Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, who was battling leukemia for the last two years, died at Mumbais Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital on Thursday (April 30) morning. He was 67. Rishi Kapoor got treated for leukemia in the US for a year and had returned to India in September 2019.

Leukemia is a blood cancer caused by a rise in the number of white blood cells in your body. Those white blood cells crowd out the red blood cells and platelets that your body needs to be healthy. The extra white blood cells dont work right. A cancer of blood-forming tissues, hindering the body's ability to fight infection.

Dr Rahul Bhargava, Director, Haematology, Haemato Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram says:

Leukemia, often fatal, is a blood cancer. As with cancer, it is associated with an exponential rise in the number of white blood cells. Symptoms begin to manifest slowly and can often be mistaken for something else sweating uncontrollably, shaking, fever, vomiting. It is caused by huge was is reduced focus on ones own health.

Intake of processed food, soda, artificial and synthetic sweets and preservatives, pesticide use in farms, lack of physical exercise, excessive tobacco and drug consumption, excessive alcohol intake, caffeine consumption are the main culprits causing cancer. Family history also plays an important role in a leukemia diagnosis. Only through screening can it be identified and if caught early managed. One needs to be mindful and ensure that they are employing good lifestyle habits.

This means eating green leafy vegetables and fruits, going for a 30 minutes walk every day or engaging in any other form of exercise for 30 minutes a day, drinking adequate amount of water to keep flushing out the toxins, controlling or completely eliminating our use of tobacco and other unnatural substances. Processed food and sugars should be consumed in control, they are the single largest cause of mutation to cells.

Leukemia symptoms vary, depending on the type of leukemia. Common leukemia signs and symptoms include:

Leukemia can also cause symptoms in organs that have been infiltrated or affected by the cancer cells. For example, if the cancer spreads to the central nervous system, it can cause headaches, nausea and vomiting, confusion, loss of muscle control, and seizures.

Leukemia can also spread to other parts of your body, including:

The major types of leukemia are:

Blood has three types of cells: white blood cells that fight infection, red blood cells that carry oxygen, and platelets that help blood clot. Every day, your bone marrow makes billions of new blood cells, and most of them are red cells. When you have leukemia, your body makes more white cells than it needs. These leukemia cells cant fight infection the way normal white blood cells do. And because there are so many of them, they start to affect the way your organs work. Over time, you may not have enough red blood cells to supply oxygen, enough platelets to clot your blood, or enough normal white blood cells to fight infection.

Leukemia is usually treated by a hematologist-oncologist. These are doctors who specialize in blood disorders and cancer. The treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer. Some forms of leukemia grow slowly and don't need immediate treatment. However, treatment for leukemia usually involves one or more of the following:

Source: Information has been taken from various health website

Read more| National Honesty Day 2020: Date, history, significance and quotes on the value of honesty

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What Is Leukemia? Here's all you need to know - India Today

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on What Is Leukemia? Here’s all you need to know – India Today | May 5th, 2020

The first-in-human, universal chimeric receptor antigen (CAR) T-cell (CAR-T) therapy GC027 was tolerable and resulted in antileukemic responses among patients with relapsed/refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), according to results from a phase 1 trial presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting I 2020.1

Theuniversal CAR T cells target CD7, which, according to Xinxin Wang, PhD, ofGracell Biotechnologies Co, Ltd, in China, and lead author and presenter of thestudy, is a good target for T-ALL because it is expressed by more than 95% ofT-ALL patients.

GC027 isallogeneic, which may prevent the development of graft-versus-host disease. Theproduct is introduced using lentivirus for rapid elimination of T-ALL cells. Preclinicalstudies showed efficacy in a T-ALL xenograft model, and this prospective studyevaluated the safety and efficacy in humans.

Thesingle-arm, open-label study treated 5 adult patients with relapsed/refractoryCD7-positive T-ALL with a single infusion of 1 of 3 different dose levels ofG027: 0.6 x 107/kg, 3 x 107/kg, and 1.5 x 107/kg.Lymphodepletion therapy was administered prior to the G027 infusion. Theprimary endpoint was safety and the secondary endpoints included objectiveresponse rate (ORR) within 3 months after G027 infusion.

Patientswith extramedullary or central nervous system disease were excluded. Atbaseline, the median age was 24 (range, 19-38). Patients were heavilypretreated, with 5 median number of prior therapies (range, 1-9). Two patientshad high-risk disease and the median bone marrow tumor burden was a median of38.2% of blasts. None of the patients had undergone a prior allogeneic hematopoieticstem cell transplant.

Allpatients developed cytokine release syndrome (CRS), 4 of which were grade 3 and1 was grade 4. All cases were manageable and resolved with treatment andsupportive care. None of the patients developed neurotoxicity.

The completeremission (CR)/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery was 100%. By day 28, 4patients achieved a CR with negative for minimal residual disease (MRD) and 3of these patients remained MRD negative up to day 161. One patient achieved CRbut was MRD positive, and relapsed by day 29.

Peak CART-cell expansion in peripheral blood occurred between week 1 and 2.

As the first-in-human, universal CAR T-cell therapy for adult relapsed/refractory T-ALL, Dr Wang said, GC027 has demonstrated superior clinical efficacy and induced deep response in patients with acceptable safety profile. She added that trial enrollment is ongoing.

Reference

Wang X, Li S, Gao L, et al. Clinical safety and efficacy study of TruUCAR GC027: The first-in-human, universal CAR-T therapy for adult relapsed/refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r T-ALL). Presented at: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting I; April 27-28, 2020. Abstract CT052.

This article originally appeared on Cancer Therapy Advisor

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First-in-Human Universal CAR-T Therapy Found Active in Relapsed/Refractory T-ALL - Oncology Nurse Advisor

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on First-in-Human Universal CAR-T Therapy Found Active in Relapsed/Refractory T-ALL – Oncology Nurse Advisor | May 5th, 2020

Most doctors are prisoners of their education and shackled by their profession.

- Richard Diaz

A month ago we offered up the analysis below on this 'watch item' biotech stock from across the pond exclusively to Biotech Forum members. The stock is up over 40% since then but the concern is still intriguing. Today, we update our original thesis to account for all company-specific news and analyst ratings on this name since our original research was posted.

Orchard Therapeutics (ORTX) is a London, United Kingdom-based biopharmaceutical company that IPOd in 2018. The companys mission is to help patients with rare conditions by leveraging its understanding of gene therapy. The companys approach is to take a patients own blood stem cells and insert into them a working copy of the missing or malfunctioning gene. The companys approach circumvents the need for a bone marrow transplant by taking advantage of blood stem cells' intrinsic capacity to self-renew in a patients bone marrow and produce new blood cells of all types. The ultimate goal is to permanently correct genetic disorders through the use of a single treatment. The companys pipeline is broken down into three overarching programs: neurometabolic disorders, primary immune deficiencies, and blood disorders. The companys lead product candidates are OTL-200, OTL-101 and OTL-103. The companys only commercial product is Strimvelis, which has been approved by the EMA but not by the FDA. Orchard Therapeutics has a market capitalization of just over $1 billion and trades for around $11 a share.

