American Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 183, Issue 5, Page 333-342, May 01, 2026.
The Future of DSM: Role of Candidate Biomarkers and Biological Factors
American Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 183, Issue 5, Page 317-324, May 01, 2026.
The Future of DSM: A Report From the Structure and Dimensions Subcommittee
American Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 183, Issue 5, Page 301-309, May 01, 2026.
Psychiatric Comorbidities in Substance Use Disorders: Sex-Based Differences in a National Real-World Clinical Sample
American Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 183, Issue 5, Page 355-363, May 01, 2026.
UCB to Acquire Candid for up to $2.2B, Expanding Presence in TCE Antibodies for Immunology
UCB has agreed to acquire Candid Therapeutics for up to $2.2 billion, the companies said, in a deal to expand the buyer’s presence in T-cell engager (TCE) antibodies designed for immunology indications by adding Candid’s pipeline of bispecific and trispecific antibody candidates.
The deal upends plans announced in March by Candid to enter a reverse merger with Rallybio, in which Rallybio would have acquired Candid but retained Candid’s name and created new shares to be traded on NASDAQ. The new company was to have developed Candid’s pipeline using $505 million in concurrent financing from a syndicate of healthcare institutional investors and mutual funds.
Based in San Diego, privately held Candid’s pipeline of autoimmune and inflammatory disease candidates includes treatments licensed from Chinese biotechs.
Candid’s lead asset, cizutamig, is a bispecific antibody for autoantibody-driven autoimmune diseases. Licensed from Shanghai-based EpimAb Biotherapeutics, cizutamig is directed to B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) on plasma cells and CD3 on T cells, with the aim of enabling T-cell–mediated cytotoxicity against both kinds of cells while limiting cytokine release. Cizutamig is currently in multiple Phase I clinical studies in over 10 autoimmune indications, with clinical evaluation in more than 100 patients with multiple myeloma (completed with 40 patients) and autoimmune diseases (68 patients across multiple indications in China and Europe).
Also in Phase I development within Candid’s pipeline is CND261, a CD20 x CD3 bispecific antibody TCE that the company licenses from Shanghai-based Genor Biopharma. CND261 is being developed to treat autoimmune diseases by targeting a variety of B-cell subtypes, from pro-B-cells to plasmablasts/plasma cells. Candid has completed a 93-patient Phase I dose escalation study of CND261 in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).
The rest of Candid’s pipeline consists of two preclinical candidates in IND-enabling studies:
- CND319, a CD19xCD20xCD3 trispecific antibody designed to target the CD19 and CD20 antigens on a broad range of B-cell subtypes, and licensed from WuXi Biologics last year for up to $925 million in upfront and milestone payments, plus royalties.
- CND460, a BCMAxCD19xCD3 trispecific antibody designed to target the BCMA and CD19 antigens on a broad range of B-cell subtypes.
CND261, CND319, and CND460 represent a pipeline of multi-specific TCE antibodies designed to enable deep, targeted depletion of pathogenic B cell populations in immune-mediated diseases to achieve immune reset—what UCB termed a modular, multi-antigen targeting strategy to address complementary B-cell subsets.
“We started Candid with the goal to redefine the standard of care for immune-mediated diseases. We purposefully built a broad portfolio of TCE assets against a number of clinical indications,” stated Ken Song, MD, Candid’s chairman, CEO, and president. Previously, as president, CEO, and board director of radiopharmaceutical developer RayzeBio, Song negotiated the approximately $4.1 billion sale of the company to Bristol Myers Squibb, completed in 2024.
“Our focus has been to efficiently generate clinical data so as to identify where our TCEs could provide maximal clinical benefit for the broadest number of patients,” Song explained.
Investors appeared less enthusiastic about the deal. UCB stock is traded primarily on Euronext Brussels, where the company’s shares barely budged Monday, dipping 0.65% to €228.30 ($267.28) as of 10:37 am ET.
Platform-based strategy
UCB’s plan to acquire Candid comes roughly two months after the Belgian biotech giant agreed to license exclusive global rights to further develop, manufacture, and commercialize Hong Kong-based Antengene’s ATG-201, a CD19 and CD3 bispecific TCE antibody designed to target B cell-related autoimmune diseases. UCB agreed to pay Antengene $80 million in upfront and near-term milestone payments, plus up to approximately $1.1 billion in payments tied to achieving development and commercial milestones under the agreement, which also granted UCB access to Antengene’s associated manufacturing technology in relation to ATG-201.
