This Week in Good News: Experimental Drug Shrinks Rare Lung Cancers, and 4 More
An experimental drug shrank tumors in a rare lung cancer, southern right whales took two routes to the same feeding grounds, Guatemala gained its first endemic bird, pocket mice got a third home, and a sniffer dog won IFAW's top animal award.
This roundup covers the week of Oct 18–Oct 25. The most-read stories come from the United States, New Zealand, Guatemala and the United Kingdom. They range from a cancer drug trial and whale migration to a newly recognized bird, an endangered mouse and a dog that sniffs out an invasive sea species.
Experimental drug shrank tumors in 68% of patients with rare lung cancer
In a 60-patient phase 1b trial, firmonertinib shrank tumors in 68% of previously untreated patients with EGFR PACC-mutant non-small cell lung cancer at the higher daily dose, MD Anderson Cancer Center said. At that dose, patients went a median of 16 months before their disease worsened. The drug is still experimental, and a global phase 3 trial called ALPACCA, which aims to enroll 480 patients, is recruiting. Read the full trial results.
Southern right whales take two routes to feed yet arrive at the same time
University of Auckland researchers tracked 21 southern right whales, or tohorā, by satellite as they left the Auckland Islands for feeding grounds south of Australia. About half swam directly west in around 42 days. The others left roughly a month earlier and took a 64-day detour far to the south, and both groups arrived at about the same time, according to the study. See how the whales navigate.
Guatemalan motmot recognized as the country's first endemic bird species
The American Ornithological Society split the Guatemalan motmot from the russet-crowned motmot, citing differences in plumage, calls and genetics, the society said on 20 October. The bird lives only in the dry valley of the Río Motagua. The change is part of the society's 67th checklist supplement, which also splits the willet, the marsh wren and the great horned owl. Read about this year's bird splits.
Third reintroduced Pacific pocket mouse population set up at Camp Pendleton
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said the new population of one of North America's most endangered mammals lives at North San Mateo, a training area on the Marine Corps base. The thumb-sized mouse was thought extinct until 1993. Its 20-year recovery program has released more than 500 mice, though the Alliance has not said how many went to the new site. Learn about the recovery program.
Labrador that detects invasive "sea vomit" named IFAW Animal of the Year
Sgiath, a former mountain rescue dog from Scotland, works with marine ecologist Dr Texa Sim and may be the first dog trained to find the invasive sea squirt Didemnum vexillum by smell, IFAW said. She received the award at a 15 October ceremony in London. Six conservationists were also honored, among them Brazilian biologist Flávia Miranda for more than two decades protecting anteaters, armadillos and sloths. Meet Sgiath and the winners.
Every Sunday we round up the week's most-read stories. You can catch up on all weekly recaps here.
