A study published in Nature Medicine found that a single daily dose of a polypill significantly enhances cardiac function and reduces hospitalizations for patients with heart failure. The treatment, which combines three types of medications, shows promise as a simplified approach to optimal therapy.
Clesrovimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, demonstrates safety and efficacy in reducing severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in high-risk infants over two RSV seasons. The study supports the use of clesrovimab in children at increased risk for severe RSV disease during their second season.
The Herbularyo card game combines Filipino folk healing traditions with organic chemistry, teaching students about medicinal plants and their therapeutic properties. The game has been shown to be an effective learning tool, increasing student engagement and understanding of the subject.
The GLP-1 RA market experienced a surge in demand following the semaglutide and tirzepatide shortages. Compounded GLP-1 RAs sourced from unlicensed facilities pose clinical and regulatory challenges.
A recent study published by the University of Sydney found that dexamphetamine and methylphenidate are equally effective in treating ADHD in children, with no significant differences in symptom improvement. However, children taking dexamphetamine experienced greater weight loss compared to those taking methylphenidate.
A buildup of bile acids caused by an unhealthy gut can drive breast cancer to other parts of the body, researchers reveal. The study found that replenishing beneficial bacteria or treating patients with FDA-approved bile acid sequestrants may reduce breast cancer metastasis.
Researchers at the University of Malaga identified that activating the dopamine D4 receptor enhances morphine's ability to relieve pain and prevents adverse effects such as tolerance. This breakthrough could lead to a safer pain therapy by complementing morphine with a dopamine-based drug.
Researchers have developed a biochar adsorbent that combines physical and chemical interactions to capture tetracycline molecules. The material showed high tetracycline adsorption capacity and good resistance to coexisting ions, suggesting potential for repeated operation.
A recent study found that frequent formulary rejections of single-source branded drugs in the US lead to delayed or absent treatment, highlighting trade-offs between cost and access to medicines. The study highlights the need for more affordable medication options, particularly for patients with chronic conditions.
A national study found that pediatric mental health treatment patterns rebounded and exceeded pre-pandemic levels, driven by new patients seeking care. Antidepressant prescriptions rose significantly among girls, with a notable increase in the youngest children.
A new study published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society found that nearly one-third of COPD patients demonstrate unacceptable inhaler technique, leading to smaller lung function improvements. Instructing patients to hold their breath for 5-10 seconds improves acute bronchodilation.
The University of California, San Francisco is launching a novel clinical trial to test a combination of therapies for the most common form of Alzheimer's disease. The trial will enroll up to 825 participants and test drugs that target both amyloid and tau proteins, with the goal of slowing disease progression.
A recent study by the Keck School of Medicine found a decline in ADHD medication misuse among US adults, particularly among young adults. The misuse was largely driven by a shortage of ADHD medications, leading to an estimated 71.5% of patients facing difficulty filling their prescriptions.
The University of Colorado Anschutz, along with UCHealth and Children’s Hospital Colorado, have formed a strategic alliance with Bayer to accelerate medical discovery and expand patient access to investigational therapies. Initial focus areas include oncology, cardiovascular disease, and cell and gene therapy.
A secret shopper study found that online prescription vendors for GLP-1 receptor agonists often lack clinician interaction, relying on patient-reported questionnaires. This may lead to prescriptions being issued without important clinical and social history, compromising patient safety.
A new study published in Nature links casdatifan, an investigational HIF-2a inhibitor, to improved clinical outcomes in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients. Deep suppression of serum EPO correlated with higher response rates and longer progression-free survival.
A new national analysis found that opioid prescribing for children varies by procedure type and hospital, with nearly one-third of patients receiving opioids after surgery. The study highlights the importance of safe prescribing practices and may inform future efforts to standardize opioid prescribing in pediatric surgery.
Lecanemab is approved to treat early Alzheimer's disease, but its clinical benefits are modest. The treatment carries serious adverse effects and requires resource-intensive monitoring with MRI scans.
A population-based study found no association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and risk of autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring. The study suggests that positive signals from previous research may be due to familial confounding.
A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that older adults discharged from hospital with a new prescription for sedatives are at increased risk of falls, further need for acute hospital care, and death within 30 days. The study looked at over 1.86 million adults aged 66 years and older and found a 20% hig...
A cross-sectional study found significant increases in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) per-patient days supplied in employer plans from 2021 to 2024, driven by higher growth in weight loss coverage. This could signal a growing financial burden on patients and payers as drug costs increase over time.
