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NYC Healthcare Heroes Successfully Delivers More Than 400000 Care Packages with More Than 15 Million Products to 100 Hospitals and Healthcare…

By Stem Cell Medicine

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NYC Healthcare Heroes, a city-wide philanthropic program launched by the Debra and Leon Black Family in partnership with Aramark (NYSE:ARMK), the American Red Cross, Robin Hood, and the Mayors Fund to Advance New York City to support NYC workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19, today announced that it has successfully completed deliveries of more than 400,000 care packages with more than 15 million products. This represents the successful culmination of the NYC Healthcare Heroes program, which, since its launch in early April, has delivered 302,653 care packages of shelf-stable food, household cleaning and personal care products, over-the-counter medicine, as well as 104,052 boxes of fresh fruit and nuts, to the professionals who served NYC during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. To further serve healthcare professionals and high need New Yorkers, NYC Healthcare Heroes is also donating an additional $300,000 worth of food and supplies to local food pantries that partner with NYC Health + Hospitals.

The NYC Healthcare Heroes program was launched with a $10 million donation by the Debra and Leon Black Family and a commitment to match up to $10 million in donations to expand the impact of the program. Through the generous contributions of over 700 donors, the program doubled in size to become a $20 million effort and provided well-deserved encouragement and thanks for the tremendous efforts of critical healthcare professionals. Initially aimed at serving over 100,000 healthcare professionals across the five boroughs, the program expanded in May to include more than 5,000 EMS and disaster services workers, helping alleviate the burden of having to shop for themselves and their families.

Our city is forever indebted to our healthcare heroes for the tireless work and painful sacrifices they have made over the past few months, said Debra and Leon Black. Like all New Yorkers, our family has been humbled and inspired by their courage and resilience, and it has been an honor to support their heroic efforts through NYC Healthcare Heroes. We hope that the boxes of shelf-stable food, household cleaning and personal care products, as well as the bags of fresh fruit, brought our heroes comfort and alleviated the burden of having to grocery shop for themselves and their families.

Aramark is proud to have joined the Black Family to launch NYC Healthcare Heroes in support of the heroic efforts of healthcare workers, said John Zillmer, Chief Executive Officer of Aramark. We appreciated the opportunity to build relationships with our program partners, including Robin Hood, the Red Cross and the Mayors Fund, all of which helped make NYC Healthcare Heroes a success. In our efforts, we are hopeful we were able to bring smiles to the faces of heroes who continue to make countless sacrifices on the front lines for the benefit of New York City.

The NYC Healthcare Heroes initiative has provided a critical service for the frontline healthcare professionals who continue to serve in unprecedented circumstances, said Wes Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Robin Hood. We along with our partners will continue to support New Yorkers impacted by this crisis, and we are proud that even as the program comes to a close, it will continue to give back by donating extra resources to local food pantries to meet the needs of vulnerable communities.

The American Red Cross has been honored to join with the Black Family, Aramark and our other partners in supporting New York Citys healthcare heroes during these extremely challenging times, said Gail McGovern, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross. Our volunteers have shared countless touching, inspiring and uplifting stories from their experiences, and the Red Cross is grateful to have participated in this impactful initiative.

The COVID-19 pandemic has confronted New Yorkers with one of the most challenging periods this city has seen, but thanks to the Black Family, the American Red Cross, Aramark and Robin Hood, our community has weathered this storm together so far," said Toya Williford, Executive Director of the Mayors Fund to Advance New York City. We are grateful for the generosity of the NYC Healthcare Heroes partners and the individuals who, despite facing a national economic crisis, gave donations that put vital resources into this and other programs that continue to meet the critical needs of New Yorkers from all walks of life.

About Debra and Leon Black

Debra and Leon Black support numerous medical and other institutions in New York City and throughout the United States. Debra sits on the Board of Overseers at Weill Cornell Medicine, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Rockefeller University, and she has spearheaded gifts for Melanoma and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) research. Leon is Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Apollo Global Management. He also is the chairman of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and serves as a trustee of Mount Sinai Hospital, where his family launched The Black Family Stem Cell Institute in 2005.

In 2007, the Blacks co-founded the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA), a nonprofit foundation that has become the largest private funder of Melanoma research worldwide, having committed over $150 million in funding to advance understanding of the disease. MRA has helped fund 12 drugs approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) since its founding, which have been instrumental in launching the immunotherapy revolution, now helping to combat thirty different cancers.

In 2020, the Blacks co-founded The Foundation for OCD Research (FfOR) to fund research into and treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

The Blacks are also deeply committed to supporting veterans. In 2014, Leon launched the Apollo Veterans Initiative, where companies commit to hiring and retaining veterans, national guard, reserves, and military spouses and partners. The Debra and Leon Black Family also funds a graduate student fellowship program for U.S. veterans and active duty military members, which covers the cost of attendance and supports comprehensive leadership development annually at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Law School.

