Clinical trialUNITERAREApr 5
Researchers are testing a new drug called pacritinib in people ages 12 and older who have myelodysplastic syndromes or myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms — rare blood disorders where the bone marrow doesn't make enough healthy blood cells. The drug works by blocking several proteins that may be causing these diseases. This is an early-stage study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute that will start recruiting patients in April 2026.
WHY IT MATTERSThis trial offers patients with myelodysplastic syndromes access to a novel multi-targeted kinase inhibitor that may address disease mechanisms not covered by current standard treatments, with enrollment beginning in April 2026.
Clinical trialUNITERAREApr 3
Researchers are looking for people with metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions including high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol) to study whether a common stomach bacteria called H. pylori might make insulin resistance worse. Insulin resistance means your body has trouble using a hormone called insulin that controls blood sugar. The study will help doctors understand if treating this bacteria could help people with metabolic syndrome feel better.
WHY IT MATTERSIf H. pylori is found to worsen insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome patients, treating the infection could become a new way to help manage this common condition that affects millions of people.
Clinical trialUNITERAREApr 3
Researchers are testing a new drug called elritercept to see if it works better than a standard treatment (epoetin alfa) for anemia in adults with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)—a blood disorder where the bone marrow doesn't make enough healthy blood cells. People in this study have low, very low, or intermediate risk MDS and need regular blood transfusions. The trial is now accepting patients.
WHY IT MATTERSThis Phase 3 trial is actively recruiting adults with MDS who require transfusions, offering access to an investigational treatment that may reduce their dependence on blood transfusions.
ResearchPUBMEDMar 28
This article discusses rare diseases that affect the major blood vessels in the neck and upper chest (called supra-aortic trunks). While most blockages in these vessels are caused by common heart disease risk factors, about 10% happen in people without those risk factors. The article highlights three newly recognized conditions: TIPIC syndrome (temporary inflammation around the carotid artery), carotid web (an unusual narrowing), and Eagle syndrome (a bone growth problem). Better imaging technology is helping doctors identify these rare conditions more accurately.
WHY IT MATTERSIf you have unexplained neck pain, stroke symptoms, or carotid artery narrowing without typical heart disease risk factors, your doctor may now consider these emerging diagnoses instead of assuming standard atherosclerosis.