Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market 2020 Overview by Market Size, Share, Growth Rate, Products and Recent Developments, Forecast till 2023 – The Daily…

MOLECULIN BIOTECH

Market Dynamics :

> Drivers INCREASING ADOPTION OF STEM CELL TECHNOLOGY INCREASING PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC DISEASES EMERGING APPLICATIONS OF GENE THERAPY IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE (STEM CELL, TISSUE ENGINEERING, AND NANOTECHNOLOGY) HIGH INVESTMENT & FUNDING TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF RM

> Restraints HIGH COST OF TREATMENT AND LESS AWARENESS REGULATORY AND ETHICAL ISSUES PERTAINING STEM CELL, TISSUES ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

> OPPORTUNITIES

> KEY CHALLENGES

Based On Biological Analysis Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market Report Covers Consumption Volume Analysis, Sales Volume, Performance and Share, Sales Price and Sales Revenue Analysis of Regions:

US,Canada,Mexico,France,UK,Germany,Italy,Spain,Rest of Europe,India,China,Japan,Australia,Japan,Rest of APAC,GCC,South Africa,Rest of Middle East and Africa,Brazil,Argentina,Rest of South America

Key Developments in the Market:: > In January, 2018 iTeos Therapeutics has regained rights to its Phase 1 brain cancer drug from Pfizer, and plans to continue oncology development. > In December, 2017, Diffusion Pharmaceuticals (DFFN) Launches Phase 3 Trial for Glioblastoma

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Important Questions Answered in the Report:

Highlighted points of Market Report:

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Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market Covers Following Points in TOC:

Chapter 1: Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market Definition

Chapter 2: Research Methodology of Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market

Chapter 3: Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market Executive Summary

Chapter 4: Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market Overview Includes Current Market Scenario, Porters Five Forces Analysis, Bargaining Power of Suppliers and Consumers, Threat of New Entrants and Substitute Product and Services

Chapter 5: Market Dynamics Covers Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Challenges

Chapter 6: Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market Segmentation by Types, End-User, and Applications Forecast to 2023

Chapter 7: Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market Segmentation by Geographical Regions

Chapter 8: Competitive Landscape of Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market Includes Mergers & Acquisition Analysis, Agreements, Collaborations, and Partnerships, New Products Launches

Chapter 9: Key Players for Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market

For Detailed TOC Click Here

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Brain Tumor Therapeutics Market 2020 Overview by Market Size, Share, Growth Rate, Products and Recent Developments, Forecast till 2023 - The Daily...

Crispr Therapeutics: My #1 High-Risk Investment Idea – Seeking Alpha

Thesis

CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) is a high-risk, high-reward investment prospect. In my view, the market has mispriced the probability of CRISPR Therapeutics successfully utilizing the CRISPR/CAS9 platform across multiple disease states. In the most optimistic scenarios, the company could be worth several hundred billion dollars. The company is raising significant amounts of capital, which will allow it to invest across multiple disease states. I view this development extremely positively, as it comes on the heels of positive data from CTX001 and indicates the company is looking to solidify its lead in bringing CRISPR/CAS9 products to market. I am extremely bullish on the shares in the long run.

CRISPR Therapeutics was co-founded by Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier together with Rodger Novak and Shaun Foy. In fact, Charpentier is generally credited with discovering how CRISPR/CAS9 could be applied for gene-editing purposes (along with colleague Jennifer Doudna). Currently, the company trying to apply the breakthrough gene-editing technology it's founder developed into the following disease states (per August 2020 Investor Presentation):

Hemoglobinopathies: This category includes various genetic diseases that affect the production of hemoglobin. Currently, the company has begun enrolling patients in Phase 1 trials for patients with beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Both of these trials are in collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:VRTX) and will use the CTX001 treatment.

Immuno-oncology: This category includes drugs being developed to repurpose the human immune system in order to fight cancer. Currently, the company is developing three allogeneic CAR-T therapies for this purpose, which are enrolling patients now.

Regenerative Medicine: The company is currently researching a potential cure for Type 1 diabetes in partnership with Viacyte.

In vivo approaches: This category includes disease states, where gene-editing therapies could be applied. Currently, the company is researching cures for Glycogen Storage Disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, and Cystic Fibrosis. Finally, the company has also noted it is working on additional undisclosed early-stage programs in partnership with Vertex and Bayer (OTCPK:BAYZF).

