News
New life-extending treatment for rare form of bile duct cancer
A new targeted treatment for a rare and aggressive form of bile duct cancer has been recommended by NICE for routine use on the NHS in England, giving people more time with better quality of life. NICE has recommended zanidatamab,
also known as Ziihera and made by Jazz Pharmaceuticals, in final draft guidance for adults with HER2-positive advanced biliary tract cancer - a group of cancers affecting parts of the body that store and transport bile, including the bile ducts
and gallbladder, who have already received at least one treatment. Biliary tract cancer is often diagnosed late, when it can no longer be removed by surgery. Fewer than one in three people in England survive for a year after diagnosis, and until now, treatment options for patients whose cancer had progressed were limited. Around 65 people a year in England are
expected to be eligible for zanidatamab, which is given by an intravenous infusion once every two weeks. It works by recognising and attaching to a protein called HER2 found on the surface of cancer cells and slows or stops the cancer cells from growing.
Clinical trial data showed that people treated with zanidatamab lived for an average of 18 months after taking the drug, significantly longer than those receiving standard chemotherapy, which was around six months. Unlike the standard chemotherapy treatment
for advanced biliary tract cancer (known as FOLFOX), zanidatamab does not have to be given through a surgically implanted device that can cause side effects including pain, exhaustion, and nerve damage.
RSV maternal vaccine cuts baby hospital admissions by up to 85%
A new UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) study Maternal RSV vaccination and reduced risk of hospitalisation for babies in England 2024/25, shows the maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme is providing over 80% protection for newborn infants, including those born prematurely. The study found vaccination at least 2 weeks before the birth gave 81.3% protection. A narrow range of statistical uncertainty, 78.9% to 83.4%, means there is high confidence in the protective effect of the vaccine. The study, which analysed data from the first
year of vaccine roll out (24/25), is believed to be the largest study in the world evaluating the effect of maternal RSV vaccination in preventing infants being hospitalised for RSV chest infection. RSV causes bronchiolitis (infection and inflammation of the small airways of the lung) and is a major cause of hospital admission in infants. The maternal vaccination programme is offered to women from 28 weeks of pregnancy to protect newborns. The study followed nearly 300,000 babies
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born between September 2024 and March 2025, representing around 90% of all births in England during this period. Using routinely collected electronic health records, UKHSA researchers assessed the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing hospital admissions. More than 4,500 hospitalisations occurred in this cohort, the vast majority in infants whose mothers had not been vaccinated.
Getting the vaccine on time was best (in week 28 or soon after that), as babies born at least 4 weeks after their mother was vaccinated had nearly 85% protection. But importantly, even vaccination later in pregnancy still gives some protection, with vaccination as close as 10 to 13 days before birth reducing hospital admissions by 50%. The study, which was presented at the European
Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) global conference, also found that premature babies, who are particularly vulnerable to RSV, can be well protected, provided there is at least two weeks between vaccination and birth.
Gut microbiota plays a role in metabolic health after bariatric surgery
Changes in gut microbiota after bariatric surgery are strongly linked to altered metabolic health and sustained improvement in type 2 diabetes, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Gothenburg. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes, but patient outcomes vary widely. The current study, published in Nature Metabolism, suggests that the variations are partly explained by differences in how the composition of gut bacteria changes after surgery.
By analysing gut microbiota before and after the most common procedures, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, the study identifies microbial features associated with improved glucose metabolism and tracks changes in glycaemic control for up to five years post- surgery. More specifically, the study shows that
changes in gut bacterial composition and function, and not just weight loss, are associated with important metabolic improvements, including insulin release and blood sugar control. Patients with type 2 diabetes who achieved
improved glycaemic control exhibited greater microbial gene richness and an enhanced capacity for fermentation processes, including the production of butyric acid. “Bariatric surgery reshapes the gut ecosystem in diverse ways and when this remodeling results in greater bacterial diversity, it is often associated with improved metabolic health. These findings highlight the importance of considering microbial ecology when evaluating treatment responses,” said Valentina Tremaroli, a microbiologist at the University of Gothenburg. The study found that gastric bypass produced
more uniform changes in the gut microbiome, while gastric sleeve produced a more individualised response. “Our results suggest that the gut microbiome
is not just a bystander, but can actively contribute to diabetes remission after bariatric surgery. Importantly, this also indicates that targeting the microbiome, through diet, probiotics or other interventions, could potentially enhance or even replicate some of the beneficial metabolic effects of surgery,” said Fredrik Bäckhed, professor at the University of Gothenburg. View the full paper at:
https://www.nature. com/articles/s42255-026-01525-9
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