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Rhododendron-derived drugs now made by bacteria

World Pharma News - Fri, 02/20/2026 - 11:00
Bioengineered E. coli bacteria can now produce a group of compounds with anticancer, anti-HIV, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities. The Kobe University achievement is the result of a rational design strategy that yields a platform for the industrial production of drug candidates.

Plants produce many substances with promising pharmacological activities. For example, Rhododendron species produce a class of compounds, called orsellinic acid-derived meroterpenoids, with remarkable anticancer, anti-HIV, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Lung cancer drug offers a surprising new treatment against ovarian cancer

World Pharma News - Thu, 02/19/2026 - 11:00
A new study published by Mayo Clinic researchers suggests that ovarian cancer cells quickly activate a survival response after PARP inhibitor treatment, and blocking this early response may make this class of drugs work better.

PARP inhibitors are a common treatment for ovarian cancer and can be especially effective in cancers with impaired DNA repair.

Researchers identify promising Alzheimer's disease drug target

World Pharma News - Wed, 02/18/2026 - 11:00
Indiana University School of Medicine scientists have identified a promising drug target for Alzheimer's disease. The team found that removing an enzyme from neurons in the brain substantially reduces amyloid plaques - a hallmark characteristic of the disease - and may provide further resilience against disease progression.

Repurposed alcoholism drug fights liver cancer by targeting fat metabolism and blood supply

World Pharma News - Tue, 02/17/2026 - 11:00
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, often driven by abnormal lipid metabolism and excessive blood vessel growth. In a new study, researchers from Fudan University and Wenzhou Medical University have uncovered how disulfiram - a long-used anti-alcoholism medication - exerts potent anti-tumor effects in liver cancer.

Integrating heart imaging and proteomics identifies drug targets for cardiovascular diseases

World Pharma News - Mon, 02/16/2026 - 11:00
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, with significant residual risk unexplained by traditional factors. The discovery of novel therapeutic targets or the repurposing of existing drug targets could improve the prevention and treatment for different CVDs. However, previous studies have encountered different analytic challenges, such as failing to cover the whole spectrum of CVDs,

Multiple myeloma: Established cancer drug reactivates immunotherapy

World Pharma News - Fri, 02/13/2026 - 11:00
Genetically modified immune cells can offer precious additional time to patients with advanced multiple myeloma. However, these therapies lose their impact as the molecules on cancer cells that immune cells recognize gradually vanish. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now identified one of the molecular mechanisms behind this process. In an initial study they succeeded in blocking it using an existing cancer drug.

Why people won't quit a weight loss drug - even when it makes them feel sick

World Pharma News - Thu, 02/12/2026 - 11:00
Patients who use semaglutide for weight loss, like Ozempic, are more likely to continue the medication if they perceive it as effective, even when facing unpleasant side effects, according to Rutgers Health researchers.

Their study, published in Journal of Medical Internet Research, found perceived effectiveness - reductions in weight, appetite or food cravings - was the strongest predictor of satisfaction and intention to continue treatment, regardless of side effects.

Pfizer launches cost savings program on TrumpRx lowering drug costs for millions of Americans

World Pharma News - Wed, 02/11/2026 - 11:00
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced the launch of its program on TrumpRx, making innovative medicines more affordable and accessible to millions of Americans. The program provides Americans a wide range of more than 30 medicines at a significant discount off list prices.

AI that understands chemical principles... Accelerating the development of new drugs and materials​

World Pharma News - Tue, 02/10/2026 - 11:00
Whether a smartphone battery lasts longer or a new drug can be developed to treat incurable diseases depends on how stably the atoms constituting the material are bonded. The core of 'molecular design' lies in finding how to arrange these countless atoms to form the most stable molecule. Until now, this process has been as difficult as finding the lowest valley in a massive mountain range, requiring immense time and costs.

Statins do not cause the majority of side effects listed in package leaflets

World Pharma News - Mon, 02/09/2026 - 11:00
Cardiovascular disease results in around 20 million deaths worldwide and causes around a quarter of all deaths in the UK. Statins are highly effective drugs that lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and have been repeatedly proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, there have been concerns about possible side effects.