Pipeline:

Source: Company Presentation

OTL-200:

OTL-200 is an ex vivo autologous gene therapy in development to treat Metachromatic leukodystrophy. The drug uses a modified virus to insert an operational copy of the ARSA gene into a patients cells. OTL-200 has received rare pediatric disease designation from the FDA. MLD is a rare and deadly inherited disease. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of fats called sulfatides, which causes a breakdown in the protective fatty layer surrounding nerves in the central and peripheral nerve systems. It is estimated that 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 160,000 people have the disease worldwide. OTL-200 was developed in partnership with the San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy.

Source: Company Presentation

On December 2nd, 2019, under accelerated assessment status, The EMA accepted the review for a marketing application of OTL-200 for MLD. Under accelerated assessment, the review period is 150 days, compared to the normal 210 days. The action date should occur very shortly.

Source: Company Presentation

Looking ahead, the company expects to obtain approval and launch the drug in Europe in the second half of 2020. The company is currently preparing for a commercial launch. Furthermore, the company expects a U.S. regulatory filing, a BLA, in late 2020 to early 2021.

Source: Company Presentation

OTL-101:

OTL-101 is an ex vivo autologous gene therapy in development to treat adenosine deaminase severe combined immunodeficiency. The drug uses a modified virus to insert an operational copy of the ADA gene into a patients cells. OTL-101 has received both Breakthrough Therapy designation and Rare Pediatric Disease designation from the FDA. ADA-SCID is a rare, inherited, pediatric disorder that is commonly fatal when undiagnosed or left untreated. The disorder is the result of a deficiency in adenosine deaminase. The disease culminates in a complete lack of/minimal immune system development. It is estimated that the diseases annual incidence is between 1 in 200,000 and 1 in 1 million live births.

Looking ahead, Orchard Therapeutics will initiate a rolling BLA filing in the U.S. for OTL-101 in ADA-SCID in the first half of 2020 with an anticipated completion of the filing within 12 months.

Source: Company Presentation

OTL-103:

0TL-103 is an ex vivo autologous gene therapy in development to treat Wiskott Aldrich syndrome. The drug uses a modified virus to insert a working copy of the WAS gene into a patients cells. WAS is a rare, X-linked, recessive, inherited immune disorder, which is characterized by reoccurring severe infections, autoimmunity, eczema and severe bleeding episodes. The company has received Rare Pediatric Disease designation and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation from the FDA. OTL-103 is being developed in partnership with the San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy.

Looking ahead, the company is preparing to file a BLA in the U.S. and an MAA in the EU for OTL-103 in WAS in 2021.

Source: Company Presentation

As of December 31st, 2019, the company had cash and cash equivalents of over $300 million including marketable securities. Research and development expenses for the fourth quarter were $30.8 million, compared to $17.4 million in Q4 of 2018. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $18.5 million in the quarter, compared to $11.9 million in the same quarter of 2018. Overall, the company had a net loss of $45.4 million in the quarter, compared to a net loss of $25 million in the same period of 2018. The company believes that its current balance sheet will allow it to fund all anticipated operations and capital expenditures into the second half of 2021.

Despite a sizable market cap, Orchard gets little in the way of attention from analysts. That is probably because it is headquartered overseas. The current median analyst price target on Wall Street is just over $25.00 a share.

Oppenheimer reissued its Buy rating and $28 price target on April 1st. In mid-March, Cowen & Co. did the same with an identical price target in Mid-March. This follows a similar call at Cowen in December with strongly bullish commentary:

Orchard Therapeutics has a differentiated and promising lentiviral, ex vivo pipeline with gene therapies for ADA-SCID, WAS and MLD likely to get approved in 2021-22. With a deep early stage pipeline focused on validated targets, we anticipate strong stock appreciation as drugs are approved and early stage programs yield positive clinical results and advance into pivotal studies in 2020/21."

On September 17th, 2019, Guggenheim initiated coverage with a buy rating and a $31 a share price target. The analyst at Guggenheim views the company's ex vivo, lentiviral gene therapy platform as differentiated and de-risked. Furthermore, three drug approvals within the next 24 months bode well for share appreciation. Finally, in early September of last year, Barclays (NYSE:BCS) initiated coverage with an overweight rating and a $21 price target. The analyst at Barclays sees a company that strategically targets genetic diseases that have validated approaches with hematopoietic stem cell transplant, a fairly de-risked pipeline and multiple catalysts over the next 24 months.

Orchard has multiple shots on goal and several definable milestones in the coming quarters. Given some of the recent turmoil in the credit markets, anything that will need to raise capital in the foreseeable future is taken out and shot when markets have deep down days.

Given that, I still have Orchard as a solid 'watch item' holding and added several hundred shares in my personal account in late March. The shares appear to have an attractive risk/reward profile on a longer term basis, but I would accumulate on dips given the shares run up in April. Once volatility ebbs and we have more confidence in the economy and markets, this is a name we will revisit and maybe upgrade to a larger recommended holding.

The securest place is a prison cell, but there is no liberty

- Ben Franklin

Bret Jensen is the Founder of and authors articles for the Biotech Forum, Busted IPO Forum, and Insiders Forum

Live Chat on The Biotech Forum continues to be very active with new trade and the lucrative covered call ideas available thanks to the spike in market volatility throughout the trading day. If you join the The Biotech Forum today by clicking HERE you will automatically get access to our model portfolio, Live Chat, investment archives and our next 'option play of the week.'

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

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Orchard Therapeutics: Updating The Investment Thesis - Seeking Alpha

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Orchard Therapeutics: Updating The Investment Thesis – Seeking Alpha | May 5th, 2020

SAN CARLOS, Calif., May 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioCardia, Inc.[Nasdaq: BCDA], a leader in the development of comprehensive solutions for cardiovascular regenerative therapies, today announced data from a recent animal study performed by the Company that demonstrate meaningful improvements in heart function for subjects treated with its allogenic (from another donor, or off the shelf) neurokinin 1 receptor positive mesenchymal stem cell (NK1R+ MSC) program for heart failure, known as CardiALLO. In addition, the Company is planning further exploration and discussion with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the use of its allogenic cells for COVID-19 related Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

In the 26 animals treated with both low dose and high dose NK1R+ MSC, echocardiographic measures of cardiac ejection fraction, fractional shortening and cardiac outflow were meaningfully improved, with all three measures being statistically significant for both dosage levels over control animals.

The CardiALLO cell therapy is being developed initially to treat heart failure patients whose cells do not qualify for its lead autologous cell therapy, CardiAMP (BCDA-01).

BioCardia Chief Scientific Officer Ian McNiece, PhD, said, In light of these positive data on our allogenic NK1R+ MSC therapy, we expect to meet our internal timeline to complete our submission to the FDA for our first indication for CardiALLO, and potentially receive IND acceptance by the end of the second quarter. The MSCs that were studied are subtypes of MSC that we have delivered previously in our co-sponsored trials, which we believe have enhanced potency over MSC generated from unselected bone marrow cells. We look forward to seeing additional data from this animal study that are currently being analyzed, including histology and pathology of the heart and lungs.

COVID-19 Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Exploration

The Company also intends to submit an IND for the use of its NK1R+ MSC delivered via intravenous (IV) infusion for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19.

