Video: In 40 years, babies could be made in the lab from skin cells – Genetic Literacy Project

The birds and the bees as we know them are changing. A new process called in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) is currently being developed, and if successful, it will completely transform the way humans think about reproduction.

In 20 to 40 years, people will still have sex. But when they want to make babies, theyll go to a lab, predicts Stanford University Professor Henry T. Greely. Its also the premise of his book The End of Sex and the Future of Human Reproduction.

The process of IVG creates sperm and egg cells in a lab from just about any adult cell. IVG uses skin or blood cells to reverse engineer a special type of cells calledinduced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs).

IVG could eliminate the need for egg and sperm donors. With IVG, post-menopausal women could generate viable eggs. Same-sex couples could make a biological family. Virtually anyone with skin would have the ability to produce eggs or sperm.

Although 40 years might seem a lifetime away, theres a lot to figure out before we can safely, ethically, and responsibly add in vitro gametogenesis to our list of fertility treatment options.

Read full, original post: IVG: Making Babies From Skin Cells

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Video: In 40 years, babies could be made in the lab from skin cells - Genetic Literacy Project

Here’s What Meat-Eaters Really Think of Veganism, According to a New Study – ScienceAlert

Most people in the UK are committed meat eaters but for how long? My new research into the views of meat eaters found that most respondents viewed veganism as ethical in principle and good for the environment.

It seems that practical matters of taste, price, and convenience are the main barriers preventing more people from adopting veganism not disagreement with the fundamental idea.

This could have major implications for the future of the food industry as meat alternatives become tastier, cheaper and more widely available.

My survey of 1,000 UK adult men and women found that 73 percent of those surveyed considered veganism to be ethical, while 70 percent said it was good for the environment.

But 61 percent said adopting a vegan diet was not enjoyable, 77 percent said it was inconvenient, and 83 percent said it was not easy.

Other possible barriers such as health concerns and social stigma seemed not to be as important, with 60 percent considering veganism to be socially acceptable, and over half saying it was healthy.

The idea that most meat eaters agree with the principles of veganism might seem surprising to some. But other research has led to similar conclusions. One study for example, found that almost half of Americans supported a ban on slaughterhouses.

The prevalence of taste, price, and convenience as barriers to change also mirrors previous findings. One British survey found that the most common reason by far people gave for not being vegetarian is simply: "I like the taste of meat too much." The second and third most common reasons related to the high cost of meat substitutes and struggling for meal ideas.

These findings present climate and animal advocates with an interesting challenge. People are largely aware that there are good reasons to cut down their animal product consumption, but they are mostly not willing to bear the personal cost of doing so.

Decades of food behaviour research has shown us that price, taste and convenience are the three major factors driving food choices. For most people, ethics and environmental impact simply do not enter into it.

Experimental research has also shown that the act of eating meat can alter peoples' views of the morality of eating animals. One study asked participants to rate their moral concern for cows. Before answering, participants were given either nuts or beef jerky to snack on.

The researchers found that eating beef jerky actually caused participants to care less about cows. People seem not to be choosing to eat meat because they think there are good reasons to do so they are choosing to think there are good reasons because they eat meat.

In this way, the default widespread (and, let's be honest, enjoyable) behaviour of meat eating can be a barrier to clear reasoning about our food systems. How can we be expected to discuss this honestly when we have such a strong interest in reaching the conclusion that eating meat is okay?

Fortunately, things are changing. The range, quality, and affordability of vegan options has exploded. My survey was conducted in September 2018, a few months before the tremendously successful release of Greggs' vegan sausage roll.

Since then, we have seen an avalanche of high-quality affordable vegan options released in the British supermarkets, restaurants and even fast food outlets. These allow meat eaters to easily replace animal products one meal at a time.

When Subway offers a version of its meatball marinara that is compatible with your views on ethics and the environment, why would you choose the one made from an animal if the alternative tastes the same?

The widespread availability of these options means that the growing number of vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians in the UK have more choice than ever. Not only will this entice more people to try vegan options, but it will make it far easier for aspiring vegetarians and vegans to stick to their diets.

With consumer choice comes producer competition, and here we will see the magic of the market. If you think those looking to cut down their meat consumption are spoilt for choice in 2020, just wait to see the effect of these food giants racing to make their vegan offerings better and cheaper as they compete for a rapidly growing customer segment.

We may be about to witness an explosion in research to perfect plant-based meat analogues. Meanwhile, the development of real animal meat grown from stem cells without the animals is gaining pace.

While these replacements get tastier, more nutritious and cheaper over the next ten years, meat from animals will largely stay the same. It is no wonder the animal farming industry is nervous. Demand for meat and dairy is falling drastically while the market for alternatives has skyrocketed.

In the US, two major dairy producers have filed for bankruptcy in recent months, while a recent report estimated that the meat and dairy industries will collapse in the next decade.

This leaves the average meat eater with a dilemma. Most agree with the reasons for being vegan but object to the price, taste, and convenience of the alternatives.

