Curated news and analysis on clinical trials, drug approvals, and medical research.
Two major drug trafficking investigations in North Carolina and Tennessee have led to over 30 arrests combined. The North Carolina case resulted in more than 170 charges after seizing cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, guns and cash. In Tennessee, 15 individuals were indicted for conspiring to distribute cocaine, with seizures including fentanyl, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, firearms and cash.
Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals reported positive 36-week data for EP-104GI in eosinophilic esophagitis, showing durable clinical remission. The company closed a $63.2 million public offering to advance its gastrointestinal pipeline. All director nominees were elected at the annual general meeting.
Iterative Health closes $77M Series C to expand its multispecialty clinical research network, while Biorce secures $52.5M Series A for AI platform aimed at streamlining clinical trial design and execution.
Nova Scotia Health has reduced radiation therapy hours at the Halifax cancer centre due to 14 radiation therapist vacancies, with up to 48 appointments going unfilled daily. A proposed 10-seat training program at Dalhousie University was rejected by the treasury board despite a looming workforce retirement wave. Advocates warn the staffing shortage will worsen as Nova Scotia's high cancer rates continue to grow.
The FDA reversed its initial rejection of Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine, agreeing to a normal review after public backlash, while a federal judge invalidated the ACIP advisory committee, leaving the US without functioning vaccine oversight. Moderna's vaccine showed 26.6% greater efficacy than standard flu shots in clinical trials.
Clinical trial results support ctDNA-guided therapy for bladder cancer, with the phase III IMvigor011 trial showing improved survival outcomes. Standardisation efforts are underway through position papers from professional societies and consensus guidelines. Nanotechnology advances and AI integration are poised to improve ctDNA detection sensitivity for liquid biopsy applications.
AstraZeneca is advancing its oral GLP-1 drug into Phase III trials while defending dapagliflozin patents in Australia. The company obtained an Australian court injunction against a generic competitor and has partnered with Evinova to use AI for clinical trials. India could be a future market for the oral GLP-1 drug pending global trial data.
Portal Biotechnologies closes $9M funding round to expand cell engineering platform for drug discovery and cell therapy. Navikenz raises $7.5M seed round to scale AI transformation services focused on life sciences and pharmaceuticals.
A $9 million grant from ASAP and The Michael J. Fox Foundation funds an Indiana University-led study on immune cell exhaustion in Parkinson's disease, aiming to develop personalized immunotherapies. The multi-institutional team will map immune system changes to uncover biomarkers and explain disease heterogeneity. Advances in proteomics are also enabling molecular subtyping and precision medicine across neurological disorders.
An FDA advisory panel unanimously recommended approval of Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine mFlusiva for adults 50 and older. The vaccine showed a 27% reduction in flu cases versus a standard shot. A final FDA decision is expected by early August.
CO-005, a humanized anti-CD47 fusion protein from Caedo Oncology, showed potent antitumor activity in preclinical models of B-cell lymphoma, including rituximab-resistant tumors. The therapy induces programmed cancer cell death while disrupting immune checkpoints, offering a potential solution to CD20 resistance.
Retrospective study analyzed longitudinal data from six immunotherapy-naive MuSK-MG patients over 2013-2024, finding significant positive correlation between MuSK antibody levels and disease severity as measured by MG-ADL scores. The correlation was specific to MuSK antibodies, with total IgG showing no independent relationship.
Clinical trials are offering new options for cancer patients, with some achieving long-term survival even with advanced disease. Precision medicine programs are expanding access to these trials by identifying patients with specific tumor mutations, reshaping oncology care.
Allarity Therapeutics will present a Trial-in-Progress poster at the ESMO Gynaecological Cancers Congress 2026 on its Phase 2 ovarian cancer trial of stenoparib. The company also dosed first patients in February 2026 in a VA-funded Phase 2 trial of stenoparib plus temozolomide for relapsed small cell lung cancer.
Recent research highlights advances in managing hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). A meta-analysis found that combining phototherapy with certain adjunctive drugs like clofibrate may improve bilirubin reduction. Other studies emphasize the importance of preconception stability for women with rare diseases and the clinical impact of rare maternal antibodies.
A breakthrough ovarian cancer drug, mirvetuximab soravtansine, is now available on the NHS, offering extended survival and improved quality of life. The 'biological missile' therapy targets cancer cells directly, reducing side-effects compared to standard chemotherapy. Up to 400 patients in England could benefit each year.
The FDA has reversed its earlier rejection of UniQure's Huntington's disease therapy AMT-130, accepting existing trial data for accelerated review. The company plans to submit a marketing application in Q3 2026, ending a dispute over sham surgery requirements.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are associated with a significantly lower risk of non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration, while sociodemographic disparities strongly influence diabetic retinopathy screening adherence, according to two separate ophthalmology studies.
The International Cardio-Oncology Society has released new guidelines for managing cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction, addressing educational gaps identified in a survey of 220 healthcare providers. The survey found highest educational needs for topics like immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis and atrial fibrillation management.
Ocular Therapeutix stock surged 30% in premarket trading as the company prepared to release topline Phase 3 data for AXPAXLI in wet AMD. The SOL-1 trial results will be presented at the Macula Society meeting later in February. The company plans to file for FDA approval using one-year data if results are favorable.
