Stem Cell Clinic

iCAD Launches New Initiatives Leveraging Unique Capabilities of its Robust Product Portfolio to Reduce Health Care System Pressures During the…

By Gene Therapy Clinics

ProFound AI can assist radiologists in prioritizing patients for breast cancer screening and address the growing mammography backlog

Xoft breast IORT offers single-fraction therapy alternative to weeks of daily radiation, reducing resources needed and minimizing patients risk of COVID-19 exposure

NASHUA, N.H., March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iCAD, Inc. (ICAD), a global medical technology leader providing innovative cancer detection and therapy solutions, today announced the launch of new initiatives to address emerging challenges hospitals are facing due to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease, or COVID-19. The Company and its portfolio of technologies supporting cancer detection and therapy continue to offer a strong value proposition and multiple benefits to clinicians and patients, which may be particularly relevant in light of the coronavirus outbreak:

ProFound AI, the first artificial intelligence (AI) software for digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) to be FDA-cleared, provides crucial data, such as Case Scores, which can help radiologists prioritize which patients should not delay screening and presents a solution to the growing mammography backlog that will need to be cleared once COVID-19 passes. It is also clinically proven to decrease the rate of false positives and unnecessary recalls,1 which reduces resources needed and minimizes patient risk of COVID-19 exposure.

The Xoft Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy (eBx) System offers a single-fraction therapy option that allows patients who are candidates to replace weeks of daily radiation with one treatment, delivered at the time of surgery. This could also significantly reduce the healthcare system resources needed and reduce patients risk of COVID-19 exposure.

iCAD is mobilized to support critical facility and physician needs related to both its Detection and Therapy businesses.

A ProFound Impact on ScreeningIn recent weeks the number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 has rapidly increased, placing a growing burden upon hospitals and clinicians worldwide, and this issue may continue to proliferate in the near-term. According to recent guidance from the American College of Radiology and the American Cancer Society, some women should consider rescheduling routine mammograms to allow hospitals to address critical COVID-19 cases. Due to this emerging issue, some patients with more urgent and higher risk factors may be deferred, which could have negative consequences in the long run, according to Michael Klein, Chairman and CEO of iCAD.

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Studies from published academic research show that on average, a mammography provider can expect to detect up to 6 cancers per 1,000 screening mammograms,2 which indicates that even in the face of this pandemic, cancer is not going away, according to Stacey Stevens, President of iCAD. Now more than ever, it is increasingly critical to empower radiologists with the technology to quickly and effectively prioritize mammography screening.

Where breast cancer screening is concerned, our initiative involving ProFound AI could be exceptionally helpful for radiologists, as the technology can be used on patients prior year mammograms to prioritize which women may be at higher risk of developing breast cancer, and thereby should work with their healthcare provider to determine the availability of expedient follow up screening. Further, when the threat of COVID-19 passes, physicians and the healthcare system as a whole will be faced with an enormous backlog of mammograms. ProFound AI is uniquely positioned to address these emerging challenges, added Klein.

In the face of COVID-19, improving accuracy and efficiency for breast cancer screening is now more essential than ever. Using this leading-edge technology, radiologists have the ability to review prior year mammograms and prioritize which patients should not delay breast cancer screening based on the technologys unique Case Score, which represents a relative level of suspicion for the case containing potentially cancerous findings that may require further workup, according to Mark Traill, MD, radiologist at University of Michigan Health, Metro Health. It is clinically proven to help radiologists significantly increase their productivity. ProFound AI can also reduce the rate of false positives,1 which are not only stressful for patients, but also place a significant additional burden on providers. Clinicians using ProFound AI will be very happy they have such a sophisticated tool helping them better position their screening programs recovery from this unprecedented global disruption.

Trained with one of the largest available DBT datasets, ProFound AI rapidly and accurately analyzes each DBT image, or slice, and provides radiologists with key information, such as Certainty of Finding lesion and Case Scores, which assists radiologists in clinical decision-making and improving reading efficiency. Featuring the latest in deep-learning artificial intelligence, the algorithm also allows for continuously improved performance via ongoing updates.

Single-Fraction Therapy Shaves Treatment Time to One DayThe burden COVID-19 is placing on hospitals is resulting in some healthcare facilities needing to reschedule surgeries and other procedures, including cancer treatments, noted Klein. As COVID-19 is forcing hospital systems to begin to reframe protocols relating to the treatment of cancer, our initiative for the Xoft System may help to address this emerging burden placed on the system and patient concerns related to potential COVID-19 exposure, as it offers significant time savings benefits to clinicians and patients.

The Xoft System offers the ability to deliver an entire course of treatment to an early-stage breast cancer patient in just one day, at the time of lumpectomy, which not only frees up space in hospitals and allows clinicians to focus on more critical needs, it reduces immunocompromised patients time in hospitals and therefore minimizes their potential exposure to the virus, Stevens added.

