Advancells Group & IFC Concluded their 3-Day Workshop on Regenerative Medicine – MENAFN.COM

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New Delhi 23rd January 2020 On Saturday, January 18th, 2020, the Advancells Group & the International Fertility Center together ended their first workshop Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (S.T.A.R. 2020). The three-day workshop had specialized doctors, medical practitioners, learned scientists of Advancells, the leaders in cell manufacturing & processes and IFC, one of India's most prestigious Fertility institute who were joined by candidates with MBBS/BAMS/BHMS/BPharma & Master's degree in Life Sciences.

The key-note speaker of the workshop was Dr. Rita Bakshi, founder and chairperson of International Fertility Centre, the oldest fertility clinic and one of the most renowned IVF clinics in India, one of the organizers of the event. Participants also had a privilege to listen to Dr. Sachin Kadam, CTO, Advancells and gain hands-on experience in the preparation of PRP; Liposuction method; and Bone Marrow aspiration. All these techniques were talked about at length and demonstrated in the form of manual & kit-based models to help the candidates gain exposure.

Dr. Punit Prabha, Head of Clinical Research and Dr. Shradha Singh Gautam, Head of Lab Operations at Advancells successfully set the base of stem cell biology for the participants who were experts in gynecology field, stem cell research and pain specialist. With the help of detailed analysis of 'Application of PRP for Skin rejuvenation'; 'Preparation of Micro-fragmented Adipose Tissue and Nano Fat & SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction) from Adipose Tissue'; and 'Cell Culturing and Expansion in a Laboratory', applicants understood the application of stem cells in aesthetics, cosmetology, and anti-aging.

Vipul Jain, Founder & CEO of Advancells Group said, 'Educating young scientists about stem cells is important for us. With this workshop we wanted to discuss and share the challenges and lessons we have learned in our journey of curing our customers. We wanted to establish more concrete knowledge base in the presence of subject matter experts and help our attendees in more possible ways. We are hopeful to have successfully achieved what we claimed with this workshop'.

Given the resounding success of the Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (S.T.A.R. 2020), it's hoped that the future events shall offer even greater wisdom to the participants by helping them improve and the lead the community into the age of greater awareness.

Advancells Group Advancells is leading the field of stem cell therapies in India and abroad, with representative offices in Bangladesh and Australia. The company provides arrangements for stem cell banking and protocols for partner doctors and hospitals which they can use for treating the patients using regenerative medicine. With a GMP compliant research and processing center that works on different cell lines from various sources such as Bone Marrow, Adipose Tissue, Dental Pulp, Blood, Cord Tissue etc. Advancells also intends to file a patent for this processing technology soon.

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Advancells Group & IFC Concluded their 3-Day Workshop on Regenerative Medicine - MENAFN.COM

Major name scheduled to be in Houston for WWE Royal Rumble PPV – Wrestling News

There have been denials for weeks from Edge about being cleared for in-ring action. He has also been denying that he has plans to wrestle again.

However, I just confirmed with two sources that Edge is scheduled to be in Houston this Sunday night, the site of the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. The source I spoke to did not know what Edge would be doing on the show but it looks likely that he will be a surprise entrant in the Mens Royal Rumble match.

As previously noted, The Wrestling Observer Newsletters Dave Meltzer was the first to report a few months ago that Edge signed a new multi-year deal with WWE. People I spoke with are under the belief that Edge will be wrestling a limited schedule, similar to Brock Lesnar.

PWInsider reported in October that Edge was in Pittsburgh, PA for WWE-related business. WWE files wrestlers out to Dr. Joseph Maroons office in Pittsburgh when they want them to be evaluated for in-ring clearance.

Edge retired in 2011 due to spinal stenosis and it looked like the door was shut for him to ever get physical in a WWE ring again. However, he was brought in for a surprise appearance at the SummerSlam Kickoff show in August to spear Elias.

On his podcast, Edge said that he feels better than he has in years and believed that he could step in the ring again at least for one more match but he did not believe that WWE doctors would clear him. He went on to say that he believed that stem cell treatments could get his neck healthy again within five years. At this point, it looks like he has been cleared for limited action and whatever he does on Sunday should set up his match for WrestleMania in Tampa.

Click here for all of the latest news and rumors on this years Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

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Major name scheduled to be in Houston for WWE Royal Rumble PPV - Wrestling News

How will technology shape and disrupt our health care this decade? – Times Union

Technology has always been able to revolutionize industry and inspire new possibilities. But in health care, the implications feel much grander. New technologies can be not just life-changing, but literally life-giving.

