Got a sore throat and the sniffles? The recent rise of rapid at-home tests has made it easier to find out if you have a serious illness like COVID-19 or just a touch of spring allergies.
But while quick and convenient, these at-home tests are less sensitive than those available at the doctor’s office, meaning that you may still test negative even if you are infected.
A solution may come in the form of a new, low-cost biosensing technology that could make rapid at-home tests up to 100 times more sensitive to viruses like COVID-19. The diagnostic could expand rapid screening to other life-threatening conditions like prostate cancer and sepsis, as well.
Created by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the test combines a natural evaporation process called the “coffee-ring effect” with plasmonics and AI to detect biomarkers of disease with remarkable precision in just minutes.
“This simple yet effective technique can offer highly accurate results in a fraction of the time compared to traditional diagnostic methods,” said Kamyar Behrouzi, who recently completed a Ph.D. in micro-electromechanical systems and nanoengineering at UC Berkeley. “Our work paves the way for more affordable, accessible diagnostics, especially in low-resource settings.”
The technology was developed with the support of seed funding from the CITRIS and Banatao Institute at UC Berkeley and is described in a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications.
The researchers have create a prototype at-home test kit for the new diagnostic, which includes a 3D printed scaffold to help guide users on where to place the droplets (upper left), a syringe (upper right) and a small electric heater to speed evaporation (lower right).
Courtesy of Kamyar Behrouzi
Combining coffee rings and nanoparticles
Look closely at any coffee or wine stain, and you might observe that the outline of the stain is much darker than the interior. This is due to a physical phenomenon called the coffee-ring effect: As a droplet of liquid evaporates, it generates a flow that pushes suspended particles towards the edge of the droplet. If the particles are pigmented, as they are in coffee and wine, the resulting stain will be darker around the rim than in the middle.
In 2020, Behrouzi was developing a biosensor for detecting COVID-19 when he noticed that droplets of his experimental solution were leaving ring-shaped stains as they dried. He realized that this coffee-ring effect could be used to easily concentrate particles of the COVID-19 virus, potentially making them easier to detect.
“We figured out that we could use this coffee-ring effect to build something even better than what we initially set out to create,” Behrouzi said.
The rapid test technology uses tiny particles called plasmonic nanoparticles that interact with light in unique ways. To conduct the test, a user first adds a droplet of liquid containing disease-relevant proteins — such as from a cheek or nasal swab — to a membrane. As the droplet dries, it concentrates any disease biomarkers at the coffee ring. The user then adds a second droplet containing plasmonic nanoparticles that have been engineered to stick to the disease biomarkers. If the biomarkers are present, the nanoparticles will aggregate in certain patterns that change how light interacts with the membrane. This change can be detected by eye or using an AI-powered smartphone app.
The technology gives results in less than 12 minutes and is 100 times more sensitive at detecting COVID-19 than equivalent tests.
“One of the key proteins that we are able to detect with this method is a biomarker of sepsis, a life-threatening inflammatory response to a bacterial infection that can develop rapidly in people over 50,” said study senior author Liwei Lin, a Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley. “Every hour is critical, but culturing bacteria to determine the source of the infection can take a few days. Our technique could help doctors detect sepsis in 10 to 15 minutes.”
The researchers have created a prototype of a home testing kit, similar to at-home COVID testing kits, that includes 3D-printed components to help guide the placement of the sample and plasmonic droplets.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we relied on at-home tests to know if we were infected or not,” Lin said. “I hope that our technology makes it easier and more accessible for people to regularly screen for conditions like prostate cancer without leaving the home.”
Additional co-authors of the study include Zahra Khodabakhshi Fard, Chun-Ming Chen, Peisheng He and Megan Teng of UC Berkeley.
Looking for budget-friendly wireless headphones? The Sony WH-CH520 offers long battery life, comfort and smart features at a great price.
Jessie Quinn | USA TODAY
Psst: You don’t have to drop a ton of money on a pair of high-quality over-the-ear headphones—especially when you shop on Amazon Prime Day.
From Tuesday, July 8 through Friday, July 11, Amazon Prime Day is delivering Prime members the best tech deals, including some steep savings on sleek, stylish, and (most importantly) high-quality Bluetooth headphones that you can wear to the office, on a plane, at the gym and more.
Out of all the live headphone deals at Amazon right now, the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones are the ones we’re most eager to add to our carts this week. With more than 22,000 Amazon reviews and more than 10,000 pairs purchased last month, this is a must-shop offer.
