Category: 8. Health

While breast cancer survival continues to improve, thanks to advances in detection and treatment, when breast cancer relapses — or returns after initial treatment — it is still incurable. For the 30 percent of women and men who do relapse, the only option is continuous and indefinite treatment which cannot eliminate the cancer completely. Some breast cancers, like triple negative and HER2+, recur within a few years, and others like ER+ can recur decades later. Until now, there has not been a way to identify those breast cancer survivors who harbor the dormant cells that lead to recurrence in real time and to intervene with a treatment that can prevent incurable relapse.

In a randomized phase II clinical trial with 51 breast cancer survivors, existing drugs were able to clear dormant tumor cells from 80 percent of the study participants. The three-year survival rate without any disease recurrence was above 90 percent in patients who received one drug and 100 percent for patients who received both study drugs.

“The lingering fear of cancer returning is something that hangs over many breast cancer survivors after they celebrate the end of treatment,” said principal investigator Angela DeMichele, MD, MSCE, FASCO, the Mariann T. and Robert J. MacDonald Professor in Breast Cancer Research. “Right now, we just don’t know when or if someone’s cancer will come back — that’s the problem we set out to solve. Our study shows that preventing recurrence by monitoring and targeting dormant tumor cells is a strategy that holds real promise, and I hope it ignites more research in this area.”

Seizing a window of opportunity to wipe out cancer while it’s sleeping

The study builds on previous research that showed how dormant tumor cells continue to lay in wait in some patients after breast cancer treatment. These so-called “sleeper cells,” also referred to as minimal residual disease (MRD), can reactivate years or even decades later. Because they are not “active” cancer cells and can be scattered throughout the body, they do not show up on standard imaging tests that are used to watch for breast cancer recurrence.

Once the sleeper cells begin to expand and circulate in the bloodstream, it can lead to the spread of metastatic breast cancer. Patients who have MRD are more likely to experience breast cancer recurrence and have decreased overall survival.

Lewis Chodosh, MD, PhD, chair of Cancer Biology and senior author of the study, previously led research to identify the pathways that allow dormant tumor cells to survive in patients for decades.

“Our research shows that this sleeper phase represents an opportunity to intervene and eradicate the dormant tumor cells before they have the chance to come back as aggressive, metastatic disease,” Chodosh said. “Surprisingly, we’ve found that certain drugs that don’t work against actively growing cancers can be very effective against these sleeper cells. This tells us that the biology of dormant tumor cells is very different from active cancer cells.”

In the preclinical part of the latest research publication, Chodosh’s team conducted a series of experiments in mice to better understand the underlying mechanisms. They showed that two different drugs — approved by the FDA to treat other conditions — could effectively clear MRD in mice, resulting in longer survival without cancer recurrence. The drugs target autophagy and mTOR signaling, which the researchers found were key mechanisms to allow the tumor cells to remain dormant.

Translating science into original clinical trials

DeMichele’s team first enrolled breast cancer survivors who had completed treatment within the last five years and had clear scans into a screening study that looked for dormant tumor cells in participant’s bone marrow.

If dormant tumor cells were found, patients were then eligible to enroll in the Phase II CLEVER clinical trial, which randomized patients to receive six cycles of either monotherapy with one of two study drugs, or combination therapy with both drugs. The treatment cleared dormant tumor cells in most patients after six to 12 months. After a median follow-up time of 42 months, only two patients on the study have experienced a cancer recurrence.

“We want to be able to give patients a better option than ‘wait and see’ after they complete breast cancer treatment,” DeMichele said. “We’re encouraged by these results that we’re on the right track.”

The team is already enrolling patients in two larger, ongoing studies to confirm and extend the results of the CLEVER study: the Phase II ABBY clinical trial and the Phase II PALAVY clinical trial, available at several cancer centers across the country. Patients interested in learning more about these or other breast cancer clinical trials at Penn Medicine should contact [email protected].

The research was made possible with funding from the National Cancer Institute (R01CA208273) and Department of Defense (BC160784), with additional support from the V Foundation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, QVC “Shoes on Sale,” Avon Foundation, Raynier Institute & Foundation, and generous philanthropic donations. DeMichele previously reported interim outcomes data from the study at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023.

Get free NHS prescriptions

Pregnant women in England are entitled to free NHS prescriptions during pregnancy and for 12 months after giving birth, whether they are employed or not. (In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, they are free for everyone.) You need a maternity exemption certificate, which you can get from a midwife, doctor or health visitor.