Based on preliminary clinical reports on COVID-19, respiratory failure complicated by ARDs is the leading cause of death for COVID-19 patients.1 ARDS is a type of respiratory failure characterized by the rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs.

The anti-inflammatory effects of MSC have been well-documented and MSC have been shown to reduce inflammation and injury in models of lung disease.2 The specific MSCs used in BioCardias allogenic cell therapy are expanded from cells selected for the presence of the NK1 receptor, which is known to bind to substance P, an important neuropeptide associated with inflammation throughout the body and a primary mediator of inflammation in the airways.3,4

Our NK1R+ allogenic MSC may have more potential than other MSC approaches being advanced today due to their interaction with Substance P, said BioCardia CEO Peter Altman, PhD. This COVID-19 related work will be the Companys first clinical investigation outside of the cardiac space and our first exploring therapy for the lung. A recent patent publication (US 2020/0101113 A1) shows that BioCardia has long intended for these remarkable reparative cells to be targeted for respiratory disorders, in addition to cardiovascular disease. Addressing inflammation in the lungs is an important contribution we may be able to make using our NK1R+ allogenic MSC therapy.

The Companys allogenic cells are expected to be manufactured at BioCardias clinical stage cell manufacturing facility in San Carlos, California.

About BioCardiaBioCardia, Inc., headquartered in San Carlos, California, is developing regenerative biologic therapies to treat cardiovascular disease. CardiAMP and CardiALLO cell therapies are the Companys biotherapeutic product candidates in clinical development. The Company's approved products include the Helix transendocardial delivery system and its steerable guide and sheath catheter portfolio. BioCardia also partners with other biotherapeutic companies to provide its Helix System and clinical support to their programs studying therapies for the treatment of heart failure, chronic myocardial ischemia and acute myocardial infarction.

Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to many risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, references to the development of NK1R+ cells for the treatment of heart failure and ARDS secondary to COVID-19, potential FDA IND acceptances, and potential FDA filings, statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and BioCardia assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements.

We may use terms such as believes, estimates, anticipates, expects, plans, intends, may, could, might, will, should, approximately or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained herein, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. Additional factors that could materially affect actual results can be found in BioCardias Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2020, under the caption titled Risk Factors. BioCardia expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Media Contact: Michelle McAdam, Chronic Communications, Inc.michelle@chronic-comm.com(310) 902-1274

Investor Contact: David McClung, Chief Financial Officerinvestors@BioCardia.com(650) 226-0120

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BioCardia Announces Positive Preclinical Results Supporting Investigational New Drug Application for Anti-Inflammatory Cell Therapy in Heart Failure -...

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on BioCardia Announces Positive Preclinical Results Supporting Investigational New Drug Application for Anti-Inflammatory Cell Therapy in Heart Failure -… | May 5th, 2020

Too lazy to wear make-up while working from home? You're not alone - according to Bloomberg, a recent survey found about 90 per cent of women working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic are going barefaced.

Even celebrities who rarely show themselves without a face full of make-up have joined the fray.

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in return for this pic of me literally first thing in the morning, please donate to the intensive care support at https://platform.nationalfundingscheme.org/COVID.ICS?charity=COVID.ICS#.XoNf4y9lCfA thanks so much

A post shared by Helen Mirren (@helenmirren) on Mar 31, 2020 at 8:30am PDT

A-listers including Katy Perry, Julia Roberts, Julianne Moore, Salma Hayek, Halle Berry, Helen Mirren and Jessica Alba have all posted make-up-free selfies while stuck at home.

This does not bode well for beauty companies - data from market research firm NPD Group show total beauty sales in the United States declined 58 per cent year on year in the week ending March 28. It can be beneficial, though, if women begin to put their skincare needs first.

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Pre-quarantine ?? mid-quarantine ???? Hope your stay-at-home plans tonight include joining me for a beautiful and breezy episode of #AmericanIdol, taped in heavenly Hawaii back in January and February ?

A post shared by KATY PERRY (@katyperry) on Mar 29, 2020 at 2:19pm PDT

"Now that I am home more, I have no excuse to not be good to my skin. New habits include home facials and face rolling. I have also been using my Foreo face massager weekly and I've been thinking about adding in an LED face mask," says Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Tracy Fong.

Fong is not the only one spending more time on her skin. Beauty retailers such as Joyce Beauty may have noted a decline in lipstick sales, but customers are now stocking up on skincare items such as beauty tools and sheet masks.

"I've added steps to my usual, more basic routine and am trying new things," says fashion executive Jane Tong. "I'm enjoying the little bit of 'me time' that I didn't have pre-quarantine. My skin has definitely improved, but I think it can be attributed to giving it more attention, plus more sleep and a slower-paced lifestyle overall."

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My incredible friends @beloveapparel are donating $7 from every I Choose Love purchase to @together.rising who are helping children and families facing hunger due to mass school closures. Let’s help each other and small businesses! #ichooselove #beloveapparel #togetherrising

A post shared by Julia Roberts (@juliaroberts) on Mar 21, 2020 at 11:27am PDT

While staying at home has given women more time to pamper themselves, working from home can bring new skincare concerns. Being stuck indoors all day means that the skin is exposed to a range of new pollutants.

"We all know how damaging the sun's rays can be - but there are many other light wavelengths that we need to be careful of, including blue light. Wherever you live in the world, indoor pollution can be as bad as outdoor pollution. Additional factors such as mould, heating, air conditioning or poor ventilation can stress out the skin," says Nigma Talib, a Los Angeles-based naturopathic doctor and trained medical aesthetician who counts celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Penelope Cruz among her clients.

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I am grateful to my @theshalanyc teachers @mskleigh @barbaraverrochi @ashes76 for offering so many of us an online community during this difficult time. Those classes are something to look forward to everyday. ?? ???? Support small businesses - after my class I ordered a few things from @ondabeautynyc while wearing my cozy @suziekondi track suit. Love to u female entrepreneurs ?

A post shared by Julianne Moore (@juliannemoore) on Mar 20, 2020 at 1:15pm PDT

For this reason, Talib advocates that women simplify their routines and focus on high-quality products that help counteract environmental aggressors.

At the top of her list is a resurfacing cleanser, which contains exfoliating agents such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid, to help remove dead skin cells which can build up daily.

A nourishing moisturiser packed with ingredients such as collagen and hyaluronic acid can protect against moisture loss and oxidative stress, which occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals (unstable molecules with the potential to damage cells) and antioxidants in your body.

Don't forget to apply sunscreen, either. "Layer it on top of a serum loaded with plant stem cells. Sunscreen alone won't prevent light damage to the skin, and the addition of plant stem cells makes your sunscreen 10 times more effective," she says.

Forgoing make-up entirely is not necessarily a good thing. Instead, Talib suggests women pare down their routine and choose products that are multipurpose. Invest in "clean" brands free of toxic chemicals and ingredients, and stick to brands that your skin is already familiar with.

"If it's good quality, make-up can sometimes act as a protective barrier to the skin. I like to suggest a no-make-up look that is simple and free from fussy techniques such as contouring." she says.

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Proudly wearing my @Bella_Freud jumper in support of the #ChangeAGirlsLife campaign in partnership with with Prince Charles’ @PrincesTrust ? Proceeds from all onlines sales throughout March from Bella’s #SheSaid collection will be donated to the The Prince’s Trust to support young women and girls. Bella’s inspiration behind the shirt is that “When a woman speaks it’s good to listen” ??