Prime Day deal: Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones
PRIME DAY DEALS: I’m live-tracking the best Amazon Prime Day 2025 deals. Here’s what to shop first
If you’re looking for affordable, high-quality wireless headphones, the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones are a top pick—even without a Prime Day discount. These over-ear headphones combine comfort, style, and functionality, making them ideal for everyday listening, commuting, working from home, or casual gaming.
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When is Amazon Prime Day?
Amazon Prime Day takes place from Tuesday, July 8, through Friday, July 11. The savings will officially begin at 12:00am PT/3am ET on July 8.
Do I need to be an Amazon Prime member to shop Prime Day deals?
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Amazon Prime for Young Adults is back! Do you qualify for the discount? Find out here
USA TODAY Shopping will be covering all the savings throughout Prime Day 2025, so be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram to stay updated!
This artist’s concept shows what Deep Space Station-23, a new antenna dish at the Deep Space Network’s complex in Goldstone, California, might look like when complete in several years.
Credit: NASA
HOUSTON–NASA has issued a request for proposals for concept studies and architecture definitions to establish joint government and commercial communications and navigation around the Earth, Moon and Mars. This is to enable science, robotic and human exploration and economic development. Issued July…
Mark Carreau
Mark is based in Houston, where he has written on aerospace for more than 25 years. While at the Houston Chronicle, he was recognized by the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation in 2006 for his professional contributions to the public understanding of America’s space program through news reporting.
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NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has flown through the plumes of water vapor spewing out from the ocean inside Saturn’s moon Enceladus on multiple occasions, which has allowed researchers to determine the pH of the water, which is highly alkaline. From this, they have been able to predict the entire mineralogical composition of the ocean, finding that it has both good and bad points for any potential microbial life that may exist within it.
“It’s harder, but certainly not impossible, to live in these conditions,” Christopher Glein, an ocean worlds scientist at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio told Space.com.
Cassini discovered Enceladus’ plumes of water vapor, which jet out from large cracks in the icy surface called “tiger stripes” at the moon’s southern polar region, in 2005. Although the Cassini mission, which ended in a blaze of glory in September 2017 when the orbiter plunged into Saturn, was not designed to sample material from such plumes, two of its instruments, the Cosmic Dust Analyzer and the Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer, were able to at least get a taste of them during close flybys of the icy moon. What they found offered clues as to the contents of the ocean deep within Enceladus that feeds the plumes.
“The payoff from Cassini far exceeded what it was designed to accomplish,” said Glein. “We discovered a habitable ocean at Enceladus.”
Those measurements remain our best study so far of any of the ocean moons of the outer solar system, and through geochemical modeling scientists are able to draw some conclusions. New research — by Glein and his SwRI colleague, planetary archaeologist Ngoc Truong — has determined that the pH of the ocean beneath Enceladus’ ice is moderately high, between 10.1 and 11.6
This diagram shows hydrothermal reactions on the floor of Enceladus’ ocean, releasing molecular hydrogen gas. (Image credit: NASA/JPL–Caltech/Southwest Research Institute.)
The pH scale is a measure of how acidic or alkaline something is, 1 being highly acidic, 14 being highly alkaline, and 7 being neutral. Hence Enceladus’ ocean is quite alkaline. For comparison, Earth’s ocean has a pH of about 8.
The researchers arrived at this conclusion by studying the abundance and distribution of phosphate minerals in the ice grains within the plumes, in particular the ratio of mono-hydrogen phosphate (HPO4) to regular phosphate (PO4), which is a direct indicator of the pH level of the water. The range of possible pH that Glein and Truong found is higher than the previous estimates of 8 to 9. However, those estimates were made before 2023, when further detailed analysis of Cassini’s data revealed high concentrations of phosphates in the plumes.
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The alkalinity is a signature of interactions between water and iron-, magnesium- and sodium-bearing silicate rock on the ocean floor. These water-rock interactions release sodium hydroxide (NaOH) into the ocean that subsequently reacts with carbon dioxide and produces the high alkalinity.
“One consequence of these conditions is a high carbonate alkalinity, which supercharges the solubility of calcium phosphate minerals — like apatite. Your teeth might dissolve in Enceladus’ ocean,” said Glein.
Such high alkalinity would be somewhat challenging for life. “High pH tends to break apart biological polymers,” said Glein when asked by Space.com. “However, we know that some microbes on Earth can tolerate the range of pH found on Enceladus.”