Progress in the last decade, for example, gave doctors the ability to target disease more precisely than ever before, and to personalize treatment based on an individuals unique genetic profile. Biotechnology, or technology that harnesses the power of living organisms, gave us new therapies to treat cancer and rare diseases, whose sufferers have long felt ignored by health researchers.

Even the less-grand stuff like watches that track your sleep cycles and apps that save you unnecessary trips to the emergency room have exciting implications for the future of health care.

As we turn the page on a new decade, the Times Union asked experts to predict the ways in which technology will help us cross new frontiers in science, health and medicine.

Telemedicine

The use of virtual technology to deliver health care has grown exponentially as providers realize that much of what they do such as triage, examinations, treatment and counseling can be done just as well over a screen.

And while some people prefer to get their care face to face, its just not feasible for everyone. Nor is it cost-effective.

Everyone is looking for more value out of health care, said Keith Algozzine, founder of United Concierge Medicine (UCM), a virtual emergency room service based in Troy. Whether you think the quality isnt what it should be or cost is too high or access or convenience to care isnt ideal, telemedicine can help all of those things.

Employers are flocking to Algozzines UCM service, whose emphasis on triage means people dont wind up at the emergency room for chest pain thats really heartburn or an infection that requires a simple prescription antibiotic.

Getting patients the right care at the right place at the right time tends to save money, said Algozzine, whose company has seen 100 percent year-over-year revenue growth since its founding in 2014.

So where is the next frontier in telemedicine? Algozzine believes theres untapped potential in the world of follow-up care.

Yes, if you need surgery you need to go in and physically see a surgeon, he said. Thats never going to happen virtually. But why do you need to drive back in for routine follow-ups when you can do it using this technology? Follow-up done this way can be done at a fraction of the cost, for a fraction of the time.

Regenerative medicine

If youve ever heard of stem cells, designer cells, or CAR-T therapy, then youve heard of regenerative medicine.

The branch of medicine that involves regrowing, repairing or replacing damaged and diseased organs and cells was worth $28 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow to over $81 billion globally by 2023, experts predict.

Part of the reason is the ongoing success of clinical trials in this area. Stem cell therapy which relies on cells that ultimately develop into blood, bone and brain cells, among other cell types has been effective at treating patients with cancer and blood disorders.

The other reason is its potential to treat a whole host of conditions and diseases.

Essentially what is happening is youre producing tissue at the same rate that it would be produced by the body, at best, said Deepak Vashishth, director of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institutes Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies.

But Vashishth believes scientists can take it one step further.

People are copying or mimicking what nature already does, but what if we could beat nature in some ways and do it faster?

He used the example of a professional football player whos forced out of play by a fractured bone.

Bone will take two to three months to regenerate itself and for a fracture to heal, he said. What if we can make it heal in a month? That would be transformative in terms of health care costs. In regenerative medicine, that concept has not yet been applied.

Smart buildings

The concept of a self-monitoring, self-regulating smart home is not new. In fact, plenty such homes already exist, allowing owners to turn off the coffee pot or adjust the temperature while away at the office or headed out on vacation.

The potential for reduced energy waste has driven a lot of recent growth in the field. But Vashishth believes buildings of the future could be built to monitor and even regulate their occupants health.

Think of an office building where your body temperature is constantly being monitored as you move around. If there is flu going around, it will detect that raised body temperature. It could know before you know.

A less pleasant to think about, but still practical application involves smart toilets. Equipped with sensors and artificial intelligence systems, a toilet could measure your urine flow and test for blood, protein and other indicators that might identify an infection or medical condition early on, he said.

Such toilets are currently in development in some parts of the world.

Your environment need not be passive, either. Aside from monitoring, buildings could be equipped with technology or biomaterials that help regulate your health, as well, Vashishth said.

In 2014, for example, RPI unveiled itsfirst public-scale prototype of a special green wall, featuring large panels of densely packed plants that could improve air quality by enhancing the air filtration that naturally occurs in plants.

Its the kind of interdisciplinary work the intersection of science and architecture that RPI is increasingly known for.

Fundamentally these things could change how we live, Vashishth said. And then the question becomes, once we dont have to care so much about our health, what can we do with our lives?

