Takeda and MD Anderson Announce Collaboration to Accelerate the Development of Clinical-Stage, Off-The-Shelf CAR NK-Cell Therapy Platform – BioSpace

Nov. 5, 2019 12:00 UTC

HOUSTON & OSAKA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centerand Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) (Takeda) today announced an exclusive license agreement and research agreement to develop cord blood-derived chimeric antigen receptor-directed natural killer (CAR NK)-cell therapies, armored with IL-15, for the treatment of B-cell malignancies and other cancers.

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Under the agreement, Takeda will receive access to MD Andersons CAR NK platform and the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize up to four programs, including a CD19-targeted CAR NK-cell therapy and a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted CAR NK-cell therapy. Takeda and MD Anderson will also conduct a research collaboration to further develop these CAR NK programs.

Our vision is to improve upon existing treatments by developing armored CAR NKs that could be administered off-the-shelf in an outpatient settingenabling more patients to be treated effectively, quickly and with minimal toxicities, said Katy Rezvani, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at MD Anderson. With their expertise in hematologic malignancies and commitment to developing next-generation cell therapies, Takeda is the ideal collaborator to help our team advance CAR NK-cell therapies to patients in need of treatments.

A Novel Approach to Delivering Off-the-Shelf CARs in an Outpatient Setting MD Andersons allogeneic CAR NK platform isolates NK cells from umbilical cord blood and engineers them to express CARs against specified cancer targets. CAR NK cells are modified with a retroviral vector to deliver genes and enhance their effectiveness to attack specific tumors. A CD19 CAR increases the cells specificity for B-cell malignancies while the immunocytokine IL-15 enhances the proliferation and survival of the CAR NK cells in the body.

In contrast to current CAR T-cell therapies that utilize a patients own genetically modified T-cells and require a multi-week manufacturing process, CAR NK cells are intended to be manufactured from a non-related donor source and stored for off-the-shelf use, allowing treatment to be delivered more rapidly.

It is anticipated that the CD19 CAR NK-cell therapy could be administered in an outpatient setting. In an ongoing phase 1/2a clinical study treating patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell malignances, the CD19 CAR NK-cell therapy has not been associated with the severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or neurotoxicity observed with existing CAR-T therapies.

The development of MD Andersons CAR NK platform is led by Dr. Rezvani and is further supported by the adoptive cell therapy platform, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Moon Shot and B-Cell Lymphoma Moon Shot, all part of the institutions Moon Shots Program, a collaborative effort to rapidly develop scientific discoveries into meaningful clinical advances that save patients lives.

Takeda: Accelerating the Development of Multiple Next-Generation CAR Platforms MD Andersons CAR NK platform represents the curative potential of cell therapies, which is why we are establishing the CD19 CAR NK as our lead cell therapy candidate in oncology, said Andy Plump, M.D., Ph.D., President of Research and Development at Takeda. We need to work swiftly and with purpose, and as such, we intend to initiate a pivotal study of the CD19 CAR NK in 2021.

In addition to CAR NK-cell therapies, Takeda and its partners are investigating multiple approaches to improving the safety, efficacy and accessibility of first-generation CAR T-cell therapies including gamma delta CAR Ts, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CAR Ts, CAR Ts targeting solid tumors, and other next-generation approaches. Takeda plans to advance five oncology cell therapies to the clinic by the end of FY20.1 These platforms are being developed both with partners and by applying the expertise of Takedas translational cell therapy engine which provides bioengineering, chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC), clinical and translational capabilities in a single footprint to overcome many of the manufacturing challenges experienced in cell therapy development.

Takeda is responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of CAR NK products resulting under the agreement. MD Anderson will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive development and commercial milestones for each target as well as tiered royalties on net sales of any such CAR NK product.

MD Anderson and Takeda will continue research for the additional targets and CAR NK platform under the direction of a joint research committee. MD Anderson will implement an Institutional Conflict of Interest Management and Monitoring Plan for this research.

About MD Anderson The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institutions sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 50 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No.1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Reports Best Hospitals survey. It has ranked as one of the nations top two hospitals for cancer care since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first 15 times in the last 18 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Gastroenterology (GI), Rare Diseases and Neuroscience. We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries and regions. For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com

Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takedas future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. In particular, this press release contains forecasts and management estimates related to the financial and operational performance of Takeda, including statements regarding forecasts for Revenue, Operating profit, Adjusted EBITDA, Profit before income taxes, Net profit attributable to owners of Takeda, Basic earnings per share, Amortization and impairment and other income/expense, Underlying Revenue, Underlying Core Earnings margin, Underlying Core EPS and Net Debt. Without limitation, forward looking statements often include the words such as targets, plans, believes, hopes, continues, expects, aims, intends, will, may, should, would, could anticipates, estimates, projects or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof. Any forward-looking statements in this document are based on the current assumptions and beliefs of Takeda in light of the information currently available to it. Such forward-looking statements do not represent any guarantee by Takeda or its management of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to: the economic circumstances surrounding Takedas business, including general economic conditions in Japan, the United States and worldwide; competitive pressures and developments; applicable laws and regulations; the success of or failure of product development programs; decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; changes in exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or products candidates; and post-merger integration with acquired companies, any of which may cause Takedas actual results, performance, achievements or financial position to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or financial position expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For more information on these and other factors which may affect Takedas results, performance, achievements, or financial position, see Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk Factors in Takedas Registration Statement on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takedas website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/reports/sec-filings/ or at http://www.sec.gov. Neither Takeda nor its management gives any assurances that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements will turn out to be correct, and actual results, performance or achievements could materially differ from expectations. Persons receiving this press release should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Takeda undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast or projection of Takedas future results.

