News round-up by DDW’s Megan Thomas for 10-14 January, 2022
Studies, approvals and research are at the heart of drug discovery, which has been exemplified in this week’s drug discovery news. Megan Thomas has rounded up her top five stories of the week.
Vaccine-like mRNA injection can be used to make CAR-T cells
A study from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has shown that an experimental immunotherapy can temporarily reprogramme patients’ immune cells to attack a specific target via only a single injection of mRNA, similar to the mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines.
Antibody neutralises Omicron and Delta in live virus studies
Revelar Biotherapeutics and Twist Bioscience have announced that RBT-0813 binds to and neutralises the Omicron and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2 in live virus studies.
Can tomato concentrate reduce inflammation associated with HIV?
New UCLA-led research in mice suggests that adding a certain type of tomato concentrate to the diet can reduce the intestinal inflammation that is associated with HIV.
Study links gut fungi to inflammation in Crohn’s disease patients
Results of a new study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University represent a step toward improving understanding of Crohn’s disease and the factors that cause its intestinal inflammation.
Orphan Drug Designation granted for treatment of leukaemia
Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Astex Pharmaceuticals’ oral fixed dose combination of decitabine and cedazuridine (ASTX727) for the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) has been granted orphan-drug designation (ODD) by the European Commission (EC).
