UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
🇺🇸United States
- Country
- 🇺🇸United States
- Ownership
- Private
- Established
- 1850-02-28
- Employees
- 10K
- Market Cap
- -
- Website
- http://www.utah.edu
Breakthrough: First Successful Stem Cell Transplant Using Deceased Donor for Blood Cancer Treatment
• Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah has achieved the first-ever allogeneic stem cell transplant using cells from a deceased donor, potentially revolutionizing treatment access for blood cancer patients.
• The innovative approach harvests stem cells from the vertebral column of deceased organ donors, creating a bank of frozen stem cells that could eliminate lengthy donor searches and matching delays.
• This Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT05589896) aims to provide timely transplant options for patients with aggressive blood cancers like acute myeloid leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, especially benefiting those without matching living donors.
Air Pollution During Pregnancy Linked to Severe Neonatal Health Risks and Brain Development Issues
• Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy, particularly in the final month, increases newborn risk of requiring intensive care treatment by up to 35%, according to recent research published in Scientific Reports.
• A study from the University of Utah found that ozone exposure during pregnancy's second trimester was associated with a 55% increased risk of intellectual disability when comparing siblings with different exposure levels.
• Researchers emphasize that addressing air pollution exposure, even at lower levels than current standards, could significantly reduce associated neonatal health risks and protect fetal brain development.
Maternal Vitamin D Levels During Early Pregnancy Significantly Impact Infant Health Outcomes
• New research from Penn State reveals that vitamin D deficiency in early pregnancy is associated with a fourfold increase in preterm birth rates and smaller infant size at delivery.
• A complementary study by the University of Southampton demonstrates that maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy leads to stronger, denser bones in children that persist until at least age 7.
• Scientists emphasize that vitamin D monitoring should be prioritized alongside other essential nutrients during preconception and early pregnancy to promote optimal fetal development and long-term health outcomes.
Novel Drug Combination Overcomes Resistance in BRAF-Mutated Melanoma, Prevents Brain Metastasis
• Researchers have identified a promising combination therapy using FAK inhibitors with RAF-MEK clamps that effectively overcomes treatment resistance in BRAF V600E-mutated melanoma.
• The dual-targeting approach not only treats existing brain metastases but also prevents melanoma cells from spreading to the brain, addressing a critical unmet need for patients with limited treatment options.
• This oral combination therapy of defactinib (FAK inhibitor) and avutometinib (RAF-MEK inhibitor) could improve accessibility for melanoma patients in rural areas who struggle to access infusion-based immunotherapies.
Cooling Therapy Shows No Benefit for Preterm Infants with Brain Injury, NIH Study Finds
• A large NIH-funded clinical trial reveals that therapeutic hypothermia, previously successful in term infants, offers no protection against death or disability in preterm infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
• The study of 188 preterm infants found that cooling treatment actually increased risk of death or disability by 74%, with mortality rates of 20% in the treatment group versus 12% in standard care.
• Research conducted across 19 newborn centers challenges the growing practice of using cooling therapy in preterm infants, highlighting the importance of gestational age-specific treatments.
TALAPRO-2 Trial: Talazoparib-Enzalutamide Combo Shows Significant Survival Benefit in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
• The combination of talazoparib and enzalutamide demonstrated an 8.8-month improvement in overall survival compared to enzalutamide alone in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.
• Patients with homologous recombination repair-deficient tumors showed an even more pronounced benefit, with a 14-month survival improvement and 38% reduction in death risk.
• The phase 3 TALAPRO-2 trial revealed manageable safety profiles with no new concerns, despite grade 3/4 anemia occurring in 49% of patients, which was effectively managed through dose adjustments.
Higher-Dose, Two-Session Vaginal Brachytherapy Proves Effective for Endometrial Cancer Treatment
• A randomized clinical trial led by Huntsman Cancer Institute demonstrates that two sessions of high-dose vaginal brachytherapy are as effective as standard multiple low-dose treatments for endometrial cancer.
• The SAVE trial findings offer a more convenient treatment option for patients, particularly benefiting those in rural areas who face challenges accessing multiple treatment sessions.
• Research shows comparable short-term outcomes and minimal acute toxicities between the new two-session approach and traditional 3-5 session treatment protocol.
Recursion's AI-Discovered Drug Shows Promise in Phase II Brain Disease Trial
• Recursion's lead AI-derived drug candidate REC-994 demonstrated significant efficacy in Phase II trials, with 50% of high-dose patients showing reduced brain lesion volume compared to 28% on placebo.
• The trial targeted cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM), a potentially fatal brain condition affecting 360,000 people in the US and EU, for which no approved pharmacological treatments currently exist.
• The positive results mark a milestone for AI-driven drug discovery, though experts note these outcomes reflect earlier AI technology rather than current capabilities.
Qlaris Reports Positive Phase II Results for QLS-111 in Reducing Intraocular Pressure
• Qlaris Bio's investigational drug QLS-111 demonstrated significant reduction in intraocular pressure across two Phase II clinical trials, marking a potential advancement in glaucoma treatment.
