Every year more than 1.7 million women all over the world are diagnosed with breast cancer, with the disease ending fatally for around half a million patients. In the fight against breast cancer, research is being done into novel therapeutic approaches that are designed to target cancer cells more precisely and also activate the tumor-associated…
How Drugs Can Minimize the Side Effects of Chemotherapy
From Receptor Structure to New Osteoporosis Drugs
Insect Antibiotic Provides New Way to Eliminate Bacteria
Gram-negative bacteria An antibiotic called thanatin attacks the way the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is built. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now found out that this happens through a previously unknown mechanism. Thanatin, produced naturally by the spined soldier bug, can therefore be used to develop new classes of antibiotics. The global emergence…
Link Between Gut Flora and Multiple Sclerosis Discovered
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks and damages the protective coating around nerve cells. This coating is made up of myelin – a biological membrane of protein and fatty substances – which is why research efforts to find the disease’s target antigen have so far focused on…
Measuring the Effects of Drugs on Cancer Cells
A new approach established at the University of Zurich sheds light on the effects of anti-cancer drugs and the defense mechanisms of cancer cells. The method makes it possible to quickly test various drugs and treatment combinations at the cellular level. Cancer cells are cells over which the human body has lost control. The fact…
Attacking Flu Viruses From Two Sides
Fever, shivering, headaches, and joint pains—each year millions of people around the world are affected by the flu. While most people recover after a few days, the WHO estimates that each year between 250,000 and 500,000 people die from the disease. As there are only few effective treatment options, medical efforts have thus far focused…
New Method Speeds Up Development of Medication
One of the key steps in developing new drugs is determining the atomic structure of its biologically active substances. This generally involves performing X-ray analyses of single crystal structures to determine the ingredient’s detailed three-dimensional set-up. However, growing suitable single crystals is often a complex and time-consuming process. Determining crystal structures more quickly and efficiently…
Using Drugs to Weaken Traumatic Memories
Testing the Efficacy of New Gene Therapies More Efficiently
Prospect for More Effective Treatment of Nerve Pain
Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by sharp, lancinating pain in the teeth or facial area. The standard treatment for this chronic nerve pain can cause burdening side effects. A novel substance inhibits the pain effectively and is well tolerated, as documented by the initial results of an international study involving the Center of Dental Medicine at…
An Agent Used to Treat Psoriasis May Be Aimed at Wrong Target
The antibody ustekinumab is being used successfully for the treatment of psoriasis since 2009. It inhibits the underlying inflammation by neutralizing certain messengers of the immune system. Researchers at the University of Zurich and the Center of Allergy and Environment in Munich have now shown that one of these messengers could actually be helpful in…