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.

Around 450 people in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh have received anti-rabies vaccinations after consuming charanamrit prepared with milk from a cow suspected of being rabid. The animal died after exhibiting unusual behaviour, which sparked concern among residents of two villages who may have consumed milk from the same cow.

The health department organised a vaccination camp in Dadi Khas village, in the Gola block of Gorakhpur, on October 21. Officials said around 50 people received the vaccine on Tuesday, followed by another 400 during the camp on Wednesday.

450 People In UP Consume Milk From A Suspected Rabid Cow

The incident came to light after the cow's condition deteriorated and the animal died on Tuesday evening. According to its owner, Navami Yadav, the cow had appeared unwell for one or two days before its condition worsened.

Private veterinarians suspected that a stray dog might have bitten the animal, although they did not confirm if the animal had rabies.

The cow's milk had reportedly been supplied to two shops and various households, extending concern beyond those who consumed charanamrit during Durga Puja.

Residents of Dadi Khas and neighbouring Govindpur village were among those affected by the concern over possible exposure.

A health department team led by pharmacist Siddharth Singh visited the village and administered the vaccines.

Amarendra Thakur, the in-charge of the community health centre, advised residents concerned about exposure to consult medical professionals and follow the recommended vaccination schedule. He also said arrangements would be made to ensure vaccines remained available at the health centre.

Also read: Decoding Unusual Rabies Symptoms: Why Can Rabies Cause a Fear of Water, Air or Wind?

Can Rabies Spread Through Milk?

The incident has raised questions about whether consuming milk from a suspected rabid animal can transmit the infection.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. It is mostly transmitted when the saliva of an infected animal enters the body through a bite or scratch, or comes into contact with broken skin or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth.

Dogs account for most human rabies cases worldwide, but other infected mammals, like cattle, can also carry the virus.

However, there is no evidence that rabies is transmitted through the consumption of milk.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which includes preventive treatment after a possible exposure, is not required solely because a person has consumed milk from a rabid animal. The WHO nevertheless advises against consuming milk from animals infected with rabies.

India's National Rabies Control Programme provides similar guidance, stating that there are no evidence-based reports of human rabies arising from consuming milk, including breast milk.

The cow in the UP incident was suspected of having rabies, but it had not been confirmed. But people who have consumed milk from a suspected infected animal should seek exposure advice from a healthcare professional.

According to the WHO, suspected rabies exposure requires prompt assessment because the disease is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms develop, but can be prevented when post-exposure prophylaxis is administered on time. Treatment may involve wound care, course of rabies vaccinations and, rabies immunoglobulin in some cases.

Pharmaceutical giants Moderna and Merck have been developing a personalised cancer vaccine that differs according to the patient's tumour characteristics.

According to results from a Phase 3 clinical trial, the vaccine has reportedly reduced the risk of melanoma returning or death by 42% and the risk of cancer spreading by 38% when combined with standard immunotherapy.

The findings, reported on October 22, build on evidence that messenger RNA (mRNA) technology could play a pathbreaking role in treating cancer.

The experimental vaccine, intismeran autogene, was tested alongside Keytruda, Merck’s immunotherapy drug, in patients whose melanoma had been surgically removed.

Latest Trial Results

The Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial was based on 1,137 patients with high-risk stage IIB, IIC, III or IV melanoma who had undergone surgical removal of their cancer.

Participants received either intismeran autogene alongside Keytruda or Keytruda alone. The researchers compared how effectively the treatments helped prevent the cancer from returning or spreading.

After two years, 82.2% of patients who received the vaccine combination remained cancer-free, compared to 70% of those who received Keytruda alone, according to the trial results.

The combination also reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 42% and the risk of metastasis or death by 38%.

The study achieved its primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival and its key secondary endpoint of distant metastasis-free survival.

Also read: Norah O’Donnell’s Skin Cancer Journey: Her Dermatologist Warns Against Tanning Beds & Sunburns

What Is Intismeran Autogene And How Does It Work?

Unlike conventional vaccines that prevent infections, intismeran autogene is a personalised cancer vaccine. It is developed using a sample of the patient’s tumour to identify mutations that distinguish cancer cells from healthy cells.