You are also entitled to free dental treatment during pregnancy and for 12 months after giving birth in all parts of the UK. You must have a maternity exemption certificate or equivalent.

This is a digital or paper certificate, and you show it to the pharmacist when picking up prescriptions in England, or the dentist at your appointment.

“When you’re pregnant or have a new baby, there can be extra costs that add up quickly. That’s why it’s vital to check you are getting all the help you’re entitled to,” says Lilly Aaron, the senior policy manager at the Money and Pensions Service.

If you have paid for prescriptions while you are covered by the certificate, you may be entitled to a refund.

Check grants and benefits

You could be eligible for a one-off payment of £500 under the Sure Start Maternity Grant scheme if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you or your partner are on certain benefits and you are expecting your first baby.

Kate Marsh, the midwifery manager at Tommy’s, the pregnancy and baby charity, says it is important to apply within the time limit. “You need to claim it within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within six months after your baby is born, [and] it doesn’t have to be repaid,” she said.

She adds: “You’re also eligible for the scheme if you have refugee status or humanitarian protection, or you’ve left Ukraine or Afghanistan to come to the UK because of conflict and upheaval in those countries.”

Scotland has a similar scheme called the Pregnancy and Baby Payment. “Anyone eligible – depending on income and benefit entitlement – will receive £767.50 for their first child, and £383.75 for babies born after that,” Marsh says.

Forty-eight hours after you have registered the birth of your child, you are also entitled to claim child benefit. For the eldest child, you will get £26.05 a week. For the second, where you will meet the two-child cap, you get £17.25.

However, you may have to pay the high income child benefit charge if you or your partner have an individual income that is over the threshold (more than £60,000 for the 2024-25 tax year).

Take free vitamins

Making sure you get the right nutrients is important for your baby’s growth and development. You will get most of the vitamins and minerals you need by eating a healthy, varied diet, but the NHS also advises you take folic acid, iron and vitamin D supplements.

Some pregnant women are entitled to free vitamins containing folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin D under the Healthy Start scheme. “If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and you qualify for the Healthy Start scheme, you can get free folic acid and vitamins C and D from 10 weeks of pregnancy onwards,” Marsh says.

“However, it’s important to take folic acid and vitamin D even before conception and early in pregnancy, so if you can’t afford to buy them at that stage, ask your GP for help.”

Marsh says that in Scotland, women are entitled to folic acid and vitamins C and D throughout their pregnancy.

If you do have to pay for vitamins, you don’t need to buy expensive branded products, she adds. “Supermarket or pharmacy own-brand vitamin D and folic acid are fine.”

You will need to show your NHS Healthy Start card when you collect your free vitamins.

Your midwife or GP can provide information about local and national schemes and help you determine your eligibility. Healthy Start vitamins are available to breastfeeding mothers as well.

Save on maternity clothes

As your baby bump grows, you are likely to increasingly struggle to fit into all of your old clothes. If you are not keen on the idea of forking out on a brand-new maternity wardrobe, a “closet audit” to identify your loosest and most flowing pieces is a good start.

Another great investment is a waistband extender. They usually cost less than £10 and mean you can carry on wearing your normal clothes for a bit longer.

If you are keen to keep your normal wardrobe for as long as possible, you could buy some long vest tops, which you can tuck into trousers to stop your belly poking out.

When you do need some new clothes, asking around or buying secondhand will help save money.

“Online sites such as Vinted and Facebook Marketplace can be really useful if you’re looking for maternity clothes. You can find good-value bundles from people who know they won’t be needing them again,” Marsh says.

Calculate your leave

As a mum-to-be, you are entitled to a year of statutory maternity leave from your employer, no matter how long you have been in your job. However, the rules around statutory maternity pay have some stipulations.

Your employer has to pay you for up to 39 weeks if you are working for it in the 15th week before your baby is due and have worked there for at least 26 weeks continuously before that, and you need to earn an average of at least £125 a week (before tax).

Aaron says that the earliest your paid maternity leave can start is the 11th week before your baby is due. “If your baby is born early, your leave starts the day after the birth,” Aaron says.

In terms of statutory maternity pay, you get 90% of your average weekly earnings before tax for the first six weeks. For the next 33 weeks, should you take them, you will be entitled to £187.18 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings – whichever is lower.

