THC Exposure before Birth May Impair Infant Lung Development and Function, reveals research

Using cannabis products during pregnancy may negatively affect offspring lung development and function, according to new research. The study is published in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology and has been chosen as anAPSselect article for April.

Cannabis products are commonly used during pregnancy, despite guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommending abstinence of use in pregnancy given limited safety data regarding for the unborn child. The psychoactive ingredient in cannabis products, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabidol (THC) crosses the placenta and emerging data suggest prenatal THC use is associated with higher risk of stillbirth, preterm birth and low birth weight.

THC edibles are the second most common form of cannabis consumption in pregnant individuals after smoking. High-quality research on the direct effects of cannabis and THC exposure during pregnancy is lacking due to the different cannabis plant strains, range of available cannabis products, common co-use with other substances and restrictions on human cannabis research.

In this study, pregnant nonhuman primates were given a THC cookie-representing the equivalent of a “heavy human medical cannabis dose”-in addition to their regular diet. They continued to eat the cookies throughout pregnancy and after giving birth. During pregnancy, researchers measured fetal lung development with MRI.

After birth, the research team performed assessments to determine the THC-exposed infants’ lung capacity, volume and forced expiratory flow (the amount of air that is forcibly exhaled within a specific time period). They also examined fluid from the exposed newborns’ lungs and analyzed their DNA and RNA.

Some of the findings associated with prenatal THC exposure include:

  • Reduced fetal lung volume beginning mid-pregnancy in the second trimester.
  • Changes to expression in more than 700 genes in newborns’ lungs.
  • Significant decrease in key growth factors for lung development in exposed infants.

“There are several key findings that highlight the potential adverse impact of THC exposure on offspring lung function and development,” the researchers wrote. The results suggest “prenatal THC exposure may have an important influence on future respiratory health, and further studies in human populations are needed.”

Reference:

Qing Ma, Hanxiang Liu, Ming Liu, TrkB signaling promotes alveolar capillary angiogenesis following perinatal hyperoxic damage, American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, https://doi.org/10.1152/ajplung.00334.2023.

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Willis Covered Stent Promising in Treating Intracranial Blood Blister-Like Aneurysms: Case Series Findings

China: A recent case series published in BMC Surgery has highlighted the potential of the Willis covered stent (WCS) as a viable option for managing intracranial blood blister-like aneurysms (BBAs), a rare but challenging subset of aneurysms associated with high rates of rupture and mortality.

Sheng Guan, Department of Neurointervention, Zhengzhou University First Affiliated Hospital, Henan, Zhengzhou, China, and colleagues reviewed the medical records of 21 consecutive patients who underwent endovascular treatment with the WCS between July 2017 and July 2022. BBAs are typically located at non-branching sites of the internal carotid artery and are structurally fragile due to the absence of key arterial layers, making treatment particularly complex.

This series involved 15 female and six male patients with an average age of 51.6 years. The immediate postoperative results were encouraging—angiographic evaluations confirmed complete occlusion of all aneurysms without endoleak. While the parent artery remained patent in all cases, the procedure was not without complications. Occlusion of the ophthalmic artery was noted in five patients, accounting for 23.8% of the cases. Additionally, one patient developed delayed thrombosis of the stent three days post-surgery.

During an average angiographic follow-up period of just over nine months, all aneurysms remained completely sealed. There were no cases of aneurysm rupture, recurrence, or need for retreatment. Mild to moderate asymptomatic in-stent stenosis was detected in two individuals. Clinical follow-up, which spanned an average of 20 months, revealed excellent functional outcomes—20 patients scored a zero on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), indicating no disability, while one scored a one.

The Willis-covered stent, designed initially for use in complex intracranial pathologies such as pseudoaneurysms and carotid-cavernous fistulas, offers a promising treatment avenue for BBAs. Its structure—a combination of a balloon-expandable stent and a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane—enables it to seal the aneurysm while maintaining vessel integrity.

