Phase I research

New approaches to overcoming antimicrobial resistance

As antibiotic resistance continues to threaten the treatment of various infections, researchers are looking for new ways to supplement and in some cases replace failing antimicrobial drugs.…

T-cell therapies for cancer: from outsider to pharmaceutical darling

Less than a decade ago, work on T-cell therapies by a handful of researchers was snubbed by their peers but now the field has exploded, money has poured in and there is a race on to see who can bring the technology to patients the quickest.…

European regulator reviews first in human trial guidelines following death

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has launched a public consultation on proposals to change its guidance on first in human (FIH) clinical trials.  The consultation is part of an EMA review into FIH best practice following an incident in Rennes, France, in January 2016 in which one man d…

Antidiabetic drug could combat cancer drug resistance

Adding an antidiabetic drug to treatment with antiangiogenic multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors resulted in a reduction in tumour growth.…

Acne drug boosts pancreatic cancer chemotherapy in mice

Combination of retinoid tretinoin and gemcitabine chemotherapy reduces cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness.…

Gene-delivery strategy provides hope of universal cancer vaccine

The first three patients given a novel RNA-lipoplex vaccine encoding four tumour antigens had a strong immune response.…

EMA commits to improving safety of ‘first-in-human’ trials

The European Medicines Agency is reviewing its guidelines on first-in-human clinical trials following the death of a patient taking part in a phase I trial in Rennes, France, in January 2016.…

Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry warns against Brexit

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has called for the UK to remain in the European Union, saying that EU membership enhances patients’ access to innovative clinical research.…

Current treatments and future targeted treatments for acute myeloid leukaemia

While the initial therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) treatment is relatively standardised, the high incidence of refractory/relapsed disease remains a great challenge. Progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of both initial and recurrent disease phases, leading to rigorous…

Misleading advertising from Pfizer

We were bemused by Pfizer’s recent advertising campaign splashed across London Underground’s Westminster Tube station. Pfizer has covered the station – prime advertising real estate for influencing MPs on their way to Parliament – with an advertisement about what it takes to …