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Non-prescribed ketamine use rises sharply across the UK

The rise in non-prescribed ketamine use across the UK in recent years is a cause for concern, say doctors in The BMJ today.

12 Jun 2025

Rutgers study challenges FDA warning on antiseizure drug

Rutgers Health researchers found that lamotrigine, a widely prescribed antiseizure medication, to be safe in older adults with epilepsy, contrary to a safety warning by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

11 Jun 2025

Chikungunya vaccine could stop millions of infections worldwide, study finds

A landmark global modeling study reveals that more than 2.8 billion people in 104 countries are at risk of chikungunya, with up to 35 million infections annually. Strategic deployment of the IXCHIQ vaccine could prevent thousands of infections and deaths each year.

11 Jun 2025

AMA endorses resolution to expand access to anti-obesity medications

The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates today passed the Endocrine Society's resolution to improve access to anti-obesity medications.

11 Jun 2025

Large cohort study reassures on mRNA vaccine safety for early pregnancies

A large prospective cohort study in Germany found no statistically significant increase in major birth defects following first trimester mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. While slightly higher rates of some anomalies were observed in vaccinated pregnancies, no consistent patterns or causal links emerged.

11 Jun 2025

Psilocybin rewires the brain for weeks, study finds

Psilocybin induces consistent and sustained changes in brain network connectivity, particularly between the hippocampus and default mode network, as shown using high-resolution fMRI in healthy adults. These neural effects, distinct from those produced by methylphenidate, may underlie the drug’s psychological benefits and were reproducible within individuals over time.

10 Jun 2025

Heart drug repurposed to kill hospital superbug Acinetobacter baumannii

A new study from Emory University addresses the growing global crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections. Many of these drug-resistant bacteria are spread through hospitals, and there are few antibiotics available for treatment.

10 Jun 2025

Dr. Stephen Ross’s research into psychedelic medicine expands therapeutic frontiers

In a comprehensive Genomic Press Interview published today, Dr. Stephen Ross, a leading figure in psychedelic medicine at New York University (NYU), reveals how a serendipitous conversation in 2006 launched his journey into investigating psychedelic compounds as potential breakthrough treatments for some of psychiatry's most challenging conditions.

10 Jun 2025

COVID boosters do not harm T-cell function in the vulnerable

Findings indicate that frequent COVID-19 booster shots do not weaken T-cell responses, alleviating concerns for vulnerable groups facing new variants.

9 Jun 2025

Statins linked to lower death rates in critically ill sepsis patients

Sepsis is when the immune system overshoots its inflammatory reaction to an infection, so strongly that the vital organs begin to shut down.

6 Jun 2025

Wayne State researchers investigate effects of fentanyl use during pregnancy

A new National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant will aid Wayne State University researchers in measuring the effects of fentanyl during pregnancy on maternal behaviors and offspring at birth through early development.

5 Jun 2025

Common antibiotic shows promise in reducing preterm births

A study of almost 1000 pregnant women in Zimbabwe found that a daily dose of a commonly used, safe and inexpensive antibiotic may have led to fewer babies being born early.

5 Jun 2025

Statins show no additional benefit for depression treatment

Lipid-lowering medicines, known as statins, are prescribed in cases of high cholesterol levels, to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.

4 Jun 2025

Mass treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin may lead to increased drug resistance

Efforts to reduce child mortality in Africa via mass treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin (AZM) may lead to increased drug resistance in bacteria that frequently cause pneumonia and meningitis, highlighting the need for careful monitoring, finds a new study led by UCL.

4 Jun 2025

AI-designed drug shows early promise for lung fibrosis patients in clinical trial

Researchers report that rentosertib, an AI-discovered TNIK inhibitor, showed promising safety and potential to improve lung function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a 12-week phase 2a clinical trial. The highest dose group demonstrated a trend toward increased forced vital capacity, especially among patients not receiving standard antifibrotic therapy, supporting further clinical investigation.

4 Jun 2025

AI and human scientists collaborate to discover new cancer drug combinations

An 'AI scientist', working in collaboration with human scientists, has found that combinations of cheap and safe drugs – used to treat conditions such as high cholesterol and alcohol dependence – could also be effective at treating cancer, a promising new approach to drug discovery.

4 Jun 2025

Early camizestrant therapy keeps advanced breast cancer in check

Switching to camizestrant, a next-generation oral SERD, significantly prolongs progression-free survival and maintains quality of life in patients with ESR1-mutated, hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer. The proactive, biomarker-guided approach allows earlier intervention and may redefine standard care.

3 Jun 2025

Ochsner Health shares roadmap for pharmacogenomics integration into clinical practice

In a report recently published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, the Ochsner Health system delves into the multifaceted implementation of pharmacogenomics-a rapidly evolving field that examines how genetics influence individual responses to medication.

3 Jun 2025

New study stands to improve the rigor and reliability of psychedelic clinical trials

As psychedelics gain traction as potential treatments for mental health disorders, an international study led by researchers at McGill University, Imperial College London, and the University of Exeter stands to improve the rigor and reliability of clinical research.

3 Jun 2025