Notizia

Stopping breast cancer metastasis by killing tumor cells in their sleep

Oncology researchers believed that dormant breast cancer cells are not responsive to chemotherapy. But these inactive cancer cells can be active at any time and cause life-threatening metastases. Scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center announced that they had figured out on how to stop dormant breast cancer cells from waking up. And the key is to disturb a signaling system in blood vessels that protects the cells as they sleep. Also, two compounds have been recognised that can interfere this protective signaling and cause the dormant cells to become responsive to chemotherapy.

Redx get approval for Wnt cancer trial after safety scare

Redx was compelled to suspend a phase 1/2a trial of its porcupine inhibitor for solid tumors, but now got approval for testing it again. The U.K. biotech announced that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has been given OK to go with the trial of RXC004, which targets the Wnt embryonic signaling pathway and is believed to disrupt tumor processes including tumorigenesis, metastasis and resistance. Redx stopped its trial when the first patient received the drug, suffered a serious adverse event caused by a higher-than-expected systemic exposure to the drug.

ALS researchers at Harvard expose new biomarker and drug target

A mutated form of the gene that forms a protein called TDP-43 has been insinuating in the brain disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). New research done by Harvard has disclosed a connection between TDP-43 and another gene called Stathmin2 (STMN2) that could give new approaches to treat the disease. They published their findings in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Antibiotic resistance of Novo Holdings fund supports 3 biotechs

The REPAIR Impact Fund of Novo Holdings has disclosed investments in three antibiotic resistance startups. The investments channelled around USD 16 million of the fund’s USD 165 million budget into the startups to bolster research into antibiotics and prophylactic vaccines.  The holding company for Novo Nordisk – Novo aid biotechs to take drugs and vaccines against resistant microorganisms through discovery and early-stage development.