Despite the encouraging outcomes, the researchers emphasized that the procedure is not without risks, particularly for technical challenges related to stent delivery and potential complications like branch artery occlusion or in-stent stenosis. Given the small sample size and limited follow-up duration, they called for larger prospective studies with longer observation periods to validate these findings and refine treatment protocols.

“The findings from the case series add to the growing body of evidence supporting the Willis covered stent as a safe, feasible, and effective option for the endovascular management of blood blister-like aneurysms,” the authors noted.

However, they cautioned that its use warrants careful attention to potential procedural challenges, including stent delivery difficulties and related complications, to ensure the best possible clinical outcomes.

Reference:

Jin, Y., Guo, X., Chen, Z. et al. Endovascular treatment of intracranial blood blister-like aneurysms with the Willis covered stent: a case series. BMC Surg 25, 140 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-025-02874-0

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Covert or latent Toxoplasma gondii infection significantly correlated with CKD, reveals research

Covert or latent Toxoplasma gondii infection is significantly correlated with chronic kidney disease, according to research published in BMC Nephrology. Patients with chronic kidney disease are susceptible to acquiring opportunistic parasites due to acquired immunodeficiency caused by uremia. Therefore, the present case–control study attempted to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and the associated risk factors among patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis and healthy controls who were registered at the Iranian National Registry Center for Toxoplasmosis in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. A total of 212 patients with chronic kidney disease and 200 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Informed consent and a questionnaire were obtained from all subjects. Blood samples were collected from each participant, and the serum was screened for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies (immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M). Polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to detect circulating Toxoplasma gondii in the blood samples of patients and controls using the primer pair targeting the repetitive element gene. Results indicated that out of 412 participants, 67.92 percent of patients and 15.5 percent of control subjects were positive for anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G, but all participants were negative for anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin M. Also, considering polymerase chain reaction assays with the repetitive element target, the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection was 24.1 percent in case subjects, while none of the control subjects tested positive. Among the polymerase chain reaction-positive cases, 34 (66.7 percent) had Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G positivity. The results from the multiple multinomial logistic regression revealed that the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies in patients with chronic kidney disease was 3.12 times higher than in healthy controls (odds ratio = 3.12; 95 percent confidence interval = 0.43, 14.8; P < 0.001). Also, there was a significant association between the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and age, having a cat at home, and the level of glomerular filtration rate in these patients. The findings demonstrate a highly significant association between latent Toxoplasma gondii infection and chronic kidney disease, mostly in the late stages. Thus, regular screening for Toxoplasma gondii infection in these patients is strongly recommended to prevent the reactivation of latent infections. A combination of serological screening, chemoprophylaxis, and polymerase chain reaction follow-up for patients at risk of reactivation should effectively reduce the likelihood of latent infection reactivation.

Reference:

Montazeri, M., Fakhar, M., Sedighi, O. et al. Latent Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors among patients with chronic kidney disease: a registry-based study. BMC Nephrol 26, 163 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04079-2

Keywords:

Covert, latent, Toxoplasma, gondii, infection, significantly, correlated, CKD, reveals research, BMC Nephrology, Montazeri, M., Fakhar, M., Sedighi, O, Chronic kidney disease, Glomerular filtration rate, Hemodialysis, Latent toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii

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HEALEY ALS Trial: Pridopidine Shows No Impact on Disease Progression in ALS

USA: A recent study evaluating pridopidine for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has found no significant effect on disease progression. Conducted as part of the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial, the 24-week investigation assessed whether pridopidine could slow functional decline in individuals with ALS, a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and loss of motor function.

The findings were published online in JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) on February 17, 2025.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options. The sigma-1 (σ1) receptor has gained attention as a potential therapeutic target due to its role in cellular protection and neurodegeneration. Jeremy M. Shefner, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, and colleagues aimed to evaluate the effects of pridopidine, a selective σ1-receptor agonist, in slowing ALS progression and preserving motor function.

