University of Cambridge

A common glaucoma drug, methazolamide, shows promise in protecting the brain from tau protein buildup, implicated in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published in Nature Chemical Biology. The drug, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, successfully reduced tau build-up and improved cognitive performance in zebrafish and mouse models. Researchers from the University of Cambridge, using the UK Dementia Research Institute, screened 1,437 approved drugs and found methazolamide effective. The team plans to test the drug on other disease models, including Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

UK health secretary announces £279 million for weight-loss jab trials, aiming to tackle obesity crisis. Key drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro are seen as crucial, though concerns exist over side effects and misuse. The drugs mimic GLP-1 hormone to control blood sugar and signal fullness, with Mounjaro targeting both GLP-1 and GIP receptors for enhanced weight loss. Despite potential, experts emphasize these treatments are not a 'silver bullet' and should be combined with dietary interventions and policy changes.

A new trial, funded by Cancer Research UK and Minderoo Foundation, will test multiple treatments for glioblastoma, using genome sequencing for personalized treatment. The 5G platform trial aims to speed up development of new brain cancer treatments by allowing real-time adjustments based on patient data.

Increased cholesterol production by stem cells in the brain contributes to neurological damage in MS; cholesterol-lowering medications may reverse this damage, suggesting potential repurposing for MS treatment. The study identifies cholesterol-associated secretomes as key contributors to neurotoxic damage in progressive MS, with statins showing nerve-protecting properties in cell models.

The 5G study, a UK-based adaptive clinical trial platform for brain cancer patients, aims to speed up new treatment development for glioblastoma by sequencing patient genomes and targeting treatments based on specific genetic makeup. Funded by Cancer Research UK and the Minderoo Foundation, it allows multiple drugs to be trialled simultaneously and treatments for other cancers to be tested in brain cancer patients.

Lecanemab outperformed aducanumab, gantenerumab, and donanemab in binding soluble Aβ aggregates, with donanemab not binding any soluble species, suggesting its efficacy is based solely on plaque clearance. Both lecanemab and aducanumab bound pyroglutamine forms of Aβ, while donanemab did not bind clumped pyroGlu-Aβ, indicating its binding region might be inaccessible in aggregates.

Nuclera completed a $75 million financing round led by Elevage Medical Technologies, enabling the commercialization of its eProtein Discovery benchtop system for rapid protein expression and purification, installed at various research organizations and academic institutes.

PACT, a UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE spinout, secures £9m to scale production of its Oval biomaterial, made from natural collagen, designed for the fashion industry. The patented, chemical-free process uses recycled collagen to mimic leather, requiring less water than traditional methods. The funding will support a new headquarters in Cambridge, including a lab and pilot production facility.

Pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication causing high blood pressure and organ damage, remains a mystery despite causing over 70,000 maternal deaths annually. Risk factors include age, BMI, and existing autoimmune disorders, with black women experiencing higher rates. New diagnostics and therapies, like the FDA-approved sFlt-1 test and potential drug repurposing, aim to improve early detection and treatment.

Nuclera secures £57 million to commercialize its eProtein Discovery system, speeding up protein expression and purification in research labs, with installations at leading institutions.