Latest news with #cancerdrugs
The Independent
15 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Cancer drug demand drives higher sales for AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca has announced a jump in sales in recent months after a surge in demand for cancer drugs, as the pharmaceutical giant prepares to plug 50 billion dollars (£37 billion) into its US expansion. The drug-maker reported total revenues of 28 billion US dollars (£21 billion) for the first half of 2025. This is 11% higher, at constant exchange rates, than the same period a year ago. AstraZeneca said the uplift was largely driven by its oncology medicines, with product sales surging by 16% year on year, thanks to growth in demand for drugs including Tagrisso and Imfinzi. Revenues from oncology products, which refer to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, made up 43% of the company's total sales. The group's pre-tax profit soared by 27% to 6.5 billion US dollars (£4.9 billion) for the first half, compared with last year. AstraZeneca, which is based in the UK, last week pledged a mammoth investment into the US over the next five years, where it generates the highest proportion of sales. The money will fund a new multibillion dollar manufacturing facility in Virginia, to be the firm's largest single manufacturing investment in the world. The new factory will produce drug substances for its growing weight management and metabolic portfolio, including oral GLP-1 products. GLP-1 is the scientific term for weight-loss medication, which works by reducing food cravings. Oral medicines can be taken in tablet form, while other drugs are taken as injections. 'Our strong momentum in revenue growth continued through the first half of the year and the delivery from our broad and diverse pipeline has been excellent,' Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca's chief executive, said. 'This landmark investment reflects not only America's importance but also our confidence in our innovative medicines to transform global health and power AstraZeneca's ambition to deliver 80 billion dollars revenue by 2030.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Scientists discover two drugs already approved by the FDA can reverse Alzheimer's
Two drugs already approved by the FDA for cancer treatment may hold the key to reversing Alzheimer's disease in patients, experts say. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) believe that letrozole, a hormone-based breast cancer drug, and irinotecan, a lung and colon cancer chemotherapy medication, can help reverse brain damage caused by the incurable neurodegenerative disease. In an animal study, the UCSF experts found that both cancer drugs were seen to reduce brain degeneration in mice and even improve their memory and learning capacity. Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia and mostly affects adults over the age of 65. About 7million Americans live with the condition and over 100,00 die from it annually. The disease is believed to be caused by the development of toxic amyloid proteins and/or tau proteins in the brain, which can accumulate and damage cells responsible for memory and learning. Amyloid protein molecules stick together in brain cells, forming clumps called plaques. While tau proteins twist together in fiber-like strands called tangles. As of now, there is no cure for AD and only two FDA-approved therapies, Lecanemab (Leqembi) and Donanemab (Kisunla), are available for early-stage Alzheimer's treatment. However, because letrozole and irinotecan are already approved for other treatments, this could fast-track clinical trials and the potential approval for use in Alzheimer's patients. Co-senior author Dr Marina Sirota, a professor at UCSF, said: 'Alzheimer's disease comes with complex changes to the brain, which has made it tough to study and treat, but our computational tools opened up the possibility of tackling the complexity directly. 'We're excited that our computational approach led us to a potential combination therapy for Alzheimer's based on existing FDA-approved medications.' In Alzheimer's patients, the plaques and tangles block the ability of the brain's neurons to send electrical and chemical signals back and forth. Over time, this disruption causes permanent damage in the brain that leads to Alzheimer's and dementia, causing patients to lose their ability to speak, care for themselves and interact with the world around them. While the exact mechanisms of how the Alzheimer's-related brain damage begins are still under investigation, age and genetics are known risk factors. Experts also believe that lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity and high blood pressure can also contribute to the development of Alzheimer's. Despite rigorous preclinical and clinical research efforts, drug development for dementia faces significant challenges, with a 98 percent failure rate in recent decades. Neuroscientist Dr Yadong Huang, co-author of the study and professor of neurology at UCSF, explained: 'Alzheimer's is likely the result of numerous alterations in many genes and proteins that, together, disrupt brain health. 'This makes it very challenging for drug development – which traditionally produces one drug for a single gene or protein that drives disease.' However, researchers at USCF believe their discovery can help reduce or reverse the cognitive decline caused by the disease. First, the team looked at how dementia changes gene expression in the brain. Then, they scoured a database of over 1,300 drugs, including antipsychotics, antibiotics, antifungals and chemotherapy drugs, to determine which, if any, reversed any of these gene expressions. If any existing drugs were found to be effective, they could be repurposed to treat the condition in a reduced the time in which the drugs could be made available to patients. During their search, the team specifically looked for drugs that would target the harmful Alzheimer's-related changes in neurons and in brain cells called glia that are responsible for supporting the nervous system. Then, the researchers analyzed millions of digital medical records to find patients who took some of these drugs as part of cancer treatments and their likelihood of developing Alzheimer's. Ultimately, they identified letrozole and irinotecan as the best candidates to lower Alzheimer's risk in patients. By combining the two drugs together, the researchers were able to target different types of brain cells affected by the disease. They noted that letorozole could counter the effect of Alzheimer's on neurons and irinotecan helped reverse damage on the glia cells. When the combination was tested on mice, the scientists saw that the harmful clumps of tau protein were reduced significantly and the mice showed improvements in learning and memory tasks. The study authors noted that it remains unclear how the cancer drugs are able to reverse the damage. However, they theorized that it was possible that letrozole blocks the production of estrogen, a hormone that controls the working of a large number of genes, which therefore reduces the genetic risk factor of developing Alzheimer's. Additionally, they believe that irinotecan may also block inflammation in the brain by preventing the rapid reproduction and DNA damage of glial cells. As this was an animal study, the researchers hope to test the drugs in a clinical trial with human Alzheimer's patients. Dr Huang said of the results: 'Developing a new drug can take hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars, on average take more than 10 years. For this repurposed drug, usually it just takes two or three years, and then you can go to the clinical trial and the cost is much, much lower. 'We still haven't generated or produced any very effective drugs that can really slow dramatically the cognitive decline.' However, despite their groundbreaking discovery, risks continue as letrozole is known to cause hot flashes in patients while irinotecan can cause severe diarrhea. Both drugs can also lead to nausea and vomiting. Dr Sirota said: 'These drugs have huge side effects, so you need to always balance and figure out whether those types of side effects would be amenable to somebody with Alzheimer's. It's not that it's a slam dunk.'
