FAMILY HEALTH

Sequel Pharma and Microbix Biosystems have formally reconfirmed their agreement to reintroduce Kinlytic® urokinase to the market, initially targeting the dissolution of blood clots obstructing venous catheters in the United States. Microbix has received an additional US$ 2.0 million from Sequel Pharma as part of this reconfirmation. Kinlytic, an enzyme sourced from human cell cultures, already holds U.S. clinical approval. The collaboration aims to validate new manufacturing processes through a supplemental biologics licensing application (sBLA). The sequel will fund and execute the required work, targeting a US$ 350 million annual market for Catheter Clearance. The project's progress will impact Microbix's financials in Q4 2023 and Q1 2024.

Sequel Pharma and Microbix Biosystems Reconfirm Kinlytic® Urokinase Agreement for Venous Catheter Clot Dissolution in the U.S.

PULMONOLOGY

Higher Body Roundness Index was linked to increased asthma odds in U.S. children, a large NHANES study found.

Higher Body Roundness Index Linked to Asthma in Children

A large NHANES study of 32,738 U.S. children and adolescents found a nonlinear association between Body Roundness Index (BRI), a measure of central body fat, and asthma. Asthma was reported in 17.1% of participants, with risk rising more sharply below a BRI threshold of 3.59 before leveling off at higher values. The findings highlight BRI as a potential marker for asthma risk, though causality cannot be established.

ENDO-DIABETOLOGY

Personalized weight-loss targets based on baseline BMI may help improve and reverse metabolic syndrome.

Personalized Weight Loss May Help Reverse Metabolic Syndrome

A longitudinal study of 7,340 adults with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome introduced the BMI-Normalization Achievement Rate (BMI-NAR), a personalized measure of progress toward a normal BMI. Greater BMI-NAR was associated with higher odds of metabolic syndrome reversal, suggesting that modest, individualized weight loss may provide meaningful metabolic benefits without requiring complete BMI normalization.

A 10-hour time-restricted eating schedule showed no significant advantage over usual eating for appetite or inflammation.

Time-Restricted Eating Shows Similar Benefits to Usual Eating Pattern

A 12-week randomized feeding trial found that a 10-hour time-restricted eating (TRE) schedule produced similar improvements in eating behavior compared with a 16-hour usual eating pattern in adults with obesity and prediabetes or diet-controlled type 2 diabetes. Weight loss was modest and comparable between groups, with no significant differences in appetite hormones or inflammatory markers.

TERN-601 showed dose-dependent weight loss, but liver safety concerns led to discontinuation of clinical development.

TERN-601 Oral GLP-1 Drug Shows Weight Loss but Raises Liver Safety Concerns

Early clinical studies found that TERN-601, a once-daily oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, produced dose-dependent weight loss and reduced appetite in adults with obesity or overweight. Higher doses showed significantly greater weight loss than placebo after 12 weeks. However, potential drug-induced liver injury in three participants led to discontinuation of its clinical development.

Preoperative VTRNA2-1 methylation was associated with differences in long-term weight loss after bariatric surgery.

Epigenetic Marker May Predict Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery

A prospective study of 179 adults undergoing bariatric surgery found that preoperative VTRNA2-1 promoter methylation in blood was associated with long-term differences in excess weight loss. Patients with hypermethylation achieved greater weight loss at 12 and 24 months, suggesting that epigenetic markers may eventually help personalize bariatric treatment and predict surgical outcomes.

Genetic analysis identifies shared links between COPD and retinal vascular traits, highlighting microvascular involvement.

COPD Shares Genetic Links With Retinal Vascular Traits

A large genetic analysis found evidence that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) shares genetic pathways with several retinal vascular characteristics. Researchers identified significant genetic correlations with vascular branching, vessel density, and venous caliber, with multiple shared genetic loci remaining detectable after accounting for smoking-related genetic effects. The findings support retinal vascular traits as potential research markers of systemic microvascular dysfunction in COPD.

UROLOGY

IRE may provide cancer control with functional preservation in carefully selected patients with localized prostate cancer.