Source: August 2020 Investor Presentation

CRISPR Therapeutics pipeline appears both immature and aggressive. No therapy has progressed past a Phase 1 trial, and the company is already expanding into some of the most complex disease states. While this lack of specialization certainly presents execution risks, I believe the pipeline is well crafted. The company is expanding into diseases with larger patient population, which presents a more lucrative opportunity for therapy development. Furthermore, the company is diversifying how CRISPR/CAS9 technology will be utilized to create a therapy, as demonstrated by the difference between its CTX001 therapy, and its allogeneic CAR-T therapies.

Before moving onto the early data points, we have on efficacy, if you need a refresher on the technology, I highly recommend the ARK Invest White Paper on CRISPR. Their in-depth research coherently makes the case for why CRISPR is a superior gene-editing platform compared to existing approaches like ZFNs and TALENs.

The company currently has several data points back from its CTX001 ex vivo treatment, and the results are nothing short of stunning. For the two first Beta-Thalassemia patients treated, both are transfusion independent 5 months & 15 months after a CTX001 infusion. For reference, patient 1 averaged 34 units of packed red blood cell transfusions per year before the CTX001 infusion. Meanwhile, patient 2 required 61 units of packed red blood cell transfusions per year. For Sickle-Cell Disease, their first patient was experiencing seven vaso-occlusive crises and five packed red blood cell transfusions per year on average. After the CTX001 infusion, the patient has been vaso-occlusive crises free for nine months with zero red blood cell transfusions.

It is worth mentioning just how life-changing this therapy has already been for these patients. One beta-thalassemia patient was 19-year-old women with anemia, a low quality of life who needed multiple monthly transfusions. The disease was damaging her vital organs, and landing her trips into the hospital that was putting her life at risk. Since CTX001, these effects have subsided. The Sickle-Cell Disease patient, Victoria Gray, is a mother of three whose life was constantly put at risk from vaso-occlusive events. While scientists were initially hoping to increase her fetal hemoglobin to 20% of her total hemoglobin level, CTX001 increased that level to 46%. Additionally, a biopsy of her bone marrow cells showed that 81% of the cells contained the edited DNA, which would allow her body to maintain the higher fetal hemoglobin levels for a sustained period of time. Data aside, the patient's interview with NPR may summarize the results best, "It's wonderful. It's the change I've been waiting on my whole life".

Despite the success, there are concerns about the treatment that are yet to be addressed: 1) Is the treatment durable? The first Beta-thalassemia patient is transfusion independent after 15 months, but just how long will this effect last into the future? When the company begins to dose more patients, will they experience similar long-lasting results? The company will need to monitor its patients for a longer period of time to prove their therapies durability. 2) Is the treatment consistent? One of the chief concerns regarding gene editing is the accuracy and consistency with which companies can actually edit a patient's genome. Part of this concern is related to the actual technological process of the edit, and in that regard, CRISPR/CAS9 system is believed to be a consistent editor of DNA in cells. Additionally, a less publicized facet of the consistency concern stems from the ability to manufacture these complex treatments. In this regard, CRSIPR is one step ahead of the competition by launching a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Framingham, MA to support its programs.

I have been a long-time believer in gene-editing and the CRISPR platform, but I truly never anticipated CRISPR Therapeutics could release initial data this positive. I believe the company has an effective cure on its hands.

The company's Immuno-oncology ambitions rest heavily on the use of allogeneic CAR-T therapies. CRISPR Therapeutics believes that allogeneic therapies can be safely created and administered to patients, and offer greater treatment potential for patients as compared to autologous therapies. In short, autologous therapies use the patient's own cells, which are then edited and used for treatment, while allogeneic therapies use a single-source of cells that are not derived from the patient.

The companies first trial using its proprietary allogeneic CAR-T platform uses CTX110 for the treatment of CD19+ B-cell malignancies. Even though the trial is still enrolling patients, the company expects to report some top-line data for CT110 by the end of 2020. Although this readout will occur relatively soon, I think it will provide an important update on how mature the companies platform in immuno-oncology truly is. Unfortunately, due to the relatively complex nature of this disease and the treatment itself, I am not expecting the same type of blockbuster results we saw in Hemoglobinopathies, but I still expect a successful readout.