If you do not meet the requirements for maternity pay, you can apply for maternity allowance as soon as you have been pregnant for 26 weeks. If you are employed or have recently stopped working, you will get £187.18 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is less) for up to 39 weeks.

If you are self-employed, you can get between £27 and £187.18 a week for up to 39 weeks.

You can use the government’s maternity entitlement calculator to work it out.

Get priority

Travelling on public transport while pregnant can be a challenge, and if your bump is small or you are earlier on in your pregnancy, people may feel awkward asking if you need a seat. If you are travelling in London and the south-east, the “baby on board” badge lets people know to offer you a seat or help. You can order one online on the Transport for London website.

Some shops will also let you go to the front of the line if you are pregnant and struggling. For instance, women on Reddit report that in some Primark stores, you can go to the accessible till if you are pregnant or have a double buggy.

While stores may not have an official policy, it is a good idea to ask staff if you are finding it hard to stand in line.

If constant tiredness, lack of energy, or persistent drowsiness seems to weigh you down, one possible cause could be an iron deficiency. Many assume that iron tablets bought from a pharmacy are the only remedy, but that is not necessarily the safest or most effective way to restore iron levels. Nutrition-based methods can also provide an excellent alternative.

Dr. Pal’s Creative Recipe for Iron Boost

Renowned gastroenterologist and gut health advocate Dr. Pal Manickam, known widely as Dr. Pal, recently shared a lighthearted Instagram video featuring a homemade recipe designed to improve iron intake. In a playful Instagram skit with his wife, Priya, he introduced a simple yet flavorful dish that works wonders for the body.

Ingredients Required

• Gram flour (besan)
• Fresh ginger paste
• Spinach, finely chopped
• Tomatoes
• Roasted pumpkin seeds
• Onions, chopped finely
• Green chillies
• Garam masala

Also read: Not burning enough calories daily? CMC Vellore doctor shares simple walking technique with 5 hidden benefits

Cooking Method

Warm a spoonful of ghee in a heated pan. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and cook them in the shape of a pancake. For an extra protein punch, crumble paneer into the batter. When done, serve with a squeeze of lemon juice for enhanced flavor and improved iron absorption.

According to Dr. Pal, the combination of spinach and pumpkin seeds strengthens iron reserves, while the presence of lemon and tomatoes aids the body in absorbing the mineral more efficiently.

Common Signs of Iron Deficiency

Medical experts, including a Mayo Clinic report, highlight key indicators of iron deficiency: overwhelming fatigue, weakness, pale skin, hair loss, dizziness, dark circles under eyes, dry skin and brittle nails, chest discomfort, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, frequent headaches, cold extremities, sore tongue, brittle nails, unusual cravings for non-food items, and diminished appetite.
Also read: 37-year-old’s routine headache consultation reveals hidden red flags: CMC Vellore doctor explains real danger and next steps

Who Is Dr. Pal?

Dr. Palaniappan Manickam, affectionately called Dr. Pal, is not just a practicing gastroenterologist but also a comedian and health educator of Indian heritage based in California. His medical philosophy emphasizes gut health, plant-based diets, and time-restricted eating. Through his signature “MedCom” style—where medicine meets comedy—he creates engaging content on chronic illnesses and lifestyle changes, making healthcare more approachable and enjoyable for a wider audience.

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NHS University Hospitals Bristol and Weston

NHS University Hospitals Bristol and Weston

• Strong immune response after third yearly booster dose in children and adults

• Significant anamnestic antibody response across all six serotypes
• No safety concerns observed in any age group by independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), consistent with previous booster results.

Saint-Herblain (France), September 3^rd, 2025 – Valneva SE (Nasdaq: VALN; Euronext Paris: VLA) announced positive immunogenicity and safety data from the ongoing Phase 2 study of Lyme disease vaccine candidate, VLA15. The strong anamnestic immune response and favorable safety profile following a third booster dose were consistent with those reported after receiving previous annual booster doses^1,2 further demonstrating compatibility with the anticipated benefits of a yearly vaccination prior to each Lyme season. 

There are currently no approved human vaccines for Lyme disease, and VLA15 has advanced the furthest in clinical development, with two Phase 3 trials nearing completion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 476,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year, and 132,000 cases are reported annually in Europe.^3,4 Vaccination has been completed in the pivotal Phase 3 study of VLA15⁵, and subject to positive data, Pfizer aims to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2026.

