news 2023
« BACK
Pharmacology - Career - 27.09.2023 
How a suction cup delivers medications to the bloodstream
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a suction cup that allows medications to be absorbed through the mucosal lining of the cheeks. This new approach could spare millions of patients the pain and fear associated with injections. Many of today's medications belong to groups of relatively large molecules such as peptides.
Health - Pharmacology - 20.09.2023
Health - Pharmacology - 15.09.2023 
Understanding the ’’dance’’ of signalling proteins to stop inflammation
Inflammation is a normal response of our cells to fight stress, but too much of it can lead to a ''cytokine storm'' that can endanger life. A chain reaction of kinases activates the inflammatory response, like sequential switches. These enzymes have been heavily studied but little is known about their interactions, making it difficult to develop efficient drugs to target them.
Health - Pharmacology - 12.09.2023 
Immunity to COVID-19 reduces contagiousness
A team from the University of Geneva and the HUG analysed the contacts of 50,000 COVID-19 positive cases. Immunity following vaccination provides better protection for those around you. Nearly one in three people exposed to SARS-CoV2 is infected, and as many as two in five with the Omicron variant. In the case of immunity — conferred by vaccination, infection or a combination of the two — this rate drops to one in ten.
Health - Pharmacology - 15.08.2023 
A Swiss premiere Proton radiotherapy to treat oesophageal cancer
A 67-year old patient presenting with oesophageal cancer was treated today at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI with a form of radiation provided by protons, i.e. positively charged particles. This is the first time this type of radiotherapy has been used in Switzerland to treat an oesophageal tumour.
Health - Pharmacology - 09.08.2023 
Tau-PET : a window into the future of Alzheimer’s patients
A UNIGE-HUG team demonstrates the value of imaging to detect the presence of tau protein in the brain to predict cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease, one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, leads to progressive loss of memory and autonomy. It is characterised by the accumulation of neurotoxic proteins in the brain, namely amyloid plaques and tau tangles.
Health - Pharmacology - 08.08.2023 
Possible biomarker of MS-like autoimmune disease discovered
It has been known for several years that the diagnosis -multiple sclerosis- conceals a whole range of different illnesses, each requiring customized treatment. Researchers at the University of Basel and the University Hospital of Basel have now described a possible new MS-like disease and explained how to diagnose it.
Health - Pharmacology - 24.07.2023 
Study provides new insights into antibodies and protection against corona infections
Researchers at the University of Bern have studied antibody levels against Sars-CoV-2 and their influence on infections with different variants of the virus in employees of the Bern Cantonal Police for over a year. Among other things, the results show that antibody levels offered different levels of protection depending on the variant of the virus and that police officers did not become infected with Covid-19 more frequently than the rest of the population, even though they have very frequent contact with people.
Health - Pharmacology - 21.07.2023 
IOR: promising breakthrough in prostate cancer therapy
The Molecular Oncology research group, led by Prof. Andrea Alimonti at the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR, affiliated to USI and member of Bios+), has discovered that prostate cancer cells hijacked the translation machinery to recruit immunosuppressive myeloid cells that aid in evading the immune system.
Health - Pharmacology - 20.07.2023 
Fighting brain cancer
Glioblastomas are among the most aggressive kinds of brain tumors. Even immunotherapy treatments that have proved effective against other cancers seem to be powerless against them. Researchers at the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel have now described how to improve the immune system's chances against this type of tumor.
Life Sciences - Pharmacology - 18.07.2023 
Mouse study sheds light on how antipsychotics work
Antipsychotic drugs are used to treat and manage symptoms of many psychiatric disorders, but their mechanisms of action remain a mystery. FMI researchers found that antipsychotics reduce long-range communication within a specific layer of the brain cortex — a finding that may explain how these medications work.
Health - Pharmacology - 05.07.2023
Health - Pharmacology - 30.06.2023 
New treatments for parasitic diseases
Scientists have identified a new class of compounds called cyanotriazoles that have the potential to effectively inhibit the growth of trypanosomes, the parasites responsible for Chagas disease and African sleeping sickness. The results, published yesterday in the journal Science, demonstrate that the compounds show no toxicity to human cells, raising hopes for the development of new and improved treatments for neglected tropical diseases.