Clinical guidelines from several national medical societies support an abbreviated course of radiation for appropriate breast cancer candidates, and a growing body of clinical evidence suggests Xoft breast IORT is a viable alternative to traditional radiation therapy, 3,4,5 according to Barbara Schwartzberg, MD, Western Surgical Care. IORT with the Xoft System offers significant cost savings and quality of life benefits to patients, while enabling them to get the cancer care they need in just one day, versus weeks of daily radiation treatments. As healthcare systems adjust to the emergent needs relating to the coronavirus, IORT offers a valuable solution for early-stage breast cancer patients, and physicians delivering their care.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recently recommended shorter courses of radiation therapy, such as intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) and hypofractionated radiation therapy, for appropriate patients in its recent recommendations on COVID-19.6 Recognizing the potential for staff reductions, ASTRO advised radiation oncologists to follow evidence-based guidelines while striving for the shortest possible course of radiotherapy, where appropriate. The overall goal is to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and to allow cancer care to continue for those most likely to benefit.

For the treatment of early-stage breast cancer, IORT with the Xoft System offers a single-fraction therapy option that allows patients who are candidates to be treated for breast cancer in just one day. This targeted treatment option enables some women to potentially replace four to six weeks of daily fractions of post-operative external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with a single-fraction of radiation that can last as little as eight minutes, thereby reducing the amount of time women need to be in the hospital and allowing doctors to treat more women in less time.

In addition to early-stage breast cancer, Xoft IORT technology is also being explored in the treatment of other types of tumors. iCAD recently announced the first metastatic brain tumor was treated in the U.S. with IORT using the Xoft System at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville. The Xoft System is also currently being studied for the treatment of other types of brain tumors in leading institutions worldwide, including the European Medical Center, one of the largest private medical clinics in Russia and an international leader in comprehensive care and oncology. The Company continues to work with key neurosurgeons to enroll patients in a multi-institutional study on Xoft IORT for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (GBM).

Homegrown Technology Positioned to Sustain in the Face of PandemiciCAD has quickly mobilized to support critical facility and physician needs related to both sides of our business, said Scott Areglado, Chief Financial Officer of iCAD.

Health systems are increasingly seeking alternative ways to accomplish daily clinical challenges, drive operational efficiency, and streamline patient management, and our technologies are well-positioned to address this demand, particularly as facilities fight against COVID-19, added Klein. Our world-class core technology is homegrown and entirely manufactured in the United States. We have minimal reliance upon outside vendors or external suppliers, and therefore we will continue to be able to offer our cutting-edge solutions to more hospitals and imaging centers as demand continues to grow. We are partnering and collaborating with virtually all of our OEM and PACS partners, particularly those aligned with our risk and remote access support initiatives, and we are also partnering with healthcare systems and large imaging chains to get these proven technologies into peoples hands as fast as possible.

References:

Conant, E et al. (2019). Improving Accuracy and Efficiency with Concurrent Use of Artificial Intelligence for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis. Radiology: Artificial Intelligence. 1 (4). Accessed via https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/ryai.2019180096

Conant, E. et al. (2020). Five Consecutive Years of Screening with Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Outcomes by Screening Year and Round. Radiology. Accessed via https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2020191751.

Correa, Candace et al. (2017) Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation: Executive summary for the update of an ASTRO Evidence-Based Consensus Statement. Practical Radiation Oncology, Volume 7, Issue 2, 73 79. Accessed via https://www.practicalradonc.org/article/S1879-8500(16)30184-9/fulltext.

Schwartzberg, BS. et al. (2018). Application of 21-gene recurrence score results and ASTRO suitability criteria in breast cancer patients treated with intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). American Journal of Surgery. 216(4): 689-693. Accessed via https://www.americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S0002-9610(18)30097-7/fulltext

Silverstein, M.J., Epstein, M., Kim, B. et al. Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT): A Series of 1000 Tumors. Ann Surg Oncol 25, 29872993 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-018-6614-3

American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) COVID-19 Recommendations to Radiation Oncology Practices. (2020). Accessed via https://www.astro.org/Daily-Practice/COVID-19-Recommendations-and-Information

About iCAD, Inc.

Headquartered in Nashua, NH, iCAD is a global medical technology leader providing innovative cancer detection and therapy solutions.

ProFound AI is a high-performing workflow solution for 2D and 3D mammography, or digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), featuring the latest in deep-learning artificial intelligence. In 2018, ProFound AI for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) became the first artificial intelligence (AI) software for DBT to be FDA-cleared; it was also CE marked and Health Canada licensed that same year. It offers clinically proven time-savings benefits to radiologists, including a reduction of reading time by 52.7 percent, thereby halving the amount of time it takes radiologists to read 3D mammography datasets. Additionally, ProFound AI for DBT improved radiologist sensitivity by 8 percent and reduced unnecessary patient recall rates by 7.2 percent.1

The Xoft System is FDA-cleared, CE marked and licensed in a growing number of countries for the treatment of cancer anywhere in the body. It uses a proprietary miniaturized x-ray source to deliver a precise, concentrated dose of radiation directly to the tumor site, while minimizing risk of damage to healthy tissue in nearby areas of the body.

