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CeMM Research Center and Collaborators Uncover Hidden Mechanism of 70-Year-Old Leukemia Drug

CeMM Research Center and Collaborators Uncover Hidden Mechanism of 70-Year-Old Leukemia Drug

A team of scientists from the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Oxford, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and the University of Dundee, has uncovered a previously unknown mechanism by which the 70-year-old leukemia drug 6-thioguanine (6-TG) affects cells. For decades, the drug's effects were well-documented, but the molecular details of why some cells are killed while others resist remained unclear. The new research identifies a protein called NUDT5 as an unexpected factor in this response. Crucially, the study found that NUDT5 influences 6-TG sensitivity not through its enzymatic activity, as initially expected, but through its physical presence as a molecular scaffold that organizes cellular metabolism. By using targeted protein degradation to remove NUDT5, researchers observed that cells became protected from the drug's toxic effects, a finding missed by traditional enzyme inhibitors.

Microbiome Therapeutics Market Poised for Significant Growth Driven by Personalized Medicine and AI Integration

Microbiome Therapeutics Market Poised for Significant Growth Driven by Personalized Medicine and AI Integration

Microbiome Therapeutics Market Poised for Significant Growth Driven by Personalized Medicine and AI Integration

Merck's Experimental Eye Drug Matches Roche's VEGF Inhibitor, Raises Safety Concerns

Merck's Experimental Eye Drug Matches Roche's VEGF Inhibitor, Raises Safety Concerns

Merck's Experimental Eye Drug Matches Roche's VEGF Inhibitor, Raises Safety Concerns

Debate Arises Over Ketamine Study Measurement Scales and Their Impact on Treatment Outcome Interpretation

Debate Arises Over Ketamine Study Measurement Scales and Their Impact on Treatment Outcome Interpretation

A recent letter published in npj Mental Health Research has sparked a debate regarding the measurement scales used in ketamine studies and their influence on interpreting treatment outcomes. The letter, a 'Matters Arising' critique of a 2024 meta-analysis, argues that the choice of questionnaire significantly impacts the perceived importance of the subjective experience during ketamine sessions. The original meta-analysis concluded that subjective effects explained 5 to 10 percent of ketamine outcomes and 24 percent for psilocybin, suggesting a modest role for ketamine's experiential component. However, the critic, Ramūnas Janavičius, contends that ketamine studies predominantly used dissociation scales (CADSS) or general psychiatric symptom scales (BPRS), while psilocybin studies employed mystical experience questionnaires. His re-analysis of the same ketamine studies shows that CADSS explained only 3.3 percent of the variance in outcome, whereas BPRS explained 15 percent, and mystical experience scales u...

GLP-1 Drug Users Face Increased Regurgitation Risk During Surgery, Study Finds

GLP-1 Drug Users Face Increased Regurgitation Risk During Surgery, Study Finds

A recent study presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland indicates that patients taking GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, may face an increased risk of regurgitation during or after surgery. These drugs, which are popular for weight loss and diabetes management, slow down digestion, meaning food can remain in the stomach longer than usual. The study, which examined the medical records of 47,039 adults undergoing procedures in the UK, found that GLP-1 users were approximately 11 times more likely to experience regurgitation compared to non-users. While most cases occurred as patients woke from anesthesia, some happened during surgery. Critically, two cases progressed to aspiration, where stomach contents are inhaled into the lungs, a potentially dangerous complication that can lead to severe lung damage, breathing problems, and even respiratory failure. The researchers noted that nearly one-third of GLP-1 users in the study had been advised...

Representative Kim Schrier Appointed Co-chair of Congressional Diabetes Caucus

Representative Kim Schrier Appointed Co-chair of Congressional Diabetes Caucus

Representative Kim Schrier (D-WA) has been named the new Co-chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, taking over from Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), who held the position since 1999. This announcement was made on September 21, 2026. Breakthrough T1D Chief Global Advocacy Officer Lynn Starr expressed gratitude for Congresswoman DeGette's extensive contributions, which included securing over $2.5 billion for T1D research through the Special Diabetes Program, advancing stem cell research, and accelerating innovative T1D therapies via the 21st Century Cures Act. Representative Schrier, a pediatrician and the only current member of Congress living with Type 1 diabetes, is seen as a highly suitable successor. Her personal and professional background is expected to provide valuable insight and leadership to the caucus, ensuring continued advocacy for the diabetes community.