These terrestrial, alkaline-loving microbes are extremophiles called alkaliphiles. And there’s another boost for the possibility of life in Enceladus’ ocean, since the water-rock interactions produce minerals and ions that can be used by microbial life for energy and sustenance. The conditions even provide clues as to where in the ocean we might find such life, should it exist there.
“Metals become less soluble at higher pH, so iron may be scarce in Enceladus’ ocean,” said Glein. “I think the best place to live would be at the seafloor. If you’re a microbe, you could directly ‘mine’ iron and other metals from minerals without relying on solubility. We might want to think about biofilms on Enceladus.”
Based on the alkalinity, the chemical composition of the plumes as measured by Cassini and the expected minimal outgassing of carbon dioxide from the ocean, Glein and Truong have assembled a list of minerals and molecules that we could expect to find in Enceladus’ ocean. The most abundant compounds on the list are sodium, chlorine, sodium carbonate, carbonate ions, ammonia and potassium ions.
“The composition does make sense for deep circulation of ocean water through the rocky core of Enceladus,” said Glein.
One surprise was the inferred high abundance of molecular hydrogen (H2). However, its concentration is similar to some deep-sea environments on Earth, such as the vast field of hydrothermal vents in iron-rich rocks called the “Lost City” deep in the Atlantic Ocean.
“There, H2 supports life by supplying a source of chemical energy,” said Glein.
Although the list of mineral constituents in the ocean is not confirmed — we’d have to return to Enceladus to do that — it just shows that we don’t need to venture into the depths of the dark water to learn the ocean’s secrets. Just flying through the plumes is enough to give us a good indication. Cassini did so without specialized equipment for analyzing molecules and compounds within the plumes, since when it was launched (October 1997) the plumes had not even been discovered. Glein thirsts to return with a dedicated mission carrying state-of-the-art instruments specifically designed for the job.
“Imagine what we could find,” he mused. “The picture for Enceladus is of an ocean that is intensely affected by water-rock interactions. Enceladus is a geochemical paradise!”
Glein and Truong’s findings were published online June 20 in the journal Icarus.
Interstellar visitor Comet 3I/ATLAS was discovered just a week ago and ever since, astronomers across the world have been hard at work following it, trying to gather as much data on it as possible. The initial data on this object already suggested marked differences between it and the previous two known interstellar objects that crossed the Solar System. Thanks to a new model, it looks like it comes from a different region of the galaxy altogether.
Let’s rewind the clock by a week. Matthew Hopkins defended his PhD thesis on modeling interstellar objects in the Milky Way on Monday. On Tuesday, he told his supervisor, Professor Chris Lintott, he’d take some time off before working on the edits. Instead, Comet 3I/ATLAS decided to make itself known right at that moment. So Hopkins went back to work using his doctoral research to gain unprecedented insight into this new interstellar interloper.
“It’s very exciting!” Hopkins, who is lead author of the new paper, told IFLScience. “I’ve been anticipating the chance to compare my predictions to new data for four years, and 3I/ATLAS is already giving us new insights into this fascinating galaxy-spanning population.”
Hopkins and Lintott are two of the six authors of a new paper that uses the new model to trace the origin of Comet 3I/ATLAS, and it appears to be coming from a completely different region of the galaxy than our previous interstellar visitors.IFLScience had a chance to read the yet-to-be-peer-reviewed paper ahead of publication.
[Comet 3I/ATLAS] is probably from an old star in the thick disc, and we think that it’s likely that this thing’s been out there for longer than the age of the Solar System.
Prof Chris Lintott
“What we’re able to do with Matthew and our collaborators’ work is predict the population of interstellar objects that should be out there,” Professor Lintott told IFLScience. “We’ve now seen three of these, but we think there are a billion billion billion – 1027 – of these in the galaxy. And so using that model, we’re able to say what’s interesting and what’s unusual about this particular object.”
One striking difference between this object and the other two interstellar visitors is its speed. Comet 3I/ATLAS is moving almost twice the speed of the others, with estimates around 57 kilometers (36 miles) per second. ’Oumuamua, discovered in 2017, moved at about 26.33 kilometers (16.36 miles) per second, while Comet 2I/Borisov, discovered in 2021, was moving a tad faster at 32.2 kilometers ( 20 miles) per second.