For more information, visitwww.icadmed.com and http://www.xoftinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this News Release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about the future prospects for the Companys technology platforms and products. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited, to the Companys ability to achieve business and strategic objectives, the risks of uncertainty of patent protection, the impact of supply and manufacturing constraints or difficulties, uncertainty of future sales levels, to defend itself in litigation matters, protection of patents and other proprietary rights, the impact of supply and manufacturing constraints or difficulties, product market acceptance, possible technological obsolescence of products, increased competition, litigation and/or government regulation, changes in Medicare or other reimbursement policies, risks relating to our existing and future debt obligations, competitive factors, the effects of a decline in the economy or markets served by the Company; and other risks detailed in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The words believe, demonstrate, intend, expect, estimate, will, continue, anticipate, likely, seek, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on those forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. The Company is under no obligation to provide any updates to any information contained in this release. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iCAD, please see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available on the Investors section of our website athttp://www.icadmed.comand on the SECs website athttp://www.sec.gov.

Contacts:Media inquiries:Jessica Burns, iCAD +1-201-423-4492jburns@icadmed.com

Investor relations:Jonathan Wexler+1-203-247-8767jonathan@scopeir.com

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iCAD Launches New Initiatives Leveraging Unique Capabilities of its Robust Product Portfolio to Reduce Health Care System Pressures During the...

Medigene Provides Results for Fiscal Year 2019 and Outlook – Yahoo Finance

By Stem Cell Treatment

Conference call on 26 March 2020 at 4pm CET (Frankfurt) / 11am EDT (New York)

MARTINSRIED, Germany and MUNICH, Germany, March 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medigene AG (MDG1, Frankfurt, Prime Standard), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company focusing on the development of T cell immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, today published its financial results and Annual Report for the 2019 financial year and its outlook for the current 2020 financial year. The full version of the Annual Report 2019 can be downloaded here: http://www.medigene.com/investors-media/reports-presentations/

Company highlights in 2019 and since period end:

T cell receptor-modified T cell therapies (TCR-Ts)

Dendritic cell (DC) vaccine

Partnerships

Prof. Dolores Schendel, CEO/CSO at Medigene AG: In the past fiscal year we set the course for the expansion of our clinical programs. We are pleased that for our ongoing clinical trial with the TCR-T immunotherapy candidate MDG1011 we were able to treat the first patients and that the activities to improve patient recruitment have borne fruit. Our clear goal is to complete dosing of the first three dose cohorts this year.

In the coming months, we plan to start our second clinical trial with development candidate MDG1021 and we continue intensive work for the innovation of our technologies. Safe and targeted immune therapies are needed, especially for solid tumors, and here we are focusing on potential combinations of approaches for next-generation TCR-T cell therapies with our iM-TCRs and the co-stimulatory receptor PD1-41BB.

The cooperation with IRICoR offers us exclusive access to a still untapped world of potential target antigens for solid tumors. We look forward to progress in our partnerships with bluebird bio and Roivant/Cytovant which we believe should provide both financial and scientific benefits. We currently dont see effects on our business caused by the circumstances due to the Coronavirus crisis but will continue to monitor developments closely. Furthermore, we believe Medigene is well-equipped to cope.

Company outlook:

T cell receptor-modified T cells (TCR-Ts)

Dendritic cell vaccines (DCs)

Partnerships

Key financials in full year 2019 and financial forecast:

The financial forecast for 2020 reflects the Companys focus on and progress in the core business of immunotherapies and does not include potential future milestone payments from existing or future partnerships or transactions, as the timing and extent of such events depends to a large extent on external parties and therefore cannot be reliably predicted by Medigene.

Currently the Company expects no material influence of the recent outbreak of the coronavirus on total revenue, research and development expenses and loss at EBITDA level. Furthermore, in preparation of the financial forecast 2020 the Company has assumed that there will be no significant events which could have a material influence or lasting effect on the operations of the Group such as force majeure (e.g. fire, flood, earthquakes, strike or war) or extraordinary economic events.

Medigene is expecting to generate total revenue of between 7.0 - 9.0 m in 2020. The decrease in comparison to 2019 (10.6 m) is based on the prepayments from Medigenes development partnerships that were collected immediately in 2019 but are not expected in 2020. Due to the progress of the preclinical and clinical development programs in the core area of immunotherapies, including manufacturing costs for clinical trial material and deferred expenses from 2019, the company expects a significant increase of research and development costs to 29 - 34 m (2019: 22.6 m) and a loss at EBITDA level of 24 - 32 m (2019: 17.8 m).

