A new experimental drug called IC7Fc could help treat both diabetes and heart disease by lowering cholesterol and reducing inflammation in the arteries, researchers have found.

In tests on mice prone to cardiovascular disease, the drug significantly reduced blood fats (triglycerides) and cholesterol while slowing the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries that can cause heart attacks and strokes.

Building on earlier studies showing IC7Fc’s benefits for type 2 diabetes, the international research suggests the treatment may target both metabolic and cardiovascular disease.

The work was led by Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, in collaboration with Monash University and other institutions.

IC7Fc works by reducing atherosclerosis — the narrowing and hardening of arteries caused by fatty plaque build-up.

This process limits blood flow to vital organs and is a major cause of cardiovascular events.

Professor Mark Febbraio from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences said: “Our earlier studies showed IC7Fc could help manage type 2 diabetes, a metabolic disease.

“This new research shows it can also reduce atherosclerosis, meaning it slows the ‘clogging’ of the arteries, where fatty deposits build up and restrict blood flow to the heart,” said

“Heart disease remains the world’s biggest killer, driven largely by atherosclerosis. Even with common treatments that lower blood pressure and cholesterol, many people are still at risk, showing there’s more work to do.”

Earlier studies found IC7Fc reduced appetite and body fat in obese mice.

However, in this new study using lean mice prone to high cholesterol and artery disease, the drug did not affect body weight or food intake.

This suggests IC7Fc’s weight-loss effects may mainly apply to obesity, while its heart-protective benefits — such as reducing cholesterol build-up in arteries — could also help lean individuals.

The findings highlight the drug’s potential as a versatile treatment and the need for further research in humans.

“These results suggest IC7Fc could offer a dual benefit — helping reduce obesity in some, while protecting the heart in others,” Professor Febbraio said.

“It’s an exciting step towards a treatment that targets both metabolic and cardiovascular disease.”

Professor Febbraio has been central to the discovery and long-term research into IC7Fc as a potential treatment for metabolic diseases.

The research team is now planning human trials to test whether the same benefits can be replicated in patients.

The UK government has announced a plan to diagnose 92 per cent of people with dementia within 18 weeks of a doctor’s referral by 2029 — up from fewer than half today.

A £5m research challenge will fund new diagnostic tools, including blood tests, saliva analysis and AI-driven technologies, to speed up detection and improve care for the one million people living with dementia in the UK.

The announcement was made by science minister Lord Vallance during a visit to the UK Dementia Research Institute in Cambridge with health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed on 24 October.

Potential solutions include blood tests that detect the build-up of abnormal proteins in the brain — a hallmark of dementia that damages nerve cells — and saliva analysis to identify hormonal changes linked to early memory decline. Such innovations could move diagnosis away from traditional tests based on visible cognitive symptoms.

AI-powered daily assistants could also support people through smart speakers or tablets, learning their routines and cognitive abilities. These tools could suggest brain exercises, give task reminders, assist with recipes or connect users with family members via video calls.

With one in four acute hospital beds in England occupied by someone with dementia, these developments aim to help more people receive care in their communities while reducing pressure on the NHS. The number of people with dementia is projected to reach 1.4m by 2040.

“Few people in the UK will go through life untouched by the impact of dementia – whether through a personal diagnosis or by caring for a loved one,” said Lord Vallance.

“We must therefore grasp the opportunities that science and technology offer in getting people the early and effective diagnosis they need to continue living fulfilled lives while reducing the pressure on hospitals.”

Health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said: “For too long, our health system has struggled to support those with complex needs, including the one million people living with dementia. This ambitious challenge represents a crucial step forward in our mission to build an NHS fit for the future.

“By harnessing the power of innovation to diagnose dementia faster and more accurately, we can ensure patients and their families get the support they need earlier, when it can make the greatest difference.”

The Dementia Patient Flow R&I Challenge is the third of five to be launched under the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme, backed by £500m from the Spending Review and coordinated by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

UKRI has also announced £1.2m for two projects accelerating innovation in digital cognitive assessments. Kneu Health, a University of Oxford spinout, will develop smartphone-based cognitive assessment technology that combines digital testing with biomarker analysis — measuring molecules in the body that indicate illness.

Food for the Brain Foundation will receive funding for a web-based test assessing four key brain functions: thinking speed, memory, recognition and decision-making.

The test can be completed in clinics and at home using standard web browsers before being integrated into NHS services.

Professor Siddharthan Chandran, director and chief executive of the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: “As a practising neurologist, I see first-hand the devastating impact that a long delay for diagnosis can have on an individual and their family. We’re now at an inflection point.

“The next five years will see a revolution in both therapeutics and diagnostics for dementia, and we’re already seeing the beginnings of that transformation today.

“Precise, early diagnosis isn’t just about giving people information — it’s about giving them agency, choice, and crucially, access to emerging clinical trials and treatments that offer real hope to slow or stop these conditions.”

Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This funding focus is a welcome boost to UK dementia research, which is already helping to lead the way on cutting-edge tests to detect dementia, through major initiatives like the Blood Biomarker Challenge, which is validating blood tests, and the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme, which brings together industry, academia and the NHS.

“Right now, hundreds of thousands of people living with dementia miss out on a diagnosis – and the answers, care and support that one can bring. That’s not just a crisis. It’s wrong.

“But innovations like blood tests, digital assessments and retinal scans are offering real hope, and they will soon be here.”

Czech company H₂ Medical Technologies, a subsidiary of H₂ Global Group, has received official approval from the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL) to begin a clinical study on molecular hydrogen inhalation therapy for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease.

The authorisation marks Europe’s first fully approved clinical trial investigating non-invasive hydrogen inhalation as a potential neuroprotective therapy. Neuroprotective treatments aim to protect brain cells from damage and slow disease progression.

The project builds on pioneering research by Professor Shigeo Ohta, co-founder of H₂ Global Group and regarded as a founding figure in therapeutic hydrogen medicine. Professor Ohta personally transferred his European patent (EP 3701956 B1), titled “Prophylactic or Therapeutic Agent for Dementia,” to the group.

“Launching a clinical study that directly builds on Professor Ohta’s patent is both an honour and a responsibility,” said PharmDr Milan Krajíček, co-founder of H₂ Global Group. “This milestone proves that Czech innovation and research have truly global relevance.”

The six-month study, due to begin in January 2026, will be carried out in collaboration with Professor David Školoudík, one of the Czech Republic’s leading neurologists. The project aims to achieve what the company says will be the world’s first regulatory registration of a medical device using molecular hydrogen.

“While several antibody-based drugs have been approved to slow Alzheimer’s progression, there is still no widely available, safe and effective non-invasive treatment,” said David Maršálek, founder and chief executive of H₂ Global Group. “Our goal is to offer patients and physicians a gentle, accessible and scientifically validated solution.”

H₂ Global Group is a European innovation group connecting research, development, manufacturing and practical application of molecular hydrogen technologies across healthcare, wellness, sports, cosmetics and veterinary sectors. Under the leadership of David Maršálek, the group has built a vertically integrated ecosystem from research and product development through to manufacturing and global distribution. The company reports an estimated valuation exceeding US$77m, with an expanding patent portfolio and international partnerships.