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How will technology shape and disrupt our health care this decade? - Times Union

LifeCell launches ‘Genome-Scope’ newborn genetic testing to diagnose over 4000 genetic conditions – Yahoo India News

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan 24 (ANI/PRNewswire): LifeCell International, India's premier stem cell bank and diagnostics company, today announced the introduction of 'Genome-Scope' - a premier Genetic Diagnostic Test for newborns which assesses for thousands of early childhood-onset disorders.

Notably, LifeCell offers this service within a turnaround time of just ten days, which is twice as fast compared to the nearest offering - a vital time reduction for those who seek urgent diagnosis such as babies in the NICU.

With over 7,000 rare disorders identified so far, it's vastly difficult for doctors to diagnose the same with traditional diagnostic techniques. A recent study showcased that it takes more than seven physicians and four years to diagnose such rare disorders. Misdiagnosis, hidden symptoms and lack of awareness, are the core reasons for the long diagnostic journey of children with genetic disorders.

With more than 80 per cent of them being genetic in nature, the recent emergence of low-cost genome sequencing it's now possible to detect relevant causative mutations of almost all of these conditions within a single test, thus far exceeding the routine newborn screening tests currently being offered which cover at most 50 conditions.

LifeCell has introduced this test under the brand 'Genome-Scope'. This breakthrough test uses advanced next-gen DNA sequencing technology to assess over 4,000 genes related to early childhood-onset disorders, to provide results with more than 95 per cent accuracy within just ten days.

Thus, it has the potential to not only expedite the diagnostic journey but also, to save lives. While not all conditions detected may have treatment, the parents may seek such information as it may help prepare for the care of the baby and also in future family planning.

Genome-Scope is also available for well-born kids to identify predisposition to genetic conditions that if detected late could cause irreparable harm. It also provides information on how and which medications the child would respond to, thus providing an impetus to the practice of personalised medicine.

Genome-Scope will serve as a particularly important tool for those parents with a family history of a genetic disease or those who have previously lost a child to one. However, there is also data suggesting that 80 per cent of babies with genetic diseases are born to parents with no family history or symptoms implying the importance of this test to all families.

The test is conducted through a simple process on the cord blood obtained from the baby right after birth for the extraction and preservation of umbilical cord blood stem cells. Alternatively, the test could also be done with blood samples obtained from the child after birth through heel prick.

The test results are shared with the physician within 10 business days for their reference. Lifecell's in-house certified genetic counsellors would assist the clients in pre and post-test counselling. The raw data is also stored with LifeCell for future re-analysis in case there are any changes in the clinical status of the baby.

"Genome-Scope is yet another milestone in our journey towards providing healthy diagnostic solutions for every stage of the parenthood journey. With Genome-Scope we hope to assist every parent wanting to ensure timely detection of hidden genetic conditions in their newborn that could otherwise go unnoticed," said Ishaan Khanna, Chief Executive Officer - BioBank and Diagnostics, LifeCell.

"We are also glad that our clients who chose to bank their baby's stem cells with us can now benefit from this service since there is no requirement for a separate sample," said Khanna.

This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)

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LifeCell launches 'Genome-Scope' newborn genetic testing to diagnose over 4000 genetic conditions - Yahoo India News

Advancells Group, IFC concluded their three-day workshop on Regenerative Medicine – Yahoo India News

New Delhi [India], Jan 23 (ANI/Business Wire India): On Saturday, January 18 2020, the Advancells Group and the International Fertility Center together ended their first workshop - Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (STAR 2020).

The three-day workshop had specialized doctors, medical practitioners, learned scientists of Advancells, the leaders in cell manufacturing and processes and IFC, one of India's most prestigious Fertility institutes who were joined by candidates with MBBS/BAMS/BHMS/BPharma and Master's degree in Life Sciences.

The key-note speaker of the workshop was Dr Rita Bakshi, founder and chairperson of International Fertility Centre, the oldest fertility clinic and one of the most renowned IVF clinics in India, one of the organizers of the event.

Participants also had a privilege to listen to Dr Sachin Kadam, CTO, Advancells and gain hands-on experience in the preparation of PRP; Liposuction method; and Bone Marrow aspiration. All these techniques were talked about at length and demonstrated in the form of manual and kit-based models to help the candidates gain exposure.

Dr Punit Prabha, Head of Clinical Research and Dr Shradha Singh Gautam, Head of Lab Operations at Advancells successfully set the base of stem cell biology for the participants who were experts in gynecology field, stem cell research and pain specialist.