Based on its current planning, Medigene has sufficient financial resources to fund business operations into the second half of 2021.

Conference call:

The Management Board will hold a conference call in English today:

Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, ISIN DE000A1X3W00, Prime Standard) is a publicly listed biotechnology company headquartered in Martinsried near Munich, Germany. The company is developing highly innovative immunotherapies to target various forms and stages of cancer. Medigene concentrates on the development of personalized T cell-based therapies, with a focus on T cell receptor-modified T cells (TCR-Ts) and associated projects currently in pre-clinical and clinical development.

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For more information, please visit http://www.medigene.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements representing the opinion of Medigene as of the date of this release. The actual results achieved by Medigene may differ significantly from the forward-looking statements made herein. Medigene is not bound to update any of these forward-looking statements. Medigene is a registered trademark of Medigene AG. This trademark may be owned or licensed in select locations only.

Contact Medigene AGDr Gary Waanders, Claudia Burmester, Dr Anna NiedlTel.: +49 89 2000 3333 01email: investor@medigene.com

In case you no longer wish to receive any information about Medigene, please inform us by e-mail (investor@medigene.com). We will then delete your address from our distribution list.

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Medigene Provides Results for Fiscal Year 2019 and Outlook - Yahoo Finance

What Does It Mean to Be Immunocompromised? – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

By Stem Cell Treatment

Immunocompromised individuals are potentially at a higher risk for severe illness from the coronavirus, or COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Were here to help here is some general information about what it means to be immunocompromised, and how you can protect yourself.

If you have additional questions regarding either your currentor past treatments, contact your oncologist for more information.

Being immunocompromised means having a weakened immunesystem, which reduces the bodys ability to fight infections and otherdiseases. Cancer patients can become immunocompromised (at least for a periodof time) due to the disease, as a result of treatment they are undergoing, or acombination of both reasons.

As a general guideline, if you have either undergone a stem cell transplant in the last two years (it typically takes 3-12 months, if not longer, for your immune system to recover from your transplant), have chronic graph-versus-host disease (GVHD), or are currently on ongoing, intensive chemotherapy (or a similar potent drug), you are likely immunocompromised.

People who are immunocompromised would have been told this by their oncologist prior to starting treatment, and should be practicing COVID-19 type precautions, according to Joseph H. Antin, MD, chief emeritus of Adult Stem Cell Transplantation at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Womens Cancer Center.

Based on current information available, those at high-riskfor severe illness from COVID-19 include people who are immunocompromised, includingfrom cancer treatment.

Antin encourages all cancer patients, whether they are inactive treatment or not, to adopt more aggressive precautions. It is stillunclear as to what extent (if any) a previous cancer diagnosis increases yourchance of developing severe illness from COVID-19, even if you are no longerimmunocompromised.

Patients who have been told that they are currentlyimmunocompromised should avoid leaving their homes unless it is absolutelyessential and limit their contact with others. In instances where you mustleave your homes (such as for a doctors appointment), you will likely be givenmasks and gloves to wear while youre out. Be sure to change your gloves if youtouch a high traffic item (such as an elevator button or handrail) and washyour hands once you have returned from your destination.

All patients should be in contact with their care teams todetermine if their current care schedule is still appropriate, or if it can betemporarily adjusted.

There are many things you can do to help protect yourself,and those around you, from contracting COVID-19. The best way to preventillness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. It is recommend that you:

If you are caring for or even visiting someone who isimmunocompromised, it is important to also follow these heightened precautions.Remember: Anything you carry can be transferred to the patient. This is whyanyone who will come in contact with an immunocompromised person needs tofollow the same guidelines as someone who is immunocompromised.

Today, it is important to self-quarantine and practicesocial distancing as much as possible. Consider exchanging physicalinteractions with virtual ones; Facebook Messenger, FaceTime, or even videoconferencing applications (such as Zoom) can serve as temporary alternatives.

Both patients and their caregivers need to practice self-care for emotional and physical well-being in this challenging time.Read helpful information on coping day-to-day with COVID-19 uncertainty.

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What Does It Mean to Be Immunocompromised? - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Study Shows Development of Young Cells Could be New Option in Cancer Care – BioSpace

By Stem Cell Treatment

Washington University School of Medicinein St. Louis released a newstudyabout the effectiveness of immunotherapy based on the age of the cells used. The study, published in the journalDevelopmental Cell,showed that these natural killer cells seem to be more effective when they are young. Natural killer (NK) cells, as they're called, are used in immunotherapy to treat cancer using the body's immune cells or immune cells from a matched donor.

"We are trying to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy for more patients," said senior author Christopher M. Sturgeon, Ph.D., an assistant professor of medicine.

