The non-invasive tool can also improve patient stratification and monitor disease progression Researchers from King’s College London (KCL) have developed a deep learning framework for a non-invasive brain-age prediction tool for the early diagnosis of neurological diseases. The study built and made available a set of models for clinical use after training multiple brain models from a variety of magnetic resonance image (MRI) types. Neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, are conditions that affect the brain as well as the nerves found throughout the human body and spinal cord. By comparing patients’ brain ages against their chronological ages, numerous neurological and psychiatric conditions can be identified, helping to predict future health outcomes for patients. Researchers collected over 81,000 patients’ head MRI examinations from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust between 2008 and 2019. After pre-training models, ...
Results from the study could also be used for other forms of cancer and diseases Researchers from the University of Glasgow and Queen Mary University of London have developed a new biosensor using terahertz (THz) waves that can detect skin cancer with strong sensitivity. Published in the IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, the study results could pave the way for easier and earlier diagnoses of skin cancer and potentially other cancers and diseases. Affecting one in four men and one in five women at least once in their lifetime in the UK, skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells that involves three major types: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Most skin cancer is often detected using traditional methods that involve expensive, time-consuming CT and PET scans, and invasive higher-frequency technology. After exploring the potential of THz metasurfaces, researchers designed the biosensor to detect subtle ...
Sanofi, which is leading development of the Denali Therapeutics-partnered molecule, disclosed little about the clinical trial results in ALS. But this Phase 2 failure follows the 2020 clinical trial pause of a different partnered molecule that addresses the same target. By FRANK VINLUAN Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis develops through multiple pathways, so drug research in this neuromuscular disorder has pursued multiple targets. One of those targets faces some doubts after an ALS drug candidate from partners Sanofi and Denali Therapeutics failed to meet the goal of a mid-stage clinical trial. Denali disclosed the Phase 2 clinical trial failure in a Friday regulatory filing. The South San Francisco-based biotech said Sanofi informed it that the brain-penetrating drug, known at Denali as DNL788 and renamed SAR443820 by the pharmaceutical giant, did not meet the main endpoint of showing a change in the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised, a scoring assessment for evaluating symptoms in ...
Acute ischemic stroke, which is the most common type of stroke, occurs due to a lack of oxygen in the brain caused by a blood clot. Currently, there are no blood-based biomarkers that can accurately reflect the acute neuronal damage following a stroke or predict the clinical outcomes for stroke patients. Now, a new study has demonstrated that an ultra-sensitive blood test can reflect brain damage and also predict functional outcomes after acute ischemic stroke. Brain-derived tau (BD-tau), a protein indicative of neuronal breakdown in the central nervous system, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease, has been the focus of recent research. Last year, a team from the University of Gothenburg (Gothenburg, Sweden) developed a novel blood test to measure BD-tau levels. This breakthrough represents a significant step towards creating a tool for tracking and monitoring Alzheimer’s disease progression. In their latest research, this team explored whether BD-tau could also serve as ...
After a high-profile failure in an Alzheimer’s related agitation trial earlier this week, Otsuka has garnered a positive update with a breakthrough therapy designation for its rare kidney disease drug sibeprenlimab. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designation is for sibeprenlimab’s use in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), sometimes referred to as Berger’s disease, a disorder that occurs when antibody immunoglobin A builds up in the kidneys, leading to inflammation and damage. This results in blood and protein in urine, as well as high blood pressure and kidney failure over time. The FDA made the decision following positive results from the Phase II ENVISION trial (NCT04287985), announced in November 2023. The 155-patient study evaluated the dose response of different doses of sibeprenlimab by measuring proteinuria or high levels of protein in the urine. Data from the trial, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, showed that after 12 months, ...
The neurodegenerative condition currently affects over 944,000 people in the UK A new programme led by Queen Mary University of London and funded by the Alzheimer’s Society has received positive trial results that could benefit carers and patients living with dementia. The New Interventions for Independence in Dementia (NIDUS-Family) programme was successful in supporting patients and carers to achieve their goals compared to those who received usual care. Affecting more than 944,000 people in the UK, dementia is a neurodegenerative disease that impairs a person’s ability to remember, think or make decisions on a daily basis. Set up at University College London and now running at Queen Mary’s University London, NIDUS-Family aims to understand how to support carers who look after those with dementia at home. Researchers tested the programme on a small number of participant pairs with over 300 people living with dementia and their unpaid carers. The first ...
BMS has reported its results for the 2023 financial year (FY), revealing a 2% decrease in revenues of $45bn from $46.2bn reported in 2022. The company saw a decrease in sales of Revlimid (lenalidomide) following the entry of generic versions after its patent loss in 2022. Revlimid generated $6bn in 2023, compared to $12.9bn in 2021 before the loss. BMS’ blockbuster cancer drug Opdivo generated $9bn in 2023, a 9% increase from 2022. The human IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody saw a label expansion, as well as increased demand from patients with gastric, bladder, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma. BMS’ top-seller is anti-stroke drug Eliquis (apixaban), generating $12.2bn in 2023, however, Eliquis loses its patent in 2026, with GlobalData predicting that sales will drop to $3bn by 2029.In a strategic move to counteract anticipated revenue declines from upcoming patent expirations on certain BMS drugs in the next few years, ...
Key trends such as the resilience of the emerging biopharma space, the complexities of Medicare, and the revolutionary role of data and AI are shaping the future of the industry. By SUJAY JADHAV Beneath the Californian sunshine (and a few showers) at JP Morgan, a revolution simmers. Not a political one, but a healthcare revolution propelled by necessity and fueled by innovation. Imagine a future where groundbreaking therapies reach patients years sooner, personalized treatments offer hope for chronic diseases, and healthcare costs become more manageable for everyone. This isn’t science fiction; it’s the promise of the cutting-edge trends made at the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference earlier this month. For those that attended JPM in early 2023, you may recall it was quite gloomy coming off of a soft 2022 and an interest rate burdened 2023. JPM 2024 had an air of optimism. Emerging biopharma space: Challenges and innovations One ...
Mike Hollan While the industry as a whole still faces challenges, there are positive trends appearing for pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Anyone hoping for good news for the financial state of the healthcare industry may have to wait until mid-2024. S&P Global released its annual healthcare industry outlook, providing a thorough analysis of the state of the industry. The last few years have been a rollercoaster for the industry, with it seeing unbelievable highs during the pandemic, only to watch most of that enthusiasm (and the money that came with it) fade in 2023. According to S&P Global’s report, its ratings outlook for the pharmaceutical and medical device subsectors is stable. However, it notes that the ratings outlook for the industry remains negative. This is due to lower end companies, which are typically sponsor-owned, struggling to maintain positive cash flow. There are a variety of factors that play into ...
Novartis is paying Voyager Therapeutics $100 million up front to collaborate on gene therapies for Huntington’s disease and spinal muscular atrophy. The deal builds on a relationship the companies started in 2022. By FRANK VINLUAN Novartis is committing $100 million to Voyager Therapeutics to see if the biotech’s technology can lead to new gene therapies for Huntington’s disease and spinal muscular atrophy. According to deal terms announced Tuesday, the sum is an upfront payment that includes a $20 million equity investment in Voyager. Milestone payments could bring the Lexington, Massachusetts-based biotech up to $1.2 billion more. If the partnership leads to commercialized therapies, Voyager would also receive royalties from sales. Gene therapies reach their bodily destinations carried aboard an engineered virus. The therapy’s genetic cargo is enveloped by a protein shell called a capsid. Voyager’s TRACER technology platform discovers capsids that can target particular types of tissue. In addition to ...
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