Industry Insights: Healthcare
This week’s insights post focuses on three of the most recent developments and discussion points in the healthcare industry.
Ovarian cancer awareness month: progress and challenges
September marks the month of ovarian cancer awareness. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynaecological cancer. In the US, ovarian cancer mortality has fallen since the early 2000s. However, declines differ between ages and ethnicities. Targeted responses have increasingly been promoted to address the challenges associated with the disease. These include early detection, expanded genetic counselling (for example, for BRCA-associated risk), tailored insurance coverage and therapies that move beyond one-size-fits-all care.
Ritlecitinib: a promising new drug for alopecia areata treatment
Findings from a recent study posted in Allergy have suggested that ritlecitinib (Litfulo, Pfizer) is associated with promising results in alopecia areata treatment. Ritlecitinib, a JAK3/TEC kinase inhibitor, is one of the first drugs approved for severe alopecia areata — an autoimmune disease that attacks the body’s hair follicles, causing hair loss and considerable emotional and social burden. In the study, responders who used ritlecitinib early showed high hair-keratin expression and low inflammatory signatures. Patchy alopecia responded fastest, while extensive disease improved more gradually.
Microplastics and their role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Microplastics have affected every aspect of our lives. Recent evidence from a study suggested that polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs) may initiate or worsen idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic and progressive lung disease. Proposed mechanisms include oxidative stress, cell injury and inflammation in lung cells. Researchers highlighted the importance of monitoring exposure to microplastics, enforcing regulatory controls and increasing public awareness to reduce the risk as IPF incidence rises.
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