Innovative ‘poop pills’ show promising results in clinical trials for multiple types of cancer

World Pharma News - Fri, 02/06/2026 - 11:00
Fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), can dramatically improve cancer treatment, suggest two groundbreaking studies published in the prestigious Nature Medicine journal. The first study shows that the toxic side effects of drugs to treat kidney cancer could be eliminated with FMT. The second study suggests FMT is effective in improving the response to immunotherapy in patients with lung cancer and melanoma.

Sanofi announces the signing of a share buyback mandate for up to €1 billion

World Pharma News - Thu, 02/05/2026 - 11:00
On January 29, 2026, Sanofi announced its intention to execute a share buyback program in 2026 of €1 billion.

On February 2, 2026, Sanofi entered a mandate with an investment service provider for this program. Under the terms of the mandate, Sanofi will repurchase its own shares for a total consideration of up to €1 billion, between February 3, 2026, and December 31, 2026, at the latest(1).

How a heart medication could unlock a new targeted approach in lymphoma

World Pharma News - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 11:00
A team of researchers at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center discovered an innovative way to use a drug already approved in treating irregular heartbeat to selectively target specific functions of enzymes in lymphoma, effectively killing cancer cells and reducing tumor growth with little to no toxicity. Recent findings published in Pharmacological Research set the groundwork for how this strategy could help transform the future of precision medicine in cancer.

A broken DNA repair tool accelerates aging

World Pharma News - Tue, 02/03/2026 - 11:00
Although DNA is tightly packed and protected within the cell nucleus, it is constantly threatened by damage from normal metabolic processes or external stressors such as radiation or chemical substances. To counteract this, cells rely on an elaborate network of repair mechanisms. When these systems fail, DNA damage can accumulate, impair cellular function, and contribute to cancer, aging, and degenerative diseases.

AstraZeneca begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange

World Pharma News - Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:00
AstraZeneca today begins trading its ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) for the first time, enabling more US investors to participate in the Company’s strong growth. With this change the trading of AstraZeneca ordinary shares is now aligned across the NYSE, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and Nasdaq Stockholm (STO) under a harmonised listing structure.

Metformin shown to prevent Long COVID across risk groups in multiple randomized trials

World Pharma News - Fri, 01/30/2026 - 11:00
Multiple randomized clinical trials and electronic health record studies now show that metformin, a widely used and well-established medication, significantly reduces the risk of developing Long COVID when taken during or shortly after acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. The findings were published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

In the paper, the University of Minnesota Medical School research team provides information about metformin and summarizes several studies in low, standard and high risk populations

Two days of oatmeal reduce cholesterol level

World Pharma News - Thu, 01/29/2026 - 11:00
A short-term oat-based diet appears to be surprisingly effective at reducing the cholesterol level. This is indicated by a trial by the University of Bonn, which has been published in the journal Nature Communications. The participants suffered from a metabolic syndrome - a combination of high body weight, high blood pressure, and elevated blood glucose and blood lipid levels. They consumed a calorie-reduced diet, consisting almost exclusively of oatmeal, for two days.

Chemotherapy rewires gut bacteria to curb metastasis

World Pharma News - Wed, 01/28/2026 - 11:00
Chemotherapy commonly damages the intestinal lining, a well-known side effect. But this injury does not remain confined to the gut. It reshapes nutrient availability for intestinal bacteria, forcing the microbiota to adapt.

The researchers report that chemotherapy-induced damage to the intestinal lining alters nutrient availability for gut bacteria, reshaping the microbiota and increasing the production of

Abbott increases quarterly dividend for 54th consecutive year

World Pharma News - Tue, 01/27/2026 - 11:00
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced that its board of directors has increased the company's quarterly common dividend to 63 cents per share, an increase of 6.8%. The company's quarterly dividend payout has increased more than 70% since 2020.

This marks Abbott's 54th consecutive year of dividend growth and is the 408th consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid by Abbott since 1924.

New nanoparticle technology offers hope for hard-to-treat diseases

World Pharma News - Mon, 01/26/2026 - 11:00
A newly published perspective article in Nature Nanotechnology details groundbreaking nanoparticle technology to eliminate harmful, disease-causing proteins in the body. The technology marks a transformative leap in the potential to drug "undruggable" proteins, to treat diseases such as dementia and brain cancer.

The research was led by Chair Professor in Nanomedicine Bingyang Shi from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), together with international collaborators Professor Kam Leong from Columbia University, and Professor Meng Zheng from Henan University.