Breaking World Pharma News

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.

Safer blood clot treatment with apixaban than with rivaroxaban

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

The first clinical trial to compare two commonly used drugs head-to-head for venous thrombosis treatment has found a clear winner: while both drugs work well to prevent recurrent blood clots, apixaban is safer than rivaroxaban, with fewer bleeding complications.

Venous thrombosis occurs when a blood clot lodges in the veins of the legs or lungs.

Experimental chemo drug may trick the immune system into fighting cancer

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

A new discovery from researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center helps explain why some chemotherapy drugs not only eliminate cancer cells directly, they - at least in some patients - actually trigger the innate immune system to attack cancer cells.

The researchers made this discovery while testing a potential chemotherapy agent referred to as Compound 1 - which causes a build-up of toxic molecules called reactive oxygen species - on preclinical models.

New drug combination doubles down on Alzheimer's treatments

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

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.

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.