The new treatments that changed the lives of patients in 2024

2024 was a year of significant progress in pharmaceutical science significantly helping patients through the new treatments that came to light.

The newly discovered treatments have given hope of healing to people suffering from serious diseases, while some of them have already received approval from the regulatory authorities in Europe and America and have been released on the pharmaceutical market, changing the lives of thousands of patients.

Below, we list the most innovative pharmaceutical solutions of the past year, which brought smiles to suffering people and contributed to improving their quality of life.

1. mRNA vaccines against cancer

A real revolution that took place in 2024 was mRNA vaccines that began to be tested in a large clinical trial in humans, specifically in patients with lung and pancreatic cancer.

mRNA technology, introduced to us through vaccines against the coronavirus pandemic, is now the new promising weapon against cancer. The new vaccines are specifically designed for cancerous tumors, such as those with KRAS mutations. They are engineered to train the immune system to identify specific mutations and attack cancer cells.

Personalized vaccines in early trials showed a significant reduction in cancer recurrence.

2. CRISPR gene therapies save patients from transfusions

In 2024, the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy, which has the potential to correct the “mistake” in DNA that causes these diseases, became a reality for patients with sickle cell anemia and β-thalassemia.

This particular treatment not only frees patients from constant blood transfusions, but also offers the prospect of a normal life, while simultaneously increasing survival.

This revolutionary treatment uses “molecular scissors” to repair genetic mutations and was approved in 2024 to treat sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia.

The first results showed that the patients who received the treatment did not need further blood transfusions, while their quality of life improved significantly.

Patients at Papanikolaou in Thessaloniki have also received this treatment in a clinical study and are now transfusion-free and disease-free.

Unfortunately, although these treatments have been approved, they have not yet been released in Europe.

3. Second-generation CAR-T: Cancer-fighting therapies

The idea that our own cells can be turned into cancer-fighting “weapons” sounds like a science fiction scenario. But in 2024, the second generation of CAR-T therapies made that dream a reality.

The great progress that has been observed in recent years in the treatment of patients with hematological malignancies is mainly due to the introduction of the newest immunotherapies such as T-lymphocytes carrying a chimeric antigen receptor (chimeric antigen receptor – CAR) and amphi-specific antibodies (bispecific).

Improved versions of CAR-T therapies released within 2024 have provided solutions to patients with leukemias, myeloma and lymphomas, while reducing side effects in the treatment of these hematological malignancies.

These treatments are considered the most durable and effective, while causing fewer side effects.

4. The antibiotic revolution offers hope in the fight against antimicrobial resistance

With antimicrobial resistance developing into a “silent pandemic” and costing our country alone more than 2,000 deaths per year from hospital-acquired infections, the new antibiotics of 2024 have come at the right time.

Medicine such as cefiderocol and taniborbactam and more, were approved within 2024 and became the protagonists in the battle against hospital infections, offering solutions to multi-resistant microbes and bacteria, which in recent years could not be fought.

These Medicine have been described as a “Trojan horse” because they trick the microbes into accepting them inside, then destroy them.

5. Hopes for the treatment of cystic fibrosis

Patients with cystic fibrosis – a disease that affects the lungs – often struggle for every breath. In 2024, triple Medicine combinations were approved for a larger age group of patients and for patients with more genetic mutations, expanding the effectiveness of treatment and bringing significant hope to sufferers.

These new treatments not only improve lung function, but also the overall quality of life of those suffering from this serious genetic condition.

As the clinical studies proved, this triple combination brought a significant improvement in lung function and a reduction in infections.

“The development of these Medicine is one of the most surprising and outstanding achievements of biomedical research in the last 30 years,” reports the scientific journal Nature.

6. New Dementia Medicine: Light in the Darkness of Alzheimer’s

The battle against Alzheimer’s took a major step forward in 2024.

After 20 years of stagnation in the field of dementia treatment, a new class of treatments has received approval for Alzheimer’s disease. They are the first treatments to target biological factors associated with brain degeneration.

With the two monoclonal antibodies (donanemab and lecanemab), which target β-amyloid in the brain, slowing the progression of the disease became a reality.

For the first time, patients and families felt they were no longer powerless against this terrifying disease.

Studies have shown that these treatments have been able to reduce the progression of symptoms by 30-40% in mild forms of Alzheimer’s.

7. Quick relief from depression

For people living with the heavy shadow of depression, 2024 brought new hopeful pharmaceutical solutions.

Two new regimens based on ketamine and NMDA receptor antagonists produced rapid improvement in symptoms.

More specifically, esketamine (esketamine), in the form of a nasal spray, and oral zuranolone (zuranolone) work quickly and effectively, especially in cases where traditional treatments do not work.

These new treatments are a ray of light for medicine-resistant depression, which leads to a dead end for thousands of patients, who are tired of waiting months to see results from the treatments they receive.

8. Better life for COPD patients

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a difficult disease, but 2024 has brought new hope for this disease as well.

Treatments such as ensifentrine and the new inhaled corticosteroids (LABA/LAMA combination) have been shown to improve lung function. They even gave the patients the possibility, not only to breathe better, but also to avoid a significant percentage of hospitalizations.

The above Medicine to improve lung function focus on increasing the physical endurance of the lungs, reducing exacerbations and preventing hospitalizations.

9. Hope for morbid obesity and diabetes

New obesity Medicine approved or launched in 2024 are one of the most important developments in the field of pharmacology, with a strong impact on patients’ quality of life and public health.

Medicinal substances, such as tirzepatide, the new combination semaglutide – cagrilintide (semaglutide / cagrilintide), setmelanotide (setmelanotide) have come to give hope of weight loss and improved health to an alarmingly large number of patients suffering from morbid obesity.

These Medicine achieve the feeling of satiety and loss of appetite, which is the primary cause that leads to gaining excess weight.

Clinical trials in 2024 showed significant weight loss in people with obesity, with even fewer side effects compared to the older generation of Medicine.

Finally, 2024 proved that medical progress never ceases to amaze us – and that the future might just get a little brighter for patients.

By Gianna Soulaki / Source: iatropedia.gr