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Redesigned lung cancer drug matches tumor control with fewer off-target interactions

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-redesigned-lung-cancer-drug-tumor.html

Published: July 24, 2026 14:40

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have developed a new chemical approach that could help make targeted cancer medicines safer and more precise. The discovery gives scientists a new way to design drugs that bind more selectively to cancer-driving…

FDA advisers dismiss safety warnings, back four peptide treatments

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-fda-dismiss-safety-peptide-treatments.html

Published: July 24, 2026 14:00

A panel of outside advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted Thursday to let specialized pharmacies produce and sell four peptide treatments the agency banned three years ago.

First person vaccinated during trial of new Ebola jab

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-person-vaccinated-trial-ebola-jab.html

Published: July 24, 2026 13:20

A volunteer was injected Friday with the first dose of a rapidly developed vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola driving a deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Oxford University said.

Giving antibodies 'eyes' may help target hidden KRAS mutations in cancer cells

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-antibodies-eyes-hidden-kras-mutations.html

Published: July 24, 2026 12:20

Antibodies are like "guided missiles" that find and attack cancer cells, but cancer-causing mutations inside cells have remained a "blind spot" for treatment because antibodies cannot reach them. KAIST researchers have now succeeded in precisely targeting…

Oral antiviral blocks airborne measles-like virus spread in ferret model

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-oral-antiviral-blocks-airborne-measles.html

Published: July 24, 2026 10:40

A new oral antiviral drug candidate, administered either before or after direct-contact or airborne exposure to canine distemper virus, which causes measles-like disease in ferrets, blocks virus transmission and reduces clinical symptoms, according to a…

Distinct brain circuits explain contradictory behaviors of new weight-loss drugs

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-distinct-brain-circuits-contradictory-behaviors.html

Published: July 24, 2026 05:00

Cambridge scientists have solved the mystery of why both stimulating and blocking a particular "switch" in the brain can help people lose weight—findings that could help boost the effectiveness of obesity drugs.

What's the deal with peptides? The hyped market under US review

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-peptides-hyped.html

Published: July 23, 2026 18:40

Glowing skin, deeper sleep, stronger muscles, an alert mind? Such are the enticing promises of peptides, an increasingly buzzy class of substances touted by influencers and celebrities as the key to an optimized life.

Beyond antibiotics—a paradigm shift toward bacteria-control-centric therapies

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-antibiotics-paradigm-shift-bacteria-centric.html

Published: July 23, 2026 17:00

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the world's most alarming public health challenges because multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria increasingly render even last-line antibiotics ineffective, leading to substantially higher mortality rates.…

Overlooked brain protein tied to epilepsy yields first inhibitors in early experiments

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-overlooked-brain-protein-epilepsy-yields.html

Published: July 23, 2026 17:00

Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have uncovered the first high-resolution structure of NBCn2, a brain protein linked to epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder and other neurological conditions, and developed the first compounds capable…

FDA reviews peptide injections favored by RFK Jr. and wellness influencers

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-fda-peptide-favored-rfk-jr.html

Published: July 23, 2026 04:30

Health advisers begin meeting Thursday to review more than a half-dozen peptides, unproven substances that have become a growing wellness trend despite little evidence they are safe or effective.

GLP-1 diabetes drugs linked to up to 68% higher hair loss risk

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-glp-diabetes-drugs-linked-higher.html

Published: July 22, 2026 18:30

The use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity is associated with an increased risk of hair loss (alopecia) in adults with type 2 diabetes, a study published by The BMJ finds. Although the absolute risk is…

Natural compounds against sarcoma: Which one shows the greatest potential?

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-natural-compounds-sarcoma-greatest-potential.html

Published: July 22, 2026 14:20

Curcumin, berberine and other plant-derived compounds have long attracted scientific interest because of their anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. A new study by researchers from Wroclaw Medical University and the University of Wroclaw, however,…

One in ten medicines worldwide could be fake or substandard—here's how to protect yourself

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-ten-medicines-worldwide-fake-substandard.html

Published: July 22, 2026 09:20

Anyone who has bought medicine online may have wondered whether what arrived in the mail was really what they had paid for. They are not alone. A recent global survey found that around 60% of people fear their medicines could be fake—and the unsettling…

Newly identified molecule could help regulate sleep

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-newly-molecule.html

Published: July 22, 2026 09:20

Sleep is known to be essential for survival, as it allows both humans and other animals to rest, while the brain consolidates memories and clears out metabolic waste products. For many people worldwide, however, falling asleep at a reasonable time every…