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the worlds leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world. We deliver innovative experiences and services in food, facilities management and uniforms to millions of people every day. We strive to create a better world by making a positive impact on people and the planet, including commitments to engage our employees; empower healthy consumers; build local communities; source ethically, inclusively and responsibly; operate efficiently and reduce waste. Aramark is recognized as a Best Place to Work by the Human Rights Campaign (LGBTQ+), DiversityInc, Equal Employment Publications and the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at http://www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Robin Hood

Founded in 1988, Robin Hood finds, fuels, and creates the most impactful and scalable solutions lifting families out of poverty in New York City, with models that can work across the country. Robin Hood invests nearly $120 million annually toprovide legal services, housing, meals, workforce development training, education programs, and more to families in poverty in New York City. Robin Hood tracks every program with rigorous metrics, and since Robin Hoods Board of Directors covers all overhead, 100 percent of every donation goes directly to the poverty fight. Learn more at http://www.robinhood.org; and follow Robin Hood on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

About the Mayors Fund to Advance New York City

The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization working with 50 City agencies and offices, 300 institutional funders, and 100 community-based partners.

The Mayor's Fund and its partners advance initiatives that improve the lives of New Yorkers from all walks of life and across all five boroughs. In particular, the Mayor's Fund has made strategic investments to promote mental health services for all New Yorkers, increase workforce development opportunities for young New Yorkers, and meet the needs of New York City's diverse immigrant community.

The Mayor's Fund is chaired by First Lady Chirlane McCray and governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Mayor. In addition, the Mayor's Fund has an Advisory Board composed of prominent civic and business leaders appointed by the Mayor to advise and assist the Board of Directors. Learn more at http://www.nyc.gov/fund, sign up for our newsletter, or connect with us on Twitter.

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NYC Healthcare Heroes Successfully Delivers More Than 400000 Care Packages with More Than 15 Million Products to 100 Hospitals and Healthcare...

Kerala Crash: A pregnant woman missed the flight because she didn’t have a fit-to-fly certificate. But what is it and why do you need one? – Gulf News

By Stem Cell Medicine

The documents pregnant women need to fly, plus other tips for air travel when pregnant

Dubai-based Ijaz Ummar and his seven-month-pregnant wife Jasleena were left stunned at their narrow escape, for she was slated to be on the Air India Express flight that crashed at Kozhikode on Friday evening, leaving at least 18 passengers and crew members dead.

Ummar said he was in the office when Jasleena called him to say that she needed a fitness certificate to board the flight. "There was a delay in getting that since it was a Friday and, despite our efforts, it could not be obtained," he said.

Consequently, Jasleena's trip was postponed and the couple did not think any more about it until they began receiving frantic calls from their relatives in their hometown of Kozhikode in the evening.

"Everyone was asking if she was on the flight. We had failed to inform relatives that her trip was postponed," Ummar said.

Jasleena said both of them are still in shock after watching the news of the crash on TV.

"We feel sad seeing all the visuals. While we are thanking God, we are also praying for all those who are suffering. We do not know what to say and how to express our feelings," she said.

In the wake of the accident, there are still many questions as the community reels from this tragedy. Jasleena and Ummar can only count their blessings at the narrow escape, which potentially saved Jasleena and their unborn baby - their first child, which they are expecting after five years of trying.

But what is the fitness certificate that may have inadvertently saved Jasleena and why do pregnant women need one?

Different airlines have different timelines but, generally speaking, if you are travelling at any point around your third trimester (from 28 weeks onwards) you will be required to show a fit-to-fly certificate to your airline before being allowed to board the plane.

This is a medical certificate or letter written on a clinic or hospital letterhead paper and / or stamped and signed by your obstetrician that mentions:

A Fit to Fly certificate during pregnancy is a certificate for the treating doctor to state that the patient is fit to travel and has no risk factors that may affect her and her foetus during the travel, says Dr. Sonia Chaudhary, Specialist obstetrics & gynaecology, Medcare Women & Children Hospital. This is a requirement from the airlines for expectant mothers.

If you have any heightened risk factors, such as being pregnant with multiples or gestational diabetes, it may be harder to obtain one and you may need to have a more thorough check from your doctor before they can sign it.

If the expectant mother has any condition like a history of bleeding, history of preterm delivery, high blood pressure, or sickle cell disease then its especially important that she is checked to ensure she is medically fit to fly, says Dr Chaudhary. These conditions put the mother and the foetus at risk due to the air pressure change in the plane, hence for the safety of the mother and the foetus it is always advised to be checked over first in order to get a certificate to travel.