1 Takedas 2020 fiscal year begins April 1, 2020 and ends March 31, 2021.

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Takeda and MD Anderson Announce Collaboration to Accelerate the Development of Clinical-Stage, Off-The-Shelf CAR NK-Cell Therapy Platform - BioSpace

Impact Of ELN Risk Stratification, Induction Chemotherapy Regimens And | CMAR – Dove Medical Press

Shanglong Feng,1,* Li Zhou,2,* Xinhui Zhang,1,* Baolin Tang,2 Xiaoyu Zhu,2 Huilan Liu,2 Zimin Sun,2 Changcheng Zheng1,2

1Department of Hematology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Peoples Republic of China; 2Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Peoples Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Changcheng ZhengDepartment of Hematology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, Peoples Republic of ChinaTel/fax +86-551-62284476Email zhengchch1123@ustc.edu.cn

Background: Hyperleukocytic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (initial white blood cell count100 109/L) is a clinical emergency often accompanied by leukostasis syndrome, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), with a poor clinical prognosis. The aim of this study retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of hyperleukocytic AML, focusing on high-risk factors affecting prognosis, the selection of initial induction therapy, and the impact of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on prognosis.Patients and methods: A total of 558 AML patients at our center from January 2013 to December 2017 were diagnosed, and 52 (9.32%) patients presented with hyperleukocytosis were retrospectively reviewed.Results: The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate in the 1539 years old and 4060 years old group was 58.8% and 25.4%, respectively; the longest survival time in patients aged >60 years was only 8 months, and the 8-month OS rate was 8.3% (p=0.002). The 3-year OS rate of the patients in the favorable risk group, intermediate risk group and high risk group, according to the 2017 ELN risk stratification, was 50%, 28.0%, and 29.5%, respectively (p=0.374). The 3-year OS rate of patients carrying CEBPA or NPM1 mutation and those with FLT3-ITD or MLL mutation was 37.5% and 30.0%, respectively (p=0.63). The 3-year OS rate of patients employing an induction regimen of a standard IA regimen was 58.4%, and of those employing a non-standard IA regimen was 22.2% (p=0.065). The 3-year OS rate of the transplantation patients reached 73.8%, while the 9-month OS rate of patients without transplantation was 11.4% (p<0.001).Conclusion: This study suggest that hyperleukocytosis is an independent risk factor for AML patients, regardless of the risk stratification based on cytogenetic or molecular abnormalities. Age is the main factor influencing the prognosis of hyperleukocytic AML. The use of a standard IA regimen and HSCT can significantly improve the patients prognosis.

Keywords: acute myeloid leukemia, hyperleukocytosis, ELN risk stratification, induction chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Impact Of ELN Risk Stratification, Induction Chemotherapy Regimens And | CMAR - Dove Medical Press

An artist and a transplant researcher discuss the heart – Harvard Gazette

Doris A. Taylors so-called replacement ghost heart suggests something otherworldly, but the eerie-looking form is far from an apparition. Its an innovative approach to organ transplantation that has inspired many in the medical community and at least one artist.

The Texas researchers process piggybacks on natures sophisticated design. Together she and a team of researchers strip cells off human and animal cadaver hearts with a soapy solution, leaving ghostly white protein shells that retain the form of the organ. They inject them with a patients blood or bone-marrow stem cells, and the ghost hearts act as scaffolding on which the newly introduced cells can slowly transform into a beating muscle.

What we said was, Wouldnt it be really cool if we could wash the sick cells out and put the healthy cells back in? said Taylor, director of Regenerative Medicine Research and director of the Center for Cell and Organ Biotechnology at the Texas Heart Institute, during a recent talk at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

The hope is that one day these regenerated hearts will resolve the most challenging issues transplant patients currently face: the lack of a permanent artificial replacement, concerns about rejection, and the shortage of viable donor hearts.

Taylors efforts are driving what could become a revolution in organ transplants, and they have sparked the creativity of transdisciplinary artist Dario Robleto, whose latest work, on view at the Johnson-Kulukundis Family Gallery in Radcliffes Byerly Hall, recreates in images and sounds the original pulse wave of the heart first captured in visual form by scientists in the 1900s. Robleto and Taylor, longtime friends and Texas residents, explored those connections during Mondays Radcliffe discussion, which was moderated by Jennifer Roberts, Elizabeth Cary Agassiz Professor of the Humanities.

Robletos exhibit, Unknown and Solitary Seas, touches on the overlap between the medical mysteries and workings of the vascular pump, and the metaphor for the heart as the emotional center of the soul. It includes a video installation that features recreated sounds of a beating heart from the 19th century, reconstructed images of how the earliest pulse waves first appeared on the page, and a series of heart waveform sculptures in brass-plated stainless steel.