Health - Pharmacology - 06.06.2023 
Tagged for arrest: ’Barcode’ determines receptor’s fate
Receptor proteins serve as the -eyes and ears- of the cell. The largest receptor family are the so-called G protein-coupled receptors. They respond to highly diverse stimuli ranging from photons to hormones and odorants. Researchers at the University of Basel have discovered a unique recognition pattern that works like a barcode and tags the receptor for desensitization.
Pharmacology - Health - 01.06.2023 
New Class of Antibiotics to Fight Resistant Bacteria
Health professionals are in urgent need of new antibiotics to tackle resistant bacteria. Researchers at the University of Zurich and the company Spexis have now modified the chemical structure of naturally occurring peptides to develop antimicrobial molecules that bind to novel targets in the bacteria's metabolism.
Health - Pharmacology - 01.06.2023 
Rapid test for sepsis
In the case of blood poisoning, the bacteria in the blood must be identified as fast as possible so that a life-saving therapy can be started. researchers have now developed "sepsis sensors" with magnetic nanoparticles that detect bacterial pathogens within a short period of time and identify suitable candidates for antibiotic therapies.
Health - Pharmacology - 22.05.2023 
New vaccine concept against SARS-CoV-2 successfully tested
Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a new approach for a vaccine against COVID-19. This vaccine is based on a modified coronavirus that can enter body cells and trigger an effective immune response but cannot multiply in the body. In animal studies, the vaccine effectively protected against the disease and even prevented virus transmission.
Pharmacology - 17.05.2023 
Diagnosing inflammatory diseases with synthetic peptides
Scientists have developed a peptide that binds to the protein calprotectin, a marker of major inflammatory disorders, and shown that it is suitable for diagnostic tests. The use of synthetic peptides for sensing disease markers is of great interest as they are more precise, robust, and cheaper than antibodies commonly used in diagnostic tests.
Health - Pharmacology - 17.05.2023 
Mystery of important blood pressure drugs solved
Diuretic drugs from the thiazide group have been used for 60 years to treat high blood pressure. But they also increase the risk of developing diabetes. Researchers at the University of Bern and Inselspital have now pinpointed the cause of this side effect and in the process also gained new insights into the development of diabetes.
Pharmacology - Health - 17.05.2023 
New Treatment for Human Parasitic Worm Infections Shows High Efficacy
A new drug candidate shows promising results in treating parasitic worm infections. Re-searchers at Swiss TPH tested efficacy and safety of emodepside against the three most important soil-transmitted helminths on Pemba Island in Tanzania. Emodepside is the first new promising drug against parasitic worm infections since several decades.
Pharmacology
Results 1 - 20 of 39.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a suction cup that allows medications to be absorbed through the mucosal lining of the cheeks. This new approach could spare millions of patients the pain and fear associated with injections. Many of today's medications belong to groups of relatively large molecules such as peptides.
Strengthening artificial immune cells to fight cancer
Scientists in Western Switzerland have discovered how to improve the anti-tumour power of CAR-T cells, artificial immune ''super-cells'' used against blood cancers. Among available immunotherapies, the use of 'CAR-T' cells is proving extremely effective against certain blood cancers, but only in half of patients.
Scientists in Western Switzerland have discovered how to improve the anti-tumour power of CAR-T cells, artificial immune ''super-cells'' used against blood cancers. Among available immunotherapies, the use of 'CAR-T' cells is proving extremely effective against certain blood cancers, but only in half of patients.
Inflammation is a normal response of our cells to fight stress, but too much of it can lead to a ''cytokine storm'' that can endanger life. A chain reaction of kinases activates the inflammatory response, like sequential switches. These enzymes have been heavily studied but little is known about their interactions, making it difficult to develop efficient drugs to target them.
A team from the University of Geneva and the HUG analysed the contacts of 50,000 COVID-19 positive cases. Immunity following vaccination provides better protection for those around you. Nearly one in three people exposed to SARS-CoV2 is infected, and as many as two in five with the Omicron variant. In the case of immunity — conferred by vaccination, infection or a combination of the two — this rate drops to one in ten.
A 67-year old patient presenting with oesophageal cancer was treated today at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI with a form of radiation provided by protons, i.e. positively charged particles. This is the first time this type of radiotherapy has been used in Switzerland to treat an oesophageal tumour.
