Breaking WORLD PHARMA NEWS

Metformin shown to prevent Long COVID across risk groups in multiple randomized trials

Multiple randomized clinical trials and electronic health record studies now show that metformin, a widely used and well-established medication, significantly reduces the risk of developing Long COVID when taken during or shortly after acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. The findings were published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

In the paper, the University of Minnesota Medical School research team provides information about metformin and summarizes several studies in low, standard and high risk populations

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Two days of oatmeal reduce cholesterol level

A short-term oat-based diet appears to be surprisingly effective at reducing the cholesterol level. This is indicated by a trial by the University of Bonn, which has been published in the journal Nature Communications. The participants suffered from a metabolic syndrome - a combination of high body weight, high blood pressure, and elevated blood glucose and blood lipid levels. They consumed a calorie-reduced diet, consisting almost exclusively of oatmeal, for two days.

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Chemotherapy rewires gut bacteria to curb metastasis

Chemotherapy commonly damages the intestinal lining, a well-known side effect. But this injury does not remain confined to the gut. It reshapes nutrient availability for intestinal bacteria, forcing the microbiota to adapt.

The researchers report that chemotherapy-induced damage to the intestinal lining alters nutrient availability for gut bacteria, reshaping the microbiota and increasing the production of

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Abbott increases quarterly dividend for 54th consecutive year

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced that its board of directors has increased the company's quarterly common dividend to 63 cents per share, an increase of 6.8%. The company's quarterly dividend payout has increased more than 70% since 2020.

This marks Abbott's 54th consecutive year of dividend growth and is the 408th consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid by Abbott since 1924.

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New nanoparticle technology offers hope for hard-to-treat diseases

A newly published perspective article in Nature Nanotechnology details groundbreaking nanoparticle technology to eliminate harmful, disease-causing proteins in the body. The technology marks a transformative leap in the potential to drug "undruggable" proteins, to treat diseases such as dementia and brain cancer.

The research was led by Chair Professor in Nanomedicine Bingyang Shi from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), together with international collaborators Professor Kam Leong from Columbia University, and Professor Meng Zheng from Henan University.

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Oxford team engineer quantum-enabled proteins, opening a new frontier in biotechnology

In a world first, a research team led by the University of Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science has shown it is possible to engineer a quantum mechanical process inside proteins, opening the door to a new class of quantum-enabled biological technologies.

The study, published today in Nature, reports the creation of a new class of biomolecules, magneto-sensitive fluorescent proteins (or MFPs), that can interact with magnetic fields and radio waves.

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Targeted therapy shows promise against aggressive brain tumors

A national clinical trial led by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has found that abemaciclib, an oral cancer drug, may slow tumor growth in patients with aggressive meningiomas that have specific genetic mutations. This primary analysis of Alliance A071401 is published in Nature Medicine.

Meningiomas, tumors that grow in the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, are the most common primary brain tumors.

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Bristol Myers Squibb announces collaboration with Microsoft to advance AI-driven early detection of lung cancer

Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY, “BMS”), a global leader in oncology, announced an agreement with Microsoft, a market leader in AI-powered radiology and clinical workflow technologies, aiming to accelerate early detection of lung cancer.

Through this digital health collaboration, U.S. FDA-cleared radiology AI algorithms will be deployed via Microsoft’s Precision Imaging Network, part of Microsoft for Healthcare radiology solutions.

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How psoriasis affects joints

Approximately 20 to 30 percent of all people who suffer from psoriasis also develop painful inflammation in their joints over time. If left untreated, this condition known as psoriatic arthritis can lead to permanent damage to bones and joints. Until now, it was a mystery why the disease progressed this way in some patients and not in others.

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New EPIVINF study highlights a promising model for Long COVID research

Researchers from IRTA and IrsiCaixa, partners in the EPIVINF project, have identified the golden Syrian hamster as a potential relevant model for studying the biology of long COVID, also known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC).

Long COVID is not a single disease but a complex syndrome involving a range of persistent symptoms. People suffering from it report overwhelming fatigue, memory lapses, "brain fog," difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, and neurological symptoms that can last for months or even years after the initial infection.

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