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Once a Death Sentence, This Heart Condition Is Now Treatable

New York Times | Noncommunicable Disease

Once a Death Sentence, This Heart Condition Is Now Treatable

“Over the past 50 years, heart failure has become one of the fastest-growing cardiac killers. It was long considered a disease of aging, caused by gradual yet unavoidable changes to the heart. But doctors are now discovering that about 15 percent of cases are caused by a rogue protein called amyloid, perhaps best known for its role in Alzheimer’s. While one type tangles neurons in the brain, others infiltrate the heart, making the muscle stiff and less able to pump blood.

Until recently, cardiac amyloidosis was a death sentence, but the advent of new medications, including two approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the past year, has made this disease increasingly manageable.”

From New York Times.

Sky News | Communicable Disease

England “On the Cusp” of Eliminating Hepatitis C

“England is 'leading the world' in efforts to eliminate hepatitis C as deaths from the virus have reduced by 36% in the last 10 years, NHS England said.

Hepatitis C is a blood-born viral infection which if untreated can cause serious damage to the liver.

As global health leaders have set out plans to eradicate viral hepatitis by 2030, NHS England said the nation is one of a handful of countries to have already surpassed the World Health Organization benchmark of treating 80% of all known cases.

NHS England said deaths from the virus have reduced by 36% in the last 10 years.”

From Sky News.

Medical Xpress | Noncommunicable Disease

GLP-1 Drug Linked to Heart Benefits for High-Risk Patients

“Adding the GLP-1 receptor agonist drug tirzepatide (marketed as Mounjaro) to standard care for patients with type 2 diabetes and heart disease is associated with a lower risk of a major cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, finds a study published by The BMJ today…

A total of 52,971 individuals were included in the analysis (average age 70 years; 51% female), of whom 35,353 started tirzepatide and 17,618 started sitagliptin.

At one year, the risk of MACE was 2.9% in the tirzepatide group and 4.4% in the sitagliptin group (a 32% relative reduction), and the researchers estimate that for every 70 patients starting tirzepatide, one case of MACE would be prevented.

For individual MACE components, tirzepatide was associated with a 33% lower risk of heart attack compared with sitagliptin, whereas ischemic stroke showed no meaningful difference.”

From Medical Xpress.

Fierce Pharma | Noncommunicable Disease

Gilead, Merck’s Phase 3 Data Back First Weekly HIV Pill

“Detailed phase 3 results suggest the two-drug combination of Gilead Sciences’ lenacapavir and Merck & Co.’s islatravir has what it takes to become the first complete weekly pill for the treatment of HIV.

Two Islend clinical trials confirmed that a once-weekly, single-tablet combination of islatravir and lenacapavir (ISL/LEN) matches daily treatments like Gilead’s Biktarvy at maintaining HIV viral suppression, according to data slated for presentation at the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.”

From Fierce Pharma.

ScienceDaily | Noncommunicable Disease

Cancer-Fighting Chewing Gum Drastically Cuts HPV Levels

“Researchers have developed a bioengineered chewing gum that may offer a new way to target microbes associated with head and neck cancer. In tests involving oral samples from patients, extracts from the gum sharply reduced one virus and two types of bacteria linked to the disease…

Tests showed that extracts from the bean gum lowered HPV levels by 93% in saliva samples. HPV levels also fell by 80% in oral rinse samples.

The researchers then engineered the bean gum to contain protegrin, an antimicrobial peptide capable of killing harmful bacteria. A single dose brought levels of Pg and Fn down to almost zero.

Importantly, the treatment did not appear to harm the beneficial bacteria that normally live in the mouth.”

From ScienceDaily.