JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

A study on a three-month vaginal ring for HIV prevention, developed by the Population Council, shows it could offer better protection than the current one-month ring. The ring contains more dapivirine and was found to be well-tolerated with no notable safety differences. The Population Council aims to submit data for regulatory approval, targeting a market entry by 2026.

A case report in 'Oncotarget' highlights a 68-year-old male with metastatic adenosquamous pancreatic cancer (ASCP) and a KRAS G12C mutation responding significantly to pembrolizumab, suggesting ASCP's unique tumor microenvironment may be more receptive to immunotherapy, potentially transforming treatment for aggressive pancreatic cancer subtypes.

SAINT, a refined rTMS protocol, showed promise in reducing depressive symptoms of bipolar I disorder in a trial, with 60% of participants meeting remission criteria within 1 month post-treatment, without adverse effects.

Alzheimer’s patients on five or more daily meds face increased risk of symptoms, falls, hospitalizations, and death, per study in Biological Research for Nursing. Researchers call for tailored strategies to manage polypharmacy in this population.

New study in *Neuron* reveals DOI, a psychedelic drug, reduces anxiety by activating ventral hippocampus neurons in mice and rats, offering insights into potential future anxiety treatments.

Merck gains advantage in Keytruda patent dispute with Johns Hopkins University, highlighting precision medicine's impact on patent strategies.

Black patients are 29% less likely to receive multimodal analgesia post-surgery, instead more likely to receive only opioids, compared to white patients, according to a study presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists' annual meeting.

Dr. Isaacson Bababode Adelani, a cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins University, focuses on vitamin D's role in liver and prostate cancer, advocating for precision medicine and environmental cancer-causing agent studies, particularly in Africa.

New drug regimen, adding six weeks of chemotherapy to standard treatment, cuts cervical cancer death risk by 40% and relapse by 35%, according to a study in The Lancet. The trial involved 500 patients from 32 centers, showing 80% survival rate at five years with the new approach.

The article discusses the rapid advancements in biotechnology and AI, emphasizing the need for global biosecurity and biosafety measures to prevent misuse and accidents. It highlights the dual-use nature of gene editing and synthetic biology, the historical use of biological weapons, and the potential for bioterrorism. The article calls for strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and creating international standards for lab safety, DNA synthesis screening, and AI guardrails to manage these risks without stifling innovation.