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New ‘promising medicines’ fund may incentivise commercialisation of high price drugs with weak evidence on clinical benefits

A new fund to fast-track patient access to potentially valuable new medicines may incentivise the pharmaceutical industry to develop high-priced drugs for rare diseases with weak clinical evidence. The NHS England Innovative Medicines Fund risks disincentivising the generation of essential evidence if not implemented appropriately.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateAug 24, 2023

Scientists develop novel method to synthesize azide compounds for wider industrial applications

Researchers from Tokyo University of Science have developed an innovative method to synthesize azide compounds with a protected azido group, facilitating the efficient synthesis of organonitrogen compounds. This novel approach enables the creation of a wide range of azides through transformations with various electrophiles.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalFrontiers in Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 4, 2023

Cost of translating consent documents may serve as a barrier to participation of members of underrepresented groups in clinical trials

Researchers found that translating consent documents can discourage investigators from recruiting patients with limited English proficiency, contributing to low rates of participation from underrepresented groups. By relieving investigators of these costs, studies can become more inclusive and results more accurate and generalizable.

NIH spent $8.1B for phased clinical trials of drugs approved 2010-19, ~10% of reported industry spending

A new study by Bentley University reveals the NIH's significant investment in pharmaceutical innovation, with $8.1 billion spent on phased clinical trials between 2010-19. The funding represents only ~10% of reported industry costs for these trials, highlighting the public sector's limited contribution to drug development.

SourceBentley University·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeObservational study·DateJul 14, 2023

Using AI to create better, more potent medicines

Researchers at Ohio State University developed an AI framework called G2 Retro to automatically generate chemical reactions for molecules. The framework was shown to cover a vast range of possible reactions and accurately predict the best synthesis routes, offering more efficient drug design options.

SourceOhio State University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 30, 2023

Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis studies shine the light on advancements in pharmaceutical analytical techniques and overcoming chemoresistance

Researchers have developed new methods to analyze dry-coated drug particles using 3D Raman mapping, which can effectively slow down dissolution rates. Another study introduces a novel technique for detecting complex traditional Chinese medicines, preventing adulteration and counterfeiting.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 24, 2023

New research finds dramatic increase in illegal ketamine seized by authorities, sparking concern about potential dangers of rising recreational use

A significant increase in illicit ketamine seizures in the US has raised concerns about the risks of non-medical and recreational use, as well as the presence of fentanyl. The study found a 349% rise in seizures from 2017 to 2022, with the highest numbers reported in Tennessee, Florida, and California.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateMay 24, 2023

Drug industry’s carbon impact could be cut by half

A new study from Cornell University found that the pharmaceutical industry can significantly reduce its environmental impact. The study analyzed the full life cycle of the HIV antiretroviral drug Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) and found that energy usage is the biggest contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for up to 45% of t...

SourceCornell University·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateMay 8, 2023

Efficient synthesis of indole derivatives, an important component of most drugs, allows the development of new drug candidates

Researchers at Nagoya University have successfully developed an ultrafast and simple synthetic method for producing indole derivatives. The new microflow synthesis method enables precise control of short reaction times, limiting unwanted dimerization/multimerization and increasing the yield of desired products.

SourceNagoya University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateApr 30, 2023

Bentley University study shows NIH investment in new drug approvals is comparable to investment by pharmaceutical industry

A Bentley University study shows that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invests similarly to the pharmaceutical industry in bringing new drugs to market. The NIH spent $187 billion on research related to FDA-approved drugs between 2010-2019, with an average investment per approved drug of $1.7 billion.

SourceBentley University·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateApr 28, 2023

Acquisitions can nix existing partnerships

A new study found that acquisitions in the biopharmaceutical industry can disrupt trust and knowledge exchange routines between companies, leading to a higher risk of alliance termination. The odds of termination for exposed alliances are 11% greater than for unexposed ones.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalStrategic Management Journal·TypeObservational study·DateMar 24, 2023

KAIST leads AI-based analysis on drug-drug interactions involving Paxlovid​

A KAIST research team has developed an advanced AI-based drug interaction prediction technology that analyzed the interaction between Paxlovid ingredients and other prescription drugs. The study identified potential drug-drug interactions and alternative drugs with low adverse effects, which can aid in developing new treatments.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 16, 2023

Kobe University and AGC successfully convert dry cleaning solvent into useful chemical compounds

Researchers developed a new photo-oxidation method to efficiently synthesize pharmaceutical intermediates and polyurethane from perchloroethylene, a common dry cleaning solvent. The method yields high-quality compounds with minimal environmental impact, offering a promising alternative for sustainable chemical recycling.