Typically, NK cells used in investigational immunotherapy are adult and come from the patient or donor bone marrow. While these therapies can work, they don't work for everyone.

In contrast, young NK cells do not use the patient's cell or donor cells. These early NK cells, typically formed in the yolk sac in the early embryo, are instead able to be created with human pluripotent stem cells. They can be manufactured quickly by most academic medical centers, thus eliminating the time it takes to process patient's or donor's cells for typical NK cell therapy.

"This special source of natural killer cells has the potential to fill some of the gaps remaining with adult NK cell therapy. There is early evidence that they are more consistent in their effectiveness, and we would not need to process cells from a donor or the patient. They could be manufactured from existing cell supplies following the strict federal guidelines for good manufacturing practices. The characteristics of these cells let us envision a supply of them ready to pull off the shelf whenever a patient needs them," Sturgeon said.

Instudieswith mice using the lab-developed human pluripotent stem cells to create early NK cells, researchers found positive results. These cells were significantly better at degranulation than adult NK cells. Even cells from umbilical cord blood did not respond as well as the early NK cells. Additionally, early NK cells are a particular type of short-lived immune cell, meaning that even if the cells cause harm, they aren't in the body for very long. However, NK cells, in general, do not attack the body's healthy tissues significantly, unlike many T cell therapies.

"Based on their unique behavior alone, there is one small clinical trial of these cells that is ongoing. Now that we know how to manufacture them and how they work, it opens the door for more trials and for improving upon their function, " Sturgeon said.

More research will need to be put into understanding why these special cells only show up in the early embryo and where they go after.

The origin and why they work so well is still a complete mystery.

"We can only speculate at this point, but it's possible that during early embryonic development, when there is so much rapid cell division, these cells are there as a surveillance mechanism to protect against pediatric cancers or infection," he said.

In addition to the early NK cells, pluripotent stem cells also have the potential to bring about many other different cell types, creating more possibilities.

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Study Shows Development of Young Cells Could be New Option in Cancer Care - BioSpace

Oscar Saxelby-Lee gets ‘super cells’ after having stem cell transplant from dad to fight off cancer – Ledbury Reporter

By Stem Cell Treatment

A SIX-year-old boy has received his super cells after having a stem cell transplant to fight off cancer.

Oscar Saxelby-Lee received his transplant yesterday (March 13) from his dad, Jamie Lee, who donated his cells to his little boy.

The Hand in Hand for Oscar Facebook page announced the heart-warming news: May these super cells be the beginning of something special just like you Ozzy Bear. We hope this gift will allow you a brand-new start to good health and end the monstrous ordeals you have been faced with. You will always have us by your side, hoping, praying and fighting for the brighter future you so very much deserve.

The emotive post continued: Daddy will always be with you, both inside and out now. How amazing is that. And how utterly amazing are you. You are so so close baby, keep going. Now for the difficult part of growing them and keeping him stable, but hes got this."

Oscar experienced a few slight implications during the transplant due to a reaction, but his parents have assured he is safe and is doing well.

Oscar has been in Singapore with his parents, Olivia Saxelby and Mr Lee, receiving CAR-T therapy after the community backed their appeal to raise 500,000 to afford the life-saving treatment. This is specialised therapy, which is only available in Singapore, to combat his T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The young Worcester boy underwent a stem cell transplant last May after a search for a donor which saw thousands across the country to sign-up to a register in a bid to help.

The Worcester News previously reported that Oscar's parents were appealing for blood donations because there's a shortage due to less people donating due to the coronavirus. However, an NHS Blood and Transplant spokesman said blood stock levels are good.

The spokesman said: Our stock levels are good and we dont believe weve seen any effect on appointments. Were asking donors to keep donating as normal and to follow the latest travel and hygiene advice. Donation help us to keep stocks good so we are well prepared for every eventuality. Were regularly reviewing the situation and working closely with the government, Public Health England and the UKs other blood donation services. We're putting in place extra measures and safety is always our number one priority.

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Oscar Saxelby-Lee gets 'super cells' after having stem cell transplant from dad to fight off cancer - Ledbury Reporter

Bone Therapeutics appoints Stefanos Theoharis as Chief Business Officer – Yahoo Finance

By Stem Cell Treatment

Press Release

Gosselies, Belgium, 26March 2020, 7am CET BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases, today announces that it is further strengthening its management team with the appointment of Stefanos Theoharis, PhD, as Chief Business Officer (CBO).

Stefanos will be responsible for the companys corporate development activities and executing its business strategy. His immediate priorities will be concentrating on partnering Bone Therapeutics products and in-licensing innovations. He will also further develop the commercial strategies for the product portfolio and cell therapy platform.