As it relates to CTX120 for the treatment of multiple myeloma and CTX130 for the treatment of solid tumors like renal cell carcinoma, the only data available is from testing on mice. However, it is worth noting that in both cases, all five mice treated with the appropriate infusion for their xenograft cancer were found to be completely cancer free. The graph below shows the observed progression for CTX120.

The company's main regenerative medicine therapy will be looking to treat Type 1 diabetes. The approach will utilize CRISPR/CAS9 to edit pluripotent stem cells for beta cell replacement, which will enable the new pancreatic cells to secrete insulin. The therapy will actually seek to leverage the technology it has developed for its allogeneic CAR-T platform in order to cure the disease. At this point, the company is still in the research stage with its partner Viacyte, so it will be quite a while before any substantial data comes from this work. Additionally, snuck into a recent press release, CRISPR announced that it is partnering with UHN, Canada's largest research hospital, in order to utilize gene-editing technology in order to turn stem cells into hepatocytes. This indicates that CRISPR is looking to extend its regenerative medicine franchise into liver diseases, which could potentially treat a large variety of patient populations

The therapies cited above are considered ex vivo treatments, as outside cells are edited and infused into the patient for treatment. In vivo therapies would directly edit the cells inside a person. This type of therapy presents higher risks and greater technological challenges for execution. Thus, as it relates to CRISPR's in vivo pipeline, I believe these therapies will need a significantly longer period of maturation until these products can successfully come to market. For the purposes of this analysis, I believe it is important to note that management is researching how to best bring these drugs to fruition, but CRISPR/CAS9 may not be the right technology to do that. Despite this risk, CEO Samarth Kulkarni has stated that he expects CRISPR Therapeutics to purchase and adapt to new technologies as they are developed, ensuring that the company will remain at the forefront of the gene-editing revolution.

CRISPR finished Q2 2020 on solid financial footing. Cash and Cash equivalents ended June 30, 2020 at $945M compared to $890M on March 30th, an increase of $55M. Financing provided $89M in cash, while a milestone payment from Vertex provided another $25M. Q2 2020 R&D expenses totaled $59M while G&A expenses were $21M, which combined for a net loss of $79.7M. With almost $1B of cash in the bank, enough to cover two years of operations, you may feel that CRISPR Therapeutics is a cash-rich company. Well, management would disagree, because on June 30th they announced another secondary share offering to raise ~$455M at $70 a share.

In my view, the capital raise is extremely prudent. Samarth expects gene-edited products to compose 30% of the global pharmaceutical market within 12 years, as stated at the William Blair Biotech Focus Conference. This implies a market opportunity of hundreds of billions of dollars, of which no company has become the global leader. This is a unique opportunity to become the market leader in pharmaceuticals and I believe CRISPR Therapeutics should raise and spend as much capital as necessary in order to capture this market. Secondly, management is once again raising capital at all-time high share prices, which I believe demonstrates a conservative management philosophy that will continue to serve shareholders well into the future.

CRISPR Therapeutics can be essentially considered a pre-revenue company, and will not have any commercial products for several years. However, for the sake of propriety, it is worth noting the potential market opportunity for a successful treatment. As noted in the company's 2019 annual report, there are estimated to be 200,000 people worldwide who are alive and registered as receiving treatment for Beta-Thalassemia, of which approximately 19,000 live in the US or Europe. Additionally, another 60,000 are born with the disease annually. For Sickle-Cell Disease, there are estimated to be 20-25 million people worldwide with the disease, of which 100,000 reside in the United States. Additionally, another 300,000 are born with the disease annually. Meanwhile, as Ark Invest noted in their white paper, the market for CAR-T therapies is expected to grow to over $100B annually. These market opportunities are exceptionally large, and this could allow CRISPR Therapeutics to generate billions of dollars annually from its lead therapies in Phase 1 trials today.