UCB said its planned acquisition of Candid, plus the Antengene deal, reflects a platform-based strategy of complementary investments intended to expand its reach across multiple B-cell targets and disease mechanisms, thus strengthening its ability to address antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases through multiple approaches rather than relying on a single asset or modality.
“This acquisition demonstrates our inorganic innovation strategy in action and marks a pivotal moment for UCB, as we secure a significant technological advancement in the field with the addition of cizutamig to our pipeline,” UCB CEO Jean-Christophe Tellier said in a statement. “This exemplifies the next wave of therapies to treat immune-mediated diseases and reflects our commitment to setting new standards to achieve immune reset.
Tellier added that UCB considers cizutamig “a potential transformative asset, that complements our existing programs, and is poised to redefine treatment expectations for severe, underserved immune-mediated diseases, offering the potential to deliver meaningful improvements in patient outcomes and quality of life.”
UCB has agreed to pay Candid $2 billion upfront and up to $200 million in potential future milestone payments. The transaction is subject to closing conditions that include antitrust clearance and other customary conditions and is expected to close by the end of the second quarter or early Q3 2026.
The deal is good news for Two River and Vida Ventures, funds that played central roles in the creation and early development of Candid, which was launched in 2024 with more than $370 million in capital. Two River, together with Third Rock Ventures, helped found Candid, which was created through the merger of Two River-founded TRC 2004 and Vignette Bio.
“This outcome reflects the power of bringing together bold science, disciplined company building, and the right strategic partners,” said Arie Belldegrun, MD, founder and senior managing director of Vida Ventures, chairman of Two River, and co-founder of Bellco Health.
UCB added that it expects the anticipated financial impact of the Candid acquisition to be “manageable.” The company has not changed its most recent 2026 guidance, which calls for revenue growth in the high single‑digit to low double‑digit range at constant exchange rates, while underlying profitability, measured by “adjusted” earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), which excludes one-time expenses, is expected to increase in the high single‑digit to mid‑teens range.
“UCB’s successful track record in immunology, including development, launch, and commercialization, will enable the continuation of our clinical programs and help deliver on the potential for our pipeline,” Song added.
The post UCB to Acquire Candid for up to $2.2B, Expanding Presence in TCE Antibodies for Immunology appeared first on GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.
Chromosome Engineering Reveals New Locus for Fusarium Resistance in Wheat
Fusarium head blight (FHB) remains one of the most destructive diseases in global wheat production, and its impact is only intensifying. Warmer climates and crop rotations that favor pathogen survival have expanded the prevalence of FHB outbreaks, leading to major yield losses and contamination of grain with mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), and zearalenone (ZEN).
While fungicides offer partial control, reduced sensitivity and rising costs have made genetic resistance in wheat the most sustainable long‑term strategy. Yet despite decades of breeding, only a handful of major FHB resistance loci—Fhb1 through Fhb9—have been formally designated, and just two have been cloned. The scarcity of strong, deployable resistance genes has become a bottleneck for wheat improvement.
A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Botany, “Identification of a novel Fusarium head blight resistance locus Fhb.Er‑1StL from Elymus repens introgressed into wheat,” expands that genetic toolkit. Researchers at Sichuan Agricultural University report the discovery of a previously unknown FHB resistance locus, Fhb.Er‑1StL, derived from the wild grass Elymus repens—a species better known as an agricultural weed than a genomic resource.
“Both research and breeding practice have shown that developing and deploying resistant wheat cultivars is the fundamental solution to FHB,” said first author Fei Wang. “However, current efforts are limited by a scarcity of major resistance sources, narrow genetic backgrounds, and inefficient use of resistance genes.”
The team began by characterizing the genome of a wheat E. repens partial amphidiploid, P1142‑1‑2, which carries the full wheat genome plus seven pairs of alien chromosomes or chromosome fragments. Using sequential GISH and FISH cytogenetics, they mapped the alien chromatin and identified a pair of chromosomes containing the long arm of the E. repens 1St chromosome. From crosses with the susceptible wheat cultivar Chuannong16, they isolated two derivative lines carrying either a 1StL isochromosome or a 1StL telosome, both of which conferred strong resistance to FHB.
To pinpoint the resistance locus, the researchers applied a targeted sequencing approach using the Wheat–St 45K liquid microarray GBTS platform. This allowed the researchers to precisely identify the alien 1StL segment and develop markers to track it in breeding lines. Plants carrying this segment showed markedly improved resistance, and molecular assays confirmed that the region represents a previously unknown FHB resistance locus, now designated Fhb.Er‑1StL.
