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Doheny and UCLA Stein Eye Institutes Welcome Kaustabh Ghosh, PhD, to the Scientific and Clinical Research Faculty – P&T Community

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Doheny and UCLA Stein Eye Institutes proudly welcome Kaustabh Ghosh, PhD, to the scientific faculty as Associate Professor in basic science at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Ghosh is distinguished as an interdisciplinary researcher with expertise in the fields of vascular inflammation, mechanobiology, bioengineering, and nanomedicine.

"I am tremendously proud and honored to begin this position at Doheny-UCLA," says Dr. Ghosh. "I entered the field of biomedical research from an engineering background, which perhaps gave me a new perspective to see things differently. As a biomedical engineer, it allowed me to think about diseases in a way that a typical biomedical researcher and clinician may not."

Dr. Ghosh states that also as a vascular biologist, one such perspective he was able to successfully introduce was the importance of "stiffness" of blood vessels in disease pathogenesis.

"Doheny will be the ideal place for me to realize the true translational potential for my work as it offers strength and resources in ophthalmic imaging," shares Dr. Ghosh. "Doheny also provides the perfect balance between basic science and clinical research."

He adds, "I look forward to developing strong, collaborative relationships with members of Doheny-UCLA engineering, biomedical sciences and clinical infrastructure. Our goal will be to discover effective treatment strategies from a multidisciplinary approach especially in the area of investigating the role of chronic vascular inflammation, a major determinant of various debilitating conditions including macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy."

Dr. Ghosh was most recently Associate Professor of Bioengineering at University of California, Riverside (UCR) as well as Participating Faculty in the Division of Biomedical Sciences, Stem Cell Center and the Program in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology. The Ghosh Research Group at UCR focused on leveraging the principles of mechanobiology to examine and treat inflammationmediated vascular degeneration associated with diabetic retinopathy and agerelated macular degeneration, the leading causes of vision loss in the diabetic and aging population. In 2016, these studies were supported by two R01 grants from the National Eye Institute (NEI), and a macular degeneration grant from the BrightFocus Foundation. Dr. Ghosh has received numerous awards during his research career, including the Hellman Fellowship and the NIH Postdoctoral Training Grant, and has published 24 peer-reviewed papers in highly-regarded journals that include PNAS, The FASEB Journal, Science, and Nano Letters, among others.

In 2011, prior to joining UCR, Dr. Ghosh was a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Donald Ingber, MD, PhD, part of the Vascular Biology Program at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In 2006, Dr. Ghosh received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University, New York. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India in 2001.

Dr. Ghosh's dedication to collaborative research and team building is evident in his numerous and illustrious achievements. His distinguished scientific leadership demonstrates an excellence that will contribute greatly to Doheny Eye Institute's research programs.

About Doheny Eye InstituteFor over 70 years, Doheny Eye Institute has been at the forefront of vision science. From seeking new ways to free blockages that prevent fluid drainage in glaucoma, to replacing retinal cells in age-related macular degeneration, to providing colleagues worldwide with standardized analyses of anatomical changes in the eyes of patients, Doheny clinicianscientists and researchers are changing how people see and also how they think about the future of vision. Please visit doheny.org for more information.

Doheny Eye Institute and UCLA Stein Eye Institute have joined forces to offer the best inpatient care, vision research and education. This affiliation combines the strength, reputation and distinction of two of the nation's top eye institutions to advance vision research, education and patient care in Southern California.

CONTACT INFORMATIONMedia Contact:Matthew RabinDirect: (323) 342-7101Email: mrabin@doheny.org

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Doheny and UCLA Stein Eye Institutes Welcome Kaustabh Ghosh, PhD, to the Scientific and Clinical Research Faculty - P&T Community

Stem Cell Therapy Market : Opportunities and Challenges – MENAFN.COM

(MENAFN - GetNews) Emerging countries (such as South Korea, India, and China) are supporting their respective domestic stem cell industry through various regulatory reforms that support commercialization and research activities related to stem cell therapy.

The globalstem cell therapy marketis estimated to reach USD 145.8 million by 2021, growing at a CAGR of 11.0% during the forecast period

Supportive regulations across developing countries

Emerging countries (such as South Korea, India, and China) are supporting their respective domestic stem cell industry through various regulatory reforms that support commercialization and research activities related to stem cell therapy.

