Curated news and analysis on clinical trials, drug approvals, and medical research.
Dangerous nicotine exposures from vapes in U.S. children under 6 soared 243% from 2016 to 2023, while exposures from cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products fell 43%. The study, based on more than 92,000 poison control reports, said many recent cases involved children actively using e-cigarette devices.
A study found that pregnancy exposure to the fungicide vinclozolin triggered disease patterns in rats that persisted for 20 generations. The findings point to epigenetic changes in germline cells and potential uses for epigenetic biomarkers in preventative diagnostics.
Two Nature Chemical Biology studies described new routes to molecular glue discovery. One identified ZZ1 and YPEL5-linked CTLH recruitment, while another found an ENL degrader in leukemia cells.
A single-arm trial in Nature Medicine found that a one-time OTOF gene therapy injection improved hearing in all 10 patients with congenital deafness. Some responded within a month, and no serious adverse events were observed.
Phase 3 PSMAddition showed that adding 177Lu-PSMA-617 to ADT plus an ARPI improved radiographic progression-free survival in PSMA-positive mHSPC. Health-related quality of life and pain were largely maintained.
Blackstone closed its sixth dedicated life sciences fund at a $6.3 billion hard cap, the largest private fund raised for the sector. The vehicle is nearly 40% larger than its 2020 predecessor and targets late-stage drug assets.
Recent advances in genetic science are shifting colorectal cancer screening toward direct detection of DNA changes. In India, CRC is now the fourth most common cancer, with more than 64,000 new cases and over 38,000 deaths reported in 2022.
Soon-to-be brides and grooms in India are increasingly seeking Mounjaro and other weight-loss injections before weddings, with doctors reporting rising demand. The trend comes as India’s obesity-drug market expands, cheaper semaglutide versions enter the market, and regulators raise misuse concerns.
FDA said in early February 2026 that it is taking issue with “same active ingredient” claims in compounded drug advertising. The stance contrasts with longstanding agency frameworks for active ingredient sameness in generics and compounding.
Indonesia’s contribution to the International Stabilization Force in Gaza is set to start deploying in April, with 1,000 soldiers initially and around 8,000 by June. The force is expected to supervise ceasefire lines and border-related issues, though deployment still depends on conditions in Gaza.
Illuminate 3.0 brought global and Indian oncology experts to Mumbai for a three-day townhall on precision oncology, immunotherapy, cellular therapies and cancer vaccines. Discussions covered CAR-T cell therapy, multi-cancer early detection and access to novel drugs in India.
Alterity is preparing for a mid-2026 end-of-Phase II FDA meeting for ATH434 in Multiple System Atrophy. Phase II data showed clinically meaningful and statistically significant effects, with safety comparable to placebo.
Scientists are testing experimental cancer therapies including mRNA therapeutic vaccines, engineered EcN bacteria that deliver romidepsin in mice, and macrophage-targeted CAR T cells.
A rectal cancer study found hypofractionated radiotherapy increased ISG15+MHC-I+ neutrophils with antigen-presenting capabilities. The report linked the effect to IFN-α/NOD1 signaling and improved anti-PD-1 responses in models.
Neumora said it plans higher-dose NMRA-511 work in 2026 and pivotal studies in 2027 after additional phase 1b analyses in Alzheimer’s disease agitation. The company also scheduled its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results update for March 30, 2026.
Studies of psilocybin found lasting shifts in life values in healthy volunteers and reduced fear of death in therapeutic settings. Trials have also reported benefits in cancer patients.
Researchers used machine learning to identify an antimicrobial peptide, LR, that reduced inflammation and improved gut barrier function in mouse ulcerative colitis. The peptide also reshaped the microbiome and outperformed 5-aminosalicylic acid and ciprofloxacin in the model.
An observational study in Documenta Ophthalmologica found the MLSDT showed reliability above 0.50 in advanced retinitis pigmentosa and correlated with visual acuity, visual fields and patient-reported outcomes. The test is being used as a secondary endpoint in the phase 2b/3 RESTORE trial of MCO-010.
Trump administration cuts to U.S. science funding have raised fears of a brain drain, with thousands of grants cancelled and researchers moving abroad. Experts warned the losses could damage biomedical innovation and the economy.
A study published on February 17, 2026 validated an AI workflow that predicted colorectal cancer risk in ulcerative colitis with 99% accuracy using over 55,000 patient records. The model identified low-risk and higher-risk patients from clinical notes, colonoscopy reports, and pathology findings.
