A new study has found that a combination of two drugs could enhance the immune system to treat one of the most common types of cancer in the world, bowel cancer. Also known as colorectal cancer, despite its widespread presence, the treatment options for this condition are limited. What the study specifically found was that this procedure could shrink the tumours caused by this condition by around 60%.

What Are The Drugs Involved

The trial involved the use of two immunotherapy drugs, botancilimab and balstilumab. It is a monoclonal antibody that works to stimulate the body's immune system to attack cancer. The study is a rather significant find, as it’s the first time that a consistent and durable response to immunotherapy has been reported in patients with solid MSS mCRC tumours.

The study was divided into several phases for more than 6 months. In the US trial, around around 101 patients with microsatile stable metastatic colorectal (MSS-mCRC) tumours showed a decrease . Around 61% of the patients experienced tumour shrinkage or stabilization after combined treatment with votancilumab and balstilumab. When it comes to downsides, diarrhea and fatigue were found to be the most common side effects or side effects of this drug.

These results are interesting and open to exploration. To date, immunotherapy has not been effective in patients with CNS-mCRC tumors. This study demonstrates the potential of the combination of botenlimab and balstilimab in the treatment of CNS mCRC, providing new hope for people diagnosed with colon cancer.

What Could This Mean For Bowel Cancer Treatment In The Future

The study is currently in the final stages of clinical trials, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hopes to quickly gain approval for its use because of the importance of this area that affects many people. The efficiency shown demonstrates the potential of botansilimab to contribute to broad antitumor immunity.

All in all, the combination of botensilimab and balstilimab represents a promising new direction in the treatment of colorectal cancer. This breakthrough could improve conditions for many patients worldwide and lights a new hope in the fight against this common disease. The results of this study show the effectiveness of immunotherapy in this field and how its potential to transform cancer treatment can only grow in the years to come.

The United States is in the middle of its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades as Pennsylvania has recorded more than 1,000 cases. New York also declared a disaster emergency across the state recently as the highly contagious infection continues to spread.

Pennsylvania health department reported 1,004 measles cases as of October 5, that includes 198 hospitalisations and five deaths. Lancaster County, the hardest-hit area, has reported 391 cases alone. All five people who died in the state this year were unvaccinated, according to Reuters.

The outbreak is the worst recorded in the US since the major measles resurgence between 1989 and 1991. The CDC reported 3,887 confirmed measles cases in the country as of October 1, 2026.

Measles Has Resurfaced In The US

Measles was eliminated in the US in 2000. It means that there was no continuous spread of the virus within the country. However, elimination does not always mean that the virus has disappeared globally. Imported infections can still trigger outbreaks when they infiltrate communities where vaccination coverage is insufficient.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides about 97% protection against measles after two doses. But protection at the community level depends on high vaccination coverage as measles is extremely contagious. The CDC says more than 95% of people in a community need to be vaccinated to maintain herd immunity.

Vaccination coverage has fallen in several parts of the country, leaving several parts of communities more vulnerable to transmission.

New York Declares A Disaster Emergency

On Monday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency after the state recorded 108 measles cases through October 3. Among these, 92 cases were reported since July 15 across 18 counties, especially in under-immunised rural communities.

The emergency, which remains in effect till November 4, authorises other group of healthcare professionals like nurses and pharmacists who can administer MMR vaccines. The state has also increased testing and vaccination efforts in affected areas.

“No ⁠one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease,” Hochul said. More than 1,000 MMR doses have already been administered in rural areas since July 15.

Death Toll According To CDC & Pennsylvania

The CDC has reported 13 measles deaths in the US so far in 2026. The deaths have occurred among people who were not fully vaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.

There is a striking discrepancy in the reported death toll. Pennsylvania health officials say five residents have died after getting infected with measles this year, but the CDC’s national tally lists only two measles-related deaths across the US.

The CDC has shifted to relying on death-certificate data reviewed by the National Center for Health Statistics, while Pennsylvania uses the state definition that considers factors including a positive measles test, symptoms and the timing of death. The CDC has said it is working with state epidemiologists on a standard definition and that its count could change after reviews.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through respiratory droplets and can remain in the air after an infected person leaves an area. It commonly causes high fever, cough, runny nose and a characteristic rash, but complications can get serious. These can include pneumonia, swelling of the brain and, in extreme cases, death.

Young children, pregnant women and people with weak immunity systems are more prone to develop serious complications of measles.

A new drug combination has shown promise in treating people diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), reducing the risk of progression or death by 51% compared to the current treatment alone.

The findings come from the Phase 3 EPCORE DLBCL-2 trial, which tested the addition of epcoritamab to R-CHOP, a standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimen used to treat DLBCL. The companies developing the drug, Genmab and AbbVie, announced the ]results on October 5.

Findings From The Lymphoma Trial

The trial evaluated newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL and other large B-cell lymphomas who had an International Prognostic Index (IPI) score of 2 to 5, indicating varying levels of disease risk.

Patients received either epcoritamab plus R-CHOP or R-CHOP alone. The combination reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 51%, with a hazard ratio of 0.49 and a p-value below 0.0001. The benefit was seen in the trial’s primary higher-risk group as well as the broader population included in the study.

The companies said this is the first Phase 3 study of a bispecific antibody combination to demonstrate a significant improvement in progression-free survival in newly diagnosed DLBCL.