Fox News
6 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Two cancer drugs show promise in reversing Alzheimer's devastating effects
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Two cancer drugs could potentially slow or even reverse the effects of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests. Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) explored how the common dementia changes gene expression (which genes are turned on or off) in certain brain cells, according to a press release from the university. Next, they looked at which existing FDA-approved drugs might counteract, or reverse, those changes. ALZHEIMER'S RISK COULD RISE WITH SPECIFIC SLEEP PATTERN, EXPERTS WARN In analyzing millions of electronic medical records of adults over 65, the researchers identified two medications that appeared to reduce the likelihood of Alzheimer's in the patients who took them. The medications — letrozone and irinotecan — are both approved to treat cancer. Letrozole is a breast cancer medication and irinotecan treats colon and lung cancer. When the scientists tested a combination of both medications in mice, they noted a reversal of the gene expression changes that were initiated by Alzheimer's. They also discovered a reduction in tau protein clumps in the brain — a key marker of Alzheimer's — and an improvement in learning and memory. "Alzheimer's disease comes with complex changes to the brain, which has made it tough to study and treat, but our computational tools opened up the possibility of tackling the complexity directly," said co-senior author Marina Sirota, PhD, the interim director of the UCSF Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute and professor of pediatrics, in the press release. EATING THESE COMMON FOODS COULD REDUCE ALZHEIMER'S RISK, EXPERTS SAY "We're excited that our computational approach led us to a potential combination therapy for Alzheimer's based on existing FDA-approved medications." The results of the study, which was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation, were published in the journal Cell on July 21. While the study's outcome was promising, the researchers acknowledged several limitations, including the fact that the database they used to identify possible drugs was built from cancer cells, not brain cells. They also noted that animal models were used. "Although necessary, validation in animal models may not fully recapitulate human biology," the researchers wrote. MEN FACE DOUBLE DEMENTIA RISK IF THEY HAVE A HIDDEN GENETIC MUTATION There was also a noticeable gender difference in response to the medications, with male mice responding better than females. "As a hormone modulator, letrozole might contribute to this sex difference," the team noted. "However, the analysis remains inconclusive due to the small number of male letrozole users." The electronic medical records could also present limitations, "as data tend to be sparse and are not collected with specific research in mind." "We're hopeful this can be swiftly translated into a real solution for millions of patients with Alzheimer's." More than seven million people in the U.S. are currently living with Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association. This number is expected to approach 13 million by the year 2050. There are currently only two disease-modifying medications that have been FDA-approved to treat Alzheimer's, UCSF states. Lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla) are both monoclonal antibodies that are administered via IV infusions. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP They work by reducing the build-up of amyloid plaques in the brain, but they are only effective for those with early-stage Alzheimer's and have the potential for some serious side effects, according to experts. (Other Alzheimer's medications help with symptoms, but don't treat the underlying disease.) CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER "Alzheimer's is likely the result of numerous alterations in many genes and proteins that, together, disrupt brain health," said co-senior study author Yadong Huang, M.D., PhD, professor of neurology and pathology at UCSF, in the release. "This makes it very challenging for drug development — which traditionally produces one drug for a single gene or protein that drives disease." Looking ahead, the researchers plan to start a clinical trial to explore the combined drugs' impact on human patients with Alzheimer's. "If completely independent data sources, such as single-cell expression data and clinical records, guide us to the same pathways and the same drugs, and then resolve Alzheimer's in a genetic model, then maybe we're onto something," Sirota said in the release. For more Health articles, visit "We're hopeful this can be swiftly translated into a real solution for millions of patients with Alzheimer's."