Meanwhile, from an operational standpoint, I believe CRISPR appears to be allocating its resources efficiently. Take a look at its operating expenses over the past five years. While General and Administrative costs were outpacing actual R&D when the company first started, management is now spending three times as much money on R&D as G&A. I am highly encouraged by this development, because as an investor, I want the capital being raised to be spent on value creation, not overhead. Finally, it is also worth noting that the company ended 2019 with just over 300 employees, but currently has 53 open positions. This indicates the company is hiring for massive growth, which will help it execute on its diverse array of disease programs.

CRISPR Therapeutics is my best high-risk, long-term investment idea. The initial CTX001 data has been incredible, the company is capitalizing on a surging share price, and investing heavily across multiple disease programs. CRISPR Therapeutics' current market cap is $6.3B, but any number of bullish scenario's involving multiple successful products could create a company valued in the hundreds of billions. This presents an opportunity with significant asymmetric upside for the share price if an investor is willing to take the risk.

It is also worth noting for the purposes of this article that there are several other similar companies operating in this segment of gene-editing technology, such as Editas Medicine (EDIT), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA), and Beam Therapeutics (BEAM). While CRISPR Therapeutics is generally regarded as the leader of this group, I am, in general, bullish on these other companies for two reasons: (1) I believe the bull case on CRISPR Therapeutics to be chiefly driven by the technological platform, which these other companies are also working to mature (2) I believe these shares will act as a hedge to single-stock risk, where the technological platform may succeed, but not necessarily with CRISPR's management or pipeline of products.

Source: August 2020 Investor Presentation

Disclosure: I am/we are long CRSP. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Additional disclosure: I am long CRSP, EDIT, NTLA, and BEAM. I have been acquiring shares since 2017 in CRSP, and intend to continue gradually purchasing more shares. I am not an expert, and this is not financial advice.

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Crispr Therapeutics: My #1 High-Risk Investment Idea - Seeking Alpha

Cell Expansion Market Research Report by Product, by Cell Type, by Application, by End User – Global Forecast to 2025 – Cumulative Impact of COVID-19…

August 13, 2020 05:36 ET | Source: ReportLinker

New York, Aug. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cell Expansion Market Research Report by Product, by Cell Type, by Application, by End User - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913775/?utm_source=GNW

The Global Cell Expansion Market is expected to grow from USD 13,177.29 Million in 2019 to USD 28,822.19 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.93%.

Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Cell Expansion to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:

Based on Product, the Cell Expansion Market studied across Consumables and Instruments. The Consumables further studied across Disposables, Media, Reagents, and Sera. The Instruments further studied across Automated Cell Expansion System, Bioreactors, and Cell Expansion Supporting Equipment.

Based on Cell Type, the Cell Expansion Market studied across Animal Cells and Human Cells. The Human Cells further studied across Differentiated Cells and Stem Cells.

Based on Application, the Cell Expansion Market studied across Cancer and Cell-Based Research and Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research.

Based on End User, the Cell Expansion Market studied across Biotechnology & Biopharmaceutical Companies, Cell Banks, and Research Institutes.

Based on Geography, the Cell Expansion Market studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.

Company Usability Profiles: The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Cell Expansion Market including Beckman Coulter Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Corning Incorporated, GE Healthcare, Lonza Group LTD., Merck KGaA, Miltenyi Biotec, Promocell GmbH, Sartorius AG, Stemcell Technologies, Inc., Takara Bio Inc., Terumo BCT, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc..

FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Cell Expansion Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.

Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.

Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.

The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments

The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Cell Expansion Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Cell Expansion Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Cell Expansion Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Cell Expansion Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Cell Expansion Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Cell Expansion Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913775/?utm_source=GNW

About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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Cell Expansion Market Research Report by Product, by Cell Type, by Application, by End User - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19...

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

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

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

Science News Roundup: Stem cells give hope for revival of Malaysia’s extinct rhinos; Human versus disease showcased and more – Devdiscourse

Following is a summary of current science news briefs.

Back from the dead? Stem cells give hope for revival of Malaysia's extinct rhinos

Some skin, eggs and tissue samples are all that remain of Malaysia's 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.

Humanity versus disease showcased as London's Science Museum reopens doors

Exhibits showcasing humanity's battle with infectious disease will greet visitors recently emerged from coronavirus lockdowns when London's Science Museum re-opens its doors next week after its longest closure since World War II. "Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries" tracks medical advances through history, and its timely displays include an iron lung used for polio patients in the 1950s, an isolation trolley from the 1970s, PPE from the Ebola epidemic and statistics on the effectiveness of vaccinations.