• The clinical trials evaluated QLS-111's safety and efficacy in patients with elevated intraocular pressure, showing promising results in meeting primary endpoints.
• These findings suggest QLS-111 could represent a novel therapeutic approach for managing ocular hypertension and glaucoma, addressing an important unmet medical need.
Pfizer to Present Landmark Survival Data for Cancer Therapies at ASCO GU 2025 Symposium
• Pfizer will showcase over 20 abstracts at ASCO GU 2025, including pivotal Phase 3 TALAPRO-2 trial results demonstrating significant overall survival benefits for TALZENNA-XTANDI combination in prostate cancer.
• Updated analysis from Phase 3 EV-302 trial confirms sustained survival advantage of PADCEV with pembrolizumab in advanced urothelial cancer, reinforcing its position as a first-line treatment standard.
• Novel investigational therapy mevrometostat shows promising progression-free survival data when combined with XTANDI in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, advancing Pfizer's genitourinary cancer pipeline.
Novel Low-Dose Copper IUD Shows Promise in Phase 3 Trial with 99% Efficacy Rate
Sebela Women's Health's investigational Copper 175mm² IUD demonstrated strong efficacy and safety in a Phase 3 trial, with a pregnancy risk of approximately 1% per year over three years of use. The device, featuring a flexible nitinol frame and less copper than current options, could become the first new hormone-free IUD available in 40 years, pending FDA approval.
Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium 2025: Key Advances in Treatment Strategies
• Nivolumab plus ipilimumab demonstrates superior progression-free survival compared to nivolumab alone in MSI-H/dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer.
• Encorafenib combined with cetuximab and chemotherapy shows significant improvement in overall response rate for BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer.
• TACE plus camrelizumab and rivoceranib extends progression-free survival in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, offering a manageable safety profile.
Huntsman Cancer Institute Joins myeloMATCH to Advance Precision Medicine for Blood Cancers
• Huntsman Cancer Institute joins myeloMATCH, an NCI-sponsored program, to match AML and MDS patients with tailored clinical trials based on their genetic profiles.
• The myeloMATCH program utilizes advanced technology to detect measurable residual disease (MRD), guiding treatment assignments for improved patient outcomes.
• This initiative expands treatment options, especially for older or frail patients unsuitable for aggressive chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants.
• The program integrates resources from multiple clinical trial networks, aiming to accelerate the development of personalized therapies for blood cancers.
Lenacapavir: Novel HIV Drug Shows Promise in Prevention and Treatment
• Lenacapavir, a new drug developed by Gilead Sciences, has demonstrated high efficacy in preventing HIV transmission in clinical trials.
• The drug, which provides protection for six months with a single dose, has been named the 2024 Breakthrough of the Year by Science.
• Research by Wesley Sundquist's lab at the University of Utah identified the viral capsid as a key target for HIV prevention.
• Clinical trials showed lenacapavir almost completely prevents HIV transmission in at-risk populations, offering a potent, long-lasting PrEP option.
Targeted Alpha Therapy Shows Promise in Expanding Cancer Treatment Landscape
• Targeted alpha therapy (TAT) is emerging as a promising cancer treatment, delivering localized radiation to tumor cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissues.
• The FDA approval of Xofigo in 2013 for advanced prostate cancer marked a pivotal moment, spurring research into TAT for various solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
• Clinical trials are evaluating TAT candidates like RayzeBio's RYZ101 for neuroendocrine tumors and Actinium Pharmaceuticals’ Actimab-A for leukemia, showing potential in addressing unmet medical needs.
• TAT's precision and efficacy are attracting significant investments and regulatory support, positioning it as an integral component of precision medicine in oncology and beyond.
Eflornithine Plus Lomustine Improves Survival in IDH-Mutant Grade 3 Astrocytoma
• The STELLAR trial showed that eflornithine combined with lomustine significantly improved overall survival in recurrent grade 3 IDH-mutant astrocytoma patients.
• Median overall survival increased to 34.9 months with the combination therapy, compared to 23.5 months with lomustine alone.
• Progression-free survival also saw a significant boost, with a median of 15.8 months in the combination arm versus 7.2 months in the lomustine arm.
• The combination therapy was generally well-tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with previous studies, offering a potential new treatment option.
Bispecific Antibodies Teclistamab and Talquetamab Show Promise in Multiple Myeloma Treatment
• Teclistamab and talquetamab, bispecific antibodies, demonstrate efficacy in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma by reducing soluble BCMA levels in responding patients.
• A reduction in sBCMA levels correlates with the depth of treatment response, with complete or stringent complete responses showing nearly 100% sBCMA reduction.
• Baseline sBCMA levels correlate with tumor burden, suggesting sBCMA as a potential marker, and do not significantly affect teclistamab exposure, indicating maintained clinical activity.
• Clinical trials are underway to evaluate bispecific antibodies in earlier lines of therapy and maintenance settings, potentially transforming myeloma treatment.
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