Researchers have developed a novel point of care (POC) diagnostic that can test for multiple respiratory viral infections simultaneously, including for the flu and COVID-19. The POC diagnostic tool leverages a novel, non-enzymatic signal amplification method, according to study lead Eunjung Kim, professor at Incheon National University (INU), whose team published the findings in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical online November 2024.
TC Biopharm (Holdings) plc intends to begin proof-of-concept preclinical studies for its lead therapeutic TCB-008, to treat H5N1, or bird flu. TCB-008 is an allogeneic, unmodified cell therapy comprised of activated and expanded γδ T cells.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), multidrug-resistant pathogens caused over 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2020. And figures are rising, with projections pointing to antimicrobial resistance surpassing cancer as the leading cause of death by 2050. Now, researchers at the HUN-REN Biological Research Center have unveiled the role of pre-existing genetic variabilities and specific cross-resistance patterns among several antibiotics designed to combat gram-positive bacteria.
There are currently three approved vaccines against the H5N1 avian influenza virus. However, they present challenges for large-scale virus cultivation in case of an outbreak and rapid update of vaccine strains to keep pace with the virus’s evolution. Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine platforms may offer a promising alternative to traditional vaccine methods to face H5N1 threats.
Qaelon Medical SAS partnered with Caresyntax GmbH, aiming to build the first real-world evidence platform to tackle problems associated with surgical leaks. The companies hope their solution will provide real-time information to surgeons, improving outcomes and making surgery safer for patients.
An experimental tuberculosis (TB) vaccine with a dual mission – self-destruction after inducing immunity – improved the design of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy, a vaccine also used against cancer. Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh engineered this strain with a double break, which is effective and safer after an intravenous administration, according to their results in nonhuman primates and mice.
Researchers at GSK plc and University of Dundee have identified heterocyclic compounds reported to be potentially useful for the treatment of tuberculosis.
Top-line data from Maat Pharma SA’s phase III study of MaaT-013, an enema microbiome ecosystem therapy for acute graft-vs.-host disease, hit its primary endpoint. The milestone has prompted the company to think about filing an MAA submission for the treatment in Europe sometime in the middle of 2025, which is earlier than it had anticipated.