King's College London

An in-person event on AI ethics in healthcare explores ethical challenges, including AI prescribing, diagnosis reliance, trust, dehumanization, and empowerment. Led by Dr. Raquel Iniesta, it unites thought leaders to address ethical risks and safeguard human dignity.

Allergic diseases diagnosis involves demonstrating an adaptive immune response to allergens, often through immediate hypersensitivity reactions. In vitro tests, including allergen-specific IgE and Basophil Activation Test (BAT), are crucial for precision medicine approaches, enabling phenotype stratification and personalized treatment. BAT, though limited by technical requirements, shows promise for identifying severe allergic phenotypes. Serum baseline tryptase is a key marker for hereditary alpha-tryptasemia, associated with higher risk of severe reactions.

The SEAL trial, led by King’s and Evelina London, aims to prevent food allergies in babies with eczema by restoring skin barrier and managing inflammation. Participants, aged 0-12 weeks, will be treated with moisturiser twice daily and either standard steroid treatment during flare-ups or continuous use. The trial, funded by NIH and led by Harvard, will recruit 312 babies across four US sites, with Evelina London as the sole UK site.

A slow-release ketamine tablet trial showed significant improvement in depressive symptoms for treatment-resistant patients, offering a safer, more convenient, and potentially cheaper alternative to IV or nasal spray administration.

Atogepant, a migraine drug, may prevent rebound headaches and reduce painkiller overuse, improving quality of life for chronic migraine sufferers. A study involving 755 adults showed atogepant significantly reduced migraine days compared to placebo, especially in those overusing medication.

Cell and gene therapies (CGT) promise precision medicine and curative options for genetic disorders but face challenges like complex manufacturing, evolving regulations, and patient engagement. Advances in vector and capsid technology enhance CGT efficacy and accessibility, while regulatory updates and patient-centric approaches are crucial for CGT development.

Prof. Timothy L Jackson discusses anti-VEGF-C and -D treatment for wet AMD, highlighting phase 2b study results showing superior visual acuity over ranibizumab monotherapy. A phase 3 trial with 2,000 patients aims to replicate these findings, potentially offering better acuity to patients.

Researchers developed AI algorithm DrugSynthMC to generate thousands of drug-like molecules per second, expanding chemical diversity in drug libraries and aiding in tailored drug development.

Job id 095426: £43,205 - £50,585/annum, Guy’s Campus, closing 13 Oct 2024. KHP-CTO seeks experienced monitor for GCP trials, assisting Quality Manager and R&D staff. Responsibilities include trial setup, monitoring, data QC, adverse event reporting, and regulatory inspections. Full-time, field-based with national/international travel. Essential criteria: GCP experience, degree, regulatory knowledge, strong planning/organisational skills, computer proficiency, attention to detail, willingness to travel.

Triptans like eletriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan were more effective at relieving acute migraine pain than newer, costlier drugs, according to a network meta-analysis of nearly 90,000 patients. The analysis evaluated 137 trials and found these triptans superior in efficacy outcomes, suggesting a need to revise existing guidelines.