Medical Xpress
Mental disorders have nearly doubled since 1990, now affecting 1.2 billion people worldwide
Mental disorders now affect nearly 1.2 billion people worldwide, almost double the 1990 figure, according to a new study. The surge has elevated mental illness to the leading cause of disability globally, overtaking cardiovascular disease, cancer, and musculoskeletal conditions. The findings underscore a growing public health crisis that demands urgent attention from governments and healthcare systems alike.
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Stat News
STAT+: Merck-Kelun lung cancer drug cut risk of tumor progression by 65%, ASCO abstract shows
Merck and Kelun-Biotech's targeted chemotherapy delivered a striking Phase 3 result, slashing the risk of tumor progression by 65% in lung cancer patients. The data, surfaced in an ASCO abstract, underscores the growing clinical muscle of antibody-drug conjugates in oncology. For Merck, the readout strengthens its pipeline beyond Keytruda as it looks to secure its next blockbuster.
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Child death rates in the United States have increased, study finds
A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that child and adolescent death rates in the United States rose 6.6% between 2020 and 2023, reversing decades of progress in pediatric health outcomes. Firearms, car accidents, and poisoning ranked among the leading causes, with most fatal injuries passing through emergency departments first. The findings underscore a deepening public health crisis demanding urgent attention to injury prevention and emergency care capacity.
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Novel combination therapy could reduce leukemia relapse rate, extending window for bone marrow transplants
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have developed a combination therapy — dubbed QUIZOM — that significantly improves survival outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia patients carrying FLT3 gene mutations. The treatment pairs FLT3 inhibitor Quizartinib with protein synthesis inhibitor Omacetaxine Mepesuccinate to suppress relapse more effectively than existing approaches. By extending remission windows, the therapy could give more patients the critical time needed to undergo life-saving bone marrow transplants.
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Stat News
STAT+: Closely watched experimental Parkinson’s drug fails key clinical trial
Biogen and Denali Therapeutics' experimental Parkinson's therapy has failed to demonstrate efficacy in a randomized clinical trial, dealing a significant blow to one of the field's most anticipated drug candidates. The result marks another setback in the long-struggling effort to develop treatments that slow — rather than merely manage — the progression of Parkinson's disease. Investors and researchers had closely tracked the therapy as a potential proof-of-concept for a novel biological approach to neurodegeneration.
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