Health

Breakthrough as cheap blood pressure drug fights deadly breast cancer

Published

6 months ago

August 25, 2025

Breakthrough as cheap blood pressure drug fights deadly breast cancer

A cheap blood pressure drug taken by millions could help protect women against one of the deadliest forms of breast cancer, new research suggests.

Scientists at Monash University in Melbourne say beta blockers – which work by dampening the effects of stress hormones – may also halt the progression of triple-negative breast cancer in some patients.

The link between beta blockers and breast cancer first emerged in 2023, though it was not clear why. Now, researchers believe they have identified the mechanism – and with it a potential low-cost treatment for an extremely aggressive disease.

Their work looked at the interaction between two signalling molecules, cAMP and calcium, which accelerate cancer spread when a receptor called the beta-2 adrenoceptor is activated.

Stress hormones such as cortisol can trigger this receptor, fuelling tumour growth. But the team has now discovered that beta blockers can switch off a gene – HOXC12 – that drives this process, slowing the progression of the disease.

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The researchers said the breakthrough could help doctors identify, at the point of diagnosis, which patients are most likely to benefit from beta blocker therapy.

Beta blockers like atenolol work mainly by blocking the effect of stress hormones like adrenaline to slow down the heart. They are currently used to treat a number of conditions, including heart failure, high blood pressure and sometimes anxiety.

Professor Michelle Halls, senior author of the study and an expert in drug discovery biology at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, said the findings were exciting, as they confirmed the potential link between beta blockers and tumour progression.

“Our colleagues previously found that beta blockers are associated with a significant reduction in mortality in people with triple-negative breast cancer. Now we have a much better grasp on why this could be the case,” she said.

Mr Terrance Lam, a pharmaceutical PhD candidate at the institute and co-author of the study, added: ‘Our collective research strongly suggests that HOXC12 is a potential new indicator for when triple negative breast cancer patients could respond to beta blocker targeted interventions.

“Triple negative breast cancer is an aggressive cancer which can be especially challenging to treat, and identifying new treatment pathways is important.”

The researchers are now calling for further studies to ‘urgently’ determine whether the gene can be used at diagnosis to identify patients who will benefit from beta blocker therapy – and stop their cancer spreading.

Beta blockers, commonly prescribed to lower blood pressure, work mainly by slowing the heart and blocking the action of stress hormones such as adrenaline.

According to the study, published in the scientific journal Science Signalling, there is a strong correlation between activation of the beta-2 adrenoceptor and accelerated cancer spread.

They also found that patients with high levels of HOXC12 expression were associated with poorer overall cancer survival outcomes.

Around 85 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for more than five years following their diagnosis. However, triple negative breast cancer – which accounts for around 15 per cent of all breast cancers in the UK and US – is far more challenging to treat.

Typically, it grows and spreads faster than other breast cancer types and has fewer treatment options. One reason for this is because it doesn’t interact with hormones such as oestrogen in the same way as other breast cancers – for which there are targeted therapies.

On average around 77 per cent of women with triple negative breast cancer will survive their cancer for five years or more after they are diagnosed, but depending on the stage, this can fall as low as 12 per cent.

This is compared to around 90 per cent of women with other forms of breast cancer who will survive for at least five years.

Breakthrough as cheap blood pressure drug fights deadly breast cancer

Related Topics:blood pressure breast cancer drug

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NUFBTE Workers Occupy NAFDAC Lagos Office Over Sachet Alcohol Ban

Published

23 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Trends Admin

NUFBTE Workers Occupy NAFDAC Lagos Office Over Sachet Alcohol Ban

Members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) on Thursday staged a protest at the NAFDAC office in Isolo, Lagos, demanding the reversal of the agency’s ban on sachet and PET-bottled alcoholic beverages. The union claims the ban contradicts a directive reportedly issued by the Federal Government, and they want production lines that were sealed to be immediately reopened.

The protesters, including manufacturers, distributors, and industry workers, argued that the enforcement of the ban threatens jobs, livelihoods, and the operations of small and medium-sized enterprises that rely on sachet alcohol sales. During the demonstration, union members handed a petition to NAFDAC officials, urging dialogue and a more balanced approach that safeguards both public health and the food and beverage sector.

NUFBTE cited alleged instructions from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser, claiming that NAFDAC should suspend enforcement. The union said continued closure of production lines and restriction of alcohol sales would lead to economic hardship and widespread job losses.

