The lack of non-invasive methods for monitoring brain status is a significant challenge in psychiatric care. Using genetic material from human blood and lab-grown brain cells, researchers have now made advances in developing a blood test to detect brain-related changes associated with postpartum depression and other psychiatric and neurological disorders. The research by investigators at Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore, MD, USA) focused on tracing brain cell-derived mRNAs in the bloodstream. These extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are tiny sacs containing genetic material, are crucial for cell communication and carry messenger RNA (mRNA) from the brain. This method allows for the detection of changes in gene activity within the brain. The team’s interest in this area grew from an earlier study that found altered EV communication in pregnant women who developed postpartum depression after childbirth. The latest study used the human placenta as a model to identify 26 placental mRNAs in maternal ...
Alys Pharmaceuticals has announced its launch with a research and development (R&D) immuno-dermatology focused pipeline backed by a $100m financing from Medicxi. Co-founded by Medicxi and a team of dermatology and scientific specialists, Alys Pharmaceuticals is led by co-founder and COO Thibaud Portal, with Medicxi’s Francesco De Rubertis serving as board chairman. The company’s pipeline is powered by multiple platform technologies, targeting a range of dermatological ailments. Its goal is to transform the dermatological treatment landscape, focusing on conditions such as atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, alopecia areata and chronic spontaneous urticaria. Alys Pharmaceuticals’ pipeline also includes programmes for less common ailments such as mastocytosis and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and therapies to prevent skin side effects from cancer treatments. The company is partnering with establishments including the Institut Gustave Roussy and UMass Chan Medical School to advance its collaborative R&D. Alys Pharmaceuticals integrates the platforms and assets from six Medicxi companies: Aldena ...
Dopamine neuron senescence is a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease Weill Cornell Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons have reported that SARS-CoV-2 can infect dopamine neurones in the brain, triggering senescence. Long COVID patients should be monitored for an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD)-related symptoms, as dopamine neuron senescence is a hallmark of the condition. The study revealed that dopamine neurons that are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, stop working and send out chemical signals that cause inflammation, triggering senescence, when a cell loses the ability to grow and divide. Neurons produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that acts on areas of the brain and causes feelings of pleasure, motivation, memory, sleep and movement. Damage to these neurons is also associated with PD, a neurodegenerative disorder that progressively damages parts of the brain. After generating multiple cell types from ...
After Novartis reportedly backed out of late-stage talks to acquire Cytokinetics earlier this year, the company appears to still be on the M&A prowl.Novartis is in advanced talks to acquire German cancer drug maker MorphoSys, Reuters reports, citing two people familiar with the matter. The anonymous sources stayed mum on details about the bid and a potential acquisition price, according to the news service. Also involved in the MorphoSys M&A talks is Incyte, according to Reuters.As a “matter of policy,” Novartis does not comment on “market rumors/speculations,” a company spokesperson said over email. Incyte and MorphoSys did not immediately respond to Fierce Pharma’s requests for comment. Both known bidders have preexisting ties to the company, with Novartis taking over a MorphoSys preclinical cancer program in 2022 and Incyte partnering on MorphoSys’ sole commercial product, the lymphoma med Monjuvi.Monjuvi garnered $92 million in U.S. sales last year, and MorphoSys expects 2024 sales of between $80 million and $95 million. The Novartis ...
Neuralace Medical announced today that it received FDA clearance for its chronic painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) treatment. San Diego–based Neuralace says this marks the first-ever FDA clearance of a non-invasive, magnetic peripheral nerve stimulation (mPNS) treatment for PDN. The company says its Axon Therapy could offer “new hope” to millions with the condition. Axon Therapy uses mPNS to deliver a quick, painless and non-invasive treatment in sessions lasting just 13.5 minutes, according to Neuralace. Each session utilizes magnetic pulses to provide relief for a potential improvement in pain management. Neuralace said a recent trial of 71 patients demonstrated efficiency, plus significant improvements in subject outcomes. The company believes its therapy represents a paradigm shift in PDN treatment. Axon Therapy offers a non-pharmacological and non-invasive option that could reduce dependence on medications and their associated side effects. The company says FDA clearance paves the way for broader access to innovative pain ...
