Doctor Trying To Rescind Mifepristone Supports Cancer Therapy That Uses It
Dr. George Delgado is now a member of the scientific advisory board of Res Nova Biologics, which is developing a breast cancer treatment using the abortion drug. Explaining this contradiction, Delgado said, "The effects of the abortion pill in life-saving as opposed to a life-taking scenario is extremely exciting." Plus: breakthroughs for cervical cancer, breast cancer, and more.
Colorado Newsline:
Doctor Suing FDA Recruited To Scientific Advisory Board To ‘Repurpose’ Abortion Pill
One of the anti-abortion doctors suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to rescind its 2000 approval of a medication abortion regimen on the basis that one of the drugs is dangerous is now consulting on the development of a breast cancer treatment that involves the same drug: mifepristone. It is the family doctor’s latest foray into medical consulting outside his medical certifications. Dr. George Delgado is joining the scientific advisory board of Res Nova Biologics, Inc., which is developing a breast cancer treatment using mifepristone, despite plaintiffs’ arguments in the lawsuit that federal approval was illegally rushed (it was a four-year process) and that the drug’s approved use for first-trimester abortion should be reversed. (Resnick, 10/25)
In other cancer news —
ABC News:
In Major Medical Advancement, Study Finds Additional Chemo Slashes Risk Of Cervical Cancer Death
An already-approved chemotherapy drug could reduce the risk of dying of cervical cancer when added to the current treatment standard, according to new research presented at a major medical conference. ... The study found that the group who got the additional chemotherapy survived longer, on average. After 5 years, 80% of these women were still alive, compared to 72% of those who got the standard treatment, according to the study. (Carnegie and Salzman, 10/24)
Fox News:
Breast Cancer Breakthrough: AI Predicts A Third Of Cases Prior To Diagnosis In Mammography Study
Artificial intelligence could have the capability to pinpoint cancer diagnoses a lot sooner. A new study published in the journal Radiology last week noted that AI helped predict one-third of breast cancer cases up to two years prior to diagnosis. The research surveyed imaging data and screening information from BreastScreen Norway exams performed from January 2004 to December 2019. (Stabile, 10/25)
The Wall Street Journal:
This $1,000 Test Finds Signs Of Cancer In Your Blood
Doctors, researchers and patient advocates are excited about a new blood test that promises to detect cancer early. They disagree about whether you should actually use it yet. The $949 Galleri liquid biopsy can screen for more than 50 types of cancers. It works by looking for a shared cancer signal in DNA shed by tumors in the bloodstream. More than 130,000 of the prescription-only tests have been sold since Galleri became available in June 2021, according to the test maker Grail, a unit of the gene-sequencing company Illumina. (Janin, 10/24)
More pharmaceutical updates —
Stat:
Traditional Chinese Medicine Benefits Explored In New JAMA Study
A traditional Chinese medicine compound used for cardiac benefits might help reduce the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events and even cardiac death rates, according to a new study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. However, some outside experts expressed skepticism about the result. (Merelli and Herper, 10/24)
Stat:
Startup Launches With $245M For Twice Yearly Asthma Treatment
Anew biotech has raised $245 million to test a new asthma medication that could compete with one sold by Amgen and AstraZeneca. The startup, Aiolos Therapeutics, was founded by former Genentech colleagues Khurem Farooq and Tony Adamis after they stumbled upon a drug being developed by Chinese pharma company Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. The two men believed there was an unmet need in asthma, and in Jiangsu’s drug, a potential game-changer. (DeAngelis, 10/24)
Boston Globe:
Smaller Biotechs Seek To Piggyback On Weight Loss Drug Boom
The state’s celebrated cluster of biotechs has hatched breakthrough medicines for everything from COVID and cystic fibrosis to multiple rare diseases. It has pioneered cutting-edge research in exotic fields like messenger RNA, gene editing, and gene therapies. But when it comes to what is arguably the hottest space in drug development today — controlling weight and diabetes for millions of people worldwide — the brainy innovators from Kendall Square have missed out on the booming market, at least so far. (Weisman, 10/24)