Roberts said that with his work, Robleto acknowledges the pulse waves promise, their profundity, their scientific value, but he also reclaims some of their ambiguity and asks us to wonder whether we can or should accept that these waveforms have escaped the realms of art, culture, and emotional communication.

Taylor similarly views her work as a blend of the scientific and the human. It transcends complicated, complex science, she says, in that her ghost hearts require a kind of passion, commitment, care, attention, and nurturing similar to whats required by a small child. Its really about building hearts at the emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical level that I think is going to get them to work, she said.

For Robleto, big ideas, like the creation of a new human heart, require multiple perspectives.

The artist called Taylors work one of the most fascinating and definitely one of the most emotional things Ive ever seen. As an object, he added, the ghost heart is stunningly beautiful but it also raises questions about the self, identity, emotion, the notions of form and where memory is truly held, questions he thinks artists can help address. He cited two of the nations earliest heart transplants, after which the patients wives asked their husbands, who had received donor hearts, if they still loved them.

Taylors work, Robleto said, is right at the edge of identity and materiality and so when the day comes when someone says the first ghost heart transplant I think we will have a similar moment where perhaps we will be forced to re-evaluate what we ask from our heart metaphor.

Dario Robletos Unknown and Solitary Seas is on view in Byerly Halls Johnson-Kulukundis Family Gallery through Jan. 18, 2020.

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An artist and a transplant researcher discuss the heart - Harvard Gazette

2019s Allen Distinguished Investigators will focus on the mysteries of our cells – GeekWire

Biomedical researcher Samantha Morris, shown here in her lab at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is one of the newly named Allen Distinguished Investigators. This award is enabling us to take a big risk in our arena by generating a completely new technology, one which will be useful to the scientific community. Thats really exciting for us, she said. (Washington University in St. Louis Photo)

The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, a division of Seattles Allen Institute, is making a total of $7.5 million in awards to its latest class of five biomedical researchers.

The themes for this years Allen Distinguished Investigators focus on stem cell therapies and single-cell interactions in their native environments.

The field of stem cell biology has the potential to change how we treat diseases by helping precision medicine, and theres so much we still dont understand about the interplay between cells in living tissues or organs, Kathy Richmond, director of the Frontiers Group, said today in a news release.

Our 2019 Allen Distinguished Investigators are pushing their fields in these two areas, through new technology development, probing pivotal interactions in the body that cause health to fail, and generating creative new stem cell models that will improve our understanding of different human diseases, she said.

The late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen gave the Allen Distinguished Investigator program its start in 2010 as a way to support significant early-stage research thats less likely to receive grants from traditional sources. This years selections bring the roster to a total of 74 researchers, including 13 from the University of Washington.

Each of the investigators will receive $1.5 million in support for their projects over three years. Heres a rundown on the Class of 2019:

Samantha Morris of Washington University in St. Louis aims to create a blueprint of cell identity that will enable researchers to improve the way they generate different kinds of cells from human stem cells.

Joshua Rabinowitz of Princeton University will lead a team developing new technologies to study metabolites, the molecules that result from our bodies conversion of food into energy, as well as metabolic activity in single cells from mouse and human tissue.

Clive Svendsen of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center will use stem cells to model how interactions between the gut microbiome and the brain might influence neuron death in patients with Parkinsons disease.

Savas Tay and his colleagues at the University of Chicago are looking into the roots of Crohns disease by combining the study of gene expression with single-cell measurements of proteins and protein complexes, using samples of healthy and diseased gut tissue.

James Wells and his colleagues of Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center will use stem cells to study maladies that affect enteroendocrine cells, which sense nutrients from the food we eat and then control how those nutrients are processed in the intestines.

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2019s Allen Distinguished Investigators will focus on the mysteries of our cells - GeekWire

Cellular Biomedicine Group Reports Third Quarter of 2019 Financial Results and Business Highlights – P&T Community

NEW YORK and SHANGHAI, Nov. 6, 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 reported its financial results and business highlights for the third quarter of 2019.

"During the third quarter of 2019, we made great strides in both corporate and clinical progress. We started our U.S. expansion for research and clinical development in a new 22,000 square foot facility in Rockville, Maryland in October 2019. This milestone will allow us to foster strategic partnerships, develop new innovations and support continued development of CBMG's cell therapy-based immune-oncology assets that have shown promise in early proof-of-concept trials in China," said Tony (Bizuo) Liu, Chief Executive Officer for the Company.

"We also had continued progress on the clinical side, with the initiation of our Phase II clinical trial in China of AlloJoin therapy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Additionally, our autologous stem cell therapy program for KOA, ReJoin, was accepted by the NMPA in China to begin a Phase II clinical trial. We are excited about our regenerative medicine programs as we are currently the only company that has received two clinical trial acceptances for any stem cell program in China."

Mr. Liu continued, "Presentations of our pre-clinical and clinical data at upcoming medical conferences later this year will demonstrate continued focus on our immune-oncology pipeline and we are proud to provide an update of our commitment to cancer immunotherapy."

Third Quarter 2019 and Other Recent Corporate Developments

Upcoming Clinical and Preclinical Presentations:

Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2019

Conference Call and Webcast InformationThe 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.

Live Call:

Toll-Free: 1-855-327-6838

International: 1-604-235-2082

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 GroupCellular 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.