With the help of detailed analysis of 'Application of PRP for Skin rejuvenation'; 'Preparation of Micro-fragmented Adipose Tissue and Nano Fat & SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction) from Adipose Tissue'; and 'Cell Culturing and Expansion in a Laboratory', applicants understood the application of stem cells in aesthetics, cosmetology, and anti-ageing.

"Educating young scientists about stem cells is important for us. With this workshop, we wanted to discuss and share the challenges and lessons we have learned in our journey of curing our customers," said Vipul Jain, founder and CEO of Advancells Group.

"We wanted to establish a more concrete knowledge base in the presence of subject matter experts and help our attendees in more possible ways. We are hopeful to have successfully achieved what we claimed with this workshop," he added.

Given the resounding success of the Sub-Specialty Training in Application of Regenerative Medicine (STAR 2020), it's hoped that the future events shall offer even greater wisdom to the participants by helping them improve and the lead the community into the age of greater awareness.

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)

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Advancells Group, IFC concluded their three-day workshop on Regenerative Medicine - Yahoo India News

New York-based hair restoration company opens new office in New Jersey – amNY

A New York-based entity operating multiple hair restoration surgery centers has expanded into a new office in Paramus, New Jersey.

MAXIM Hair Restoration, which specializes in hair loss treatment via hair transplants, can now provide a more convenient option for their Northern New Jersey clients.

Dr. Hardik Doshi is a highly renowned hair transplant surgeon at the MAXIM Hair Restoration office in Paramus. He is a dual Board Certified, Ivy League-educated and fellowship-trained facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in all aspects of surgical and non-surgical face and neck rejuvenation including hair transplants.

There is a strong demand for high quality, MEGA Session, affordable hair transplant procedures in Bergen County, Northern New Jersey, Central New Jersey and South Jersey. Our New Jersey clients dont like going into Manhattan for their hair transplant surgery, said Mac Fadra, CEO of MAXIM Hair Restoration. They prefer to have it done in New Jersey. Hair Restoration is all we do and many of our doctors are general and plastic surgeons, not ordinary physicians. They perform the FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant) and FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplant procedures as well as non-surgical procedures such as PRP. MAXIM also offers non-surgical procedures such as Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) and Microneedling.

Baldness can be treated with a minor surgical procedure by transferring hair from the back and sides of ones own head and relocating it to the areas that are thinning or balding. The treatment has been proven to be a safe, natural, and highly effective procedure that produces long-term results. The hair transplant surgery itself is performed under local anesthesia and takes only a few hours to complete. As a result, one can return to their day to day within a couple of days following the procedure.

Hair transplant procedures have had more success in resolving the issue of hair loss than any other hair restoration methods such as artificial hair implants, hair pieces, wigs, toupees, shampoos, lotions, topical solutions, and other conventional options for the treatment of hair loss. Whereas Rogaine, Propecia, Biotin, laser hair therapy, and other OTC solutions may play a role in stemming hair loss, hair transplantation remains the only natural and permanent solution.

The future of hair restorationhas exponentially grown thanks to the advances in science and technology such as robotic hair restoration, stem cell therapy, exosomes for hair loss, follicular multiplication and other minimally invasive methods. These alternatives to balding have not only reduced the issue of hair loss, but have also created a platform for easier financial access including zero percent financing and convenience without jeopardizing the quality of the treatments results.

For more information about MAXIM and their procedures, visit http://www.maximhairrestoration.com.

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New York-based hair restoration company opens new office in New Jersey - amNY

Orgel, others push city for help with loss of HealthPlus pool – Auburn Villager

Coach. Husband. Father.

These are words that describe Frank Orgel, an 82-year-old Auburn resident who spends his retirement days with his wife, Sarah, and their dog, Gracie, in their home off Donahue Drive.

Football was Orgels life. From childhood, Orgels passion for the game grew as he continued on to play semi-professional and professional football. After his NFL run, Orgel took his talent to East Carolina University in 1974 for his first coaching position.

From that moment, it began.

Orgel toured Power Five universities as an assistant football coach. He coached at Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia and even stopped in Auburn to work next to Pat Dye from 1981 to 1986. His family was with him every step of the way packing and moving when the call came.

Life was good. That is until it wasnt.

Its now 1996 Orgel is running through the airport to catch a plane and, as he recalls, he suddenly trips.

I just fell in the middle of the airport for no reason at all, he said. That never happened to me before.

