The way cancer-causing proteins accumulate in tumours may influence how effectively Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTAC) drugs can remove them, a new study suggests. Researchers found that PROTACs were more effective at removing proteins that build up because they are not broken down properly than proteins that cancer… Read More
BIOCAPTIVA, a University of Edinburgh spin-out that develops advanced technologies to extract cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from blood for cancer liquid biopsies, has appointed experienced life sciences executive, Stephane Argivier as Chair to steer its next phase of international growth. The company’s patented msX platform has the potential to improve the… Read More
A genetic difference carried by nearly one in three could increase the risk of Covid-19 and lung disease, a new study shows. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found the genetic variant alters a newly discovered enzyme found in lung tissue, disrupting the function of a previously unknown protein. This… Read More
Tiny algae-based robots guided by magnets could improve bladder cancer treatment by boosting delivery of chemotherapy drugs into tumours, researchers say. Tracked using real-time imaging, the miniature robots help drugs penetrate deep into tumour tissue while limiting damage to healthy cells. In lab tests with… Read More
A pioneering Regenerative Macrophage Therapy (RMT) could represent a new method of treating end-stage liver disease, research shows. Results from the University of Edinburgh’s MATCH trial, published in Cell Stem Cell, demonstrate RMT provides significantly prolonged transplant‑free survival after four years compared with those who received standard care. Read More
The latest episode of the DDW Highlights Podcast is now available to listen to below. DDW’s Bruno Quinney narrates the key stories of the previous week to keep DDW subscribers up-to-date on the latest industry news. Last week, a cancer enzyme discovery provided clues for potential new treatments. Elsewhere, how can… Read More
News round-up for 16 – 20 March February by Bruno Quinney, Content Team at DDW. This week, a pioneering method is being used to make drugs for Parkinson’s disease. Elsewhere, advances have been made in both research and trials for common cancers. The top stories: Edinburgh team… Read More
A drug to treat Parkinson’s disease can be made from waste plastic bottles using a pioneering method, a study shows. The approach harnesses bacteria to transform post-consumer plastic into L-DOPA, a frontline medication for the neurological disorder. It is the first time a natural, biological… Read More
Scientists have discovered that people diagnosed with ME/CFS have significant differences in their DNA, offering the first robust evidence that genes contribute to a person’s chance of developing the disease. Initial findings have uncovered eight areas of genetic code in people with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome)… Read More
Kynos Therapeutics has announced positive top line results from the first in human Phase I trial of its lead drug candidate, KMO inhibitor KNS366, for acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. KMO is an enzyme that acts at a key point in the kynurenine pathway of… Read More
Scientists investigating potential drugs to improve recovery from spinal cord injury have uncovered a promising route to new treatments. Researchers tested more than 1000 potential drugs and identified that an existing one – cimetidine – improved spinal repair in zebrafish. The drug also helped… Read More
Three drugs that could help stave off the effects of ageing have been discovered using artificial intelligence (AI), a study by Edinburgh researchers suggests. Findings suggest the drugs can safely remove defective cells – known as senescent cells – linked to conditions including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease… Read More
A new project by researchers in Edinburgh aims to identify combinations of existing drugs that could be used together to treat motor neuron disease (MND). Led by Prof Siddharthan Chandran, the £3.3 million project is funded by the medical research charity LifeArc, as part of an… Read More