At this stage of the development of Bone Therapeutics, it is very important to appoint a proven executive with a high level of business experience to achieve our next set of commercial goals, said Miguel Forte, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Bone Therapeutics. Stefanos has gathered considerable achievements in business development at both rapidly growing biotech and global biopharma companies, coupled with an extensive expertise in cell therapy drug development and manufacturing. His diverse skill set, which includes licensing, M&A transactions and R&D partnerships, will be invaluable to bolster our business initiatives as we continue to advance our mid- to late stage product pipeline through clinical development with a potential commercialization in sight.

Stefanos will contribute more than 15 years of business development experience in the pharma and biotech industry to Bone Therapeutics, specifically in the cell and gene therapy space. This includes his achievements as Senior Vice-President at Cell Medica, a clinical-stage biotech company, where he expanded the companys allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy platform through strategic partnerships with leading research institutions and targeted acquisitions. Prior to Cell Medica, Stefanos was Chief Business Officer at apceth GmbH, a company developing genetically-engineered mesenchymal stromal (MSC) cell products and also acting as a contract manufacturer in the ATMP space. He led all apceths business development activities, including in- and out-licensing and service contracts negotiations. He also held positions as Head of Business Development at the antisense RNA drug specialist Antisense Pharma (now Isarna), and Director Business Development at Roche, focused on partnering activities in emerging science and technologies. Stefanos also worked at Lazard, the global investment bank, advising to a variety of life sciences firms on M&As and financing transactions. Stefanos achieved an MSc. in Molecular Medicine and a PhD in Pathology and Immunology from Imperial College London.

I really wanted to join a cell therapy company where I was able to make a significant difference to the company, the wider field and patients outcomes. With an innovative allogeneic, off the shelf, cell therapy platform and a potentially best-in-class knee osteoarthritic pain treatment, Bone Therapeutics is uniquely positioned to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients with severe orthopaedic conditions, said Stefanos Theoharis, PhD, Chief Business Officer of Bone Therapeutics. As both products are entering advanced stage clinical trials, Im delighted to join the company at such a critical time and I look forward to working with its talented leadership and scientific teams to take these promising treatments to market.

About Bone Therapeutics

Bone Therapeutics is a leading biotech company focused on the development of innovative products to address high unmet needs in orthopedics and bone diseases. The Company has a broad, diversified portfolio of bone cell therapies and an innovative biological product in later-stage clinical development, which target markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation.

Bone Therapeutics is developing an off-the-shelf protein solution, JTA-004, which is entering PhaseIII development for the treatment of pain in knee osteoarthritis. Positive PhaseIIb efficacy results in patients with knee osteoarthritis showed a statistically significant improvement in pain relief compared to a leading viscosupplement. The clinical trial application (CTA) for the pivotal PhaseIII program has been approved by the Danish relevant authorities allowing the start of the study.

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Bone Therapeutics other core technology is based on its cutting-edge allogeneic cell therapy platform (ALLOB) which can be stored at the point of use in the hospital, and uses a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stem cells from healthy donors into bone-forming cells. These cells can be administered via a minimally invasive procedure, avoiding the need for invasive surgery, and are produced via a proprietary, scalable cutting-edge manufacturing process. Following the CTA approval by the Belgian regulatory authority, the Company is ready to start the PhaseIIb clinical trial with ALLOB in patients with difficult tibial fractures, using its optimized production process.

The ALLOB platform technology has multiple applications and will continue to be evaluated in other indications including spinal fusion, osteotomy and maxillofacial and dental applications.

Bone Therapeutics cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards and are protected by a broad IP (Intellectual Property) portfolio covering ten patent families as well as knowhow. The Company is based in the BioPark in Gosselies, Belgium. Further information is available at http://www.bonetherapeutics.com.

Contacts

Bone Therapeutics SAMiguel Forte, MD, PhD, Chief Executive OfficerJean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial OfficerTel: +32 (0) 71 12 10 00investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com

International Media Enquiries:Image Box CommunicationsNeil Hunter / Michelle BoxallTel: 44 (0)20 8943 4685neil@ibcomms.agency / michelle@ibcomms.agency

For French Media and Investor Enquiries:NewCap Investor Relations & Financial CommunicationsPierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Arthur RouillTel: + 33 (0)1 44 71 94 94bone@newcap.eu

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors` current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person`s officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

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Bone Therapeutics appoints Stefanos Theoharis as Chief Business Officer - Yahoo Finance

Uni kit to help with virus tests – Kent Online

By Stem Cell Treatment

With stricter measures now enforced upon the country, staff and students at the University of Kent are doing their bit to try and help with the coronavirus outbreak.

As the bioscience laboratories at the university are now closed, they're lending specialist equipment to hospitals in Kent to help increase the number of coronavirus tests that can be taken, while more than 30 members of staff, academics and PHD students from the biosciences school have also volunteered to help.

KMTV's Kristina Curtis reports on how students and staff at the University of Kent are doing to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak

Prof. Dan Mulvihill, Head of the School of Biosciences at the university said: "Staff, PHD students, researchers and academics have volunteered to give up their time to help in the labs in NHS hospitals.