Juan Carlos Jaramillo M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Valneva, said, “These latest data further reinforce the potential benefits of booster doses across all evaluated age groups. There are currently no approved human vaccines for Lyme disease, and as the disease continues to expand geographically, it remains a pressing unmet medical need affecting communities across the Northern Hemisphere. Each set of positive results moves us closer to the possibility of making this vaccine available to both adults and children living in Lyme-endemic areas.”

These latest results from the VLA15-221 Phase 2 study – measured one month after vaccination at month 42 – again demonstrated a significant anamnestic antibody response across all six serotypes covered by the vaccine candidate in pediatric (5 to 11 years of age) and adolescent (12 to 17 years of age) participants, as well as in adults (18 to 65 years of age). A high proportion of participants seroconverted after the third booster dose, yielding seroconversion rates^* (SCRs) at 100% (confidence interval 96.7%, 100%) for all outer surface protein A (OspA) serotypes in all age groups, in-line with SCRs after the first and second booster. Geometric Mean Titers at one month post first and second booster (i.e. month 19 vs. month 31) were comparably high.

The safety and tolerability profile of VLA15 after the third booster dose was similar to the profile observed after the previous booster doses. To date, no safety concerns have been observed by the independent DMC in any treatment or age group.

Pfizer and Valneva entered into a collaboration agreement in April 2020 for the development and commercialization by Pfizer of VLA15.

Participants in this Phase 2 study received VLA15 or placebo during the primary vaccination phase in two immunization schedules (month 0-2-6 or month 0-6), followed by yearly vaccinations at months 18, 30 and 42. In August 2022, Pfizer and Valneva initiated the currently ongoing Phase 3 clinical study, Vaccine Against Lyme for Outdoor Recreationists (VALOR) (NCT05477524), to investigate the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of VLA15 in participants five years of age and older in highly endemic regions in North America and Europe.⁶ Dosing of all subjects was recently completed as announced by Pfizer. A second Phase 3 trial (C4601012), aiming to provide further evidence on the safety profile of VLA15 in the pediatric population between 5 and 17 years of age also completed vaccination.

About VLA15

There are currently no approved human vaccines for Lyme disease, and VLA15 is the Lyme disease vaccine candidate which has advanced the furthest along the clinical development timeline, with two Phase 3 trials in progress. This investigational multivalent protein subunit vaccine uses an established mechanism of action for a Lyme disease vaccine that targets the outer surface protein A (OspA) of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. OspA is a surface protein expressed by the bacteria when present in a tick. Blocking OspA inhibits the bacterium’s ability to leave the tick and infect humans. The vaccine candidate covers the six most prevalent OspA serotypes expressed by the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species in North America and Europe. 

About Clinical Study VLA15-221

VLA15-221 is a randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study. It is the first clinical study with VLA15 which enrolled a pediatric population (5-17 years old). 560 healthy participants received either VLA15 in two immunization schedules (month 0-2-6 [N=190] or month 0-6 [N=181]) or placebo (month 0-2-6 [N=189]). Vaccine recipients received VLA15 at a dose of 180 µg, which was selected based on data generated in two previous Phase 2 studies. The main safety and immunogenicity readout (primary endpoint) was performed one month after completion of the primary series vaccination schedule. All eligible subjects received yearly booster doses of VLA15 or placebo at Months 18, 30 and 42. Antibody persistence will be followed up to six months post third annual booster.
VLA15 is tested as an alum-adjuvanted formulation and administered intramuscularly. The study is being conducted at U.S. sites located in areas where Lyme disease is endemic and has enrolled both volunteers with a prior infection with Borrelia burgdorferi as well as Borrelia burgdorferi-naïve volunteers.

About Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a systemic infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Ixodes ticks.⁷ It is considered the most common vector-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere.⁸,⁹ While the true incidence of Lyme disease is unknown, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that approximately 476,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed and treated each year and 132,000 cases are reported annually in Europe. Early symptoms of Lyme disease (such as a gradually expanding erythematous rash called erythema migrans or other nonspecific symptoms like fatigue, fever, headache, mild stiff neck, muscle and joint paints) are often overlooked or misinterpreted. Left untreated, the disease can disseminate and cause more serious chronic complications affecting the skin, joints (arthritis), the heart (carditis) or the nervous system. The medical need for vaccination against Lyme disease is steadily increasing as the geographic footprint of the disease widens.¹⁰

About Valneva SE

We are a specialty vaccine company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases addressing unmet medical needs. We take a highly specialized and targeted approach, applying our deep expertise across multiple vaccine modalities, focused on providing either first-, best- or only-in-class vaccine solutions.