Forward-Looking StatementsStatements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, trends, specific activities or investments, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts and may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include those regarding our ability to implement our plans, strategies and objectives for future operations, including regulatory approval of our IND applications, our plan to configure part of our Shanghai facility with GE Healthcare's FlexFactory platform, our ability to execute on our obligations under the terms of our licensing and collaboration arrangement with Novartis, our ability to execute on proposed new products, services or development thereof, results of our clinical research and development, regulatory infrastructure governing cell therapy and cellular biopharmaceuticals, our ability to enter into agreements with any necessary manufacturing, marketing and/or distribution partners for purposes of commercialization, our ability to seek intellectual property rights for our product candidates, competition in the industry in which we operate, overall market conditions, any statements or assumptions underlying any of the foregoing and other risks detailed from time to time in CBMG's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "plans," "intends," "estimates," "potential," or "continue," or similar terms or the negative of these terms. Although CBMG believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, they cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements will be obtained. CBMG does not have any obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.

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

CELLULAR BIOMEDICINE GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

September 30,

December 31,

2019

2018

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$29,035,677

$52,812,880

Restricted cash

17,000,000

-

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of nil and $94,868 as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively

-

787

Other receivables

591,271

101,909

Prepaid expenses

1,589,479

1,692,135

Total current assets

48,216,427

54,607,711

Investments

240,000

240,000

Property, plant and equipment, net

19,856,287

15,193,761

Right of use

14,298,613

15,938,203

Goodwill

7,678,789

7,678,789

Intangibles, net

7,521,523

7,970,692

Long-term prepaid expenses and other assets

7,640,535

5,952,193

Total assets

$105,452,174

$107,581,349

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Liabilities:

Short-term debt

$14,138,419

$-

Accounts payable

5,686,023

422,752

Accrued expenses

1,477,174

1,878,926

Taxes payable

28,625

28,950

Other current liabilities

4,526,594

5,710,578

Total current liabilities

25,856,835

8,041,206

Other non-current liabilities

12,545,245

14,321,751

Total liabilities

38,402,080

22,362,957

Stockholders' equity:

Preferred stock, par value $.001, 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively

-

-

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Cellular Biomedicine Group Reports Third Quarter of 2019 Financial Results and Business Highlights - P&T Community

Cost is a major challenge in stem cells therapy: Dr Na’eem Sadiq – ETHealthworld.com

Shahid Akhter, editor, ETHealthworld spoke to Dr Na'eem Sadiq, Medical Director, PLEXUS NEURO and STEM CELL RESEARCH CENTER, Bengaluru to know more about stem cell therapy and the challenges associated with it.

STEM CELL : TRENDSStem cell is a word which evokes lot of responses both positive and negative. Few people know that the origin was in the 1800s. The very first bone marrow transplant happened in the year 1968 and then subsequently stem cells have been used for various diseases and much more in blood cancer. They have also been used in chronic neurological disorders, autoimmune disorders and sports injuries.Globally, its all over the world such as in the US, Canada, Germany, China, Ukraine and of course in India as well. In India there are lots of centers and states who have been practicing stem cell technology for quite some time.

STEM CELLS : MARKETThe market is growing since stems cells promise hope for those who have lost hope, where there is no viable treatment and proper cure available for lots of diseases. Stem cells is emerging as a champion for all these people. It was much more available internationally and in the last decade India has taken up.

PLEXUS NEURO AND STEM CELL RESEARCH CENTER- JOURNEYI have been practicing in the field of neuroscience for the last 30 years. Neurosciences is a field where you see patients suffering from chronic diseases. I have been in this field right from early 90s and have been seeing trends changing, but when it comes to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinsons, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, billions of dollars have been spent, new treatment modalities have been found, but nothing has been found to be successful.

We have very strict and rigid eligibility criteria. Once the patient approaches us, we subject the patient to a thorough clinical examination, which lasts anywhere between 2- 3 hours. Once we find that the patient is clinically treatable, or that the patient can be helped, then we subject the patient to other investigations.

The other major difference we have at Plexus is that we do not do only stem cells. Stem cell therapy is a part of our complete regenerative rehabilitation. The program starts after we do the transplant. The patient undergoes rigorous rehabilitation, which includes the entire gamete of practices such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, hand splinting, cognitive rehabilitation therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, speech therapy etc.

We customize and provide a tailor made program as per the patient's needs, with a goal once the patient joins the program and almost all the patients who are in the program get more than what we had aimed at achieving. At the end of the program we evaluate the goals and find that every single patient achieves them. We train the patients as to what they need to do once they finish the program and insist on regular follow up.

We have a team of learned scientists who are all qualified from the UK and our research is ongoing. We are working exclusively in the field of neurosciences to get the best quality of cells and to make it very affordable. Research is on and our data is huge, we will be publishing the results very soon.

PLEXUS : FUTURE PLANSWe have a complete state of the art rehabilitation center where we have some of the best therapists in the world working with us. In fact a few months back we launched one of its kind, Sensory Gym at Plexus and now we have started virtual and augmented reality.

In the last 4-5 years we have received more than 75 national and international awards and we stand as one of the leading regenerative rehabilitation centers not only in India, but in Asia.Our endeavor here is to make the treatment the best possible, to make the cells much more advanced, affordable to also provide the treatment in the shortest possible time.