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Due to flexible policies regarding stem cell research, South Korea has made significant advancement in this industry. The less stringent and relatively fast approval process of clinical trials has enabled South Korean manufacturers to commercialize their stem cell therapy products. Researchers in the country have successfully developed stem cells that are a perfect genetic match to patients of all races, genders, and so forth. Due to progress in therapeutic cloning, they can efficiently produce stem cells tailored to the individual and with a low risk of immunological rejection.

The medical tourism industry in Mexico is growing rapidly. The country has been a popular destination for stem cell treatments. A significant number of Americans and Canadians travel to Mexico to avail lower-priced treatments that are unavailable in their countries due to regulatory policies. Many private companies in Mexico offer stem cell treatments. However, these treatments are not approved by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS Mexican government regulatory authority for the manufacture and commercialization of drugs and medical products); they are also not considered as registered clinical trials. Yet, many of these treatments are offered as proven and effective therapies. COFEPRIS does not have standards or guidelines for evaluating, authorizing, and monitoring research and therapeutic activities involving human tissues and cells.

Many other developing countries have allowed the use of ESCs for R & D purpose.

n In March 2005, the Brazilian government passed a legislation that allows the use of in vitro fertilized embryos that have been frozen for more than three years.

n In India, it is permissible to establish new human ESC lines from spare embryos by obtaining approval from regulatory authorities.

n In China, regulatory guidelines (established in 2013) permit the use of embryos for stem cell research only if the embryos are obtained from in vitro fertilization (IVF); fetal cells from abortions; somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT); or voluntarily donated germ line cells.

Such supportive regulations across developing countries will provide significant growth opportunities for local as well as international players in the stem cell therapy market.

Technical limitations related to production scale-up

Due to technical difficulties faced at various manufacturing stages such as stem cell identification, isolation, storage, and preservation, it becomes difficult for a manufacturer to scale-up the production. Limited manufacturing capability for production scale-up is expected to hinder the large-scale manufacturing of stem cells. The scaling-up process is also affected due to the development process adopted during the research phase. Typically, less attention is paid to the scalability of production and the cost associated with it. Different stem cells require different environments for proliferation and differentiation, potentially including mechanical stimuli or flow conditions, variable gas tensions, chemical gradients, 3D frameworks, and supporting-cell paracrine signaling. These factors depend on the source and type of stem cell.

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There is a requirement for a basic stem-cell manufacturing solution which supports the production of a variety of stem cells and provides optimal environment. With current technological advancements, it is possible that a manufacturing solution can be programmed to control some factors; however, it is very difficult to provide a production system that fits all solutions. There are also concerns regarding the possibility of cells to adapt to different, more large-scale culture conditions while retaining safety and therapeutic efficacy. These limitations form a key challenge in the stem cell therapy market.

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Cell Therapy Market Forecast to 2025 | Analysis by Regions, Type, Application, and Top Key Players like Dendreon, Mesoblast, Vericel, Antibe…

Cell therapy involves the administration of somatic cell preparations for the treatment of diseases or traumatic damages. The objective of this study is to provide long term treatment through a single injection of therapeutic cells. Growing aging patient population, the rise in cell therapy transplantations globally, and rising disease awareness drive the growth of the global cell therapy market. However, stringent regulatory policies may hamper the growth of the market.

The Global Cell Therapy Market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of +13% during the forecast period.

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Rising funding from government as well as private organizations to support cell therapy clinical trials, introduction of effective guidelines for cell therapy manufacturing, and proven effectiveness of products are some of the primary growth stimulants for the market. In addition, declining prices of stem cell therapies are leading to increased inclination of buyers towards cell therapy.

Top Companies Profiled in this Report includes, Dendreon, Mesoblast, Vericel, Antibe Therapeutics, Astellas Pharma, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, BIOCELLULAR THERAPIES, BioTissue Technologies, BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, CRC for Cell Therapy Manufacturing, Living Cell Technologies, Opexa Therapeutics, Synergistic Technologies, Tessa Therapeutics, VistaGen Therapeutics, SDRMI and Xcelthera

Cell Therapy Market Segmentation by Regions/Countries:

Cell Therapy Market Segmentation by Type:

Cell Therapy Market Segmentation by Application:

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Table of Contents

Global Cell Therapy Market Research Report

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Cell Therapy Market Forecast to 2025 | Analysis by Regions, Type, Application, and Top Key Players like Dendreon, Mesoblast, Vericel, Antibe...

