Clinical Trial News
Metastatic Patterns and Treatment Response in Prostate Cancer: New Insights into Disease Progression
- Prostate cancer exhibits distinct metastatic patterns, with bone (90%) and lung (46%) being the most common sites, while lymph node metastasis indicates poor prognosis and treatment response.
- Novel imaging techniques like PSMA-PET demonstrate superior sensitivity in detecting metastases compared to conventional methods, enabling earlier intervention and better treatment planning.
- Circulating tumor cells serve as promising biomarkers for monitoring disease progression and treatment response, with ≥5 CTCs per 7.5ml blood correlating with reduced survival in metastatic patients.
Highlighted Clinical Trials:
NCT01800058Completed
Fundación de Investigación Biomédica - Hospital Universitario de La Princesa
Posted 1/1/2014
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Posted 3/18/2013
Cougar Biotechnology, Inc.
Posted 6/1/2007
Cougar Biotechnology, Inc.
Posted 11/1/2006
Duke University
Posted 11/1/2011
UNICANCER
Posted 11/13/2013
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Posted 10/1/2010
Endocyte
Posted 5/29/2018
University of Dublin, Trinity College
Posted 10/1/2014
David Palma
Posted 2/22/2019
SWOG Cancer Research Network
Posted 9/24/2018
Cougar Biotechnology, Inc.
Posted 5/1/2008
Duke University
Posted 3/1/2014
Lyme PrEP: Novel Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Enters Human Clinical Trials
- MassBiologics of UMass Medical School has initiated the first human clinical trial of Lyme PrEP, a pre-exposure prophylaxis using a single monoclonal antibody that could prevent Lyme disease.
- The trial has enrolled 66 volunteers in Nebraska to evaluate safety and pharmacology, with researchers hoping to determine how long the protective antibody remains in circulation after administration.
- Unlike traditional vaccines, Lyme PrEP provides immediate protection upon injection and targets Borrelia bacteria in tick guts before transmission, potentially offering a solution to a disease that affects approximately 476,000 Americans annually.
Research Initiative Launches to Address Mental Health Crisis in Rare Disease Diagnoses
- RBW Consulting partners with Rare Disease Research Partners to investigate the psychological impact of rare disease diagnoses, affecting 3.5-5.9% of the global population.
- The research project, led by Dr. Tom Kenny, aims to develop comprehensive guidelines for healthcare professionals to better support patients and families during diagnosis.
- Study findings and industry guidelines are expected to be published by winter 2021, addressing the critical gap in mental health support frameworks for rare disease patients.
Breakthrough Gene Therapy Eliminates Need for Enzyme Replacement in Fabry Disease Patients
- Canadian researchers have successfully developed a one-time gene therapy treatment for Fabry disease that restored enzyme production to near-normal levels in all five trial participants within one week.
- The world-first trial, published in Nature Communications, used a lentivirus to deliver functional GLA genes to patients' own blood stem cells, allowing three participants to discontinue biweekly enzyme replacement therapy.
- Led by Dr. Aneal Khan at Foothills Medical Centre, this pioneering approach represents a potential paradigm shift in Fabry disease management, though long-term monitoring will continue for at least five years.
New Video Resource Highlights Critical Insights from Rare Disease Patient Community
- Bedrock Healthcare Communications and Origins Insights have released a new video resource featuring stakeholder interviews that illuminate the daily challenges faced by rare disease patients.
- The initiative reveals that one in 17 people globally will be affected by a rare disease, impacting over 350 million people worldwide, emphasizing the need for healthcare systems to reevaluate their approach.
- The video compilation includes perspectives from patients, healthcare networks, and pharmaceutical companies, providing valuable insights for drug developers and healthcare providers working on orphan drugs.
Off-the-Shelf NK Immunotherapy Shows Promise in B-Cell NHL Treatment
A phase 2 trial reveals that cord blood-derived natural killer (NK) immunotherapy, combined with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), induces early antitumor response in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients. The study highlights the safety and potential of this novel treatment approach.
Highlighted Clinical Trials:
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Posted 10/10/2017
A Reflection on the COVID-19 Vaccine
The article reflects on the emotional journey of a healthcare professional receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, highlighting the mix of fear, guilt, admiration, and hope experienced during the pandemic. It also discusses the importance of vaccines in saving lives and the personal responsibility to lead by example in promoting vaccination.
Grünenthal Leaders Outline Four Key Principles for Future Pharmaceutical Marketing in Post-COVID Era
- Grünenthal's commercial leaders advocate for a fundamental shift in pharma marketing, emphasizing true customer centricity and data-driven decision making as core principles for future success.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation in pharmaceutical marketing, necessitating new approaches that combine artificial intelligence with human insights for better customer engagement.
- Industry experts highlight the critical importance of fostering an innovative culture that balances experimentation with discipline, while maintaining psychological safety and strong leadership.
Ipsen Advances Neurotoxin Research for Spasticity Treatment, Aims to Develop Longer-Acting Therapies
- Ipsen is developing modified botulinum toxin-based treatments with extended duration of action, potentially reducing injection frequency and improving patient quality of life.
- Despite their proven efficacy in treating spasticity and other neurological conditions, botulinum neurotoxin treatments were deprioritized during COVID-19, highlighting the need for better recognition of their therapeutic value.
- Over 100 conditions have been identified as potential targets for neurotoxin therapy, with current applications including adult and pediatric spasticity, cervical dystonia, and severe hyperhidrosis.
FDA Grants Breakthrough Status to Devices Targeting Alzheimer's, Heart Failure, and More
- The FDA granted breakthrough device designation to Boston Scientific's Vercise deep brain stimulation (DBS) system for mild probable Alzheimer's in patients 65 and older.
- Cognito Therapeutics received breakthrough designation for its neurostimulation device, designed to reactivate the brain's immune system by stimulating it at a specific frequency.
- Puzzle Medical Devices' ModulHeart, a minimally invasive transcatheter heart pump, received breakthrough status, offering a potential alternative to open-heart surgery for heart failure patients.