A post shared by Salma Hayek Pinault (@salmahayek) on Mar 10, 2020 at 7:59am PDT

"Start with a BB cream or tinted moisturiser with SPF that isn't heavy. Go for a natural colour on your lips - either a simple liner or lip gloss - and a coat of mascara to accentuate your eyes.

"Let your natural beauty shine. You might even come out of quarantine more confident in your skin."

For the latest updates on the coronavirus, visithere.

This article was first published in South China Morning Post.

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Make-up out, skincare in when working from home. Just ask the stars - AsiaOne

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Make-up out, skincare in when working from home. Just ask the stars – AsiaOne | May 5th, 2020

Marky Jaquez, 19, has recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a condition found in fewer than one in one million newborns. (Picture: Melissa Jaquez/Metro.co.uk)

A teenager whose rare skin disorder means that even the slightest touch leaves him in extreme pain has defied doctors predictions to live to adulthood. Marky Jaquez, from Wichita, Kansas, cannot hug his parents, wear clothes or even walk because any friction causes layers of skin to peel away from his body.

Wheelchair-bound, Marky, 19, has never been able to walk because the ground would shred his feet like a cheese grater and must be covered head-to-toe in bandages to protect his fragile skin from tearing. He has recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a condition found in an estimated one in one million newborns that often leads to life-threatening skin infections and even cancer.

The illness is caused by a faulty gene, passed onto children by parents. Tragically, Markys brother Carlos was born with it too, and died aged just 14. Doctors warned Markys parents he was unlikely to live beyond the age of 11, but he defied that grim prediction and will celebrate his 20th birthday later this year.

His mom, Melissa Jaquez, 40, said: Marky only has one layer of skin and because of his genetic makeup, the skin has no way of anchoring itself the body. Any form of touch or friction means his skins just tears away.

Its world shattering to think I will lose both of my boys to this and I dont want to think about what life will be like afterwards. I feel like my purpose in life is to give Mary the best life I can for the time that I have him.

I am not able to hug my son because any friction just causes his skin to come away and tear right off. It causes him excruciating pain and I feel so much guilt, but theres nothing I can do to help him.

But despite all of this he is a very happy and joyful boy and he amazes me every single day. Hes an inspiration and proves to everyone that you can keep going with whatever youre going through, no matter how bad it is.

Marky is the youngest of three brothers born to healthcare worker, Melissa. Eldest son Michael is 24, with Carlos dying of heart failure caused by the skin condition in 2015. Marky and Carlos, who would be 21 this year, were both born with the same condition after inheriting a faulty gene from their parents.

Melissa said doctors suspect both she and the boys father carry the faulty gene that causes the genetic mutation. Although both are unaffected themselves, they have an estimated 25% chance of having a child born with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Melissa has since split up with Marky and Carlos father neither of whom knew they carried the faulty gene until Carlos was born, she said.

Melissa said she became aware of the risks involved with having a child after Carlos was born, but claims she was told by a clinician that the chance of her having a second child with the same condition would be less than 1%.

Melissa said: I lost Carlos to the condition because his heart just gave up. His body was in a constant battle to repair his wounds and that took its toll eventually.

His condition was much more progressive than Markys. He got real bad, real quick and by the end could not even breathe on his own.

My pregnancy with Marky was unplanned, but when I got pregnant I was told the chance of me having another baby with the same condition is 1%. They said having two children with it is unheard of.

Marky was born with the most severe type of epidermolysis bullosa meaning he was delivered without skin on his hands, feet and chest because because of the friction of childbirth.

Ever since Marky was little, Melissa, who is now married to Marcos, 30, has had to spend up to three hours a day covering his skin in protective bandages and cleaning open wounds to prevent infection.

She has said every day of motherhood so far has felt like a battle and admits she has struggled to have a normal mother and son relationship with Marky, because of his condition.

Every day is such a massive challenge for us. I struggle with the grief of knowing that when I walk into my sons room in a morning, we cant have fun. I dont get to do the normal things that a mom and a son does.

Instead when I go into his room I know I have to cause him pain and spend two hours doing his bandages. That does give me a lot of anxiety and guilt.

Taking his bandages off does cause excruciating pain. We have to soak his skin every day to soothe his wounds and give him pain medication. Its incredibly upsetting for me.

Whilst there is no cure for epidermolysis bullosa and Marky is highly likely to sadly one day lose his life to the condition, Melissa is hopefully he will survive for several more years.

He has been selected to take part in experimental treatment to create genetically modified skin stem cells that can slow down the effects of the progressive disease. The family plan to travel to Stamford Hospital, Connecticut, later this year to undergo the treatment.

Melissa and Marcos work opposite shifts and have a carer who comes to help look after Marky for three hours each day. Melissa has paid tribute to her amazing son, who she believes can go on to live for many happy years, despite the predictions of doctors.

She said: The treatment at Stamford could add several years to his life. It will reduce the pain and make it easier for his body to cope.

We have tried for that treatment for years, so were thrilled.

Marky has always been an incredibly happy boy and he has just got on with it, without ever moaning or saying why me. Ive had messages from people all over the world to say Marky has inspired them.

Hes an amazing human being and he makes me so proud.

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Terminally-ill teen with agonizingly-sensitive skin defies doctors to live to 19 - Metro.co.uk

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Terminally-ill teen with agonizingly-sensitive skin defies doctors to live to 19 – Metro.co.uk | May 5th, 2020

A team of doctors and researchers at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center (ADSCC) administered the treatment in the UAE to 73 COVID-19 patients, who were all successfully treated and cured, without any immediate side effects, according to a statement by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) health ministry from 1 May.

The process involved a minimally invasive method where the patients stem cells are extracted, activated and turned into fine mist to be inhaled into the lungs. This was done in addition to the conventional treatment and is expected to work by supporting the established protocol of management of symptoms.

The ministry said in the statement, It is hypothesised to have its therapeutic effect by regenerating lung cells and modulating the immune response to keep it from overreacting to the COVID-19 infection and causing further damage to healthy cells.

The treatment has successfully undergone the initial phase of clinical trials, demonstrating its safety, and further trials for its efficiency are ongoing; expected to be completed in a couple of weeks.

Dr Fatima al-Kaabi, head of haematology and oncology at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in the UAE, told CNBC, Its very early to say at this stage. If all went well, this could reach the market in three months, she added.

Going further back, a pilot study in China on seven COVID-19 patients found that intravenous infusions of donor mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) - multipotent stem cells - improved patient outcomes and helped all of them recover. An Israeli pharmaceutical company, Pluristem Therapeutics, also tested stem cells in seven critical hospitalized patients and found positive results.

Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved MSC use in extremely sick COVID-19 patients under expanded access compassionate use on 5 April according to a report in The Scientist, even though the experts seemed divided on the logic on which the investigative treatment may have worked.

A hospital in New York tried the therapy as an experiment on 12 patients, 10 of whom were able to come off ventilators, reports CBS news. The Australian regenerative medicine company Mesoblast has also announced a 300-person trial for its stem cell therapy remestemcel-L (which was used in the New York trial) to determine whether it will work on patients suffering with severe lung inflammation.