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Cost is a major challenge in stem cells therapy: Dr Na'eem Sadiq - ETHealthworld.com

Mustang Bio Announces MB-107 Lentiviral Gene Therapy and MB-106 CD20-Targeted CAR T Data Selected for Presentations at 61st American Society of…

St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital and the National Institutes of Health to present updated MB-107 clinical data for the treatment of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to present overview of ongoing MB-106 Phase 1/2 clinical trial

NEW YORK, Nov. 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mustang Bio, Inc. (Mustang) (NASDAQ: MBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on translating todays medical breakthroughs in cell and gene therapies into potential cures for hematologic cancers, solid tumors and rare genetic diseases, announced today that updated Phase 1/2 clinical data for MB-107 lentiviral gene therapy for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) have been selected for oral and poster presentations at the 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting. ASH will be held December 7-10, 2019, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

MB-107 is currently being assessed in two Phase 1/2 clinical trials for XSCID: the first in newly diagnosed infants under the age of two at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital and Seattle Childrens Hospital and the second in patients over the age of two who have received prior hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the National Institutes of Health. Positive Phase 1/2 clinical data from the trial for infants under the age of two were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April 2019 and positive Phase 1/2 clinical data from the trial in patients over the age of two were published in Science Translational Medicine in April 2016. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation to MB-107 for the treatment of XSCID in August 2019.

Manuel Litchman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Mustang, said, We are extremely pleased that additional clinical data on MB-107, a lentiviral gene therapy for the treatment of XSCID, will be presented in oral and poster sessions at the 2019 ASH Annual Meeting. The curative potential of MB-107 based on previously announced compelling Phase 1/2 data is impressive, and we look forward to working with St. Jude and NIH to advance the development of this important treatment option.

Details of the MB-107 presentations are as follows.

Oral Presentation:Title: Enhanced Transduction Lentivector Gene Therapy for Treatment of Older Patients with X-Linked Severe Combined ImmunodeficiencySession: 801. Gene Therapy and Transfer: Gene Therapies for Non-Malignant DisordersAbstract Number: 608Date and Time: Monday, December 9, 2019, 7:15 a.m. ET Location: Orange County Convention Center, Valencia BC (W415BC)Presenter: Harry Malech, M.D., Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA

Poster Presentation:Title: Lentiviral Gene Therapy with Low Dose Busulfan for Infants with X-SCID Results in the Development of a Functional Normal Immune System: Interim Results of an Ongoing Phase I/II Clinical StudySession: 801. Gene Therapy and Transfer: Poster IAbstract Number: 2058Date and Time: Saturday, December 7, 2019, 5:30-7:30 p.m. ETLocation: Orange County Convention Center, Hall BPresenter: Ewelina Mamcarz, M.D., Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

In addition, Mustangs collaborator Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center will present a poster about the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of MB-106 CD20-targeted CAR T for high-risk B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Details of the MB-106 presentation are as follows.

Poster Presentation:Title: CD20 Targeted CAR-T for High-Risk B-Cell Non-Hodgkin LymphomasSession: 704. Immunotherapies: Poster IIAbstract Number: 3235 Date and Time: Sunday, December 8, 2019, 6-8 p.m. ETLocation: Orange County Convention Center, Hall BPresenter: Mazyar Shadman, M.D., M.P.H., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA

Copies of the abstracts can be viewed online through the ASH website at http://www.hematology.org.

About Mustang BioMustang Bio, Inc. (Mustang) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on translating todays medical breakthroughs in cell and gene therapies into potential cures for hematologic cancers, solid tumors and rare genetic diseases. Mustang aims to acquire rights to these technologies by licensing or otherwise acquiring an ownership interest, to fund research and development, and to outlicense or bring the technologies to market. Mustang has partnered with top medical institutions to advance the development of CAR T and CRISPR/Cas9-enhanced CAR T therapies across multiple cancers, as well as a lentiviral gene therapy for XSCID. Mustang is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and files periodic reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mustang was founded by Fortress Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ: FBIO). For more information, visit http://www.mustangbio.com.

ForwardLooking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock value. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include: risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; risks relating to the timing of starting and completing clinical trials; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Company Contacts:Jaclyn Jaffe and William BegienMustang Bio, Inc.(781) 652-4500ir@mustangbio.com

Investor Relations Contact:Daniel FerryLifeSci Advisors, LLC(617) 430-7576daniel@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Relations Contact:Tony Plohoros6 Degrees(908) 940-0135tplohoros@6degreespr.com

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Mustang Bio Announces MB-107 Lentiviral Gene Therapy and MB-106 CD20-Targeted CAR T Data Selected for Presentations at 61st American Society of...

Cardon Children’s is proud of its 10-year history – East Valley Tribune

Ten years ago this month, Banner Health and our East Valley community celebrated, with great fanfare, the opening of Cardon Childrens Medical Center, a beautiful seven-story hospital in Mesa built through the eyes of a child.

Since the opening, Cardon Childrens has had the honor of caring for thousands of kids. In fact, we have had more than 105,000 pediatric patient admissions and nearly 405,000 patient visits to our pediatric emergency room over the past 10 years.

In 2017, the hospital was designated a Level 1 Trauma Center for pediatric patients, capable of handling the most severe cases.