The treatment uses mRNA to encode up to 34 tumour targets, known as neoantigens. Once administered, these targets help the immune system recognise those targets and generate an immune response against cancer cells.

The vaccine is designed to be used with Keytruda. The vaccine and immunotherapy therefore have complementary roles in the treatment strategy.

Also read: Could A Daily Pill Help Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence? Roche's Promising Experimental Drug Awaits FDA Approval

What Did Researchers Say?

Professor Georgina Long, the trial’s principal investigator and medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia, said the results are a significant development for treatment after surgery.

“'This is a coalescence of an mRNA platform, personalised, and the use of algorithms and data in a way that we've never seen before. These results show that patients with earlier-stage melanoma can be treated after surgery in a fundamentally new way,” Professor Long said.

The combination’s safety profile was consistent with previous studies, and the companies said no new safety signals were observed in the Phase 3 trial. Detailed findings are being presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in Madrid.

She added, “Intismeran in combination with pembrolizumab has the potential to establish a new treatment paradigm in the adjuvant melanoma setting, helping patients remain cancer-free for longer,” Long said in the companies’ August announcement of the trial’s positive topline results.

Moderna and Merck have said they will engage with regulators about submitting the treatment for approval. Further FD review will be needed before it can become a treatment option.

An experimental daily pill developed by Swiss healthcare company F Hoffmann-La Roche AG has sparked hope for a new treatment option for people with early-stage breast cancer. The drug, giredestrant, reduced the risk of invasive disease recurrence or death by at least 30% compared to standard hormone therapy, according to findings from its Phase 3 trial.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to share its drug approval verdict by November 30, 2026.

Giredestrant is an experimental once-daily pill designed to block and degrade oestrogen receptors, which can contribute to breast cancer risk.

It is being studied in oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, a subtype that accounts for the majority of breast cancer diagnoses.

Breast Cancer Drug Giredestrant’s Trial

Also read: Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Advancing A Risk-Informed and Equitable Approach to Breast Cancer Screening in India

The Phase 3 lidERA trial, involving 4,100 people with early-stage ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, compared giredestrant to standard endocrine therapy.

The results showed that giredestrant reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death by 30% relative to standard endocrine therapy.

At three years, 92.4% of participants receiving giredestrant were alive and free of invasive disease, compared to 89.6% of those receiving standard treatment.

Even though the trial met its primary goal, overall survival data was still immature at the time of analysis. Hence, the findings depict an improvement in invasive disease-free survival, not proof that the drug helps people live longer.

Giredestrant was generally well tolerated in the trial. Treatment was discontinued because of adverse events in 5.3% of participants receiving the drug, compared to 8.2% receiving standard endocrine therapy.

Latest Developments In October 2026

Also read: Breast Cancer Awareness Day: Experts Explain Most Overlooked Breast Changes That Can Delay Diagnosis In Men

On October 19, Roche announced that it would present new giredestrant data at the 2026 ESMO Annual Meeting, scheduled for October 23 to 27 in Madrid.

The presentation includes outcomes reported by patients from the lidERA trial. According to Roche, these findings suggest that the promising results in reducing disease recurrence seen with giredestrant was achieved without compromising tolerability or quality of life of the patients.

The company will also present biomarker findings from the evERA trial, which was based on giredestrant combined with everolimus in advanced breast cancer. These are separate settings from using giredestrant alone after surgery for early-stage disease.

Earlier in October, detailed results from the Phase 3 evERA trial were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

In people with advanced ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, giredestrant combined with everolimus reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 44%.

With 62%, the combination showed even results among participants whose tumours had an ESR1 mutation, compared to standard endocrine therapy combined with everolimus. The FDA has set December 18, 2026, to announce its decision for this combination in certain patients with advanced breast cancer.

The FDA accepted Roche's application for giredestrant as an adjuvant treatment for adults with stage I to III ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer under priority review. The decision will be made on November 30, 2026.

If approved, giredestrant’s use will depend on the overall clinical guidance and patient's individual circumstances. According to Bloomberg, the drug is expected to generate up to $15 billion in revenue.