For this purpose, the researchers evaluated pridopidine as part of the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial, a multicenter, phase 2/3 randomized study conducted at 54 sites in the US from January 2021 to July 2022. A total of 163 participants with ALS were assigned to receive either pridopidine or a placebo, with an additional 122 placebo participants included in the analysis. Participants received either 45 mg of oral pridopidine twice daily or a matching placebo for 24 weeks.

The primary outcome measured disease progression using a model integrating functional decline and survival, while secondary outcomes assessed respiratory function, bulbar symptoms, and survival-related measures.

The key findings of the study were as follows:

  • The trial included 162 patients with a mean age of 57.5 years, of whom 35% were female.
  • A total of 136 participants (84%) completed the study.
  • There was no significant difference between pridopidine and placebo in disease progression (DRR: 0.99, 95% credible interval: 0.80-1.21, probability of DRR <1: 0.55).
  • There were no improvements in ALS functional rating scale components or survival.
  • Pridopidine showed no benefit on secondary outcomes.
  • Common adverse events included falls (28.1% in the pridopidine group vs. 29.3% in the placebo group) and muscular weakness (24.0% vs. 31.7%, respectively).

The HEALEY ALS Platform Trial findings indicate that pridopidine did not demonstrate any meaningful impact on disease progression in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Over the 24-week study period, there was no significant difference between pridopidine and placebo in terms of disease severity, functional decline, or survival. Additionally, the treatment showed no benefit across key secondary outcomes.

“These results suggest that pridopidine may not be an effective therapeutic option for ALS, highlighting the continued need for further research to identify viable treatments that can slow disease progression and improve patient outcomes,” the authors concluded.

Reference:

Writing Committee for the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial, HEALEY ALS Platform Trial Study Group. Pridopidine in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: The HEALEY ALS Platform Trial. JAMA. 2025;333(13):1128–1137. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.26429

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Surgery Beneficial for Recurrent Diverticulitis Without Added Risk:JAMA

Researchers have found in a new study that among patients with recurrent diverticulitis, surgery may offer a viable option to prevent future episodes and enhance quality of life, without increasing the risk of complications. The study was published in JAMA Surgery by Alexandre S. and colleagues. This outcome is based on the 4-year follow-up data of the Laparoscopic Elective Sigmoid Resection Following Diverticulitis (LASER) randomized clinical trial.

The trial, which was carried out in six hospitals in Finland, randomized 90 patients between October 2014 and October 2018. All the patients were followed up for four years, and the outcomes were compared between October 2023 and November 2024. The primary objective was to determine whether surgical intervention has significant advantages over conservative approaches, particularly in long-term environments.

The LASER trial was an open-label randomized controlled trial of 90 adult patients (mean age ~55.6 years; 31% male and 69% female) with a clinical diagnosis of recurrent, chronic painful, or complicated diverticulitis. Patients were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either receive elective laparoscopic sigmoid resection or remain on conservative treatment. Quality of life was assessed by the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI), and recurrence and complication rates were monitored over a time frame of four years by intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses.

Key Findings

  • 90 patients were recruited (28 men [31%], 62 women [69%]; mean age ~55.6 years).

  • 45 patients were allocated to surgery; 45 to conservative management.

  • 32% (14 of 44) in the conservative group switched over to surgery within 4 years.

  • GIQLI scores at 4 years: 115.3 (surgery) vs 109.8 (conservative); mean difference 5.54 (95% CI, −2.98 to 14.06), not statistically significant.

  • Recurrence of diverticulitis: 6 of 38 (16%) in the surgery group (10% post-surgery), vs 34 of 37 (92%) in conservative group.

  • Severe complications: 4 patients (10%) in the surgery group vs 5 patients (11%) in conservative group.