SourceKobe University·JournalACS Omega·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 31, 2023

Co-creating health for humanity: new trends in pharmaceutical interorganizational deals

Researchers uncover how changing trends in interorganizational deals in the pharmaceutical industry are improving drug discovery and R&D productivity. The study found that M&A-related deals drive revenue growth for large pharmaceutical companies, and academia-owned spinouts of advanced technology are increasing.

SourceRitsumeikan University·JournalDrug Discovery Today·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 24, 2023

Pharmacists can start patients on road to recovery from opioid use disorder, study shows

A study shows that pharmacies can offer a safe starting point for patients with opioid use disorder, leading to higher rates of retention in treatment. The pharmacy-based model increases access to buprenorphine, a lifesaving medication, for diverse patient populations and promotes racial and economic equity.

SourceBrown University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 11, 2023

Lab lights way to simple chemical synthesis

Researchers at Rice University have developed a photochemical process that simplifies the manufacture of essential precursors for drugs and agricultural chemicals. By illuminating reagents with visible light, they can form diazides in conditions far gentler than current industrial processes.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2023

Scientific criteria for assessing the safety of probiotics

A new paper highlights the need for globally harmonized probiotic regulatory approaches, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive genomic characterization. It proposes a risk-tier system based on strain history and genome analysis, recommending more extensive testing for innovative strains before marketing.

SourceInternational Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics·JournalRegulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 29, 2022

Increased use of pharmaceuticals increased carbon emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic despite carbon footprint reduction efforts

A Nagoya University study found that increased use of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a 27% increase in hospital carbon emissions. Despite reduced electricity and gas consumption, the overall carbon footprint rose due to longer hospital stays and increased intensive care needs.

SourceNagoya University·JournalGlobalization and Health·DateDec 18, 2022

Key to chemical industries’ sustainable future? The world’s first industrial model of a flow photo-on-demand synthesis system

A new flow photo-on-demand synthesis system using chloroform as a precursor has been successfully developed by researchers at Kobe University. The system achieves high conversion rates and can synthesize various chemical products continuously in large quantities, offering a safe, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly alternative to...

SourceKobe University·JournalOrganic Process Research & Development·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 22, 2022

Scientists map water in molecular crystals, aiding drug development

Researchers developed a computational protocol called MACH that can quickly determine whether a given compound will form a crystal hydrate. The tool uses rules to systematically determine where water would likely be inserted into a crystal, providing essential knowledge for drug development and formulation.

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 24, 2022

Synthetic routes to pharmaceuticals greatly expanded leading to new and more effective treatments

A search of the Cambridge Structural Database found nearly 1,800 conglomerate crystal structures with spontaneous enriched chirality, augmenting synthetic building blocks for medicinal chemists. This discovery introduces a new pool of chiral molecules outside of natural sources, potentially leading to more effective treatments.

SourceCCDC - Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre·JournalJACS Au·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2022

C-Path awarded FDA grant to establish public-private partnership to advance treatments for rare neurodegenerative diseases

The Critical Path Institute (C-Path) has established a public-private partnership with the FDA and NIH to advance treatments for rare neurodegenerative diseases. The partnership will leverage C-Path's expertise in data management, quantitative analytics, and regulatory science to accelerate medical product development.

Mixing things up: optimizing fluid mixing with machine learning

A team of Japanese researchers used reinforcement learning to study fluid mixing during laminar flow, achieving exponentially fast mixing without prior knowledge. The method also enabled effective transfer learning, reducing training time for new mixing problems, and has potential applications across various industries.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 29, 2022

A new kind of chemo

A team of researchers has identified two compounds that target DNMT3A complexes in cancer cells, offering a safer and more targeted treatment for leukemia patients. The findings provide hope for reducing off-target toxicity associated with current leukemia therapies.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·DateAug 24, 2022