Curated news and analysis on clinical trials, drug approvals, and medical research.
Two recent studies advance Alzheimer's research: one finds combining anti-amyloid antibodies with natural compounds improves efficacy and safety, while another maps a molecular cascade that could reveal new therapeutic targets. The combination therapy study used aducanumab, lecanemab, resveratrol, and curcumin. The molecular study identified gene expression networks and proposed a two-stage disease model.
MRI-guided brain stimulation achieved 80% response rates for treatment-resistant depression versus 60% with conventional targeting, per a JAMA Psychiatry study. Separately, Barcelona researchers developed an MRI tool to accurately identify rare neurodegenerative tauopathies PSP and CBD, while experts in Paris discussed AI's growing role in predictive psychiatry.
Research has identified CD27 expression as a potential biomarker for monitoring regulatory T cell (Treg) induction efficacy in clinical trials. Studies show CD27 marks memory-like Tregs with superior suppressive capacity, correlating with immune regulation in type 1 diabetes patients. Treg-based tolerance restoration is emerging as a therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases and transplantation.
Measles cases in the U.S. reached 2,288 in 2025, the highest since 1992, with 2,104 cases reported in the first half of 2026. Utah has seen 499 cases this year, more than 20% of the national total, driven by pockets of low vaccination. Health officials emphasize vaccination and early symptom recognition to prevent spread.
Alliance launches Phase III trial for stage I NSCLC immunotherapy; Allarity starts Phase 2 SCLC trial. Phase I NSCLC trial sites consolidate at top U.S. sites, prompting FDA representation concerns.
The US FTC is challenging a court ruling involving Johnson & Johnson's patent acquisition for Stelara, arguing it could weaken antitrust enforcement in pharma. Separately, Turkey's Court of Cassation ruled that patent holders who file infringement actions and send warning letters to third parties are exercising lawful patent rights, dismissing an unfair competition claim by a generic company.
Sanofi announces leadership transition with CEO departure and interim appointment, while reporting key regulatory milestones including FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for venglustat and expanded Dupixent approvals. The company advances an observational RSV study in Australia and outlines strategic initiatives in AI drug discovery and potential consumer healthcare spin-off.
University of Alberta researchers have identified the protease GlpG as a new drug target for antibiotic-resistant E. coli, which causes hundreds of thousands of UTI deaths annually. Inhibiting GlpG prevented bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation in laboratory studies. The discovery addresses a global health emergency as antimicrobial resistance projections show it could cause cancer-level deaths by 2050.
Novartis has announced three separate partnership deals worth over $5 billion combined with Antares Therapeutics, Orionis Biosciences, and Unnatural Products. The agreements target undruggable cancers, molecular glue drugs, and cardiovascular therapies respectively using each partner's proprietary platforms.
A phase 3 trial shows that the oral drug enlicitide reduces LDL cholesterol by 60% compared to placebo, according to results published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Sponsored by Merck & Co., the trial involved 2,909 participants with atherosclerosis or at risk. If approved, enlicitide could help lower heart attack and stroke risk.
HHS launches broad initiative to boost US clinical trials amid global competition with China. FDA introduces real-time clinical trial monitoring and expedited programs. NIH Long COVID trials set to begin enrolling participants in summer 2026.
Multiple new studies highlight key factors affecting children's health and development. Research shows maternal cardiovascular health during pregnancy significantly impacts child developmental delays, with poor heart health increasing risk by 62%. A separate study found family finances and neighborhood opportunities account for about 16% of variability in children's brain function, while parental concern about illness proved highly accurate for detecting serious conditions in children.
Brazilian researchers developed a CT-based biomarker called VMD that combines visceral fat and muscle radiodensity to predict gastric cancer prognosis, with patient survival ranging from 13.8 to 58.5 months. The global PET imaging market is projected to grow to $1.4 billion by 2032 as cancer cases rise globally. Neuroendocrine tumor research is advancing with new funding and studies on Hedgehog signaling pathways.
A multicenter EFFORT Trial published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases found that 7-day high-dose primaquine and single-dose tafenoquine significantly reduced P. vivax malaria recurrence compared to the standard 14-day low-dose primaquine regimen. The trial, conducted across Ethiopia, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Cambodia, supports WHO guidelines and potential geographic expansion of tafenoquine use.
A case report describes eight-and-a-half syndrome in a 71-year-old man with hypertension and ischemic heart disease who presented with acute neurological deficits. MRI revealed an acute pontine infarction causing the characteristic triad of horizontal gaze palsy, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, and facial weakness.
The bladder cancer therapeutics market is expanding with recent FDA approvals including INLEXZO for NMIBC and a KEYTRUDA-Padvev combination for MIBC, while the NMIBC market reached approximately USD 3 billion in 2025 across seven major markets. Ferring reported record revenues exceeding €2.5 billion in 2025, driven by Adstiladrin as its second major growth driver. A robust pipeline of emerging therapies is expected to further transform the market through 2036.
Police in Portland, Maine, issued a public safety alert after 7 suspected overdoses in under 20 hours, while Huntington, WV, police seized over 900 fentanyl-laced tablets disguised as cartoon characters. Both departments warned of dangerous fentanyl contamination in the drug supply.
New rankings from WIPR and IAM Patent 1000 recognize top US patent firms and lawyers, highlighting expertise in pharmaceutical litigation, tech disputes, and strategic portfolio management amid shifting PTAB procedures and rising NPE campaigns in life sciences.
British Columbia has approved the $3-billion expansion of the Red Chris copper-gold mine, a key step for Newmont's final investment decision later this year. The project will extend the mine's life by over a decade and increase Canada's annual copper production by more than 15%.
The Fonds pour l'Innovation et le Futur de Genève (FIF) has awarded funding to six Geneva-based startups across two rounds, including Backbone, Crìa Technologies, Scenario X, Flottando, Axy, and Nose Switzerland, supporting innovations in AI, quantum computing, fleet management, and life sciences.
