All articles tagged with #clinical trial
A 26-week randomized trial (INTIMET) in 40 adults with long-standing type 1 diabetes found metformin did not improve insulin resistance or glucose control, but reduced total daily insulin requirements by about 12% compared with placebo, suggesting metformin may ease the insulin burden rather than reverse insulin resistance; researchers are exploring whether gut microbiome interactions explain the effect.
After two decades of debilitating vestibular migraines, Rachel Weaver joined a clinical study that used affordable continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to track glucose and found migraines rose with glucose spikes; participants followed a ketogenic diet with individualized carb ceilings—Weaver's around 50g/day—leading to a dramatic drop in symptoms. She’s now down to two migraine meds and reports a near reversal of her condition. The Frontiers in Neurology study of 247 migraine patients suggests CGMs and keto-like dietary strategies may help, but keto should be supervised and more data are needed.
Researchers are testing implanted induced pluripotent stem cells engineered to become dopamine-producing neurons in the brains of Parkinson’s patients in a Phase 1 trial. Delivered via MRI-guided surgery into the basal ganglia, the goal is to restore dopamine production, improve motor function, and slow disease progression. The 12-person study (RNDP-001) is monitored for 12–15 months with long-term follow-up planned for up to five years to assess safety (e.g., dyskinesia, infection) and efficacy, and it has FDA fast-track designation.
In a large UK trial of 142,000 adults over three years, Grail's Galleri multi-cancer blood test did not reduce late-stage cancers (stages 3–4), though researchers noted a secondary signal of fewer Stage 4 cancers; the test remains FDA-unapproved, is sold with limited insurer coverage, and Medicare coverage remains under legislative review.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 34 adults suffering from treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, a single intravenous dose of DMT with psychotherapeutic support produced a rapid and meaningful reduction in depressive symptoms within a week, with effects lasting up to three months (some in remission for six months); the dose appeared safe with mostly mild side effects, though blinding was challenged by noticeable psychedelic effects and the small sample size calls for larger trials.
Researchers are testing non-invasive 40 Hz flickering lights paired with precise audio to modulate memory-related brain activity in Alzheimer’s patients, with the goal of slowing cognitive decline rather than reversing it. A Phase 3 trial conducted by Cognito Therapeutics involves about 700 participants across 70 sites; earlier feasibility studies showed changes in brain signals and potential slowing of decline, though safety concerns are mostly headaches and the approach is intended to be a low-risk, accessible treatment alongside drugs.
Keck Medicine of USC leads an early-stage trial testing induced pluripotent stem cells engineered to become dopamine-producing brain cells, implanted into the basal ganglia to restore dopamine and motor function in Parkinson’s disease; the 12-participant, multi-site study monitors safety and efficacy for 12–15 months after surgery, with up to five years of follow-up.
In a South African hospital, researchers testing the experimental drug DM199 saw blood-pressure stabilization in pregnant women with preeclampsia after escalating doses, with the treatment not appearing to cross the placenta or breast milk and possibly improving placental blood flow. While early and based on small groups, the results offer cautious optimism for a first pharmaceutical therapy that could help mothers stay pregnant longer and protect babies, pending larger studies.
Researchers at Flinders University tested a smaller electrode for hypoglossal nerve stimulation to treat obstructive sleep apnea. In a short trial, 13 of 14 participants had their airway opened during stimulation (93% success), with a 90-minute ultrasound-guided procedure that is less invasive than current implants. If validated in larger, real-world studies, this approach could provide a quicker, more customizable alternative to CPAP and existing HNS. Further development and testing are planned.
Becca Valle’s migraines led to a glioblastoma diagnosis. After tumor removal, she joined a focused ultrasound trial to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier to boost chemotherapy. In 34 participants, the approach showed a survival advantage, with up to 40% alive longer than expected; Valle has no evidence of disease four years later and says she’s living life to the fullest. The device and method are not yet FDA-approved and not widely available.
Merck reported that its experimental pill, elicitide, delivered a sharp reduction in cholesterol in a large clinical trial, signaling potential for a new therapy to lower cholesterol. Details on exact numbers and safety data were not provided in the summary, with further results anticipated.
A world-first therapy edits donor T-cells with a base-editing CRISPR approach to target T-cell leukemia, turning white blood cells into a disease-fighting living drug. In early tests at GOSH and King’s College Hospital, nine children and two adults showed deep remissions, with seven remaining disease-free three years later.
A Swedish randomized trial of 100,000 women found AI-assisted mammography reduced subsequent cancer diagnoses by 12% and increased cancers detected at screening (81% vs 74%), with 27% fewer aggressive subtypes. The study suggests AI can augment radiologists and improve early detection, but researchers caution it should augment rather than replace clinicians and call for broader validation across regions. The Lancet published the findings.
Griffith University researchers reported promising Phase II results for STC3141, a carbohydrate-based drug tested in 180 sepsis patients in China. The therapy aims to reverse organ damage by dampening a harmful inflammatory surge, rather than just treating symptoms. Grand Pharma plans a Phase III trial, with potential market a few years away.
A phase 1b/2 trial of a preventive cancer vaccine for Lynch syndrome carriers, including Kevin Heyink, showed the vaccine is safe and elicits a lasting immune response. In a 45-participant trial, vaccinated individuals had fewer precancerous lesions and no advanced tumors; Heyink has since had three cancer-free colonoscopies in a row. The vaccine uses a modified adenovirus to train the immune system to recognize Lynch-related proteins, offering hopeful potential to reduce cancer risk, though larger trials are needed before wider use.