Currently, there are over 20 active stem cell trials for COVID-19, most focusing on the use of MSCs.

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Stem Cell Treatment for COVID-19; Doctors Divided on Its Scope - The Quint

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Stem Cell Treatment for COVID-19; Doctors Divided on Its Scope – The Quint | May 5th, 2020

The global Plant Stem Cell Market research report thoroughly explains each and every aspect related to the Plant Stem Cell Market, which facilitates the reports reader to study and evaluate the upcoming market trend and execute the analytical data to promote the business. The growth trend forecasted on account of thorough examination offers in-depth information regarding the global Plant Stem Cell Market. A pathway of development is offered by the market to the several connected networks of businesses under it, which include different firms, industries, organizations, vendors, distributors, and local manufacturers too. All the key Plant Stem Cell Market players compete with each other by offering better products and services at a reasonable price in order to grab significant share at the regional and global level market.

Plant stem cells are undifferentiated cells within the meristems of plants.Plantstem cellsserve as the origin of plant vitality as they maintain themselves and provide a steady supply ofprecursor cellsto form various tissues and organs in plants. Plant stem cells are characterized by two distinctive properties namely its ability to create differentiated celltypes and to self-renew such that the number of stem cells remain stable. The plant stem cell market focuses on this ability of plant cells and thus, processed extracts from the buds, roots and shoots are in high demand and are widely used for topical uses.ription

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The report incorporates an estimated impact of strict standards and regulations set by the government over the market in the upcoming years. The market report also comprises exhaustive research done using several analytical tools such as SWOT analysis to identify the market growth pattern.

Top Manufacturers in GlobalPlant Stem CellMarket Includes:Oriflame Holding AG, MyChelle Dermaceuticals, LLC, Natura Therapeutics Inc, Aidan Products LLC, Mibelle Biochemistry, Phyto Science SDN BHD, and Renature Skin Care Inc.

Regions & Countries Mentioned In The Plant Stem Cell Market Report:

North America ( United States)

Europe ( Germany, France, UK)

Asia-Pacific ( China, Japan, India)

Latin America ( Brazil)

The Middle East & Africa

Key Highlights of the Table of Contents:

Plant Stem Cell Market Study Coverage: It includes key manufacturers covered, key market segments, the scope of products offered in the global market, years considered, and study objectives. Furthermore, it tuches the segmentation study provided in the report on the basis of the type of product and applications.

Plant Stem Cell Market Executive Summary: This section emphasizes on the key studies, market growth rate,Competitive landscape, market drivers, trends, and issues.

Plant Stem Cell Market Production by Region: The report provides information related to import and export, production, revenue, and key players of all regional markets studied are covered in this section.

Plant Stem Cell Market Profile of Manufacturers: Analysis of each market player profiled is detailed in this section. This also provides SWOT analysis, products, production, value, capacity, and other vital factors of the individual player.

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Table of Contents

Report Overview:It includes the Plant Stem Cell market study scope, players covered, key market segments, market analysis by application, market analysis by type, and other chapters that give an overview of the research study.

Executive Summary:This section of the report gives information about Plant Stem Cell market trends and shares, market size analysis by region and analysis of global market size. Under market size analysis by region, analysis of market share and growth rate by region is provided.

Profiles of International Players:Here, key players of the Plant Stem Cell market are studied on the basis of gross margin, price, revenue, corporate sales, and production. This section gives a business overview of the players and shares their important company details.

Regional Study:All of the regions and countries analyzed in the Plant Stem Cell market report is studied on the basis of market size by application, the market size by product, key players, and market forecast.

An Overview of the Impact of COVID-19 on this Market:

The pandemic of COVID-19 continues to expand and impact over 175 countries and territories. Although the outbreak appears to have slowed in China, COVID-19 has impacted globally. The pandemic could affect three main aspects of the global economy: production, supply chain, and firms and financial markets. National governments have announced largely uncoordinated, country-specific responses to the virus. As authorities encourage social distancing and consumers stay indoors, several businesses are hit. However, coherent, coordinated, and credible policy responses are expected to offer the best chance at limiting the economic fallout.

National governments and international bodies are focused on adopting collaborative efforts to encourage financial institutions to meet the financial needs of customers and members affected by the coronavirus. However, there are some sectors that have remained unscathed from the impact of the pandemic and there are some that are hit the hardest.

We, at Coherent Market Insights, understand the economic impact on various sectors and markets. Using our holistic market research methodology, we are focused on aiding your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. With deep expertise across various industries-no matter how large or small- and with a team of highly experienced and dedicated analysts, Coherent Market Insights will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future.

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About CMI:

Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.

Contact Us:Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave,#3200 Seattle, WA 98154,U.SPhone: US +12067016702 / UK +4402081334027Email: [emailprotected]

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Plant Stem Cell Market 2026 Growth Trends by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast - Latest Herald

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Plant Stem Cell Market 2026 Growth Trends by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast – Latest Herald | May 5th, 2020

You might feel pressured to follow a 10-step skincare routine to have the complexion of your dreams. But FYI, a fuss-free routine can be just as effectiveespecially if your goal is as simple as looking and feeling fresh and hydrated. After all, hydration is the key to having a soft, smooth, and clear face. And if you're worried about future fine lines and wrinkles, then you definitely need to use moisturizing products. If youre still not sure about how to build a simple routine, check out our 3-step one below.

Cleansing your skin in the morning can freshen you up for a new day, and at night can remove dirt and grime and prepare you for bed. When choosing a facial wash, look for one that doesnt strip your skin of its natural oils. That way, your skin stays hydrated and wont overproduce oils, which can lead to shine and breakouts.

In the morning, use a gentle cleanser like Cetaphils Gentle Foaming Cleanser. It can remove dirt and oil while moisturizing the skin with vitamins B5 and E. It also has a hypoallergenic, fragrance-free formula, making it great for those with sensitive skin.

At night, use an exfoliating cleanser to get rid of the grime, sweat, and makeup from the day. Try Cetaphils Daily Exfoliating Cleanser, which can gently slough off dead skin cells and clean dirt and oil away without stripping or irritating your skin. It contains bamboo stem extract exfoliant and moisturizing ingredients like Vitamin B5 and E to help your skin feel soft, smooth, and radiant.

While you may only be in your 20s, that doesnt mean you dont have to apply eye cream. Doing so will not only help prevent wrinkles from forming in the future, but will also help address problems you might be dealing with now (hello, dark circles!). Try Cetaphils Hydrating Eye Cream-Serum with Hyaluronic Acid, a cream-serum hybrid that absorbs quickly and moisturizes deeply. Its formulated with hyaluronic acid, a moisturizing agent that can help improve the skins natural elasticity, hold on to moisture in the skin, and improve the appearance of fine lines and fatigue. Those all-nighters youve been pulling dont stand a chance against this product.

Using a creamy moisturizer might sound counterintuitive to feeling fresh, but hear us out! Sometimes, lightweight moisturizers arent enough to keep your skin hydrated all day and all night. Using a cream can help retain your skins natural moisture and protect it from dryness (perfect if youre struggling with dry patches!).