Elective sigmoid resection in patients with recurrent or complicated diverticulitis greatly lowers the risk of recurrence without a rise in severe complications. Yet, it does not provide a substantial improvement in long-term quality of life over conservative management. These results indicate that patients with severely compromised QOL can gain more from initial surgery, whereas conservative management is still a valid choice for patients with milder symptoms or intact QOL.

Reference:

Santos A, Mentula P, Pinta T, et al. Sigmoid Resection vs Conservative Treatment After Diverticulitis: Prespecified 4-Year Analysis of the LASER Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surg. Published online April 09, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2025.0572

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Children exposed to higher ozone levels early in life more likely to develop asthma: JAMA

Asthma affects more than 6% of U.S. children, making it the most common chronic disease in kids nationwide. It’s difficult to isolate any single cause, but one of the most common contributors is air pollution: Studies have shown that breathing air with high levels of fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and other environmental pollutants can increase children’s risk of developing asthma. But it’s been unclear whether long-term, early childhood exposure to ozone, the pollutant that most frequently exceeds U.S. air quality standards, contributes to the disease.

Logan Dearborn, a doctoral student at the University of Washington, set out to find a possible link. In a study published April 2 in JAMA Network Open, Dearborn and collaborators identified a puzzling trend: Children exposed to higher levels of ozone in their first two years of life were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with asthma or wheezing at ages 4-6-but researchers didn’t observe the increased risk of asthma at ages 8-9.

While the researchers couldn’t pin down the exact reason, possible explanations include the changing nature of asthma as kids age, which could lead to a drop-off in formal diagnoses, and the influence of other risk factors and pollutants on asthma as children’s lungs grow.

“It’s a puzzling finding,” said Dearborn, who led the research in the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. “It’s something we spent a long time trying to consider, and I don’t know if we ever came up with a satisfying answer. But these findings are important. Even if we only see the effects early in life, there are still all kinds of associated health care costs and stresses for families. There are all sorts of larger contextual factors about having this chronic disease at any point in life.”

This study relied on data from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, a federal research project focused on how a wide range of environmental factors affect children’s health. Researchers drew 1,118 participants from six cities, including Seattle and Yakima, who had low-risk pregnancies and completed validated surveys that asked if their children had been diagnosed with asthma or had experienced wheezing.

Researchers estimated exposure in the first two years of a child’s life using a model developed by co-author Dr. Joel Kaufman, a UW professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of epidemiology and of medicine. They found that a relatively small increase in ozone exposure-2 parts per billion-in a child’s first two years of life was associated with a 31% increase in asthma and 30% increase in wheeze at age 4-6 years. Asthma and wheeze risk at ages 8-9 was not found to be associated with their early life ozone concentration.

Researchers also analyzed how exposure to mixtures of three common air pollutants-ozone, nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-affected asthma outcomes. In this analysis, ozone stood out.

“We interpret trends, and what we can conclude from this analysis is that when ozone within the air pollution mixture was higher than about 25 parts per billion, we saw a higher probability of asthma regardless of the concentration of nitrogen dioxide,” Dearborn said. “We found a relationship between ozone and asthma only when fine particulate matter was at or above median concentrations, giving novel evidence that the relationship between ozone and childhood asthma may depend on the concentration of other pollutants, like fine particulate matter.”

The study’s findings highlight the need for more research into the effects of long-term ozone exposure in early life, Dearborn said. Further study could determine why the increased asthma risk related to ozone is not evident at ages 8-9, and whether it increases again later in childhood.

In the meantime, Dearborn said, researchers and public health officials should pay more attention to the effects of long-term exposure to ozone.

“In the United States, ozone regulations only consider a very short time period,” Dearborn said. “We don’t regulate ozone over the long term, and that’s where this analysis fits in. Maybe we should be considering both a short- and a long-term threshold for the regulation of ozone.”  