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
The cancer drugs that could lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease
Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, have identified two existing cancer drugs that may help lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers screened over 1,300 candidate drugs, narrowing them down to five that showed potential for reducing Alzheimer's risk in human patients, including two cancer drugs. The selected drugs, letrozole (for breast cancer) and irinotecan (for colon and lung cancer), were tested on mice and appeared to improve memory and brain function. This finding is significant because developing new drugs for Alzheimer's is extremely costly and time-consuming, whereas repurposing existing ones could accelerate clinical trials. The study, published in the medical journal Cell, offers a promising new direction for treatment given that Alzheimer's affects millions and care costs are projected to rise substantially.
The Sun
21-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Two NHS drugs slows and could REVERSE devastating Alzheimer's, ‘exciting' study finds
TWO NHS drugs could be combined to treat, and even reverse, the most common form of dementia, scientists claim. A pair of cancer drugs have been identified as a powerful duo that may tackle Alzheimer's disease, after scientists sifted through 1,300 approved medicines. 1 The American team used cutting-edge computer tools to match the gene changes seen in Alzheimer's patients with medicines that reverse those effects. They found that two cancer drugs, both already available on the NHS, reduced brain degeneration in mice with the disease, and even brought back their memory. The study, from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), first looked at how Alzheimer's alters the activity of individual brain cells. They then searched for existing drugs that trigger the opposite changes, with the aim of rewiring damaged neurons and brain cells called glia. And when they tested the top two candidates, letrozole and irinotecan, in lab mice, the results were impressive. One theory of how Alzheimer's comes about is that sticky proteins - like amyloid-beta - start clumping together in the brain years before symptoms appear. These toxic clumps block communication between brain cells and trigger inflammation, eventually causing the cells to die. Some scientists believe this buildup is the root cause of Alzheimer's, so clearing it could stop the disease in its tracks. When combined, the cancer drugs not only halted brain cell damage but also undid toxic clumps of proteins, restored memory and reversed the disease's genetic footprint. Prof Marina Sirota, senior author, said: 'We're excited that our computational approach led us to a potential combination therapy for Alzheimer's based on existing FDA-approved medications.' She added: 'Alzheimer's disease comes with complex changes to the brain, which has made it tough to study and treat — but our tools opened up the possibility of tackling that complexity directly.' The scientists then trawled through the anonymised medical records of 1.4million over-65s and found those already taking the cancer drugs were less likely to develop Alzheimer's. Dr Yaqiao Li, the study's lead author, said: 'Thanks to all these existing data sources, we went from 1,300 drugs, to 86, to 10, to just five. 'In particular, the rich data collected by all the UC health centres pointed us straight to the most promising drugs. It's kind of like a mock clinical trial.' Letrozole is typically used to treat breast cancer, while irinotecan is prescribed for colon and lung cancer. Both are already used in the UK. 'So exciting' Prof Yadong Huang, co-senior author, said: 'Alzheimer's is likely the result of numerous alterations in many genes and proteins that, together, disrupt brain health. 'This makes it very challenging for drug development - which traditionally produces one drug for a single gene or protein that drives disease.' He added: 'It's so exciting to see the validation of the computational data in a widely used Alzheimer's mouse model.' The breakthrough, published in the journal Cell, could fast-track trials in humans. Prof Sirota said: 'If completely independent data sources, such as single-cell expression data and clinical records, guide us to the same pathways and the same drugs and then resolve Alzheimer's in a genetic model then maybe we're onto something.' She added: 'We're hopeful this can be swiftly translated into a real solution for millions of patients with Alzheimer's.' Alzheimer's causes a relentless decline in cognition, learning, and memory. But decades of research have only produced two FDA-approved drugs, neither of which can meaningfully slow the decline. In the UK, no disease-modifying drugs are currently approved or available. Instead, the UK relies on symptom-managing drugs, such as Donepezil and Rivastigmine. Is it ageing or dementia? Dementia - the most common form of which is Alzheimer's - comes on slowly over time. As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe. But at the beginning, the symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for normal memory issues related to ageing. The US National Institute on Aging gives some examples of what is considered normal forgetfulness in old age, and dementia disease. You can refer to these above. For example, it is normal for an ageing person to forget which word to use from time-to-time, but difficulties having conversation would be more indicative of dementia. Katie Puckering, Head of Alzheimer's Research UK's Information Services team, previously told The Sun: 'We quite commonly as humans put our car keys somewhere out of the ordinary and it takes longer for us to find them. 'As you get older, it takes longer for you to recall, or you really have to think; What was I doing? Where was I? What distracted me? Was it that I had to let the dog out? And then you find the keys by the back door. 'That process of retrieving the information is just a bit slower in people as they age. 'In dementia, someone may not be able to recall that information and what they did when they came into the house. 'What may also happen is they might put it somewhere it really doesn't belong. For example, rather than putting the milk back in the fridge, they put the kettle in the fridge.'
