Scientists at University College London have re‑engineered rare γδT immune cells so they can kill chemotherapy‑resistant colon cancer using two distinct attack modes, offering fresh hope for patients whose tumours no longer respond to standard drugs. At the 2025 ESMO meeting, Chinese researchers stole the spotlight: 23 late‑breaking abstracts were accepted and three oral talks were featured in the Presidents’ Symposium, highlighting everything from a CLDN18.2‑targeted ADC (SKB315) to a bispecific ADC that showed the first Phase 3 survival benefit in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Hengrui’s TROP‑2 ADC (SHR‑A1921) also reported encouraging activity and manageable safety in early‑phase trials for solid tumours. Beyond oncology, AI‑driven “Sherlock” tools are repurposing old medicines, turning side‑effects into potential new cancer treatments. In Alzheimer’s research, aptamer‑based drugs are moving forward, while a new analysis warns that 70 % of cases are missed early, urging faster diagnosis. Cardiovascular scientists discovered that the arthritis drug abatacept can blunt harmful immune responses after a heart attack, opening a path for drug‑repurposing in heart‑failure recovery. Together, these advances illustrate a rapid expansion of precision medicine across cancer, neuro‑degeneration and heart disease, promising more personalized and effective therapies in the near future.
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