Many people wont remember, but, prior to Cardon Childrens opening, Banner Childrens Hospital was a single wing inside Banner Desert Medical Center.

Excellent pediatric care was provided there, but the space was not optimal, nor was it adequate.

It was not unusual for pediatric patients to be sent out of the area sometimes out of state for a needed pediatric hospital bed.

There was a pediatric hospital capacity shortage here in the early 2000s, particularly during peak flu and RSV seasons.

Banner Health saw the need and invested more than $300 million to ensure that children in the East Valley, around the state and, even in neighboring states, had access to the best pediatric care possible in a state-of-the-art facility.

Over the years and recently, Banner Childrens has recruited some of the very best pediatric specialists to help us carry out our important mission. Recent additions include:

Dr. Gordon Cohen, medical director of the Congenital Heart Surgery Center, is an internationally recognized leader in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. He led Seattle Childrens Hospital from a nonsurgical cardiology program to a top program for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.

Dr. Emmanuel Katsanis, chief of Banner Childrens/U of A state-wide Pediatric Blood and Cancer Program. He also is internationally recognized for his research in transplant immunology, and is the leader of the Banner/University of Arizona Stem Cell Transplant Program for adults and children.

Dr. David Moss, a pediatric neurosurgeon who is considered one of the most skilled, talented and knowledgeable neurosurgeons in the Southwestern U.S.

Dr. Sandra Buttram, a pediatric intensivist with specialized training and expertise in neuro-critical care and ECMO.

Dr. Hiep Nguyen, an internationally recognized leader in pediatric urology and, in particular, robotic surgery.

Dr. Mark Joseph, medical director of Pediatric Nephrology, a nationally recognized leader in his field.

Ten years seems to go by in the blink of an eye.

It seems like only yesterday that we were welcoming our first patients, and weve celebrated many important milestones since then.

We are proud the hospital has grown in stature and prominence, but, importantly, we are also proud to have remained a comforting and caring place for sick and injured children in their time of need.

Our greatest pride is in our staff the dedicated physicians, nurses and other medical caregivers who give selflessly day in and day out. Were not just celebrating a building when we mark this 10-year anniversary Were celebrating our Cardon Childrens pediatric professionals, past and present, because without them we would not be where we are today.

On behalf of everyone at Cardon Childrens, I want to thank the community for putting your trust in us when your precious children need medical care. We do not take that responsibility lightly, and we understand you hold us to the highest level of professionalism. We consider it an honor to serve, and look forward to the next 10 years and beyond.

Laura Robertson is chief executive officer, Cardon Childrens Medical Center and Banner Desert Medical Center.

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Cardon Children's is proud of its 10-year history - East Valley Tribune

Fate Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Highlights Operational Progress – Yahoo Finance

First Patients Treated with FT516, an Off-the-Shelf NK Cell Cancer Immunotherapy for AML and for B-cell Lymphoma in Combination with Rituximab

Received FDA Clearance of IND Application for FT596, an Off-the-Shelf, Multi-Antigen Targeted CAR NK Cell Product Candidate

Opened State-of-the-art cGMP Facility Dedicated to Manufacturing iPSC-derived Cell Therapies

$303 Million in Cash & Short-term Investments as of September 30, 2019 following Completion of $173 Million Common Stock Offering

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (FATE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of programmed cellular immunotherapies for cancer and immune disorders, today reported business highlights and financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019.

We achieved several significant clinical milestones over the past three months including treating the first patients with FT516, the first-ever engineered iPSC-derived cellular immunotherapy, and securing FDA clearance to initiate clinical investigation of FT596, the first-ever cellular immunotherapy engineered to express three active anti-tumor modalities. We also successfully opened our new cGMP facility specifically designed to enable consistent, large-scale, and cost-effective manufacture of allogeneic NK cell and CAR-T cell products using clonal master iPSC lines as a starting cell source, said Scott Wolchko, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fate Therapeutics. We look forward to the ASH annual meeting in December, where we have had six abstracts accepted and will be sharing our first-in-human insights into the clinical safety and tolerability of FT500, the first-ever iPSC-derived cell therapy to be administered off-the-shelf in multiple doses over multiple cycles. With the completion of our recent common stock offering in September, we are well-positioned to generate clinical data across our iPSC-derived, cell-based cancer immunotherapy pipeline in 2020.

Clinical Programs

Corporate Highlights

Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Today's Conference Call and WebcastThe Company will conduct a conference call today, Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. ET to review financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. In order to participate in the conference call, please dial 877-303-6235 (domestic) or 631-291-4837 (international) and refer to conference ID 4748666. The live webcast can be accessed under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors & Media section of the Company's website at http://www.fatetherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will be available on the Company's website beginning approximately two hours after the event.

