Current Affairs - Science

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, partnered with UNICEF to announce a breakthrough pricing agreement for the R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine on November 24, 2025. This deal lowers the vaccine cost to US$ 2.99 per dose, saves up to $90 million, and enables 7 million additional children to be vaccinated by 2030. Gavi’s role includes advance financing and supporting vaccine delivery in over 24 African countries, which bear 70% of the global malaria burden. The collaboration ensures greater accessibility, equity, and rapid deployment of life-saving vaccines in high-need regions.

Phesgo is a subcutaneous treatment that combines two monoclonal antibodies—trastuzumab and pertuzumab—into a single under-the-skin injection. It significantly reduces hospital time from around 2.5 hours to just 5–8 minutes while maintaining the same safety and efficacy as intravenous therapy. Designed for HER2-positive breast cancer, which accounts for about 20–25% of all breast cancer cases, Phesgo represents a major advancement in making cancer care more convenient, patient-centered, and efficient by simplifying the treatment process without compromising medical outcomes.

RAD52 is a DNA repair protein identified by University of Iowa researchers as crucial for cancer cell survival, particularly in cells with BRCA1/2 mutations that impair DNA repair mechanisms. By inhibiting RAD52, researchers can selectively kill cancer cells without heavily affecting normal cells. This approach offers a promising alternative to PARP inhibitors, potentially overcoming drug resistance and reducing side effects associated with traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, thereby opening new therapeutic avenues for cancers with DNA repair deficiencies.

Researchers from Nagaland University have identified Sinapic acid, a naturally occurring plant compound, as a promising therapeutic agent for treating diabetic wounds. Their study marks the first global evidence showing that oral administration of Sinapic acid can significantly accelerate wound healing under diabetic conditions in preclinical models. This discovery holds immense potential for developing affordable and effective treatments for chronic wounds commonly seen in diabetic patients, contributing to advancements in medical research and promoting health innovation from India’s northeastern region.

Russia’s Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) announced a significant breakthrough by unveiling a colon cancer vaccine during the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) 2025. The vaccine demonstrated promising results in preclinical trials, with a 60–80% reduction in tumour size, improved survival rates, and no recorded adverse effects. It specifically targets colorectal cancer, which is one of the world’s leading causes of cancer-related deaths. If approved by regulators, this would become Russia’s first immunotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer. Furthermore, FMBA is also working on developing vaccines for glioblastoma and melanoma, marking a major stride in cancer research and treatment.