Medical University of Vienna

Novartis announces EC approval of Kisqali for early breast cancer, based on NATALEE trial results showing 25.1% reduction in recurrence risk. The approval addresses a key unmet need for patients at high risk of cancer return.

CTCL skin samples were collected with ethical approval and used for scRNA-seq, bulk sequencing, and IHC. Fresh skin biopsies underwent processing for single-cell suspensions, followed by FACS sorting and 10x Genomics Chromium loading. Library preparation and sequencing were conducted, and single-cell fixed RNA profiling was performed on FFPE samples. Whole-genome sequencing and Visium spatial transcriptomics were also detailed. Immunofluorescence staining, scRNA-seq data processing, and data clustering/integration were described. Differential abundance analysis, CNV inference, intratumor expression programs, subclustering, Visium processing, DEG analysis, bulk deconvolution, cell–cell interaction inference, and druggable target prediction were all part of the study. IHC for specific markers and statistical analysis were also included.

The EU is developing guidelines for general-purpose AI, with Matthias Samwald co-chairing a working group on risk assessment. The 'General-Purpose AI Code of Practice' aims to translate EU AI Act principles into practical measures, providing a clear framework for innovation and safety across the EU. The final version is expected by May 2025.

GLORIOUS study finds no improvement in clinical outcomes from using GLP-1 receptor agonist or restrictive oxygenation during CPB-assisted coronary artery surgery and/or valve replacement surgery.

A phase 2 clinical trial of a FasL inhibitor, asunercept, showed faster recovery and reduced mortality in severe COVID-19 patients, with an average recovery time of 8 days vs. 13 days in the control group, and a 20% reduction in mortality. The study, published in eClinicalMedicine, suggests the approach could be effective for other respiratory RNA viruses.

AI in OCT analysis outperforms human experts in predicting GA progression, with accuracy of 0.48 and c-index of 0.69. AI-based analysis in OAKS and DERBY trials showed therapeutic reductions in RPE and EZ loss, emphasizing the impact of EZ-RPE difference on disease progression and response.

Nadine Pointner, a psychologist and PhD candidate at the Medical University of Vienna, received the Young Investigator Award at the European Academy of Paediatrics Congress for her research on the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants. Her study, 'Predicting Language Development Trajectories in Preterm Infants: A Longitudinal Study,' focuses on the neurophysiological mechanisms of pain and sedation in preterm infants and aims to improve their long-term developmental trajectories.

Researchers use AI to predict GA progression in AMD patients, finding AI more accurate than human experts. AI-based OCT analysis quantifies RPE and EZ loss, showing therapeutic benefits in OAKS and DERBY trials. AI tools may become widely available via cloud technology.

Mario Gaudino advocates retiring MACE as a cardiovascular trial endpoint, suggesting it should be replaced with a composite endpoint that includes both hard and soft outcomes, weighted appropriately. Gaudino and colleagues have developed a new primary composite endpoint for the RECHARGE trial, combining time-averaged quality of life with mortality, analyzed using the win ratio. This approach aims to better reflect patient well-being globally and the impact of clinical events on patient life. While some surgeons are skeptical, Gaudino remains optimistic about the community's acceptance of this new approach.

An international team led by the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna found no maternal mortality in Japanese macaques linked to childbirth, despite similar pelvis-to-fetal head ratios to humans. The study, published in PNAS, suggests macaques' pelvic flexibility and birthing positions may reduce risks.