Reference:

Dearborn LC, Hazlehurst MF, Sherris AR, et al. Early-Life Ozone Exposure and Asthma and Wheeze in Children. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(4):e254121. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.4121

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Study Warns of Rising Hypertension and Diabetes Cases in Raipur Slum: Urges Early Screening

India: A recent retrospective record-based study conducted in an urban slum of Chhattisgarh has highlighted the significant prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in the region. The researchers found that hypertension (33%) and diabetes mellitus (16%) were common in the urban slum of Raipur, India.

“The likelihood of hypertension was more than twice as high among individuals consuming alcohol (aOR: 2.98) and those with diabetes (aOR: 2.55). Similarly, the risk of diabetes increases with advancing age and the presence of hypertension (aOR: 2.57),” the researchers wrote in Cureus. They emphasized that “these findings highlight the importance of early screening and targeted interventions to alleviate the burden of these conditions in underserved communities.”

Non-communicable diseases continue to be a major health challenge in India, with hypertension and diabetes exerting a disproportionate financial and healthcare burden on underprivileged communities. Given the significant impact of these conditions, Ashish W. Khobragade, Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, IND, and colleagues sought to assess their prevalence and identify key risk factors in an urban slum of Raipur city.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a retrospective record-based study in an urban slum of Raipur using data from the population-based screening register maintained at the Urban Health Training Centre, AIIMS Raipur. They extracted information on adults screened between January and December 2023, analyzing sociodemographic details, lifestyle factors, family history of non-communicable diseases, and medication history. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension was estimated, and logistic regression was performed to identify key risk factors for both conditions.

Key Findings:

  • The study included 1,005 participants with a median age of 48.
  • The prevalence of hypertension was 33%, while diabetes mellitus was observed in 16% of participants.
  • Increased age (aOR: 1.06), alcohol consumption (aOR: 2.98), and diabetes mellitus (aOR: 2.55) were identified as significant risk factors for hypertension.
  • The risk of diabetes mellitus was significantly associated with increasing age (aOR: 1.03) and the presence of hypertension (aOR: 2.57).

The study highlights the high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in urban slum populations, highlighting their vulnerability to non-communicable diseases.

The authors identified advancing age, alcohol consumption, and diabetes mellitus as key risk factors for hypertension, while age and hypertension were significant predictors of diabetes.

“Many affected individuals remain unaware of their condition or struggle with disease management. Targeted interventions focusing on lifestyle modifications, early screening, and treatment adherence are essential to reducing the burden of these conditions in underserved communities,” they concluded.

Reference:

Khobragade A W, Ruikar M M, Singh G, et al. (March 21, 2025) The Burden of Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus and Their Predictors in an Urban Slum of Chhattisgarh, India: A Retrospective Record-Based Study. Cureus 17(3): e80953. doi:10.7759/cureus.80953

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Outrage over NEET PG 2025 double shifts: Take a look at what it’s all about

New Delhi: The long-awaited NEET PG 2025 information bulletin is here. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), NBE, has finally released the information bulletin for NEET PG 2025 aspirants on its official website. The bulletin contains all the details, including the application process and exam fee, eligibility criteria, scheme of examination, admit card, test day do’s and don’ts, counselling, reservation and exam centres for NEET PG 2025.

Medical Dialogues has been extensively reporting on the outrage that followed after the NBE’s announcement to hold the PG medical entrance test, NEET PG 2025, for this academic year’s admissions in double shifts. Since the announcement, the doctors across the country have been demanding a single shift conduction of the exam.

As per the scheme of examination detailed in the information bulletin, the NEET PG 2025 exam for the first shift candidates will begin at 9 AM and the second shift at 3:30 PM.