“We believe this work is of practical importance for accelerating the breeding of resistant, high‑yielding wheat varieties and breaking the bottleneck in FHB resistance breeding,” said senior author Yinghui Li, PhD.
Next steps include fine‑mapping the locus and generating smaller translocation lines to reduce linkage drag—an essential step before the trait can be widely deployed in commercial breeding.
“With the aid of modern genomic technologies and precise breeding strategies, Fhb.Er-1StL holds promise as a cornerstone for developing next-generation wheat cultivars with durable resistance to FHB,” concluded the authors.
The post Chromosome Engineering Reveals New Locus for <i>Fusarium</i> Resistance in Wheat appeared first on GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.
Understanding Online Health Information Consumption Through Web Analytics of the Italian Society of Pharmacology Magazine: 3-Year Descriptive Analysis
<strong>Background:</strong> The COVID-19 pandemic underscored that access to reliable and expert-driven scientific information is not only essential but also lifesaving. Since 2020, the Italian Society of Pharmacology has been publishing <i>SIF Magazine</i>, an online magazine dedicated to citizens. This journal was created to make pharmacology accessible to the public, highlighting its impact on health and quality of life while clarifying the truths, theories, and misconceptions surrounding drugs and their use. <strong>Objective:</strong> This work analyzed web interaction data from <i>SIF Magazine</i> to understand how the public reaches and engages with an online scientific journal and gather practical insights for improving digital scientific communication. <strong>Methods:</strong> The data analyzed in this study were obtained from the web analytics of the <i>SIF Magazine</i> website. The analysis covers 3 years (2022-2024). By studying patterns of access, navigation, and engagement, the analysis clarified which types of scientific content connect most with users, how people find and choose trustworthy sources, and what they do after reaching them. <strong>Results:</strong> Average monthly site visits increased from 120,024 in the partial period examined in 2022 to 128,059 in 2023 and 200,379 in 2024, paralleled by higher monthly views (155,785 in 2022, 165,438 in 2023, and 254,297 in 2024). The engagement rate declined modestly (36% in late 2022, 35% in 2023, and 29% in 2024), consistent with scale-related dilution from an expanding top-of-funnel audience. Category-level analyses of top-performing articles indicated disproportionate interest in renal, urogenital, and sexual disorders followed by inflammation and pain and gastrointestinal diseases. Seasonal analyses showed recurrent peaks for season-linked topics (eg, motion sickness, photosensitivity reactions, and influenza vaccination) during expected periods. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Together, these findings underscore the importance of data-driven content planning and continuous performance monitoring to sustain the effectiveness of digital scientific communication platforms.
Exploring Acceptance of a Clinical Workflow Tool in the Swedish Prosthetics and Orthotics Sector: Qualitative Study
Background: The global demand for assistive devices, such as prosthetics and orthotics, is increasing. A shortage of trained professionals contributes to suboptimal care. To improve clinical workflows, the Life Lounge Clinical Workflow (LLCW) has been developed. Understanding user acceptance is essential for ensuring its successful implementation. Objective: This study explored prosthetists and orthotists professionals’ perceptions and acceptance of LLCW, as well as the perceived benefits and challenges associated with its use. Methods: A postdemonstration mixed methods study was conducted using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology framework, combining Likert-scale summaries with thematic analysis of open-text responses. The study included 18 prosthetists and orthotists professionals working at orthotic and prosthetic clinics across Sweden. After an interactive session about LLCW, feedback was collected via questionnaires. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Participants rated several acceptance-related constructs positively. Performance expectancy and facilitating conditions emerged as the most favorably discussed areas in the qualitative responses. Descriptive ratings showed high mean scores for motivation to use (4.61), management encouragement (4.56), ease of use (4.11), and willingness to use voluntarily (4.11). However, colleagues’ perceptions had a lower mean rating (2.72). Participants highlighted centralized data access, reduced administrative tasks, and improved clinical preparation as key benefits. At the same time, concerns were raised regarding data accuracy, questionnaire length, and the need for structured training before implementation. Conclusions: Participants reported generally positive experiences with LLCW, particularly regarding usability and performance. However, successful implementation requires integration into existing clinical workflows and attention to training and patient engagement. Addressing these elements can support broader adoption and contribute to digital transformation in prosthetics and orthotics care.
