NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

Curative Biotechnology Inc. engages Golden Eagle Capital Advisors, Inc. as exclusive agent and strategic advisor. GECA, an international investment bank, offers comprehensive investment and financial advisory solutions. Curative Biotech focuses on novel treatments for degenerative eye diseases and rare diseases, with a metformin-based eye drop in development for Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Curative Biotechnology Inc. engages Golden Eagle Capital Advisors, Inc. as exclusive agent and strategic advisor. GECA, an international investment bank, offers comprehensive financial advisory solutions. Curative Biotech focuses on novel treatments for degenerative eye diseases, with a Metformin Reformulation targeting Age-Related Macular Degeneration in development.

New longitudinal studies by UB's BNAC reveal paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) may be a better predictor of MS disease progression than white matter lesion volume. PRLs, associated with microglia activation, show reduced appearance with high-efficacy treatments and greater disappearance linked to reduced disability progression. However, PRL disappearance or new appearance as trial outcomes is limited, requiring larger trials. BNAC plans further studies on PRL evolution.

Monte Rosa Therapeutics appoints Eric A. Hughes, M.D, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors. Dr. Hughes, currently EVP, Global R&D and CMO of Teva Pharmaceuticals, brings extensive biopharmaceutical experience. Monte Rosa develops molecular glue degrader (MGD) medicines, leveraging its QuEEN discovery engine for oncology, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases.

The PROSPECT-Lung trial, led by Dr. Raid Aljumaily, evaluates timing of immunotherapy for operable non-small cell lung cancer. It aims to determine which approach—chemotherapy and immunotherapy before surgery or surgery followed by chemotherapy and immunotherapy—yields better outcomes. The trial, part of the National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Trials Innovation Unit, seeks to generate real-world applicable findings and streamline clinical trial processes.

African populations are underrepresented in genomic research, hindering precision medicine development. Despite challenges like funding and infrastructure, progress is being made in countries like South Africa and Uganda. Initiatives like H3Africa aim to improve genomic diversity and capacity in Africa, but significant barriers remain, including brain drain and lack of government support. Efforts to build infrastructure and knowledge are ongoing, with the hope of expanding access to precision medicine across the continent.

Patients with low-risk DCIS under active monitoring reported comparable physical, emotional, and psychological outcomes to those receiving upfront treatment, according to the COMET trial presented at SABCS 2024. Published in JAMA Oncology, the study found no significant differences in quality of life, anxiety, or worry about DCIS between the two groups, though there was a trend toward higher depression scores in the guideline-concordant care arm. Active monitoring showed no markedly negative impact on patients’ quality of life in the short term.

New findings from Fenske et al. at the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting suggest high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation may not benefit MCL patients in remission. The EA4151 study showed no significant difference in overall survival between patients receiving the transplant plus rituximab and those on rituximab alone, with 3-year survival rates of 82.1% and 82.7%, respectively.

Hosts discuss PARASOL Initiative's efforts to establish surrogate endpoints for FSGS trials, focusing on proteinuria as a robust predictor of kidney failure, potentially enabling smaller, faster trials.

The article discusses the complexities of healthcare pricing, focusing on patent monopolies and their impact on drug and medical equipment costs. It suggests alternative funding methods, like direct public funding, to reduce costs and eliminate incentives for misrepresentation, ultimately aiming to simplify insurer decisions and reduce healthcare waste.