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Alarming Blood Levels: High Lead Exposure in Children in the Harz

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Im niedersächsischen Harz sorgt eine aktuelle Studie für Besorgnis: Viele Kinder in der Region weisen erhöhte Bleikonzentrationen im Blut auf. Die Untersuchung, durchgeführt von Forschern der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, bestätigt eine gesundheitliche Herausforderung, die auf die jahrhundertelange Bergbaugeschichte der Region zurückzuführen ist. Dieser Bericht beleuchtet die Ergebnisse, die Ursachen, die gesundheitlichen Risiken und die geplanten Maßnahmen zur Reduzierung der Belastung. Die Studie, die im September 2023 begann und im Juni 2024 abgeschlossen wurde, untersuchte das Blut von 310 Kindern im Landkreis Goslar. Das erschreckende Ergebnis: 51 Prozent der getesteten Kinder überschreiten den bundesweiten Referenzwert für Bleikonzentrationen im Blut. Dieser Wert liegt bei etwa 35 Mikrogramm pro Liter für Kinder, doch viele Kinder im Harz zeigen deutlich höhere Werte. Die Untersuchung, die auf freiwilliger Basis im Rahmen von Schuluntersuchungen durchgeführt wurde, ist Teil einer umfassenderen Initiative des Landkreises Goslar, um die Auswirkungen… 

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Philochem AG vergibt weltweite Rechte an OncoACP3 an RayzeBio in einem Deal mit einem potenziellen Gesamtwert von bis zu 1,35 Milliarden US-Dollar

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Otelfingen, Schweiz, 10. Juni 2025 – Philochem AG, eine hundertprozentige Tochtergesellschaft der Philogen-Gruppe (MIL:PHIL), hat heute eine wegweisende Lizenzvereinbarung mit RayzeBio, Inc., einer Tochtergesellschaft von Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY), bekanntgegeben. Im Rahmen dieser Vereinbarung vergibt Philochem die exklusiven weltweiten Rechte zur Entwicklung, Herstellung und Vermarktung von OncoACP3, einem innovativen radiopharmazeutischen Therapeutikum und Diagnostikum zur Behandlung von Prostatakrebs, an RayzeBio. OncoACP3 ist ein niedermolekularer Ligand mit hoher Affinität und Spezifität für Acid Phosphatase 3 (ACP3), ein neues Ziel in der Prostatakrebsbehandlung. Das Molekül wird sowohl für diagnostische als auch therapeutische Anwendungen entwickelt und befindet sich derzeit in einer Phase-I-Studie als PET-Radiotracer für die diagnostische Bildgebung von Prostatakrebs. Vorbereitungen für eine Phase-I-Studie als therapeutisches Mittel mit Actinium-225 (²²?Ac) laufen, um eine FDA-Zulassung zu beantragen. Im Rahmen der Vereinbarung erhält Philochem eine Vorauszahlung von 350 Millionen US-Dollar sowie potenzielle Meilensteinzahlungen in Höhe von bis… 

more »Philochem AG vergibt weltweite Rechte an OncoACP3 an RayzeBio in einem Deal mit einem potenziellen Gesamtwert von bis zu 1,35 Milliarden US-Dollar

U.S. FDA Approves Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir as First and Only Treatment for People with Acute Hepatitis C Virus

AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a label expansion for MAVYRET® (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir), an oral pangenotypic direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. It is now approved for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients three years and older with acute or chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis. With this approval, MAVYRET is the first and only DAA therapy approved to treat patients with acute HCV in eight weeks with a 96% cure rate. HCV is a highly infectious blood-borne disease affecting the liver.1 People recently infected, or those with acute HCV, may not have symptoms.1 If left untreated, HCV could lead to liver-related complications, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.1 The United States is expected to incur ~$120 billion in total medical costs over the next 10 years… 

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Bone Rot – A Rare but Serious Disease

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Bone rot, medically known as osteomyelitis, is a serious bone infection that remains a challenge despite modern medicine. The disease can affect people of all ages and requires early diagnosis and consistent treatment to avoid serious complications. Causes and Risk Factors Bone rot is mostly caused by bacteria, and less commonly by fungi. The pathogens often enter the bone through open wounds, bone fractures, or surgery. People with weakened immune systems, such as diabetics, patients with chronic diseases, or individuals taking immunosuppressive drugs, are particularly at risk. Circulatory disorders or poorly healing wounds, such as those found in "open legs," also increase the risk. Symptoms and Diagnosis The symptoms of bone rot are often non-specific, making diagnosis difficult. Typical symptoms include severe pain in the affected area, swelling, redness, and sometimes fever. In chronic cases, fistulas or pus collections may form. "The challenge lies in detecting the infection early, as… 

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Mask Scandal Shakes Berlin: Merz and Warken Under Pressure

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German politics faces a new scandal that could further deepen citizens' crisis of confidence in their government. At the center of the controversy: Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU), who is accused of withholding a explosive report on mask procurement during the Corona pandemic. The report, which examines the tenure of then-Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), sheds a harsh light on questionable decisions that could have cost taxpayers billions of euros. The allegations range from incompetence and cronyism to possible corruption offenses. While the opposition demands transparency, the question arises: How long can Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) remain inactive before he must intervene? A Report Kept Under Wraps Nina Warken has headed the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) since May 2025. The lawyer, who has no medical expertise, took office in an already tense political situation. Shortly after taking office...

