Globally, more than one billion people suffer from a high rate of missed disease diagnosis, highlighting the urgent need for more precise and affordable diagnostic tools. Such tools are especially crucial in ecologically sensitive and resource-limited areas, underscoring the importance of developing solutions that can enhance health outcomes sustainably under limited resources. Metabolic diagnosis is a promising approach but currently faces hurdles related to the suitability of biospecimens and the reliability of analytical tools. At Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), researchers have developed a new diagnostic method that combines dried serum spots (DSS) with nanoparticle-enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (NPELDI MS). This method enables the rapid and cost-effective diagnosis of various cancers with an accuracy comparable to that of traditional serum tests. Utilizing an eco-friendly and simple protocol, this innovative tool can significantly lower the high percentages of undiagnosed cases in less economically developed regions. For instance, it could ...
Lung cancer is extremely hard to detect early due to the limitations of current screening technologies, which are costly, sometimes inaccurate, and less commonly endorsed by healthcare professionals compared to other screening types. Despite smoking being the primary risk factor, up to 20% of lung cancer cases occur in individuals who have never smoked. The prevailing method for lung cancer screening involves low-dose CT (LDCT) scans. These scans are not only expensive but also prone to generating both false positives and negatives, besides exposing patients to radiation. Consequently, merely about 10% of individuals recommended for screening actually undergo regular scans, a stark contrast to the higher participation rates seen with mammography for breast cancer and colonoscopy for colorectal cancer. As such, lung cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, when treatment options are limited. Researchers are now developing a new blood test aimed at earlier and more accurate detection ...
Day One Biopharmaceuticals drug Ojemda is now FDA-approved for advanced pediatric low-grade glioma, the most common type of brain cancer in children. The regulatory decision for Ojemda covers a broader swath of patients than a drug combination from Novartis approved for treating this childhood cancer. By Frank Vinluan on April 24, 2024 One quirk of the most common type of pediatric brain cancer is that as a child gets older, the tumors eventually stop growing. The reasons for this tumor senescence aren’t fully understood, but pediatric low grade glioma, or pLGG, still wreaks plenty of havoc until then, says Sam Blackman, a pediatric oncologist and the co-founder and head of R&D for Day One Biopharmaceuticals. “Whether it’s the tumor pressing on an optic nerve creating blindness, damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland causing profound endocrine disorders, or pressure on motor structures in the brain causing hemiparesis or loss of ...
Don Tracy, Associate Editor Company aims to provide affordable emergency treatment from overdoses of heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids. Amneal Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has approved its OTC Naloxone Hydrochloride (HCI) nasal spray for use in counteracting opioid overdoses. As a generic of Narcan, this nasal spray has also been shown to neutralize overdoses caused by heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids. With Naxolone officially available, the company stated that this action provides another affordable option to prevent overdoses, which causes more death in people under the age of 50 years than any other cause.1 “With today’s launch, Amneal is proud to help address this public health emergency by providing naloxone nasal spray at an affordable price and without a prescription. Our business is deeply rooted in a commitment to helping others. By enhancing access to naloxone nasal spray, we hope to get this affordable emergency treatment into the hands ...
The Swiss biotech ecosystem suffers from a “weak public market”, said Francesco de Rubertis, a cofounder at Medicxi Ventures. Despite this, De Rubertis and other experts at the recently concluded Swiss Biotech Day conference, anticipated an improvement in the investment market in the months to come. The conference, held in Basel 22–23 April, gathered experts from around the world to discuss trends in the pharmaceutical sector. At the “Decoding Swiss Biotech – the Investors perspective” session, panellists highlighted changes in the investment market and shared predictions for 2024 and onwards. Nicholas Riddle, the managing director of healthcare investment banking at JP Morgan, forecasts an uptick in the number of pharmaceutical initial public offerings in Europe this year. Riddle added, “It has been a pretty terrible time for private companies in the last several years. However, we are starting to see a bit more engagement from both European funds, who have ...
