Imperial College London

NHS England Launches World-First Gonorrhoea Vaccine Amid Record Infection Rates

a day ago

• England becomes the first country globally to implement a gonorrhoea vaccination program, targeting high-risk populations as infections reach record levels with over 85,000 cases reported in 2023. • The vaccine, repurposed from the meningitis B jab, offers 30-40% protection against gonorrhoea and will primarily be available to gay and bisexual men with multiple partners or previous STI history. • Public health officials hope the vaccination program will help combat the rising threat of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea strains, potentially preventing 100,000 cases and saving the NHS nearly £8 million over the next decade.

FDA Grants Breakthrough Status to Mursla Bio's EvoLiver Test for Early Liver Cancer Detection

a month ago

• Mursla Bio's EvoLiver, a novel liquid biopsy test using extracellular vesicles to detect hepatocellular carcinoma, has received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, becoming the first liver cancer surveillance test in five years to achieve this status. • The test demonstrated impressive clinical performance in the multi-center MEV01 trial, achieving 86% early-stage sensitivity at 88% specificity for liver cancer surveillance in high-risk cirrhotic patients. • This breakthrough designation enables an accelerated regulatory pathway and closer FDA collaboration, potentially transforming liver cancer surveillance through a more accurate, accessible blood test compared to current ultrasound-based methods.

Decade-Long UK Registry Reveals Key Insights into Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Management and Future Directions

a month ago

• The British Thoracic Society's analysis of the UK Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Registry provides the first comprehensive long-term data on over 5,000 IPF cases across 64 UK hospitals. • Key findings include significant diagnostic delays with 60% of patients experiencing symptoms for over a year before their first clinic visit, and a shift in antifibrotic treatment preferences from pirfenidone to nintedanib after 2017. • Experts are now advocating for a shift from consensus-based criteria toward personalized, data-driven approaches for early diagnosis and treatment, with initiatives like the global PRIME-PPF study aiming to refine risk stratification.

Early Combination of Statins and Ezetimibe Could Prevent Thousands of Heart Attacks, Study Finds

2 months ago

• Researchers from Imperial College London and Lund University found that early combination therapy with statins and ezetimibe significantly reduces the risk of subsequent heart attacks and death in cardiac patients. • The study analyzed data from 36,000 heart attack patients, revealing that those receiving combination treatment within 12 weeks had better outcomes than patients receiving delayed treatment or statins alone. • Implementation of early combination therapy could prevent an estimated 133 heart attacks per 10,000 patients over three years, potentially saving 5,000 heart attacks in the UK over a decade.

Singapore Launches First COVID-19 Human Challenge Trial with Five Volunteers

2 months ago

• Singapore's National Centre for Infectious Diseases has conducted the country's first COVID-19 human challenge study, deliberately exposing five vaccinated volunteers to the virus under controlled conditions. • The Sing-CoV trial aims to recruit 20 healthy participants aged 21-30 by October 2024, with researchers collecting comprehensive biological samples to gain precise insights into infection dynamics despite vaccination. • This pioneering study establishes a framework for future challenge trials, including the upcoming global MUSICC study in 2025, strengthening Singapore's preparedness for future pandemics including potential "Disease X" threats.

Modus Therapeutics Completes Enrollment for Phase I Sevuparin Trial in Pediatric Severe Malaria

2 months ago

• Modus Therapeutics has completed patient enrollment in the SEVUSMART Phase I trial evaluating sevuparin's safety and tolerability in children with severe malaria across sites in Kenya and Zambia. • The study will assess escalating doses of sevuparin in 20 children aged 3 months to 12 years, aiming to determine optimal dosing when combined with standard care for severe malaria. • Sevuparin has previously shown promising anti-parasitic effects in uncomplicated malaria patients and targets key pathophysiological mechanisms that could reduce disease severity and improve outcomes.

Boehringer Ingelheim Launches First-in-Class Inhaled Gene Therapy Trial for Cystic Fibrosis

3 months ago

• Boehringer Ingelheim initiates LENTICLAIR 1 Phase I/II trial evaluating BI 3720931, a novel inhaled gene therapy targeting cystic fibrosis using Oxford Biomedica's lentiviral vector technology. • The innovative therapy aims to address the 10-15% of cystic fibrosis patients who cannot benefit from current CFTR modulators due to mutation type or intolerance. • Oxford Biomedica's proprietary lentiviral vector manufacturing expertise will support the development of this groundbreaking treatment that delivers functional CFTR genes to airway epithelial cells.

Moderna Emerges as UK's Leading Clinical Trial Sponsor with New Oxford Innovation Center Nearing Completion

4 months ago

• Moderna has launched 23 clinical trials across 110 UK sites since 2021, becoming the largest industry sponsor with 20% of all industry-sponsored trial participants in 2023/24. • The new Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre in Oxfordshire is nearing completion, with capabilities to produce 250 million vaccine doses annually and house state-of-the-art research laboratories. • Through strategic partnerships, Moderna has initiated mRNA research collaborations with four UK universities and expanded trial accessibility through innovative recruitment strategies including pharmacy partnerships.

