Breaking WORLD PHARMA NEWS

Microbial allies: Bacteria help fight against cancer

An international team of scientists led by researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS), Imperial College London and the University of Cologne have discovered that microbes associated with tumours produce a molecule, which can control cancer progression and boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Most people are familiar with the microbes on our skin or in our gut, but recent discoveries have revealed that tumours also host unique communities of bacteria.

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New AI tool pinpoints genes, drug combos to restore health in diseased cells

In a move that could reshape drug discovery, researchers at Harvard Medical School have designed an artificial intelligence model capable of identifying treatments that reverse disease states in cells.

Unlike traditional approaches that typically test one protein target or drug at a time in hopes of identifying an effective treatment, the new model, called PDGrapher and available for free,

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Novartis to acquire Tourmaline Bio, complementing cardiovascular pipeline with pacibekitug for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)

Novartis has entered into an agreement to acquire Tourmaline Bio, Inc. ("Tourmaline") (Nasdaq: TRML), a New York-based, publicly traded clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing pacibekitug, an anti-IL-6 mAb, as a treatment option for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Pacibekitug complements Novartis’ cardiovascular strategy by targeting IL-6, a key upstream cytokine that promotes systemic inflammation, thus addressing a critical unmet need.

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Cancer cells can use backup routes to fuel their growth

When it comes to their survival, cancer cells have a host of backup plans.

This is especially true of the nutrients that cancers use to grow and spread. In addition to relying on sugars like glucose to power their proliferation, some cancer cells also use ketones - metabolites produced from fats when the body is fasting or on a low carb diet - as an alternate fuel source.

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Dietary changes could provide a therapeutic avenue for brain cancer

Glioblastomas are the deadliest form of malignant brain tumor, and most patients diagnosed with the disease live only one or two years.

In these tumors, normal cells in the brain become aggressive, growing rapidly and invading the surrounding tissue.

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How cancer puts other cells to work

Tumours have developed many strategies and tricks to gain advantages in the body. Led by cell biology professor Sabine Werner, researchers at ETH Zurich have now discovered another surprising trick that certain tumours resort to in ensuring their survival and growth.

In a new study published in the journal Nature Cancer, the biologists show that skin cancer cells are able to transfer their mitochondria to healthy connective tissue cells (fibroblasts) in their immediate vicinity.

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Novartis Leqvio® shows statistically significant and clinically meaningful early LDL-C goal achievement with less muscle pain

Novartis announced positive results from V-DIFFERENCE, a Phase IV study evaluating Leqvio® (inclisiran) compared to placebo, both administered on top of individually optimized lipid-lowering therapy (LLT), in patients with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) who have not achieved guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals.

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ADHD drugs are being prescribed too quickly to preschoolers

Young children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder often receive medication just after being diagnosed, which contravenes treatment guidelines endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Stanford Medicine-led study has found.

The finding, which will be published in JAMA Network Open, highlights a gap in medical care for 4- and 5-year-olds with ADHD.

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World's first clinical trial showing lubiprostone aids kidney function

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health issue worldwide. Many patients end up requiring regular dialysis to avoid kidney failure and stay alive. Despite the severity of the condition, there are currently no drugs available that improve kidney function. A research group led by Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine’s Professor Takaaki Abe has found a remarkable solution to treat patients with CKD by co-opting a drug typically used for constipation.

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Leveraging microproteins to treat obesity, aging, and mitochondrial disorders

Like bees breathing life into gardens, providing pollen and making flowers blossom, little cellular machines called mitochondria breathe life into our bodies, buzzing with energy as they produce the fuel that powers each of our cells. Maintaining mitochondrial metabolism requires input from many molecules and proteins - some of which have yet to be discovered.

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