High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma is the most lethal type of ovarian cancer, and it poses significant detection challenges. Typically, patients initially respond to surgery and chemotherapy, but the cancer often returns. Now, researchers have used spatial analysis of tissue samples to uncover patterns that could indicate whether patients with this form of ovarian cancer are likely to experience early recurrence following treatment, potentially guiding future therapeutic strategies. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai (Los Angeles, CA, USA) conducted spatial protein analyses on ovarian cancer tissue samples to identify patterns correlated with early cancer relapse soon after treatment. The study involved 42 patients and examined both primary and recurrent tumors using imaging mass cytometry, which allows for the detailed spatial examination of protein presence within tissues. Their key findings highlighted the role of plasma cells in the tumor’s immune response. The study found that the location of plasma cells and their relationship with nearby ...
Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) are thought to occur partly due to unusual immune responses to common infections. Early MS symptoms, including dizziness, spasms, and fatigue, often resemble other conditions, complicating diagnosis, which heavily relies on detailed brain MRI evaluations. MS can severely impair motor control, but advancements in treatment can slow down its progression and help maintain functions such as walking. Notably, around 10% of MS patients begin producing a distinctive set of antibodies against their own proteins years before symptoms appear. These autoantibodies have been found to bind to both human cells and common pathogens, possibly explaining why immune attacks on the brain and spinal cord occur in MS. Now, researchers have identified a unique autoantibody signature in about 10% of MS patients that appears years before the onset of clinical symptoms, raising hopes for early detection via a simple blood test and earlier treatment initiation. ...
ImmunityBio therapy Anktiva is now FDA approved for treating patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The novel immunotherapy works by sparking activity from three types of immune cells. By Frank Vinluan Immunotherapy is already a treatment option for bladder cancer, but in many cases, these therapies fail or the cancer comes back. When it returns, the next option is removing the bladder. FDA approval of a novel immunotherapy gives bladder cancer patients an alternative to surgical removal of the organ. The FDA has approved ImmunityBio’s therapy, Anktivo, for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), which is cancer found only on the inner layer of the bladder wall. The regulatory decision announced late Monday covers adults whose disease is unresponsive to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a standard of care immunotherapy for bladder cancer. BCG is a benign type of bacteria. Delivered to the bladder via a catheter, the bacteria induce ...
Davy James Lutathera is the first FDA-approved treatment for younger patients with somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The FDA has approved Novartis’ Lutathera (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) to treat patients aged 12 years and older with somatostatin receptor (SSTR)–positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), including foregut, midgut, and hindgut NETs. The regulatory action makes Lutathera the first therapy specifically approved to treat GEP-NETs in a pediatric patient population.1 “Lutathera is now the very first therapy approved specifically for children with GEP-NETs, offering new hope to young patients living with this rare cancer,” Tina Deignan, Novartis therapeutic area head, Oncology US, said in a press release. “Radioligand therapies (RLTs) have extraordinary potential to shape the future of cancer care. With this approval, we have taken another vital step toward fulfilling that vision, strengthening our commitment to researching and developing the RLT platform across multiple cancer types and treatment settings.” NETs, which are ...
Chronic liver disease and associated cirrhosis account for one million deaths every year Boehringer Ingelheim and Ochre Bio have partnered to discover and develop novel, first-in-class regenerative treatments for chronic liver disease (CLD), including late-stage metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) cirrhosis. The partnership aligns with Boehringer’s drive to improve outcomes for patients living with interconnected cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases. Accounting for approximately one million deaths per year, CLD and associated cirrhosis cause significant morbidity, loss of health-related quality of life and economic burden. As CLD progresses, the liver’s natural ability to regenerate and repair diminishes, resulting in serious complications such as liver failure or liver cancer. Under the terms of the agreement, Ochre will receive up to $35m in upfront and near-term research-based milestone payments, as well as possible milestones for clinical, regulatory and commercial success plus tiered royalties, with an overall deal value with the potential to exceed $1bn. ...
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