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However, NAFDAC rejected the claims, with Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye stating that no federal directive has instructed the agency to halt the ban. In a statement, the regulator described circulating reports as “false” and “misleading,” emphasizing that its actions are within statutory authority and in line with official government policies.

“NAFDAC has not received any formal directive to suspend its regulatory or enforcement activities concerning sachet alcohol,” the statement read. The agency reiterated its commitment to public health protection, regulatory compliance, and consumer safety, warning the public and industry stakeholders to rely on verified information from official channels.

The ban, implemented earlier this month, targets alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and containers smaller than 200ml, a measure aimed at reducing unregulated alcohol consumption and protecting vulnerable groups. While the policy has faced backlash from workers and businesses, NAFDAC maintains that it is necessary for national health and safety.

The protest underscores the tension between regulatory enforcement and economic concerns, as workers continue to call for inclusive policymaking and engagement with industry stakeholders to mitigate the impact on jobs and local businesses.

NUFBTE Workers Occupy NAFDAC Lagos Office Over Sachet Alcohol Ban

Health

NAFDAC Clarifies: No Government Directive to Halt Sachet Alcohol Enforcement

Published

2 days ago

February 11, 2026

Trends Admin

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye

NAFDAC Clarifies: No Government Directive to Halt Sachet Alcohol Enforcement

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed reports claiming that the Federal Government ordered a suspension of its enforcement activities against sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic beverages, describing the reports as “false and misleading.”

In a statement signed by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency clarified that it has not received any formal communication from the Federal Government instructing it to halt regulatory or enforcement operations. NAFDAC stressed that all its actions are carried out within its statutory mandate and guided by existing laws and official government directives.

“The said publication is false, misleading, and does not reflect any official communication received by the Agency from the Federal Government,” the statement read. Prof. Adeyeye reiterated that enforcement of regulations on sachet alcohol remains active and any changes to national regulatory policies would be officially communicated through authorised channels.

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NAFDAC warned that the spread of unverified information can cause public confusion, economic uncertainty, and misinterpretation of government policy. The agency urged the public, industry stakeholders, and the media to rely only on verified information released via its official platforms and government communication channels.

The clarification comes amid ongoing concerns over the public health risks of sachet alcohol, which has been associated with poisoning incidents and misuse, particularly among young people. NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to protecting public health, ensuring compliance in the food and beverage sector, and maintaining national interest while carrying out its regulatory duties.

The agency’s statement underscores that all enforcement operations targeting unsafe alcohol products will continue without interruption, aiming to safeguard consumers and uphold public safety.

NAFDAC Clarifies: No Government Directive to Halt Sachet Alcohol Enforcement

Health

FG Ends ‘No Work, No Pay’, Clears January Salaries After 84-Day JOHESU Strike

Published

3 days ago

February 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako

FG Ends ‘No Work, No Pay’, Clears January Salaries After 84-Day JOHESU Strike

The Federal Government has officially lifted the “No Work, No Pay” directive imposed during the 84-day nationwide strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and approved the immediate payment of January 2026 salaries for all affected health workers.

The decision followed the suspension of the industrial action after a successful conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and JOHESU leadership, prompting the union to direct its members nationwide to resume work in the interest of patients, health system stability, and national public health security.

In a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ado Bako, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the resolution reflects the government’s commitment to dialogue, fairness, and the protection of Nigeria’s health workforce.

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“The Federal Government remains fully committed to the welfare, dignity, and professional advancement of all health workers across Nigeria. This resolution demonstrates that dialogue, mutual respect, and good faith remain the most effective tools for resolving industrial disputes in our health sector,” Salako said.

The minister acknowledged the sacrifices made by health workers during the prolonged strike and assured JOHESU members that no worker would be victimised, sanctioned, or intimidated for participating in the action.

“Government has therefore approved the immediate payment of January 2026 salaries and assures all JOHESU members that no reprisal will follow the industrial action,” he added.

Salako further reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to sustained engagement with health sector unions, noting that discussions would continue on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and outstanding issues relating to the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).

He disclosed that the Federal Government has committed to making provisions for the proposed salary adjustments in the 2026 Appropriation Act, in line with the recommendations of the existing technical committee template.

“The inclusion of salary adjustment provisions in the 2026 budget framework reflects our seriousness about achieving sustainable solutions for the health workforce through concrete policy and budgetary actions,” the minister stated.

He commended the spirit of cooperation and patriotism displayed by all parties throughout the negotiation process and reassured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to uninterrupted, quality, and accessible healthcare services nationwide.