British fossil hunters find bones of new dinosaur species, cousin to T.Rex

Four bones found on a beach on the Isle of Wight, off England's south coast, belong to a new species of theropod dinosaur, the group that includes Tyrannosaurus rex, researchers at the University of Southampton said on Wednesday. The new dinosaur, which has been named Vectaerovenator inopinatus, lived in the Cretaceous period 115 million years ago and was estimated to have been up to four metres long, the palaeontologists said.

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Science News Roundup: Stem cells give hope for revival of Malaysia's extinct rhinos; Human versus disease showcased and more - Devdiscourse

Cellect Biotechnology Reports Second Quarter Financial and Operating Results; First Half 2020 Strategic Developments Create Long-Term Revenue…

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (NASDAQ: APOP), a developer of innovative technology which enables the functional selection of stem cells, today reported financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020. The Company's six-month progress includes the development of several strategic initiatives, including growth-oriented opportunities in pain management and COVID-19 related therapeutics.

"Despite the COVID-19 pandemic business disruptions and the near-term delays to completing and commencing our clinical programs in Israel and the U.S., respectively, we acted swiftly over the past few months to leverage our sought-after technology to create several long-term business initiatives to enhance our value," commented Dr. Shai Yarkoni, Chief Executive Officer. "In addition to pursuing a potential merger with a global leader in the high growth medical-grade cannabis market, which is being delayed due to COVID-19, we have either initiated or are contemplating other business development activities that will greatly benefit from our innovation, technology and know-how. I believe each of these opportunities represents meaningful catalysts for Cellect in multi-billion-dollar markets, subject to resolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and return to normal course of business."

Notwithstanding the continued delays due to COVID-19, the Company remains focused on the following operational and clinical objectives:

The Company's cash and cash equivalents totaled $7 million as of June 30, 2020, which includes the approximately $1.5 million (gross before expenses)resulting from several investors exercising certain warrants that were issued in February 2019.

SecondQuarter 2020 Financial Results:

*For the convenience of the reader, the amounts above have been translated from NIS into U.S. dollars, at the representative rate of exchange on June 30, 2020 (U.S. $1 = NIS 3.466).

About Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.

Cellect Biotechnology (APOP) has developed a breakthrough technology, for the selection of stem cells from any given tissue, that aims to improve a variety of stem cell-based therapies.

The Company's technology is expected to provide researchers, clinical community and pharma companies with the tools to rapidly isolate stem cells in quantity and quality allowing stem cell-based treatments and procedures in a wide variety of applications in regenerative medicine. The Company's current clinical trial is aimed at bone marrow transplantations in cancer treatment.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company's expectations, beliefs and intentions. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe", "expect", "intend", "plan", "may", "should", "could", "might", "seek", "target", "will", "project", "forecast", "continue" or "anticipate" or their negatives or variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical matters. For example, forward-looking statements are used in this press release when we discuss Cellect's expectations regarding timing of the commencement of its planned U.S. clinical trial and its plan to reduce operating costs. These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of the Company only and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In addition, historical results or conclusions from scientific research and clinical studies do not guarantee that future results would suggest similar conclusions or that historical results referred to herein would be interpreted similarly in light of additional research or otherwise. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: the Company's history of losses and needs for additional capital to fund its operations and its inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; the Company's ability to obtain regulatory approvals; the Company's ability to obtain favorable pre-clinical and clinical trial results; the Company's technology may not be validated and its methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; difficulties enrolling patients in the Company's clinical trials; the ability to timely source adequate supply of FasL; risks resulting from unforeseen side effects; the Company's ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other corporate collaborations; the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; competitive companies, technologies and the Company's industry; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with the Company's technology; the Company's ability to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of its products; and the Company's ability to pursue any strategic transaction or that any transaction, if pursued, will be completed. Any forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws. More detailed information about the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.'s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, which is available on the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov, and in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC.

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.