We have a strong track record, having advanced multiple vaccines from early R&D to approvals, and currently market three proprietary travel vaccines.

Revenues from our growing commercial business help fuel the continued advancement of our vaccine pipeline. This includes the only Lyme disease vaccine candidate in advanced clinical development, which is partnered with Pfizer, the world’s most clinically advanced tetravalent Shigella vaccine candidate as well as vaccine candidates against the Zika virus and other global public health threats.

Valneva Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of Valneva, including with respect to the progress, timing, results and completion of research, development and clinical trials for product candidates and the timing for submission of such product candidates for regulatory approval. In addition, even if the actual results or developments of Valneva are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments of Valneva may not be sustained in the future. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “could,” “should,” “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “aims,” “targets,” or similar words. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the current expectations of Valneva as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In particular, the expectations of Valneva could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties involved in the development and manufacture of vaccines, unexpected clinical trial results, unexpected regulatory actions or delays, competition in general, currency fluctuations, the impact of the global and European credit crisis, and the ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection. Success in preclinical studies or earlier clinical trials may not be indicative of results in future clinical trials. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made in this press release will in fact be realized. Valneva is providing this information as of the date of this press release and disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Valneva Media and Investor Relations Contacts

Laëtitia Bachelot-Fontaine
VP Global Communications & European Investor Relations
M +33 (0)6 4516 7099
laetitia.bachelot-fontaine@valneva.com

Joshua Drumm, Ph.D.
VP Global Investor Relations
M +1 917 815 4520
joshua.drumm@valneva.com

References

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1 https://valneva.com/press-release/valneva-and-pfizer-report-positive-pediatric-and-adolescent-phase-2-booster-results-for-lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate/
2 https://valneva.com/press-release/valneva-and-pfizer-report-further-positive-phase-2-booster-results-for-lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate/
3 Davidson, A., Davis, J., Brestrich, G., Moisi, J., Jodar, L., & Stark, J. H. July 2025. Vector Borne Zoonotic Diseases. (online ahead of print).
4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme Disease. January 2021. Available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/humancases.html. Accessed: August 2023.
5 Second-Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call Prepared Remarks August 5, 2025: https://s206.q4cdn.com/795948973/files/doc_financials/2025/q2/Q2-2025-Earnings-Conference-Call-Prepared-Remarks-FINAL.pdf
6 Pfizer and Valneva Initiate Phase 3 Study of Lyme Disease Vaccine Candidate VLA15. August 2022. Available at: https://valneva.com/press-release/pfizer-and-valneva-initiate-phase-3-study-of-lyme-disease-vaccine-candidate-vla15/ Accessed: August 2023.
7 Stanek et al. 2012, The Lancet 379:461–473
8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme Disease. January 2021. Available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/humancases.html Accessed: August 2024.
9 Kugeler KJ, et al. Estimating the frequency of Lyme disease diagnoses—United States, 2010-2018. 2021. Emergency Infectious Disease. 27(2).
10 Centers for Disease Control. Understanding Lyme and Other Tickborne Diseases. May 2022. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/communication-resources/press-kit.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dvbd/media/lyme-tickborne-diseases-increasing.html Accessed: August 2025.

• 2025_09_03_VLA15-221_m42_PR_EN_Final

Europa Biosite is pleased to announce that Bio X Cell has appointed Cambridge Bioscience, a proud member of Europa Biosite, as its exclusive distributor for the United Kingdom and Ireland. This strategic partnership ensures that researchers across the UK and Ireland will have streamlined access to the Bio X Cell portfolio which features best-in-class functional monoclonal antibodies, globally recognized for their high quality, purity, and consistency in in vivo, ex vivo, new approach methodologies (NAMs), and other sensitive studies.

For over four decades, Cambridge Bioscience has been a trusted partner to leading academic institutions and biotech companies across the UK and Ireland. Its collaborations include the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University College London, and Trinity College Dublin. Cambridge Bioscience brings a long-standing expertise in life science distribution, a commitment to customer-focused support, and a strong track record of helping researchers advance critical biomedical studies, further strengthening and enhance Europa Biosite’s presence in the UK and Ireland.

