PERTH, Australia – Melbourne, Australia-based Dimerix Ltd. saw its shares gain 66% on the news that its lead candidate, DMX-200, has been chosen to enter the global REMAP-CAP platform trial as a potential treatment  for COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

A long-term clinical trial comparing minimally invasive cryoablation to surgery to treat early stage kidney cancer patients has found that the former offers comparable rates of survival and fewer complications. Johns Hopkins researchers published the 10-year survival data for 134 patients in the June 9, 2020, issue of Radiology.

Researchers at New York-based Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, the research arm of Northwell Health, showed that anodal block can be used for directional vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in a new paper in Scientific Reports.

Soleno Therapeutics Inc.’s phase III DESTINY PWS (C601) trial evaluating once-daily diazoxide choline controlled-release tablets for treating patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) missed its primary endpoint of change from baseline in hyperphagia, or insatiable hunger, which is the disease’s predominant syndrome.

DUBLIN – Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. is on track to secure its third FDA approval in successive years, as its siRNA drug, lumasiran, hit all its marks in a phase III trial in patients with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1). The drug is already undergoing regulatory review and has a Dec. 3 PDUFA action date. It is undergoing accelerated assessment in Europe as well.

Brisbane, Calif.-based Caredx Inc., which is aiming to transplant patient outcomes, saw the presentation of a host of data at the recent American Transplant Congress annual meeting.

LONDON – After all the controversy and a huge dose of hype, there is no clinical benefit from the use of hydroxychloroquine in patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, according to headline data from a large randomized trial of potential drugs for the infection currently running in the U.K.