As these alternatives get cheaper, better and more widespread, meat eaters will have to ask themselves just how good the alternatives need to be before they decide to consume in line with their values. Being one of the last people to pay for needless animal slaughter because the alternative was only "pretty good" will not be a good look in the near future.

Chris Bryant, PhD Candidate, University of Bath.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Opinions expressed in this article don't necessarily reflect the views of ScienceAlert editorial staff.

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Here's What Meat-Eaters Really Think of Veganism, According to a New Study - ScienceAlert

What meat eaters really think about veganism new research – The Conversation UK

Most people in the UK are committed meat eaters but for how long? My new research into the views of meat eaters found that most respondents viewed veganism as ethical in principle and good for the environment.

It seems that practical matters of taste, price, and convenience are the main barriers preventing more people from adopting veganism not disagreement with the fundamental idea. This could have major implications for the future of the food industry as meat alternatives become tastier, cheaper and more widely available.

My survey of 1,000 UK adult men and women found that 73% of those surveyed considered veganism to be ethical, while 70% said it was good for the environment. But 61% said adopting a vegan diet was not enjoyable, 77% said it was inconvenient, and 83% said it was not easy.

Other possible barriers such as health concerns and social stigma seemed not to be as important, with 60% considering veganism to be socially acceptable, and over half saying it was healthy.

The idea that most meat eaters agree with the principles of veganism might seem surprising to some. But other research has led to similar conclusions. One study for example, found that almost half of Americans supported a ban on slaughterhouses.

The prevalence of taste, price, and convenience as barriers to change also mirrors previous findings. One British survey found that the most common reason by far people gave for not being vegetarian is simply: I like the taste of meat too much. The second and third most common reasons related to the high cost of meat substitutes and struggling for meal ideas.

These findings present climate and animal advocates with an interesting challenge. People are largely aware that there are good reasons to cut down their animal product consumption, but they are mostly not willing to bear the personal cost of doing so.

Decades of food behaviour research has shown us that price, taste and convenience are the three major factors driving food choices. For most people, ethics and environmental impact simply do not enter into it.

Experimental research has also shown that the act of eating meat can alter peoples views of the morality of eating animals. One study asked participants to rate their moral concern for cows. Before answering, participants were given either nuts or beef jerky to snack on.

The researchers found that eating beef jerky actually caused participants to care less about cows. People seem not to be choosing to eat meat because they think there are good reasons to do so they are choosing to think there are good reasons because they eat meat.

In this way, the default widespread (and, lets be honest, enjoyable) behaviour of meat eating can be a barrier to clear reasoning about our food systems. How can we be expected to discuss this honestly when we have such a strong interest in reaching the conclusion that eating meat is okay?

Fortunately, things are changing. The range, quality, and affordability of vegan options has exploded. My survey was conducted in September 2018, a few months before the tremendously successful release of Greggs vegan sausage roll.

Since then, we have seen an avalanche of high-quality affordable vegan options released in the British supermarkets, restaurants and even fast food outlets. These allow meat eaters to easily replace animal products one meal at a time. When Subway offers a version of its meatball marinara that is compatible with your views on ethics and the environment, why would you choose the one made from an animal if the alternative tastes the same?

The widespread availability of these options means that the growing number of vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians in the UK have more choice than ever. Not only will this entice more people to try vegan options, but it will make it far easier for aspiring vegetarians and vegans to stick to their diets.

With consumer choice comes producer competition, and here we will see the magic of the market. If you think those looking to cut down their meat consumption are spoilt for choice in 2020, just wait to see the effect of these food giants racing to make their vegan offerings better and cheaper as they compete for a rapidly growing customer segment.

We may be about to witness an explosion in research to perfect plant-based meat analogues. Meanwhile, the development of real animal meat grown from stem cells without the animals is gaining pace.

While these replacements get tastier, more nutritious and cheaper over the next ten years, meat from animals will largely stay the same. It is no wonder the animal farming industry is nervous. Demand for meat and dairy is falling drastically while the market for alternatives has skyrocketed.

In the US, two major dairy producers have filed for bankruptcy in recent months, while a recent report estimated that the meat and dairy industries will collapse in the next decade.

This leaves the average meat eater with a dilemma. Most agree with the reasons for being vegan but object to the price, taste, and convenience of the alternatives.

As these alternatives get cheaper, better and more widespread, meat eaters will have to ask themselves just how good the alternatives need to be before they decide to consume in line with their values. Being one of the last people to pay for needless animal slaughter because the alternative was only pretty good will not be a good look in the near future.

Originally posted here:
What meat eaters really think about veganism new research - The Conversation UK

Novel mutations in stem cells of young donors can be passed to recipients – BioNews

20 January 2020

A new study suggests that rare harmful mutations in young healthy donors' stem cells can be passed on to recipients of stem cell transplants, potentially leading to health problems.

Stem cell transplants can be used to treat some blood disorders and cancers, such as acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), but can also have life-threatening complications such as cardiovascular problems and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), where new immune cells from the donor attacks the patient's healthy cells.

