Transplanting an animal organ into a human is now a closer reality following the successful xenotransplantation of a genetically modified pig liver into a patient diagnosed with brain death in China. The operation was intended to evaluate organ function over a 10-day period. This is a complex experimental trial that did not involve removing the patient's liver and still requires further study. However, the positive preclinical results suggest this strategy could save the lives of those waiting for a human organ, at least in certain cases.

The three-dimensional analysis of cell types and their locations by spatial transcriptomics provides key information of their interactions within tissues or organs. Based on this technology, scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute have developed an AI tool called Nichecompass, which shows a comprehensive view of the cancer microenvironments, the different cells, their locations, and how they communicate with each other through different molecules inside the tumor.

The three-dimensional analysis of cell types and their locations by spatial transcriptomics provides key information of their interactions within tissues or organs. Based on this technology, scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute have developed an AI tool called Nichecompass, which shows a comprehensive view of the cancer microenvironments, the different cells, their locations, and how they communicate with each other through different molecules inside the tumor. This AI could process data in an hour and compare samples before and after a treatment.

Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in the U.K. are developing a technology that analyzes, in vitro, how the 3D morphology of cancer cells changes when exposed to a compound, using AI to predict their response to new treatments. The researchers estimate that their methodology could accelerate drug development by 6 years, by ruling out unsuccessful drugs and thus reducing the number of preclinical trials.

The first complete DNA methylation atlas of 39 human cell types reveals which genes can talk or are silenced, depending on whether their sequence is linked to methyl group epigenetic modification that regulates their expression. This map of on-and-off switches shows differences between the alleles inherited from the father and those from the mother, providing a view of gene expression that can be explored in health and disease independently of the information contained in the DNA sequence.

Maxion Therapeutics Ltd. has raised $72 million (£58 million) in a series A financing to support its development of antibody-based Knotbody drugs for ion channel- and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-driven diseases.

Pierre Fabre SA and Redridge Bio AG have signed an exclusive R&D collaboration and license agreement to identify and develop biparatopic antibody drug candidates against multiple targets, with a focus on precision oncology, dermatology and rare diseases. The agreement provides for participation by Pierre Fabre in Redridge’s series A financing, as well as up-front, milestone and future sales royalty payments.

Medtronic plc reported results from a registry highlighting the effectiveness of the Prevail paclitaxel-coated balloon. The findings from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR) were presented by Sacharias von Koch of the department of cardiology and clinical sciences at Lund University, Skåne University Hospital in Sweden at the Cardiovascular Research Technologies 2025 meeting in Washington.

Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. has released promising preclinical results for its systemic Rtnova platform showing its ability to successfully deliver transient gene therapy payloads to targeted tumors. Moreover, the company’s tumor-specific virotherapy has demonstrated efficacy in killing over 60 different tumor cell lines.

In an advance that could significantly lighten the load for caretakers in the “sandwich generation” and reduce loneliness in elderly patients, Aspargo Labs Inc. developed a metered delivery device that optimizes absorption of pharmaceuticals and reminds users to take their medications.