Therapeutic
mRNA vaccine for cancer shows promise at Tufts University
A study in PNAS in August 2022 presented an mRNA vaccine for cancer that targets the lymph nodes instead of the liver. Researchers say this method is “strong”
University partners find MND therapy potential
Researchers announced in August 2022 that they found evidence that the drug terazosin “protects against the death of motor neurons”.
Tired T-cells need TLC to continue fighting cancer
When providing an immune response to cancer T-cells are known to get “exhausted” to the point of no return. Early exhaustion can sometimes be reversed
Immune system map uncovers therapeutic potential
A group of scientists, led by researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and ETH Zurich, created a “comprehensive map” of the connections…
Improving protein factories for gene therapies
Gene therapy tackles the source of disease in the patient’s DNA through viral or bacterial vectors. Most commonly, muscle cells are targeted
Vertex’s “Fantasy project” with Moderna pushes CF limits
Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Moderna announced in 2022 their strategic research collaboration aimed at the “discovery and development of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and mRNAs”. This partnership is part of Vertex’s larger project to find suitable Cystic Fibrosis (CF)...
2030 AIDS elimination goals for new WHO alliance
The recent UNAIDS report revealed that only 52% of children with HIV are receiving life-saving treatment. However, 76% of adults with HIV are receiving antiretrovirals. The gap in coverage is “an outrage”, according to UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Bynanyima. She...
Continuing the Covid-19 fight with monoclonal antibodies
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues across the globe, novel variants mutate and rise against current treatments. The protection afforded by vaccination wanes after a few months, and therapies that previously worked are ineffective against more recent instalments. Thus,...
China’s antiviral pill: from HIV to Covid-19
In July 2022 China’s drug regulator gave conditional approval for Azvduine, an HIV drug developed by Genuine Biotech, to be used in the treatment of Covid-19. Specific data from clinical trials were not released but the company announced that in a Phase III clinical...
Together against Alzheimer’s: where do we stand?
Some of the most common indicators of Alzheimer’s disease include build-ups of beta-amyloid plaques, tau proteins, and neuroinflammation. These are the targets for a vaccine against Alzheimer’s progression. One of the simpler methods to vaccine development is...
High hopes for collaborative HIV vaccine development
In March 2022 Dr Anthony Fauci, director of NIAID, reflected that developing an effective HIV vaccine is a “daunting scientific challenge”. He identifies the obstacles: genetic variability, ability to establish lifelong infection, and human inability to clear HIV...
Diabetes developments, Provention and Diamyd
Historic diabetes treatment focuses on treating the condition with insulin. However, recent immunotherapies move towards the potential to delay or prevent type 1 diabetes (T1D). Provention Bio, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the interception and...
Does EBV hold the key for Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects the CNS in among 2.8 million people worldwide. The front runner among causal agents is Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a human herpesvirus. It is present in around 90% of adults by the age of 35. Early studies support the link between EBV and...
Fighting hidden threats: vaccines against cancer?
Vaccines provide the immune system with information to recognise and fight threats before they appear in the body. Although we associate vaccines with infectious diseases the cancer field is growing more effective. In the1890s William Coley reported that injecting...