'There have been suspicions that genetic errors in donor stem cells may be causing problems in cancer patients, but until now we didn't have a way to identify them because they are so rare,' said Dr Todd EDruley, Associate Professor of Paediatrics, Haematology and Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine, StLouis. 'This study raises concerns that even young, healthy donors' blood stem cells may have harmful mutations and provides strong evidence that we need to explore the potential effects of these mutations further.'Researchers analysed samples from patients with AML and their stem cell donors looking at 80 specific genes. The small pilot study identified at least one harmful genetic mutation in 11 of the 25 donors using an advanced sequencing technique. The donors ranged from 20 to 58 years old, with a median age of 26. Researchers later detected the harmful mutations present in donors within the recipients.

These extremely rare, harmful genetic mutations that are present in donors' stem cells do not cause any health problems to the donors, however, they may be passed on to the patients receiving stem cell transplants. Intense chemo- and radiation therapy is required prior to stem cell transplants and the immunosuppression given after the transplant unfortunately allows the rare mutation containing cells the opportunity to replicate quickly, which potentially can create health problems for the patients who receive them.

Co-author, Dr Sima TBhatt, Assistant Professor of Paediatrics, Haematology and Oncology also at Washington University, said 'Transplant physicians tend to seek younger donors because we assume this will lead to fewer complications. But we now see evidence that even young and healthy donors can have mutations that will have consequences for our patients. We need to understand what those consequences are if we are to find ways to modify them.'

The clinical implications of the findings need to be further studied. Dr Bhatt added: 'Now that we've also linked these mutations to GvHD and cardiovascular problems, we have a larger study planned that we hope will answer some of the questions posed by this one.'

Read the original here:
Novel mutations in stem cells of young donors can be passed to recipients - BioNews

Biomedical Applications of Zeolitic Nanoparticles, with an Emphasis on | IJN – Dove Medical Press

Hossein Derakhshankhah, 1, 2,* Samira Jafari, 1, 2,* Sajad Sarvari, 3 Ebrahim Barzegari, 4 Faezeh Moakedi, 5 Milad Ghorbani, 6 Behrang Shiri Varnamkhasti, 1 Mehdi Jaymand, 7 Zhila Izadi, 1, 8 Lobat Tayebi 9

1Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 2Zistmavad Pharmed Co., Tehran, Iran; 3Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Science, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; 4Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 5Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA; 6Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; 7Nano Drug Delivery Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 8Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; 9Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Zhila Izadi; Lobat Tayebi Email izadi_zh@razi.tums.ac.ir; lobat.tayebi@marquette.edu

Abstract: The advent of porous materials, in particular zeolitic nanoparticles, has opened up unprecedented putative research avenues in nanomedicine. Zeolites with intracrystal mesopores are low framework density aluminosilicates possessing a regular porous structure along with intricate channels. Their unique physiochemical as well as physiological parameters necessitate a comprehensive overview on their classifications, fabrication platforms, cellular/macromolecular interactions, and eventually their prospective biomedical applications through illustrating the challenges and opportunities in different integrative medical and pharmaceutical fields. More particularly, an update on recent advances in zeolite-accommodated drug delivery and the prevalent challenges regarding these molecular sieves is to be presented. In conclusion, strategies to accelerate the translation of these porous materials from bench to bedside along with common overlooked physiological and pharmacological factors of zeolite nanoparticles are discussed and debated. Furthermore, for zeolite nanoparticles, it is a matter of crucial importance, in terms of biosafety and nanotoxicology, to appreciate the zeolite-bio interface once the zeolite nanoparticles are exposed to the bio-macromolecules in biological media. We specifically shed light on interactions of zeolite nanoparticles with fibrinogen and amyloid beta which had been comprehensively investigated in our recent reports. Given the significance of zeolite nanoparticles interactions with serum or interstitial proteins conferring them new biological identity, the preliminary approaches for deeper understanding of administration, distribution, metabolism and excretion of zeolite nanoparticles are elucidated.

Keywords: zeolite, mesoporous, nanostructure, biosafety, biomedical applications

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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Biomedical Applications of Zeolitic Nanoparticles, with an Emphasis on | IJN - Dove Medical Press

Cell therapy trialed in mice offers diabetes treatment hope – SelectScience

New cell treatment could help maintain healthy blood sugar levels

A new cell treatment to enhance islet transplantation could help maintain healthy blood sugar levels in Type 1 diabetes without the need for multiple transplants of insulin producing cells or regular insulin injections, research suggests.

In Type 1 diabetes the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are destroyed. Insulin injections maintain health but blood glucose levels can be difficult to control. Currently in the UK it is estimated that approximately 400,000 people in the UK have type 1 diabetes.

The current recommendation for people with type 1 diabetes who have lost awareness of low blood glucose levels is the transplantation of islets the insulin producing part of the pancreas.

A study in mice found that transplanting a combination of islets with connective tissue cells found in umbilical cords known as stromal cells - could potentially reduce the number of pancreases required for the procedure.

