McGill University
🇨🇦Canada
- Country
- 🇨🇦Canada
- Ownership
- Private
- Established
- 1821-01-01
- Employees
- 10K
- Market Cap
- -
- Website
- http://www.mcgill.ca
Novel Nucleus Pulposus Allograft Shows Promise for Chronic Back Pain Treatment
• Clinical trials of VIA Disc NP, a minimally invasive treatment using donor nucleus pulposus tissue, demonstrated significant reduction in chronic back pain from 7.1 to 3.8 on a 10-point scale over 12 months.
• The procedure, developed by VIVEX Biologics, involves injecting morselized donor disc tissue into degenerated spinal discs, allowing patients to return home the same day and resume normal activities within 24 hours.
• Researchers reported substantial functional improvements, with the percentage of patients in "severe" or "crippled" disability categories dropping from 82% to 18%, suggesting potential to delay or prevent more invasive surgical interventions.
Axoft's Ultrasoft Brain-Computer Interface Shows Promising Results in First Human Trial
• Axoft has successfully completed its first four cases in a first-in-human clinical study of its novel Fleuron™ brain-computer interface, demonstrating safe implantation and reliable neural signal recording.
• The Fleuron™ material is 10,000 times softer than traditional polyimide implants, allowing it to move with the brain's natural pulsations and significantly reducing tissue scarring and lead migration.
• Neurosurgeons at The Panama Clinic implanted Axoft's devices in brain tumor patients, successfully recording high-density single neuron information and detecting a biomarker of consciousness during sensory stimulus tasks.
Retatrutide Shows Promising Weight Loss Results Compared to Other GLP-1 Agonists
• A recent study shows retatrutide, an investigational triple agonist, led to a 22.1% weight loss over 48 weeks, surpassing existing GLP-1 drugs.
• Tirzepatide, commercially available as Zepbound, demonstrated a 17.8% weight loss over 72 weeks, highlighting its effectiveness in obesity management.
• Semaglutide (Wegovy) resulted in a 13.9% weight loss over 68 weeks, while liraglutide (Saxenda) showed a 5.8% reduction over 26 weeks.
• Oral semaglutide and orforglipron show promise in improving accessibility and adherence due to their non-injectable administration.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Not Linked to Increased Suicide Risk, Study Finds
• A nationwide study in France found no increased risk of suicide or suicide attempts associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs).
• The research included patients with psychiatric disorders and obesity, addressing a gap in previous clinical trials.
• The study used a case-time-control design to account for confounding factors and exposure-trend bias, enhancing the reliability of the findings.
• Results showed a negative association between GLP-1 RA use and suicidal behaviors, suggesting short-term psychiatric safety.
Alpha Tau's Alpha DaRT Therapy Receives FDA Nod for Expanded Pancreatic Cancer Trial
• The FDA has approved an IDE supplement for Alpha Tau, expanding the Alpha DaRT trial to include locally advanced pancreatic cancer patients.
• The trial will now enroll a total of 30 patients across two cohorts, each with 15 participants, at up to 10 clinical sites in the U.S.
• This expansion follows promising data on disease control and overall survival in pancreatic cancer patients treated with Alpha DaRT.
• Alpha Tau's CEO welcomes the IDE supplement, emphasizing the company's commitment to exploring new treatments for this deadly disease.
Experimental Drug K884 Enhances Muscle Stem Cell Repair in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
• Researchers at McGill University discovered that K884 enhances muscle stem cell repair in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
• K884 targets DMD-affected cells regardless of the mutation, promoting functional muscle development, unlike gene therapies.
• Preclinical results show K884's precision targeting, with plans for further safety and long-term studies to improve muscle function and quality of life for DMD patients.
Keytruda Approved in China for Early-Stage NSCLC Treatment
• Keytruda gains approval in China for resectable stage II, IIIA, or IIIB NSCLC in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy.
• The approval is based on the KEYNOTE-671 trial, demonstrating a significant improvement in overall survival and event-free survival.
• This marks Keytruda's fourth indication for NSCLC in China, extending its use to earlier stages of the disease.
• The treatment involves neoadjuvant Keytruda plus chemotherapy, followed by adjuvant Keytruda monotherapy post-surgery.
Takeda Canada Co-sponsors Grant to Advance IBD Clinical Research
• Takeda Canada co-sponsored a C$1 million grant to the Canadian Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research Consortium (CIRC) to enhance IBD clinical research.
• The CIRC PIONEER Grant was awarded to Dr. Kevan Jacobson and Dr. Genelle Lunken for their dietary intervention study in pediatric Crohn's disease patients.
• The study, DISPENSE-T, will investigate the impact of dietary intervention in Crohn's disease patients initiating anti-TNF therapy.
• Takeda's contribution of C$500,000 underscores its commitment to advancing scientific research and improving outcomes for over 322,000 Canadians affected by IBD.
Ensartinib Approved by FDA for First-Line ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
• The FDA has approved ensartinib (Ensacove) for first-line treatment of ALK-positive locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
• Ensartinib demonstrated statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival compared to crizotinib in the eXALT3 trial.
• Common adverse reactions to ensartinib include rash, musculoskeletal pain, constipation, cough, pruritus, nausea, edema, pyrexia, and fatigue.
• The recommended dose of ensartinib is 225 mg orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
myeloMATCH Program Launches Precision Medicine Trials for AML and MDS
• The myeloMATCH program, a collaboration of leading cancer research organizations, has begun enrolling patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) for precision medicine trials.
• The program offers advanced biomarker testing to identify genomic and molecular features, matching patients with targeted treatments in a series of Phase 2 studies.
• myeloMATCH is structured into four tiers, each providing trial options at different stages of cancer treatment, from initial therapy to managing minimal residual disease.
• Researchers aim to enroll 5,000 or more patients, tracking their progress and biomarkers to evaluate clonal evolution and develop more effective therapies.
myeloMATCH Trials Open to Accelerate Precision Medicine for AML and MDS
• myeloMATCH, a collaborative effort by leading cancer research organizations, launches clinical trials to advance precision medicine for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
• The program offers advanced biomarker testing to identify genomic and molecular features, matching patients with targeted treatments in a tiered approach across their treatment journey.
• Three treatment trials are now open, focusing on initial induction, residual disease, and consolidation therapy, with the goal of improving outcomes and developing new therapies for myeloid malignancies.
• The initiative aims to enroll 5,000 patients, tracking their progress and clonal evolution to refine treatments and address unmet needs in AML and MDS management.
Canadian Study to Evaluate Outcomes of Personalized Medical Cannabis Treatment
• Santé Cannabis is recruiting 3,000 patients for a 3-year study to assess the outcomes of personalized medical cannabis treatment plans.
• The study will evaluate benefits, safety risks, medication substitution, and cost analysis over a 12-month period.
• Researchers aim to address unanswered clinical questions regarding the therapeutic use of medical cannabis, including newer products and cannabinoid formulations.
• The project is supported by grants from industry partners Aurora Cannabis, Tilray Medical, and Vectura Fertin Pharma.
Lack of Approved Therapies Highlights Challenges in Vaping Cessation
• E-cigarettes, initially seen as a smoking cessation tool, have led to a new wave of nicotine addiction, with many users finding it difficult to quit vaping.
• The FDA has not approved e-cigarettes for smoking cessation, and there is a lack of data on effective methods to stop vaping, creating a significant unmet need.
• Achieve Life Sciences is developing cytisinicline, a potential first-in-class medication for vaping cessation, which has received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA.
• Alternative methods like nicotine pouches are being used to wean off vaping, but experts advise a short-term approach to avoid prolonged nicotine dependence.
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