aiming to reduce the incidence of HIV infection. The mosaic vaccine, developed by researchers at the Ragon Institute, is designed to respond to various viral strains and address genetic diversity.
New research from UC Davis Health finds that denying patient requests for specialist referrals, laboratory tests, or medications leads to lower clinician satisfaction ratings. Communications training is recommended to help doctors effectively manage patient requests and balance patient needs with resource efficiency.
Researchers developed a synthetic cannabis-like drug that was safe and effective in treating obstructive sleep apnea. Participants in the trial had reduced apnea and decreased subjective sleepiness after taking the drug for six weeks.
A study found that denying patient requests for services, such as referrals and medication, is associated with lower patient satisfaction. The findings suggest that clinicians' decisions to deny these requests may penalize their patients and negatively impact their experiences.
Patients with multiple sclerosis who adhere to medication schedules experience significantly better physical outcomes, including reduced disease impact and disability. However, their overall healthcare costs are higher due to more frequent hospitalizations and medical appointments.
A recent publication found that women with abnormal vaginal microbiota and undergoing IVF have a significantly lower chance of becoming pregnant compared to those with a normal Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbiota. Fertility clinics are now treating abnormal vaginal bacteria in women undergoing IVF to improve reproductive outcomes.
A study of over 400 adults with prehypertension found that combining a low-salt diet with the DASH diet substantially lowers systolic blood pressure, especially in those with higher baseline readings. The combination diet resulted in reductions of up to 21mmHg in systolic blood pressure, surpassing the effect of prescription drugs.
Acupuncture has strongest evidence for effectiveness in reducing chronic pain, while yoga and other therapies also show positive preliminary evidence. These integrative medicine approaches can help improve pain and reduce opioid use, according to a review of current evidence.
Doctors under investigation for patient complaints are at risk of experiencing anxiety, depression, and defensive medical practice. Researchers found that those who felt supported by colleagues were less likely to experience these symptoms.
A new study at Vanderbilt University Medical Center uses a blood test to personalize treatment for smokers. The study found that patients who are 'normal' metabolizers of nicotine respond better to varenicline (Chantix), while those who are 'slow' metabolizers do as well with a nicotine patch.
A new study found a positive association between allopurol initiation and recurring doctor visits for gout, highlighting the need for regular chronic disease reviews to evaluate patients' preferences and eligibility for treatment. The study suggests that more frequent monitoring could reduce barriers to successfully treating gout.
A preclinical study led by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute demonstrates that palovarotene suppresses the formation of bony tumors in MHE models, reducing bone tumors by over 90%. The drug has been shown to be well-tolerated and is now set to begin a Phase 2/3 clinical trial.
Researchers have discovered a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using the medication pimozide, which was found to stabilize progression and alleviate symptoms in animal models. A limited clinical trial on human subjects suggests that pimozide may be effective in improving patients' quality of life.
A genetic mutation in an extended Amish family in Indiana has been discovered to protect against multiple aspects of biological aging in humans. The mutation results in longer telomeres, lower fasting insulin levels, and reduced diabetes risk.
A new study from University College London suggests that machine learning can improve clinical trials by analyzing complex brain anatomy and detecting subtle changes in drug effects. The research used large-scale data from patients with stroke to test the concept of machine learning capable of modeling the human brain in its full compl...
A new data mining approach has identified the key publications that drove the development of five major anti-cancer drugs, revealing the importance of research collaboration, grants, and publications in breakthroughs. The study's findings have implications for research institutions planning collaborative efforts.
A study comparing buprenorphine/naloxone and extended release naltrexone found similar outcomes among patients who initiated medication. However, initiating treatment with naltrexone was more challenging due to detoxification hurdles.
A new study concludes that extended-release naltrexone and buprenorphine-naloxone are equally safe and effective in curtailing opioid use, relapse, treatment drop-out, and overdose. Researchers found similar 24-week relapse rates for both medications, with craving for opioids lower in the naltrexone group.
A skin patch containing a high dose of peanut protein reduced peanut sensitivity in 50% of patients compared to placebo, warranting further investigation. The 250-μg peanut patch showed significant efficacy in treating peanut allergy, suggesting potential for safer and more effective treatment.