In order to get your certificate you have to visit your doctor, says Dr Chaudhary. Your doctor will examine you and review your antenatal record. After examining if there are no complicating factors the doctor will issue this certificate. However you need to ensure that you time your medical visit right: The certificate is valid only for 48 hours. The best time to travel for expectant mothers is between 14th week and the 28th week of pregnancy.

During the time of COVID-19 pregnant women may be less eager to fly anywhere, although Dr Chadhary says that it is still relatively straight forward to get the fit-to-fly certificate if you do need to travel: During the pandemic if it is necessary to travel, to get a certificate is not as challenging provided the patient is completely aware about all the safety measures and precautions that she has to take. The patient should also be aware about all details with regards to the quarantine period at her destination.

You may not be accepted on your flight if you travel without one, especially if you are visibly pregnant (although most airlines do not require documentation if you are 27 weeks pregnant or less).

According to Skyscanner, some of the UAEs most popular airlines have the following policies for pregnant women:

Etihad Airways allow women to travel during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy without a medical certificate.

At Emirates Airlines, traveling after the 36th week is not allowed, unless with special permission from the Medical Department of the airlines.

Air Arabia allows travel until 35 weeks, if the expectant woman provides a medical certificate indicating the number of weeks of her pregnancy.

Flydubai allows normal travel of expectant mothers until the end of 28 weeks. Travelling after 28 weeks is not allowed, unless with an official medical report sufficient to Flydubai.

Pregnant women are potentially at a higher risk of more severe forms of COVID-19, so ensure that you are following all of the usual precautions to the letter. This means wearing your mask at all times (including and especially in the restroom), washing your hands with soap and water or sanitizing gel frequently, and being careful not to touch your face. When you sit down, immediately sanitise everything that you are likely to touch..twice (i.e. TV screen, handsets, tray stable, arm rest, overhead cabin crew call buttons). Everything you can! says Dr Richard Jones, Family Medicine doctor at Mediclinic. This is probably where people pick up most coughs and colds. Other advice includes directing the air vent over yourself to create a cone of protection against any airborned germs, as well as keeping nasal passages moisturized (through saline sprays and keeping hydrated) to help them combat any infection. Some people even recommend dabbing petroleum jelly on your nostrils to keep your nose moisturized and prevent infection.

No matter the flight length, its good to get up from your seat for a bit as there is an increased risk of getting blood clots during pregnancy. Every half hour during the flight stand up and walk, or flex and extend your legs to prevent swelling of the feet and to improve blood circulation. But be sure to, Wear shoes to the toilet or if you are walking around the cabin, warns Dr Richard Jones. The carpets are full of germs.

Ask your OB/GYN or midwife about elastic compression socks for your flight. When pregnant, slower circulation increases the chance of blood clots and these will help. However it is important that they fit you properly or they can restrict blood flow even more, so its best to buy a pair with the advice of your doctor.

If you can afford the luxury of flying in business class or premium economy then do it. If not, try to select an extra-legroom seat before your flight. You could even just ask the flight staff if they can make some accommodations for you. If a seat with extra legroom is unavailable, the second best option would be to get an aisle seat.

Its important to drink lots of water when pregnant and youre much more likely to get dehydrated when travelling on planes. Firstly, stay hydrated while waiting to get on the plane, then buy a large bottle of water to take on the flight with you so youre not at the mercy of the airline's food and beverage service.

When you arrive at the airport, staff and airline personnel are available to assist you at every stage of your journey, so ask for help. Alert your airline if you need assistance with your luggage when boarding or when travelling to your flight.

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Kerala Crash: A pregnant woman missed the flight because she didn't have a fit-to-fly certificate. But what is it and why do you need one? - Gulf News

Novel CAR T-Cell Therapy Shows Promise in Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma – Curetoday.com

By Stem Cell Clinic

Unlike other CAR T-cell therapies, clinical success was not associated with significant complications from therapy, said Dr. Jonathan Serody. This means this treatment should be available to patients in a clinic setting and would not require patients to be hospitalized, which is critical in our current environment.

Results from the parallel phase 1 and phase 2 studies also demonstrated that the CAR T-cell therapy was safe and did not produce any serious or severe side effects.

Researchers from the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine administered anti-CD30 CAR T cells to 41 patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. All patients underwent lymphodepletion with bendamustine alone, bendamustine and fludarabine, or cyclophosphamide and fludarabine prior to the anti-CD30 CAR T-cell therapy.

Measuring safety was the primary goal of the two parallel studies.