Two new preprint papers published on the ArXiv server today suggest that this comet is remarkably different from expectations. Observations from the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) suggest a much redder object, more similar in color to the Centaur population of asteroids than most Solar System comets. A different paper focused instead on similarities with many of the Solar System objects, including some comets, and stresses that the differences are most marked against ‘Oumuamua and Comet Borisov.
I think the thing that’s most exciting for me is that if it is from the thick disk, we’re seeing an object from a part of the galaxy we’ve never seen one before.
Prof Chris Lintott
“This thing’s coming in much faster than the other two, but it is actually within the range of velocities that we would predict in objects. So we don’t think that’s notable, but it’s moving fast up and down relative to the plane of the galaxy in a vertical velocity, so it gives us a clue about where it’s from,” Professor Lintott explained. “Our model predicts that it’s from a star in the thick disc of the galaxy.”
The spiral arms of galaxies like the Milky Way are located in the thin disk. That’s also where the Sun is. Spiral galaxies also have a structure called the thick disk, a region above and below the plane of the Milky Way, where older stars tend to reside.
“[Comet 3I/ATLAS] is probably from an old star in the thick disc, and we think that it’s likely that this thing’s been out there for longer than the age of the Solar System,” Professor Lintott told IFLScience. “There’s a two-thirds chance that it’s older than 7 billion, and that would explain the colour. So these things get processed by cosmic rays and turn red. That seems to fit in, though I think the colours in the VLT paper are slightly odd, so we should check that,” he added.
An estimation of the orbit of Comet 3I/ATLAS (red, dashed) relative to the orbit of the Sun (yellow, dotted) through the Milky Way.
Image Credit: M. Hopkins/Ōtautahi-Oxford team. Base map: ESA/Gaia/DPAC, Stefan Payne-Wardenaar, CC-BY-SA 4.0
Good models need to have testable hypotheses, and the team has a pretty straightforward one for Comet 3I/ATLAS: water.
“Our model says that older stars tend to producewater-rich interstellar objects. So if we’re right, as this thing comes further towards the Sun, we should get a lot of cometary activity. The task coming up is to do a better job of chemistry,” Professor Lintott says.
“I think the thing that’s most exciting for me is that if it is from the thick disk, we’re seeing an object from a part of the galaxy we’ve never seen one before. The other two share a different origin.”
With the idea that there are a billion billion billion interstellar objects across the galaxy, it is not surprising that scientists have estimated that there are 10,000 interstellar objects within the orbit of Neptune on any given day. Most of these are too dark to be spotted by our telescopes, but they are likely there.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has recently demonstrated that it can discover over 2,000 new asteroids in a matter of hours across a few nights. As more cutting-edge telescopes come online, it will be easier to discover more of these objects.
“The reason I got excited about studying stellar objects is that there’s this theory that they get incorporated into the material that forms stars and planets, so they may kickstart planet formation. So it’s possible that our Earth started with something like this arriving, which is just kind of a cool and exciting idea!” Lintott told IFLScience.
“The second thing is that we’re having an enormous amount of fun. This is what I thought astronomers did when I was a kid. We found a thing, we’re pointing telescopes at it and then we’re arguing about it and it’s just the best!”
The paper describing this work has been submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters and will be posted to the ArXiv tomorrow.
The human brain is made up of billions of nerve cells, or neurons, that communicate with each other in vast, interconnected networks. For the brain to function reliably, there needs to be a fine balance between two types of signals: Excitatory neurons that pass on information and increase activity, and inhibitory neurons that limit activity and prevent other neurons from becoming too active or firing out of control. This balance between excitation and inhibition is essential for a healthy, stable brain.
Inhibitory neurons born later mature quicker
Inhibitory neurons are generated during brain development through the division of progenitor cells – immature cells not yet specialized but already on the path to becoming neurons. The new study, led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, uncovered a surprising feature of brain development based on findings in mice: During this essential process, cells born later in development mature much more quickly than those produced earlier.
“This faster growth helps later-born neurons catch up to those produced earlier, so that by the time all these neurons are incorporated into neural networks, they are at a similar stage of development,” said Christian Mayer, research group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence. “This is important, as otherwise, earlier-born neurons—having had more time to form connections—could end up with far more synaptic links than those created later. Without this adjustment, the network could be thrown off balance, and individual cells would have too many or too few connections.”