Consolidated Statement of Operation

Convenience

translation

Six months

ended

Six months ended

Three months ended

June 30,

June 30,

June 30,

2020

2020

2019

2020

2019

Unaudited

Unaudited

U.S. dollars

NIS

(In thousands, except share and per

share data)

Research and development expenses

837

2,901

7,086

1,364

3,564

General and administrative expenses

1,356

4,703

5,064

2,116

2,709

Operating loss

2,193

7,604

12,150

3,480

6,273

Financial expenses (income) due to warrants exercisable into shares

1,098

3,807

(7,111)

4,697

(5,919)

Other financial expenses (income), net

(15)

(55)

880

627

462

Total comprehensive loss

3,276

11,356

5,919

8,804

816

Loss per share:

Basic and diluted loss per share

0.010

0.034

0.029

0.024

0.004

Weighted average number of shares outstanding used to compute basic and diluted loss per share

338,182,275

338,182,275

200,942,871

365,428,101

224,087,799

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

Convenience

translation

June 30,

June 30,

December 31,

2020

2020

2019

Unaudited

Unaudited

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Cellect Biotechnology Reports Second Quarter Financial and Operating Results; First Half 2020 Strategic Developments Create Long-Term Revenue...

California Propositions on the 2020 Ballot – Fullerton Observer

Local News

In addition to voting for candidates, California voters will be asked to vote on several ballot measures this November. Heres a breakdown of each Proposition on the ballot.

Prop. 14: Stem Cell Research Funding

Would issue $5.5 billion in bonds for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which was created to fund stem cell research.

Support has raised $6.58 million, with $4.63 million from Robert N. Klein II, a real estate investor and stem-cell research advocate.

There were no committees registered to oppose the ballot initiative.

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Prop. 15: Property Tax Increase on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding

Would allow commercial and industrial properties (with some exceptions) to be taxed based on their market value, as opposed to their assessed value. Residential properties would not be affected. The State fiscal analyst estimated that the ballot initiative would generate between $8 billion and $12.5 billion in revenue per year. Revenue would be distributed mostly to local governments, school districts, and community colleges.

Support has raised $21 million, including $6 million from the California Teachers Association Issues PAC.

Opposition has raised $5.5 million, including $266,490 from the California Business Roundtable Issues PAC.

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Prop. 16: Ending the Ban on Affirmative Action

Would remove the ban on affirmative action involving race-based or sex-based preferences from the California Constitution by repealing Proposition 209 (1996). State and local governments, public universities, and other public entities wouldwithin the limits of federal lawbe allowed to develop and use affirmative action programs that grant preferences based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, and national origin in public employment, public education, and public contracting.

Support has raised $3.14 million. M. Quinn Delaney is the largest donor, contributing $1,500,000.

Opposition has raised $105,678, including $50,000 from Students for Fair Admissions, Inc.

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Prop. 17: Restoring the Right to Vote to People on Parole

Would allow people on parole for felony convictions to vote in California. Currently, the California Constitution disqualifies people with felonies from voting until their imprisonment and parole are completed.

Campaign finance data has not been reported.

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Prop. 18: Letting (some) 17-year-olds Vote

Would allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next general election to vote in primary elections and special elections.

Campaign finance data has not been reported.

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Prop. 19: Property Tax Breaks

Would allow homeowners who are over 55, disabled, or victims of natural disaster to take a portion of their property tax base with them when they sell their home and buy a new one. It would also limit the ability of new homeowners who inherit properties to keep their parents or grandparents low property tax payments. Most of the additional money raised would go into a State fire response fund.

Support has raised $19.15 million with $15.70 million from The California Association of Realtors Issues Mobilization PAC.

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Prop. 20: Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative

Would amend several criminal sentencing and supervision laws that were passed between 2011 and 2016.

Would allow prosecutors to charge repeat or organized petty theft as a felony, require probation officers to seek tougher penalties for those who violate the term of their parole 3 times, and exclude those who have been convicted of domestic violence and certain nonviolent crimes from early parole consideration.

Support has raised $1.6 million with $50,000 from San Bernadino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Association Committee.

Opposition has raised $2.1 million with major funding from the Schusterman Foundation, the Heising-Simons Action Fund, and Patty Quillin.

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Prop. 21: Local Rent Control Initiative

Would allow cities to introduce new rent control laws, or expand existing ones.

Support has raised $16.68 million, with 99.8% from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

Opposition has raised $16.25 million, including $4.70 million from Essex Property Trust, $117,000 from California Rental Housing Association, and other property owner groups.