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Anxiety and Depression Associated With the Dependent Use of Generative AI in Medical Students: Cross-Sectional Study
Background: The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education has transformed learning processes but also raised concerns about potential mental health risks. Medical students represent a particularly vulnerable group due to high academic stress and increasing reliance on generative AI tools for study and decision-making tasks. Despite this, the relationship between AI dependence and psychological distress remains underexplored in Latin American contexts. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between generative AI dependence and levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 187 human medicine students from a Peruvian university during the first academic semester of 2025. The Dependence on Artificial Intelligence Scale and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale–21 were applied. Negative binomial regression models, both crude and adjusted for sex, age, income, and year of study, were used to assess associations, reporting rate ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs. Results: Participants had a median age of 22 (IQR 19‐24) years, and 58.8% (110/187) were female. The median Dependence on Artificial Intelligence Scale score was 10 (IQR 7‐14). Generative AI dependence showed significant correlations with anxiety (ρ=0.336, 95% CI 0.22‐0.44) and depression (ρ=0.316, 95% CI 0.20‐0.43) and a smaller correlation with stress (ρ=0.277, 95% CI 0.16‐0.39). In the adjusted regression models, each 1-point increase in generative AI dependence was associated with a 5% higher expected anxiety score (RR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01‐1.09; =.01) and a 4% higher depression score (RR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01‐1.08; =.03), whereas the association with stress was positive but nonsignificant (RR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00‐1.07; =.08). Fifth-year students had significantly greater anxiety levels than their sixth-year peers (RR 1.82, 95% CI 1.09‐3.01; =.02). No significant effects were observed for sex, age, or income. Conclusions: This study empirically examined generative AI dependence as a distinct behavioral construct and its association with mental health symptoms in medical students. Unlike prior research, this study evaluated psychological dependence on generative AI and modeled its relationship with anxiety and depression using appropriate count-based regression techniques. By providing early evidence from a Latin American context, it contributes to the emerging field of digital mental health and medical education research. These findings underscore the need for universities to promote balanced and responsible AI use, integrate digital literacy with mental health support strategies, and develop preventive policies that mitigate potential maladaptive reliance on generative AI tools.
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Effect of Wearable Activity Tracker Social Behaviors on Physical Activity and Exercise Self-Efficacy: Real-World Pilot Study
Background: Wearable activity trackers are useful tools to track and monitor physical activity (PA), especially considering their use in free-living environments. Users often see moderate improvements in step count, but consistent increases at various intensities of PA are inconclusive. While wearable research is growing, no known studies specifically examine the relationship between how the use of self-selected social features on wearables affects PA and exercise self-efficacy. Objective: This study aims to compare weekly PA, approximating moderate-to-vigorous intensity, of adults from the New York City metropolitan area assigned to either use or not use social engagement PA features on their device. Exercise self-efficacy was also measured. Additionally, a preliminary examination into the use of 3 different social features was conducted to inform where controlled parameters on feature use may be needed in future work. Methods: The researchers conducted a real-world pilot study by recruiting wearable users aged 18 years and older in the New York City area to wear their devices in free-living environments. After consent, participants were randomized into 1 of 2 conditions: the condition that involved use of the social engagement PA features or the condition that did not for 8 weeks. Participants submitted objective data from their device and completed a self-efficacy measure at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Those in the intervention group also answered questions about which social feature they used the most throughout the study. Results: Data from 123 participants were analyzed using mixed methods analysis. Principal findings included no difference between wearable social feature users and nonusers in weekly PA (=.55) or exercise self-efficacy (=.47). There was an overall effect of time across the repeated measures on PA (=.006) with an average increase of 72 (SD 3) minutes. Secondary findings highlight the need to control for the use of only a single social feature to identify more concrete effects. An effect of time was found across the repeated measures (=.01) in the intervention group, showing an increase of 49 to 126 minutes of PA, depending on the feature used most. The mixed methods analysis also found that exercise self-efficacy did not significantly change based on which social feature was used most (=.24). Conclusions: Consistent with other literature, this pilot study demonstrates that using wearables can lead to increases in PA and that sharing one’s PA data with others may amplify the effect. However, the novelty of this study is that although carefully implied, specific social features on a wearable may have a greater effect than others. This study identified the need for further investigation into which features may be more effective. With the increased prevalence of device ownership, knowing if certain social features lead to greater increases in PA may help those encouraging PA behavior change.
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