MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL

FDA approved Shield blood test in July as primary screening for average-risk colorectal cancer, detecting cancers in 83% of participants but only 13% of precancerous polyps. Colonoscopy remains the gold standard, with experts uncertain about Shield's role in current screening options. Key questions include test frequency, cost, and impact on cancer deaths.

Most boys treated with eli-cel gene therapy for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD) are faring well six years later, with 94% showing no neurological decline and 80% free of disability. However, six of 35 patients developed blood cancers linked to the therapy, highlighting the risks associated with gene therapies.

Resilience training must be based on natural development, with a therapeutic alliance crucial for success. Misperceived resilience, often due to stoicism or pressure, can mask ongoing issues, risking inadequate treatment. Clinicians must remain vigilant against pressures that may lead to false perceptions of resilience, ensuring proper care.

Thirty years after the discovery of microRNAs, which regulate gene activity, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to their discoverers. Despite potential applications in treating cancer and heart disease, no microRNA-based drugs have been approved by the FDA. Early clinical trials faced challenges with delivery and immune response, but advancements in technology and increased interest from the Nobel Prize may drive future success in developing microRNA-based medicines.

DelveInsight's Menopause Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast-2034 report analyzes market trends, epidemiology, and emerging therapies in the US, EU4, UK, and Japan. Key companies include GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Bayer, and others. The market size was ~USD 10,968 million in 2022, with hormonal therapy dominating but expected to decline as non-hormonal therapies gain prevalence. Notable therapies include VEOZAH, a non-hormonal treatment approved by the FDA in 2023.

Psychiatry lags in precision medicine compared to oncology; efforts in precision psychiatry aim to improve prognosing, diagnosing, and treating mental illness using advanced technologies like NGS and AI. Challenges include the complexity of the brain and lack of single-gene explanations for mental illnesses. Innovations like Beacon Biosignals' Dreem 3 headband for sleep monitoring and Gate Neurosciences' precision neuroscience platform for targeted therapies are advancing the field. The future may see a shift from traditional DSM diagnoses to more personalized, data-driven approaches, potentially reducing stigma and improving patient outcomes.

Alzamend Neuro partners with Massachusetts General Hospital for a Phase II clinical trial of AL001, a next-generation lithium therapeutic for bipolar disorder, with Dr. Ovidiu Andronesi as principal investigator. The study aims to compare AL001's safety and effectiveness to current lithium products by analyzing lithium levels in the brain.

NeuroSense Therapeutics announced the acceptance of two abstracts on PrimeC, its ALS treatment candidate, for the 2024 NEALS Consortium Meeting. The abstracts, to be presented by Dr. Merit Cudkowicz and Dr. Cristian Lunetta, highlight data from the Phase 2b PARADIGM study showing PrimeC reduced ALS progression by 36% and improved survival by 43%.

Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for discovering microRNA, which regulate gene activity and could lead to new cancer treatments. MicroRNA are being explored in clinical trials for skin cancer treatment, with potential drug approvals expected in 5-10 years.