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US pharmaceutical industry rejoices: Trump and Xi reach agreement

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Agreement in US-China trade dispute – impact on the US pharmaceutical industry After intensive two-day negotiations in London, the US and China have reached a fundamental compromise in the trade dispute. As US President Donald Trump announced on his platform Truth Social, both sides agreed on a reduction of export restrictions on rare earths and a reduction of tariffs on certain goods. Although formal approval by Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is still pending, the framework agreement is already considered an important step towards de-escalating the trade conflict that has been simmering for months[1][7][8]. Key points of the agreement Implications for the US pharmaceutical industry The agreement has far-reaching implications for the US pharmaceutical industry, which is particularly dependent on Chinese precursor materials and rare earths: 1. Relief for critical raw materials China's commitment to supply rare earths and magnets significantly relieves the US pharmaceutical industry. Many medical devices, contrast agents, and special medications rely on...

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Rare non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastases responds to amivantamab monotherapy

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A team led by first author Jinah Kim of the University of Vermont Medical Center and corresponding author Young Kwang Chae of Feinberg School of Medicine reports on a clinical case in which a patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and rare EGFR mutations responded remarkably well to amivantamab after other treatments had failed. The patient experienced complete resolution of brain and cerebrospinal fluid metastases. This suggests that amivantamab could be a viable option for patients with unusual genetic profiles and limited treatment options. Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Patients with NSCLC and rare mutations in the EGFR gene often have limited treatment options and poor prognoses, especially if the disease has spread to the brain or cerebrospinal fluid. This case involved a 67-year-old man diagnosed with NSCLC who had two rare EGFR mutations – G719A… 

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Virtual reality training tool combats contamination of portable medical devices

Infection control researchers at Mass General Brigham have developed a virtual reality (VR) training tool to educate clinicians on core infection control concepts, including the cleaning and disinfection of portable medical devices, to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. They successfully piloted the VR training tool across seven U.S. facilities and hope such training can improve staff competency and patient safety. The work was published in “Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.” “Devices like blood pressure cuffs, glucometers, and portable imaging devices are ubiquitous in healthcare, and study after study has shown that healthcare settings fail to clean and disinfect them, increasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections,” said senior author Erica S. Shenoy, MD, PhD, chief of infection control at Mass General Brigham. “We know that patient risk decreases when basic infection control measures are correctly…” 

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World's first 2D computer without silicon developed

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Silicon is the king of semiconductor technology, which underpins smartphones, computers, electric vehicles, and more. But according to a research team from Pennsylvania State University, its crown may soon crumble. As the world's first, they used two-dimensional (2D) materials, which, unlike silicon, are only one atom thick and retain their properties at this scale, to develop a computer that can perform simple operations. The development, published today (June 11) in Nature, represents a major step toward realizing thinner, faster, and more energy-efficient electronics, according to the researchers. They developed a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) computer – the technology at the heart of almost all modern electronic devices – without silicon. Instead, they used two different 2D materials to develop the two types of transistors needed to control the flow of electrical current in CMOS computers: molybdenum disulfide for n-type transistors and tungsten diselenide for p-type transistors. The team utilized the... 

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Nocturia: How often is normal?

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Villingen-Schwenningen, June 11, 2025 – Those who are repeatedly woken up by a full bladder at night know the frustration: Sleep is disturbed, recovery suffers, and the risk of falling increases, especially for older people. But how often is nighttime urination actually normal, and when should one take action? A report from the Pharmaceutical Journal sheds light on the causes and solutions for the phenomenon, medically known as nocturia. Up to twice per night is normal According to Professor Dr. Daniela Schultz-Lampel, Director of the Continence Center Southwest at Klinikum Schwarzwald-Baar, it is considered normal to visit the toilet up to twice per night. "However, if you regularly have to get up more often, you should have the causes medically clarified," advises the urologist. Nocturia, the medical term for nighttime urinary urgency, can not only disrupt sleep but also indicate health problems. Diverse causes for nocturia The reasons for frequent nighttime urination are... 

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