Industry Insights Healthcare: 16/03/25
In this week’s insights, we discuss three of the most recent developments in the healthcare industry.
FDA approves new antibiotics for urinary tract infections
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved gepotidacin (Blujepa), a class of antibiotics, for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs) in females aged 12 and older. This is the first FDA approval of an oral antibiotic for uUTI in nearly 30 years. The market launch of the drug in the US will reportedly take place in the second half of 2025. The approval was supported by results from the EAGLE-2 and EAGLE-3 trials, which demonstrated similar or better efficacy and safety profiles of gepotidacin versus the commonly used antibiotic nitrofurantoin.
New blood test emerges as an early detection tool for Alzheimer’s disease
A study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia has showcased the high accuracy of plasma p-tau217 as a blood-based biomarker for early Alzheimer’s disease in Asian populations. This marker detects abnormal brain Amyloid Beta (Aβ), a hallmark lesion of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the researchers, the blood-based biomarker has the potential to transform Alzheimer’s diagnosis and management, as it may provide a much more accessible diagnostic tool than positron emission tomography (PET) scans and cerebrospinal fluid tests.
3D-printed gels promise to treat meniscus disorders
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a customisable 3D-printed hydrogel to treat meniscus injuries. The hydrogel is made from cow meniscus tissue and can be adjusted based on the patient’s age and the stiffness requirements of the injured tissue. This gel has shown promise in animal studies. ‘In our studies, we have seen the hydrogel integrate well with the surrounding tissue, potentially offering patients a more complete recovery,’ said Se-Hwan Lee, post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. The researchers aim to test their results in small meniscus tears in humans.
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