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A nasal spray reaches a woman's brain differently depending on the week, and it may explain why a promising brain drug looked like a failure

A new study found that intranasal davunetide reaches the brain in higher amounts in female mice when estrogen peaks, with similar results seen in healthy adults. The findings suggest earlier trials mixing males and females may have obscured the true effects of the drug.

SourceGenomic Press·JournalGenomic Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2026

Solving a 70-year-old medical mystery surrounding a vasodialator may yield a novel way to treat brain cancer

A team at the University of Pennsylvania has solved the mechanism of action of hydralazine, revealing its potential to halt the growth of brain cancer cells. By blocking an oxygen-sensing enzyme, hydralazine can reduce intracellular calcium levels, causing blood vessels to relax and tumor cells to enter a dormant state.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 19, 2025

Study reveals how a popular fentanyl additive affects breathing and heart rate

A new U-M study found that xylazine does not amplify the decrease in breathing rate caused by fentanyl use, but reduces heart rate more than fentanyl. This reduction in heart rate may be a more important driver of increased overdose risk, highlighting the need for further research into polysubstance use involving opioids.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics·DateAug 29, 2025

Shedding light on why immunotherapy sometimes fails

Researchers found that certain antibodies can reduce antitumor immune cells, highlighting the need to consider ADCC activity when designing or selecting ICI therapeutics. This study could help improve cancer treatment by engineering antibodies that avoid damaging essential immune cells.

SourceChiba University·JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 24, 2025

Efficient development of drugs with fewer mice

Researchers at the University of Zurich have developed a technology to test 25 antibodies simultaneously in a single mouse, greatly reducing the number of laboratory animals required. The method uses protein fragments as barcodes for analysis, allowing for high-quality preclinical data on multiple antibody candidates.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 18, 2025

Pharmacokinetics comparison of aumolertinib, Osimertinib, gefitinib and their major metabolites in mouse model and NSCLC patients

This study compares the pharmacokinetics of aumolertinib, osimertinib, and gefitinib in mouse models and NSCLC patients. Aumolertinib exhibits better pharmacokinetic profiles, with higher concentrations in plasma and tissues, making it a promising candidate for EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC treatment.

New study looks at drug exposures of COVID-19 therapy for pregnant people

A new study provides first-of-its-kind data on the pharmacokinetics and safety of intravenous remdesivir in treating SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in pregnant women. The research reveals that no dose adjustments are necessary for remdesivir when used in pregnant women, with no safety concerns or adverse pregnancy outcomes identified.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateAug 13, 2024

Fast folding for synthetic peptides and microproteins

Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University developed a new method that enables the efficient production of cysteine-rich peptides and microproteins in their naturally folded 3D structure. The approach uses organic solvents to mimic nature's oxidative folding process, resulting in speeds of over 100,000 times faster than aqueous...

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2024

Researchers overcome stem cell delivery barrier, paving the way for regenerative medicine

Scientists have developed a new method to deliver genetic information to stem cells using nanoparticles coated with a specific polymer, enabling more efficient control over cellular differentiation. This innovation has the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of regenerative medicine treatments.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 8, 2023

A 21st-century remedy for missed meds

Researchers at Rice University have created a new technology called PULSED that can deliver time-released drugs and vaccines for extended periods. The technology uses high-resolution 3D printing and soft lithography to produce microcylinders made of biodegradable polymers, which can be loaded with drugs and release them over time.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 3, 2023

New antimalarial drug requires higher doses to cure infection

A new antimalarial drug, tafenoquine, is found to require a higher dose of 450mg to achieve cure rates of 85% compared to the current 300mg dose of 70%. The study suggests that the single-dose tafenoquine is not as effective as optimal primaquine treatment in preventing vivax malaria relapses in all endemic regions.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·DateDec 6, 2022

A temporo-spatial pharmacometabolomics method to characterize pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in the brain microregions by using ambient mass spectrometry imaging

Researchers propose a temporo-spatial pharmacometabolomics method based on ambient mass spectrometry imaging to evaluate the microregional effect of olanzapine on brain tissue, demonstrating its effectiveness in characterizing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The method accurately illustrates levels dynamics and microregional dis...

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalActa Pharmaceutica Sinica B·DateSep 5, 2022

Study: Black kidney transplant patients exhibit faster clearance rates of key immunosuppressive medicine tacrolimus

A new study found that Black kidney transplant recipients exhibit a faster clearance rate of tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive drug. The study suggests that considering both sex and race when dosing tacrolimus may reduce adverse effects and enhance transplant outcomes.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPharmacotherapy The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy·DateApr 18, 2022

Cannabis use could cause harmful drug interactions

New research suggests that cannabis use can lead to harmful drug-drug interactions by interfering with two families of enzymes that metabolize a wide range of drugs. This could result in unintended side effects such as toxicity or accidental overdose, particularly for older individuals using medications.

SourceWashington State University·JournalDrug Metabolism and Disposition·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 13, 2021

Rifampin kinetics poor in children

A study published in BMC Medicine found that standard doses of Rifampin, a first-line antituberculosis drug, result in low serum concentrations in children. The researchers suggest increasing the dose to 10-20mg/kg may be more effective. This could lead to increased treatment duration and risk of relapse in severe forms of tuberculosis.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Medicine·DateApr 21, 2009