This week’s Public Health news brings you late-stage trial wins, early gene-editing signals, real-world and epidemiologic findings, and mechanistic translational research all shaping a clearer picture of where population health, prevention strategies, and therapeutic innovation are heading next.
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Top Stories Covered In This Video
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:08 Gene-edited pig kidney rejection mechanisms identified by NYU Langone researchers
0:44 Novartis reports positive Phase III results for GanLum in drug-resistant malaria
1:14 Cleveland Clinic’s CTX310 CRISPR therapy shows strong early lipid-lowering effects
1:47 Vitamin D targeted dosing linked to reduced heart attack risk in AHA trial
2:14 Lancet review connects ultra-processed foods to multisystem health harms
2:35 Long-term U.S. cohort finds even light smoking greatly increases mortality risk
2:57 Phase II tuberculosis trial shows promise for sorfequiline combination regimen
3:20 UC Riverside study finds microplastics accelerate atherosclerosis in male mice
3:46 How to reach us
Transcript
Welcome to the latest edition of Public Health Updates, covering breakthroughs in the past two weeks. Brought to you by LucidQuest.
NYU Langone Health researchers mapped the immune mechanisms behind rejection of a gene edited pig kidney transplanted into a brain dead human donor. Over two months, serial biopsies and immune profiling revealed antibody and T cell driven rejection patterns. Investigators were able to reverse injury using combinations of FDA approved drugs, although the specific endpoint was not stated. These findings may shape future clinical and payer considerations once full data are available.
Novartis reported that GanLum met its Phase III primary endpoint in more than 1,600 patients across 12 African countries. The combination of ganaplacide and lumefantrine achieved non inferiority to Coartem, with higher PCR corrected cure rates and activity against drug resistant malaria. This could influence prescriber choice and payer reviews once the complete dataset is published.
Early data from the Cleveland Clinic on CTX310 showed substantial reductions in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. In a Phase 1 trial involving 15 participants with difficult to control lipid disorders, a single CRISPR Cas9 infusion targeting ANGPTL3 yielded large lipid reductions with a favorable short term safety profile. Full data will be needed to understand durability and long term outcomes.
At the AHA Scientific Sessions, a preliminary randomized trial showed that tailoring vitamin D dosing to achieve serum levels of 40 to 80 nanograms per milliliter cut heart attack risk in adults with heart disease. The intervention showed no effect on heart failure, stroke, or death, and interpretation will depend on study design details and confounding control.
A Lancet review of 104 long term studies linked ultra processed food consumption to harm across major organ systems. Ninety two studies associated these foods with chronic disease and higher mortality. The review may influence nutrition guidance, yet results depend on observational study limitations.
A large US cohort study following more than 320,000 adults for 20 years found that even light smoking of one to five cigarettes per day significantly raised cardiovascular and overall mortality risk. The findings reinforce that reducing cigarette consumption alone does not eliminate risk.
In tuberculosis research, a Phase II trial of sorfequiline, also known as TBAJ 876, combined with pretomanid and linezolid showed higher stable sputum conversion by week eight compared with comparators. Many patients could potentially stop treatment early if confirmed in later studies.
A preclinical study from UC Riverside showed that microplastics can accelerate atherosclerosis in male mice. Researchers observed endothelial cell damage and increased plaque formation. Female mice did not show significant changes, highlighting possible sex specific effects. While preclinical, the findings may shape future environmental health assessments.
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Why it matters
- Xenotransplant research is advancing toward potential solutions for donor shortages.
- Malaria treatment pipelines are reacting to rising drug resistance.
- Gene-editing therapies are testing one-time cardiovascular risk reduction.
- Nutrition and environmental exposures continue to show broad impacts on chronic disease risk.
- New anti-infective candidates may reduce global TB treatment burden.
🗓️ Explore weekly details and sources
Week 7–13 November 2025
Week 14– 20 November 2025
📚 Find your one-stop page for the full Public Health archive.
FAQ
1. What is GanLum and how does it differ from Coartem?
GanLum combines ganaplacide and lumefantrine and showed non-inferior, and in some measures stronger, efficacy versus Coartem in a Phase III trial across 12 African countries [2]. Ganaplacide introduces a new mechanism that disrupts parasite protein transport.
2. How did NYU Langone identify pig-kidney rejection mechanisms?
Researchers performed serial biopsies and immune profiling over two months in a brain-dead human recipient of a gene-edited pig kidney, identifying antibody and T-cell mediated processes and reversing injury with FDA-approved drugs [1].
3. What does CTX310 target and what were early results?
CTX310 uses CRISPR-Cas9 to edit ANGPTL3 in the liver, producing large reductions in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in a small Phase 1 cohort, with short-term safety acceptable per the source [3].
4. What was unique about the vitamin D trial presented at AHA?
The trial used individualized dosing to achieve 40–80 ng/mL serum levels, which led to a significant reduction in heart attacks but no effect on other outcomes [4].
5. What is sorfequiline and why is it notable in TB therapy?
Sorfequiline (TBAJ-876) is a diarylquinoline evaluated in Phase II with pretomanid and linezolid, showing better early sputum conversion and potential for shorter therapy compared with standard regimens [7].
6. What did the microplastics study reveal about cardiovascular risk?
UC Riverside investigators found microplastics inside arterial plaques in male mice, accelerating atherosclerosis through endothelial damage, with no significant effect seen in females [8].
Entities / Keywords
NYU Langone Health; GanLum; ganaplacide; lumefantrine; Novartis; CTX310; ANGPTL3; CRISPR-Cas9; Cleveland Clinic; vitamin D supplementation; AHA Scientific Sessions; ultra-processed foods; The Lancet; sorfequiline; TBAJ-876; TB Alliance; microplastics; UC Riverside.
References
- https://abcnews.go.com/Health/scientists-discover-immune-reaction-pig-kidney-rejection-transplant/story?id=127446033
- https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-phase-iii-trial-next-generation-malaria-treatment-klu156-ganlum-meets-primary-endpoint-potential-combat-antimalarial-resistance
- https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/harmful-cholesterol-levels-cut-half-one-time-gene-editing-drug-early-t-rcna242320
- https://newsroom.heart.org/news/heart-attack-risk-halved-in-adults-with-heart-disease-taking-tailored-vitamin-d-doses
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/18/ultra-processed-food-linked-to-harm-in-every-major-human-organ-study-finds
- https://newsroom.heart.org/news/just-cutting-down-doesnt-cut-it-when-it-comes-to-the-impact-of-smoking-on-your-health
- https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/patient-care/new-antibiotic-sorfequiline-could-shorten-tb-treatment-time/
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251118220047.htm