From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— Researchers at UW-Madison are developing new therapies and vaccines for cancer-causing viruses in hopes of improving treatment and prevention.
In a recent Q&A published by the university, Prof. Paul Lambert highlighted an ongoing clinical trial at UW-Madison focused on patients at risk of anal cancer caused by human papillomavirus, or HPV. This virus alone causes about 5% of all human cancers, but Lambert says most of those are preventable with vaccines.
The clinical trial is building on earlier research that found drugs that have been used to manage HIV can also kill HPV-positive cancer cells.
“Now, these drugs are being repurposed in a trial to help prevent cancer in high-risk patients. It’s a great example of how basic lab research can translate directly into patient care,” said Lambert, who heads up the university’s McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and chairs the Department of Oncology in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
He’s leading a broader project studying “tumor viruses” that cause about 15% of all human cancers, including HPV as well as the Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B and C, and others.
“Our work seeks to understand how these viruses cause cancer and, just as importantly, how we can prevent or treat those cancers,” he said.
His team’s work on tumor viruses has also had “profound implications beyond virus-related cancers,” according to Lambert. He notes studies of HPV led to the discovery of tumor suppressing genes, while other research found how the virus evades the immune system, providing new insights for immunotherapy resistance.
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— Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske says it’s “remarkable” the number of unanimous decisions coming from the current court as it wraps up this term. But she wasn’t surprised by the 4-3 decision invalidating the state’s 1849 abortion law.
“Even though people think that was people voting up or down on abortion, it was really an analysis of a statute that was enacted in 1849, and the question of whether it was still in effect today,” Geske said on “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics. “And basically, the majority found that there had been all these other statutes enacted by the Legislature through the last 50 years, including the 20-week ban, other kinds of conditions that basically overruled the statutes, and so they found that statute was no longer in effect.”
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— Madison-based Voximetry and Cincinnati’s Medpace Core Laboratories have announced a newly cemented partnership related to drug trials.
Medpace Core Laboratories has designated Voximetry as its preferred provider of dosimetry services for radiopharmaceutical clinical trials, the companies recently announced, building on a business relationship that’s existed since June 2024.
“It is the right time to formalize our partnership with Medpace,” Voximetry CEO Sue Wallace said in a statement. “Together, we can set a new standard for clinical trial efficiency and excellence from protocol development through analysis of final outcomes.”
Scott Holland, senior director of scientific affairs for MedPace, praises Voximetry’s “deep domain expertise” in the field of advanced dosimetry, which is used to measure the absorbed amount of ionizing radiation.
“Their capabilities enhance our Core Laboratory services by assuring radiopharmaceutical trials include accurate dosimetry with fast turn-around time,” he said in a statement. “For our clients, this will help accelerate development and reduce costs.”
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