Leukaemia: what is it, how to spot the warning signs and who is at risk? – The Telegraph

How isleukaemia treated?

The treatment of leukaemia varies depending on the patient and type of leukaemia they have.

Acute leukaemia (fast developing) is usually curable with standard treatments, such as chemotherapy.

Chronic leukaemia (slow developing), is often incurablebut treatable. For CLL (a form of chronic leukaemia) some patients are not given treatmentstraight away;however if they do require treatment it will often involve chemotherapy.

The main treatments for leukaemia are:

Chemotherapy: This treatment involves theuse ofdrugs.Chemotherapy drugs either kill cancerous cells or stop them from dividing; they can also kill normal blood cells as a side effect.The type of leukaemia you have will depend on the amount and strength of chemotherapy you are offered, along with other factors such as your age and fitness.

Radiation therapy:Similar to chemotherapy, radiation therapy can be used to destroy the cancerous cells but using radiation waves rather than drugs.Again, the type of leukaemia you have will determine what treatment you're offered. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is often used for CLL.It is a fast, painless procedure which usually lasts just a few minutes.

Targeted therapy:Drugs are used to block the growth of cancer cells by disturbing specific molecules in the cells. Targeted therapy can also kill cancer cells by stimulating the patient's immune system to recognise the cells as a threat and consequently kill them.

Biological therapy:This treatment does not target the cancer cells directly, but instead helps to stimulate the body's immune system to act against the cancer. It is also often referred to as "immunotherapy". It is often usedfor patients with CML.

Stem cell or bone marrow transplant: Transplants for stem cells or bone marrow are commonly carried out for patients withacute leukaemia,if chemotherapy does not prove effective.By undergoing a stem cell or bone marrow transplant it can help replenish the healthy bone marrow in patients, and stimulate new growth that restores the immune system. It is usually given to younger, or more healthy patients.

Leukaemia Care, which provides support to individuals and families affected by blood cancer, is one ofthree charities supported by this years Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal. Our two other charities are Wooden Spoon, which works with Britains rugby community to raise money for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children; and The Silver Line, a 24-hour helpline and support service for lonely elderly people. To make a donation, visit telegraph.co.uk/charity or call 0151 284 1927

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Leukaemia: what is it, how to spot the warning signs and who is at risk? - The Telegraph

Is blood cancer curable at an early stage? – The Indian Awaaz

If yes, what are the treatment options available?

Health Desk

Cancer is that one deadly disease that every single person dreads.If you are witnessing persistent symptoms in your body that isnt normal, it isvery important to consult a doctor. Lack of persistence is what causes theproblem to become big and spread around. If that is the case, you must focus onfinding cures for the condition. Blood cancer is one such condition. Therecould be anything causing this disease, gene mutation or unknown factors.

The condition of blood cancer isnt likeany normaldiseasethat normal treatment can cure. You need propertreatment methods implemented to recover and get rid of the side effects thatit comes with. In several cases, you must focus on finding better treatmentoptions. Some of the types of blood cancer are treatable while some are not.

But, is it treatable at an early stage?

The answer to this question is Yes. You can treat the condition ifit is detected at an early stage among blood cancer stages. Theonly thing that you need to pay attention to is to acknowledge the symptoms youare experiencing.

Seeing a doctor get the symptoms checked at an early stage canrule out a lot of the risks that the majority of the people face.

What are the treatmentoptions?

As we did mention before, it is possible to cure cancer if it isdetected at an early stage.

Some of the possible treatment options include:

Intensive treatment

Even though this is secured for the last resort, these forms ofaggressive treatment in the initial stage can eradicate the condition from theroot. Some of the treatment types in such cases include chemotherapy or stemcell transplant. Often, the doctors even opt for radiotherapy if the cancer islocalized in a specific area instead of being spread out. Surgery is also partof the high-intensity treatment option but that is always the last resort.

Low intensity

If the doctors find that blood cancer is still at its initialstage and hasnt spread across, the best bet to fight that is withlow-intensity treatment options such as respite care.Apart from a low dosage of chemo and radiotherapy, immunotherapies are also anadded benefit that can help the immune system fight back the cancerous cellsfor the better.

Curative and non-curative options

These kinds of treatment approaches are often tough to understandand depend on the prognosis and come as a secondary step after the intensive orlow-intensity treatment is done. If the patient is in remission, they will findother ways to help keep them in that condition with consistent treatment alongthe way.