Mice that received the islet-stromal cell combination were found to have better control of blood glucose and less evidence of rejection of islets after seven weeks, compared to those that received islets alone.

In humans, more than two donor pancreases, which are scarce, are often needed because islets can be rejected and are slow to form new blood supplies.

Therefore, multiple islet transplantations and anti-rejection medication are required to control blood sugar levels in people with Type 1 diabetes. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh hope their findings could be a way of overcoming these issues.

The researchers found that islets combined with stromal cells successfully returned normal blood glucose levels just three days after transplantation.

Other studies have used cells sourced from bone marrow and fat. This is the first to use stem cells from umbilical cords and has produced superior results.

The research is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine and funded by Chief Scientist Office in Scotland and Diabetes UK.

Shareen Forbes, Professor of Diabetic Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and Lead Physician for the Islet Transplant Program in Scotland, said: Should this research prove successful in humans, we could reduce the number of islets needed to control blood sugar levels using this co-transplantation approach. This would mean more people with Type 1 diabetes could be treated using islet transplantation while significantly reducing the waiting time on the transplant list.

John Campbell, Professor and Associate Director Tissues, Cells & Advanced Therapeutics at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service has said that further work is needed to establish the long-term safety of using this type of stromal cell in this setting before proceeding to clinical trials in humans.

Dr. Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said: Islet transplants have been life changing for some people with Type 1 diabetes, treating dangerous hypo unawareness. But there currently arent enough donated pancreases to go around, and the procedure itself isnt yet as effective as it could be.

This new research from the University of Edinburgh is a promising step forward, and one we hope will lead to islet transplants becoming both more effective and more widely available in the future.

Register for your free SelectScience membership today to receive the latest editorial articles and technology news direct to your inbox>>

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Cell therapy trialed in mice offers diabetes treatment hope - SelectScience

Scientists Image Heart RNA Structure for the First Time – Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology

January 20, 2020 Scientists at Los Alamos and international partners have created the first 3-D images of a special type of RNA molecule that is critical for stem cell programming and known as the dark matter of the genome.

As far as we know, said corresponding author Karissa Sanbonmatsu, Ph.D.,this is the first full 3-D structural study of any long, non-coding RNA (lncRNA) other than a partial structure. Sanbonmatsu is a structural biologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. A better understanding of these RNAs could lead to new strategies in regenerative medicine for people with heart conditions due to cardiovascular disease or aging.

The team used a technique called small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) that reveals the 3-D envelope of the RNA molecule, according to Trushar Patel, a Canadian professor on the team. Next, with the help of machine learning and high-performance computing, they made atomistic models to fit inside the envelopes this included the creation of an atomistic model that is also the longest of an isolated RNA (636 nucleotides) to date, said Doo Nam Kim, lead author on the Nature Communications paper.[1]

Our work represents the first step in showing that these difficult-to-image RNAs do possess 3-D structures, and that these molecular structures may very well determine how they operate, said Sanbonmatsu. The RNA studied is called Braveheart it triggers the transformation of stem cells into heart cells, she said.

Before the human genome was sequenced in 2000, it was thought that it mostly contained instructions for proteins, the workhorse molecules of human cells. Scientists were shocked to discover that less than 10 percent of the genome encoded proteins. Ever since, the other 90 percent was deemed to be junk DNA or dark matter. Enter RNA, the molecular cousin of DNA. Scientists originally assumed the main purpose of RNA was simply to coordinate as a messenger for DNA in the synthesis of proteins. However, it has recently been shown that more than 90 percent of the genome encodes a new and mysterous class of RNAs, called long non-coding RNA molecules (lncRNA).

These RNA molecules help to control the turning on and off of genes; their malfunction causes birth defects, autism and even cancer in some cases. They are also key to reprogramming adult stem cells. Even though the molecules make up 90 percent of the genome, scientists have almost no idea how they work, or even what they look like. In this study, one of the largest RNA-only 3-D studies, the new 3-D images sets the stage for future studies that will shed more light on how they control genes.

Funding for this project was provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Los Alamos Institutional Computing and Los Alamos Laboratory Directed R&Dand Diamond Light Source (U.K.).

Learn more about theSanbonmatsu Team at Los Alamos.

Reference:

1.Karissa Y. Sanbonmatsu, Doo Nam Kim and Scott P. Hennelly of Los Alamos National Laboratory and New Mexico Consortium; Bernhard C. Thiel and Ivo L. Hofacker of University of Vienna, Austria; Tyler Mrozowich and Trushar R. Patel of University of Lethbridge, Canada. Zinc-finger protein CNBP alters the 3-D structure of lncRNA Braveheart in solution Authors: Nature Communications, DOI 10.1038/s41467-019-13942-4.