Researchers at Texas A&M University develop a laser technique called TRIP to directly measure quantum forces shaping proteins, enabling accurate prediction of how pharmaceutical drugs interact with them. This breakthrough could lead to the design of medicines tailored to specific diseases, revolutionizing precision medicine.
The new calculator predicts that over 98% of people eligible for statin treatment are at low risk of serious muscle disorders. The tool aims to support informed treatment decisions by providing personalized risk estimates, helping patients and clinicians weigh benefits and risks.
A phase III trial is investigating whether an immune-boosting drug can help keep early-stage lung cancer from coming back after surgery. Researchers aim to enroll 336 participants with stage I non-small cell lung cancer and determine if the treatment reduces recurrence.
A recent study found that the FDA approval of semaglutide for weight management led to a significant increase in calls to poison control centers, with over 8,000 cases reported by 2023. The majority of errors were preventable and stemmed from unintentional dosing or therapeutic mistakes.
Researchers at the German Center for Infection Research have developed a promising single-dose malaria treatment called SPAP, which targets the malaria parasite through multiple mechanisms. The four-drug combination therapy has shown significant promise in improving malaria treatment and could be a major advancement in sub-Saharan Africa.
Researchers found that over-the-counter probiotics contain only 36 unique species of bacteria, with most common species being forms of Lactobacillus. The analysis suggests a lack of consistency in the combination of species used to support gut health and vaginal health claims.
A cohort study of over 1.8 million Canadian adults found that shorter prescription courses, single medication, and short-acting agents are associated with lower rates of long-term benzodiazepine use. This study provides valuable insights for informing prescribing practices to reduce reliance on these medications.
A recent study found that medication use increased after implementation of Medicare annual out-of-pocket cost caps, particularly among the highest-cost medications. This policy change substantially improved patient access to these high-cost medications for Medicare-insured patients.
Researchers at the University of Houston have discovered adding salt can help release therapeutic material from endosomes, improving delivery efficiency for mRNA vaccines and gene therapies. The simple strategy overcomes a major obstacle in gene medicine, potentially making these therapies more efficient and accessible worldwide.
A new study published in Radiology found that embolization of abnormal blood vessels using rapidly resorbable gelatin-based microspheres is safe and effective in providing significant, lasting pain relief and functional improvement for patients with osteoarthritis-related knee pain. The procedure significantly reduces inflammation and ...
The University of Virginia has joined SPARK GLOBAL to leverage resources and expertise in accelerating the development of new medicines. This collaboration aims to reduce time from lab discoveries to clinic trials, delivering tangible healthcare solutions to patients.
A recent study analyzing 5.8 billion medicines dispensed in England from 2019 to 2024 found significant health disparities, with nearly twice as many medicines prescribed to the most deprived groups as those in the least deprived groups by age 40.
A new study suggests a novel electronic health record-based marker, MLVI, can help identify transplant patients at high risk for organ rejection due to non-adherence. The study found that using MLVI as a risk marker reduced overall rejection rates by bringing them down to levels typically seen in low-risk patients.
A study published in Psychological Medicine found that a laxative drug, Prucalopride, improved executive function and memory in patients with depression. The research suggests that targeting serotonin receptors may help alleviate cognitive problems associated with depression.
A study found that nearly 4 in 10 patients stopped GLP-1 medication within the first year and nearly two-thirds restarted therapy within two years. The researchers also identified sociodemographic, clinical, and provider-level predictors of discontinuation, including Medicaid or Medicare status, Black patients, and side effects.
Researchers at UCSF built a robotic system to treat thousands of mini tumors, identifying shared features among persister cells that could help explain why cancer comes back. Nine drugs consistently weakened persister cells, suggesting common vulnerabilities.
A White House announcement on treating autism with leucovorin and against acetaminophen during pregnancy led to significant increases in internet searches for these topics. Nearly 1 million additional searches for leucovorin were recorded, alongside over 4 million searches for acetaminophen.
A new study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that metformin reduced the risk of clinician-diagnosed long COVID by 50% when administered during acute COVID-19 infection. The study, which enrolled nearly 3,000 adults, showed improved long-term outcomes and no safety concerns.
A study of 6,165 Salmonella samples identified 128 types of toxins, including 45 previously unknown. The toxins act in competition among microorganisms and may inspire antibiotic development and biotechnological applications.
