CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY

Case Western Reserve University researchers, with a $3.3M NIH grant, study if brain proteins like Eph receptors contribute to Alzheimer's, focusing on the blood-brain barrier's role. Collaborating with Texas Tech, UT, and Memorial Sloan Kettering, they aim to understand these proteins' functions in disease development.

A study by NIH's RECOVER Initiative and NYU Langone Health found no reliable biomarkers in routine clinical lab tests for diagnosing long COVID, highlighting the need for further research beyond standard methods.

Virology and rheumatology are increasingly linked, with viral infections implicated in rheumatic diseases' etiology and treatment management. Calabrese highlights the importance of considering viral forms of arthritis, especially in returning travelers, and the need to screen for hepatitis B, C, and HIV before immunosuppressive therapies.

Immunotherapy struggles against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) due to CXCL12 protein repelling T cells. A study by Jiayun Li and colleagues found that natural killer T (NKT) cells and type I interferons could remodel the immunosuppressive microenvironment, allowing T cells to penetrate and enhance immunotherapy. Folinic acid, used to boost NKT cells, showed promise when combined with anti-PD-1 antibodies in mice, though human trials are needed to confirm efficacy.

FDA's ODAC voted 2 to 10 against favorable risk-benefit for CPIs in first-line HER2-negative gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma with PD-L1 < 1. Discussions focused on data from nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and tislelizumab trials, highlighting clear benefits in PD-L1 > 10 and lack of benefit in PD-L1 < 1. FDA proposed product-specific vs. uniform PD-L1 cutoffs, considering safety and efficacy across PD-L1 strata. Clinical perspectives emphasized challenges in PD-L1 testing and the importance of patient-doctor discussions for intermediate PD-L1 values.

The FDA's ODAC voted 10-2 against PD-1 inhibitors in first-line HER2-negative, MSS gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma with PD-L1 < 1, citing unfavorable risk:benefit. Data from CheckMate 649, KEYNOTE-859, and RATIONALE-305 trials showed OS benefits in higher PD-L1 subgroups, but not in those with PD-L1 < 1, raising concerns over toxicity and cost.

Ozempic and Wegovy may lower opioid overdose risk; type 2 diabetics on semaglutide had fewer ODs than those on other drugs; clinical trials needed to confirm.

A study suggests Novo Nordisk's Ozempic may reduce opioid overdose risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes and opioid use disorder, offering potential in addressing the U.S. opioid epidemic.

A study found that patients with a history of opioid abuse taking Novo Nordisk's Ozempic were less likely to overdose. Those on semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, had a 63% lower overdose risk compared to those on DPP-4 inhibitors. This adds to evidence suggesting semaglutide may help manage addiction, with the study's lead author, Rong Xu, noting it's the first large-scale study on opioid overdoses. The findings suggest GLP-1 medications could prevent opioid overdoses, prompting calls for more research.