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Prop. 22: Self-employment for ride-hail and other app-drivers

Would consider app-based drivers to be independent contractors and not employees or agents. Therefore, the ballot measure would override Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5), signed in September 2019, on the question of whether app-based drivers are employees or independent contractors.

Support has raised $111 million, including $30 million from Lyft, $30 million from Uber, and $30 million from DoorDash.

Opposition has raised $866,591, with the Transport Workers Union of America providing $500,000.

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Prop. 23: Dialysis Clinic Requirements

Would require chronic dialysis clinics to have a minimum of one licensed physician present at the clinic and to report data on dialysis-related infections to the State and federal health officials.

The ballot measure would also state that a chronic dialysis clinic cannot discriminate with respect to offering or providing care nor refuse to offer or to provide care, on the basis of who is responsible for paying for a patients treatment.

Support has raised $6 million from a healthcare workers union.

Opposition has raised $2 million, with $1 million from DaVita, Inc. and $1 million from Fresenius Medical Care (dialysis clinics).

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Prop. 24: Consumer Privacy Protections

Would strengthen Californias consumer privacy law and establish a California Privacy Protection Agency.

Support has raised $4.76 million with most funding from developer Alastair Mactaggart.

No opposition funding has been reported.

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Prop. 25: Replace Cash Bail with Risk Assessments

Would end the States cash bail system and give judges the right to determine whether someone who is arrested should be kept behind bars based on the risk they are deemed to pose to themselves or others.

Support has raised $1.36 million. Action Now Initiative was the largest donor, contributing $500,000.

Opposition has raised $4.24 million, including $921,633. from Triton Management Services, LLC and the bail bond industry.

For more information about the measure, click HERE. For the latest financial contributions, click HERE.

Visit the California Secretary of State ballot measures page HERE.

Orange County voters will have three options for returning their ballots.

Protect local journalism please subscribe to the print edition of the Fullerton Observer. Our online edition is free, but we depend on print subscriptions from readers. Annual subscription is only $35/year.It only takes a minute Click Here To Subscribe. Thank you for your support for the Fullerton Observer. Click here to view a copy of the print edition.

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California Propositions on the 2020 Ballot - Fullerton Observer

Gore partners with San Diego company on cell delivery system with potential to treat Type 1 diabetes – delawarebusinessnow.com

ViaCyte, Inc. and Newark-based W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. announced the two companies have signed an agreement covering the next phase of their collaboration focused on the development of ViaCytes Encaptra Cell Delivery System that uses Gore material technologies.

The technology is designed to produce insulin for patients with Type I diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes.

The Encaptra System could be a transformative therapy for patients with type 1 diabetes, the companies noted.

Tapping into Gores world-class materials science and medical device expertise, new membrane technology was developed that appears to allow successful engraftment and beta cell proliferation while minimizing the host foreign body response, said Paul Laikind, CEO of ViaCyte. This agreement is an important next step on our path towards a commercial product as well as a template for future agreements for additional work ViaCyte and Gore may do together on cell delivery technology.

Our collaboration with ViaCyte has been very productive in enabling the clinical advancement of the PEC-Encap product candidate with proprietary Gore materials technology, said Erin Hutchinson, business leader, Gore PharmBIO Cell Encapsulation Products. We are delighted to further strengthen our collaboration on the path to the delivery of a potentially functional curative product for those currently suffering with type 1 diabetes and help pioneer the new field of cell replacement therapy.

ViaCyte is the only company with stem cell-derived islet replacement candidates undergoing clinical testing and the only group to show that the implanted cells are capable of producing insulin in people with type 1 diabetes.

The Companys promising candidates have the potential to deliver a functional cure for people with type 1 diabetes and could be an advancement for people with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes.

Under the terms of the agreement, Gore will manufacture and supply a proprietary membrane and the device component for use with ViaCytes PEC-Encap product candidate.

The novel Gore membrane has been evaluated in preclinical studies. Gore will continue to collaborate with ViaCyte to optimize the device design and implant techniques in support of human clinical trials.