About Fate Therapeutics iPSC Product PlatformThe Companys proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) product platform enables mass production of off-the-shelf, engineered, homogeneous cell products that can be administered with multiple doses to deliver more effective pharmacologic activity, including in combination with cycles of other cancer treatments. Human iPSCs possess the unique dual properties of unlimited self-renewal and differentiation potential into all cell types of the body. The Companys first-of-kind approach involves engineering human iPSCs in a one-time genetic modification event and selecting a single engineered iPSC for maintenance as a clonal master iPSC line. Analogous to master cell lines used to manufacture biopharmaceutical drug products such as monoclonal antibodies, clonal master iPSC lines are a renewable source for manufacturing cell therapy products which are well-defined and uniform in composition, can be mass produced at significant scale in a cost-effective manner, and can be delivered off-the-shelf for patient treatment. As a result, the Companys platform is uniquely capable of overcoming numerous limitations associated with the production of cell therapies using patient- or donor-sourced cells, which is logistically complex and expensive and is subject to batch-to-batch and cell-to-cell variability that can affect clinical safety and efficacy. Fate Therapeutics iPSC product platform is supported by an intellectual property portfolio of over 250 issued patents and 150 pending patent applications.

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About FT500FT500 is an investigational, universal, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapy derived from a clonal master induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line. The product candidate is being investigated in an open-label, multi-dose Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of advanced solid tumors (clinicaltrials.gov ID number NCT03841110). The study is designed to assess the safety and activity of three once-weekly doses of FT500 as a monotherapy and in combination with one of three FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies nivolumab, pembrolizumab or atezolizumab in patients that have failed prior ICI therapy. Despite the clinical benefit conferred by approved ICI therapy against a variety of tumor types, these therapies are not curative and, in most cases, patients either fail to respond or progress on these agents. One common mechanism of resistance to ICI therapy is associated with loss-of-function mutations in genes critical for antigen presentation. A potential strategy to overcome resistance is through the administration of allogeneic NK cells, which have the inherent capability to recognize and directly kill tumor cells with these mutations.

About FT516FT516 is an investigational, universal, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapy derived from a clonal master induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line engineered to express a novel high-affinity 158V, non-cleavable CD16 Fc receptor, which has been modified to prevent its down-regulation and enhance its binding to tumor-targeting antibodies. The product candidate is being investigated in an open-label, multi-dose Phase 1 clinical trial as a monotherapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and in combination with CD20-directed monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of advanced B-cell lymphoma (clinicaltrials.gov ID number NCT04023071). CD16 mediates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), a potent anti-tumor mechanism by which NK cells recognize, bind and kill antibody-coated cancer cells. CD16 occurs in two variants, either with high (158V) or low (158F) affinity for the Fc domain of IgG1 antibodies. Numerous clinical studies with FDA-approved tumor-targeting antibodies, including rituximab, trastuzumab and cetuximab, have demonstrated that patients homozygous for the 158V variant, which is present in only about 15% of patients, have improved clinical outcomes. In addition, ADCC is dependent on NK cells maintaining active levels of CD16 expression, and the expression of CD16 on NK cells has been shown to undergo considerable down-regulation in cancer patients, which can significantly inhibit anti-tumor activity.

About FT596FT596 is an investigational, universal, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapy derived from a clonal master induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line engineered with three anti-tumor functional modalities: a proprietary chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) optimized for NK cell biology, which contains a NKG2D transmembrane domain, a 2B4 co-stimulatory domain and a CD3-zeta signaling domain, that targets B-cell antigen CD19; a novel high-affinity 158V, non-cleavable CD16 Fc receptor that has been modified to augment antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by preventing CD16 down-regulation and enhancing CD16 binding to tumor-targeting antibodies; and an IL-15 receptor fusion (IL-15RF) that promotes enhanced NK cell activity. The FDA has allowed investigation of FT596 in an open-label Phase 1 clinical trial as a monotherapy, in combination with rituximab for the treatment of advanced B-cell lymphoma, and in combination with obinutuzumab for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In preclinical studies of FT596, the Company has demonstrated that dual activation of the CAR19 and CD16 receptors, in combination with IL-15RF signaling, convey synergistic anti-tumor activity. Increased degranulation and cytokine release were observed upon dual receptor activation in lymphoma cancer cells as compared to activation of each receptor alone, indicating that multi-antigen engagement may elicit a deeper and more durable response. Additionally, in a mixed cellular composition cytotoxicity assay comprised of CD19+ and CD19- tumor cells, FT596 combined with CD20-directed monoclonal antibody therapy effectively eliminated the heterogeneous population of tumor cells, a result that was not observed with single-antigen targeted CAR19 T cells.