That day changed everything.

The falls progressed Orgel was now working as the athletic director in Dougherty County, Georgia. With Sarah by his side, they sought answers what was happening?

For a long while, I was in denial, said Orgel.

We were traveling all around the U.S. Atlanta, Birmingham, Rochester, San Diego asking doctors who just couldnt tell us what was wrong. We went to Mexico five times for stem cell research, trying our luck with exploratory medicine, just to receive the same answers. Sarah added.

In 2007, the answer finally came.

Orgel was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There is no known cure for the disease that progressively deteriorates motor neurons in the brain. Those afflicted eventually lose all ability of voluntary muscle action.

When we found out it was ALS, Frank just shut down, Sarah said. He had severe depression for years we were living in Albany at the time and it just felt like he was going to lay around, waiting to die.

I was calling his friends and old co-workers to try to get him out the house. They were all telling him to get the help he needed."

Eventually, Frank and Sarah decided attending water therapy at the YMCA, two miles from their Albany home, was the best solution.

I was going three times a week, Orgel said. It was close to my house so I could go as much as I wanted, too.

Yet, another thought was hanging over the Orgels heads and this thought was definite time was ticking. The couple had originally planned to retire in Albany but with Franks diagnosis and the progression of age, Sarah had another plan.

Our daughter and only grandchild live in Auburn, said Sarah. After the diagnosis, Frank was getting older, the disease was progressing and somehow, I looked up and I had gotten older, too.

We were living in a sort of remote location by ourselves and that raised some concerns as well. I thought moving to Auburn with our daughter, her husband and his family to watch our grandbaby grow up might be just what Frank needed."

At first, Frank was apprehensive.

He refused to go, said Sarah. He had gotten a routine down at the YMCA and just began to trust his therapists and here I was trying to move.

But thanks to their Realtor, who is also a family friend, the Orgels decided to come into town and explore the community. Their first stop was East Alabama Medical Centers HealthPlus Fitness Center.

HealthPlus offered a variety of physical therapy and amenities to its clients but there was one that stood out to the Orgels immediately the 85-degree saltwater pool.

As soon as we walked in, its like I saw life come back into Frank, Sarah said. I knew, right then, that we were going to be all right.

HealthPlus sold Auburn to the Orgels and in February of 2012, they decided to make their own cottage on The Plains their permanent home.

Orgel was doing therapy as much as he could. With a few hospital stints in between, the water therapy with physical therapist Allen Graham was proving to be more than just therapeutic.

Every day I cant lift my left hand and leg, Ive lost all ability, he said. But in that pool, I can.

When I come out that pool, I feel life come back to my body.

Therapy wasnt the only great thing the Orgels found at HealthPlus. Over the years, they had made connections with staff and other clients all with the common goal of lifetime wellness. They had convinced the facility to invest in a Quadriciser, a robotic rehabilitation therapy system, to accommodate other patients with disabilities that affected their neuroplasticity and mobility. HealthPlus was a part of the Orgels' daily lives.

Then, on Dec. 16, 2019, they got a letter.

HealthPlus was relocating and there would be no 85-degree saltwater pool at their new facility.

We have secured a storefront facility at the Auburn Mall that has about 4,600 square feet and we plan to reopen there on March 2, 2020, said the letter, written by Laura Grill, president and CEO at EAMC. We feel that this is a more appropriate size.

The downsize, according to EAMC officials, was prompted by a decline in membership dating back to the 2008 economic recession.

HealthPlus will now be utilized as an office park for internal medicine professionals. According to James Buston, Auburn city manager, this will be a significant benefit to residents.

I believe we have 12 primary care physicians that they are bringing into the community, said Buston. They need housing and they (EAMC) have chosen to house them there.

Buston reassured EAMCs claim that aquatic services will now be offered at the Opelika Sportsplex after a number of concerned residents voiced their opinions during the Citizens' Open Forum at the Jan. 7 City Council meeting.

In conjunction, the Opelika Sportsplex has agreed to raise the pool temperature to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is my understanding that the temperature will be raised to 85 degrees, said Buston. So EAMC will be taking that part of their services to Opelika.

Buston also claims the city is actively looking into the development of an indoor pool facility as a part of the $40 million Parks, Recreation and Cultural Master Plan that first began in 2018.

We do a citizens survey every two years to see our budget priorities, he said. One of the things we saw and have seen, for a long time, is our population wanting more pools.

