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 growing measles outbreak in Pennsylvania has taken a political turn after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declined to include two deaths reported by the state in its latest national database.

Pennsylvania health officials had reported the deaths on August 25, describing them as “measles-associated.” But the CDC said it was reviewing additional information about the circumstances around the deaths before including them in the national tally.

The disagreement has since become a public clash between Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and new CDC director Dr. Erica Schwartz and US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This has raised questions as it shunned the standard practice of CDC accepting state government's data to determine the report deaths from infectious diseases.

Why Did The CDC Leave Out The Two Deaths From National Tally?

The CDC's website currently says, “This week's measles outbreaks update will not include the two measles-associated deaths reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on August 25 while CDC reviews additional information regarding the circumstances and causes of death. At this time, available information does not establish whether measles caused or contributed to the deaths or whether the individuals died from other causes while infected with measles. CDC will update the national count as additional information becomes available."

The Department of Health and Human Services said, "The deaths have not been confirmed based on the information currently available to CDC.”

Pennsylvania, however, maintains that it followed the standard process. State Health Department spokesperson Neil Ruhland said, “Every reported measles case is thoroughly reviewed to ensure it meets the CDC's definition for a measles case. To date, DOH has provided all required epidemiological data to the CDC.”

The state has described the deaths as “measles-associated,” a term used when there is laboratory or epidemiological evidence of measles, even if the virus is not determined to be the immediate cause of death.

Also read: Measles In US: 3 More States Report Significant Uptick In Cases; How To Spot Initial Symptoms?

One Death Involved A Newborn

One of the cases involved a newborn who died shortly after birth. The baby had tested positive for measles after the mother had been infected. However, Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni said the immediate cause of death was a ruptured spleen, which further complicated the debate.

The coroner has said he does not believe measles was the cause of death, although measles was listed on the baby's death certificate as a contributing condition. Details about the second death have not been publicly disclosed.

Also read: Measles: Infant Among Two Unvaccinated Deaths Reported In US

Motive Behind CDC’s Unusual Decision

Historically, the CDC has relied on state and local health departments to report measles cases, hospitalisations and associated deaths. According to The Washington Post, former CDC chief medical officer Dr. Debra Houry called the move a departure from that practice:

She said, “CDC has historically relied on the expertise of state and local health departments.”

The dispute comes as Pennsylvania is dealing with its largest measles outbreak in three decades. As of Monday, the state had reported 497 measles cases and 87 hospitalisations, with 100 new cases recorded in just one week.

Nationally, the CDC's latest update listed 2,887 confirmed measles cases across 47 states, plus 16 cases among international visitors.

Why Is Measles Dangerous?

Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases. An infected person can spread the virus to around nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who are exposed. Most people recover, but measles can cause serious complications including pneumonia, brain inflammation and death.

The virus is particularly dangerous for infants, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. That is why public health experts are worried that the argument over two deaths could distract from the larger issue.

Paul Offit, a physician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, told The Inquirer, “It’s August. This is only going to get worse. What can we do to prevent more children suffering and being hospitalized?”

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has crossed another grim milestone, with more than 6,000 confirmed cases and nearly 3,000 deaths. As of August 31, 2026, DRC had reported 6,041 confirmed cases and 2,911 deaths, according to government figures.

That puts the outbreak's case-fatality ratio at approximately 48.2%, meaning nearly one in every two confirmed patients has died. More than 1,360 people have recovered.

With Ituri remaining the epicentre, the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, has spread across six provinces and nearly 60 health zones.

Mortality Rate Is Close To 50%

In its latest Disease Outbreak News update, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a 48.1% crude case-fatality ratio as of August 26 and said the figure “underscores the severity of the disease”.

The number also highlights other issues like timely diagnosis, access to and quality of clinical care and containing transmission. Delayed diagnosis can be particularly dangerous as people may continue interacting with family members and healthcare workers while infectious.

WHO reported that 81 new confirmed cases were recorded in a single 24-hour period as of August 26. Ituri alone had recorded 4,802 confirmed cases by that point.

A nearly 50% case-fatality ratio does not mean that every person infected with Bundibugyo virus has a 50% chance of dying.

It is calculated from recorded cases and deaths and that can change as patients recover, die or are newly diagnosed. It is also be affected by how early cases are detected, access to treatment and whether infections are being missed.

Also read: Ebola Bundibugyo Virus: American Health Worker Had 10x Higher Viral Load In Throat Than Blood

Second-Largest Ebola Outbreak On Record

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, "The DRC outbreak is spreading substantially faster than previous Ebola outbreaks” and is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record. The outbreak surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases within about 40 days of response activation, compared with approximately 235 days during the 2018 DRC outbreak.

