The vaccine has saved 94 million lives – but measles is spreading again

A disease we once believed belonged to the past is now resurging in both Europe and the United States. In the shadow of growing skepticism and declining vaccination coverage, measles – which has claimed millions of lives throughout history – is making a comeback.

New findings on the diseases that crushed Napoleon’s army

As if cold, starvation, and typhus weren’t enough. New research reveals that Napoleon’s defeated army also suffered from paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever during the retreat from Russia.

Vaccine project targeting congenital infection scrapped in late-stage trial – “Clearly disappointed”

Hope for the first vaccine against the world’s most common congenital infection has taken a serious hit

Canada approves leqembi as global alzheimer’s drug race heats up

Leqembi has secured approval in Canada, further consolidating its global lead among disease-modifying Alzheimer’s therapies. The antibody is now authorized in 15 major markets — one more than its closest rival, Eli Lilly’s Kisunla.

Swedish life science is growing – but capital is not keeping up

The number of employees and companies in Swedish life science is increasing and the sector is more equal than many other sectors. But investments in unlisted companies are weak.

Novartis storsatsar på RNA-terapier – köper miljardbolag

Novartis förvärvar amerikanska Avidity Biosciences för 12 miljarder dollar, motsvarande 113 miljarder kronor. Köpet stärker bolagets position inom sällsynta muskelsjukdomar och RNA-baserade terapier.

A cluster contribution to European life science innovation and competitiveness?

Swedish team tests Alzheimer antibody for brain imaging

Recent breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s treatment have increased the need for precise diagnostics in the field. Researchers in Uppsala are working to develop improved methods for both identifying suitable patients and ensuring they receive the right therapy.

Gene therapy restored hearing in children with congenital deafness

Eleven out of twelve children with congenital deafness showed improvements in a study testing Regeneron’s gene therapy for hereditary hearing loss. The U.S. company now plans to apply for approval of the gene therapy.

Many discontinue obesity medication – new study highlights the reasons

A new study maps out the most common reasons why patients choose to stop taking obesity medication prematurely. “Obesity medication discontinuation reverses health benefits and prompts weight regain in most individuals,” says Hamlet Gasoyan, one of the researchers behind the new study, in an interview with Life Science Sweden.

Cantargia rekryterar ny medicinsk chef

Bioteknikbolaget Cantargia har utsett Wolfram Dempke till ny Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Han tillträder rollen omedelbart och efterträder Morten Lind Jensen, som lämnar bolaget efter sju månader.

Sarah Lidé: ”Artificial intelligence must not replace authentic interactions”

Artificial intelligence must never become a replacement for authentic, even if messy, interactions with our fellow humankind, Sarah Lifé, Deputy CEO at Medicon Village Innovation, writes in a column.

Genmab to Acquire Dutch biotech for USD 8 Billion

Danish pharmaceutical company Genmab has agreed to acquire Dutch firm Merus, a developer of cancer therapies, for USD 8 billion, equivalent to nearly SEK 75 billion.

Ledarskifte i GSK – Emma Walmsley lämnar efter åtta år

Läkemedelsjätten GSK:s vd Emma Walmsley lämnar efter åtta år på posten. Hon ersätts med Luke Miels, som idag är bolagets Chief Commercial Officer.

Phase III win for Hansa Biopharma: “We Are Thrilled”

Swedish biotech Hansa Biopharma’s transplant drug imlifidase has met the primary efficacy endpoint in a registration-enabling Phase III study in the United States.

Astra Zeneca’s asthma drug nears approval for sinus inflammation

Astra Zeneca’s drug Tezspire receives positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Studie: Protein i urinen en biomarkör för demensrisk

Höga nivåer av proteinet albumin i urinen indikerar en ökad risk för att utveckla demens, enligt en stor studie från Karolinska institutet, KI.

Bästsäljaren Keytruda blir enklare att ta – godkänns i subkutan form

MSD (känt som Merck i USA och Kanada) har fått klartecken från FDA och CHMP för en ny variant av sitt storsäljande cancerläkemedel Keytruda. Den nya versionen, som kallas Keytruda Qlex, ges som en subkutan injektion istället för som infusion.

Kennedy-rådgivare vill stoppa kombovaccin för barn under fyra

Barnvaccineringen i USA är under omprövning. På torsdagen beslutade CDC:s rådgivande vaccinkommitté (ACIP) att stoppa användningen av ett av landets viktigaste barnvaccin för barn under fyra år.

Cleveland Clinic: Kirurgi gav fler långsiktiga fördelar än GLP-1-läkemedel

Metabol kirurgi minskade riskerna för död, hjärtsjukdom, njursvikt och ögonskador mer än GLP-1-läkemedel under en tioårsperiod. Det enligt en ny studie från Cleveland Clinic i USA.

Heart Monitoring in Breast Cancer – Essential or Excessive?

Trastuzumab and related drugs have transformed breast cancer treatment and dramatically improved survival rates. But the close cardiac monitoring required during treatment can be a heavy burden for both patients and healthcare systems. Dr. Andri Papakonstantinou is working to refine how doctors identify which patients truly need intensive follow-up.

Astra Zeneca pauses multi-million investment in the UK

Astra Zeneca has paused a planned investment worth $270 million. It is the latest pharmaceutical company to pull back on its commitments in the UK.

Novo Nordisk tells staff to return to office

At the turn of the year, Novo Nordisk employees will no longer be able to work remotely. According to the company’s new CEO, the move is intended to accelerate decision-making and improve commercial execution as competition in the obesity drug market intensifies.

Alvotech flyttar in i svenskt life sciene-kluster

Isländska Alvotech, noterade på Stockholmsbörsen, flyttar in på Campus Solna. ”Alvotech strävar efter att avsevärt expandera sin forsknings- och utvecklingsverksamhet i Sverige”, säger bolagets vetenskapschef säger Joseph McClellan.