Representative Kim Schrier Appointed Democratic Co-Chair of Congressional Diabetes Caucus

Representative Kim Schrier Appointed Democratic Co-Chair of Congressional Diabetes Caucus

Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, have announced the appointment of Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) as the new Democratic Co-Chair for the 120th Congress. Representative Schrier, the first pediatrician elected to Congress and an individual living with Type 1 diabetes, will join Representative Bilirakis in leading the 246-member bipartisan caucus. This caucus is recognized as one of the largest and most influential member organizations in Congress, dedicated to addressing diabetes-related issues. The transition marks a new chapter for the caucus, with Representative Schrier taking over from Representative DeGette, who has championed the caucus for over two decades. The caucus's mission is to educate members of Congress and their staff about diabetes and to support legislative activities aimed at improving diabetes research, education, and treatment.

FDA Implements New Rule to Accelerate Use of Non-Animal Testing Methods in Drug Development

FDA Implements New Rule to Accelerate Use of Non-Animal Testing Methods in Drug Development

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a new rule to remove outdated animal-specific terminology from federal regulations, explicitly allowing modern, animal-free methods for generating safety information for new drugs and biological products. This move clarifies that nonclinical tests, including human cell-based systems, organs-on-chips, computer modeling, and organoids, are acceptable alternatives to traditional animal testing. This regulatory change follows the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, which was enacted in 2022 and championed by figures such as Sens. Rand Paul and Cory Booker, and Reps. Vern Buchanan and Buddy Carter. For over 80 years, federal law mandated preclinical tests, including animal testing, before new drugs could proceed to human clinical trials. The FDA Modernization Act 2.0 replaced this framework with a broader category of 'nonclinical tests,' recognizing various animal-free methods. The FDA's new rule aims to align regulations with this legislative change, providing more...

Breakthrough T1D and Medical Organizations Establish Global Type 1 Diabetes Screening Schedule for Children

Breakthrough T1D and Medical Organizations Establish Global Type 1 Diabetes Screening Schedule for Children

Breakthrough T1D, in collaboration with 20 major diabetes and medical organizations worldwide, has established a new clinical framework for integrating general population screening for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) into routine pediatric healthcare. Published in Diabetologia, the official journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), this International Consensus Guidance outlines a simple blood test to detect islet autoantibodies in the early stages of T1D. The recommended screening schedule involves three age windows: the first screen between ages 2 and 4, a second screen between ages 6 and 8 if the first is negative, and a final routine screen between ages 10 and 15. A 'catch-up' screening is also recommended for children not previously tested, and a one-time screening after age 15 is advised for adolescents and adults. This initiative aims to identify T1D before symptoms appear, allowing for proactive treatment and management.

Discontinuation of GLP-1 Medications Increases Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds

Discontinuation of GLP-1 Medications Increases Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that stopping GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and similar drugs, significantly elevates the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The research, which followed over 333,000 U.S. veterans with type 2 diabetes for three years, found that the cardiovascular benefits of these drugs are not permanent and diminish rapidly once treatment ceases. Discontinuation leads to a loss of cardioprotective effects, resulting in higher blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, and increased systemic inflammation. These factors collectively contribute to a greater cardiovascular risk. The study highlights that prolonged discontinuation is associated with progressively worse outcomes compared to continuous treatment. While the viral figure of a 22% increased risk has circulated, it does not imply that stopping Ozempic raises everyone's heart attack risk by 22% above their pre-treatment risk. The most effective approach to reducing stroke occurr...

What to know about ibogaine, the drug Presley Gerber used for treatment months before death

What to know about ibogaine, the drug Presley Gerber used for treatment months before death

Presley Gerber shared his experience with ibogaine months before his death. What is the psychedelic compound? Why is it used in addiction treatment?

President Trump Fast-Tracks Research and Access to Psychedelic Drugs for Mental Health

President Trump Fast-Tracks Research and Access to Psychedelic Drugs for Mental Health

President Trump has signed an executive order to accelerate research into and access to psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds, as potential treatments for mental health conditions. This initiative includes a $50 million investment for state governments to study how psychedelics might aid individuals struggling with mental illnesses. The executive order also directs the FDA to provide national priority vouchers for certain psychedelic drugs, aiming to speed up the review process for approval. This move follows advocacy from high-profile supporters like podcast host Joe Rogan, who stated he provided information to President Trump that led to the swift decision. Ibogaine, a psychoactive compound from an African shrub, has shown early promise in altering neural pathways, potentially improving conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Despite being classified as a Schedule I substance by the DEA, meaning it has no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, the FDA has a system to de-...