Blood cancer can be cured if detected at an early stage. Knowing the symptoms can help you seek immediate medical attention that later can save your life as well. If you feel like something is wrong, dont keep it to you, but speak to a doctor.

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Is blood cancer curable at an early stage? - The Indian Awaaz

Restore your crowning glory with recombinant DNA tech – The New Paper

Hair care is being taken to the next level, by utilising recombinant DNA technology to restore one's confidence and crowning glory.

Such hair restoration products or treatments are made using recombinant DNA - or DNA cloning - where selected pieces of DNA from different organisms are combined to construct artificial DNA.

At Ageless Medi-Aesthetics, its latest AnteAge MD Hair Treatment is a non-invasive procedure that involves applying the AnteAge MD Hair Growth Factor solution or serum - made from potent recombinant growth factors and cytokines - onto skin prepared with microneedling.

Dr Lam Bee Lan, director of Ageless Medi-Aesthetics, told The New Paper: "Recombinant DNA technology is more efficient in producing large amounts of artificial messenger proteins effective for skin and hair renewal compared with stem cells derived from plants."

Methods of hair restoration are often divided into two broad categories - invasive techniques and topical and/or oral solutions. They can either be expensive or linked to side effects such as erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction and loss of libido.

But Dr Lam cautioned that before treatments are prescribed, patients must consult with a physician to ascertain if they are suitable for them.

"Treatments based on recombinant DNA technology should be worked in as a first-line treatment when you start to experience more hair loss than usual, or as part of a regular routine in maintaining a full head of hair.

"For more severe hair loss, patients should consider a hair transplant," she said.

While there are minimal side effects such as occasional soreness and redness that will resolve within one to two hours, Dr Lam noted that most patients will experience slowing down of hair loss after the first session, while new hair will grow after the second session.

Home-grown scalp specialist PHS Hairscience has also explored stem cell technology and cell signalling technology since 2014 to treat hair loss or greying hair on the cellular level.

Ms Anita Wong, its chief executive and founder, told TNP: "As the body ages or changes due to reasons such as stress or lifestyle choices, cell functions can deteriorate, and cell activity that directly impacts new hair growth or melanin (hair pigment) production becomes less than optimal."

PHS Hairscience's marquee treatment, Miracle Stem Cell Solution, leverages on stem cell science and cell signalling to reactivate dormant follicle cells to promote hair growth. At $297 a session, it can be complemented with the FEM/HOM Thickening range of products.

She said: "These active botanical stem cells also work to increase the life span of hair follicles so your hair can remain in the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle for a longer period of time.

"Keeping the hair in this growth phase will maximise the length and thickness of new hair, as well as stop the existing strands from shedding."

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Restore your crowning glory with recombinant DNA tech - The New Paper

Cellular Biomedicine Group to Report Third Quarter 2019 Results on November 6, 2019 – Olean Times Herald

NEW YORK and SHANGHAI, Oct. 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CBMG) ("CBMG" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical firm engaged in the drug development of immunotherapies for cancer and stem cell therapies for degenerative diseases, today announced that it will release its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019 after the market closes on Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast with the investment community on Wednesday, November 6th at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time featuring remarks by Tony Liu, Executive Director, CEO and CFO of CBMG.

What:

Cellular Biomedicine Third Quarter 2019 Results Conference Call

Date:

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Time:

4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Live Call:

Toll-Free: 1-855-327-6837

International: 1-631-891-4304

Webcast:

http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=136796

Replay:

Toll-Free: 1-844-512-2921

International: 1-412-317-6671

Conference ID: 10007976

(Available approximately two hours after the completion of the live call until 11:59 p.m. ET on November 20, 2019)

About Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc.Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBMG) develops proprietary cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and degenerative diseases. It conducts immuno-oncology and stem cell clinical trials in China using products from its integrated GMP laboratory. The Company's GMP facilities in China, consisting of twelve independent cell production lines, are designed and managed according to both China and U.S. GMP standards. Its Shanghai facility includes a "Joint Laboratory of Cell Therapy" with GE Healthcare and a "Joint Cell Therapy Technology Innovation and Application Center" with Thermo Fisher Scientific, which partnerships focus on improving manufacturing processes for cell therapies. CBMG currently has ongoing CAR-T Phase I clinical trials in China. The China NMPA (formerly CFDA) accepted the Company's IND application for a Phase II trial for AlloJoin, CBMG's "Off-the-Shelf" allogenic haMPC therapy for the treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA), and the Company's IND application for a Phase II trial for ReJoin autologous haMPC therapy for the treatment of KOA. CBMG is included in the broad-market Russell 3000 Index and the small-cap Russell 2000 Index, and the Loncar China BioPharma index. To learn more about CBMG, please visit http://www.cellbiomedgroup.com.

