Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem developed the drug molecule. The research, published in Advanced Science, was led by Dr. Raphael I. Benhamou, Elias Khaskia, and Dipak Dahatonde from Hebrew University’s Faculty of Medicine. Their work focuses on a molecule called TERRA, which helps protect the ends of our chromosomes—the parts of our DNA that keep our cells healthy and stable.

When TERRA doesn’t work properly, it can cause problems with how cells age and divide. In some cancers, especially certain brain and bone cancers, cancer cells use TERRA to keep themselves alive and multiplying.

“We’ve created a tool that acts like a guided missile for bad RNA,” said Dr. Benhamou. “It can find TERRA inside cancer cells and make it disappear—without harming healthy parts of the cell.”