We lost one of our pools with the renovation of Drake Middle School so really we only have one pool. A pool is definitely on our priority list."

As for the Orgels and other clients, the pool at the current HealthPlus facility may not be leased by the city of Auburn in the meantime, although the city and EAMC are still in discussions. Clients might, instead, have to make the trek to the Opelika Sportsplex adding an additional 22 minutes to the commute.

Luckily, we have a van and luckily, Im here to take him, said Sarah. But what about those who dont have those means? Some people walked down the hill from the retirement home to the facility while others used public transportation. What about those people?

According to their website, The last day of operations at the current facility will be Jan. 31, 2020. A new storefront location will open at the Auburn Mall on March 2, 2020. The new location will offer cardiovascular equipment, strength equipment and personal training, and the membership fees will be reduced to $26 per month.

As for the Orgels, they will still continue with their course of therapy, even if that means adding time and distance to their daily operations. We will find a way Sarah said.

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Orgel, others push city for help with loss of HealthPlus pool - Auburn Villager

Tiny organs grown from snake glands produce real venom – Science Magazine

Researchers grew tiny venom glands from nine different snake species, including the cape coral cobra.

By Erin MalsburyJan. 23, 2020 , 11:00 AM

Venomous snakes kill or permanently injure more than a half-million people every year. Yet researchers still know surprisingly little about the biology behind venom, complicating efforts to develop treatments. A new advance could help: Researchers have successfully grown miniature organs from snake stem cells in the lab that function just like snake venom glands; they even produce real venom.

Its a breakthrough, says Jos Mara Gutirrez, a snake venom toxicologist at the University of Costa Rica, San Jos, who was not involved in the study. This work opens the possibilities for studying the cellular biology of venom-secreting cells at a very fine level, which has not been possible in the past. The advance could also help researchers study the venom of rare snakes that are difficult to keep in captivity, he says, paving the way for new treatments for a variety of venoms.

Researchers have been creating miniorgansor organoidsfrom adult human and mouse stem cells for years. These so-called pluripotent cells are able to divide and grow into new types of tissues throughout the body; scientists have coaxed them into tiny livers, guts, and even rudimentary brains. But scientists hadnt tried the technique with reptile cells before.

Nobody knew anything about stem cells in snakes, says Hans Clevers, a molecular biologist at the Hubrecht Institute and one of the worlds leading organoid scientists. We didnt know if it was possible at all. To find out, Clevers and colleagues removed stem cells from the venom glands of nine snake speciesincluding the cape coral cobra and the western diamondback rattlesnakeand placed them in a cocktail of hormones and proteins called growth factors.

To the teams surprise, the snake stem cells responded to the same growth factors that work on human and mouse cells. This suggests certain aspects of these stem cells originated hundreds of millions of years ago in a shared ancestor of mammals and reptiles.

Miniature, lab-grown snakevenom glands

By the end of 1 week submerged in the cocktail, the snake cells had grown into little clumps of tissue, a half-millimeter across and visible to the human eye. When the scientists removed the growth factors, the cells began to morph into the epithelial cells that produce venom in the glands of snakes.The miniorgans expressed similar genes as those in real venom glands, the team reports today inCell.

The snake organoids even produced venom; a chemical and genetic analysis of the secretions revealed that they match the venom made by the real snakes. The labmade venom is dangerous as well: It disrupted the function of mouse muscle cells and rat neurons in a similar way to real venom.

Scientists didnt know whether the many toxins found in snake venom are made by one general type of cell or specialized, toxin-specific cells. By sequencing RNA in individual cells and examining gene expression, Cleverss team determined that both real venom glands and organoids contain different cell types that specialize in producing certain toxins. Organoids grown using stem cells from separate regions of the venom gland also produce toxins in different proportions, indicating that location within the organ matters.

The proportions and types of toxins in venom differ amongand even withinspecies. That can be problematic for antivenom production, says study author Yorick Post, a molecular biologist at the Hubrecht Institute. Most antivenoms are developed using one type of venom, so they only work against one type of snakebite.

Now that Clevers and his colleagues created a way to study the complexity of venom and venom glands without handling live, dangerous snakes, they plan to compile a biobank of frozen organoids from venomous reptiles around the world that could help researchers find broader treatments. This would make it much easier to create antibodies, Clevers says. The biobank could also be a rich resource for identifying new drugs, he adds. (Scientists think snake venom may hold the keyfor treatments against pain, high blood pressure, and cancer, for instance.)