We have for many years distributed the innovative and well-documented antibodies of Bio X Cell in Nordics and Switzerland, and I am very pleased in the trust put in us expanding our collaboration into UK and Ireland. Signing of the exclusive distributor contract strengths our partnership and underscores a shared commitment to raising the standard of life science reagents and providing researchers with unparalleled access to quality products and services”.

Sune Schmolker, CEO, Europa Biosite

“We are thrilled to partner with Cambridge Bioscience to better serve the UK and Irish scientific communities,” added Christopher Conway, CEO, Bio X Cell. “Bio X Cell’s partnership with Cambridge Bioscience deepens our expertise and commitment to enabling global research with the highest quality functional antibodies. Cambridge Bioscience’s customer-focused philosophy makes them an ideal partner to help us provide even greater support to researchers conducting critical biomedical studies”.

TRIMTECH Therapeutics, a biotech company creating novel, small molecule therapeutics that selectively degrade protein aggregates, to combat neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Globally recognized leaders within the protein degradation and technology development fields, Professor Alessio Ciulli FRS FRSE FRSC and Dr Adam Gilbert, have been appointed as Chair and member of the SAB, respectively. The newly formed SAB will support development of TRIMTECH’s targeted protein degradation (TPD) TRIMTAC^™ and TRIMGLUE^™ platform, and progression of its small molecule therapeutic pipeline for neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders.

Prof. Alessio Ciulli is Chair of Chemical and Structural Biology and Founder and Director of the world-leading Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD) at the University of Dundee. His scientific achievements and pioneering contributions to the field of targeting protein-protein interactions and TPD have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including national and international science prizes, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange awards, major research grants, and fellowships, including his recent election as a Fellow of the Royal Society, the UK’s national scientific academy. Prof. Ciulli has authored numerous high-impact publications, co-founded biotech ventures, including Amphista Therapeutics, and established high-profile partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry. As Chair of TRIMTECH’s SAB, Prof. Ciulli’s extensive experience in developing established and novel TPD mechanisms will support the advancement of the Company’s degrader platform, discovery screening technologies, and progression of its target portfolio in neurology and inflammation.

Dr Adam Gilbert has over 30 years of experience in pharma, including his previous position as Executive Director and External Accelerator Lead, and Executive Director of Design and Synthesis Sciences, at Pfizer. He is currently a scientific advisor to Axiom Therapeutics, PhoreMost and Gero.AI. At Pfizer he created opportunities for strategic partnerships and business development deals, as well as gaining deep medicinal chemistry experience, with a focus on the development of protein degraders. Dr Gilbert is also a co-inventor of LITFULO^™ (Ritlecitinib), recently approved to treat Alopecia Areata, and his group helped deliver ABRYSVO^™ (RSVPreF), a preventative Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine, and COMIRNATY^® (BNT162b2), an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Dr Gilbert’s focus as a member of TRIMTECH’s SAB will be to advise on the development and applications of the Company’s TRIMTAC and TRIMGLUE platform and the development of its degrader portfolio.

Establishing a Scientific Advisory Board is a pivotal step for us as a young company, and we’re absolutely delighted to have Alessio and Adam, both globally recognised experts in the development of targeted protein degraders, join the company as advisors. Both will be instrumental in driving the development of our degrader platform and small molecule portfolio. Over 55 million people globally are affected by diseases such as Alzheimer’s, and millions more battling other neurodegenerative disorders. There is a clear and urgent need for novel, cost-effective disease-modifying treatments that can reach these broad patient populations, and we are proud to be working toward addressing this.”

Dr Nicola Thompson, CEO, TRIMTECH Therapeutics

Professor Alessio Ciulli FRS FRSE FRSC, Chair of the SAB, TRIMTECH Therapeutics, commented: “Targeted protein degradation has proven its therapeutic benefits against conventional drug targets, but the development of degraders that are truly selective for protein aggregates has remained challenging. TRIMTECH’s platform offers a new and incredibly promising approach, uniquely positioned to develop small molecule drugs for hard-to-treat targets that underpin many neurological diseases. I look forward to being part of the Company’s journey.”