Measuring hsCRP levels after canakinumab treatment identifies individuals likely to see greatest improvements from continued therapy. Patients with lower hsCRP levels after a single dose experience significant reductions in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.
A new analysis found that when low-income adults were newly covered by Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, they were more likely to quit smoking cigarettes than their counterparts in states without Medicaid expansion. Smoking cessation programs provided through Medicaid led to a significant increase in quitting rates.
A Kaiser Permanente-led study found that dabigatran and warfarin have similar ischemic stroke rates, but dabigatran reduces the risk of brain bleeds. The research analyzed data from over 50,000 adults with atrial fibrillation and provides reassurance on dabigatran's effectiveness in usual clinical care.
A study of middle-aged adults found that functional impairment was common among the cohort and often progressed to further physical decline or death over a 10-year follow-up. The findings challenge the notion that functional impairment is temporary in middle age and suggest a need for early intervention.
Evolocumab reduced risk of major cardiovascular events and major adverse limb events among patients with peripheral artery disease. The PCSK9 inhibitor also lowered the number needed to treat to prevent adverse events, making it a promising treatment option for this high-risk population.
A groundbreaking study found that clot removal may be beneficial for some stroke patients even if they arrive beyond the 6-hour treatment window. Researchers used brain imaging and clinical criteria to select patients, showing significant benefit in nearly half of those treated with endovascular therapy.
Ozanimod demonstrated a significant reduction in new or enlarging T2 lesions over one year, as well as slowed brain volume loss, compared to Avonex in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. The findings pave the way for ozanimod to enter the New Drug Approval process with the FDA.
Researchers are conducting a clinical trial using focused ultrasound and immunotherapy to destroy metastatic breast cancer cells. The treatment aims to prompt an immune response, allowing the body's white blood cells to recognize and kill the cancer cells.
A randomized clinical trial found no important differences in pain reduction between ibuprofen-acetaminophen and opioid-acetaminophen combinations after 2 hours. The study suggests that ibuprofen-acetaminophen is a reasonable alternative to opioid management of acute extremity pain, but further research is warranted.
A meta-analysis of over 40,000 patients found that the likelihood of death due to blood loss was reduced by over 70% if the low-cost drug was given immediately after injury or birth. The survival benefit rose to 70% if treatment was administered promptly, with a 10% decrease in survival benefit for every 15-minute delay.
Researchers at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center developed an electric bandage that can prevent bacterial biofilm infections, combat antibiotic resistance, and enable healing in infected burn wounds. The bandage generates a weak electric field without any external power supply and is already FDA-cleared.
A new drug compound, BU10119, has been developed by scientists at the University of Bath and shown significant potential as an antidepressant in mice. The compound works by blocking kappa opioid receptors, which have anti-depressant like effects in mice, offering a new potential treatment for those who don't respond to SSRIs.
A phase 3 trial found tolvaptan slows the rate of decline in kidney function in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. The condition affects millions in the US and has no cure. The drug targets a mechanism contributing to cyst growth, potentially delaying transplant or dialysis need.
New treatments for kidney disease, such as tolvaptan for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), have shown promising results in slowing kidney function decline. Bardoxolone methyl has also improved renal function in patients with diabetic kidney disease. Meanwhile, QPI-1002 has reduced the incidence and severity of acute...
A recent analysis has linked proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to a 33% increased relative risk of chronic kidney disease or kidney failure. The study, published at ASN Kidney Week 2017, suggests that providers should consider the potential risks of PPI therapy in patients.
Experts say pre-menopausal women with hormone-dependent advanced breast cancer should be included in clinical trials alongside older women. This could provide valuable insights into the best treatments for these patients, who make up a third of all advanced breast cancer cases globally.
The DAPT STEMI trial found that six months of dual antiplatelet therapy was non-inferior to twelve months in STEMI patients receiving drug-eluting stents, questioning the need for extended duration DAPT. The study's results suggest that STEMI patients may not benefit from prolonged DAPT therapy beyond six months.
A new study suggests that the benefits of heart stents for stable angina may be due to the placebo effect. The ORBITA trial found no significant improvement in patient symptoms or quality of life after receiving a stent compared to a simulated procedure.