University Of Pittsburgh

A phase 2 trial combining vidutolimod and nivolumab pre-surgery in stage 3 melanoma patients showed 55% tumor control, with 88% two-year recurrence-free survival and 94% metastasis-free survival in high responders. The study identified unique immune signatures and microbiome effects, suggesting vidutolimod's potential in melanoma and other cancers.

FDA approved lazertinib plus amivantamab for EGFR-mutant NSCLC, offering a third first-line option alongside osimertinib. MARIPOSA trial showed the combination reduced progression risk by 30% with median PFS of 23.7 months. Clinicians vary in choice, balancing benefits and side effects, with ongoing efforts to mitigate adverse events.

Acquired resistance to osimertinib in EGFR-mutant NSCLC is common, with mechanisms including EGFR mutations, MET amplifications, and histologic transformation. Treatment options post-resistance include amivantamab, HER3-DXd, and Dato-DXd, with ongoing trials like ORCHARD aiming to optimize therapy based on resistance mechanisms.

Burns & McDonnell projects win Best Project Awards from ENR in various regions, including Vistra Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, Delta Air Lines Sky Way Program at LAX, Alliant Energy Solar Program, Central Tri-State Tollway, and South Fork Wind. Additional projects received Awards of Merit, highlighting excellence in safety, sustainability, and energy/industrial sectors.

At the STRIPE Annual Meeting & Consensus Workshop, ASP announced the inaugural STRIPE Double Helix Awards, recognizing excellence in pharmacogenomics through collaboration and outstanding achievement. Recipients include Kristine Ashcraft, Cynthia Bens, Burns C. Blaxall, Philip Empey, Jose Estabil, Bernard Esquivel, Christine Formea, Blaine Groat, Daniel Hertz, Carrie Hoefer, Geoff Hollett, J. Shawn Jones, Raymond Lorenz, Ryan Nelson, Micheal Pacanowski, Jai N. Patel, Victoria Pratt, Bronwyn Ramey, Sharmeen Roy, Robert Schuck, April Schultz, Jeffrey A. Shaman, Sharon Shriver, Patrick Silva, D. Max Smith, Annette Taylor, Wrenda Teeple, McKenna Tennant, Kelly E. Caudle, Emily Cicali, Andrea Gaedigk, Houda Houchad, Pamala Jacobson, Teri E. Klein, Akinyemi Oni-Orisan, Natasha Petry, Bani Tamraz, Kristin Wiisanen, and Michelle Whirl-Carrillo. Organizations honored include the Golden Helix Foundation, Department of Veteran Affairs - National Pharmacogenomics Program, and Advocates for Universal DPD/DPYD Testing.

FDA approved multi-target stool-based and blood-based colorectal screening tests in 2014 and 2021, respectively. Research shows colonoscopy remains most effective, with blood tests causing higher cancer incidence and deaths. Colonoscopies and stool-based tests are more cost-effective. Blood tests should only be used by non-screened individuals, pending future improvements.

Antibiotic prophylaxis may protect kidneys of kids with vesicoureteral reflux during febrile UTIs, as per the RIVUR trial analysis. Children not on prophylaxis showed a significant eGFR decline, while those on prophylaxis did not. This suggests UTIs affect kidney function at a microscopic level, not just macroscopically monitored by DMSA scans.

Ultra-sensitive blood tests, like Simoa, detect neurological biomarkers in finger-prick samples, revolutionizing Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis by offering an accessible alternative to invasive methods. Simoa's sensitivity allows detection of brain-specific proteins like phosphorylated tau, crucial for tracking disease progression and evaluating treatments.

Blood samples contain hidden information marking schistosomiasis stages. Machine learning reveals this to improve early detection. The parasite's life cycle involves snails and mammals, damaging organs. Current diagnosis misses early stages, relying on egg detection in feces. The study introduces antibody assays and a machine learning approach to identify early infection markers, offering an interpretable method for diagnosis and treatment.

West Virginia passed a bill allowing two medical research trials on opioid use disorder, comparing buprenorphine and methadone. The study, led by Yale and Pittsburgh universities, aims to improve treatment access and effectiveness, with potential implications for state laws and public perception of methadone.