Genetic control and disease
In the study, the researchers also explored how the accelerated maturation of later-born inhibitory neurons is regulated. They identified specific genes involved in this process and uncovered how they control when and to what extent a cell reads and uses different parts of its genetic code. They found that the faster development of later-born inhibitory neurons turns out to be linked to changes in the developmental potential of the precursor cells that generate them—changes which are, in turn, triggered by a reorganization of the so-called ‘chromatin landscape.’ In simple terms, this means that cells adjust the accessibility of certain regions of DNA in the cell nucleus, making key instructions on how and when to develop more readable.
Genetic changes, such as mutations or altered gene regulation, in these genes or processes may alter the developmental pathways of the brain during early embryonic stages, which could contribute to the development of conditions such as autism or epilepsy. Therefore, this study could ultimately offer insights into how developmental disorders of the brain can begin so early in life.
Developmental timing in humans and other mammals
These findings highlight the critical importance of inhibitory neurons being ready in time during brain development, regardless of when they are produced. The pace at which these cells mature and are integrated into brain networks is carefully regulated by genetic mechanisms—a process known as ‘developmental timing.’
It is already known that the developmental timeline differs considerably between mammal species. In humans, brain development takes place over a particularly long period compared to other animals. This extended window is thought to allow the human brain to build more complex networks and sustain learning over a longer period, which might help explain its extraordinary cognitive abilities. The new findings provide scientists with fresh leads to better understand why the timing of inhibitory neuron maturation is precisely controlled during development, and how variations in this timing may contribute to differences in brain development across species.
More research needed
The newly discovered mechanisms highlight just how important both genetic factors and the correct pace of development are for a healthy brain. They may also open up new approaches to studying the causes of neurodevelopmental disorders, and potentially one day help to inform the development of treatments.
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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan intends to lead a protest movement from jail against the 26th Constitutional Amendment, while his sons Sulaiman and Qasim will join the campaign after returning from the United States, his sister Aleema Khan said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail, Aleema conveyed the jailed former prime minister’s message to supporters, claiming he remained resolute despite solitary confinement and harsh prison conditions.
“He [Imran Khan] said he is free inside jail, while those outside are imprisoned,” she said, adding, “People must come out for themselves, for democracy, for the rule of law, and against the 26th Amendment. Anyone who cannot bear the weight of this movement should step aside now.”
“جب ایک قوم اپنے حق کے لیے خود کھڑی ہو جاتی ہے پھر اس کو کوئی طاقت جھکا نہیں سکتی۔ میں جیل میں بھی آزاد ہوں مگر میری قوم باہر ایک ایسی قید میں ہے جہاں نہ آزاد عدلیہ ہے نہ آزاد جمہوریت نہ ہی آزاد میڈیا۔ تمام پاکستانیوں کو اب اپنی حقیقی آزادی کے لیے باہر نکلنا ہو گا!!
Imran, she said, had asked that the protest movement should reach its peak on August 5 — the date that will mark two years since his imprisonment.
“After the 26th Amendment, all public rights have been effectively taken away,” she added, noting that their entire family would participate in the campaign while former prime minister sons will join the campaign after returning from the United States.
“Imran Khan’s sons, Qasim and Sulaiman, will first go to the United States to raise awareness about the injustices faced by their father, and then they will take part in the movement being launched in Pakistan. Imran Khan has been informed of this,” he said.
Read More: Imran, Bushra seek expedited hearing to suspend convictions in £190m case
Aleema, accompanied by her sisters Noreen and Uzma, said she had been denied access to her brother, although other family members were eventually allowed to meet him. She expressed concern over his treatment in custody, describing it as unprecedented.
“What is being done to him is unlike the treatment of any other prisoner. He has been denied access to television, newspapers, and reading material for a week. His books are lying in the deputy superintendent’s room,” she said.
She added that PTI founder has been held in solitary confinement and has not been allowed to see his doctor for the past ten months. “They think they can break him. But they cannot,” she said, adding that she herself had also been barred from meeting him.
عمران خان کے بیٹے قاسم اور سلمان پہلے امریکا جائیں گے وہاں اپنے والد پر ہونے والے ظلم کے بارے آگاہ کریں گے، پھر پاکستان میں شروع ہونی والی تحریک میں حصہ لیں گے، عمران خان کو بتا دیا گیا ہے، علیمہ خان۔ pic.twitter.com/gSTWxdL32g
Earlier in the day, dozens of PTI supporters gathered at the Gorakhpur checkpoint as Khan’s sisters attempted to walk toward the prison. Police contingents were deployed, and party workers raised slogans. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja was also present at the scene.
