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An international study validates the efficacy of a drug in adults with neurofibromatosis type 1

A phase 3 trial demonstrated the efficacy of selumetinib in reducing tumor size and alleviating pain in adults with neurofibromatosis type 1. The treatment was found to be effective in patients who received it from day one, as well as those who started it later, with significant reductions in tumor size and pain reported.

SourceGermans Trias i Pujol Research Institute·JournalThe Lancet·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 25, 2025

AI designs drug combinations specifically for women or men to optimise heart valve disease treatment

Researchers developed AI-driven platform IDentif.AI to uncover sex-specific drug combinations for aortic valve stenosis, a serious heart condition. The study found that female-biased combinations were more effective in addressing the disease in female cells, while male-biased combinations were more effective in male cells.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 10, 2025

Chinese Medical Journal article reviews classification, synthesis, and applications of ‘herbzymes’

Researchers review nanozymes derived from Chinese herbs, including their catalytic properties, biomedical applications, and potential challenges in developing herbzymes for practical use. The review highlights three main types of herbzymes: herb carbon dot enzymes, polyphenol-metal nanozymes, and herb extract nanozymes.

SourceChinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateJun 6, 2025

Experimental Drug Development Centre announces the presentation of updated data from the phase 1 study of antibody-drug conjugate EBC-129 at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

The Phase 1 study of EBC-129 has shown encouraging signs of efficacy in heavily pre-treated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients, with an overall response rate of 25% and disease control rate of 87.5%. The drug also demonstrated a manageable safety profile, with no major treatment-related adverse events.

Experimental Drug Development Centre granted US FDA fast track designation for antibody-drug conjugate EBC-129 to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

The Experimental Drug Development Centre's EBC-129, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting pancreatic cancer, has received FDA fast track designation. The treatment is undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials and aims to provide new treatment options for patients with solid tumours.

New study advances cancer precision therapies by identifying patients who benefit from Bexmarilimab treatment

A new study at the University of Turku identified conditions under which Bexmarilimab activates the immune system against cancer. The drug was shown to trigger B cell-mediated immune responses in healthy tissue adjacent to tumors. This could lead to more accurate patient selection and improved treatment outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer·DateMay 20, 2025

Candidate drug that boosts protective brain protein in mice has potential to treat Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers at UCLA Health identified a candidate small molecule, DDL-357, that increases concentrations of secreted clusterin, reducing toxic protein phospho-tau and improving mitochondrial function. The drug also improved memory in treated mice in maze-based cognitive tests.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·Journalnpj Drug Discovery·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 20, 2025

Accelerating drug discovery with a single carbon atom

University of Oklahoma researchers have developed a method to add a single carbon atom to drug molecules, increasing chemical diversity without compromising sensitive structures. This technique, called skeletal editing, has the potential to revolutionize DNA-encoded library technology and reduce healthcare costs.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 6, 2025

Dangerous synthetic opioids and animal sedatives found in wastewater

Researchers have developed a highly sensitive method to detect nitazenes – highly potent synthetic opioids – and xylazine, an animal sedative not approved for human use, in Australian wastewater. The method achieved up to 1000-fold enrichment and detected trace levels of these substances, posing significant risks of overdose.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 27, 2025

Using blue light to fight drug-resistant infections

University of Oklahoma researchers create bioactive sugars to develop novel antibiotics against multi-drug-resistant infections in cancer patients. By using abundant, inexpensive, iron or metal-free, non-toxic blue light, the team can more easily and rapidly synthesize these important carbohydrates.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2025

Nature publication explains mechanisms of mRNA-based therapeutics in study from Polish researchers

Researchers from the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw discovered a crucial role of enzyme TENT5A in extending poly(A) tails of therapeutic mRNA molecules, making them more stable and effective. Macrophages play a key role in vaccine effectiveness, capturing and neutralizing 'intruders' after administration.

New human “multi-zonal” liver organoids improve injury survival in rodents

A team of experts at Cincinnati Children's reports achieving a milestone in growing human liver organoid tissue that faithfully reproduces key zones, nearly doubling rodent survival rate. This breakthrough paves the way for studying human liver biology and disease, accelerating drug development and potentially leading to repair tissues.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 16, 2025

New treatment for cryptococcal meningitis enters Phase II trial as global HIV funding cuts threaten to cause a massive increase in advanced HIV disease

A new, easier-to-administer sustained-release formulation of flucytosine has entered Phase II clinical trials in Malawi and Tanzania. The trial aims to address the growing concern of cryptococcal meningitis, a major health threat to people with weakened immune systems, particularly those with advanced HIV.

UCLA researchers identify precision medicine approach for preventing kidney failure

Researchers have identified a potential precision medicine approach to prevent chronic kidney disease progression by targeting type 5 collagen, a minor component of scar tissue. A repurposed anti-cancer drug, Cilengitide, has been shown to slow kidney scarring and disease progression in high-risk individuals.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 9, 2025

MIT engineers develop a way to mass manufacture nanoparticles that deliver cancer drugs directly to tumors

Researchers at MIT have developed a method to mass manufacture nanoparticles that target cancer cells, eliminating the need for manual polymer mixing and streamlining production. This approach integrates good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant processes, making it suitable for large-scale production of cancer treatments.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateApr 3, 2025

Pink skies

Scientists at ISTA create a new brain organoid model that incorporates microglia to study viral infections, such as Rubella, and test the effectiveness of ibuprofen. The results show that microglia play a crucial role in inflammatory reactions and that ibuprofen exerts its protective effects by inhibiting two inflammatory enzymes.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalJournal of Neuroinflammation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2025