Dr Adam Gilbert, Scientific Advisor for TRIMTECH Therapeutics, added: “TRIMTECH’s approach to TPD is backed by almost two decades of academic research, and has the potential to address a real gap in the field by specifically targeting aggregated proteins. The Company’s recent seed funding round and impressive investor cohort are further testament to the quality of the team and strength of the science. I am delighted to join the SAB and look forward to helping guide the development of therapeutics that will provide new treatment options that are so needed.”

Given the seriousness and increased frequency of strokes, many studies have been conducted to assess the relationship between hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy and the risk of stroke with varying results. A new study suggests women having a hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy have higher risks of stroke compared with those who did not have surgery. Results of the study are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.

Stroke is the third dominant cause of death and the fourth dominant cause of disability around the world, representing a significant public health challenge. Therefore, ongoing prevention efforts that address modifiable risk factors are essential to reduce the burden of this disease.

Estrogen levels play a major role. Women of reproductive age have a lower stroke risk, whereas postmenopausal women are roughly two times more likely to have a stroke within a decade of menopause. Both hysterectomy and oophorectomy significantly affect estrogen levels. Hysterectomy may result in lower ovarian sex steroid levels, resulting in earlier menopause. An oophorectomy can reduce premenopausal serum estradiol by up to 80% and androgen levels by about 50% in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Although multiple studies have previously been conducted around the relationship between surgery and stroke risk, results have been mixed. This latest study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) included more than 21,000 women, with an average of 8.3 follow-up years, documenting 193 stroke-related deaths. The analysis of these results found an increased risk for hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy but not for hysterectomy alone or hysterectomy with unliteral oophorectomy. A pooling analysis of this study’s results with other cohorts, however, revealed an 18% higher risk of stroke for hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy, and a 5% higher risk of stroke for hysterectomy alone.

Although the new study lacked surgical indication data, meta-analysis studies show that there is no connection between a benign or malignant diagnosis when determining the associated risk of surgery. Similarly, current evidence does not differentiate the amount of risk based on specific indications (ie, endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding, prolapse, or other rare conditions).

Additional studies with a large sample size and longer follow-up period are needed to address the disparities of type of stroke, age at surgery, surgical techniques, and menopause status on the association between stroke risk and hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy.

Survey results are published in the article “Stroke risk in women with or without hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy: evidence from the NHANES 1999-2018 and meta-analysis.”

The results of this study demonstrate increased stroke risk related to hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy, highlighting that these common procedures carry longer-term risks. They also call attention to an opportunity for more careful assessment of cardiovascular risk and implementation of risk reduction strategies in women who undergo these surgeries.”

Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director, The Menopause Society

The organic process is neither viable nor sustainable but a new paper would like to change that. By allowing modern gene editing. The only way Europe can reach the goal of 25% Organic™ farmland that its government-funded environmental groups demand, a 250% increase, is by moving into the 21st century, they argue.

When the organic process was the only thing available, the food-rich were rich and the poor were poor and the only difference was being born into a natural breadbasket. Cycles of famine were common.

Science and technology gradually changed all that. First the heavy plow was introduced, then synthetic fertilizer, then synthetic pesticides. Each improvement made agriculture safer and more efficient, and that made food more affordable. Along the way, hybrids were created but in the 20th century science was able to speed genetic engineering up quite a lot. By 1980, the Malthusian beliefs in Population Bombs, Soylent Green, and need for global sterilization promoted by Paul Ehrlich and John Holdren were shown to be paranoid nonsense. 

Once food became affordable for all, every Sneetch now had a Star, so it needed new virtue signaling. The organic movement, and its cousin, the anti-vaccine movement, were ready to sell those new stars to Sneetches. They only became true movements 25 years ago, but had their modern origins in the 1940s, when anti-everything activist J. I. Rodale started publishing magazines for rich white people who distrusted science.

We can’t fault Rodale’s gift for marketing. He knew what his target audience wanted; models happy being up to their knees in garbage. But Rachel Carson, author of “Silent Spring”, thought him a weird creep and denied it flatly when he tried to claim she was part of his movement because she didn’t want so much DDT used. Carson was not right about much, but she was right about Rodale. His campaigns against both agricultural science and vaccines live on today.

In 2000, President Clinton, arguably the most anti-science American president ever, told his US Department of Agriculture to create a special marketing panel inside USDA and let them decide what products could be “USDA Organic.”

