Lots of interesting information! The Zevaskyn (“a first cell-sheet-based gene therapy”) approval for treating epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is particularly uplifting. Back in high school, I knew someone with EB. It is a devastating disease. On the less happy side, an AAV9 therapy and an oncolytic virus therapy were rejected this year. [ https://www.nature.com/articles/d41573-026-00001-z](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41573-026-00001-z)
The US FDA approved 46 new drugs in 2025, despite a tumultuous year at the regulatory agency.
A single laundry load containing synthetic clothing can release thousands of plastic microfibers from nylon, acrylic and polyester materials. Lab testing of an SA-made washing machine filter at Flinders University shows it can be a useful new way to help protect waterways from polyester and other synthetic microparticles.
Flinders researchers are also developing a novel approach to enhance nanoplastic capture on cellulose filters using a plasma polymer coating.
Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5 mm wide, and they break down further to nanoparticles.