For more information, please contact:

Company Contact:Derrick C. LiHead of Strategy and Investor Relations, CBMGPhone: 917-717-0994Email: derrick.li@cellbiomedgroup.com

Investor Contact:Valter Pinto / Allison SossKCSA Strategic CommunicationsPhone: 212-896-1254 / 212-896-1267Email: cellbiomed@kcsa.com

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Cellular Biomedicine Group to Report Third Quarter 2019 Results on November 6, 2019 - Olean Times Herald

Business briefs – News – The Hutchinson News

Free dental care offered to Veterans

The dental office of Drs. Travis Gillespie and Mary Brummett, 200 E. 30th Ave., will participate in Veterans Smile Day, providing free dental care to veterans on Nov. 8.

The free services include dental exams, cleanings, fillings, and tooth extractions.

Any veteran in the Hutchinson area needing dental care can call (620) 663-9133 for an appointment or visit https://www.hutchdental.com. An appointment is required for the free service.

Free Google digital marketing seminar inHutchinson

A valuable opportunity for business owners interested in learning how to expand their advertising reach will be coming to Hutchinson.

The Hutchinson News, McPherson Sentinel, The Newton Kansan, and ThriveHive digital marketing service, in partnership with Google, will host Put Your Business on Top, a digital marketing seminar from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Nov. 5 at the Cosmosphere.

The seminar will be led by a Google Certified Speaker who will share tips and tricks for using digital marketing to reach qualified customers, impact their purchase decisions, drive sales, and grow a business using online resources. Breakfast is provided during the seminar free of charge.

We will help business owners make strategic decisions about their marketing campaigns and ad spending, said Bob Musilek, Digital Director for Gatehouse Media. We can also help business owners with data insights into their unique audiences interests, habits, and what theyre actively planning to purchase.

The seminar also will include information on retargeting, which refers to re-engaging a potential customer who has visited a website in the past. Retargeting keeps a business fresh in the consumers mind and also builds confidence in a brand as ads for the company make repeat appearances.

Attendees will be able to ask questions about how to seek out new customers, as well as receive tips on how to stand out in a cluttered online marketplace.

They will also receive a free, no-obligation digital audit of their companys website, and business owners will be enrolled in a drawing for one of five certificates worth $500 of digital advertising on TheHutchiNews.com | TheMcPearsonSentinal.com | TheKansan.com.

Register today at hutchnews-events.com to reserve a spot or call (620) 694-5700, ext. 222 or 620-727-4045.

Great Bend Campus offers expert emergency care around the clock

GREAT BEND Even though they arent physically present in the Emergency Department at Great Bend Campus, specialty-trained physicians are now available to patients at all times.

The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus recently became equipped with Avera eCARE. This telemedicine service means a physician trained in emergency medicine is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

There is no extra charge to the patient for this service.

We now have access to Avera eCARE providers anytime day or night, said Mark Van Norden, DO, medical director of the Great Bend Campus Emergency Department. They dont have to be in-house to share their expertise.

Avera eCARE is most often used in cases of stroke, sepsis, cardiac events and trauma.

It can be used for any condition, but those four time-critical categories are the most common, noted Dr. Van Norden, who was an advisor during the preliminary work with Avera.

Avera eCARE physicians offer consultations in real-time and are virtually face-to-face with local providers via a television screen.

Avera eCARE offers one of the largest telehealth networks in the United States. Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, it supports more than 380 healthcare facilities, clinics, long-term-care centers and corrections facilities in 14 states.

Veterans Day Dinner with the Doctors

NEWTON Newton Medical Center is inviting the public to a Veterans Day Dinner with the Doctor on Nov. 11.

Retired orthopedic surgeon Charles Craig, family medicine physician Spencer Duncan and OBGYN physician Jackson Sobbing will present on stem cell therapy and how it may affect chronic pain management. Attending veterans will also be honored during the presentation.