Double Shifts in NEET PG 2025:

NEET PG 2025 shall be conducted on 15th June 2025 through a computer-based examination in a single day. There will be two examination shifts on 15th June 2025. Candidates will be allotted to one of the two shifts by NBEMS.
“The candidates shall not be able to exercise the choice of shift (Morning or Afternoon) in which they shall be allowed to take the examination. The allotment of the shifts to the candidates will be done by NBEMS purely randomly,” the NBE stated.
Allocation of time for NEET-PG 2025 shall be as follows:

Activities

Shift-I Timings

Shift-II Timings

Allow Candidates to enter the examination
centre and Commence Registration for the
test

07:00 AM

01:30 PM

Entry closes at Examination Center

08:30 AM

03:00 PM

Grant access for Candidate Login

08:45 AM

03:15 PM

Candidates log in to read instructions

08:50 AM

03:20 PM

Exam Start Time

09:00 AM

03:30 PM

Exam End Time

12:30 PM

07:00 PM
Syllabus: The syllabus for the exam shall comprise of subject/knowledge
area as per Graduate Medical Education Regulations issued by the National
Medical Commission/ the erstwhile Medical Council of India.
The examination shall be a multiple-choice questions-based test delivered
using a computer-based test (CBT) as per the scheme prescribed. 
The exam comprises of 200 Multiple Choice Questions with each question
having 4 response options/distractors in English language only. Candidates
are required to select the correct/best/most appropriate response/answer out
of the 4 response options provided in each question. Time allotted is 3 hrs 30
minutes.
Marking Scheme and Time Bound Sections:
Allocation of marks for each MCQ shall be as follows:
Correct Response: 4 Marks
Incorrect Response: 1 Mark shall be deducted
Unattempted Question: Zero

There shall be 25% negative marking for incorrect answers. No marks will be deducted for unattempted questions. 

During the examination, candidates are given an option to mark any question,
whether attempted or not, for review, which means that the candidate has been
given an option to go through these questions again before the examination
time ends. Candidates may note that such questions, which are marked
for review shall be evaluated as per the marking scheme mentioned above.
The question paper for NEET-PG will be divided into five time-bound sections,
namely Group A, B, C, D & E. The questions from the subjects of MBBS curriculum
shall be distributed across these five sections of 40 questions each. Each section will have 42 minutes of time allotted for the section. Candidates would
be restricted to proceed to the next section till completion of the allotted time of
the previous section and candidates would not be allowed to review the
questions/ modify the responses of a section after the completion of the allotted
time of that section. Questions of the next section will start automatically after
the completion of the allotted time of the previous section.
The candidates must note that the actual number of such time-restricted sections may vary based on the total
number of questions in the question paper and operational feasibility in making
such sections.
NEET-PG 2025 is the eligibility-cum-ranking examination for admission to
various MD/MS/PG Diploma courses of 2025-26 admission session.
Admissions to Post MBBS DNB Courses, Post MBBS Direct 6 year DrNB
courses and NBEMS diploma courses are also undertaken through NEETPG.

NEET PG 2025 Schedule:

Starting Date for submission of Online Application: 17th April 2025 (03:00 PM Onwards)
Closing Date for submission of Online Application: 07th May 2025 (Till 11:55 PM)
Edit Window for All Payment Success Applications: 09th May 2025 to 13th May 2025
Pre Final Edit Window to rectify deficient/Incorrect Images: 17th May to 21st May 2025
Final Edit Window to rectify deficient/Incorrect Images: 24th May to 26th May 2025
Informing the Test City to the Candidates: 02nd June 2025
Issue of Admit Card: 11th June 2025
Date of Examination: 15th June 2025
Declaration of Result: By 15th July 2025
Cut-off date for Completion of internship towards eligibility for NEET-PG 2025: 31st July 2025

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Breast and colorectal cancer screening rates nearly four-fold higher than lung cancer screening among those eligible: Study

Lung cancer screening has the potential to catch lung cancer early and save lives-but only if people get screened. Although lung cancer screening is recommended in the U.S. for certain individuals with a history of smoking, only 18% of eligible individuals in the U.S. get screened. One suggested explanation has been that those eligible are resistant to receiving preventive healthcare, but a new study published in JAMA and led by researchers at Mass General Brigham indicates otherwise.