While Aleema was stopped near a local hotel and not allowed to proceed, other family members were eventually granted access. Former First Lady Bushra Bibi was also allowed to meet her sister-in-law Mehrunnisa.
Also Read: K-P govt dismisses senior officials after Swat river incident
Separately, PTI focal person Niazullah Niazi Advocate and MNA Munawra Baloch were stopped by police at the Dahgal checkpoint. Senator Faisal Javed and Advocate Zahoor Abbas Chaudhry were also denied entry at Gorakhpur.
However, according to party sources, Barrister Gohar, Salman Safdar, and Zahoor Abbas Chaudhry were later allowed to meet the former premier.
Speaking to reporters before the jail meeting, Safdar said the visit was as significant as any earlier one. When asked why the legal team had not been able to secure relief despite over 700 days of Imran’s detention, he said, “We are fighting the cases in courts and doing our best.”
A new influenza drug that lasts for an entire flu season may outperform flu vaccines, according to the results of a large phase 2b trial highlighted in a news release by the drug’s manufacturer, Cidara Therapeutics of San Diego.
Single doses of 150 milligrams (mg), 300 mg, and 450 mg provided 58%, 61%, and 76% protection from symptomatic flu, respectively, for about 6 months after injection, according to the data, which has been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The trial involved 5,071 healthy, unvaccinated adults 18 to 64 years old assessed at 57 US sites and 1 UK site. They received a single shot of the experimental drug, called CD388, at the beginning of the flu season—from September to December 2024—and were evaluated for clinically confirmed and lab-confirmed influenza for 24 weeks. The results have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The researchers found that 2.8% of the placebo group contracted influenza within the study timeframe. But those receiving the drug had lower rates.
Highest dose provided 76% protection
The drug’s prevention efficacy (PE) was 76.1% in the 450-mg group, 61.3% in the 300-mg group, and 57.7% in the 150-mg group. All results for the 4,726 participants assessed for the primary end point were statistically significant.
According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, the effectiveness of flu vaccines in the past 15 flu seasons has ranged from 19% to 60%.
CD388 also met all secondary end points, including efficacy at body temperatures of 37.8°C (100°F) and 37.2°C (99°F) thresholds, as well as statistically significant maintenance of PE for up to 28 weeks.
Safety data were similar across all three dose groups and the placebo group, with no serious adverse events noted. Cidara plans to present additional results from this NAVIGATE trial at scientific conferences this year. It is assessing the data to determine what dose or doses to assess in the next step, a phase 3 clinical trial set to begin next spring.
We are blessed by the fact that any of the three doses would likely be well suited for the phase 3 study.
Jeffrey Stein, PhD, president and CEO of Cidara, said in a press conference on the results, “Traditionally, as you know, in clinical trials you tend to the go with the highest dose so long as there is no safety limitation or tolerability issues. And certainly that’s the case that we have here.”
“We are blessed by the fact that any of the three doses would likely be well suited for the phase 3 study. But the final dose selection will be dependent on our final analysis of the pharmacokinetics and virology data.” Stein added that more detailed results will be available by September.
‘Potential breakthrough’
Nicole Davarpanah, MD, JD, Cidara’s chief medical officer, said in the news release that the results “mark a potential breakthrough for patients and the future of influenza prevention.”
“These Phase 2b results support the potential of CD388 to be a highly effective and well-tolerated seasonal prophylactic for high-risk individuals, such as those with compromised immune systems or those at a heightened risk of severe illness due to underlying health conditions. We look forward to engaging with the FDA and expanding on these results in our planned Phase 3 trial.”
“Results such as these are unprecedented in influenza and support our confidence in the potential of CD388 to offer robust, once-per-season protection against influenza A and B,” said Stein in the release. “CD388 was designed to provide once per season protection against all strains of influenza in all people, irrespective of immune status.”
CD388 was designed to provide once per season protection against all strains of influenza in all people.
During the press conference, Stein said the company has reached out to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for potential support for the drug but has not yet met with BARDA officials to go over the data in detail.
When Carlos Alcaraz is on his A-game, there seems to be nothing that can stand in his way.
Britain’s home hope Cameron Norrie was no match for Spain’s two-time defending champion in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon 2025, as Alcaraz sailed through their encounter in one hour and 39 minutes to win 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday (8 July).
Norrie’s elimination means there are no Britons remaining in the men’s or women’s singles draws.
His 22-year-old conqueror Alcaraz will take on world number five Taylor Fritz in the last four on Thursday (10 July).
