Reframe Daily: New pain-killer, 24% weight-loss, & 3 more health wins

Reframe Daily is where Christin Chong (neuroscience PhD, chaplain, healthtech strategy consultant) curates optimistic and credible AI + healthcare news so you don’t have to.

Today in one sentence: Scientists found a new non-addictive pain blocker in mice, a small test showed diabetes shots cut migraine days nearly in half, an early study of a new weight-loss drug helped adults drop about one-quarter of their body weight, the FDA approved Dupixent as the first treatment for a blistering skin disease, and Europe signaled it will soon OK a quick Darzalex shot to stop slow-growing myeloma from turning into full cancer.

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Good news: Researchers found a brand-new compound that calms pain in mice and rats without the addiction-risk or breathing problems of opioids.

Neurotensin receptor modulator safely tackles pain

Market readiness: 😊 — It’s only been tested in animals so far, so scientists still need to show it’s safe and helpful for people before any human trials or pharmacy shelves. 

Good news: A small study suggests the popular GLP-1 drugs—already used for diabetes and weight loss—cut monthly migraine days almost in half.

GLP-1 reduced migraine frequency by nearly half, in a pilot study

Market readiness: 😊😊😊 — The drug is already sold for other uses, so doctors can try it off-label now, but bigger migraine studies are needed before it becomes an official headache treatment. 

Good news: Novo Nordisk’s new drug amycretin helped adults lose up to 24 % of their body weight in 36 weeks—more than today’s top shots.

Novo Nordisk’s experimental drug results in up to 24 % weight loss

Market readiness: 😊😊 — The data come from early Phase 1/2 trials; large Phase 3 studies start next year, so it’s promising but still years away from your local pharmacy. 

Good news: People with a painful skin-blister disease called bullous pemphigoid finally have a medicine made just for them—Dupixent just got full FDA approval, so doctors can prescribe it right away.

Dupixent wins FDA OK as the first treatment for bullous pemphigoid

Market readiness: 😊😊😊😊😊 — Dupixent is already stocked in U.S. pharmacies for asthma and eczema, so pharmacists can fill this new skin-disease use immediately. 

Good news: A single, quick shot of Darzalex got a positive opinion to stop high-risk “smoldering” myeloma from turning into full cancer, offering early help to patients.

Subcutaneous Daratumumab approaches EU approval in high-risk smoldering myeloma

Market readiness: 😊😊😊😊 — Darzalex is already approved for other blood cancers, so if Europe’s final OK comes (usually within weeks), hospitals can add this new use fast. 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, Reframe Daily will be back next week! If you’d chat about taking charge of healthcare for yourself and for your loved ones, schedule a chat with Christin.