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New lab-grown organoids accurately mimic pediatric brain tumor biology

Efforts to identify and evaluate next-generation therapeutics for pediatric brain tumors are easily stymied by the quality and availability of laboratory models for research. To address this issue, scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital developed patient-derived tumor organoids and tumor organoid xenografts that accurately reflect the biologic underpinnings of embryonal brain tumors.

16 Apr 2026

Dutch study shows off-label targeted therapies benefit more cancer patients

The largest published prospective evaluation of off-label targeted cancer therapies has shown that more patients could benefit from existing drugs.

15 Apr 2026

Brain organoids reveal mutation-specific insights for Rett syndrome

Though many studies approach the developmental disorder Rett syndrome as a single condition arising from general loss of function in the gene MECP2, a new study by neuroscientists in The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT shows that two different mutations of the gene caused many distinct abnormalities in lab cultures.

15 Apr 2026

ORGAPRED selects CYTOQUBE® from Hamamatsu Photonics for personalized oncology research and therapeutic discovery

ORGAPRED, a France-based core facility specializing in Patient-Derived Tumor Organoid (PDTO) research, has selected the CYTOQUBE high-throughput 3D imaging system from Hamamatsu Photonics France to support personalized oncology drug screening and therapeutic discovery.

From Hamamatsu Photonics Europe 15 Apr 2026

VALANX Biotech establishes Scientific Advisory Board to advance ADC therapeutics

VALANX Biotech (VALANX), a biotech company developing novel technology for site-specific protein conjugation in drug discovery, today announced the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), appointing John Lambert as Chair, with Morris Rosenberg and Peter de Waele serving alongside.

From VALANX Biotech 15 Apr 2026

A new model to break the cycle of chronic nightmares in children

The DARC-NESS model targets chronic nightmares in youth, promoting confidence and coping strategies to restore healthy sleep patterns and mental well-being.

14 Apr 2026

Beetroot supplement raises nitric oxide markers in triathletes after one week

A randomized cross-over pilot study in 10 amateur male triathletes found that a beetroot-based multi-ingredient nitrate supplement increased nitric oxide-related and redox biomarkers over 7 days without evidence of lipid oxidative damage. The supplement was generally well tolerated, but the study did not measure whether these biochemical changes improved performance or recovery.

13 Apr 2026

Targeting super-enhancer mechanisms offers new strategies for cancer therapy

Super-enhancers (SEs) are large clusters of transcriptional regulatory elements that drive oncogene expression, maintain malignancy, and create "transcriptional addiction" in cancer.

13 Apr 2026

Targeting senescent fat cells provides new hope for ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy of the female reproductive system. Due to its insidious early symptoms and the absence of specific screening modalities, approximately 70% of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage.

13 Apr 2026

Bayer receives MHRA approval for Kerendia® (finerenone) in adults with heart failure with LVEF ≥ 40 %

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted approval for Kerendia® (finerenone), a non-steroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (nsMRA), for the treatment of symptomatic chronic heart failure (HF) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 40 %, in adults in the UK.

From Bayer PLC 13 Apr 2026

Natural peptide PEPITEM shows promise in reducing arthritic joint swelling

Scientists investigating the naturally occurring immunopeptide PEPITEM have shown reductions in arthritic joint swelling to a degree comparable to the current standard of care, and reduce the inflammatory changes that cause joint damage.

13 Apr 2026

Rat hepatitis E virus may be a hidden cause of hepatitis in humans

This Nature Communications review argues that rat hepatitis E virus is an emerging zoonotic cause of hepatitis that is likely underdiagnosed because current tests are limited and awareness remains low. It shows that ratHEV is widespread in urban rodent populations, can infect humans and some other animals, and may spread mainly through indirect environmental exposure rather than direct rodent contact.

12 Apr 2026

Mezagitamab shows promise in treating immune thrombocytopenia patients

Results from a phase 2 clinical trial designed and overseen by researchers at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute show that the investigational medication mezagitamab can effectively boost platelet counts in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), an autoimmune disease characterized by elevated platelet destruction and reduced platelet production that increases bleeding risk and compromises quality of life.

11 Apr 2026

EV-RNAs show promise for IBD diagnosis and treatment

A research team led by Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, has published a comprehensive review in ExRNA that sorts out the diverse roles of extracellular vesicle-associated RNAs (EV-RNAs) in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

10 Apr 2026

Nanomedicine offers targeted solutions for breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer (BCA) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with high mortality and morbidity in women.

10 Apr 2026

FDA clears investigational new drug application to test sCAR-T therapy for autoimmune conditions

Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines, the drug discovery division of Scripps Research, announced today that the FDA has cleared their investigational new drug (IND) application to study switchable chimeric antigen receptor T cell (sCAR-T) therapy (CLBR001 + SWI019) in patients with autoimmune conditions.

10 Apr 2026

DARC-NESS model offers insights into persistent nightmares in children

Recently published research from the University of Oklahoma and the University of Tulsa proposes a new model to explain why nightmares can persist over time in children and how therapy can be designed to break that cycle.

9 Apr 2026

Two new TB vaccines show safety but limited protection

Two new vaccines to prevent tuberculosis (TB) are safe for use in adults and children, but they do not offer protection against all forms of TB, finds a large trial from India published by The BMJ today.

9 Apr 2026

FTC drug divestiture policy may reduce competition, study finds

Last month, Novartis completed its $11 billion acquisition of Avidity Biosciences-the latest in a string of major pharmaceutical mergers including Merck's acquisition of Verona Pharma and GSK's acquisition of RAPT Therapeutics.

9 Apr 2026

Genetic variants may help explain who loses more weight and who gets side effects on GLP-1 drugs

A large 23andMe-based GWAS found that common variants in GLP1R and GIPR help explain why some people lose more weight or experience more nausea and vomiting on GLP-1 drugs. The findings suggest genetics may eventually help predict who responds best to semaglutide or tirzepatide and who is more likely to develop side effects.

9 Apr 2026