World Pharma News - one of the world's leading web-based pharmaceutical news publications - is committed to providing and disseminating the most prominent pharm https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research-and-development 2026-06-11T08:01:53+02:00 World Pharma News World Pharma News 2026-05-08T10:00:00+02:00 2026-05-08T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7084-ai-assisted-approach-identifies-irs4-as-a-promising-drug-target-in-multiple-solid-tumors Super User

Published in Science Advances, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists used a mix of genetic cancer dependency data, artificial intelligence (AI) and naturally occurring mutations to prioritize safer cancer drug targets. They focused their efforts on targets most likely to be effective while limiting unwanted toxicity, identifying IRS4 as a potential dependency across multiple tumor types. The work provides a proof of principle for evaluating potential toxicity early in the search for novel therapeutics.

Published in Science Advances, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists used a mix of genetic cancer dependency data, artificial intelligence (AI) and naturally occurring mutations to prioritize safer cancer drug targets. They focused their efforts on targets most likely to be effective while limiting unwanted toxicity, identifying IRS4 as a potential dependency across multiple tumor types. The work provides a proof of principle for evaluating potential toxicity early in the search for novel therapeutics. 2026-05-07T10:00:00+02:00 2026-05-07T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7083-researchers-identify-natural-compound-that-disarms-drug-resistant-bacteria Super User

Every year, antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as “staph,” causes serious infections and outbreaks in hospitals and community settings, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Methicillin-resistant strains, known as MRSA, are a leading contributor to deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance globally.

Every year, antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as “staph,” causes serious infections and outbreaks in hospitals and community settings, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Methicillin-resistant strains, known as MRSA, are a leading contributor to deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance globally. 2026-05-06T10:00:00+02:00 2026-05-06T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7082-scientists-discover-a-new-way-to-make-drug-resistant-cancer-treatable-again Super User

Cancer cells survive by repairing damage to their DNA - even damage that would normally be fatal. One of their most important defense systems is homologous recombination, a high-precision repair pathway that fixes broken DNA using key proteins such as RAD51 and CHK1. While therapies such as PARP inhibitors have successfully targeted this vulnerability, many tumors eventually regain their DNA repair ability and become resistant to treatment.

Cancer cells survive by repairing damage to their DNA - even damage that would normally be fatal. One of their most important defense systems is homologous recombination, a high-precision repair pathway that fixes broken DNA using key proteins such as RAD51 and CHK1. While therapies such as PARP inhibitors have successfully targeted this vulnerability, many tumors eventually regain their DNA repair ability and become resistant to treatment. 2026-05-05T10:00:00+02:00 2026-05-05T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7081-a-new-drug-concept-to-treat-obesity-and-type-2-diabetes Super User

A team led by metabolism researcher Prof Timo D. Müller at Helmholtz Munich has developed a new approach for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes: a hybrid molecule uses the well-known GLP-1/GIP signalling pathway as a “door opener” and delivers an additional metabolic modulator specifically into the target cells. In laboratory experiments, mice subsequently ate less, lost more weight and showed improved blood-glucose values compared with reference treatments.

A team led by metabolism researcher Prof Timo D. Müller at Helmholtz Munich has developed a new approach for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes: a hybrid molecule uses the well-known GLP-1/GIP signalling pathway as a “door opener” and delivers an additional metabolic modulator specifically into the target cells. In laboratory experiments, mice subsequently ate less, lost more weight and showed improved blood-glucose values compared with reference treatments. 2026-05-04T10:00:00+02:00 2026-05-04T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7080-autonomous-ai-based-drug-prescribing-rife-with-potential-problems Super User

A first-of-its-kind pilot program in Utah developed by a health-technology startup company uses artificial intelligence to automatically renew certain prescriptions for patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. But according to a new paper co-written by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign expert in legal issues surrounding cutting-edge medical technology, autonomous AI-based drug prescribing raises important clinical and legal issues.

A first-of-its-kind pilot program in Utah developed by a health-technology startup company uses artificial intelligence to automatically renew certain prescriptions for patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. But according to a new paper co-written by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign expert in legal issues surrounding cutting-edge medical technology, autonomous AI-based drug prescribing raises important clinical and legal issues. 2026-05-01T10:00:00+02:00 2026-05-01T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7079-new-dual-target-drug-may-help-overcome-immunotherapy-resistance-in-pancreatic-cancer Super User

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest cancer types, with a five-year survival rate of 13%. There are only two treatment regimens available with limited efficacy. Pancreatic cancers do not respond to immunotherapy where the body’s immune system attacks tumor cells. The effectiveness of these treatments is limited due to immunotherapy resistance.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest cancer types, with a five-year survival rate of 13%. There are only two treatment regimens available with limited efficacy. Pancreatic cancers do not respond to immunotherapy where the body’s immune system attacks tumor cells. The effectiveness of these treatments is limited due to immunotherapy resistance. 2026-04-30T10:00:00+02:00 2026-04-30T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7078-targeted-therapy-drug-shows-early-promise-against-kras-driven-lung-and-pancreatic-cancers Super User

A first-in-human clinical trial led by an international team of researchers and published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that setidegrasib, an investigational targeted therapy drug designed to eliminate a key cancer-driving protein called KRAS G12D, shows encouraging early activity in patients with advanced lung and pancreatic cancers. The therapy shrank tumors in some patients and delayed disease progression, marking a potential step forward for cancers with few targeted treatment options.