Another new study, published earlier this month inNature, could also help. Researchers have assembled anear-complete genome for the Indian cobrathat could aid drug development. The organoids created by Cleverss team will provide an unprecedented and incredibly important new avenue to complement genomic information for venomous snakes, says the senior author of the cobra study, molecular biologist Somasekar Seshagiri of the SciGenom Research Foundation. Theyve done an amazing job making this work.

*Correction, 23 January, 1:35 p.m.: An earlier version of this story misspelledSomasekar Seshagiri's name.

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Tiny organs grown from snake glands produce real venom - Science Magazine

Asymmetrex Partners in Manufacturing USA Institute January 23, 2020The Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute – PR Web

BOSTON (PRWEB) January 23, 2020

Asymmetrex LLC is part of a new public-private Manufacturing USA initiative, the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI). Headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, ARMI is the 12th Manufacturing USA Institute. ARMI brings together a consortium of over 100 partner organizations from industry, government, academia and the non-profit sector to develop next-generation manufacturing processes and technologies for cells, tissues and organs.

Approximately $80 million from the federal government will be combined with more than $200 million in cost share to support the development of tissue and organ manufacturing capabilities. As part of continuing efforts to help revitalize American manufacturing and incentivize companies to invest in new technology development in the United States, ARMI will lead the Advanced Tissue Biofabrication (ATB) Manufacturing USA Institute on behalf of the Department of Defense.

Under the umbrella of Manufacturing USA, a public-private network that invests in the development of world-leading manufacturing technologies, ARMI will work to integrate and organize the fragmented collection of industry practices and domestic capabilities in tissue Biofabrication technology to better position the US relative to global competition. ARMI will also focus on accelerating regenerative tissue research and creating state-of-the-art manufacturing innovations in biomaterial and cell processing for critical Department of Defense and civilian needs.

We need to develop 21st century tools for engineered tissue manufacturing that will allow these innovations to be widely available similar to how a 15th century tool (the printing press) allowed knowledge to spread widely during the Renaissance, said inventor Dean Kamen, ARMIs chairman.

ARMIs efforts are supported by forty-seven industrial partners, twenty-six academic and academically affiliated partners, and fourteen government and nonprofit partners. The ARMI partnership continues to grow.

About AsymmetrexAsymmetrex, LLC is a Massachusetts life sciences company with a focus on developing technologies to advance stem cell medicine. The companys patent portfolio contains biotechnologies that solve the two main technical problems production and quantification that have stood in the way of successful commercialization of human adult tissue stem cells for regenerative medicine and drug development. Asymmetrex markets the first technology for determination of the dose and quality of tissue stem cell preparations (the AlphaSTEM Test) for use in stem cell transplantation therapies and pre-clinical drug evaluations. For more information, please visit http://www.asymmetrex.com.

About ARMIThe Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI), headquartered in Manchester, NH, is the 12th Manufacturing USA Institute. It brings together a consortium of over 150 partners from across industry, government, academia and the non-profit sector to develop next-generation manufacturing processes and technologies for cells, tissues and organs. ARMI will work to organize the current fragmented domestic capabilities in tissue Biofabrication technology to better position the U.S. relative to global competition. For more information on ARMI, please visit http://www.ARMIUSA.org.

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Genmab Announces European Marketing Authorization for DARZALEX (Daratumumab) in Combination with Bortezomib, Thalidomide and Dexamethasone in Frontli…

Copenhagen, Denmark; January 20, 2020 Genmab A/S (Nasdaq: GMAB) announced today that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for DARZALEX (daratumumab) in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). The EC approval follows a positive opinion issued for DARZALEX by the CHMP of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in December 2019. In August 2012, Genmab granted Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen) an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize daratumumab.

With this approval, newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who are eligible for ASCT may have the opportunity for treatment with a DARZALEX-containing regimen. We are extremely pleased that DARZALEX has received this latest approval and we look forward to the combination of DARZALEX plus bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone being launched in Europe, said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab.

