Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis, impacting millions worldwide and resulting in significant economic and social costs. Although no cure exists currently, the effectiveness of emerging therapies might depend on early detection and slowing the disease’s progression before severe debilitation occurs. Traditional diagnostic methods typically do not catch the disease until it has already caused structural damage to the joint. For example, an abnormal X-ray can reveal definitive signs of knee OA, but by the time these signs are visible, the disease has often been advancing for years. Now, a novel blood test has been developed that can predict the onset of knee OA at least eight years before its signs become visible on X-rays. Researchers at Duke Health (Durham, NC, USA) validated the accuracy of the blood test, which detects key biomarkers of OA. Their findings indicate that the test not only predicts the onset of ...
Researchers from ETH Zurich have developed a new generative artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer process to develop drug molecules based on a protein’s three-dimensional surface. The new process could revolutionise drug research, making it possible to generate active pharmaceutical ingredients quickly and easily. The new computer process’ algorithm was developed in collaboration with ETH’s professor Gisbert Schneider and former doctoral student Kenneth Atz, using AI to design new active pharmaceutical ingredients. Researchers trained the AI model with information from hundreds of thousands of known interactions between chemical molecules and the corresponding three-dimensional protein structures. The algorithm generates the blueprints for potential drug molecules that can increase or inhibit the activity of proteins with a known three-dimensional shape. The generative AI then designs molecules that bind specifically to the protein according to the lock-and-key principle to be interacted with. “This means that when designing a drug molecule, we can be sure that ...
In a new study, researchers from King’s College London (KCL) have revealed that tiny particles present in cows’ milk could offer a new and effective method for the oral delivery of ribonucleic acid (RNA) drugs. Published in the Journal of Nanobiotechnology, the tiny particles known as extracellular vesicles (EV) could help protect and deliver RNA drugs following oral administration. RNA therapies are a powerful class of drugs based on nucleic acids that offer a way to target previously untreatable diseases on a molecular level. Despite successful administration via injection, there has been no successful way to deliver them orally, as the drugs are destroyed by the harsh conditions of the gut. Researchers extracted EVs from cows’ milk and loaded them with RNA molecules to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). EVs are nanoscale transporters that carry biological molecules in a protective coat throughout the body, controlling and regulating the access of ...
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals is set to be acquired in a $2.4bn buyout, as the biopharma announced that it has commenced a definitive merger agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical. Under the terms of the offered transaction, Ono will make a cash purchase of all outstanding shares of Deciphera’s common stock at $25.60 per share and subsequently merge Deciphera with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ono upon the deal’s completion. The deal has been unanimously approved by both companies’ boards of directors and is expected to close in Q3 2024. Following the announcement of acquisition, Deciphera’s stock has jumped 71.9%. Waltham, Massachusetts-based Deciphera brings to the table an extensive kinase inhibitor pipeline, kinase drug discovery expertise, and a strong commercial and sales platform in the US and European markets that is meant to advance Ono’s capabilities and presence in the oncology space. Upon the successful completion of the acquisition, Ono will gain access to Deciphera’s ...
Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne disease posing increasing public health concerns. Although efforts to eliminate VL are underway, its global risk distribution remains unclear, because of changes in transmission risk. Worldwide province-level data on VL incidence were obtained from multiple sources. The authors of this article analyzed the global evolution features of VL and estimated its ecological niches with boosted regression tree models. A risk map was generated to analyze regions with high VL risk. A total of 558 articles and 2,694 records from 310 provinces were included. The model indicated that precipitation in the warmest quarter and poor socio-demographic index were the most significant risk factors affecting VL distribution. The risk map indicated that Brazil, Iran, Ethiopia, and India were the regions with the highest probability of infection. It was estimated that 5.3 billion people live in regions at risk ...
New research presented at the ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) has found substantial levels of resistance to critically important antibiotics in meat sold for human and animal consumption. The study is by Dr Jordan Sealey, Professor Matthew Avison and colleagues from the University of Bristol, UK. Meat sold for consumption by humans and companion animals in the UK is regulated by the UK Government Food Standards Agency (FSA) to ensure it falls within bacterial limits deemed safe. However, while meat is tested for the types and amounts of pathogens present, it is not tested for resistant opportunistic pathogens (e.g. Escherichia coli). Multiple studies have shown a strong association between feeding dogs a diet of uncooked meat (raw dog food) and an increased risk of excreting E. coli resistant to critically important antibiotics in their faeces. It is possible that pet animals eating raw meat increases ...
The flurry of Trodelvy developments accentuates what Gilead CEO Dan O’Day called “a time of focused execution” at the California biotech. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) After a negative phase 3 readout, Gilead Sciences is taking a $2.4 billion impairment charge on Trodelvy, which serves as the cornerstone of the company’s solid tumor ambition. Gilead has cut the carrying value of Trodelvy to $3.5 billion in its first-quarter report, from $5.9 billion at the end of 2023, CFO Andrew Dickinson told investors during a call Thursday. The move comes after a January report of a phase 3 trial that the TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate failed to significantly extend the lives of patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer compared with chemotherapy. The bad news at that time caused a 10% slide in Gilead’s stock price. The write-off reflects a “smaller addressable market that Trodelvy could serve among second-line-plus metastatic non-small cell lung ...
Pfizer will offer a warranty program for its first FDA-approved gene therapy. The hemophilia B treatment will go for $3.5M, matching the price tag on CSL and uniQure’s hemophilia B gene therapy Hemgenix. (Pfizer) Ten years after dipping its toes into the gene therapy pool in a licensing deal with Spark Therapeutics, Pfizer has gained FDA approval for the acquired treatment. The U.S. regulator has endorsed Beqvez (fidanacogene elaparvovec-dzkt) for adults with the bleeding disorder hemophilia B. It becomes the first FDA-approved gene therapy for Pfizer and the second in the indication following CSL and uniQure’s hemophilia B treatment Hemgenix, which became the world’s most expensive drug at $3.5 million when it was approved in 2022. Pfizer had the chance to undercut its rival on price but decided to charge the same $3.5 million for Beqvez. The therapy will be available to patients this quarter, a spokesperson confirmed on Friday ...
Astudy from a US-based public policy research firm has highlighted that the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is likely to stifle research efforts into non-opioid pain medications. The ongoing opioid crisis in the US demands alternatives to addictive pain medications. Several pharma companies have been accused of fuelling the opioid crisis by downplaying the addiction risks of their prescription pain drugs, contributing to the out-of-control opioid addiction problem in many American cities. The majority of heroin and fentanyl addictions stem from initial use of prescription drugs. According to a report on GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center, there were 1,038,938 diagnosed cases of opioid use disorder in the US in 2022. This number is expected to increase to 1,062,610 in 2027. Introduced in 2022, the IRA allows Medicare to negotiate prices and rebates for certain drugs from drug makers in a pursuit to curb inflation. Critics have said the IRA may discourage ...
SHANGHAI, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — World Malaria Day is marked each year on April 25. World Health Organization (WHO) gave as the theme for World Malaria Day 2024 Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world. WHO stated that malaria not only continues to directly endanger health and cost lives, but it also perpetuates a vicious cycle of inequity. People living in the most vulnerable situations including pregnant women and children under 5 years of age continue to be disproportionately impacted. Artemisinin medicines developed with China’s scientific research efforts have become a ticket for China’s innovative medicines to go global. According to the WHO World Malaria Report 2023, globally in 2022, there were an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 malaria deaths. Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for more than 95% of the global malaria cases and deaths. Globally, an estimated 11.7 million malaria deaths were averted in ...
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