FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
From personalized gene therapy to drugs that aim to prevent pancreatic cancer, the scientific breakthroughs of 2025 give us confidence in the future of public health. Despite budgetary challenges, this year's achievements have redefined the meaning and delivery of health care. Here are the 9 major discoveries of the year that is coming to an end:
1. A (non-hormonal) revolution in menopause treatment
Severe symptoms of menopause disrupt the daily lives of many women. Hormone therapy, while effective, is not an option for all of them. This year brought a new non-hormonal alternative: Lynquet (elinzanetant), approved by the US FDA.
Along with Veozah (fezolinetant), previously approved by the FDA in the US, these drugs target neurons in the hypothalamus that regulate temperature, offering relief to women who previously had no choice.
2. A (needle-free) remedy for children's allergies
For children with severe food allergies, epinephrine is a lifesaver. This year, Neffy, an epinephrine-based nasal spray, was introduced. This is the first major improvement in its administration to children in decades.
Easy to use, it is rapidly absorbed by the nasal mucosa and is predicted to significantly increase appropriate use during allergic emergencies in children 4 years of age and older.
3. Major advances in regenerative medicine
The dream of tissue regeneration is getting closer to reality. Studies in salamanders this year uncovered a key enzyme and gene that regulate regeneration. Since humans have similar mechanisms, this offers a new model for working towards limb regeneration.
Other advances include the development of the first implantable heart-strengthening graft in monkeys using stem cells. For the first time, scientists have managed to create functional ureteral tissue from stem cells, a significant step towards regenerating the renal system.
4. Better control for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Many people have STIs without knowing it, increasing the risk of complications and spread. 2025 brought two solutions for easier at-home testing. The Teal Wand allows women to take a vaginal swab for HPV testing themselves after a virtual consultation with a doctor.
Meanwhile, the Visby Test, a rapid, over-the-counter home test that detects gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis within 30 minutes, aims to increase the rate of rapid diagnosis of such diseases.
5. Personalized gene therapy programs
CRISPR-Cas9 technology took an unimaginable leap this year. Doctors in Philadelphia, USA, used it to create a personalized gene therapy for a newborn with an extremely rare and deadly metabolic disease.
Having identified the exact mutation, they delivered corrective genetic instructions to the baby's liver using nanoparticles. Initial results are very promising, paving the way for a "step-by-step" cure for rare diseases.
6. Simple and effective HIV prevention
Despite its high effectiveness, the use of HIV preventive medication (PrEP) remains low due to social stigma and complexity. This year, the FDA approved Yeztugo (lenacapavir), a PrEP drug that is injected only twice a year. Studies show that it is able to almost completely prevent transmission. This simple choice is expected to significantly increase protection, especially in high-risk groups.
7. Expanding the use of vaccines
Research this year found that vaccines offer unexpected benefits beyond specific diseases. One analysis showed that the herpes vaccine reduced the risk of stroke by 16 percent and heart attack by 18 percent.
The same vaccine is also linked to a reduced risk of dementia.
Also, patients with lung or skin cancer who received the mRNA vaccine against Covid-19 near the start of immunotherapy responded better to the treatment and lived longer. These “bonus” effects are probably related to the overall strengthening of the immune system.
8. Preventing pancreatic cancer
This cancer is often diagnosed too late, with a low chance of survival. The 2025 research showed a new way: blocking the FGFR2 protein at a very early stage could prevent affected cells from becoming cancerous. Since drugs against this protein already exist, scientists hope to test them on people at higher risk of the disease, opening up the possibility of intercepting cancer before it develops.
9. Creating an atlas of the human body
The UK Biobank project recorded an extraordinary achievement this year: over 1 billion detailed images (MRI, ultrasound) of the organs of 100,000 volunteers, along with blood, genetic and lifestyle data.
This unprecedented atlas is already informing science: for example, the analysis shows that signs of heart disease are often accompanied by changes in the brain, highlighting the connection between cardiovascular health and brain health. The data will be updated for decades to better understand diseases and their prevention./ Pamphlet
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