A recent study by Semmelweis University found that alkaline mineral and medicinal waters can weaken the enteric coating of medications, reducing their effectiveness. The study analyzed 22 beverages and found that tap water was less damaging to the coating than acidic or alkaline liquids.
The application deadline has been extended to June 23, 2026, in two categories: Women's Health and Pharmaceutical Strategies and Innovation. The €45,000 prize fund includes six awards of €10,000, €7,500, and €5,000.
Researchers identify key mechanisms and molecular targets to prevent tumor progression in patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer affecting young children. Two new treatment possibilities have been highlighted, targeting the IRE1α-XBP1 signaling axis and protein TAK1.
Mazdutide, a GLP-1 receptor dual agonist, provides clinically meaningful weight reduction in Chinese adults with obesity. However, gastrointestinal adverse reactions are more common among those taking the drug compared to placebo.
In an exploratory analysis, finerenone was found to slow kidney function decline, reduce albuminuria, and lower the risk of kidney failure or substantial loss of kidney function in patients with glomerular diseases. These findings suggest a crucial role for finerenone in preserving kidney function in this population.
In patients with advanced chronic kidney disease at high cardiovascular risk, low-dose rivaroxaban did not reduce the composite risk of a cardiovascular outcome. Major bleeding rates were significantly higher in the low-dose rivaroxaban group compared to the placebo group.
Researchers analyzed data from over 50,000 adults who started taking aspirin and found a similar bladder cancer prevalence but lower invasive stage. Aspirin initiators received more cystoscopies, which uncovered the cancer. The study suggests that aspirin may unmask otherwise asymptomatic bladder cancer.
International experts will gather in Valencia to discuss phage therapy's translation from isolated successes to widespread clinical implementation. The challenge now is addressing regulation, manufacturing, accessibility, and clinical integration to make phage therapy a routine healthcare solution.
A new summary of evidence reveals that antidepressants have limited benefits beyond 12 months and may cause severe withdrawal symptoms. Researchers are calling for treatment reviews every six months and recommending gradual weaning strategies when discontinuing medication.
Research found that active pharmaceutical ingredients degrade at a higher rate when stored in resealable plastic bags compared to original packaging, posing risks for astronauts during space missions.
Researchers have found a widely available drug combination to be an effective treatment for patients with systemically active Sjögren's disease. The combination of leflunomide and hydroxychloroquine reduced disease activity while maintaining a favorable safety profile.
Journalists from eligible European countries can submit entries in two categories: Women’s Health and Pharmaceutical Strategies. The total prize fund is €45,000, with €10,000 awarded to the first prize winner.
A clinical trial found that low-dose quetiapine improved sleep quality and reduced obstructive sleep apnea severity, but significantly impaired alertness and driving performance. The study highlights the need for caution when using sedating medications for insomnia in people with known or possible sleep apnea.
The study found that adjuvant nivolumab did not improve disease-free survival in patients with resected non–small cell lung cancer. The treatment was also not effective in sensitizing EGFR and ALK alterations.
Adding fovinaciclib to first-line aromatase inhibitor therapy confers significant progression-free survival benefits and consistent improvements in efficacy outcomes. The treatment also has manageable safety profiles with no negative impact on quality of life.
A scoping review compared biosimilar regulatory guidelines across all WHO regions, identifying barriers to data transferability that may affect medication pricing, access, and reimbursement. The study aims to improve biosimilars' global accessibility.
A study from UC San Francisco researchers reveals that regulatory differences around the world are slowing the development and adoption of biosimilars. The lack of standardization in biosimilar approval processes is a major obstacle for these cheaper alternatives to expensive biologics, which could lower costs for patients.
Research suggests that commonly used anemia medications can inhibit tumor growth and prevent new blood vessel formation, offering a potential dual approach to treating both conditions. The findings open up new possibilities for treating cancer in patients with anemia, who currently face separate treatment goals.
A recent study from UT San Antonio reveals that low-cost on-the-job training for frontline health workers can significantly reduce medical supply shortages, resulting in a 30% reduction in stock-outs. This training has the potential to save thousands of lives globally by preventing unintended pregnancies and maternal and newborn deaths.
A new study published in JAMA Neurology finds ecopipam to be effective in suppressing tics in patients with Tourette syndrome. The medication was well-tolerated and showed no significant adverse effects over a period of up to 24 weeks.