A UNIGE-HUG team demonstrates the value of imaging to detect the presence of tau protein in the brain to predict cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease, one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, leads to progressive loss of memory and autonomy. It is characterised by the accumulation of neurotoxic proteins in the brain, namely amyloid plaques and tau tangles.
It has been known for several years that the diagnosis -multiple sclerosis- conceals a whole range of different illnesses, each requiring customized treatment. Researchers at the University of Basel and the University Hospital of Basel have now described a possible new MS-like disease and explained how to diagnose it.
Researchers at the University of Bern have studied antibody levels against Sars-CoV-2 and their influence on infections with different variants of the virus in employees of the Bern Cantonal Police for over a year. Among other things, the results show that antibody levels offered different levels of protection depending on the variant of the virus and that police officers did not become infected with Covid-19 more frequently than the rest of the population, even though they have very frequent contact with people.
The Molecular Oncology research group, led by Prof. Andrea Alimonti at the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR, affiliated to USI and member of Bios+), has discovered that prostate cancer cells hijacked the translation machinery to recruit immunosuppressive myeloid cells that aid in evading the immune system.
Glioblastomas are among the most aggressive kinds of brain tumors. Even immunotherapy treatments that have proved effective against other cancers seem to be powerless against them. Researchers at the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel have now described how to improve the immune system's chances against this type of tumor.
Antipsychotic drugs are used to treat and manage symptoms of many psychiatric disorders, but their mechanisms of action remain a mystery. FMI researchers found that antipsychotics reduce long-range communication within a specific layer of the brain cortex — a finding that may explain how these medications work.
AI Brings Hope for Patients with Lyosomal Storage Disease
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important in drug discovery. Advances in the use of Big Data, learning algorithms and powerful computers have now enabled researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) to better understand a serious metabolic disease. Cystinosis is a rare lyosomal storage disorder affecting around 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 newborns worldwide.
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important in drug discovery. Advances in the use of Big Data, learning algorithms and powerful computers have now enabled researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) to better understand a serious metabolic disease. Cystinosis is a rare lyosomal storage disorder affecting around 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 newborns worldwide.
Scientists have identified a new class of compounds called cyanotriazoles that have the potential to effectively inhibit the growth of trypanosomes, the parasites responsible for Chagas disease and African sleeping sickness. The results, published yesterday in the journal Science, demonstrate that the compounds show no toxicity to human cells, raising hopes for the development of new and improved treatments for neglected tropical diseases.
Receptor proteins serve as the -eyes and ears- of the cell. The largest receptor family are the so-called G protein-coupled receptors. They respond to highly diverse stimuli ranging from photons to hormones and odorants. Researchers at the University of Basel have discovered a unique recognition pattern that works like a barcode and tags the receptor for desensitization.
Health professionals are in urgent need of new antibiotics to tackle resistant bacteria. Researchers at the University of Zurich and the company Spexis have now modified the chemical structure of naturally occurring peptides to develop antimicrobial molecules that bind to novel targets in the bacteria's metabolism.
In the case of blood poisoning, the bacteria in the blood must be identified as fast as possible so that a life-saving therapy can be started. researchers have now developed "sepsis sensors" with magnetic nanoparticles that detect bacterial pathogens within a short period of time and identify suitable candidates for antibiotic therapies.
Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a new approach for a vaccine against COVID-19. This vaccine is based on a modified coronavirus that can enter body cells and trigger an effective immune response but cannot multiply in the body. In animal studies, the vaccine effectively protected against the disease and even prevented virus transmission.
Scientists have developed a peptide that binds to the protein calprotectin, a marker of major inflammatory disorders, and shown that it is suitable for diagnostic tests. The use of synthetic peptides for sensing disease markers is of great interest as they are more precise, robust, and cheaper than antibodies commonly used in diagnostic tests.
Diuretic drugs from the thiazide group have been used for 60 years to treat high blood pressure. But they also increase the risk of developing diabetes. Researchers at the University of Bern and Inselspital have now pinpointed the cause of this side effect and in the process also gained new insights into the development of diabetes.
A new drug candidate shows promising results in treating parasitic worm infections. Re-searchers at Swiss TPH tested efficacy and safety of emodepside against the three most important soil-transmitted helminths on Pemba Island in Tanzania. Emodepside is the first new promising drug against parasitic worm infections since several decades.
