NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

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.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program awarded over $4 billion to small businesses in FY 2023. Only the Department of Energy's Office of Science implemented the Commercialization Assistance Pilot Program (CAPP), making seven awards. SBA granted exceptions to NASA and NIH. CAPP aims to help small businesses bridge the 'valley of death' in technology development. Six SBIR agencies did not implement CAPP as they do not issue second Phase II awards. SBA's oversight of CAPP implementation is limited, and the program is set to terminate in 2025 unless extended.

Semaglutide, a GLP-1RA, showed reduced opioid overdose risk in patients with comorbid T2D and OUD, with HRs ranging from 0.32 to 0.58, suggesting potential therapeutic value for preventing overdoses.

Clinical trial ads have evolved, with newer ads using fewer words and more action-oriented language, potentially impacting patient trust. The proportion of ads that are more graphic-heavy than text-heavy increased, and the focus shifted from educational content to action-inducing content. Despite these changes, the reading grade level remained around grade 8, and there was no significant change in the number of unique graphics used. The study highlights the need for a database of clinical trial ads for deeper analysis.

ADDF invests $7M in C2N Diagnostics to develop scalable blood tests for Alzheimer's, aiming to replace invasive diagnostics with accessible, accurate biomarkers.

The Denver chapter of Golfers Against Cancer has funded three University of Colorado Cancer Center researchers for CAR T-cell therapy in pediatric cancer. The grants, termed 'seed grants,' enable researchers to develop ideas before seeking larger grants from organizations like the NIH. The funded projects include enhancing CAR T therapy with particle 'backpacks,' developing a new type of CAR-T cell for ependymoma, and studying drug resistance in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.