Novel HMB Supplement Trial Launches to Combat Cirrhosis Symptoms in £500,000 UK Study

4 months ago

• A major clinical trial investigating β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB) as a potential treatment for liver cirrhosis has been launched across eight UK hospitals, supported by £500,000 from NIHR. • The BOOST study aims to evaluate HMB's effectiveness in improving physical function and quality of life for the 60,000 UK patients diagnosed with cirrhosis, a condition currently lacking direct treatment options. • The trial will recruit 124 cirrhosis patients who will receive either HMB or placebo for 12 weeks, with researchers measuring outcomes using the Liver Frailty Index and quality of life assessments.

Dapagliflozin and Calorie Restriction Show Promise in Reversing Type 2 Diabetes

4 months ago

• A clinical trial published in The BMJ reveals that combining dapagliflozin with calorie restriction can reverse type 2 diabetes in nearly half the participants. • The study included over 300 adults in China and showed that 44% of participants in the dapagliflozin group achieved remission, compared to 28% in the placebo group. • Participants taking dapagliflozin also experienced greater weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and better blood pressure and cholesterol levels. • Experts suggest this approach offers a more accessible strategy for managing type 2 diabetes compared to intensive weight-loss methods or bariatric surgery.

TOPSPIN Study Reveals Effective Single-Pill Combinations for Hypertension in South Asians

4 months ago

The TOPSPIN study, conducted by the Centre for Chronic Disease Control in collaboration with AIIMS and Imperial College London, has demonstrated the effectiveness of three double anti-hypertensive pill combinations in South Asian populations with uncontrolled hypertension. The study found that all three combinations were equally effective and safe, achieving blood pressure control in approximately 70% of participants. This research provides a significant advancement in hypertension management for South Asians, offering clinicians a roadmap for treatment.

Breakthrough Innovations in Regenerative Medicine Target Parkinson's, Heart Disease, and AMD

4 months ago

• A revolutionary biodegradable heart valve scaffold developed by researchers at Harefield Hospital and Imperial College London shows promise in animal trials, potentially eliminating the need for repeated valve replacements. • Stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease demonstrates encouraging safety data in the STEM-PD trial, with transplanted dopamine cells showing survival for 6-12 months post-transplantation. • Adverum Biotechnologies' single-dose gene therapy ixo-vec for wet AMD advances to Phase III trials, offering an alternative to monthly eye injections.

FDA Clears AI Algorithm for Detecting Heart Failure with Digital Stethoscope

5 months ago

• The FDA has cleared an AI algorithm developed by Eko Health and Mayo Clinic to detect heart failure using a digital stethoscope during physical exams. • The AI identifies low ejection fraction (EF), present in about 50% of heart failure cases, potentially enabling earlier diagnosis in primary care settings. • Clinical validation showed the AI detects EF below 40% with approximately 75% sensitivity and 77.5% specificity, as well as 85% and 69.5% in an independent study. • The technology aims to improve heart failure detection in both urban and remote areas, potentially reducing hospital admissions by facilitating timely specialist referrals.

FDA Approves Journavx, a Novel Non-Opioid Painkiller, Offering New Hope for Acute Pain Management

5 months ago

• The FDA has approved Journavx (suzetrigine), a first-in-class non-opioid analgesic, for treating moderate to severe acute pain in adults, offering a safer alternative to opioids. • Journavx works by selectively blocking pain signals in the peripheral nervous system, reducing pain without the addictive potential and severe side effects associated with opioids. • Clinical trials demonstrated Journavx's effectiveness in reducing pain after surgeries, with a safety profile comparable to placebo, though it didn't outperform opioid-acetaminophen combinations. • Priced at $15.50 per pill, Journavx faces challenges in accessibility due to its higher cost compared to generic opioids, but it represents a significant step in combating the opioid crisis.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Show Promise in Alzheimer's Disease: Key Clinical Trial Readouts Expected in 2025

5 months ago

• Phase III trial results for semaglutide (EVOKE and EVOKE Plus) are anticipated in September 2025, investigating its potential to slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients. • Studies suggest GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide and liraglutide may reduce Alzheimer's risk and slow cognitive decline, possibly by improving insulin resistance in the brain. • Experts emphasize the need for large, controlled trials to confirm GLP-1s' efficacy and safety for chronic use in preventing or treating Alzheimer's disease. • Researchers are exploring GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists like Kariya's KP405, designed to better penetrate the brain, potentially minimizing side effects associated with GLP-1 treatments.

Savana Leverages AI to Transform EHR Data into Actionable Clinical Insights

4 years ago

• Savana's AI-powered platform analyzes unstructured electronic health record data across 14 countries in five languages, enabling unprecedented access to real-world clinical evidence. • The company's technology has demonstrated significant value during COVID-19 pandemic through the BigCOVIData study, revealing key insights about disease characteristics and predictive factors. • Using advanced Natural Language Processing and privacy-preserving techniques, Savana helps pharmaceutical companies and researchers unlock previously inaccessible clinical data while maintaining patient confidentiality.