DDW Highlights: 3 March 2026

The Latitude study confirms that the long‑acting injectable combination of cabotogravir and rilpivirine dramatically outperforms daily oral antiretroviral regimens. Over 306 participants, virological failure dropped by nearly 50%, positioning the four‑weekly injection as a game‑changing option for people living with HIV. Researchers attribute the benefit to improved adherence supported by conditional economic incentives. This evidence builds on earlier data and aligns with the 2024 recommendation to halt randomisation, suggesting that injectable ART could accelerate progress toward the global goal of ending the HIV epidemic.

SolasCure’s ORES wound gel (AWG) demonstrated a 22‑fold faster debridement and seven‑fold quicker healing in phase‑2 trials for venous leg ulcers, leveraging a proprietary hydrogel and the PAR2‑activating API Taramase. The dual mechanism not only clears necrotic tissue but also triggers intrinsic repair pathways, delivering pain‑free application and measurable quality‑of‑life gains. Meanwhile, NICE’s endorsement of AbbVie’s bispecific antibody Tepkinly (epcoritamab) provides a new line of therapy for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, achieving an 82% overall response rate in a 128‑patient study. Both advances illustrate how targeted biologics are reshaping chronic disease management.

Europe’s clinical‑trial ecosystem stands to generate substantial economic and health returns. EFPIA estimates that an 11% increase in trial activity could add £3.5 bn to the European economy, create 18,000 jobs and expand 35,000 trial slots, while the UK alone could recoup £3 bn by restoring 2017‑level activity. Complementing these macro‑level gains, the European Association of Nuclear Medicine’s new Young Scientist Network Award, offering up to €40,000 for prostate‑cancer alpha‑radioligand research, signals strong institutional support for early‑career innovators. Together, therapeutic breakthroughs and strategic investment underscore a rapidly evolving drug‑discovery landscape.