Pharmaceutical News

RSS

Weight loss drugs may reduce binge eating disorder symptoms

Drugs commonly used for weight loss, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, have been found to reduce the key symptoms of binge eating disorder, in a new review of evidence led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

15 Jul 2026

Genome-mining tool reveals new antibiotic hidden in a silent gene cluster

Researchers developed DiscERN, a genome-mining platform that combines four complementary algorithms to identify evolutionarily related biosynthetic gene clusters and prioritize candidates for experimental study. The approach revealed discomycin A, a previously unknown calcium-dependent lipopeptide antibiotic with potent activity against several Gram-positive bacteria.

15 Jul 2026

Researchers rank 11 preeclampsia therapies as top candidates for further development

Researchers ranked 83 preclinical candidates for preventing or treating preeclampsia and eclampsia, identifying 11 as having high potential for further development. The analysis also revealed limited target diversity, moderate bias, inactive programs, and animal models that may not fully represent human pregnancy

15 Jul 2026

Self-assembling antibody drugs successfully target multiple cancer receptors

Modern anticancer medications that combine tumor-fighting drugs with proteins that specifically target cancer cells are a relatively new class of drug, often given to patients for whom standard chemotherapy has not worked.

15 Jul 2026

New photoswitchable drugs restore light perception in blind animals

Blinding diseases caused by the degeneration of photoreceptors, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), affect 200 million people worldwide and represent the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness.

15 Jul 2026

Weight loss and anti-inflammatory drugs combine to combat leukemia

Obesity can act as fuel for leukemia, according to a study led by Indiana University School of Medicine scientists.

14 Jul 2026

Semaglutide dose may matter more than weight loss for heart health

The study shows semaglutide's cardiovascular benefits are more closely tied to attained dose than weight loss, challenging existing treatment assumptions.

14 Jul 2026

GLP-1 weight loss may reduce first-impression penalties in relationships and hiring

An NBER working paper found that GLP-1 initiation and associated weight loss were followed by higher partnership formation among initially single women and greater employment entry among women who were not employed. The findings suggest that part of the female obesity penalty may arise when prospective partners and employers form first impressions, although the observational analysis did not directly prove discrimination

13 Jul 2026

Nearly one in 10 Britons use or want weight-loss medication

The prevalence of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight management in Great Britain highlights public interest and concerns over safety and prescribing practices.

13 Jul 2026

Study links GLP-1 treatment to fewer alcohol drinking days

Current GLP-1 receptor agonist prescriptions were associated with modestly lower AUDIT-C scores in a large, diverse US cohort. The difference appeared to reflect less frequent drinking rather than fewer drinks per occasion or fewer binge-drinking episodes.

13 Jul 2026

Insurance denials for brand-name drugs surge over past six years

A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the American Enterprise Institute found that insurance denials of first attempts to fill prescriptions for brand-name prescription drugs with no generic competitors increased more than two-thirds between 2018 and 2024.

11 Jul 2026

Insilico Medicine founder to highlight sustainable longevity at BIO Asia-Taiwan

Dr. Alex Zhavoronkov, Founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, has been invited to attend BIO Asia-Taiwan, which will be held from July 15 to 19 in Taiwan, China.

11 Jul 2026

GLP-1RAs linked to lower risk of amputation in diabetes with PAD

Research indicates GLP-1RAs may decrease limb complications in type 2 diabetes with PAD, though more randomized studies are required to confirm efficacy.

10 Jul 2026

GLP-1 exposure in pregnancy does not clearly raise major birth defect risk

A systematic review and meta-analysis of seven cohort studies involving more than 40,000 GLP-1 receptor agonist-exposed pregnancies found no statistically significant increase in major congenital malformations or several other adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the evidence was low or very low certainty, and a urinary malformation signal based on unadjusted data requires cautious interpretation.

10 Jul 2026

Semaglutide outperforms other GLP-1 drugs for weight loss in psychiatric populations

A network meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials found that once-weekly semaglutide showed the largest estimated weight-loss effect among GLP-1 receptor agonists tested in adults with mental illness and obesity or related metabolic risk. The authors cautioned that the findings remain preliminary because the evidence base was small, heterogeneous, and largely indirect.

9 Jul 2026

Medicare prescriptions for Wegovy spike after heart disease coverage expansion

Medicare prescriptions for Wegovy increased sharply after the program started covering the anti-obesity medication to prevent heart problems, but just a fraction of beneficiaries likely eligible received the treatment, according to new research from the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.

9 Jul 2026

Misuse of ADHD stimulant medications declines sharply among young adults

Misuse of stimulant medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has declined sharply.

9 Jul 2026

University of Malaga scientists find way to improve morphine treatments

Scientists at the Department of Cell Biology of the University of Malaga have taken a step forward in the search for more effective treatments for pain with a new study that continues advancing in mitigating the addictive effects of morphine -one of the main drugs used for this purpose- as well as the development of analgesic tolerance to this drug.

9 Jul 2026

Antihistamines show modest benefits for long Covid fatigue treatment

Over-the-counter antihistamines and a prescription anti-inflammatory drug both have a small benefit in reducing long Covid fatigue among people receiving care from specialist long Covid clinics, according to new findings from a large clinical trial led by UCL and UCLH.

8 Jul 2026

Only one in 10 Australians know the Black Triangle safety symbol

Research highlights gaps in awareness of Australia's Black Triangle Scheme, suggesting strategies to enhance understanding and reporting of adverse drug events.

8 Jul 2026