Boomer Environmentalism had reached its apex. He killed nuclear energy, he diverted government science funding to acupuncture, he freed supplement marketing from FDA oversight, but most importantly he gave Organic™ food a government seal. Now it’s a $135 billion industry but the demographic is the same. It is still for wealthy white progressives but also includes those who want to seem like wealthy white progressives. What it still lacks is sustainability.

Yet if the European Green Deal is going to be sustainable, and reach that 25% Organic™  agricultural land goal they want by 2030, the only way is science. And that means genetic engineering. Yet Europe continues to call everything modern a “GMO.” Creating class warfare around food is bad for the poor and it’s scientifically illiterate.

GMO was a trademarked name for one genetic engineering technique, long off patent. That Europeans continue to call everything “GMOs” shows they are far behind America in scientific literacy and, when it comes to France, why they also lead the world in vaccine denial.

Anti-science hippies love hemp. Like with GMOs, it is impossible for any person without a $20,000 machine to detect any difference between an Organic™ plant and a modern genetically engineered one. So maybe go slow, let Europeans grow CRISPR hemp first. Then when they have learned to crawl, scientifically speaking, they can tackle more important things.  Credit: Justus Wesseler

The organic process in both America and Europe does allow gene editing, just not the modern kind. Mutagenesis, for example, an older form of genetic modification that used chemical baths and radiation to force mutations, is the basis of thousands of products, many of them government-certified as Organic™.

Like this Spanish clementine? It was genetically modified in a lab using fast neutron radiation to generate induced mutations. It’s certifiedOrganic™.

GMOs were not banned by Europe for any science or health reason, it was geopolitics.

GMOs only became controversial after they pivoted from niche products like insulin to the Rainbow Papaya, where a gene gun saved the entire industry in Hawaii. That sailed through regulatory approval without issue but it can’t be dismissed as coincidence that Monsanto, an American company, suddenly had a genetic engineering tool for food better than Mutagenesis, made by BASF, a European company, and suddenly European activists began to call it “Frankenfood”, and that European media outlets joined in.

When Europe banned GMOs they specifically exempted European Mutagenesis. It was clearly a tariff on American products, economic protectionism they resent when it happened back toward them in 2025.

“If mutagenesis had not been exempted from GMO legislation, the estimation is that 80%–90% of the cereal products on the European market would have been subject to GMO labeling,” notes the paper’s senior author Professor Kai Purnhagen of the University of Bayreuth.  

2001 was a long time ago. Hopefully now even environmentalists know that Frankenstein was not a GMO, he was a grafted hybrid and would be certified Organic™ today.

Which means the authors of the new paper saying the European left needs to embrace pre-market authorization for new genomic techniques. CRISPR-Cas9, Cisgenesis and Intragenesis didn’t exist when Europe banned modern science. Even Targeted Mutagenesis is illegal now.

Without science, Europe’s Green Deal will be a black eye for food like they have received by pivoting to solar and wind for energy. It will mean 100% higher costs for food just like spiritual beliefs in alternative energy caused in electricity bills.

Europe is ready. Today, GMOs are as old and therefore time-tested as Mutagenesis was when Europe exempted it from their ban. That’s right, GMOs have fed a trillion cows and billions of humans without a single stomach ache or harmful effect on the environment, just like Mutagenesis.

Europe can continue to block GMOs, if that concession will placate their green NGOs, because it is a legacy product just like Mutagenesis and Bayer, a European company, now owns the former Monsanto. They only need to allow techniques invented after the ban, which are even better than GMOs, to get Europeans back into the science conversation worldwide. And they are not. Europeans don’t have a top company in any industry. They are not even close to being vital in any science output.

Or they could reposition genetic engineering, give it a new name. The anti-science left that hated vaccines until 2021 now claims to love them, so perhaps the easiest solution to get environmentalists on board is to rebrand genetic engineering as ‘vaccines against pests‘. Sure, Republicans in America will then object but their hearts aren’t really in it. The entire Republican party today has fewer kids being exempted from vaccines today than California alone had in 2014. So we’ll be fine.

Hank Campbell is the founder of Science 2.0 and the author of Science Left Behind. Follow Hank on X @HankCampbell

A version of this article was originally posted at Science 2.0 and is reposted here with permission. Any reposting should credit both the GLP and the original article. Find Science 2.0 on X @science2_0