Curated news and analysis on clinical trials, drug approvals, and medical research.
Thousands of research positions have been terminated or frozen at federal agencies following deep cuts to U.S. science funding by the Trump administration, affecting work from aging studies to global food security.
GSK's RSV vaccine Arexvy received expanded FDA approval to cover all high-risk adults, adding approximately 21 million Americans under 50 to the eligible population and matching competitor approvals from Pfizer and Moderna.
The FDA has authorized the first human trial of an allogeneic stem cell therapy for epilepsy, developed by Shanghai-based Unixell Biotechnology. The therapy uses donor-derived stem cells to produce GABA and suppress seizures in drug-resistant patients.
A University of Houston researcher has joined a $3.2 million effort to develop a new drug targeting MDM2, a cancer-driving protein in triple-negative breast cancer. The compound has shown ability to shrink tumors in early laboratory models.
Junshi Biosciences reported total revenue of approximately RMB2,498 million in 2025, a 28% increase year-over-year, driven by toripalimab sales growth. Absci Corporation announced it will report fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on March 24, 2026.
Bariatric surgery procedures have fallen 46.4% since 2022 as prescriptions for semaglutide and tirzepatide rose to 24.17% of eligible adults by Q3 2025, though 75.8% of eligible patients still receive no treatment.
Decreases in circulating tumor DNA within 3-4 weeks of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy were strongly associated with higher response rates and longer survival in patients with unresectable stage III/IV melanoma, according to a multi-institutional retrospective analysis.
China's NMPA approved Desidustat Tablets on March 13, 2026, for treating anemia in non-dialysis CKD patients. Clinical trials showed the oral HIF-PHI was non-inferior to erythropoietin in maintaining hemoglobin levels with improved quality of life.
Xenetic Biosciences reported a net loss of $2.7 million for 2025 while advancing its DNase-based cancer therapy toward clinical trials, ending the year with $7.9 million in cash. Xeris Biopharma will announce its 2025 financial results on March 2, 2026.
The FDA has lifted a Complete Response Letter and resumed review of Capricor Therapeutics' Biologics License Application for deramiocel, setting a PDUFA date of August 22nd. The company ended 2025 with $318M in cash.
NIH funded dramatically fewer research grants in 2025, with funding rates dropping from 27% to 20% for established investigators and from 26% to 19% for early-career researchers, according to newly released agency data.
Moderna's stock shows mixed signals with recent gains offset by multi-year declines. Valuation models suggest shares may be overvalued on some metrics while analysts maintain Hold ratings with downside price targets.
Novartis AG provides a sustainable dividend yield near 3%, supported by a ChartMill Dividend Rating of 7/10, exceptional profitability metrics including 33% operating margins, and a solid financial foundation with manageable payout ratios.
Meta-analysis of 23 trials finds neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy achieved 66% major pathologic response in head and neck cancer patients compared to 18% for dual-agent and 6% for single-agent immunotherapy, though survival impact remains unclear.
The FDA launched the Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS), consolidating seven legacy databases into a single platform with real-time reporting. The system is expected to save $120 million over five years while improving public access to safety data.
Two recent clinical trials found that adding immunotherapy to standard chemoradiation did not improve survival for patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer or high-risk HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, though both studies revealed important insights about treatment delivery and radiation scheduling.
Zydus Lifesciences launched ANYRA, India's first indigenously developed aflibercept biosimilar, on February 19, 2026, following an agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Bayer for multiple ophthalmic indications.
Bunnie Xo, wife of country star Jelly Roll, revealed she experienced suicidal thoughts while taking semaglutide, describing December 2025 as "one of the darkest times of my life." She emphasized the importance of discussing mental health side effects of weight-loss medications and encouraged others facing similar struggles to seek help.
Real-world data from over 300 large B-cell lymphoma patients treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel show response rates and survival outcomes remarkably similar to pivotal trial results, with 86% overall response rate and 74% one-year survival.
British Columbia recorded 1,826 unregulated drug toxicity deaths in 2025, a 21% decrease from 2024. New research links the decline to decreasing fentanyl concentrations in the illicit drug supply, though nearly five people continue to die daily.
