WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

A multidisciplinary team reversed type 1 diabetes in a 25-year-old Chinese patient using reprogrammed stem cell transplant, with the patient achieving insulin independence 75 days post-transplant. This marks a milestone in diabetes treatment, with similar success seen in a type 2 diabetic patient. The procedure, based on a modified stem cell reprogramming technique, aims to avoid immune-suppressing drugs, but more clinical studies are needed to confirm long-term efficacy.

Qnovia received FDA clearance for RespiRX nicotine inhaler clinical trial as smoking replacement therapy, planning UK pivotal trial in 2025 to support MAA submission by 2026. RespiRX aims to offer a more effective alternative to existing nicotine replacement therapies.

Extended follow-up of a phase 3 trial found bedaquiline-containing regimens for rifampicin-resistant TB superior to a 9-month injectable regimen at 132 weeks, with the 6-month regimen showing the best results. Adverse events were minimal, and death rates were lower in bedaquiline arms, supporting shorter, safer treatments for multidrug-resistant TB.

The 5th edition of WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumors, with a radiologist on the editorial board, emphasizes molecular and genetic markers. New techniques like liquid biopsy and molecular markers like p16 and EBV-encoded small RNAs are highlighted. WHO guidelines now include genetic tumor syndromes and updated classifications based on molecular markers.

Gilead has authorized six generic manufacturers to sell its HIV treatment, lenacapavir, in 120 low- and middle-income countries, but activists urge expansion to include Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. Lenacapavir, sold as Sunlenca in the US for $42,250 per year, has shown 100% efficacy in preventing HIV in women and nearly 100% in men and gender minorities. Gilead CEO Daniel O’Day emphasizes the need for rapid, broad availability, while critics highlight the exclusion of key countries and the unknown price for generics.

Neuralink's FDA-approved 'blindsight' implant aims to restore vision by bypassing damaged optic nerves with a camera-based input to the visual cortex, offering hope to millions of blind individuals.

Gilead signs royalty-free licensing agreements with six generic drugmakers to produce and sell its HIV drug lenacapavir in resource-limited countries. The company plans to seek regulatory approval for lenacapavir as a preventive treatment, prioritizing applications in 18 high-burden countries in Africa and Southeast Asia. Lenacapavir, already approved for multi-drug resistant HIV in the U.S. and Europe, aims to expand access to prevention and treatment in lower-income regions.

A phase 2 trial presented at the 2024 ASTRO Annual Meeting showed ¹⁷⁷Lu-Dotatate (Lutathera) achieved a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 11.5 months and a 2-year PFS rate of 26.7% in patients with refractory grade II/III meningioma. The median overall survival (OS) was 27.8 months, with a 1-year OS rate of 88.9% and a 2-year OS rate of 63.8%. The best response was stable disease, and ¹⁷⁷Lu-Dotatate was well-tolerated, supporting its use as a therapeutic option for limited alternative therapies.

Medi-Cal and RedHill renew contract to maintain Talicia's first-line position on the Medi-Cal Fee-For-Service (FFS) Contract Drug List (CDL) with no prior authorization and a $0 copay, benefiting 15 million Californian Medi-Cal patients. The renewal reflects both parties' commitment to improving patient access and outcomes, aligning with the new American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Clinical Guideline for H. pylori infection, which lists Talicia as an empirically prescribed first-line option.

A study in *Digestive and Liver Disease* found that contrast-enhanced intraoperative ultrasound (CE-IOUS) reduces intrahepatic recurrence risk in colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) patients, improving hepatic recurrence-free survival (HRFS). CE-IOUS detected more CRLMs than intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS), leading to better HRFS rates at 6 and 12 months.