The Rx Recap: January 4-9

Welcome to this week’s roundup of the most insightful and impactful articles from the sister publications of Dermatology Times, all under One MJH Life Sciences. Our network brings together expert perspectives, clinical advancements, and industry updates to keep clinicians informed and ahead of the curve. From cutting-edge treatments to practice management strategies, here’s a look at the top stories shaping the field of medicine.

COVID-19 Vaccination Reduces Mortality Related to COPD

Reported by Drug Topics, a new study published in Respiratory Research found that COVID-19 vaccination is associated with significantly lower long-term mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including those who were never infected with COVID-19. Using national cohort data from the Korean National Health Insurance System, investigators showed that vaccinated, uninfected individuals had the lowest mortality rates, while unvaccinated patients who contracted COVID-19 faced the highest risk, with more than a 10-fold increase in annual mortality compared with vaccinated, uninfected individuals. Vaccination also reduced mortality by approximately 70% among patients with severe COVID-19 and was linked to decreased annual mortality even in individuals without confirmed infection, supporting both the safety and long-term protective benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in COPD populations.

A New Food Pyramid Signals a Major Shift in US Dietary Guidance

Reported by The Educated Patient, the US Department of Agriculture has released updated dietary guidelines featuring a redesigned food pyramid that shifts decisively toward whole, minimally processed foods and away from the highly refined Standard American Diet. The guidance emphasizes high-quality protein at every meal, healthy fats from whole-food sources, abundant fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and hydration, while discouraging ultraprocessed foods, excess sodium, added sugars, and sugary drinks—changes framed as a response to rising obesity, prediabetes, and chronic disease. While major organizations such as the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association broadly support the focus on whole foods and reduced added sugars, debate remains around recommendations for protein sources, whole-fat dairy, red meat, and sodium, underscoring the need for individualized nutrition counseling as patients and clinicians navigate the new framework.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Cell and Gene Therapy

In a conversation with CGTlive, Deborah Phippard, PhD, and Renier Brentjens, MD, PhD, discussed the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on cell and gene therapy during a special report reflecting on 25 years of progress in the field. Both experts emphasized the uncertainty around AI’s future effects but highlighted early successes, such as using AI to rapidly design optimized binders and identify neoantigens. Brentjens noted AI’s potential to analyze complex tumor microenvironments, improve in vivo delivery design, and accelerate data interpretation, while Phippard highlighted applications in patient identification, risk-benefit profiling, and treatment selection across heterogeneous tumors. They agreed that AI could significantly advance CAR-T therapies and solid tumor treatments, though much of its potential remains untapped, likely to be realized by future generations of researchers.

Maternal Influenza and Tdap Vaccination Linked to Fewer Infant Hospital and Emergency Visits

Reported by Contemporary OB/GYN, a large population-based cohort study from Italy found that maternal influenza and Tdap vaccination during pregnancy was associated with substantially reduced risks of influenza- and pertussis-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits among infants younger than 6 months, a group too young to be fully vaccinated themselves. Analyzing more than 250,000 mother-infant dyads from the Lombardy region, investigators observed vaccine effectiveness of approximately 70% against influenza-related severe outcomes and nearly 89% against pertussis-related events. Despite these protective benefits and free vaccine access, maternal vaccine uptake—particularly for influenza—remained suboptimal and varied by sociodemographic factors, underscoring the need for improved strategies to increase acceptance of recommended vaccinations during pregnancy.

FDA Clears Phase 1/2a Trial of Novel PD-1/VEGFR2 Antibody in Solid Tumors

Ottimo Pharma announced that the FDA has cleared an investigational new drug (IND) application for OTP-01, a first-in-class dual PD-1 and VEGFR2 antibody, for a phase 1/2a trial in patients with recurrent or metastatic solid tumors (NCT07266428), according to CancerNetwork. The open-label study, recruiting at ~20 sites in the US and Australia, will evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and early efficacy in an estimated 170 adults, with weekly intravenous dosing, imaging assessments, and optional tumor biopsies. OTP-01 is designed to inhibit PD-1 while targeting VEGFR2, potentially enhancing tumor vascular normalization and intratumoral immune activation. Primary endpoints include adverse events, progression-free survival, objective response rate, and duration of response, with secondary endpoints assessing plasma concentrations. Ottimo aims to develop OTP-01 as a backbone therapy for combination with antibody-drug conjugates or chemotherapy, generating translational data to guide dose selection and future combination strategies across multiple tumor types.

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