clinical trials

A three-year study has found robust evidence that one vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus offers older adults long-term protection, even if efficacy wanes. Despite this, just one dose cut serious illness by nearly two thirds across three seasons.

A long-term trial has found that a discontinued drug halved the onset of a genetic form Alzheimer's, from all but 100% to 50%. Buoyed by the results, scientists are now trialing anti-amyloid medication as a preventative for all types of the disease.

A mainstay of Parkinson's disease treatment, levodopa can cause nasty side-effects with long-term use. A recent human trial found that a new drug significantly reduces these effects, representing a breakthrough milestone in Parkinson’s treatment.

Recent human trials of a new one-year-long immune-based treatment for post-polio syndrome, which can strike polio survivors years after the initial infection and be very debilitating, have produced positive results.

When experienced researcher Renato Aguilera happened across the chemical structure of a tried-and-true antimalarial drug, he thought it might effectively fight cancer. He was right, and he has the research, the patent, and the pharma company to prove it.

A clinical trial to test the effectiveness of a plant-based pill to treat type 2 diabetes has produced some promising results, significantly improving blood glucose control and boosting heart and liver health. Larger clinical studies are pending.

Scientists in the UK have successfully used gene therapy to restore some vision to legally blind children with an inherited retinal condition. All 11 children in the clinical trial saw improvements within weeks of a single surgical treatment.

One of cancer’s deadliest tricks is its ability to spread to other organs. An existing cardiac drug has now been found to reduce the risk of metastasis by dissolving circulating clusters of breast cancer cells in patients.

A phase 3 clinical trial has shown that adding an immunotherapy drug to chemotherapy almost doubled the cure rate for patients with the most common kind of breast cancer. The findings suggest that a new treatment paradigm should be adopted.

Prostate cancer is usually treated with surgery and radiation therapy, but these can have drastic side effects. A new clinical trial is exploring the safety and efficacy of killing the cancer cells with a blast of steam.

Hugely promising cancer immunotherapy drug dostarlimab is one step closer to being widely available, after the Food and Drug Administration granted it Breakthrough Therapy Designation status that, if successful, will expedite its path to market.

For the first time, there's scientific evidence that a smaller, lesser known component of cannabis – cannabinol – delivers better quality and longer sleep. It proved to be comparable to existing sleep aids, without the undesirable side effects.