Breaking WORLD PHARMA NEWS

Gut bacteria heal the colon

The human gut is home to trillions of bacteria that play vital roles in digestion, immunity, and overall health. When this microbial balance is disturbed, it can contribute to the development of chronic diseases like ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory condition of the large intestine. For some patients, current treatments offer limited relief or carry significant risks, including immune suppression. Researchers are now exploring alternative ways to restore gut health, focusing on the microbiome’s ability to heal the intestinal lining.

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Bayer and Hurdle announce breakthrough in aging research

Bayer and Hurdle have published groundbreaking research that represents a great advancement in aging research. The research introduces and validates a novel saliva-based DNA methylation biomarker designed to quantify systemic chronic inflammation (SCI), that the researchers have named, InflammAge. This innovative approach provides a non-invasive method for quantifying and tracking inflammation-related epigenetic biomarkers associated with aging.

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Is red wine a healthier choice than white wine? Uncorking the cancer risks

A common perception is that not all alcoholic beverages are alike. Red wine, for instance, is often considered a healthier choice, with many believing its high resveratrol content - an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties - offers protection against cancer. Researchers from the Brown University School of Public Health and the Warren Alpert Medical School, however, have put this assumption to the test.

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Compound found in common herbs inspires potential anti-inflammatory drug for Alzheimer's disease

The herb rosemary has long been linked with memory: "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance," says Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet. So it is fitting that researchers would study a compound found in rosemary and sage - carnosic acid - for its impact on Alzheimer's disease. In the disease, which is the leading cause of dementia and the sixth leading cause of death in the US, inflammation is one component that often leads to cognitive decline.

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Traditional Chinese medicine unlocks new potential in treating diseases through ferroptosis regulation

Innovative insights into the role of ferroptosis, a unique form of programmed cell death, are reshaping the landscape of disease treatment. This growing field highlights how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can effectively modulate ferroptosis, offering novel therapeutic approaches for various conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and organ injuries. The powerful bioactive compounds in TCM have demonstrated the ability to regulate iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, and redox balance, positioning them as key players in advancing modern medicine.

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NHS urged to offer single pill to all over-50s to prevent heart attacks and strokes

The NHS could prevent thousands more heart attacks and strokes every year by offering everyone in the UK aged 50 and over a single "polypill" combining a statin and three blood pressure lowering drugs, according to academics from UCL.

In an opinion piece for The BMJ, the authors argued that a polypill programme could be a "flagship strategy" in Labour's commitment to preventing disease rather than treating sickness.

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Naturally occurring molecule rivals Ozempic in weight loss, sidesteps side effects

A naturally occurring molecule identified by Stanford Medicine researchers appears similar to semaglutide - also known as Ozempic - in suppressing appetite and reducing body weight. Notably, testing in animals also showed that it worked without some of the drug's side effects such as nausea, constipation and significant loss of muscle mass.

The newly discovered molecule, BRP, acts through a separate but similar metabolic pathway and activates different neurons in the brain - seemingly offering a more targeted approach to body weight reduction.

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Future drugs may snap supply chain fueling breast cancer

Cancer cells have an insatiable appetite for energy as they multiply more rapidly than normal cells. Greedy cancer cells hijack various cellular functions to find and exploit energy and other resources, including a group of enzymes that help normal cells maintain a balance of energy.

These enzymes, called creatine kinases (CK), allow cells to transport energy produced at the mitochondria to where it is needed throughout the cell.

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Researchers reveal key mechanism behind bacterial cancer therapy

A research team led by Prof. LIU Chenli from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Prof. XIAO Yichuan from the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health of CAS elucidated the mechanism behind bacterial cancer therapy using a genetically engineered bacterial strain.

Exploring the use of antitumor bacteria in cancer therapy dates back to the 1860s.

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Common malaria drug repurposed to fight cancer

Can a drug that's used to treat malaria be repurposed to fight cancer? Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso have secured a patent for the anti-malarial drug pyronaridine to do just that. Pyronaridine has been used to treat the mosquito-borne infectious disease for over 30 years.

The discovery is the result of a serendipitous encounter at UTEP.

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