Medical Xpress
Repurposed epilepsy drug could be used to boost vaccine protection among elderly
An epilepsy drug already approved for human use could be repurposed to dramatically strengthen vaccine responses in vulnerable populations. Cambridge researchers found the drug more than doubled antibody production against flu and increased flu-specific killer T cells tenfold. The findings could be a significant breakthrough for elderly and immunocompromised patients who historically see weaker protection from standard vaccines.
Read article →Guardian Health
Damning report on England maternity care ‘watershed moment’, health secretary says
A landmark review has exposed deeply troubling failures in NHS maternity care, prompting Health Secretary James Murray to announce the creation of a dedicated maternity commissioner. The Amos report identifies toxic cultural dynamics within some units as a central driver of poor outcomes for mothers and babies. Questions remain, however, over whether the proposed reforms go far enough to drive the structural change the findings demand.
Read article →Medical Xpress
Cancer cell 'degraders' target two proteins at once to defeat treatment resistance
Researchers at the Technion have developed a novel compound capable of targeting two cancer-related proteins simultaneously, a strategy designed to outmaneuver the treatment resistance that renders many existing therapies ineffective. Unlike conventional drugs that inhibit a single target, this "degrader" approach destroys multiple proteins driving tumor growth. The breakthrough shows promising results against aggressive cancer cells and could reshape how oncologists tackle hard-to-treat malignancies.
Read article →Medical Xpress
Experimental vaccine for 'neglected disease' carried by hundreds of millions of people shows promising results
A new vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis — a parasitic disease affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide — has demonstrated the ability to both trigger and sustain an immune response, according to researchers at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The disease has long been classified as "neglected" due to limited investment in treatments despite its massive global burden. The breakthrough, led by Dr. Afzal Siddiqui, marks a significant step toward the first viable vaccine for a condition that has historically received little attention from the pharmaceutical industry.
Read article →Medical Xpress
Photoswitch drug shows early signs of restoring light sensitivity in severely damaged retinas in first human trial
A groundbreaking first-in-human trial of a photoswitch drug has shown early promise in restoring light sensitivity to severely damaged retinas, offering new hope for patients with degenerative vision loss. The treatment, developed by Adelaide University researchers, targets one of the leading causes of blindness in working-age adults. If results hold in larger trials, this approach could represent a significant shift in how irreversible retinal damage is treated.
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