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Scientists Image Heart RNA Structure for the First Time - Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology

CAR T-Cell Therapy and Beyond: Off-the-Shelf Therapies Among Innovations at ASH 2019 – AJMC.com Managed Markets Network

When it comes tochimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-celltherapy, the waiting may hardest part for revolutionary, lifesaving treatment for certain leukemias and lymphomas. Manufacturing personalized treatments from apatients own cells can take up to 3 weeks, and payer approval canadd more time. The process itself is complicated and costlyatleast $373,000 before administration costsand reimbursementhas sometimes been slow.1

Thats why results highlighted December 7, 2019, at the 61stAmerican Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting &Exposition in Orlando, Florida, focused on the next wave of innovation,which features allogeneic, or off-the-shelf, treatmentsthat could offer greater convenience and lower costsand maketreatment available to more patients.

Gary Schiller, MD, of University of California, Los Angeles,Health, who moderated a press briefing on several abstractspresented at the meeting, said that advances in CAR T-cell therapyare overcoming multiple barriers:

Although first-generation therapies primarily target theprotein CD19, the next wave of treatment will attackmultiple targets. Therapies in the pipeline will treat more blood cancers,including multiple myeloma. A uniform product will replace the complex manufacturingprocess.

When we approach unmet needs in medicine, we solveone and we create another, saidStephen J. Schuster, MD, ofPenn Medicines Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, who presented results on a novel therapy,mosunetuzumab. CAR T-cell therapy, Schuster said, has beena major advancehe led the JULIET trial in refractory B-celllymphomas that resulted in approval of the first therapy, Novartistisagenlecleucel (Kymriah).2 However, the two-thirds of patients that dont respond to CAR T-cell therapy are now our new unmetneed, he said.

Because patients eligible for CAR T are already quite ill, abouta third of those enrolled in clinical trials never make it to thepoint of getting therapy, ASH Secretary Robert A. Brodsky, MD,director of the Division of Hematology at Johns Hopkins School ofMedicine, said during a preview of the meeting.

Cost also poses a significant barrier to treatment.1,3 Academicmedical centers and Medicare have been locked in a struggleover how to pay for CAR T-cell therapy, because traditionalreimbursement designs were not created with this expensive,1-time treatment in mind.4 Although CMS announced in Augustthat 2020 would bring a modest increase in the new technologyadd-on payment, a November commentary in the Journal ofClinical Oncology pronounced that this quick fix does not go far enough.5 The authors estimated that hospitals lose $300,000 forevery patient treated with this technology.

Schuster presented results from a dosing study involvingmosunetuzumab, a bispecific antibody tested in 270 patientswith B-cell lymphomas that had returned or not responded toat least 3 therapies, including some patients who relapsed orfailed to respond to CAR T-cell therapy.6 The group included30 patients previously treated with CAR T-cell therapy. In a presspreview ahead of the 2019 meeting, ASH leaders speculated thatbispecific antibodies could supplant first-generation CAR T-cell treatments in some cancers if they can treat patients quicklyat a lower cost.

Unlike CAR T-cell therapy, mosunetuzumab does not requireindividualized genetic modification of a patients T cells. Instead,this therapy redirects T cells to engage and eliminate B cells,Schuster said. The new therapy produced durable responses in37% of the patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL), a group that would benefit most from not having towait for individualized manufactured cells. Higher exposure tomosunetuzumab brought better responses, and a higher-dose study is now enrolling patients, Schuster said.

Across the studies presented at the meeting, patients generallyexperienced lower grades of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) thanseen in the first generation of CAR T-cell therapy. Hospitalizationdue to CRS has been a significant contributor to cost in the firstgeneration of CAR T-cell therapy; estimates of managing severecases range from $56,000 to more than $200,000.7

However, Schiller said, ease of access will likely be the top sellingpoint of these new therapies in the coming years. An off-the-shelfproduct is attractive because of feasibility issues, Schiller said.For patients previously treated with CAR T-cell therapy, it appearsthis new wave of treatments may salvage responses after a relapse,he said: It all depends on durability.

[For a] simple clinicianwho needs to take care of patientswith desperate diseases, tolerability is secondary to access andfeasibility, Schiller continued. So whatever productbe itcellular or bifunctionalthat we have access to tomorrow will bebetter and easier for us to use.

Abstracts presented at the briefing highlighted whatsin the pipeline:

MOSUNETUZUMAB. Schuster reported on complete remission (CR)in patients with relapsed/refractory NHL who were treated withthe study drug. In this phase 1/1b open-label study, accordingto the abstract, mosunetuzumab is given with step-up dosing ondays 1, 8, and 15 of cycle 1, then as a fixed-dose on day 1 of each subsequent 21-day cycle, for a maximum of 17 cycles. Outcomesare best objective response rate (ORR), maximum tolerated dose(MTD), and tolerability.6

Results were the following:

The treatment produced promising responses in patientswith aggressive NHL. Among 124 patients (diffuse largeB-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma), ORR was 37.1%(46 patients) and CR was 19.4% (24 patients) (FIGURE). As expected, responses were better for patients withindolent NHL. Among the 67 patients, ORR was 62.7%(42 patients), and 29 (43.3%) had a CR. Among the first 18 patients with prior CAR T-celltherapy, ORR was 38.9% (7 patients), and 4 patients(22.2%) had a CR. Four patients were able to be retreated with mosunetuzumab;among these, 3 (75%) had an ORR, and 1 had a CR.

