Breaking World Pharma News

Abbott and Real Madrid launch nationwide effort to build the next 'Abbott Dream Team'

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today the launch of the second year of the 'Abbott Dream Team,' encouraging young soccer players aged 18-19 across the United States to sign up for the chance to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime development experience in Madrid. Selected participants will train with Real Madrid's world‑renowned coaches at the club's facilities and enjoy unique opportunities, including attending a Real Madrid match at the Bernabéu Stadium and meeting club legends.

Life-changing drug identified for children with rare epilepsy

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0100

A new experimental treatment for children with a hard-to-treat form of epilepsy is safe and can reduce seizures dramatically, helping them lead much healthier and happier lives, the findings of a UCL (University College London) and Great Ormond Street Hospital-led international clinical trial show.

In a new paper published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers found that children with Dravet syndrome had up to 91 per cent fewer seizures while being regularly administered a new medication called zorevunersen.

Pfizer's Phase 2 study of trispecific antibody positive in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced positive topline results from a Phase 2 study investigating tilrekimig (PF-07275315) in adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The study met its primary efficacy endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant increase in the percentage of participants achieving EASI-75* (≥ 75% reduction in the Eczema Area and Severity Index) at Week 16, compared to placebo.

People with COPD commonly misuse medications

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Medication nonadherence among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a result of affordability and lack of knowledge about medications, among other factors, and leads to increased exacerbations and faster lung function decline, according to two new studies. The studies are published in the January 2026 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open access journal.

Chemically ‘stapled’ peptides used to target difficult-to-treat cancers

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a new technology that uses bacteria to build, chemically stabilise, and test millions of potential drug molecules inside living cells, making it much quicker and easier to discover new treatments for difficult-to-treat cancers.

New study identifies growth hormone receptor as possible target to improve lung cancer treatment

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Researchers at Ohio University have discovered what may be a new way to fight lung cancer that is resistant to other treatments. The study published in the International Journal of Molecular Science and led by Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar and distinguished professor John J. Kopchick, Ph.D., and his graduate student Arshad Ahmad at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, found that blocking the growth hormone receptor may help make lung cancer treatments more effective.

A highly precise target for medications against tropical diseases

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Cells have to break down sugar to produce energy. In most organisms, this process of glycolysis takes place in the cytosol. This is not the case with trypanosomes. These possess specialized organelles called glycosomes where glycolysis takes place. “Because the parasites rely fundamentally on these organelles for energy production, any disruption of glycosome biogenesis is lethal to them,” says Erdmann.

Aspirin not a quick fix for preventing bowel cancer

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Daily aspirin use does not offer a quick or reliable way to prevent bowel cancer in the general population and carries immediate risks of serious bleeding, a new Cochrane review finds.

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. Prevention typically involves following a healthy lifestyle and periodically undergoing routine screening tests.

Accelerating next generation medicine with new drug delivery platform

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Scientists have developed an adaptable materials platform that can safely and efficiently deliver a wide range of genetic medicines, a breakthrough that could accelerate the development of next‑generation vaccines, cancer treatments, and gene‑silencing drugs.

Experts from the University of Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy have created a new drug delivery platform that uses modular building blocks that self‑assemble with Ribonucleic acid- RNA to form nanoscale delivery particles.

Scientists deliver new molecule for getting DNA into cells

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a new molecule which carries DNA into biological cells, to treat or vaccinate against illnesses. Many existing options rely on molecules with a strong positive charge, which can cause harmful inflammation. The team overcame this by using a neutral molecule and a new method to bind DNA to it, making it possible to deliver DNA into cells.

New AI model could cut the costs of developing protein drugs

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Industrial yeasts are a powerhouse of protein production, used to manufacture vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, and other useful compounds. In a new study, MIT chemical engineers have harnessed artificial intelligence to optimize the development of new protein manufacturing processes, which could reduce the overall costs of developing and manufacturing these drugs.

U.S. FDA grants full approval to Pfizer's BRAFTOVI combination regimen in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to BRAFTOVI® (encorafenib) in combination with cetuximab (marketed as ERBITUX®) and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation based on results from the global Phase 3 BREAKWATER trial (NCT04607421).

New antibody-drug conjugate strategy to block HIV infection

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

New antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) developed at Institute of Science Tokyo combine a CD4 mimic with neutralizing antibodies for enhanced suppression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. By targeting the gp120 on the viral envelope via a two-step mechanism, the ADCs effectively block viral entry - offering seven times better efficacy than existing approaches.

Rhododendron-derived drugs now made by bacteria

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Bioengineered E. coli bacteria can now produce a group of compounds with anticancer, anti-HIV, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities. The Kobe University achievement is the result of a rational design strategy that yields a platform for the industrial production of drug candidates.

Plants produce many substances with promising pharmacological activities. For example, Rhododendron species produce a class of compounds, called orsellinic acid-derived meroterpenoids, with remarkable anticancer, anti-HIV, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Lung cancer drug offers a surprising new treatment against ovarian cancer

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

A new study published by Mayo Clinic researchers suggests that ovarian cancer cells quickly activate a survival response after PARP inhibitor treatment, and blocking this early response may make this class of drugs work better.

PARP inhibitors are a common treatment for ovarian cancer and can be especially effective in cancers with impaired DNA repair.

Researchers identify promising Alzheimer's disease drug target

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Indiana University School of Medicine scientists have identified a promising drug target for Alzheimer's disease. The team found that removing an enzyme from neurons in the brain substantially reduces amyloid plaques - a hallmark characteristic of the disease - and may provide further resilience against disease progression.

Repurposed alcoholism drug fights liver cancer by targeting fat metabolism and blood supply

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, often driven by abnormal lipid metabolism and excessive blood vessel growth. In a new study, researchers from Fudan University and Wenzhou Medical University have uncovered how disulfiram - a long-used anti-alcoholism medication - exerts potent anti-tumor effects in liver cancer.

Integrating heart imaging and proteomics identifies drug targets for cardiovascular diseases

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, with significant residual risk unexplained by traditional factors. The discovery of novel therapeutic targets or the repurposing of existing drug targets could improve the prevention and treatment for different CVDs. However, previous studies have encountered different analytic challenges, such as failing to cover the whole spectrum of CVDs,

Multiple myeloma: Established cancer drug reactivates immunotherapy

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Genetically modified immune cells can offer precious additional time to patients with advanced multiple myeloma. However, these therapies lose their impact as the molecules on cancer cells that immune cells recognize gradually vanish. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now identified one of the molecular mechanisms behind this process. In an initial study they succeeded in blocking it using an existing cancer drug.

Why people won't quit a weight loss drug - even when it makes them feel sick

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Patients who use semaglutide for weight loss, like Ozempic, are more likely to continue the medication if they perceive it as effective, even when facing unpleasant side effects, according to Rutgers Health researchers.

Their study, published in Journal of Medical Internet Research, found perceived effectiveness - reductions in weight, appetite or food cravings - was the strongest predictor of satisfaction and intention to continue treatment, regardless of side effects.