The overall response rate, or the percentage of partial or complete responses to therapy, among 37 evaluable patients was 62%. Thirty-four of the patients received fludarabine-based lymphodepletion 17 of which received it with bendamustine, and the other half received it with cyclophosphamide. Two of these patients were considered to be complete response at infusion and maintained the response, so they were not included in final analysis.

The overall response rate among the remaining patients was 72%, with 59% of patients achieving a complete response. After a median follow-up of 533 days, researchers identified the one-year progression free survival rate to be 36% and the one-year overall survival rate to be 94%.

This is particularly exciting because the majority of these patients had lymphomas that had not responded well to other powerful new therapies, said senior study author Dr. Barbara Savoldo, professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the UNC School of Medicine, in a press release. Patients within the study had received a median of seven previous lines of therapy that included checkpoint inhibitors and autologous or allogeneic stem cell therapies, therapies known to be powerful but also tend to come with a host of side effects.

However, treatment with the anti-CD30 CART cells demonstrated a favorable safety profile. Although 10 patients developed cytokine release syndrome, all cases were considered minor.

Patients who received fludarabine-containing lymphodepletion were the only participants in the study to have a response to the anti-CD30 CAR T-cell therapy.

Although CD30 CAR T (cells) showed modest activity in (Hodgkin lymphoma) when infused without lymphodepletion, robust clinical responses were achieved when these cells were infused in hosts lymphodepleted with fludarabine-containing regimens, the authors wrote.

The activity of this new therapy is quite remarkable and while we need to confirm these findings in a larger study, this treatment potentially offers a new approach for patients who currently have very limited options to treat their cancer, said Dr. Jonathan Serody, director of the bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy program at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, in the release. Additionally, unlike other CAR T-cell therapies, clinical success was not associated with significant complications from therapy. This means this treatment should be available to patients in a clinic setting and would not require patients to be hospitalized, which is critical in our current environment.

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Novel CAR T-Cell Therapy Shows Promise in Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma - Curetoday.com

Sapience Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed with ST101 in Phase 1/2 Study in Patients with Advanced Unresectable and Metastatic Solid Tumors |…

By Stem Cell Clinic

Details Category: Proteins and Peptides Published on Thursday, 13 August 2020 10:22 Hits: 282

HARRISON, NY, USA I August 12, 2020 I Sapience Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of peptide therapeutics to address difficult-to-treat oncology indications, today announced dose administration for the first patient in a Phase 1/2, open-label, dose escalation and expansion study of single agent ST101, a peptide therapy being evaluated for the treatment of adults with unresectable and metastatic solid tumors who are not eligible for other therapies or have progressed on prior therapies.

"The initiation of this study represents a significant milestone for Sapience, as it marks the first program from our portfolio of peptide therapies to enter the clinic," said Alice Bexon, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Sapience Therapeutics. "The ST101 program highlights Sapience's therapeutic approach of using peptides to target intracellular protein-protein interactions, which are often referred to as 'Undruggable Targets'. Through this study, we anticipate generating a wealth of clinical data to guide our future development plans for this first-in-class antagonist of C/EBP."

Nehal Lakhani, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Clinical Research at START Midwest (South Texas Accelerated Research), and a clinical investigator on the study added, "We are eager to explore the profile of ST101 and to investigate the role of C/EBP inhibition for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. We are always looking for opportunities to accelerate the development of new treatments to improve patients' lives and give them hope against cancer, and ST101 holds that potential."

The Phase 1/2 trial will enroll patients at several leading clinical centers in the US and UK. The trial will start with a dose escalation phase to assess the safety and tolerability of ST101, followed by an expansion phase to evaluate preliminary efficacy in patients with glioblastoma, locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer and melanoma. Please refer to http://www.clinicaltrials.gov for additional information (NCT 04478279).

About ST101

ST101 is a peptide antagonist of the transcription factor C/EBP, which is typically expressed and active in stem cells or early progenitor cells but not in most mature or differentiated cells. Certain cancers activate C/EBP, which results in the expression of genes with roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, and the cell cycle. Disruption of this transcription factor with ST101 results in targeted killing of cancer cells, as normal cells do not rely on C/EBP driven transcription for survival.

About Sapience Therapeutics

Sapience Therapeutics, Inc., is a privately held, clinical stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing peptide-based therapeutics for major unmet medical needs, particularly high mortality cancers. With platform-based discovery of peptide therapeutics that disrupt protein-protein interactions, Sapience's molecules hold potential to target intracellular interactions that are traditionally considered "undruggable targets". Its lead compound, ST101, is a first-in-class molecule with potential applications in various solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. For more information on Sapience Therapeutics, please visit http://www.sapiencetherapeutics.com.

SOURCE: Sapience Therapeutics

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Sapience Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed with ST101 in Phase 1/2 Study in Patients with Advanced Unresectable and Metastatic Solid Tumors |...