For this, why not try Cetaphils Rich Night Cream? It can help rehydrate and soothe skin, plus, it contains vitamins C, A, and E, plant extracts, and hyaluronic acid to help protect your skin from dryness. BTW, you can even use it during the day if you want! Just lightly apply it on areas that need a little extra TLC.

Shop Cetaphils face range on Lazada and learn more by following Cetaphil on Facebook.

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This Low-Maintenance Skincare Routine Will Leave Your Skin Feeling Fresh And Hydrated - Cosmopolitan Philippines

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on This Low-Maintenance Skincare Routine Will Leave Your Skin Feeling Fresh And Hydrated – Cosmopolitan Philippines | May 5th, 2020

Researchers are learning more about how to diagnose and better treat blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm, a rare cancer that often presents with skin manifestations, according to a review published March 2020 in Current Opinion in Hematology.1

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic neoplasm patients have suffered historically poor outcomes. Years ago, doctors were limited to treating these patients primarily with intensive chemotherapy regimens used to treat acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

But in 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved tagraxofusp-erzs (Elzonris, Stemline).

Tagraxofusp-erz is the first approved drug indicated specifically for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic neoplasm, and its use is recommended in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.Newer targeted agents to treat the hematologic malignancy are in the pipeline.

Notable changes in recent years

The World Health Organization (WHO) named blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) and classified it under acute myeloid leukemia and related precursor neoplasms in 2008. Some eight years later, WHO established BPDCN as a distinct entity.

Just how many people have BPDCN isnt clear. But it is thought that there are about 0.04 cases of the cancer per 100,000 people. And about three in four patients are older men.

Derived from plasmacytoid dendritic cells, BPDCN generally is an aggressive disease. It presents clinically on the skin in about nine out of every 10 cases. Skin lesions tend to be asymptomatic, often appearing as bruise-like lesions, plaques or nodules, according to the paper.

While a small percentage of patients will present with skin disease only, most show signs of BPDCN in the bone marrow, lymph nodes or visceral organs. Rarely, patients will have no cutaneous evidence and instead present with the leukemic phase of the cancer. About 30% of patients also have central nervous system involvement.

Flow cytometry to determine the immunophenotype is an essential component of diagnosing [blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm], the author wrote.

CD123, an interleukin-3 receptor alpha, is over expressed in nearly all BPDCN cases. These cancer cells also may be positive for CD4, CD56, CD303 or TCL1, according to the paper.

Some authors have found a recurrent MYC gene rearrangement in these patients. That particular genetic aberration is associated with an older age at diagnosis and worse prognosis.

Treatment is evolving

Unfortunately, doctors have to rely largely on retrospective studies looking at BPDCN treatment options.Those studies suggest that BPDCN, generally, responds better to acute lymphoblastic leukemia regimens compared to acute myeloid leukemia treatment options. However, most responses to these regimens are transient, the author reported.

Retrospective studies suggest allogeneic stem cell transplant for eligible patients in their first remission offer the highest overall survival rates, including 3- and 4-year overall survival rates ranging from 74% to 82%.Tagraxofusp-erzs targets CD123. It consists of recombinant human interleukin-3 fused to a truncated diphtheria toxin, according to the paper.

Binding the drug to CD123 on the cell surface leads to cellular internalization of the diphtheria toxin, which ultimately leads to inhibition of protein synthesis and cell death, the author wrote.

In a phase I/II clinical trial of 44 untreated or relapsed/refractory BPDCN patients, 21 of 29 previously untreated patients achieved complete remission and 13 of those went on to have a stem cell transplant. Overall response rate of the 15 patients with relapsed/refractory BPDCN was 67% with tagraxofusp-erzs, with an average overall survival of 8.5 months.

Eighteen of the 44 patients studied developed the most critical treatment-related adverse event, capillary leak syndrome. Two patients died from capillary leak syndrome during the study.Researchers are studying investigational agents aimed at treating BPDCN. These include IMGN632, a humanized antibody-drug conjugate with an anti-CD123 monoclonal antibody conjugated to a DNA-alkylating payload, the author wrote.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and efficacy of treating CD123-positive malignancies including BPDCN with the monoclonal antibody targeting CD123 and CD3 XmAb14045.

Venetoclax, a BCL-2 inhibitor, is yet another agent in the pipeline for BPDCN patients.

as knowledge is gained on the molecular changes that occur in [blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm], this will ideally lead to more targeted and effective therapies in the years to come, the author wrote.

Disclosures:

Kendra Sweet, MD, has received honoraria from Stemline Therapeutics.

References:

1 Sweet K. Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm: diagnosis, manifestations, and treatment. Curr Opin Hematol. 2020;27(2):103-107.

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Investigational agents to treat hematologic malignancy in pipeline - Dermatology Times

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Investigational agents to treat hematologic malignancy in pipeline – Dermatology Times | May 4th, 2020

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AVROBIO, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVRO), a leading clinical-stage gene therapy company with a mission to free people from a lifetime of genetic disease, today announced a new development and commercialization agreement with Saladax Biomedical, Inc. (Saladax), a leading diagnostics provider focused on developing blood tests for personalized dosing, to develop and validate a fully automated nanoparticle immunoassay kit designed to simplify and streamline therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for patients treated with the conditioning agent busulfan.

At AVROBIO, we push ourselves to be at the forefront of technologies advancing lentiviral gene therapy, and its in this spirit that were funding the development of this kit, said Geoff MacKay, AVROBIOs president and CEO. Our personalized conditioning approach is already delivering results. We believe this new assay kit will, for the first time, provide convenient busulfan TDM close to the patient, potentially improving both the patient experience and long-term outcomes, as well as enabling many more hospitals and clinics to become TDM-capable sites.

AVROBIOs state-of-the-art plato gene therapy platform incorporates TDM protocols designed to optimize busulfan dosing over four days, with the goal of maximizing stem cell engraftment while minimizing side effects. TDM evaluates how quickly a patient metabolizes busulfan a rate that can vary significantly from patient to patient and even from one day to the next for the same patient. Current assays that inform that dose adjustment can take hours to return results and must be processed at specialized laboratories with trained staff that may not be geographically convenient to the gene therapy dosing site.

The technology used to deliver these rapid test results is based on an extensive intellectual property portfolio developed by Saladax in the field of TDM. The new assay kit under development by Saladax, which collects a small blood sample, is able to return results on patient metabolization of busulfan in minutes using hospitals standard analytical devices, greatly expanding access to personalized conditioning with busulfan.

Personalized Gene Therapy to Optimize Durable Protein Expression including in Brain, Muscle and Bone

AVROBIOs investigational gene therapies start with collecting the patients own hematopoietic stem cells. In the companys manufacturing process, a lentiviral vector is used to integrate a therapeutic gene designed to produce functional protein essential to cellular health into the patients chromosomes. Prior to dosing, treating clinicians use busulfan, an extensively validated conditioning agent generally considered to be the gold standard for ex vivo lentiviral gene therapy, to create space in the patients bone marrow. Finally, the patient receives the gene therapy and the therapeutic stem cells are expected to engraft in the bone marrow and produce generations of daughter cells, each containing the therapeutic gene. This approach is designed to drive durable production of the functional protein throughout the patients body, including hard-to-reach tissues such as the brain, muscle and bone. A distinguishing feature of this type of gene therapy with busulfan conditioning is that some of the corrected cells are expected to cross the blood-brain barrier and thereby potentially address central nervous system manifestations.

