This week in drug discovery (28 November – 2 December)

News round-up for 28 November – 2 December by DDW Digital Content Editor Diana Spencer 

The last seven days have seen breakthroughs announced in malaria treatment, epilepsy and major depressive disorders. The NHS in England has fast tracked another cancer drug, and, in Covid-19 news, researchers have emphatically proven that prednisolone should not be prescribed for olfactory disorders. 

The top stories: 

Once-daily malaria drug could overcome treatment resistance 

Novartis and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) will progress ganaplacide/lumefantrine-solid dispersion formulation (SDF) into Phase III development for the treatment of patients with malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum.    

Study proves prednisolone does not improve sense of smell after Covid-19 

It has been proven that prednisolone does not improve sense of smell after Covid-19 and that for most patients this gradually improves over time regardless of treatment. 

UK fast tracks approval for life-extending prostate cancer drug 

England will become the first country in Europe to roll out darolutamide (Nubeqa) to patients whose prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body. 

Injectable drug could offer new option for depressive disorders 

The first subject has been dosed in a Phase I biomarker study of apimostinel, a rapid-acting N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) modulator for major depressive disorders (MDD). 

Neuroscientists discover new drug candidate for treating epilepsy 

Neuroscientists have identified and developed a new drug candidate that has the potential to effectively treat temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) by suppressing neuroinflammation.

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