Novo backs ‘breakthrough’ antifungal player’s $60M round with a focus on rare mold infections – Endpoints News

By Stem Cell Clinic

The plight of antibiotics developers has been well documented: chronically underfunded research, daunting scientific challenges, and little commercial upside even for the ones that make it to the market. But in an adjacent corner of the antimicrobial space, an antifungal player is out to paint a very different picture.

F2G, a UK-Austria hybrid, has raised $60.8 million for its final push toward the clinic. Clearing the test could pave the way for its drug to be the first new antifungal agent in 20 years.

Thats how sparse the landscape has been, CEO Ian Nicholson told Endpoints News.

Its not for the lack of need, Nicholson noted. Much like in the antibacterial space, antifungal resistance is common occurring in 30% of patients taking the mainstay triazoles. Left untreated, the mortality rates for some of these rare mold infections targeted by F2G can be between 90% and 100%. Because fungi are eukaryotes just like humans, it has been difficult to discover new targets and corresponding new chemical entities.

The biotech began as a spinout of the University of Manchester, tapping into technologies that enabled them to manipulate and analyze fungal genes. F2G scientists eventually zeroed in on DHODH or dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme that helps fungi create the building blocks it needs to grow.

As it turned out, this blockade also kills the fungus. Out of this new class of antifungals dubbed orotomides, the lead candidate olorofim has been designated a breakthrough therapy (a first for antifungals, according to Nicholson), an orphan drug as well as a qualified infectious disease product. The ongoing open label Phase IIb study is testing it in a variety of rare mold infections, including invasive aspergillosis, scedosporiosis, lomentosporiosis, fusariosis, scopulariopsosis and coccidioidomycosis (valley fever).

For the upcoming Phase III, though, F2G plans to focus solely on invasive aspergillosis where a single study involving a couple hundred patients is expected to cement approval.

Valley fever is also a top priority in the US, where CMO John Rex, the former head of infection at AstraZeneca, leading a clinical team.

Compared to bacterial infections, fungal infections typically need to be treated for much longer, a matter of months rather than days. Theres no abundance of cheaply priced generics, and payers that F2G has talked to agreed that any new entrants should be priced relatively high.

Its a similar therapeutic area, but in many respects commercially it is much more like a rare disease drug than conventional anti-infective drug, CFO Ralf Schmid said.

Citing Gileads AmBisome as an example and an entrenched rival, Schmid pointed out the drug can cost $1,400 per day despite the availability of generics.

Just to set the context, added Naveed Siddiqi, a partner at Novo Ventures, the big drugs in the states are voriconazole and propiconazole, and they both at peak sold somewhere between $700 million and over $800 million.

Novo came on board for the first $60 million round back in 2016. Morningside Ventures, another existing investor, stepped up for the new funding alongside Brace Pharma Capital, Advent Life Sciences and new backer Cowen.

In addition to funding the clinical trial, the financing is also expected to scale up the current 20-person team in preparation for launch. Nicholson said the growth will be substantial but dont expect it to match the pharma rivals.

Because these infections occur in the context of transplants or cancer, when theyre immunosuppressed, a small company with a relatively limited salesforce and commercial organization can actually address this, Siddiqi said.

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Novo backs 'breakthrough' antifungal player's $60M round with a focus on rare mold infections - Endpoints News

CanSino reaps $748M windfall from Shanghai IPO as it warns Covid-19 vaccine won’t be a huge money maker – Endpoints News

By Stem Cell Clinic

CanSino began the year with a clear goal to secure a secondary listing on Shanghais STAR market. Then something more urgent came along: As a rising vaccine developer on a mission to bring global standard immunizations to China, it heeded the call to make a vaccine to protect against a virus that would paralyze the whole world.

Xuefeng Yu and his team managed to keep doing both.

More than a month after CanSinos Covid-19 vaccine candidate is authorized for military use in China, the Hong Kong-listed company has made a roaring debut in Shanghai. It fetched $748 million (RMB$5.2 billion) by floating 24.8 million shares, and soared 88% on its first trading day.

At RMB$209.71 apiece, its the second most expensive IPO ever on the nascent tech board, according to the South China Morning Post.

In opening the STAR market last year, Shanghais stock exchange followed its Hong Kong counterparts footsteps. By lowering the listing requirements to accommodate pre-revenue tech and biotech companies, both bourses are looking to lure domestic upstarts back from Nasdaq.

Its not uncommon for STAR stocks to jump dramatically or even double upon their debuts. In fact, CanSino closed at a lower price than expected.

The first-day gain turned out to be smaller than traders expected because of worries about frothy valuations on the overall A-share market, Ivan Li, a money manager at Shanghai-based Loyal Wealth Management, told SCMP. But investors still have confidence in the stock and its vaccines in the pipeline.