"We have a variety of people with molecular biology skills, what we're trained to do here, and theyre able to use these skills working alongside NHS workers so we can expand the number of tests that can be done in any one day.

"Weve all been trained in this particular skill set, theres a need for it now and this is the time for us to step up. Were in the privileged position of being able to help and therefore we are."

Dr. Jill Shepherd, a lecturer in stem cell biology at the university, added: "The first thing I think most people in bio-sciences wanted to do is come forward and see what we can do. Its a great opportunity to be able to use the skills that our workforce have, the molecular biology skills that we use to produce great research science every day, to come into the labs to do something to help with something thats happening at the moment.

"Its an interesting time for us, were feeling very privileged to be a part of this and to be able to help with the effort.

"Its one of the positive things that can come out of something like this, people can work together more closely and relationships can be developed further."

The machines that have been lent to the hospitals are Quantitative PCR machines which allow tests to be undertaken to detect if the patients have coronavirus or not. Although hospitals in the county already have access to the machines, having additional ones is hoped to significantly increase the amount of tests that can be carried out each day.

Prof Mulvihill said: "These machines, which we use in our research labs on a daily basis, theyre extremely sensitive so they allow you to detect within samples a trace, or not, of nucleic acid from the virus itself. So we can identify whether or not theyve been infected with a high degree of certainty.

"Our machines will be able to increase the hospitals capacity to fulfil demand in the coming months."All five of the machines are set to be delivered to the hospitals in Kent this week, with the volunteers ready to put their hard-earned skills and research to practice.

The University of Kent is also set to begin working with Imperial College London on a research project to develop antibodies that target the novel coronavirus with the aim of developing a new therapy for COVID-19.

The research project will look to develop a potential antibody therapy, with the aim of progressing the therapy to be ready to for clinical trials. These trials will determine if the developed therapies can treat coronavirus infections including the COVID-19.

For this project, Kent will be working alongside Hong Kong University and the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, as well as Imperial College.

Positive results from this research could include vital breakthroughs in actions against the virus, putting the NHS in a stronger position and providing hope for the pandemics eventual close.

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Uni kit to help with virus tests - Kent Online

While we were stockpiling, here’s what astronauts were up to in space last week – KTVZ

By Stem Cell Doctors

For astronauts living on the International Space Station, their life is a type of quarantine. They cant go outside unless its on a planned spacewalk in very specific gear and they remain in the same confined space for six months or longer.

While many of us are practicing social distancing, working from home or living in quarantine-like and isolated situations, life goes on as normal for the space station-dwelling astronauts.

Theyre aware of the pandemic and have been sharing their support for people across the globe through their Twitter accounts. NASA astronaut Jessica Meir shared her perspective: From up here, it is easy to see that we are truly all in this together. #EarthStrong.

But the astronauts arent just floating around and taking cool pictures of Earth. Each week, hundreds of science experiments are in progress on the station. In addition to working on these experiments, the astronauts study themselves to better understand the human body in space.

Heres a look at the cool science theyve been doing 254 miles from Earth.

Living in space is an adjustment for the human body as it adapts to the lack of gravity.

Over the years, astronauts have noticed changes in their vision as a response to the headward fluid shift they experience. This also increases pressure in the head.

Last week, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan, as well as Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, tested out the Russian Chibis hardware, also known as the Russian Space Agencys Lower Body Negative Pressure experiment.

Its basically a pair of pants housed in the Russian Orbital Segment of the space station.

The rubber pants use suction to draw fluids back down towards the legs and feet, just like we experience walking on Earth.

Researchers hope that hardware to reverse the fluid shift astronauts experience in space could also help with their vision changes.

While Morgan was wearing the Chibis pants, Meir used a tonometer to measure his eye pressure, with doctors on Earth watching in real time. Morgans head and chest were also scanned to monitor blood flow.

The astronauts also tested their hearing as part of the European Space Agencys Acoustic Diagnostics experiment to monitor if the astronauts hearing changes in response to noise and lack of gravity on the station.

Multiple experiments are currently occurring on the station that could not only benefit the health of astronauts, but human life on Earth as well.

Two different experiments are focused on growing healthy heart cells from stem cells to see if they grow easier and quicker in the absence of gravity.

These cells could treat astronauts who experience heart abnormalities and be used to treat people and children with cardiac diseases and disorders on Earth. The cells can also be used to investigate the development of new pharmaceuticals.

One experiment, called Engineered Heart Tissues, allows the astronauts to watch heart cell muscle contractions in real time.

Meir and Morgan have been taking care of the heart cells, watching how they react to the lack of gravity. When the heart cells return to Earth, the results of the space experiment will be compared with a similar control experiment on Earth.