Earlier this year, AVROBIO reported initial clinical results for the first patient conditioned with busulfan using TDM prior to dosing in AVROBIOs Phase 2 clinical trial of its investigational gene therapy, AVR-RD-01, for Fabry disease. The early data from this patient showed increased endogenous enzyme activity at one month following dosing, as compared to other patients in the trial who received a different conditioning agent. Initial data suggest side effects, including nausea, mucositis, fever, rash and hair loss, which were consistent with those expected based on clinical experience of busulfan, developed eight to 10 days after dosing with busulfan and resolved quickly.

About AVROBIO

Our mission is to free people from a lifetime of genetic disease with a single dose of gene therapy. We aim to halt or reverse disease throughout the body by driving durable expression of functional protein, even in hard-to-reach tissues and organs including the brain, muscle and bone. Our clinical-stage programs include Fabry disease, Gaucher disease and cystinosis and we also are advancing a program in Pompe disease. AVROBIO is powered by the plato gene therapy platform, our foundation designed to scale gene therapy worldwide. We are headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., with an office in Toronto, Ontario. For additional information, visit avrobio.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words and phrases such as aims, anticipates, believes, could, designed to, estimates, expects, forecasts, goal, intends, may, plans, possible, potential, seeks, will and variations of these words and phrases or similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our business strategy for and the potential therapeutic benefits of our prospective product candidates, anticipated benefits of our gene therapy platform including potential impact on our commercialization activities, timing and likelihood of success, the expected benefits of Saladaxs immunoassay kits, including the ability to improve, simplify and streamline therapeutics drug monitoring for patients treated with the conditioning agent busulfan and enable local commercialization of AVROBIOs proprietary platform worldwide, the expected benefits and results of our implementation of the plato platform in our clinical trials and gene therapy programs, and the expected safety profile of our investigational gene therapies. Any such statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Results in preclinical or early-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of results from later stage or larger scale clinical trials and do not ensure regulatory approval. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, or the scientific data presented.

Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on AVROBIOs current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry as well as managements current beliefs and expectations of future events only as of today and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that any one or more of AVROBIOs product candidates will not be successfully developed or commercialized, the risk of cessation or delay of any ongoing or planned clinical trials of AVROBIO or our collaborators, the risk that AVROBIO may not successfully recruit or enroll a sufficient number of patients for our clinical trials, the risk that AVROBIO may not realize the intended benefits of our gene therapy platform, including the features of our plato platform, the risk that AVROBIO may not realize the intended benefit of Saladaxs immunoassay kits, the risk that our product candidates or procedures in connection with the administration thereof will not have the safety or efficacy profile that we anticipate, the risk that prior results, such as signals of safety, activity or durability of effect, observed from preclinical or clinical trials, will not be replicated or will not continue in ongoing or future studies or trials involving AVROBIOs product candidates, the risk that we will be unable to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates, the risk that the size and growth potential of the market for our product candidates will not materialize as expected, risks associated with our dependence on third-party suppliers and manufacturers, risks regarding the accuracy of our estimates of expenses and future revenue, risks relating to our capital requirements and needs for additional financing, risks relating to clinical trial and business interruptions resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak or similar public health crises, including that such interruptions may materially delay our development timeline and/or increase our development costs or that data collection efforts may be impaired or otherwise impacted by such crises, and risks relating to our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause AVROBIOs actual results to differ materially and adversely from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled Risk Factors in AVROBIOs most recent Annual or Quarterly Report, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors in AVROBIOs subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AVROBIO explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law.

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AVROBIO to Collaborate with Saladax Biomedical on New High-Speed Diagnostic Assay Used with Busulfan Conditioning to Enable Widespread...

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on AVROBIO to Collaborate with Saladax Biomedical on New High-Speed Diagnostic Assay Used with Busulfan Conditioning to Enable Widespread… | May 4th, 2020

People with cancer who contract the new coronavirus appear to have a greater risk for severe COVID-19 illness and death, but this may depend on their cancer stage and the type of treatment they are receiving, according to recent research. In fact, those with early-stage cancer may fare as well as people who have not had cancer.

Researchers from some of the earliest and hardest hit epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic described outcomes among cancer patients with the coronavirus (officially known as SARS-CoV-2) during a special session the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) virtual annual meeting last week. Soon after the conference, another group of researchers published an analysis of mortality among cancer patients in New York City.

Early reports from China, where the pandemic originated in late December, showed that older people, those with compromised immune systems and those with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to severe COVID-19. One study saw a death rate of 6% for people with cancermore than twice as high as the overall estimated COVID-19 mortality rate in China, but lower than the rates seen in people with diabetes (7%) or cardiovascular disease (11%).

Chemotherapy medications and some targeted therapies for cancer can cause neutropenia, a temporary depletion of immune system white blood cells that fight infection. People who receive bone marrow stem cell transplants or CAR-T therapy or for blood cancers typically receive strong chemotherapy to kill off existing blood cells and make room for the new ones. Conversely, immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T therapy unleash natural or engineered T cells to fight cancer, which in some cases can trigger an excessive immune response that leads to harmful inflammation.

Two reports at the AACR meeting provided updates from China. Li Zhang, MD, PhD, of Tongji Medical College described outcomes among 28 cancer patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, the initial epicenter of the pandemic.

Seven had lung cancer and the remainder had 13 other cancer types. Just over a third had Stage IV, or metastatic, cancer. Nearly 30% acquired the coronavirus at medical facilities. About half had severe disease, 10 patients required mechanical ventilators and eight diedmostly from acute respiratory distress syndromegiving a mortality rate of 29%.

Although three quarters had ever undergone surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, a majority had not received treatment recently. Only one person received radiation, three received chemotherapy, two received targeted therapy and one received immunotherapy within two weeks prior to their COVID-19 diagnosis. Recent cancer treatment was associated with a fourfold increased risk of severe outcomes. However, the single patient treated with a checkpoint inhibitor (for liver cancer) had mild COVID-19 and a short hospital stay.

Similarly, as part of his discussion of immunotherapy for cancer in the COVID-19 era, Paolo Ascierto, MD, of the National Tumor Institute in Naples, noted that just two out of 400 patients on immunotherapy at his institute tested positive for the coronavirus, they were asymptomatic and they recovered quickly, leading him to speculate that immunotherapy might somehow be protective against COVID-19.

Hongbing Cai, MD, of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, presented data on 105 cancer patients and 536 age-matched people without cancer at 14 hospitals in Hubei province who developed COVID-19. Results were also published in Cancer Discovery. Twenty-two had lung cancer, 13 had gastrointestinal cancers, 11 each had breast cancer and thyroid cancer, nine had blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphomawhich affect white blood cells that carry out immune responsesand six each had cervical and esophageal cancer.

In general, patients with cancer deteriorated more rapidly than those without cancer, Cais team reported. Cancer patients with COVID-19 were nearly three times more likely to have severe or critical illness (34%), be admitted to an intensive care unit ICU (19%) or be put on a ventilator (10%). Whats more, people with cancer were about twice as likely to die as COVID-19 patients without cancer (11% versus 5%, respectively).