The dinner at Newton Medical Centers Sunflower Caf, 600 Medical Center Dr., starts at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation at 6 p.m. The cost is $7, though Veterans eat free. RSVP for dinner at (316) 804-6129.

LifeSave Transport and Salina Airport Authority host ribbon cutting

SALINA The Salina Airport Authority and LifeSave Transport, a ground and critical care air transport company, will be hosting a ribbon-cutting and open house from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at 2013 Kneubuhl Ct., Hangar #504 in Salina.

The ribbon-cutting is scheduled as a celebration of LifeSaves new hangar space and helicopter based out of Salina Regional Airport serving North Central Kansas.

The Salina Airport Authority has been working on hangar renovations to house LifeSaves Bell 206 helicopter and ready-alert crew. The $200,000 investment in improvements included a new fire sprinkler system and completely remodeled crew quarters. The 3:30 p.m. event in LifeSaves hangar will be accompanied by light hors d oeuvres and opportunities to visit with LifeSave and Salina Airport Authority staff.

The location of the new base comes as part of LifeSaves infrastructure plan supporting its new role as the Preferred Partner for The University of Kansas Health Systems Care Collaborative to increase service availability for member hospitals located in North Central Kansas.

The independently owned medical transport system founded by Kansas emergency physicians operates emergency transport aircraft in Dodge City, Emporia, Garden City, Liberal, Colby, and Salina, and in McCook, Nebraska, with ground transport vehicles in Wichita and Dodge City.

SBA seeks input on changes to its Export Loan Programs

WASHINGTON The U.S. Small Business Administration published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comments on possible changes to the regulations governing its Export Loan Programs.

SBAs Export Loan Programs provide access to capital for U.S. small business concerns to support expansion into international markets and the growth of U.S. small business exports. SBA is soliciting comments on how the Agency can improve the products, procedures, forms, and reporting requirements of the Export Loan Programs.

Feedback will be used to modernize the Export Loan Programs, increase lender participation and usage, ensure that U.S. small businesses can finance their international sales, and increase U.S. small business exports.

The comment deadline is Nov. 18. To submit, visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/17/2019-20048/export-express-export-working-capital-and-international-trade-loan-programs.

To learn more about how the SBA supports U.S. small business exporters, visit https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/oit.

Great Bend Walmart Supercenter remodel complete

GREAT BEND Great Bend residents got their first look at the newly remodeled Walmart Supercenter, 3503 10th Street, during a grand reopening celebration Friday.

Headlining the remodel is the launch of a Pickup Tower.

Pickup Towers are 16-feet-tall and function like high-tech vending machines, capable of fulfilling a customers online order in less than a minute. To use the tower, customers choose from millions of items available on Walmart.com and select the Pickup option at checkout. When the item arrives at the local store, an associate loads it into the Pickup Tower, and the customer retrieves it by scanning a bar code sent to their smartphone. Customers will also enjoy the following store improvements:

State-of-the-art electronics department with interactive displays

New tool department with a new look and added variety of tools

Self-checkouts at the front of the store to save customers time

Updated apparel departments with new signage and fitting rooms

New layout and larger assortment in the Home department

Early dinner at Olive Garden

With the return to Standard Central Time on Nov. 3, Olive Garden is offering a way to enjoy dinner earlier and at a value.

On Monday through Thursday, from 3 to 5 p.m., Olive Garden will offer Early Dinner Duos the perfect cure for those adjusting to the time change. Guests may choose from over 50 combinations of popular favorites like Fettucine Alfredo and Chicken Parmigiana, paired with soup or salad and all the breadsticks that you want, starting at just $8.99.

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Business briefs - News - The Hutchinson News

AIVITA Biomedical to Present at Upcoming Regenerative Medicine, Oncology and Investor Conferences in November – PRNewswire

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --AIVITA Biomedical, Inc., a biotech company specializing in innovative stem cell applications, today announced that it will be presenting at the following regenerative medicine and investor conferences in November:

Society for the Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual MeetingOral PresentationPresenter: Dr. Daniela Bota, MD, PhD, University of California, Irvine; AIVITA GBM Principal InvestigatorTitle: Phase II trial of therapeutic vaccine consisting of autologous dendritic cells loaded with autologous tumor cell antigens from self-renewing cancer cells in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastomaTime: November 6-10, 2019Location: Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center, National Harbor, MD