The approval was based on the Phase III CASSIOPEIA (MMY3006) study sponsored by the French Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome (IFM) in collaboration with the Dutch-Belgian Cooperative Trial Group for Hematology Oncology (HOVON) and Janssen R&D, LLC. Data from this study was published in The Lancet and presented at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

About the CASSIOPEIA (MMY3006) studyThis Phase III study is a randomized, open-label, multicenter study, run by the French Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome (IFM) in collaboration with the Dutch-Belgian Cooperative Trial Group for Hematology Oncology (HOVON) and Janssen R&D, LLC, including 1,085 newly diagnosed subjects with previously untreated symptomatic multiple myeloma who are eligible for high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. In the first part of the study, patients were randomized to receive induction and consolidation treatment with daratumumab combined with bortezomib, thalidomide (an immunomodulatory agent) and dexamethasone (a corticosteroid) or treatment with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone alone. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients that achieve a stringent Complete Response (sCR). In the second part of the study, patients that achieved a response will undergo a second randomization to either receive maintenance treatment of daratumumab 16 mg/kg every 8 weeks for up to 2 years versus no further treatment (observation). The primary endpoint of this part of the study is progression free survival (PFS).

About multiple myelomaMultiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and is characterized by an excess proliferation of plasma cells.1 Approximately 16,830 new patients were expected to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma and approximately 10,480 people were expected to die from the disease in the Western Europe in 2018.2 Globally, it was estimated that 160,000 people were diagnosed and 106,000 died from the disease in 2018.3 While some patients with multiple myeloma have no symptoms at all, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms which can include bone problems, low blood counts, calcium elevation, kidney problems or infections.4

About DARZALEX (daratumumab)DARZALEX (daratumumab) intravenous infusion is indicated for the treatment of adult patients in the United States: in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone as treatment for patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI); and as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent, or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.5 DARZALEX is the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) approval to treat multiple myeloma. DARZALEX intravenous infusion is indicated for the treatment of adult patients in Europe: in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone as treatment for patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; for use in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; and as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, whose prior therapy included a PI and an immunomodulatory agent and who have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy6. The option to split the first infusion of DARZALEX over two consecutive days has been approved in both Europe and the U.S. In Japan, DARZALEX intravenous infusion is approved for the treatment of adult patients: in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant. DARZALEX is the first human CD38 monoclonal antibody to reach the market in the United States, Europe and Japan. For more information, visit http://www.DARZALEX.com.

Daratumumab is a human IgG1k monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds with high affinity to the CD38 molecule, which is highly expressed on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. Daratumumab triggers a persons own immune system to attack the cancer cells, resulting in rapid tumor cell death through multiple immune-mediated mechanisms of action and through immunomodulatory effects, in addition to direct tumor cell death, via apoptosis (programmed cell death).5,6,7,8,9,10

Daratumumab is being developed by Janssen Biotech, Inc. under an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize daratumumab from Genmab. A comprehensive clinical development program for daratumumab is ongoing, including multiple Phase III studies in smoldering, relapsed and refractory and frontline multiple myeloma settings. Additional studies are ongoing or planned to assess the potential of daratumumab in other malignant and pre-malignant diseases in which CD38 is expressed, such as amyloidosis, NKT-cell lymphoma and B-cell and T-cell ALL. Daratumumab has received two Breakthrough Therapy Designations from the U.S. FDA for certain indications of multiple myeloma, including as a monotherapy for heavily pretreated multiple myeloma and in combination with certain other therapies for second-line treatment of multiple myeloma.

About Genmab Genmab is a publicly traded, international biotechnology company specializing in the creation and development of differentiated antibody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Founded in 1999, the company has two approved antibodies, DARZALEX (daratumumab) for the treatment of certain multiple myeloma indications, and Arzerra (ofatumumab) for the treatment of certain chronic lymphocytic leukemia indications. Daratumumab is in clinical development for additional multiple myeloma indications, other blood cancers and amyloidosis. A subcutaneous formulation of ofatumumab is in development for relapsing multiple sclerosis. Genmab also has a broad clinical and pre-clinical product pipeline. Genmab's technology base consists of validated and proprietary next generation antibody technologies - the DuoBody platform for generation of bispecific antibodies, the HexaBody platform, which creates effector function enhanced antibodies, the HexElect platform, which combines two co-dependently acting HexaBody molecules to introduce selectivity while maximizing therapeutic potency and the DuoHexaBody platform, which enhances the potential potency of bispecific antibodies through hexamerization. The company intends to leverage these technologies to create opportunities for full or co-ownership of future products. Genmab has alliances with top tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Genmab is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark with core sites in Utrecht, the Netherlands and Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.

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Genmab Announces European Marketing Authorization for DARZALEX (Daratumumab) in Combination with Bortezomib, Thalidomide and Dexamethasone in Frontli...