IRE Shows Promise for Selected Localized Prostate Cancer

A review of studies on irreversible electroporation (IRE) suggests that this non-thermal focal therapy may offer effective cancer control while preserving urinary and sexual function in carefully selected men with localized prostate cancer. The best candidates typically have MRI-visible, organ-confined intermediate-risk disease with a small unilateral lesion. However, recurrence outside the treated area remains a key limitation.

All curative prostate cancer treatments were associated with substantial sexual function decline at 12 months.

Prostate Cancer Treatments Linked to Significant Sexual Function Decline

A large international registry study of more than 13,000 men found substantial declines in sexual function 12 months after curative treatment for prostate cancer. The greatest reduction occurred after radical prostatectomy, while brachytherapy showed the smallest decline. Despite increased use after treatment, sexual aids remained underused, highlighting the need for better counselling and structured sexual rehabilitation.

OPHTHALMOLOGY

IVF conception and prolonged CPAP were associated with higher rates of treatment-requiring ROP in an exploratory study.

IVF and Prolonged CPAP Linked to Treatment-Requiring ROP

A retrospective study of infants with established retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) found that treatment-requiring disease was more common among IVF-conceived infants and those requiring prolonged CPAP support. However, the small, selected referral cohort and substantial overlap between exposures limit causal interpretation. The findings are hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in larger prospective studies.

GCIPL thickness and thinning patterns may help differentiate glaucomatous from non-glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

GCIPL Analysis Helps Differentiate Glaucoma From Other Optic Neuropathies

A prospective study of 80 eyes found that macular ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness and thinning patterns may help distinguish glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) from non-glaucomatous optic neuropathy (NGON). Minimum GCIPL thickness showed good diagnostic performance (AUC 0.878), while distinct thinning patterns were observed between the two conditions.

Continuous exercise reduced fat mass and IL-6 more than split training in young adults with obesity.

Continuous Training May Reduce Fat Mass and IL-6 in Obesity

An 8-week randomized trial of 64 young adults with obesity found that continuous concurrent training, combining high-intensity functional and aerobic exercise in one session, reduced body mass, BMI and fat mass more than splitting the same exercise into two sessions 6 hours apart. Continuous training also lowered IL-6, while TNF-α decreased in both groups.

RHEUMATOLOGY

Subcutaneous tocilizumab achieved slightly higher EULAR remission than intravenous therapy in GCA-associated aortitis.

Subcutaneous Tocilizumab Shows Higher Remission in GCA Aortitis

A multicenter real-world study of 196 patients with giant cell arteritis-associated aortitis found that subcutaneous tocilizumab achieved slightly higher EULAR-defined remission at 24 months than intravenous treatment (83.3% vs 80.6%). However, imaging remission, systemic inflammation control, and glucocorticoid-sparing effects were comparable between the two routes.

Frailty measures predicted falls, hospitalization and adverse outcomes in adults with rheumatoid arthritis.

Frailty Measures Predict Adverse Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis

A study of 143 adults with rheumatoid arthritis found that frailty was linked to adverse outcomes, although performance varied across four assessment tools. Phenotypic and patient-reported measures predicted falls, while the Veterans Affairs Frailty Index was associated with hospitalization days. Chair sit-to-stand performed comparably to handgrip strength and may offer a practical alternative.

ICI triad syndrome was linked to 60% six-month mortality and markedly shorter survival than isolated ICI myositis.

ICI Triad Syndrome Linked to High Early Mortality

A US veterans study of 29,296 patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors identified 68 cases of ICI-associated myositis. Patients with the myositis, myocarditis and myasthenia gravis triad had markedly worse outcomes, with 60% mortality within 6 months and median survival of 2.5 months, compared with 30.2% mortality and 20.4-month survival in isolated ICI myositis.

CRITICAL CARE

Higher PEEP was associated with increased acute kidney injury risk in septic patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

High PEEP Linked to Increased AKI Risk in Septic Patients

A MIMIC-IV database study of 2,142 septic patients on mechanical ventilation found that higher PEEP trajectories were associated with increased acute kidney injury risk. Compared with low PEEP, AKI odds were 43% higher with medium PEEP and 63% higher with high PEEP after adjustment for confounders, highlighting PEEP as a potential AKI risk indicator.

Sequel Pharma and Microbi...

Sequel Pharma and Microbix Biosystems Affirm Support for Kinlytic® Urokinase in Catheter Clearance Indication