A first-in-human clinical trial led by an international team of researchers and published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that setidegrasib, an investigational targeted therapy drug designed to eliminate a key cancer-driving protein called KRAS G12D, shows encouraging early activity in patients with advanced lung and pancreatic cancers. The therapy shrank tumors in some patients and delayed disease progression, marking a potential step forward for cancers with few targeted treatment options. 2026-04-29T10:00:00+02:00 2026-04-29T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7077-candidate-breast-cancer-drug-overloads-tumors-with-surge-of-toxic-lipids Super User

An experimental drug targeting triple-negative breast cancer overwhelms cancer cells with toxic fats, according to new tests on human-derived tumors in mice. Triple-negative breast cancer lacks three common drug targets, making it one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. <p> The compound, known as DH20931, appears to push cancer cells past their limits by triggering a surge in fat-like molecules called ceramides.

An experimental drug targeting triple-negative breast cancer overwhelms cancer cells with toxic fats, according to new tests on human-derived tumors in mice. Triple-negative breast cancer lacks three common drug targets, making it one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. <p> The compound, known as DH20931, appears to push cancer cells past their limits by triggering a surge in fat-like molecules called ceramides. 2026-04-28T10:00:00+02:00 2026-04-28T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7076-fighting-oral-cancer-with-bioengineered-chewing-gum Super User

Researchers led by Henry Daniell of the School of Dental Medicine have shown that extracts from bioengineered chewing gum reduce the levels of three microbes known to be associated with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC), paving the way for more effective and affordable therapies. Their findings are published in Scientific Reports.

Researchers led by Henry Daniell of the School of Dental Medicine have shown that extracts from bioengineered chewing gum reduce the levels of three microbes known to be associated with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC), paving the way for more effective and affordable therapies. Their findings are published in Scientific Reports. 2026-04-27T10:00:00+02:00 2026-04-27T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7075-millions-suffering-needlessly-with-curable-hepatitis-c Super User

Millions of Americans are still battling potentially deadly hepatitis C even though they could be cured with antiviral drugs they are not receiving, a new analysis reveals. <p> University of Virginia School of Medicine researcher Sanjay Kishore, MD, and colleagues at Mass General Brigham looked at prescribing trends for the drugs, known as direct-acting antivirals. They found that prescriptions rose rapidly when the drugs were first introduced in 2013, then peaked in 2015.

Millions of Americans are still battling potentially deadly hepatitis C even though they could be cured with antiviral drugs they are not receiving, a new analysis reveals. <p> University of Virginia School of Medicine researcher Sanjay Kishore, MD, and colleagues at Mass General Brigham looked at prescribing trends for the drugs, known as direct-acting antivirals. They found that prescriptions rose rapidly when the drugs were first introduced in 2013, then peaked in 2015. 2026-04-24T10:00:00+02:00 2026-04-24T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7074-targeting-the-yin-and-yang-of-macrophages-to-strengthen-cancer-vaccines-and-anti-tumor-immunity Super User

Macrophages, key regulators of tissue health and immune defense, are among the most abundant immune cells in solid tumors. Their role in cancer has been difficult to define because even closely related macrophage populations can have very different, and sometimes opposing, functions. <p> Funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, researchers at Geisel School of Medicine, led by principal investigator Claudia Jakubzick, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology,

Macrophages, key regulators of tissue health and immune defense, are among the most abundant immune cells in solid tumors. Their role in cancer has been difficult to define because even closely related macrophage populations can have very different, and sometimes opposing, functions. <p> Funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, researchers at Geisel School of Medicine, led by principal investigator Claudia Jakubzick, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology, 2026-04-23T10:00:00+02:00 2026-04-23T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7073-new-knowledge-about-mobile-proteins-linked-to-childhood-cancer Super User

Researchers at Linköping University show how two important cancer-related proteins can be prevented from collaborating with each other. The discovery shows the way towards future medications to combat e.g. neuroblastoma in children. Their study has been published in the journal Nature Communications. <p> “Today we can cure many cases of childhood cancer that were incurable ten years ago. But there’s still an important group of childhood tumours that evade cure.

Researchers at Linköping University show how two important cancer-related proteins can be prevented from collaborating with each other. The discovery shows the way towards future medications to combat e.g. neuroblastoma in children. Their study has been published in the journal Nature Communications. <p> “Today we can cure many cases of childhood cancer that were incurable ten years ago. But there’s still an important group of childhood tumours that evade cure. 2026-04-22T10:00:00+02:00 2026-04-22T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7072-3d-experimental-system-to-evaluate-candidate-drugs-against-glioma Super User

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.

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. 2026-04-21T10:00:00+02:00 2026-04-21T10:00:00+02:00 https://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/7071-new-drug-combination-doubles-down-on-alzheimers-treatments-2 Super User

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. <p> 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 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. <p> 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.