Nearly all countries overuse powerful antibiotics, global study finds

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-countries-overuse-powerful-antibiotics-global.html

Published: July 22, 2026 08:00

Certain antibiotics are overused in most countries, while too few people receive the specific antibiotic treatments they need, according to a study of antibiotic use across 186 countries published in The Lancet Public Health journal. The study provides…

Availability of generic semaglutide removes barrier to affordable diabetes care, experts predict

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-availability-generic-semaglutide-barrier-diabetes.html

Published: July 22, 2026 00:00

In a novel analysis examining the economic implications of generic semaglutide entering the Canadian market, researchers predict that anticipated price reductions of up to 70% will dramatically increase both the cost-effectiveness and health system…

2018 to 2024 saw rise in insurance denials for brand-name drugs

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-denials-brand-drugs.html

Published: July 21, 2026 20:20

Insurance denials of initial attempts to fill brand-name prescription drugs with no generic competitors increased by more than two-thirds from 2018 to 2024, according to a study published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Newer obesity drugs linked to fewer alcohol-related hospitalizations for people with alcohol dependence

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-obesity-drugs-linked-alcohol-hospitalizations.html

Published: July 21, 2026 18:30

Use of newer GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide or tirzepatide) for obesity or diabetes among people with alcohol use disorder was associated with a reduction in alcohol-related hospital admissions, according to a study published online in the…

New protein structure reveals cancer signaling mechanism and potential drug target

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-protein-reveals-cancer-mechanism-potential.html

Published: July 21, 2026 18:00

Malignant melanoma is one of the most dangerous forms of cancer. Around half of melanomas and about 7% of all other cancers carry a mutation in a protein called BRAF. This mutation disrupts the regulation of cell division, causing cells to multiply in an…

Druggable target that makes metastatic cancer cells easier to kill identified

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-druggable-metastatic-cancer-cells-easier.html

Published: July 21, 2026 17:00

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have identified a molecular switch that helps determine whether cancer cells remain soft and difficult to destroy or become stiff enough for the immune system to attack.

Semaglutide sustains lower calorie intake for more than a year, study shows

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-semaglutide-sustains-calorie-intake-year.html

Published: July 21, 2026 15:40

People taking semaglutide for weight loss continued to consume significantly fewer calories after 60 weeks on the medication, helping explain how the medication supports both initial weight loss and long-term weight maintenance. The study, published in the…

Healthy aging supplement shows limited benefits in older adults with cognitive impairment

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-healthy-aging-supplement-limited-benefits.html

Published: July 21, 2026 14:20

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+, is all the rage in the healthy aging space. Social media influencers tout NAD+ supplements, injections and infusions as anti-aging miracles that can clear brain fog and improve everything from energy and memory…

Viagra may reduce cancer metastasis, study shows

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-viagra-cancer-metastasis.html

Published: July 21, 2026 11:40

Viagra was originally developed to treat high blood pressure and chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, but over the past three decades it has become the world's best-known therapy for erectile dysfunction. In the future, this blockbuster…

One of the oldest psychedelics meets modern brain imaging

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-oldest-psychedelics-modern-brain-imaging.html

Published: July 21, 2026 10:00

For millennia, people have used the psychedelic mescaline as a spiritual and religious tool. Mescaline is a naturally occurring chemical found in cacti, mainly peyote cacti, that are located in the Southwest United States and Mexico. The drug has been used…

COVID-19 vaccines remain effective despite helminth-induced immune modulation

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-covid-vaccines-effective-helminth-immune.html

Published: July 20, 2026 21:40

More than a quarter of the world's population is affected by helminth infections, which can profoundly alter the immune system. In a preclinical study, researchers found that mRNA- and protein-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines effectively protected…

Novel antifungal drug shows promise in some patients with Valley Fever

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-antifungal-drug-patients-valley-fever.html

Published: July 20, 2026 17:00

A subanalysis of a single-group, open-label, Phase IIb study found that olorofim, a first-in-class orotomide antifungal agent that does not have U.S. FDA approval, showed efficacy in patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis (DCM), a rare complication…

Clinical trial: Oral drug keeps cancer treatment on track for patients who develop persistently low platelet counts

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-clinical-trial-oral-drug-cancer.html

Published: July 20, 2026 16:40

In a phase 2 clinical trial, Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute researchers found that the oral drug avatrombopag was safe and effective in managing persistent chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) in more than half of patients with…

Researchers study barriers to GLP-1 insurance coverage

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-barriers-glp-coverage.html

Published: July 20, 2026 14:20

Despite growing evidence that GLP-1 medications improve health and are worth their cost, many insurance plans still limit coverage. University of Mississippi researchers are examining why and where that leaves patients.

