New medications are discovered every year, similarly, 2020 is also not different.
To be on the breakthrough list, the drugs must have a meaningful clinical impact and significant patient benefit compared to current methods. In addition, they must also have a great deal of human interest.
In this post, we’re going to discuss the top five drugs discovered in 2020.
1. ATR inhibitor BAY-1895344: A Medicine For Cancer
In an early clinical trial, researchers showed a new precision drug that prevents cancer from restoring its DNA, which is promising, highlighting the potential of a new class of drugs known as ATR inhibitors.
How It Works
DNA mutation is the root cause of cancer that enables cancer cells to divide uncontrollably. The damage to these cells enables the ATR system to recognize and repair it. The ATR inhibitor drug works by blocking a central molecule that can repair this faulty DNA. Resulting in the cell death of the mutated cell (cancer).
Description of the Clinical Trial
The trial, guided by the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and the Royal Marsden SLIM Foundation Trust, included 21 patients, who were very ill. These patients had advanced solid tumors or lymphomas, breast, colorectal, prostate, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. Eleven patients had tumors with mutations or deletions.
Outcomes of the Clinical Trial
According to the trial, the drug is well tolerated. Most importantly, it has prevented tumor growth in more than half of the patients treated. Simultaneously, the medication’s efficacy proved to be long-lasting, with an average response time of 316 days.
Potential of the Drug in the Future
The drug can become a major treatment for cancer in the future.
2. DAR-901 Vaccine For Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is the most common cause of death globally (1.5 million deaths per year), and a new preventive vaccine is a critical global health priority. A new vaccine named DAR-901 can be the answer.
How Does It Works
DAR-90, manufactured from an inactivated whole-cell vaccine, can significantly decrease TB disease risk.
Description Of The Clinical Trial
Researchers of the Geisel School of Medicine in Dartmouth conducted a Phase 2 trial of the DAR-901 vaccine on 29 September 2020.
Outcomes Of The Clinical Trial
The researchers claim that this finding indicates that DAR-901 can prevent TB disease by inducing a favorable immune response that prevents 90-95% of people with TB infection from developing TB disease at all times.
Potential Of The Vaccine In The Future
If the vaccine works properly, it may help to eradicate Tuberculosis from the earth.
3. JAG21: A Medicine For Malaria And Toxoplasmosis
In cell-based laboratory research, an international team of scientists found the new drug, JAG21, to be highly effective against parasites.
How Does It Works
JAG21 targets a molecule important for the survival of both toxoplasmosis and malaria-causing parasites.
Description Of The Clinical Trial
The team representatives approached Princeton’s Robert Prud’homme after discovering assistance in translating the compound JAG21 into a deliverable drug. Prudhomme is a co-author of a report that explains the compound JAG21 and its excellent preliminary findings in mice, published in June 2020 in the Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
Outcomes Of The Clinical Trial
In the study, after a single, oral, low dose of JAG21, mice that were expected to die from malaria recovered instead. Against toxoplasmosis, in both mice and humans, the drug eradicated 100% of the parasite’s active form. Above all, it knocked out more than 95% of the parasite’s inactive form, which forms cysts and has historically been untreatable.
Potential Of The Drug In The Future
These illnesses cost the lives of half a million children each year. In the brains of perhaps 2 billion people worldwide, or about 40 percent of human beings, the parasite which causes toxoplasmosis still exists. Therefore, if the drug gets approved, it will significantly decrease deaths caused by these diseases.
4. Trodelvy: A Medicine for Metastatic Breast Cancer
At the end of April, the FDA approved Trodelvy for adults with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. This means those who have already undergone at least two previous metastatic disease therapies.
How Does It Works
Trodelvy, a drug designed to deliver chemotherapy to cancer cells in a targeted way.
Description Of The Clinical Trial
Researchers showed that the drug was successful in a Phase 2 study involving 108 patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Patients treated with the drug intravenously every 21 days.
Outcomes Of The Clinical Trial
The drug reported a 33.3 percent overall response rate. However, there were some adverse effects. But the most common adverse reactions occurring in 25 or more of the patients included nausea, neutropenia, diarrhea, weakness, anemia, vomiting, alopecia, constipation, reduced appetite, rash, and abdominal pain.
Potential Of The Drug In The Future
As no treatment-related accidents and no interstitial severe lung disease cases have occurred, the researchers think this drug has a great ability to treat breast cancer.
5. Romosozumab Dual-Acting Osteoporosis Drug
Because women experience postmenopausal Osteoporosis after a certain age, this causes bone fracture as the bone loses its normal density. However, there might be a new solution to this condition.
Furthermore approved by the FDA in April, romosozumab is the first osteoporosis medicine to have a dual effect on bone. It helps in both bone formation and resorption.
How Does It Works
Romosozumab increases bone formation and decreases bone resorption, hence the ‘dual effect’ noted in the name.
Outcomes Of Clinical Trials
In Phase 3 randomized trial of the Fracture Study in Postmenopausal Women (7180 Individuals) with Osteoporosis, one-year Romosozumab therapy decreased vertebral fracture rates by 73 percent relative to placebo. Also, women with postmenopausal Osteoporosis who received romosozumab had a 50 percent reduced risk of spine fracture and a 38 percent reduced risk of hip fracture. Because this was published in a clinical trial in the New England Journal of Medicine relative to those taking standard anti-resorption therapy.
Potential Of The Drug In The Future
Researchers claim that this medicine will be a breakthrough for postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment. The medicine led to a significant bone build-up in clinical trials.
Conclusion
To sum up, with the rise of the global population and severe environmental pollution, we are experiencing a rise in public health issues. Moreover, new diseases, syndromes, and outbreaks are on the rise. For instance, the recent COVID-19 outbreak and Naegleria Fowleri, aka the Brain-Eating Ameoba.
In order to control the situation, the medical research community is continuously working. Hence, we should raise awareness among people and gather global funds to help the medical research community. As a matter of fact, there have been significant improvements in the medical sectors in recent years. Similarly, we hope to see some breakthroughs in the treatments of cancer, HIV, and other deadly diseases in the future.