Early human clinical trials of PEC-Encap with the new membrane are underway and preliminary histological results are encouraging. Should the membrane prove successful in the ongoing trial, Gore will assume the responsibility for manufacturing the Encaptra System incorporating the novel membrane technology for late stage clinical development and commercial use.

ViaCyte has shown that once implanted and successfully engrafted PEC-01 cells mature into beta cells that secrete insulin in a regulated manner to control blood glucose levels. The Encaptra System serves to protect the PEC-01 cells from the host immune system thus eliminating the need for immune suppression drugs commonly used with other transplants.

A critical enabling component of the Encaptra System that contains and protects the cells is a specifically designed semi-permeable membrane that encapsulates the cells but allows for diffusion of oxygen and nutrients into the device and insulin and other hormones out of the device and into the circulation.

The Encaptra System membrane is composed of an expanded PTFE composite, similar to materials that are used in Gores implantable medical products..

Gore and ViaCyte began a collaboration in 2017.

ViaCyte is funded in part by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and JDRF. ViaCyte is headquartered in San Diego.

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Gore partners with San Diego company on cell delivery system with potential to treat Type 1 diabetes - delawarebusinessnow.com

FibroGenesis Reports Breakthrough in Prevention of COVID-19 Blood Clotting Laboratory Studies Suggest PneumoBlast COVID-19 Cell Therapy Reduces…

HOUSTON, Aug. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) FibroGenesis, a clinical stage company developing fibroblast based therapeutic solutions for unmet medical needs, announced today new data supporting utilization of its PneumoBlast product in treatment of COVID-19. Laboratory experiments comprised of admixing PneumoBlast with activated monocyte or endothelial cells demonstrated significant inhibition of tissue factor expression. Tissue factor is the key molecule inducing blood clotting in COVID-19 patients. Monocytes are cells which normally protect the body against pathogens. In the case of COVID-19, monocytes enter the lungs and cause coagulation. Endothelial cells are cells which make up the inside of the blood vessel and regulate substance flow between the bloodstream and surrounding tissues.

It was observed that treatment of activated monocytes with PneumoBlast resulted in a 77% reduction of tissue factor expression as compared to untreated monocytes (p,lt; 0.001). Mixture of mesenchymal stem cells with activated monocytes resulted in a 13% inhibition of tissue factor expression (p= 0.01). Furthermore, in activated endothelial cells, PneumoBlast decreased expression of tissue factor by 80% (p,lt; 0.001), whereas mesenchymal stem cells resulted in a 30% (p= 0.01) reduction.

It is believed that a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 occurs because of unrestrained blood clotting. Studies have shown the high propensity for clotting in COVID-19 patients is associated with inflammation. The Company previously demonstrated PneumoBlast reduces proteins necessary for inflammation, such as TNF-alpha. The current study shows PneumoBlast can also work downstream of inflammation and directly suppress the clotting cascade.

This data is truly stunning, said Tom Ichim, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of FibroGenesis. Currently one of the major obstacles to successful treatment of COVID-19 is the unusually high level of unregulated coagulation, which in many cases is not resolved by standard anticoagulants. The ability of PneumoBlast cells to reduce blood clotting potential in both monocytic and endothelial cells speaks volumes about the multifactorial mechanisms by which we believe our product will work on COVID-19.

We are thankful for our team of clinical collaborators and scientists who are exploring and identifying novel mechanisms by which PneumoBlast appears to be effective against COVID-19, commented Pete OHeeron, President and CEO of FibroGenesis. We are the first cell therapy company to address the issue of coagulation in COVID-19. We see this, as another indication of the superiority of fibroblasts compared to stem cells.

About FibroGenesis

Based in Houston, Texas, FibroGenesis, is a regenerative medicine company developing an innovative solution for chronic disease treatment using human dermal fibroblasts. Currently, FibroGenesis holds 235+ U.S. and international issued patents/patents pending across a variety of clinical pathways, including Disc Degeneration, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, Cancer, Diabetes, Liver Failure, Colitis and Heart Failure. Funded entirely by angel investors, FibroGenesis represents the next generation of medical advancement in cell therapy.

Visit http://www.Fibro-Genesis.com.

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FibroGenesis Reports Breakthrough in Prevention of COVID-19 Blood Clotting Laboratory Studies Suggest PneumoBlast COVID-19 Cell Therapy Reduces...