clinical

In Mice, a Potential New Treatment Eradicates Ovarian And Colorectal Cancer in Days

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An experimental new type of cancer treatment has yielded some impressive results in mice: the eradication of advanced-stage ovarian and colorectal cancer in the animals as little as six days.   The new therapy has only been tested in mice so far, so let’s not get too excited just yet. However, the early signs are … Read more

Arthritis drug reduces mortality in severe COVID-19, huge clinical trial finds | Science

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Baricitinib, an oral drug that dampens an overactive immune system and is commonly used by people with rheumatoid arthritis, reduced hospitalized COVID-19 patients’ risk of dying by 13%, investigators of the world’s largest trial of coronavirus treatments announced today. Patients in the study also took other drugs, such as the steroid dexamethasone, that act on … Read more

DIY treatments and clinical trials – one person’s tale of long covid

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By MB Caschetta Illustration of a receptor on the surface of a B cell binding to SARS-CoV-2, as part of the body’s immune response. Anatomic Groove/Science Photo Library On Body Politic’s covid-19 support group, which uses the app Slack, my username says it all. I am MBCaschetta_May2020. I caught covid-19 on 15 May 2020 and … Read more

There’s a Reason 90% of Drugs Fail Clinical Trials, And We Can Fix It

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It takes 10 to 15 years and around US$1 billion to develop one successful drug. Despite these significant investments in time and money, 90 percent of drug candidates in clinical trials fail.   Whether because they don’t adequately treat the condition they’re meant to target or the side effects are too strong, many drug candidates … Read more

Endometriosis Drug Shows Promise in Preliminary Phase 3 Trial Results

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A new drug with the potential to treat endometriosis-associated pain with very few side effects is getting closer to official approval. Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition and the leading cause of pelvic pain worldwide. With no known cause or cure, many patients have run out of options and are living with chronic and unrelenting symptoms.   … Read more

There’s Something About Eating Mushrooms That Seems to Lower Depression Risk

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A large-scale analysis of people who eat mushrooms suggests they have a lower risk of developing depression. The association is still a mystery, and for now, the authors say the data should be interpreted with caution. There’s always a chance the results are a mere correlation, especially since eating more mushrooms didn’t seem to lower … Read more

We May Be Prescribing Antidepressants Wrong, Claims Concerning New Review

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Millions of people take antidepressants each day, but a major new review of the data brings up some concerns with how the drugs are currently prescribed.  In fact, when taken over long periods for mild and moderate depression, antidepressants may be doing patients more harm than good, the review explains.   That’s not to say … Read more