Also read: World Meningitis Day: Why 1 In 3 Meningitis Deaths Occur In Children Under 5

How Does Epcoritamab Work?

Epcoritamab is a bispecific antibody that engages T-cell. Unlike chemotherapy, which directly targets rapidly dividing cells, the drug is designed to bring the body’s immune cells into closer contact with cancer cells.

It binds to CD3 on T cells and CD20 on B cells, effectively directing T cells towards CD20-positive cancer cells so they can attack them.

R-CHOP, meanwhile, combines rituximab with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone and has been a standard treatment for DLBCL for decades.

“DLBCL is an aggressive disease and the need to advance treatment options is critical. These positive topline results suggest that epcoritamab combined with R-CHOP could offer a new standard of care in newly diagnosed DLBCL patients,” said Daejin Abidoye, MD, Vice President, Therapeutic Area Head, Oncology, Solid Tumor and Hematology, AbbVie.

Also read: Can Obeldesivir Prevent Ebola Symptoms After Exposure? Drug Trial Moves Forward As Death Toll Crosses 4,000

Hope For A New Course Of Treatment In Blood Cancer

DLBCL is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, accounting for around 25% to 30% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases worldwide. Although R-CHOP has improved outcomes, some patients still experience disease progression or relapse.

The new findings suggest that bringing a bispecific antibody into treatment from the time of initial diagnosis could improve how long patients remain free from disease progression.

“As an investigator with firsthand experience in both the landmark trial that established R-CHOP as a standard of care nearly 25 years ago and EPCORE DLBCL-2, it is particularly meaningful to see the potential benefit of bispecific antibody therapy in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,” said Gilles Salles, MD, PhD, Chief of the Lymphoma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

But the combination is still investigational and has not been approved for newly diagnosed DLBCL. The companies said they plan to engage regulatory authorities globally based on the results.

Full trial data will also be presented at a future medical meeting, meaning detailed results, including the complete safety and survival data, are still awaited.

The US and European Union are closely monitoring a suspected case of pneumonic plague in Russia’s Siberian region of Irkutsk after the death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker at an anti-plague research institute.

Nearly 200 people who may have had contact with the woman have reportedly been placed under medical observation. However, Russian authorities have not confirmed plague.

The woman, identified in reports as Darya Shipilova, worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute. Reports said she may have accidentally broken a test tube containing Yersinia pestis while collecting samples on September 25.

Russia’s consumer safety watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said her diagnosis was “pneumonia of unknown etiology.” Expanded testing did not identify microorganisms associated with her professional activities.

Rospotrebnadzor said the sanitary and epidemiological situation in Irkutsk and Shelekhov remained stable and that special measures had been implemented following her death.

Also read: Russia Plague Outbreak: Lab Worker Dies Of 'Unknown Infection' After Suspected Exposure

What Did the EU Say?

The European Commission said it was “monitoring very closely” reports of the laboratory incident.

“We are aware of the reports concerning the laboratory incident in Russia, seemingly involving a pathogen causing plague,” European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova said.

She said the Commission was in contact with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and stressed that timely and transparent reporting and access to reliable epidemiological and laboratory findings are essential.

The EU also said it has strengthened its preparedness for health emergencies since the Covid-19 pandemic.

What Did the US Say?

The US State Department said it was monitoring the reports in coordination with the CDC and other agencies.

CDC officials said many details of the incident remain unconfirmed and urged Russian authorities to share accurate information promptly and transparently. They noted that plague is a known and treatable disease, with common antibiotics particularly effective when treatment begins early, and that cases occur naturally in several parts of the world.

US officials also urged Russia to “share accurate information quickly and openly.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the situation was “not cause for alarm” but was a reason for focus and continued monitoring.

What Does WHO Say?

Read More: Russia Plague Scare: Could It Trigger A New Pandemic? Experts Explain

WHO said it was aware of the reports and was working to verify the details with Russian health authorities, including laboratory results, contact tracing and the health status of contacts.

Based on unofficial information available, WHO said the public-health risk to the general population appeared low, while noting that the assessment could change as more information becomes available, POLITICO reported.

Can Pneumonic Plague Spread Between People?

READ: ‘American Covid’ Strain Drives 50% Surge in UK Hospital Admissions: XFG Symptoms to Know

Pneumonic plague is caused by Yersinia pestis and can spread directly between people through respiratory droplets.

However, a suspected case does not mean an outbreak or pandemic is underway. Rapid diagnosis, isolation, contact tracing and prompt antibiotic treatment would be critical if plague is confirmed.

“Transparency, rapid diagnosis and effective contact tracing would be the most important factors in managing an outbreak,” said Dr Richard Hirschson, a specialist general physician at Sydney Adventist Hospital.

In a post on social media platform X, the expert said that a local laboratory exposure would not necessarily translate into global spread. He added isolation and preventive antibiotic treatment for exposed contacts could help limit transmission if pneumonic plague were confirmed.

What Is Pneumonic Plague?

Plague is caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium generally found in small mammals and their fleas.

Pneumonic plague occurs when the infection affects the lungs and is the form most capable of spreading directly between people.

It can become rapidly life-threatening without treatment, but plague is treatable with antibiotics when diagnosed and treated promptly.