Biotech
Researchers have revealed in the greatest detail yet the workings of molecules called ‘protein degraders’ which can be deployed to combat what have previously been regarded as ‘undruggable’ diseases, including cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Protein degrader molecules are heralding a revolution in drug discovery, with more than 50 drugs of this type currently being tested [...]
As strains of pathogens resistant to frontline antibiotics become more common worldwide, clinicians are more often turning to combination treatments that degrade this resistance as a first treatment option. One might expect, then, that antibiotic-resistant pathogens might evolve to adapt to this approach. Previous studies, however, have resulted in contradictory conclusions about how likely that [...]
Researchers have been awarded up to $7 million to conduct research under the PROTECT project — a project which targets pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and potentially Staphylococcus aureus, which can lead to lung infections and pose significant health risks for individuals with cystic fibrosis and those dependent on respirators. The grant has been awarded [...]
A US-based non-profit which aims to use drug repurposing to plug the global gap for disease treatments has received US$60m from TED's Audacious Project to advance its work globally. Of the approximate 18,500 recognised diseases in the world, only around 4,000 have FDA-approved treatments. Every Cure, an AI-focused biotech, aims to help change this through [...]
Telehealth has been shown to be a viable long-term option for people living with HIV, potentially saving them time, effort and expense related to in-person medical visits. A study found patients receiving in-person care before the COVID-19 pandemic adapted well to telehealth appointments, maintaining their treatment regimens and health outcomes during the early stages of the [...]
US scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 for their pioneering discoveries around microRNA. MicroRNAs are an influential force in dictating how genes within organisms are controlled; and are currently the subject of clinical trials for potential heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease treatments. Instead of [...]
A team of researchers have hit on an "exciting improvement" that regenerates bone by improving cell-matrix interactions. Each year, about 2.2 million bone-grafting procedures are performed worldwide, the gold standard of care being autografting, which uses the patient's own bone for tooth implantation and to repair and reconstruct parts of the mouth, face and skull. [...]
A team of researchers have hit on an "exciting improvement" that regenerates bone by improving cell-matrix interactions. Each year, about 2.2 million bone-grafting procedures are performed worldwide, the gold standard of care being autografting, which uses the patient's own bone for tooth implantation and to repair and reconstruct parts of the mouth, face and skull. [...]
Researchers believe they have taken a step forward in harnessing a promising Ovarian cancer treatment option that, to date, has been limited by its toxicity and emerging drug resistance. Ovarian cancer, often diagnosed at an advanced stage, presents significant treatment challenges because patients tend to develop resistance to conventional therapies quickly. Despite aggressive treatment, recurrence [...]
Researchers at the University of Toronto have harnessed a bacterial immune defense system, known as CRISPR, to efficiently and precisely control the process of RNA splicing. The technology opens the door to new applications, including systematically interrogating the functions of parts of genes and correcting splicing deficiencies that underlie numerous diseases and disorders. “Almost all [...]