I have stopped therapy in some patients after 6 months, andthey have remained in remission, Schuster said. Some patientshave remained in remission without additional therapy formore than a year.

CAR NK PROOF-OF-CONCEPT. Bob Valamehr, PhD,of Fate Therapeutics, presented proof-of-conceptdata on an off-the-shelf cellular immunotherapythat targets 2 proteins on the surface of lymphomacells.8 The treatment, a targeted CAR natural killer(NK) cell, would be enhanced with features totake advantage of the properties of NK cellstheirability to attack and kill many types of cellswhileextending the cells durability. NK cells are multifacetedand can be viewed as a jack-of-all-trades whenit comes to protecting the host, whereas T cells canact in only 1 way, Valamehr said.

Fate Therapeutics developed a master line of NKcells induced from specialized stem cells (iNK cells),known as FT596, which overcomes a challenge of CAR T therapy: lack of uniformity that can occurwith individualized products. When you [manufacture]the product, not every cell is engineered, andnot every engineered cell is pristine, Valamehr said.

According to the abstract,8 FT596 cells aredesigned to carry 3 genes at once:

An NK cell-calibrated CAR that targets CD19 Noncleavable CD16, which enhancesbinding activity A recombinant fusion of interleukin (IL) 15and IL-15 receptor- (IL-R) that extendspersistence of the cells

Investigators did experiments in both in vitroand in mouse models and found that iNK cellsengineered with both CD19-CAR and IL-R werecurative against B-cell lymphoma comparedwith iNK cells either alone or modified only withCD19-CAR. The investigators next performed testsusing various combinations with rituximab andreported that only FT596 was able to effectivelyeliminate the CD19 antigen escaped target cell.7

According to the abstract, experiments usingthe allogeneic therapy on a mouse model showedthat FT596 demonstrated improved survivaland safety over primary CAR19 T cells, whetherused as alone or in combination with rituximab.Experiments with rituximab showed great potentialfor that combination.

If successful, this approach could be administeredmuch like traditional therapies, according toValamehr. The process creates a homogeneous,high-quality product thats low cost, he said.Each dose is $2500. Its directly infused; there is noprocessing needed, so it becomes a true, administeredoff-the-shelf product in an outpatient setting.

MULTIPLE MYELOMA. The session also covered apair of CAR T-cell therapies for multiple myeloma,taking advantage of the dual target approach.Results from CARTITUDE-1,9 funded by Janssen,confirm results from the LEGEND-2 study10 for atherapy containing 2 proteins designed to targetthe B-cell maturation antigen. Deepu Madduri,MD, of Mount Sinai in New York, New York, sharedthe news that the FDA granted JNJ-4528 breakthroughtherapy designation on the eve of the ASH meetingDecember 6, 2019.11

We know that there have been a lot of advancesover the last few years [in] multiple myeloma,Madduri said, and so people are living longer.However, for patients who have failed all availabletherapies, median overall survival is less than12 months, he said.

This study involved 29 patients, 25 of whom had atleast 3 prior therapies, including autologous transplantation.The investigators said the results showthat JNJ-4528 at a dose of 0.75 x 106 CAR-positivecells/kg brings an early and deep response, featuringminimal residual disease negativity in all evaluablepatients tested.9

Of note: Not only were CRS events of lower gradethan in first-generation CAR T therapies, butthe median time of onset was 7 days, >90%between 5 and 9 days, later than in the past. Neurotoxicity was infrequently observed andgenerally low grade. Early and deep responses were seen: 100%ORR, with CR 69% at 6 months. The median time to first response was 1month, as was the median time to CR; 27 of 29patients were progression free at 6 months.

1. Andrews M. Staggering price slow insurers coverage of CAR-T cancertherapy. Kaiser Health News. khn.org/news/staggering-prices-slow-insurers-coverage-of-car-t-cancer-therapy/. Published July 17, 2018.Accessed December 10, 2019.

2. Schuster SJ, Bishop MR, Tam CS, et al; JULIET investigators. Tisagenlecleucelin adult relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.N Engl J Med. 2019;380(1):45-56. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1804980.

3. Worcester S. Barriers to CAR T use in the spotlight at first Europeanmeeting. MDedge website. mdedge.com/hematology-oncology/article/195404/immuno-oncology/barriers-car-t-use-spotlight-first-european.Published February 28, 2019. Accessed December 10, 2019.

4. Caffrey M. NCCN panel digs into reality of CAR T-cell reimbursement.The American Journal of Managed Care website. ajmc.com/conferences/nccn-2019/nccn-panel-digs-into-reality-of-car-tcell-reimbursement.Published March 21, 2019. Accessed December 10, 2019.

5. Manz CR, Porter DL, Bekelman JE, et al. Innovation and access atthe mercy of payment policy: the future of chimeric antigen receptortherapies [published online November 1, 2019]. J Clin Oncol.doi: 10.1200/JCO.19.01691.

