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Study shows new drug compounds dial down inflammation without compromising immunity

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.

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

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.

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Researchers identify mechanism for body weight-reducing hormone

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.

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NIH researchers discover pain-relieving drug with minimal addictive properties

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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"Smart" drugs to fight cancer

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.

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Dermcidin has antiviral activity and protects against influenza

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.

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An avatar to study pediatric brain cancer

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.

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

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.

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