Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified a signaling loop between breast cancer cells and sensory neurons that promoted tumor metastasis, and showed that in animal models, treatment with the approved anti-nausea medication aprepitant could disrupt that loop.

After decades of being woefully under-diagnosed and all but ignored by the biotech and pharma industry, recent advances in understanding its complex etiology could be opening the way to new treatments for endometriosis. Impetus is coming from (modest) increases in funding for basic research, such as the Biden administration’s $200 million for women’s health research and NIH grants under an ‘Advancing cures and therapies and ending endometriosis diagnostic delays’ call announced in March of this year.

Stryker Corp. continued its recent buying spree with the purchase of Molli Surgical Inc., a company that develops wire-free soft tissue localization technology for breast-conserving surgery. Styker said Molli’s offerings strengthen its advancing surgical solutions in breast cancer care.

The first patenting to be published in the name of Wave View Imaging Inc. sees its co-founders file for additional protection of their imaging technology which can be used to monitor breast cancer treatment.

Swiss scientists developed hydrogel implants that could help prevent and treat endometriosis by blocking the fallopian tubes and stopping the passage of endometrial cells. The implants, though in their early stage of development, bode well for the millions of women suffering from the chronic condition.

Researchers from Chongqing Medical University and affiliated organizations reported findings from studies they performed to assess the role of zinc-finger protein 334 (ZNF334) in cervical cancer.

Novocuff Inc. closed an oversubscribed $26 million series A funding round to support further development of the Novocuff cervical control system, which is designed to reduce preterm births by closing the cervix in high-risk pregnancies. The funds will enable the company to undertake a U.S. multi-center pivotal clinical trial, pursue marketing authorization, expand its team and begin early-stage commercialization of the device.

Researchers from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have found that CCN3, a hormone secreted by neurons in the brain, is responsible for maintaining bone strength during lactation.

A team at Massachusetts General Hospital conducted research to evaluate the expression levels of the extracellular matrix protein tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 (TINAGL1) in the human ovary.