About Fate Therapeutics, Inc.Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of first-in-class cellular immunotherapies for cancer and immune disorders. The Company has established a leadership position in the clinical development and manufacture of universal, off-the-shelf cell products using its proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) product platform. The Companys immuno-oncology product candidates include natural killer (NK) cell and T-cell cancer immunotherapies, which are designed to synergize with well-established cancer therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies, and to target tumor-associated antigens with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). The Companys immuno-regulatory product candidates include ProTmune, a pharmacologically modulated, donor cell graft that is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease, and a myeloid-derived suppressor cell immunotherapy for promoting immune tolerance in patients with immune disorders. Fate Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit http://www.fatetherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements regarding the Companys results of operations, financial condition and sufficiency of its cash and cash equivalents to fund its operations, as well as statements regarding the advancement of and plans related to its product candidates, clinical studies and preclinical research and development programs, the Companys progress, plans and timelines for the manufacture and clinical investigation of its product candidates, the timing for the Companys receipt of data from its clinical trials and preclinical studies, the Companys development and regulatory strategy, and the therapeutic and market potential of the Companys product candidates. These and any other forward-looking statements in this release are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that results observed in prior studies of the Companys product candidates, including preclinical studies and clinical trials, will not be observed in ongoing or future studies involving these product candidates, the risk of a delay or difficulties in the manufacturing of the Companys product candidates or in the initiation of, or enrollment of subjects in, any clinical studies, the risk that the Company may cease or delay preclinical or clinical development of any of its product candidates for a variety of reasons (including requirements that may be imposed by regulatory authorities on the initiation or conduct of clinical trials or to support regulatory approval, difficulties or delays in subject enrollment in current and planned clinical trials, difficulties in manufacturing or supplying the Companys product candidates for clinical testing, and any adverse events or other negative results that may be observed during preclinical or clinical development), and the risk that the Companys expenditures may exceed current expectations for a variety of reasons. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause the Companys actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the risks and uncertainties detailed in the Companys periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the Companys most recently filed periodic report, and from time to time in the Companys press releases and other investor communications.Fate Therapeutics is providing the information in this release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Availability of Other Information about Fate Therapeutics, Inc.Investors and others should note that the Company routinely communicates with investors and the public using its website (www.fatetherapeutics.com) and its investor relations website (ir.fatetherapeutics.com) including, without limitation, through the posting of investor presentations, SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts on these websites. The information posted on these websites could be deemed to be material information. As a result, investors, the media, and others interested in Fate Therapeutics are encouraged to review this information on a regular basis. The contents of the Companys website, or any other website that may be accessed from the Companys website, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss(in thousands, except share and per share data)(unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets(in thousands)(unaudited)

Contact:Christina TartagliaStern Investor Relations, Inc.212.362.1200christina@sternir.com

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Fate Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Highlights Operational Progress - Yahoo Finance

Celebrating Cancer Heroes will recognize survivors at event in Somers – Reminder Publications

SOMERS Six area cancer survivors will be honored at Celebrating Cancer Heroes, an event that benefits Survivor Journeys, an organization that provides support for cancer survivors and awareness of cancer survivorship.

The individuals being recognized are Luke Bradley of South Hadley, Liz Wilson Greer of Springfield, Candy Oyler of Southwick, Heidi Huhn-Partain of Suffield, CT., Megan Rothschild of Northampton and Chris Thibault of Springfield.

These heroes have inspired their community and others as they persevered through the challenges of their diagnosis with a brave and determined spirit. Many of our heroes have volunteered in the community or inspired others to volunteer, the organization stated.

More than 60 people nominated their heroes. The criteria for a hero is someone who has gone through their cancer struggles acts as a beacon to people who are still struggling, said Jay Burton, the founder and president of Survivor Journeys.

The Nov. 21 event begins at 6 p.m. and will be a social fundraising evening at Monticello, located at 732 Hall Hill Rd., in Somers, CT. The mansion was built by S. Prestley Blake, co-founder of the Friendlys restaurant company. It is a replica of the eighteenth century home of Thomas Jefferson by the same name. Chez Josef will be catering the business casual evening.

Rich Tettemer, an anchor from WWLP-TV 22 News, will be the emcee for the evening and retired Western Mass News anchor Dave Madsen will be a guest speaker.

Tickets are $85 per person and $25 for individuals 18 and under. A limited number of tables of 10 are available for $750. Tickets can be purchased at survivorjourneys.org or by calling 276-6100. Survivor Journeys is hoping to raise $25,000 from the night. Sponsors of the celebration include Johnson Memorial Medical Center in Stafford Springs, Saint Francis Medical Center in Hartford, and Trinity Health of New England, as well as WWLP-TV 22/CW.

Survivor Journeys is a non-profit organization founded in March 2015. Burton said people are cancer survivors the moment theyre diagnosed, because you go into survival mode. He defines cancer survivorship as living before, during and after cancer treatment.

Survivor Journeys offers free access to more than 10,000 mentors to assist and support cancer patients with emotional, psychological and practical needs after their diagnosis. These trained cancer survivors have helped people from as far away as Arizona, Burton said.

There are free support groups for breast cancer, blood cancer, head and neck cancer, non-specified cancer and a caregiver group. The groups are located as far south as Enfield, CT., and as far north as Holyoke.

The organization also provides an animal therapy program and Cancer Survivorship 101, an annual workshop, designed to educate survivors, caregivers, loved ones about the factors that play a role before, during and after cancer treatment.

Burton, who is a primary care doctor in Enfield, CT., feels so strongly about cancer survivor care because he, himself, is a survivor of acute myeloid leukemia. In 2010, he had a stem cell transplant to treat the disease. Because of this, he is in a position to see both sides of the problem.

Our hospitals havent seen this as a priority, Burton said. He said patients daily lives and support dont get addressed when they go to see their oncologist. He noted that this problem is not unique to New England, but is nationwide.

Burton related to Reminder Publishing a conversation he had had with a doctor in New York City. He had asked the doctor about how people got to his office. He said that patients who are sick have to stand out in the elements for a bus or climb stairs to use the subway. The doctor had never considered it, Burton said.

Burton said there needs to be a stronger focus on psychosocial support for patients and their caregivers.

I know the limitations of our medical system, said Burton, but it doesn't mean we don't strive to make it better.

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Celebrating Cancer Heroes will recognize survivors at event in Somers - Reminder Publications