Covid-19 has delayed clinical plans for its earlier-stage vaccines, CanSino reported in its prospectus, which are candidates designed to protect against pneumococcal diseases as well as diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

Meanwhile, logistical troubles are still stalling the plan to test the coronavirus vaccine, Ad5-nCoV, in Canada. With political tension and speculation running high, CanSino has turned to Saudi Arabia to kick off its first Phase III test like all the other Chinese vaccine makers, its opting to do late-stage studies in places where infections are still widespread.

Even if the Phase III results are positive, though, dont expect it to be a money maker. CanSino noted that the Chinese government might be taking control of pricing and supply as well as exports, leading to a lower profit margin than other products.

An Ebola vaccine developed with a scientist from Chinas army whos also a collaborator on the Covid-19 program remains the only approved product in CanSinos portfolio. Two meningococcal vaccines are now under regulatory review.

The company wrote that its building a sales and marketing team, with the goal being to expand from the current 20-plus to 100 by the end of 2020.

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CanSino reaps $748M windfall from Shanghai IPO as it warns Covid-19 vaccine won't be a huge money maker - Endpoints News

Roche pulls a tumor micro-environment drug out of the freezer, hands it to a UK upstart – Endpoints News

By Stem Cell Clinic

Two years after pulling it from clinical development, Roche has handed control of a solid tumor cancer drug to a tiny Oxford University spinout.

For an undisclosed fee, Celleron Therapeutics acquired the drug, an anti-CSF1R antibody thats designed to modulate the tumor micro-environment an increasingly popular approach among cancer drug developers. Celleron says it will now put the drug into trials for patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumors, a rare disease where series of benign tumors begin to grow around the joints and tendons. Its caused by cells over-producing CSF1R.

The deal appears to be a straight biotech-repurposing-off-the-Pharma-shelf deal. Although Roche launched 4 different trials for the drug one of which is still technically on-going the Swiss pharma retired the drug as part of a broad pipeline sweep back in October of 2018. It was a business decision, the company wrote on one withdrawn studys page on clinicaltrials.gov, stipulating there were no safety or efficacy concerns.

In fact, the antibody had looked promising in the only efficacy results that ever surfaced. In a Phase I study published in The Lancet Oncology, 24 out of 28 patients responded to the drug, and two of them had a complete response.

Celleron will now have a chance to test whether those results can bear out in larger trials. The company says its built a proprietary platform around epigenetic control and immune modulation, but most of their clinical efforts so far have focused on an in-licensed drug from AstraZeneca that inhibits histone deacetylase, a class of enzymes that change one of the types of epigenetic markers on DNA. Theyve put it into Phase I and Phase II trials in the UK and in China in different combinations and different cancers, including T-cell lymphomas and HCC.

Still, Celleron has its own assets, including a series of preclinical assets that target histones. They also have CXD201, a molecule that inhibits topoisomerase, one of the enzymes that winds and unwinds DNA. And they say they use biomarker data to match the best drugs to the best patients.

The company has never announced how much capital theyve raised, but they said in 2017 they raised funding from a South Korean consortium.

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Roche pulls a tumor micro-environment drug out of the freezer, hands it to a UK upstart - Endpoints News

Stem Cell And Regenerative Therapy Market Industry Outlook, Growth Prospects and Key Opportunities – Kentucky Journal 24

By Adult Stem Cells

The global stem cell and regenerative medicines market should grow from $21.8 billion in 2019 to reach $55.0 billion by 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.4% for the period of 2019-2024.

Report Scope:

The scope of this report is broad and covers various type of product available in the stem cell and regenerative medicines market and potential application sectors across various industries. The current report offers a detailed analysis of the stem cell and regenerative medicines market.

The report highlights the current and future market potential of stem cell and regenerative medicines and provides a detailed analysis of the competitive environment, recent development, merger and acquisition, drivers, restraints, and technology background in the market. The report also covers market projections through 2024.

Request For Report sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/11723

The report details market shares of stem cell and regenerative medicines based on products, application, and geography. Based on product the market is segmented into therapeutic products, cell banking, tools and reagents. The therapeutics products segments include cell therapy, tissue engineering and gene therapy. By application, the market is segmented into oncology, cardiovascular disorders, dermatology, orthopedic applications, central nervous system disorders, diabetes, others

The market is segmented by geography into the following regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa. The report presents detailed analyses of major countries such as the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, the U.K. France, Japan, China and India. For market estimates, data is provided for 2018 as the base year, with forecasts for 2019 through 2024. Estimated values are based on product manufacturers total revenues. Projected and forecasted revenue values are in constant U.S. dollars, unadjusted for inflation.