The Regenerative Medicine Consortium of the Gulf Coast Consortia for Biomedical SciencesOral Presentation Presenter: Dr. Hans S. Keirstead, AIVITA Chairman and CEOTitle: Clinical and Commercial Application of Scaled Human Stem Cell DerivatesTime: November 8, 4:00 PM CTLocation: Bioscience Research Collaborative, Houston, TX

NYC Oncology Investor ConferenceOral Presentation Presenter: Dr. Hans S. Keirstead, AIVITA Chairman and CEO Title: AIVITA Corporate PresentationTime: November 12, 4:50 PM - 5:10 PMLocation: Rockefeller Center, New York, NY

Society for NeuroOncology Annual MeetingPoster PresentationTitle: Phase II trial of AV-GBM-1 (autologous dendritic cells loaded with autologous tumor associated antigens) as adjunctive therapy following primary surgery plus concurrent chemoradiation in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.Time: November 20-24, 2019Location: JW Marriott Desert Ridge, Phoenix, AZ

About AIVITA Biomedical

AIVITA Biomedical is a privately held company engaged in the advancement of commercial and clinical-stage programs utilizing curative and regenerative medicines. Founded in 2016 by pioneers in the stem cell industry, AIVITA Biomedical utilizes its expertise in stem cell growth and directed, high-purity differentiation to enable safe, efficient and economical manufacturing systems which support its therapeutic pipeline and commercial line of skin care products. All proceeds from the sale of AIVITA's skin care products support the treatment of women with ovarian cancer.

SOURCE AIVITA Biomedical, Inc.

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Opportunities and Challenges in Cell and Gene Therapy Development – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Ger Brophy, PhDExecutive Vice PresidentBiopharma ProductionAvantor

Genuine progress is being made in the longstanding battle to effectively treat and control cancer. The National Cancer Institute projects that nearly five million more U.S. citizens are expected to survive cancer in 2029 than in 2019.1 Therapeutic tools such as next-generation sequencing and advances in immunotherapy are just two ways that fundamental scientific breakthroughs and innovative thinking are realizing the potential for new cancer treatments.

One of the most revolutionary breakthroughs in this new era is cell and gene therapy. At its most basic definition, gene therapy (also called human gene transfer) is the therapeutic delivery of nucleic acid into a patients cells as a drug to treat disease. According to a paper published in the Journal of Gene Medicine, somewhere around 2600 gene therapy clinical trials had been undertaken in 38 countries around the world as of November 2017.2

These clinical trials demonstrate that the recent attention being paid to gene and cell therapy is not just hype. Some have noted that a select number of approved cell and gene therapies are for relatively small patient groups. However, its exciting to see the number of trials grow, especially when one considers this technologys ability to impact patients lives.

Its true that the number of patients receiving treatment is relatively small compared to other therapeutic regimens, but thats to be expected. Many of the biopharmaceutical researchers and manufacturers started with smaller, defined patient populations and, in particular, those with pediatric relapse refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In part, these early efforts were directed at this type of cancer because the researchers wanted to deal with small populations that they understood well and, in many cases, had few or no other options for treatments.

The success of these initial efforts has led to broader programs targeting larger populationsstarting with leukemia and lymphoma. Ultimately, the most challenging opportunityand the one with the greatest potential for beneficial outcomesis multiple myeloma. If these patients begin to see benefits from cell and gene therapies, it will justify the incremental approach the industry has been taking.

The genuine, almost unprecedented potential for cell and gene therapy cannot be understated. For the first time, people are talking about curing these ruthless, relentless diseases. In a way never before possible, were taking control of and harnessing the patients own immune system to fight these cancers. Among the first patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, several are alive and thrivingfour, five, and six years later.

The game changer here is that cell and gene therapy uses the bodys own systems, either the cellular immune system or the ability to repair and replace defective or missing genes. CAR T-cell therapy is arguably among the most personalized medicines one can consider. The patients own T cells are extracted, modified, activated, expanded, purified, and returned to the patient.

Significant growth is underway in the size and sophistication of companies and organizations entering the cell and gene therapy markets. Many of the early movers in cell and gene therapy were small biotech startups. In some cases, their treatments were supported by major hospital centers.

Increasingly, weve all seen a greater interest from the major biopharma companies. Novartis was probably the biggest; it started earliest and was successful in getting approval for Kymriah. Since last year, weve seen several important acquisitions by Gilead and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and major biopharma companies are participating in large strategic partnerships in China. As companies of this size get involved, the hope is that they will leverage their increased breadth and depth to develop novel products, instigate new trials, and find ways to manufacture therapies at scale.

