What We’re Reading: FDA Approves ALS Drug; Role of Microbes in Tumors; Suicides Increased in 2021

FDA Approves First ALS Drug in 5 Years, AMX0035

The FDA approved experimental drug AMX0035 (Relyvrio) for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Thursday, The Washington Post reported. AMX0035 was developed to slow the effects of ALS by protecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord damaged by the neurological condition. The approval was granted despite it being a much-debated drug with questions about its efficacy. However, some individuals living with ALS said a treatment with any amount of efficacy is important, as this was the first approval for an ALS treatment in 5 years.

Microbes, Fungi Play Role in Spotting Tumors

New research suggested looking at microbes and fungi within cancer tumors rather than treating tumors as if they are sterile, The New York Times reported. A team of researchers detected bacteria living in pancreatic tumors in 2017, prompting further research on how a species of bacteria could block a chemotherapy drug from working and later finding bacteria in tumors of 7 types of cancer. Using these findings, another team of researchers found that a small percentage of DNA fragments in 32 types of cancer belonged to bacteria rather than humans. The 2 research teams collaborated and found that, in 35 different types of cancer, all of them contained fungi and each had a distinctive combination of fungal species.

US Suicide Cases Increased in 2021 Following 2 Years of Decline

Following a 2-year decrease in suicides in 2019 and 2020, US suicides have risen again, with experts saying rates are returning to prepandemic levels, The Wall Street Journal reported. This finding is based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics. The report stated 47,646 Americans died by suicide in 2021, reflecting a nearly 4% increase compared with the still high count of 45,979 deaths by suicide in 2020. It also said men aged between 15 and 24 years experienced the sharpest increase with an 8% rise in 2021. Notably, despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide rates did not markedly increase in 2020.