ClearPoint Neuro (Nasdaq:CLPT) announced today that it received FDA 510(k) clearance for its SmartFrame OR stereotactic system. Solana Beach, California–based ClearPoint Neuro developed its SmartFrame OR system with two main components. It features the SmartFrame OR technology with the ClearPointer optical navigation wand. SmartFrame OR offers stereotactic guidance for placing and operating instruments or devices in neurological procedures. It helps during the planning and operation processes of these procedures, performed in conjunction with using a compatible optical stereotaxic navigation system using preoperative MR and/or CT imaging. These procedures include biopsies, catheter placements and electrode introduction. ClearPoint Neuro’s ClearPointer works with SmartFrame OR and a compatible stereotactic optical navigation system. It helps with patient registration and navigation. SmartFrame OR can be used with or without available bone screw fiducials. ClearPoint Neuro plans to begin a limited market release of the system in the first half of 2024. It earmarked the second ...
The likelihood of a favorable outcome for a breast cancer patient is greatly influenced by the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed. Histological examination is the benchmark for diagnosis, but its reliability can be affected by subjective interpretations and the quality of the tissue sample. Inaccuracies in these examinations can lead to incorrect diagnoses. Now, a team of mathematicians has developed a machine learning model that significantly enhances the accuracy of identifying cancer in histological images. The highlight of this model is the incorporation of an additional module that boosts the neural network’s “attention” capability, enabling it to achieve near-perfect accuracy. The mathematicians at RUDN University (Moscow, Russia) conducted tests on several convolutional neural networks and supplemented them with two convolutional attention modules. These modules are crucial for detecting objects within images. The model underwent training and testing using the BreakHis dataset, which comprises nearly 10,000 histological images at ...
Alto Neuroscience will apply the IPO proceeds toward clinical tests of its psychiatric drugs in patients who exhibit certain biomarkers. The company’s two most advanced programs are depression drugs in mid-stage development. By FRANK VINLUAN Matching a drug to a patient’s biology is not a new idea, but it hasn’t caught on in neuropsychiatric disorders, which have high failure rates in drug studies. The technology of Alto Neuroscience brings precision medicine to psychiatric drug research and its IPO has raised $128.6 million to see if this approach can yield better clinical trial results. Alto priced its IPO late Thursday, offering more than 8 million shares for $16 apiece. The Los Altos, California-based company was able to raise more than planned. When Alto set preliminary financial terms earlier this week, it projected offering 6.7 million shares in the range of $14 and $16 each, which would have raised $100.5 million at ...
From January 25th to 27th local time, the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Urogenital Oncology Branch (ASCO-GU) annual meeting was grandly held in San Francisco. ASCO GU is an academic event in the field of urogenital tumors. The conference will showcase the most innovative scientific progress in this field and discuss the future treatment directions of urogenital tumors. The first human study of SYS6002, a collaboration between CSPC and Fudan University Cancer Hospital’s Professor Ye Dingwei’s team and Professor Zhang Jian’s team – “Evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic characteristics and preliminary efficacy of SYS6002 in patients with advanced solid tumors “An open, single-arm, multi-center phase I clinical trial” – phased research results were presented at the conference in the form of a poster (number B622). Research methods This study is a single-arm, open, multi-center phase I study. Aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability and PK characteristics of SYS6002 in ...
Drugdu.com expert’s response: Pharmaceutical intermediates are one or more chemical substances generated during the drug synthesis process, playing a crucial role in the production of the final Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API). The variety of pharmaceutical intermediates depends on the chemical structure and synthesis pathway of the target drug. Here are some common types of pharmaceutical intermediates: Benzene Ring Intermediates: Many drugs, especially anticancer and cardiovascular drugs, are based on the benzene ring structure. Heterocyclic Compounds: Such as pyridine, thiophene, imidazole, etc., commonly used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Amino Acids and Peptides: They are the foundation of many bioactive molecules and drugs, like insulin. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives: Often used in the synthesis of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics. Esters and Ethers: Utilized in the synthesis of various drugs, including painkillers and sedatives. Sulfur Compounds and Thioethers: Play an important role in the synthesis of certain special drugs. Aldehydes and Ketones: Key intermediates ...
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