World News

What the Science Actually Says

In recent years, sensationalist headlines have suggested a link between paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental issues like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the current toxicological and epidemiological consensus suggests that these associations are likely not causal. A landmark 2024 study involving nearly 2.5 million children in Sweden utilised rigorous “sibling-pair” analysis to control for the confounding effects of shared genetic and environmental factors.

The results, as summarised by the University of New South Wales, demonstrated that when siblings were compared—where one was exposed in utero and the other was not—the statistical link to autism effectively vanished. This suggests that the “confounding by indication”—the underlying reason the medication was taken, such as a severe maternal infection or high fever—or shared familial genetics were the true drivers of the observation, rather than the pharmacological action of the drug itself. Major health bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), continue to advise that paracetamol remains the first-line and safest option for managing pain and fever during pregnancy, provided it is used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration.

2026 Update

For over a century, antivenom production relied on 19th-century methods: injecting horses and harvesting their antibodies. As of January 2026, we are finally entering the era of synthetic, “universal” solutions.

The AI Revolution

A major milestone this year is the scaling of AI-designed proteins. Researchers from the Baker Lab and DTU have moved past the “discovery” phase into manufacturing synthetic “mini-binders.” Using generative AI, they designed proteins that fit the molecular “locks” of neurotoxins like a key, neutralizing venom from cobras and mambas without using a single animal.

Human “Super-Antibodies”

In clinical news, Centivax has successfully moved the “Friede Cocktail” into late-stage preclinical testing. Derived from Tim Friede—a man who survived over 200 bites—this treatment combines human antibodies with the small-molecule inhibitor varespladib. It has shown a near-universal ability to neutralize elapid neurotoxins across 19 different species.

Stability and Access

Perhaps most significantly, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) recently unveiled a recombinant nanobody cocktail specifically for sub-Saharan Africa. These lab-grown treatments are heat-stable, removing the need for refrigeration in rural clinics—the single biggest barrier to saving lives today.

We are now presenting material that has been developed in late 2025, we cannot stress how much it means to ResinTox that we sometimes get nearly 80 000 visitors per month. Please continue to spread the word, so we can gain new collaborators, a wider network so we can provide more open science in an “easy-to-understand”-format. The focus is on being factually correct, without spreading alarmist points of view or scaring people. Just mentioning what is happening, what people do to help and prevent, as well as what everyone else can do with little to no effort at all. Just by knowing a bit more.

Recent toxicological breakthroughs in January 2026 focus on AI-driven drug discovery, novel pain treatments targeting specific sodium channels, advances in biomanufacturing for diagnostics, and managing environmental toxins like mycotoxins and microplastics, with emerging research highlighting natural compounds (like bamboo) for detoxification and bioremediation of pollutants, alongside regulatory actions on industrial chemicals like 1,3-butadiene. 

From non-stick frying pans to water-resistant outdoor gear, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have become an invisible staple of modern manufacturing. These synthetic compounds are prized for their ability to repel oil and water, but their greatest industrial strength is also a significant environmental threat. Because they do not break down naturally, they have earned the notorious nickname ‘forever chemicals’.

The scale of the issue is truly international. PFAS are highly mobile, travelling through water systems and atmosphere to reach even the most remote corners of the globe. The European Environment Agency has highlighted that these substances accumulate in the human body and the environment, leading to long-term exposure risks that transcend national borders.

Research into the health impacts of PFAS is ongoing worldwide. High levels of exposure have been linked to liver damage, thyroid disease, and developmental issues. Consequently, international bodies like the OECD are working to coordinate the risk assessment and management of these chemicals on a global scale.

As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, the transition to PFAS-free alternatives is becoming a priority for manufacturers and consumers alike. By choosing products with transparent chemical credentials, we can all contribute to reducing the global burden of these persistent pollutants.

That means this site has impact and that it is a good site. Enough said about that.