The astronauts have also been studying bone samples to understand and develop bone treatments for astronauts who suffer bone loss in space, as well as people diagnosed with osteoporosis on Earth. The goal is to determine new treatments for both.

Mice are also sharing space on the station with the astronauts in a mouse habitat so they can study how the mice and their gene expression reacts to zero gravity.

Understanding how their gene expression is altered can help NASA better prepare for long-term human spaceflight. The study also serves a secondary purpose of allowing them to determine countermeasures for muscle atrophy, which can occur in space or for patients on bed rest.

Astronauts dont get much of a chance to vary their diets in space. That means they could also be missing out on vital nutrients and other added benefits of the fresh food we consume on Earth.

The Japanese space agencys Probiotics investigation is studying how good gut bacteria could improve the human microbiome on long-term missions.

Meanwhile, the astronauts are also participating in an experiment called Food Acceptability, looking at the menu fatigue that happens when they eat based on limited options over months on the station. This usually causes them to lose weight by the time they return to Earth.

Fortunately, the astronauts are also actively growing lettuce in space and so far, its proven safe to eat. The ability to grow fresh produce in space could be a game changer for astronauts on long missions going forward.

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While we were stockpiling, here's what astronauts were up to in space last week - KTVZ

Global Autologous Stem Cell & Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market – Premium Insight, Competitive News Feed Analysis, Company Usability Profiles,…

By Stell Cell Research

NEW YORK, March 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Autologous Stem Cell & Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market is expected to grow from USD 3,812.15 Million in 2018 to USD 9,489.21 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.91%.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05872083/?utm_source=PRN

The positioning of the Global Autologous Stem Cell & Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market vendors in FPNV Positioning Matrix are determined by Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) and placed into four quadrants (F: Forefront, P: Pathfinders, N: Niche, and V: Vital).

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Autologous Stem Cell & Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market including are Antria, Bioheart, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, Cytori, Dendreon Corporation, Fibrocell, Genesis Biopharma, Georgia Health Sciences University, Neostem, Opexa Therapeutics, Orgenesis, Regeneus, Regenexx, and Tengion.

For the detailed coverage of the study, the market has been geographically divided into the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The report provides details of qualitative and quantitative insights about the major countries in the region and taps the major regional developments in detail.

In the report, we have covered two proprietary models, the FPNV Positioning Matrix and Competitive Strategic Window. The FPNV Positioning Matrix analyses the competitive market place for the players in terms of product satisfaction and business strategy they adopt to sustain in the market. The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisitions strategies, geography expansion, research & development, new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.

Research Methodology:Our market forecasting is based on a market model derived from market connectivity, dynamics, and identified influential factors around which assumptions about the market are made. These assumptions are enlightened by fact-bases, put by primary and secondary research instruments, regressive analysis and an extensive connect with industry people. Market forecasting derived from in-depth understanding attained from future market spending patterns provides quantified insight to support your decision-making process. The interview is recorded, and the information gathered in put on the drawing board with the information collected through secondary research.

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

The report answers questions such as:1. What is the market size of Autologous Stem Cell & Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies market in the Global?2. What are the factors that affect the growth in the Global Autologous Stem Cell & Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market over the forecast period?3. What is the competitive position in the Global Autologous Stem Cell & Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market?4. Which are the best product areas to be invested in over the forecast period in the Global Autologous Stem Cell & Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market?5. What are the opportunities in the Global Autologous Stem Cell & Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market?6. What are the modes of entering the Global Autologous Stem Cell & Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market?

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Rewind the clock: Researchers reprogram old cells to youthful state – Daily Sabah

By Stell Cell Research

Researchers at Stanford University found that they could reprogram old human cells to a more youthful state with the help of stem cell technology.

According to the study by the universitys School of Medicine, the elderly mice that were experimented on were rejuvenated after the treatment, showing more strength than beforehand.

The treatment involves proteins that are part of embryonic development, also known as Yamanaka factors. These are cells that are used to transform adult cells into a different kind of cell, called an iPS cell, which can transform into nearly any type of cell in the body. Because of this transformative nature, they are essential in regenerative medicine and the discovery of drugs. The researchers hope to use this technique to help with the treatment of diseases like muscle wasting and osteoarthritis which are caused by the aging of the cells.

Subjecting old human cells to this treatment briefly shows that the proteins rewind many of the molecular hallmarks of aging and make them almost identical to the younger cells.

Vittorio Sebastiano, a senior author of the study, said that theyve wondered if they could just rewind the aging clock and now found that by tightly controlling the duration of the exposure to these protein factors, we can promote rejuvenation in multiple human cell types.

Dr. Izpisua Belmonte, who researched Yamanaka factors as well, said that this study is definitively a step forward in the goal of reversing cellular aging.

The research was published online on March 24 in the Nature Communications journal.

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Rewind the clock: Researchers reprogram old cells to youthful state - Daily Sabah

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