Request For Report Discounts @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/11723

Report Includes:

28 data tables An overview of global markets for stem cell and regenerative medicines Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2018, estimates for 2019, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2024 Details of historic background and description of embryonic and adult stem cells Information on stem cell banking and stem cell research A look at the growing research & development activities in regenerative medicine Coverage of ethical issues in stem cell research & regulatory constraints on biopharmaceuticals Comprehensive company profiles of key players in the market, including Aldagen Inc., Caladrius Biosciences Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd., Gamida Cell Ltd. and Novartis AG

Summary

The global market for stem cell and regenerative medicines was valued at REDACTED billion in 2018. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of REDACTED to reach approximately REDACTED billion by 2024. Growth of the global market is attributed to the factors such as growingprevalence of cancer, technological advancement in product, growing adoption of novel therapeuticssuch as cell therapy, gene therapy in treatment of chronic diseases and increasing investment fromprivate players in cell-based therapies.

In the global market, North America held the highest market share in 2018. The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growing government funding for regenerative medicines in research institutes along with the growing number of clinical trials based on cell-based therapy and investment in R&D activities is expected to supplement the growth of the stem cell and regenerative market in Asia-Pacific region during the forecast period.

Reasons for Doing This Study

Global stem cell and regenerative medicines market comprises of various products for novel therapeutics that are adopted across various applications. New advancement and product launches have influenced the stem cell and regenerative medicines market and it is expected to grow in the near future. The biopharmaceutical companies are investing significantly in cell-based therapeutics. The government organizations are funding research and development activities related to stem cell research. These factors are impacting the stem cell and regenerative medicines market positively and augmenting the demand of stem cell and regenerative therapy among different application segments. The market is impacted through adoption of stem cell therapy. The key players in the market are investing in development of innovative products. The stem cell therapy market is likely to grow during the forecast period owing to growing investment from private companies, increasing in regulatory approval of stem cell-based therapeutics for treatment of chronic diseases and growth in commercial applications of regenerative medicine.

Products based on stem cells do not yet form an established market, but unlike some other potential applications of bioscience, stem cell technology has already produced many significant products in important therapeutic areas. The potential scope of the stem cell market is now becoming clear, and it is appropriate to review the technology, see its current practical applications, evaluate the participating companies and look to its future.

The report provides the reader with a background on stem cell and regenerative therapy, analyzes the current factors influencing the market, provides decision-makers the tools that inform decisions about expansion and penetration in this market.

More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/11723

Excerpt from:
Stem Cell And Regenerative Therapy Market Industry Outlook, Growth Prospects and Key Opportunities - Kentucky Journal 24

Radiation to treat pediatric cancers may have lasting impact on heart and metabolic health – Science Codex

By Adult Stem Cells

Bottom Line: Adult survivors of childhood abdominal and pelvic cancers who had been treated with radiation therapy experienced abnormalities in body composition and had worse cardiometabolic health compared with the general population.

Journal in Which the Study was Published: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research

Author: Carmen Wilson, PhD, assistant member in the Epidemiology and Cancer Control department at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Background: "Body composition abnormalities and cardiometabolic impairments are of concern among survivors given that in the general population, these conditions increase the risk of developing life-threatening diseases including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes," said Wilson. The impacts of radiation therapy on metabolic health have been previously reported for survivors of pediatric leukemia, brain tumors, and hematopoietic stem cell transplants, but the impacts on survivors of pediatric abdominal and pelvic tumors remained unclear, she said.

How the Study was Conducted: In this study, Wilson and colleagues assessed 431 adult survivors of pediatric abdominal or pelvic solid tumors who had been previously treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The median age of participants during the study was 29.9 years. The most frequent childhood diagnoses were neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, and germ cell tumor, and the median age of participants at diagnosis was 3.6 years. Approximately 37 and 36 percent of participants had received abdominal and pelvic radiation therapy, respectively, as part of their treatment.

To assess the impacts of radiation therapy, the authors compared the participants' body composition, metabolic abnormalities, and physical function to those of the general population, using age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched data from the 2013 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Results: Wilson and colleagues found that compared with data from NHANES, the survivors in their study were significantly more likely to have insulin resistance (33.8 percent vs. 40.6 percent), high triglycerides (10.02 percent vs. 18.4 percent), and low levels of high-density lipoproteins, commonly referred to as "good cholesterol" (28.9 percent vs. 33.5 percent). There were no significant differences in the levels of low-density lipoproteins ("bad cholesterol") between survivors and the general population.

The analyses also demonstrated that survivors of abdominal and pelvic solid tumors had lower relative lean body mass than the general population and that the lower relative lean body mass was associated with the dose of prior abdominal or pelvic radiation. Lean body mass, which measures the non-fat content of the body, is related to basal metabolic rate; therefore, an individual with lower lean body mass burns fewer calories while resting than someone with higher lean body mass, Wilson explained.