6. Schuster SJ, Bartlett NL, Assouline S, et al. Mosunetuzumab inducescomplete remissions in poor prognosis non-Hodgkin lymphomapatients, including those who are resistant to or relapsing after chimericantigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies, and is active in treatmentthrough multiple lines. Presented at: 61st American Society of HematologyMeeting & Exposition; December 7-10, 2019; Orlando, FL. Abstract 6.ash.confex.com/ash/2019/webprogram/Paper123742.html.

7. Mulcahy N. Whats the total cost of one CAR T-cell treatment? Medscapewebsite. medscape.com/viewarticle/895735. Published April 26, 2018.Accessed December 7, 2019.

8. Goodridge JP, Mahnood S, Zhu H, et al. Translation of first-of-kindmulti-antigen targeted off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell with engineeredpersistence for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Presented at:61st American Society of Hematology Meeting & Exposition; December7-10, 2019; Orland, FL. Abstract 301. ash.confex.com/ash/2019/webprogram/Paper129319.html.

9. Madduri D, Usmani SZ, Janannath S. Results from CARTITUDE-1: aphase 1b/2 study of JNJ-4528, a CAR-T cell therapy directed againstB-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), in patients with relapsed and/orrefractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM). Poster and abstract presentedat: 61st American Society of Hematology Meeting & Exposition; December7-10, 2019; Orlando, FL. Abstract 577. ash.confex.com/ash/2019/webprogram/Paper121731.html.

10. Xu J, Chen LJ, Yang SS, et al. Exploratory trial of a biepitopic CART-targeting B cell maturation antigen in relapsed/refractory multiplemyeloma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019;116(19):9543-9551. doi:10.1073/pnas.1819745116.

11. House D. J&J CAR T nabs accelerated review status in US for multiplemyeloma. Seeking Alpha website. seekingalpha.com/news/3524575-jand-j-car-t-nabs-accelerated-review-status-in-u-s-for-multiple-myeloma.Published and accessed December 6, 2019.

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CAR T-Cell Therapy and Beyond: Off-the-Shelf Therapies Among Innovations at ASH 2019 - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network

Stem Cell Assay Market to Expand at a Healthy CAGR of XX% Between and 2017 2025 Dagoretti News – Dagoretti News

In 2019, the market size of Stem Cell Assay Market is million US$ and it will reach million US$ in 2025, growing at a CAGR of from 2019; while in China, the market size is valued at xx million US$ and will increase to xx million US$ in 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during forecast period.

In this report, 2019 has been considered as the base year and 2019 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Stem Cell Assay .

This report studies the global market size of Stem Cell Assay , especially focuses on the key regions like United States, European Union, China, and other regions (Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia).

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This study presents the Stem Cell Assay Market production, revenue, market share and growth rate for each key company, and also covers the breakdown data (production, consumption, revenue and market share) by regions, type and applications. Stem Cell Assay history breakdown data from 2014 to 2019, and forecast to 2025.

For top companies in United States, European Union and China, this report investigates and analyzes the production, value, price, market share and growth rate for the top manufacturers, key data from 2014 to 2019.

In global Stem Cell Assay market, the following companies are covered:

growth drivers and lists down the major restraints. Additionally, the report gauges the effect of Porters five forces on the overall stem cell assay market.

Global Stem Cell Assay Market: Key Market Segments

For the purpose of the study, the report segments the global stem cell assay market based on various parameters. For instance, in terms of assay type, the market can be segmented into isolation and purification, viability, cell identification, differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and function. By kit, the market can be bifurcated into human embryonic stem cell kits and adult stem cell kits. Based on instruments, flow cytometer, cell imaging systems, automated cell counter, and micro electrode arrays could be the key market segments.

In terms of application, the market can be segmented into drug discovery and development, clinical research, and regenerative medicine and therapy. The growth witnessed across the aforementioned application segments will be influenced by the increasing incidence of chronic ailments which will translate into the rising demand for regenerative medicines. Finally, based on end users, research institutes and industry research constitute the key market segments.

The report includes a detailed assessment of the various factors influencing the markets expansion across its key segments. The ones holding the most lucrative prospects are analyzed, and the factors restraining its trajectory across key segments are also discussed at length.

Global Stem Cell Assay Market: Regional Analysis

Regionally, the market is expected to witness heightened demand in the developed countries across Europe and North America. The increasing incidence of chronic ailments and the subsequently expanding patient population are the chief drivers of the stem cell assay market in North America. Besides this, the market is also expected to witness lucrative opportunities in Asia Pacific and Rest of the World.

Global Stem Cell Assay Market: Vendor Landscape

A major inclusion in the report is the detailed assessment of the markets vendor landscape. For the purpose of the study the report therefore profiles some of the leading players having influence on the overall market dynamics. It also conducts SWOT analysis to study the strengths and weaknesses of the companies profiled and identify threats and opportunities that these enterprises are forecast to witness over the course of the reports forecast period.

