The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Neuropeutics Inc Wins AbbVie Biotech Innovators Award for Novel Neurodegenerative Disease Therapies

13 hours ago

• Neuropeutics Inc has been named the first recipient of the AbbVie Biotech Innovators Award for developing small molecules that prevent and reverse protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases. • The Canadian biotech startup will receive a year of free laboratory space at the University of Toronto's SpinUp incubator, along with access to equipment, services, and mentorship from AbbVie executives. • Neuropeutics' novel approach targets TDP-43 protein aggregation, a hallmark of several conditions including ALS, Frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's disease.

Intrepid Labs Emerges from Stealth with AI-Powered Platform to Revolutionize Drug Formulation

11 days ago

• Intrepid Labs has launched its Valiant platform, an AI-driven robotic system that reduces drug formulation development time from months to days, potentially improving clinical success rates. • The Toronto-based biotechnology company has secured $11 million in funding, including a recent $7 million seed round led by AVANT BIO, to expand its team and accelerate development of proprietary delivery technologies. • Founded in 2023 as a University of Toronto spin-out, Intrepid Labs has already established partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies to optimize formulations and is developing licensable oral and long-acting injectable delivery technologies.

Zenflow's Spring System Shows Durable Three-Year Benefits for BPH Patients in Landmark Study

a month ago

• Zenflow's Spring System demonstrated 46% improvement in IPSS scores at 36 months post-placement, with 74% of patients achieving clinically significant symptom relief for benign prostatic hyperplasia. • The minimally invasive device maintained consistent efficacy over three years without compromising sexual function, positioning it as a leader in the emerging First-Line Interventional Therapy (FIT) category. • Results presented at the 2025 AUA Meeting represent the longest-term data among FIT interventions, with the company now advancing toward FDA approval through its multi-center BREEZE study.

Medical Imaging's Climate Impact: Unnecessary Scans Contribute Significantly to Carbon Emissions

a month ago

• Unnecessary imaging scans for Medicare recipients alone generate up to 129 metric kilotons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to powering a town of 70,000 people. • CT scans contribute approximately half of these excess emissions, with MRIs accounting for another quarter, according to research from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute. • Climate change is simultaneously increasing demand for medical imaging, with studies showing heat waves and air pollution raise X-ray and CT scan usage by approximately 5%.

Gene Editing Breakthrough: David Liu's Base and Prime Editing Technologies Transform Treatment of Genetic Diseases

2 months ago

• David Liu, Harvard professor and Broad Institute researcher, has been awarded the Breakthrough Prize for developing base and prime editing technologies that correct DNA mutations without cutting the double helix. • Liu's gene editing technologies have been distributed to over 20,000 non-profit labs worldwide and are currently being tested in 15 clinical trials across five countries, showing promising results for rare genetic diseases. • The technology has already demonstrated life-saving outcomes in patients with T-cell leukemia, sickle-cell disease, beta-thalassemia, and high cholesterol, making treatments for rare genetic diseases economically feasible.

Canadian Scientist Dr. Daniel Drucker Wins Breakthrough Prize for GLP-1 Hormone Discovery Behind Ozempic and Mounjaro

2 months ago

• Dr. Daniel Drucker from the University of Toronto has been awarded a 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his pioneering work on GLP-1, the hormone behind blockbuster weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Mounjaro. • The $3 million prize is shared with four international colleagues who contributed to GLP-1 research and drug development, recognizing four decades of work that has transformed treatment options for diabetes and obesity. • Beyond weight management, GLP-1 medications show promising potential for reducing cardiovascular events and may have applications for treating inflammation, arthritis, kidney disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

First Patients Receive Groundbreaking Autologous Stem Cell Treatment for Parkinson's Disease in Phase 1 Trial

3 months ago

• Mass General Brigham launches pioneering Phase 1 trial using patients' own reprogrammed stem cells to replace damaged dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease, with three of six participants treated successfully. • The innovative treatment converts patients' blood cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are then transformed into dopamine neurons, eliminating the need for immunosuppression. • The FDA-approved trial, based on three decades of research at McLean Hospital, will monitor patients for 12 months to assess safety and potential improvements in Parkinson's symptoms.

