Breaking WORLD PHARMA NEWS

Scientists finally confirm vitamin B1 hypothesis from 1958

Chemists have confirmed a 67-year-old theory about vitamin B1 by stabilizing a reactive molecule in water - a feat long thought impossible. The discovery not only solves a biochemical mystery, but also opens the door to greener, more efficient ways of making pharmaceuticals.

The molecule in question is a carbene, a type of carbon atom with only six valence electrons. Generally, carbon is stable with eight electrons around it. With only six electrons, it is chemically unstable and highly reactive.

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Empowering antibodies to better activate the immune system

Antibodies are best known for their ability to latch onto and neutralize bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. But these immune proteins can do more than that: They also activate other components of the immune system, which then go to work to clear an infection. A new study from Scripps Research explores the factors that influence how effectively antibodies engage specific immune cells.

Their results, described April 22, 2025 in Cell Reports, indicate that a higher ratio of antibodies to viral protein - in this case, a part of HIV - better engages two specific types of immune cells.

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BlueRock Therapeutics announces publication in Nature of 18-month data from Phase 1 clinical trial for bemdaneprocel, an investigational cell therapy for Parkinson's disease

BlueRock Therapeutics LP, a clinical-stage cell therapy company and wholly owned subsidiary of Bayer AG, announced the publication of the 18-month data from its Phase 1 exPDite clinical trial for bemdaneprocel in the journal Nature.

"The concept of "rebuilding" brain networks that have been lost to disease is compelling," said Claire Henchcliffe, MD, chair of the UC Irvine School of Medicine's Department of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine and one of the study's Principal Investigators,

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Existing drug has potential for immune paralysis

When the immune system does not function properly, individuals become more susceptible to infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Researchers from Radboud university medical center have demonstrated that an existing drug can revive immune cells that are not functioning correctly. These findings provide leads for further research in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with sepsis.

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Study finds pinworm medication has potential to treat aggressive skin cancer

A common pinworm medication may stop and reverse cancer growth in Merkel cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, according to research led by University of Arizona Cancer Center researchers and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare but fast-growing neuroendocrine cancer that is three to five times more likely than melanoma to be deadly.

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Scientists achieve record-breaking growth in miniature, functional liver models

While organoids aim to mimic human organs, the liver's repertoire of complex functions - and thus the energy it needs to operate - have made it challenging for researchers to grow organoids that proliferate and fully function, says Sato. When prioritizing growth and survival in laboratory settings, hepatocytes, the liver's main cells, eventually transformed into cells resembling cholangiocytes, which line the bile duct. Hepatocyte functions only lasted 1-2 weeks at most.

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Popular diabetes medications, including GLP-1 drugs, may protect against Alzheimer's disease

A study led by researchers in the University of Florida College of Pharmacy has found that a pair of popular glucose-lowering medications may have protective effects against the development of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

In research published in JAMA Neurology on April 7, UF researchers studied Medicare claims data of older adults with Type 2 diabetes to assess the association among glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1RAs, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, or SGLT2is, and the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

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Potential treatment for Parkinson's using investigational cell therapy shows early promise

A stem cell-based therapy initially developed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) may lead to a new treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease, according to results from a phase 1 clinical trial reported in Nature.

The treatment involved creating nerve cells (neurons) derived from embryonic stem cells and transplanting them into the brains of 12 Parkinson's patients.

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Researchers develop an LSD analogue with potential for treating schizophrenia

University of California, Davis researchers have developed a new, neuroplasticity-promoting drug closely related to LSD that harnesses the psychedelic's therapeutic power with reduced hallucinogenic potential.

The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the new drug's potential as a treatment option for conditions like schizophrenia, where psychedelics are not prescribed for safety reasons.

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The gut health benefits of sauerkraut

Is sauerkraut more than just a tangy topping? A new University of California, Davis, study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology suggests that the fermented cabbage could help protect your gut, which is an essential part of overall health, supporting digestion and protecting against illness.

Authors Maria Marco, professor with the Department of Food Science and Technology, and Lei Wei, a postdoctoral researcher in Marco's lab, looked at what happens during fermentation - specifically, how the metabolites in sauerkraut compared to those in raw cabbage.

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