Aspirin matches costlier blood thinners after hip and knee replacement surgery, major trial finds

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-aspirin-costlier-blood-thinners-hip.html

Published: July 20, 2026 14:00

Joint replacements are among the most common surgeries worldwide, and preventing blood clots is critical to recovery. A Dalhousie-led study published this month—one of the most robust of its kind to date—found that a straightforward treatment following…

Keeping drugs free of contaminants—pharmaceutical manufacturers filter medications through tiny pores

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-drugs-free-contaminants-pharmaceutical-filter.html

Published: July 20, 2026 13:40

Every year, the global pharmaceutical industry produces trillions of doses of medications. Manufacturing these drugs involves several stages, and the chance of contamination increases with every step.

Review calls attention to brain development risks associated with certain medications during pregnancy

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-attention-brain-medications-pregnancy.html

Published: July 20, 2026 12:40

A review article by a University of Nebraska Medical Center/Child Health Research Institute research team underscores how altering fundamental brain development processes can harm the developing fetus. The publication suggests that curtailing the use of…

ER opioid prescriptions unlikely to be significant drivers of future substance use among adolescents

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-er-opioid-prescriptions-significant-drivers.html

Published: July 20, 2026 12:40

The pendulum may have swung too far in the direction of caution when it comes to limiting opioids for adolescents who are in pain, according to new research from a University of Alberta emergency medicine team published in Pediatrics. The investigators…

Ozempic-like drugs found to be safe and effective for children with obesity, without diabetes

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-ozempic-drugs-safe-effective-children.html

Published: July 20, 2026 11:20

New research being presented at the International Congress on Obesity (ICO2026), hosted by the World Obesity Federation (WOF) in Mexico City, Mexico (15–17 July), shows that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) for weight loss in children…

Q&A: Psychedelics, cannabis, GLP-1s and drug policy changes

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-qa-psychedelics-cannabis-glp-1s.html

Published: July 20, 2026 10:40

From headlines and social media, psychedelic therapies, cannabis use and GLP-1 medications have seemingly become commonplace overnight, but the science underlying these treatments and the pathway to drug approval are often more nuanced than the headlines…

No link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes, study finds

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-link-acetaminophen-pregnancy-adverse-birth.html

Published: July 20, 2026 08:40

There is no statistically significant evidence that taking acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, during pregnancy negatively affects how early a child is born or a child's birth weight, according to new research led by environmental scientists at the UNC…

Cancer survivors and providers differ in views on medical cannabis, study finds

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-cancer-survivors-differ-views-medical.html

Published: July 18, 2026 17:00

For many cancer survivors, cannabis has become part of how they manage symptoms such as pain, nausea and anxiety. Medical cannabis is now legal in 47 states, Washington, D.C., and three U.S. territories, and its use continues to grow among both the general…

Early warning signs of potential drug resistance in schistosomiasis parasite revealed

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-early-potential-drug-resistance-schistosomiasis.html

Published: July 17, 2026 14:00

Scientists have identified genetic changes in wild populations of the parasitic worm that causes schistosomiasis that may reduce its response to praziquantel, the only available treatment. The study provides an early warning for disease control and…

Semaglutide and other GLP-1 drugs not linked to risk of degenerative eye disease in adults with type 2 diabetes

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-semaglutide-glp-drugs-linked-degenerative.html

Published: July 17, 2026 11:40

An estimated 27% of U.S. adults with diabetes are using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs)—a type of medication that mimics the GLP-1 hormone—to lower blood sugar and support weight loss. Some research has suggested that their use can…

GLP-1 shows promise for patients with advanced fatty liver disease

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-glp-patients-advanced-fatty-liver.html

Published: July 17, 2026 11:00

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have reported results from a large international clinical trial showing that semaglutide, a medication in the GLP-1 class of drugs widely used to treat diabetes and obesity, may help…

Medical spas and pharmacies offering compounded weight-loss drugs despite regulatory concerns

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-medical-spas-pharmacies-compounded-weight.html

Published: July 17, 2026 09:00

Despite the end of federal shortages of popular GLP-1 weight-loss medications, the market for compounded alternatives remains strong—and some patients may unknowingly be receiving products from pharmacies with concerning regulatory histories, according to…