Some of the most prominent enterprises operating in the global stem cell assay market are Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc (U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), GE Healthcare (U.K.), Hemogenix Inc. (U.S.), Promega Corporation (U.S.), Bio-Techne Corporation (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), STEMCELL Technologies Inc. (CA), Cell Biolabs, Inc. (U.S.), and Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (U.S.).

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The content of the study subjects, includes a total of 15 chapters:

Chapter 1, to describe Stem Cell Assay product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market driving force and market risks.

Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Stem Cell Assay , with price, sales, revenue and global market share of Stem Cell Assay in 2017 and 2019.

Chapter 3, the Stem Cell Assay competitive situation, sales, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast.

Chapter 4, the Stem Cell Assay breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales, revenue and growth by regions, from 2014 to 2019.

Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to break the sales data at the country level, with sales, revenue and market share for key countries in the world, from 2014 to 2019.

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Chapter 10 and 11, to segment the sales by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2014 to 2019.

Chapter 12, Stem Cell Assay market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2019 to 2024.

Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Stem Cell Assay sales channel, distributors, customers, research findings and conclusion, appendix and data source.

Continued here:
Stem Cell Assay Market to Expand at a Healthy CAGR of XX% Between and 2017 2025 Dagoretti News - Dagoretti News

Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture Medium Market Analysis And Forecast to 2026 by Recent Trends, Developments in Manufacturing Technology and Regional…

QY Research has lately published a new report titled, *Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture Medium Market Report 2020 and Forecast to 2026*. The researchers have offered a broad understanding of the industry with the help of research methodologies such as PESTLE Analysis and Porters Five Forces.

Global Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture Medium Market Outlook to 2026:

The report is just the right resource that global and regional Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture Medium players and investors need to peep into the future of their business and plan out effective growth strategies. It is a compilation of intelligent and accurate research and analysis studies that help players in the Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture Medium business to understand the growth patterns of leading segments and regions, nature of competition, and other significant aspects. Buyers of the report are provided with reliable forecasts for total revenue, consumption, sales, CAGR, production, and other important factors.

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The company profiling section of the report provides a brilliant analysis of the growth of leading players in the industry, based on share, recent developments, geographical expansion, regional presence, technology, and many other factors. The vendor landscape is also presented in quite some detail in the report.

This report includes the following manufacturers; we can also add the other companies as you want.MerckSTEMCELL TechnologiesIrvinesciCell Applications, IncBiological IndustriesMiltenyi BiotecSwiss Medica ClinicPromocellCreative BiolabsLifeline Cell TechnologyScienCell Research LaboratoriesOsiris TherapeuticsNuVasiveChiesi PharmaceuticalsJCR PharmaceuticalPharmicellMedi-postAnterogenMolmedTakeda (TiGenix)

Market Segment by TypeLiquid MediaPowder Media

Market Segment by ApplicationBiopharmaceutical ManufacturingTissue Engineering & Regenerative MedicineGene TherapyOther

Some Major Table of Contents

Executive Summary: The report begins with a summary of the entire research study, along with CAGR and value or volume forecasts.

Top Segments: As the name suggests, this section gives details about leading and also other segments, their growth potential, share, and other important factors.

Leading Regions: Here, readers are provided with an in-depth study on key regions and countries and their overall growth during the forecast period.

Company Profiling: This section includes a detailed comparison of top Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture Medium players, accurate analysis of the competitive landscape, and other studies.

Dynamics: Buyers of the report have access to an intelligent research study on crucial drivers, restraints, trends, and opportunities in the Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture Medium business.

Conclusion: Here, the analysts authoring the report have provided their overall take on the Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture Medium business and the industry. This section also includes important findings from the research study.

Continued.

Read Full Report with TOC @ https://www.qyresearch.com/index/detail/1442345/global-Stem-Cell-and-Primary-Cell-Culture-Medium-market

What the Report has to Offer?

1. Size Forecasts: The report has analysed the industry based on the value and volume over the projected period. Other important parameters including price, capacity, cost, revenue, gross margin, sales revenue, and production are also looked into

2. Future Prospects: The report sheds light on the lucrative business prospects that may prove promising for the players to make future investment

3. Trend Analysis: The readers will gain an insight into the upcoming trends and developments that may take place in the coming future

4. Segmental Analysis: Segments such as application, product type, and end user, along with their contribution to the overall industry size, are analysed by the researchers in this section

5. Regional Analysis: Here, the report examines the present and upcoming developments in varied regions and respective countries

6. Competitive Analysis: The report here discusses about the key strategic initiatives considered by the key players to sustain their hold. This analysis will surely help the competitors in planning their activities ahead

Contact US:QY Research, INC.17890 Castleton, Suite 218,Los Angeles, CA 91748USA: +1 626 428 8800India: +91 9766 478 224Emails [emailprotected]

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Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture Medium Market Analysis And Forecast to 2026 by Recent Trends, Developments in Manufacturing Technology and Regional...