The CDC says the response is being affected by limited healthcare infrastructure, ongoing conflict, violence against healthcare workers, shortages of protective equipment, population movement, mistrust and misinformation.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeatedly stressed that communities need to be at the heart of the response.

In a joint WHO-Africa CDC commentary published on August 25, Tedros, WHO Africa Regional Director Mohamed Yakub Janabi and Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya wrote, “Ebola spreads through communities, and communities hold the knowledge required to stop it.”

Also read: Ebola Outbreak In DR Congo Records Its Highest Weekly Death Tolls Yet, With More Than 300 Deaths

Vaccine-Related Developments

Unlike Zaire strain, this outbreak is being caused by Bundibugyo virus, for which there is currently no vaccine or treatment. But researchers are in the process of testing vaccine and treatment on candidates.

Health authorities have also taken the unusual step of testing Ervebo, the vaccine licensed for Zaire Ebola, against the Bundibugyo strain.

WHO and Africa CDC announced in August that DRC would receive 70,000 Ervebo doses. Of these, 20,000 doses are intended for a Phase 3 clinical trial, while 50,000 are intended for frontline and healthcare workers under current recommendations.

WHO said, “It is not known whether Ervebo may be protective against the Bundibugyo virus in humans.”

Eli Lilly has made its latest move to look beyond the blockbuster GLP-1 market by agreeing to acquire biotech company Merida Biosciences for up to $2.875 billion in cash.

The deal will give Lilly access to Merida's experimental treatments for autoimmune and allergic diseases, including a potential drug for Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions.

The acquisition is another sign that Lilly is trying to diversify its pipeline beyond the obesity and diabetes medicines that have driven its recent growth. Lilly's spending on similar deals in 2026 that signals the company is looking to to expand beyond its successful hold on GLP-1 markets.

From Weight Loss Medications To Autoimmune Disease Drugs

Merida's lead programme, MER511, is currently in Phase 1 development for Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease (TED). The experimental treatment uses Merida's antibody-engineering platform to selectively remove pathogenic autoantibodies, the antibodies responsible for driving certain autoimmune diseases.

The idea is different from conventional immune-suppressing medicines, which dampen immune activity broadly. Initial Phase 1 data showed that MER511 substantially reduced thyroid-stimulating antibodies associated with Graves' disease and TED, while showing a favourable initial safety profile.

Francisco Ramírez-Valle, Lilly's senior vice president of immunology research and early clinical development, said, “We're building our pipeline around therapies that meaningfully change the course of disease, not just its downstream effects.”

He added that Merida's lead programme is designed to selectively and directly target the antibodies driving Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease.

Also read: Eli Lilly’s Foundayo Launched In UK: Is the GLP-1 Pill Better Than Wegovy, Mounjaro?

Different Drug Approach To Autoimmune Disease

In thyroid eye disease, inflammation can cause eye bulging, pain, double vision and, in severe cases, vision impairment.

Lilly's interest is specifically in Merida's approach is its attempt to target the disease-causing antibodies themselves, rather than suppressing the immune system more broadly.

Merida CEO Adam Townsend said, “Merida was founded to fundamentally change how autoimmune and allergic diseases are treated, by targeting the antibodies driving them directly, rather than suppressing the immune system broadly.”

That could potentially offer a more precise way of treating diseases in which specific autoantibodies are driving the damage.

Also read: Wegovy Is The Go-To Weightloss Drug Choice For Most US Teens

Lilly's Expanding Pipeline

The acquisition isn't only about Graves' disease. Merida's pipeline includes MER769, an experimental programme being developed for food allergy, asthma, chronic spontaneous urticaria and other allergic diseases.

The company also has earlier-stage programmes targeting kidney diseases and other conditions mediated by immunity.

This gives Lilly a potential base across a much broader range of immune-mediated diseases. The company that became synonymous with Mounjaro and Zepbound is trying to build a pharmaceutical portfolio that does not cash in entirely on the GLP-1 boom.

MER511 is still only in Phase 1, meaning its safety and preliminary biological activity are being evaluated in early clinical testing. The promising initial data do not yet establish whether the drug will ultimately work in larger patient populations or receive regulatory approval.

The $2.88-billion deal is therefore not Lilly buying an already-proven autoimmune medicine. It is buying a platform and the potential for an entirely new class of treatments.

As Townsend put it, “Joining Lilly gives our science the resources and commitment to realize its potential for patients with immune-mediated conditions.”