Researchers from Mass General Brigham sought to investigate use of other preventive healthcare services among individuals eligible for lung cancer screening. Using the 2022 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System dataset, the researchers analyzed data from 28,483 individuals aged 50 to 79 who were eligible for lung cancer screening. They found that while only 17-18% of eligible individuals received lung cancer screening, 65% of those eligible received breast and colorectal cancer screening-a nearly 4-fold higher rate.

“Our findings show that many individuals eligible for lung cancer screenings are open to receiving preventive care services. The data suggest that these individuals aren’t necessarily resistant to receiving cancer screenings-other factors are likely driving low rates of lung cancer screening,” said first author Alexandra Potter, a researcher in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at MGH. “These other factors may include difficulty assessing eligibility for lung cancer screening. In contrast to breast and colorectal cancer screening eligibility criteria, which are based on age alone, lung cancer screening eligibility criteria are more complex and include both age and multiple smoking history requirements. Challenges accessing lung cancer screening clinics are also likely an important factor driving low rates.”

The researchers concluded that many individuals eligible for lung cancer screening are already engaged in preventive care. They emphasized that their findings underscore the need for interventions to increase awareness of lung cancer screening and reduce barriers that prevent high-risk individuals from undergoing lung cancer screening.

“As a community, we need to work together to improve lung cancer screening awareness and address the notable barriers that currently make it challenging for high-risk individuals to get lung cancer screening,” said senior author Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang, MD, of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system.

Reference:

Potter AL, Kothagundla S, Haridas C, Chang AEB, Sequist LV, Yang CJ. Preventive Health Care Use Among Adults Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening in the US. JAMA. Published online April 02, 2025. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.2157.

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Zydus Loses Patent Battle Over Bladder Drug Myrbetriq In US, Jury Trial Set for 2026

New Delhi: Indian drugmaker Zydus Lifesciences has received a legal setback in the United States after the District Court of Delaware ruled in favour of Astellas Pharma Inc. in a patent litigation related to the widely marketed urology drug Myrbetriq (mirabegron sustained-release tablets).

In a regulatory filing to the BSE and NSE dated April 17, 2025, Zydus disclosed that the ruling upheld the validity of Astellas’ U.S. Patent No. 10,842,780 (“the ‘780 patent”) pertaining to the sustained release formulation of mirabegron, which is used for treating overactive bladder (OAB).

“The Court passed an order in favour of the innovator on the validity of the ‘780 patent. Infringement of the ’780 patent, damages, and any additional invalidity theories will be litigated at a consolidated jury trial in 2026,” Zydus said in the exchange filing​.

Background of the Case

The patent battle centers on the formulation of Myrbetriq®, a popular drug sold in the US by Astellas Pharma Inc. for the treatment of overactive bladder. Zydus had challenged the validity of the ‘780 patent held by the innovator company. The litigation was heard by the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

“The innovator had filed a case against the Company in the matter pertaining to the validity of its US Patent No. 10,842,780 (‘the ‘780 patent’) held by the innovator, for a sustained release formulation of ‘mirabegron’ marketed in the US by the innovator under the brand name Myrbetriq®,” the company informed​.

While the court ruled in favour of Astellas on the validity of the patent, other aspects of the litigation—including alleged infringement, potential damages, and other invalidity theories—will be taken up in a consolidated jury trial scheduled for 2026.

No Immediate Financial Impact

Zydus clarified that the order does not result in any immediate financial penalty or claims.

“There is no material financial implication, as on the date of passing the order. We are evaluating the potential impact of the said order on the operations of the Company and the legal remedies available with the Company,” the company stated​.

The company also noted that the submission of the litigation update was delayed due to its global stakeholder footprint.

“The submission of information got delayed as the stakeholders are spread across global time zones,” said Dhaval N. Soni, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer at Zydus Lifesciences​

What’s Next?

With a consolidated trial scheduled for 2026, Zydus may consider pursuing further legal remedies or settlements. Meanwhile, the company continues to evaluate the impact of the court’s decision on its US market plans concerning the generic version of Myrbetriq®.

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