Paxlovid Shows Limited Benefit in Vaccinated Older Adults, UCLA Study Finds

3 months ago

• New UCLA-led research reveals Paxlovid does not significantly reduce COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality in vaccinated older adults, contradicting earlier findings in unvaccinated populations. • Analysis of 1.6 million vaccinated older adults in Ontario showed doubling of Paxlovid prescriptions at age 70 did not translate to improved COVID-19-related hospitalization or mortality outcomes. • Study suggests Paxlovid's potential effect in vaccinated older adults is at least four times weaker than originally reported in Pfizer's 2022 clinical trial of unvaccinated individuals.

PSMA-Targeted Therapies Transform Prostate Cancer Treatment Landscape

3 months ago

• PSMA PET imaging has revolutionized prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring from early to advanced stages, marking a significant advancement in precision medicine. • The FDA approval of Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipovotide tetraxetan) represents a breakthrough in targeted therapy for PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. • Emerging targeted treatments, including antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies, are expanding therapeutic options beyond traditional androgen-targeted and chemotherapy approaches.

Livmarli Shows Long-Term Efficacy in Relieving Itch for Adolescents with Alagille Syndrome

4 months ago

A new analysis of clinical trial data demonstrates that Livmarli (maralixibat) effectively reduces itching in adolescents with Alagille syndrome, with benefits maintained into late adolescence or adulthood. The study, funded by Mirum Pharmaceuticals, showed significant reductions in both itch severity scores and blood bile acid levels among patients treated before age 16.

Theralase's Light-Activated Bladder Cancer Therapy Shows Promising Results in Phase II Trial

4 months ago

• Theralase's innovative light-activated therapy Ruvidar™ demonstrates sustained efficacy with responses lasting over 3 years in BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer patients. • The Phase II clinical trial data has been selected for podium presentation at the 2025 American Urological Association Annual Meeting, highlighting its potential impact on bladder cancer treatment. • The company plans to complete patient enrollment in 2025, submit data to regulators in 2026, and aims for commercial availability by 2027, pending approval.

FDA Approves Spravato (Esketamine) Nasal Spray as Standalone Treatment for Treatment-Resistant Depression

4 months ago

• The FDA has approved Spravato (esketamine) nasal spray as a monotherapy for adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). • Spravato demonstrated rapid and superior improvement in depressive symptoms compared to placebo in clinical trials. • The approval was based on a study where 22.5% of patients achieved remission with Spravato compared to 7.6% with placebo. • Due to risks, Spravato is only available through a restricted program under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

Bayer's Cell and Gene Therapy Programs for Parkinson's Disease Enter Clinical Trials

4 months ago

• Bayer's BlueRock Therapeutics initiated a Phase 1 trial of DA01, a cell-based therapy using stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons, to replenish lost neurons in Parkinson's patients. • AskBio, another Bayer subsidiary, has begun a Phase 1b trial of its gene therapy for Parkinson's, aiming to halt or reverse motor control decline by delivering a gene for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). • The FDA granted fast-track review to BlueRock's DA01, potentially accelerating its development through increased communication with the regulator and a shorter review period. • These trials mark a significant step in Bayer's strategy to develop cell and gene therapies that could regenerate dopamine-producing neurons, addressing a major unmet need in Parkinson's disease.

Regeneron's Pozelimab and Cemdisiran Combo Shows Superior Hemolysis Control in PNH Patients

6 months ago

• Regeneron's pozelimab and cemdisiran combination (poze-cemdi) demonstrated superior disease control in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) patients compared to ravulizumab in a Phase 3 trial. • The trial showed 96% of patients achieved adequate LDH control with poze-cemdi, compared to 80% with ravulizumab, indicating better management of intravascular hemolysis. • Patients on poze-cemdi also experienced greater LDH normalization (93% vs. 65%) and a more significant decrease in LDH levels from baseline compared to those on ravulizumab. • The combination offers a convenient four-week subcutaneous delivery, potentially improving patient adherence and quality of life compared to intravenous treatments.

Semaglutide Shows Promise in Reducing Alcohol Consumption and Cravings

6 months ago

• A new study reveals that semaglutide, known as Ozempic and Wegovy, significantly reduces alcohol cravings and consumption in individuals with alcohol use disorder. • Participants on semaglutide experienced fewer heavy drinking days and decreased alcohol intake during lab tests compared to those on a placebo, indicating potential therapeutic benefits. • The research suggests semaglutide's effects on alcohol cravings may surpass existing treatments, offering a promising avenue for addressing the unmet needs in alcohol use disorder. • Further studies are warranted to explore semaglutide's long-term efficacy, optimal dosages, and safety, particularly for individuals without obesity or diabetes.