MAYO CLINIC

Insurance restrictions force some cancer patients to travel hours for CAR T-cell therapy, impacting treatment access. A study found age, race, income, and proximity to treatment centers significantly affect who receives CAR T. Employers increasingly use Centers of Excellence to manage costs, but this restricts patient options. Despite stringent post-treatment monitoring, a recent study suggests reducing the monitoring period to 2 weeks could improve accessibility.

Hispanic and Latino people make up 20% of the U.S. population but only 6% of physicians. A panel discussion highlighted the need for more Latino physicians, the importance of trust and language concordance in clinical trials, and the diverse backgrounds within the Latino community. Efforts to educate and support Latino clinicians and researchers are crucial for health equity.

Microscopic magnetic nanodiscs, about 250 nanometers across, could offer a less invasive alternative to deep brain stimulation by being injected into specific brain regions and activated externally with a magnetic field, as tested in lab mice. However, further development is needed to ensure their effectiveness in human treatments.

Sustainable diet habits, like calorie counting, led to up to 13% weight loss in 6 months, surpassing GLP-1s' 2.3% loss. These habits, including tracking food, mindful consumption, and regular fruit/vegetable intake, maintained weight loss for a year. The Mayo Clinic Diet supports lifestyle changes alongside medication use.

Recent acquisitions of cancer drug developers RayzeBio and Fusion Pharmaceuticals highlight radiotherapy's resurgence. Oncology sees advancements in genetics, immunology, AI, and personalized treatments. Funding remains robust, with potential for highest corporate rounds since 2021. Combination therapies and AI are crucial, with cancer vaccines and precision treatments offering hope. Despite challenges, progress in treating specific cancers has improved patient outcomes.

Most boys treated with eli-cel gene therapy for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD) are faring well 6 years later, with 94% showing no neurological decline and 80% free of disability. However, 6 of 35 patients developed blood cancers, likely due to the gene therapy's viral vector. Researchers are working to understand and mitigate these risks.

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Ascentage Pharma announced that APG-2449, a FAK/ALK/ROS1 TKI, has been cleared by China's NMPA to enter two Phase III studies for NSCLC patients resistant to second-generation ALK TKIs and treatment-naïve ALK-positive NSCLC patients.

GE HealthCare leads a $27.8 million initiative with 29 partners to expand theranostics, aiming to broaden delivery to community sites and focus on diseases like sarcomas and cancers of the prostate, ovaries, and pancreas. The project, Thera4Care, aims to improve healthcare system readiness for precision medicine by expanding isotope manufacturing, developing next-generation imaging scanners, and creating AI-based clinical tools.

Ascentage Pharma announced that APG-2449, a FAK/ALK/ROS1 TKI, has been cleared by China's NMPA to enter two Phase III studies for NSCLC patients resistant to or naïve to ALK TKIs. APG-2449 showed preliminary efficacy and safety, with potential to inhibit brain metastases, addressing unmet needs in NSCLC treatment.