Breaking World Pharma News

3D experimental system to evaluate candidate drugs against glioma

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

A three-dimensional experimental system has been developed to study the response to drugs in low-grade glioma, a tumor of the central nervous system that often occurs in children. The project, developed by the University of Trento, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and Sapienza University of Rome, is a breakthrough in the study, understanding and treatment of the disease.

New drug combination doubles down on Alzheimer's treatments

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

A new study finds that combining the current medications for Alzheimer’s disease with small molecules derived from micronutrients found in grapes, berries, peanuts and turmeric is a safer and more effective way to treat the disease.

Individuals with Alzheimer’s have a buildup of toxic amyloid proteins in the brain. Researchers from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo combined amyloid-destroying small molecules with anti-amyloid antibodies that are already used in Alzheimer’s treatment.

A small molecule drug candidate fully restores survival in a lethal mouse model of a rare kidney stone disease

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have shown that an orally administered small molecule, N-propargylglycine (N-PPG), can completely prevent the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones, protect against kidney failure, and fully restore normal survival in a mouse model of Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 2 (PH2), a rare and currently untreatable genetic disorder that causes progressive kidney failure in infants and young adults.

Scientists discover the antibacterial potential of ‘hero’ Korean skincare ingredient

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

Fans of Korean skincare may be familiar with ‘hero ingredient’ Madecassic acid for its skin-soothing properties, but researchers at the University of Kent have revealed its greater potential for use in the battle against antibiotic resistance.

Using a combination of computational screening and laboratory experiments, scientists in the School of Natural Sciences together with those at University College London (UCL) have demonstrated how this natural chemical from the common Asian herb Centella asiatica, is an effective antibacterial drug.

Bristol Myers Squibb evolves and expands Standing in the Gaap to advance more equitable care in multiple myeloma

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), a global leader in oncology, announced the evolution of Standing in the Gaap, a long-running program designed to help address persistent gaps in care for people living with multiple myeloma (MM) in medically underserved communities. Building on a decade of sustained commitment, BMS is reinforcing its focus on equitable access to multiple myeloma education, resources, and community-driven solutions by expanding the program to reach more patients and care partners.

New AI technology to speed drug development

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

University of Virginia School of Medicine scientists have developed a bold new approach to drug development and discovery that could dramatically accelerate the creation of new medicines.

UVA’s Nikolay V. Dokholyan, PhD, and colleagues have developed a suite of artificial intelligence-powered tools, called YuelDesign, YuelPocket and YuelBond, that work together to transform how new drugs are created.

Study shows new drug compounds dial down inflammation without compromising immunity

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

Scripps Research scientists have developed a new class of drug compounds that reduce harmful inflammation while leaving the body’s ability to fight infections intact - a long-sought goal in treating autoimmune diseases. The compounds, called ENDOtollins, work by interrupting a “molecular handshake” between two proteins inside immune cells.

Johns Hopkins team develops therapeutic, nasally delivered DNA vaccine for tuberculosis

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

In a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, a research team at Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reports developing a therapeutic intranasal (nose-delivered) DNA vaccine against tuberculosis (TB) that fuses two genes with the goal of directing the immune system to fight drug-tolerant bacterial “persisters” that can survive prolonged antibiotic therapy and contribute to disease relapse.

Researchers identify mechanism for body weight-reducing hormone

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

A hormone that reverses obesity in mice appears to work by signaling to a brain region involved in metabolism and appetite regulation, the same area targeted by the popular GLP-1 drugs. The finding, from University of Oklahoma researchers, is published in Cell Reports.

The study provides valuable new insight into the naturally occurring hormone, called FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21), which is already involved in drug development.

NIH researchers discover pain-relieving drug with minimal addictive properties

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified a novel, highly potent opioid that shows potential as a therapy for both pain and opioid use disorder. In a study published in Nature, the team observed the new drug’s effect in laboratory animals. They showed that it has high pain-relieving effects without causing respiratory depression, tolerance or other indicators of potential for addiction in humans.

Abbott expands access to Precision Oncology portfolio through integration with Flatiron's OncoEMR® platform

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

Abbott (NYSE: ABT), the global healthcare company, and Flatiron Health, a leading healthtech company advancing point-of-care solutions in oncology, announced the integration of Abbott's comprehensive Precision Oncology portfolio into OncoEMR®, Flatiron's cloud-based Electronic Medical Record (EMR) platform.

Virus-inspired DNA needle could pave the way for better medicines

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a microscopic DNA needle that can deliver molecules directly into cells - and, crucially, help make sure they remain active once they get there. That addresses a major problem in modern medicine: much of what enters a cell is quickly sealed off in tiny bubbles and put out of action before it ever reaches its target.

"Smart" drugs to fight cancer

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0200

How can cancer cells be targeted without damaging healthy tissue? This is one of the major challenges facing oncology today. Using synthetic DNA strands, a team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has created a “smart” system that can recognise cancer cells with exceptional precision and release powerful drugs only where they are needed. Beyond cancer treatment, this research paves the way to “smart” medicines and programmable drug delivery.

Dermcidin has antiviral activity and protects against influenza

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0200

A research team led by the Fisabio Foundation has demonstrated that dermcidin, an antimicrobial peptide produced constitutively by the human body, also exhibits antiviral activity against the influenza virus. The study also shows that people who do not develop flu-like symptoms have higher baseline levels of this molecule, which could be associated with lower susceptibility to infection.

An avatar to study pediatric brain cancer

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0200

The model organ for this research project is the best pediatric brain tumor model developed so far and can be used to test new drugs. The results of the project, conducted by the University of Trento with Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome, were published in the Nature Protocols.

In recent years, cancer research switched from the study of two-dimensional assays (cultures on plastic) to organoids, more complex systems that make it possible to work in a three-dimensional environment and that allow for a more realistic observation of the disease.

A pioneering drug capable of reversing cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease in animal models

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

A team from the University of Barcelona has designed and validated in animal models an innovative compound with a pioneering mechanism of action for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike current drugs, which mainly remove beta-amyloid plaques that accumulate in the brain, this new experimental drug reprogrammes the neuronal epigenome by correcting alterations in gene expression that contribute to the progression of the disease.

Plastic bottles transformed into Parkinson’s drug using bacteria

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

A drug to treat Parkinson’s disease can be made from waste plastic bottles using a pioneering method, a study shows.

The approach harnesses the power of bacteria to transform post-consumer plastic into L-DOPA, a frontline medication for the neurological disorder.

Researchers break decades-old bottleneck in chemotherapy drug manufacturing

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

An international team of researchers has achieved a breakthrough in the production of doxorubicin, a vital chemotherapy agent. The study identifies and resolves molecular "bottlenecks" that have limited the natural production of this drug for over 50 years.

Doxorubicin is a chemotherapy drug that was first approved for medical use in the 1970s.

Sanofi’s venglustat earns Breakthrough Therapy designation in the US for type 3 Gaucher disease

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

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to venglustat, a novel, investigational oral glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor (GCSi), for the treatment of neurological manifestations of type 3 Gaucher disease (GD3), a rare lysosomal storage disorder.

Preclinical study reveals new cream may prevent or slow growth of some common skin cancers

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

A topical cream activated the skin’s immune defenses and suppressed tumor growth in two preclinical models of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), one of the most common cancers in the world, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Developed by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the cream works by blocking LSD1, an enzyme that suppresses immune‑activating pathways in the skin.