There was no significant difference in relative fat body mass between survivors and the general population; however, survivors who had high relative fat mass had reduced quadricep strength and poor physical performance (as measured by a sit-and-reach test and distance covered during a six-minute walk) compared with survivors who had low relative fat mass.

Author's Comments: "It is possible that abdominal and pelvic-directed radiation therapy damages postural muscles or subtly impairs sex hormone production, ultimately affecting muscle mass," said Wilson. She explained that radiation therapy has been shown to cause muscle injury, resulting in muscle fiber loss and loss of muscle regenerative cells, in animal studies. Wilson added that lifestyle choices may also impact relative lean mass and cardiometabolic health among survivors.

Wilson suggested that future research could examine the impact of radiation therapy and other cancer treatments on fat distribution across the body since increased abdominal obesity has been shown to be a better predictor of adverse health effects than measures of overall obesity.

In addition, Wilson is interested in exploring how interventions directed at lifestyle behaviors could improve lean mass and decrease fat mass among survivors of pediatric cancers. "While it may not be possible to avoid radiation therapy as a key treatment for many solid tumors, early research suggests that resistance training interventions in survivors increase lean mass," said Wilson. "Further work is needed to see if training would also impact cardiometabolic impairments in this population."

Study Limitations: A limitation of the study is that cardiometabolic outcomes may have been measured differently in the study cohort compared with those surveyed by NHANES.

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Radiation to treat pediatric cancers may have lasting impact on heart and metabolic health - Science Codex

Scientists hope to bring Malaysian rhinoceros back from extinction with stem cell technology – The Province

By Embryonic Stem Cells

The last Sumatran rhinoceros individual of Malaysia Iman, photographed at her sanctuary on the island of Borneo in October 2019. KAISA SIREN / LEHTIKUVA

Some skin, eggs and tissue samples are all that remain of Malaysias last rhino, Iman, who died last November after years of failed breeding attempts.

Now scientists are pinning their hopes on experimental stem cell technology to bring back the Malaysian variant of the Sumatran rhinoceros, making use of cells from Iman and two other dead rhinos.

Im very confident, molecular biologist Muhammad Lokman Md Isa told Reuters in his laboratory at the International Islamic University of Malaysia.

If everything is functioning, works well and everybody supports us, its not impossible.

The smallest among the worlds rhinos, the Sumatran species was declared extinct in the wild in Malaysia in 2015. Once it had roamed across Asia, but hunting and forest clearance reduced its numbers to just 80 in neighboring Indonesia.

Iman, 25, died in a nature reserve on Borneo island, following massive blood loss caused by uterine tumors, within six months of the death of Malaysias last male rhino, Tam.

Efforts to get the two to breed had not worked.

He was the equivalent of a 70-year-old man, so of course you dont expect the sperm to be all that good, said John Payne of the Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA), who has campaigned for about four decades to save Malaysias rhinos.

It was obvious that, to increase the chances of success, one should get sperm and eggs from the rhinos in Indonesia. But right till today, Indonesia is still not keen on this.

ACROSS THE BORDER

Indonesias environment ministry disputed accusations of cross-border rivalry as a reason why Malaysias rhinos died out, saying talks continue on ways to work with conservationists in the neighboring southeast Asian nation.

Because this is part of diplomatic relations, the implementation must be in accordance with the regulation of each country, said Indra Exploitasia, the ministrys director for biodiversity conservation.

The Malaysian scientists plan to use cells from the dead rhinos to produce sperm and eggs that will yield test-tube babies to be implanted into a living animal or a closely related species, such as the horse.

The plan is similar to one for the African northern white rhinoceros, which number just two. Researchers in that effort reported some success in 2018 in producing embyronic stem cells for the southern white rhino.

But the process is still far from producing a whole new animal, say Thomas Hildebrandt and Cesare Galli, the scientists leading the research.

And even if it worked, the animals lack of genetic diversity could pose a threat to long-term survival, Galli told Reuters.

Indonesian scientist Arief Boediono is among those helping in Malaysia, hoping success will provide lessons to help his countrys rhinos.

It may take five, 10, 20 years, I dont know, Arief added. But there has already been some success involving lab rats in Japan, so that means there is a chance.

Japanese researchers have grown teeth and organs such as pancreas and kidneys using embryonic stem cells from rats and mice in efforts to grow replacement human organs.

For now, however, Imans hide will be stuffed and put on display alongside Tam in a Borneo museum.

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Scientists hope to bring Malaysian rhinoceros back from extinction with stem cell technology - The Province

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