Small Molecules News and Research

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Reversing macrophage metabolism may improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are among the most abundant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.

1 Jul 2026

Vitamins A and D may support healthier lungs in asthma patients

Higher levels of circulating vitamin A are linked to better lung function in children and adults with asthma, while vitamin D shows similar benefits in adults, including slower biological ageing, finds the first study of its kind, published online in the respiratory journal Thorax.

30 Jun 2026

Scientists discover 70 existing drugs that block deadly hantavirus infections

Researchers screened over 5,000 compounds and successfully pinpointed 70 existing drugs, including unexpected beta-lactam antibiotics, that effectively suppress Puumala orthohantavirus infection in human cells. This milestone drug-repurposing study provides an immediate, fast-tracked pipeline for developing the first approved treatments against life-threatening hantavirus diseases.

28 Jun 2026

Peacemaker immune cells offer new hope for restoring immune tolerance

'Peacemaker' immune cells could help treat diseases ranging from type 1 diabetes to neurodegeneration by restoring immune tolerance, according to a new paper in Frontiers in Science.

25 Jun 2026

Insilico and SK Biopharmaceuticals partner to develop AI-driven neuroimmune therapies

Insilico Medicine, a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, and SK Biopharmaceuticals, a Korean-based company leads the way in biotech innovation with groundbreaking drug research, development, and commercialization worldwide, announced a research and development collaboration at the BIO 2026 International Convention to discover AI-enabled innovative drug candidates in the neuroimmune area of the central nervous system.

22 Jun 2026

Natural molecule erucamide helps slow progressive retinal degeneration

Many conditions that cause vision loss share a common feature: the gradual breakdown of the retina, the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye.

22 Jun 2026

Deep learning identifies novel compounds against antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea

With tens of millions of annual cases, gonorrhea is the second most frequently reported sexually transmitted infection (STI). Alone in the U.S., over 600,000 cases are reported each year.

17 Jun 2026

Laser phase plate dramatically expands cryo-EM imaging capabilities

In a landmark achievement in biological imaging, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and Biohub today announced the successful demonstration of the laser phase plate, a novel device that dramatically improves the contrast of images produced by cryo-electron microscopes, opening up an entirely new view of human biology.

11 Jun 2026

How Programmable Nanobiology Could Drive the Fifth Industrial Revolution

Professor Heddle's insights on nanobiology and AI highlight their potential to innovate drug delivery and vaccine development, addressing critical health needs.

9 Jun 2026

AI-designed molecular switch uses caffeine to control engineered cells

For many of us, a warm cup of coffee is how we start our day. For Texas A&M Health researchers, it may also offer a new way to control engineered cells in future medicines.

8 Jun 2026

Building quality into drug development for safer, faster medicines

Discover how quality-driven drug development and AI accelerate safer medicines, reduce risk, and improve patient outcomes.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific – Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Solutions 2 Jun 2026

Tissue rigidity actively regulates cell polarity and embryonic development

Embryonic development is one of the most dynamic biological processes in nature. Cells and tissues organise and reorganise themselves following incredibly precise patterns, while remaining flexible and robust.

2 Jun 2026

Scientists rethink GLP-1 delivery to improve dosing, tolerability, and adherence

The review highlights nanocarriers, microspheres, hydrogels, microneedles, long-acting formulations, and co-formulations as promising but mostly early-stage strategies that still require stronger long-term clinical evidence.

27 May 2026

Urine test may help identify autism risk in children

A simple urine test may help identify children at risk for autism sooner than current assessments - opening the door for earlier diagnosis and treatment, and better long-term outcomes for children who do have autism spectrum disorder.

26 May 2026

New therapies could help type 1 diabetes care move beyond insulin alone

Disease-modifying therapies for type 1 diabetes are beginning to move care beyond insulin replacement by targeting immune dysregulation, beta-cell stress, and preservation of endogenous beta-cell function. Teplizumab marks a major clinical milestone, but the review emphasizes that durable metabolic remission will likely require earlier screening, better patient selection, and sequential or combination therapies.

18 May 2026

Faster biological aging linked to higher dementia risk

Having a biological age older than chronological age is associated with a greater likelihood of developing dementia, a new study has shown.

13 May 2026

Common cholesterol drug may help disrupt ovarian cancer cell protection

A fluid that women with advanced ovarian cancer know all too well - ascites, the buildup of liquid in the belly - may be doing more than causing discomfort.

11 May 2026

Researchers uncover how bacterial toxin damages colon lining cells to trigger cancer

Since a landmark 2009 study, researchers have known that a common gut bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, drives colon tumor formation, potentially leading to colorectal cancer, by secreting a toxin that damages the lining of the colon.

8 May 2026

Genetic background shapes outcomes in chromosome 16 deletion disorders

Individuals that share the same deletion of a portion of chromosome 16 are at risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders, but some experience severe intellectual disability or developmental delay, while others may only exhibit milder psychiatric features like depression or anxiety.

5 May 2026

New method matures lab-grown heart cells for better research

Researchers at the University of Toronto's Institute of Biomedical Engineering have developed a new method to mature lab-grown heart cells, so they more closely resemble adult human heart tissue.

5 May 2026