If the cell and gene therapy industry is to succeed, it must overcome challenges of two kinds: scalability and manufacturability. These challenges may be summarized in a set of questions: Can we manufacture cell and gene therapies at scale? If we can manufacture these treatments at scale, then can we do so safely? Can we do so at a reasonable cost so the populations that are affected by these diseases can access treatments?

With cell therapy, the single biggest point of variability is the patients own cells. By their very nature, these cells are individual to the patient, and their health implications for the patient should be considered as an integral part of cell processingat least as far back as the time of leukapheresis.

Variables and failure modes must be taken out of cell processing systems. We can standardize and miniaturize these systems, and we can enclose them so that theyre not exposed to failure modes. Also, we can improve technologies, like sterile fluid transfer, if we use excipient technology to further stabilize production. Finally, we can use analytical technology to understand the factors that contribute to a therapys success or failure.

Cell therapy producers and the companies that support and supply them need to become more innovative. In areas such as cell culture components, production chemicals, single-use technologies, sterile fluid transfer, and excipientsand the technology surrounding those process componentsthere is value to improving collaboration and trying new solutions to address the issues of manufacturability and scale.

We need to better analyze and understand the variability that comes from the research data, even at the early stages of these trials, and use it to correlate with clinical and process outcomes. Taking out manual steps as early as possible is important, as well as creating closed systems using sterile fluid transfer technologies.

One of the most significant challenges is finding solutions around side effects. As we understand how to provide a more efficacious dose, perhaps using fewer cells, some of the side effects of these drug therapies may improve. Furthermore, we must find scalable ways to reduce costs.

Ultimately, these drugs must be developed in a more cost-effective manner. Thats an area where technology providers and suppliers can play a significant role, by closing and automating systems and by understanding the contribution of labor and overhead and possible economies of scale from reducing processes.

There have been encouraging improvements in the way various regulatory groups have supported gene and cell therapy. To a certain degree, groups representing different regionsNorth America, Europe, and Asiahad been perceived to be setting precedents independently. More recently, it appears that regulatory bodies have been very open and collaborative in acknowledging that cell and gene therapies differ from more mature treatments such as biopharma drugs for cancer. The regulatory bodies have shown that they are willing to put the appropriate regulatory system into place to streamline the approval process and institute the ongoing monitoring of cell and gene therapies.

The U.S. FDAs support on CAR T-cell technologies is a good example. Regulators are allowing flexibility in the normal hierarchy of how clinical trials are performed, particularly in Phase II and III trials, but the companies must still address the FDAs postmarketing comments and safety issues.

Some have suggested that, ultimately, almost all cancer treatments will be based on gene and cell therapy approaches since they represent the most personalized form of treatment, which is, theoretically, the one with the highest potential for success.

Thats probably overly ambitious. Both large molecules and small molecules will continue to provide trusted, effective solutions with each type of drug product finding its niche. For example, large molecules are being developed for areas like neurodegeneration and are still offering great potential.

Its worth remembering that monoclonal-based therapies and biopharmaceuticals have really only started to make a significant impact in the last 15 to 20 years. Cell and gene therapies are just starting and have yet to make a significant market impact. But considerable effort is going into developing, understanding, and characterizing drug targets, as well as the development of technology to make targeted drugs in production-level volumes.

All these developments are exciting and offer a great deal of hope. It is clear that gene and cell therapies work and save lives. The challenge now is to scale their production. It is also clear that cell and gene therapies can emulate other therapeutic approaches that have transitioned from theoretical possibility to practical reality. As a similar transition occurs for cell and gene therapies, the production issues that need to be addressed will be seen more clearly, prompting action that will bring us to the next stage of development.

References1. Bluethmann SM, Mariotto AB, Rowland, JH. Anticipating the Silver Tsunami: Prevalence Trajectories and Comorbidity Burden among Older Cancer Survivors in the United States. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 2016; 25: 10291036.2. Ginn SL, Amaya AK, Alexander IE, et al. Gene therapy clinical trials worldwide to 2017: An update. J. Gene Med. 2018; 20(5): e3015.

Ger Brophy, PhD, is Executive Vice President, Biopharma Production at Avantor

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Opportunities and Challenges in Cell and Gene Therapy Development - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News