People with blood cancers or lung cancer, as well as those with metastatic cancer, had a higher risk of severe events. Two thirds of the blood cancer patients and half of the lung cancer patients had such events. Among the lung cancer patients, 18% were put on ventilators and 18% died. In contrast, no one with breast, thyroid or cervical cancer required ventilators or died.

In particular, those with blood cancersmore than half of whom had severe immune suppressionhad about a 10-fold higher risk of severe events or death. Two thirds had severe symptoms, 22% were put on ventilators and 33% died. These patients all had a rapidly deteriorated clinical course once infected with COVID-19, the researchers wrote.

People with metastatic cancer had about a six-fold higher risk of severe events or death. But people whose cancer had not yet spread were not significantly more likely to have severe events or die than COVID-19 patients without cancer. People currently on cancer treatment and those with a history of cancer who had completed treatment were both at higher risk.

People who underwent surgery within the previous 40 days had higher rates of severe events, ICU admission, ventilator use and death, but this was not the case for those who received only radiation. In this study, unlike Zhangs and Asciertos, people treated with immunotherapy did not fare so well. Four of the six patients who recently received checkpoint inhibitors had critical symptoms and two died.

Based on our analysis, COVID-19 patients with cancer tend to have more severe outcomes when compared to the non-cancer population, the researchers wrote. Although COVID-19 is reported to have a relatively low death rate of 2% to 3% in the general population, patients with cancer and COVID-19 not only have a nearly three-fold increase in the death rate than that of COVID-19 patients without cancer, but also tend to have much higher severity of their illness.

In a related study, Marina Chiara Garassino, MD, of Fondazione IRCCS National Tumor Institute in Milan, presented the first data from the international TERAVOLT registry, which is collecting data about COVID-19 among people with lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. She noted that TERAVOLT was registering around 70 new cases per week from around the world per week.

This population may be especially vulnerable to COVID-19 due to older age, lung damage, smoking and underlying health conditions, Garassino said. Whats more, the symptoms of COVID-19 overlap with lung cancer, making diagnosis very challenging.

Garassino described results from the first 200 cancer patients with COVID-19 in more than 20 countries. Non-small-cell lung cancer was the most common type, and nearly three quarters had metastatic disease. About 20% received only targeted therapy, 33% received chemotherapy alone and 23% received immunotherapy alone.

A majority (76%) were hospitalized, but most were not offered intensive care for COVID-19; just 9% were admitted to an ICU and 3% were put on ventilators. More than a third (35%) died, mostly due to COVID-19 rather than cancer. Specific types of cancer treatment were not significantly associated with an increased risk of death.

But not all studies have seen worse COVID-19 outcomes among people with cancer. Fabrice Barlesi, MD, PhD, and colleagues looked at 137 COVID-19 patients with cancer at Gustave Roussy, a cancer center near Paris. They had a variety of cancer types, with blood cancers and breast cancer being most common. Nearly 60% had active advanced disease while 40% were in remission or being treated with potentially curative therapy.

Within this group, 25% had worsening COVID-19 after admission, 11% were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and 15% died. Again, people with blood cancers were more likely to have worse outcomes. Treatment with chemotherapy within the past three monthsbut not targeted therapy or immunotherapydoubled the likelihood of worsening disease. But this only applied to people with active or metastatic cancer, not those who had localized disease or were in remission.

The 15% death rate among people with cancer at Gustave Roussy was lower than the 18% rate for all COVID-19 patients in Paris and in France, Barlesi said. His team concluded that both incidence and outcomes of COVID-19 among cancer patients seem to be comparable to the population as a whole. However, people with blood cancers, those treated with chemotherapy and frail patients are at greater risk.

Discussing how to manage cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cai recommended self-protective isolation, strict infection control in hospitals and shifting some medical services online.

With regard to cancer treatment, she said, clinicians need to develop individualized plans based on a patients tumor type and stage of disease. She added that postponing surgery, if appropriate, should be considered in areas with current outbreaks. Radiation therapy, she said, could go ahead according to existing treatment plans with intensive protection and surveillance. Whether people with early-stage cancer need to postpone their treatment remains an unanswered question, she said.

Click hereto read the abstracts from the AACR COVID-19 and cancer session.Learn about What People With Cancer Need to Know About the New Coronavirus.

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Cancer Patients With COVID-19 May Have Higher Risk of Severe Illness and Death - Cancer Health Treatment News

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Cancer Patients With COVID-19 May Have Higher Risk of Severe Illness and Death – Cancer Health Treatment News | May 4th, 2020

A novel, bispecific CD19/CD22 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy was tolerable and resulted in responses among patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to results from a phase 1 trial presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting I 2020.

Thenovel CAR-T therapy was developed with the hypothesis that dual antigen-targetingstrategies may prevent antigen negative escape, Haneen Shalabi, DO, of theNational Cancer Institute and lead author and presenter of the study, said.

Thephase 1, dose-escalation study treated 13 young patients with ALL with theCD19/CD22 CAR-T therapy at 3 different dose levels, including 3 x 105,1 x 106, and 3 x 106. The bispecific construct containedFMC63 (CD19 scFv) linked with m971 (CD22 scFv) and a 4-1 BB costimulatorydomain.

Patientsunderwent lymphodepletion with fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide prior to theirCAR-T infusion. The primary endpoints were safety and toxicity, and thesecondary endpoints were efficacy, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expansion,and CAR persistence.

Atbaseline, the median age was 19.6 (range, 5.4-28.5). Patients had receivedprevious treatments, including hematopoietic stem cell transplant (54%),CD19-targeted therapy (69%), prior CD19 CAR T cell therapy (38.4%),blinatumomab (61.5%), CD22-targeted therapy (38.4%), inotuzumab (30.7%), andCD22 CAR-T therapy (15.4%). Extramedullary disease was present in 46.2% ofpatients.

CAR Tcells were well tolerated and toxicities were reversible in all patients, DrShalabi said.

Cytokinerelease syndrome (CRS) developed in 46% of patients, 15.4% of which was grade 3or higher. Both patients who developed grade 3 or higher CRS had received the 1x 106 dose level of the CD19/CD22 CAR-T product and both requiredtreatment with tocilizumab. One patient developed neurotoxicity, and hadreceived the 3 x 106 dose level.

Of the12 patients evaluable for efficacy, a complete response (CR) was achieved by42% (5) of patients, including all patients who received the 1 x 106 or 3 x 106 dose levelsof the CD19/CD22 CAR-T therapy. There were 2 nonresponders.

Two patientswho received 1 x 106 CAR-T and all patients who received the 3 x 106dose level were negative for minimal residual disease (MRD), with the remainingCRs demonstrating bone marrow clearance. Four of the 5 patients who were MRDnegative were also naive to CAR-T therapy.

Of the 5patients who achieved a CR, 2 relapsed with CD19-positive/CD22-positive diseaseand 3 remained in remission at a median 7 months after CAR T cell infusion.

Severalpatients, however, who were MRD negative in the bone marrow did not achieve CRin their extramedullary disease. Dr Shalabi said that these discrepant resultsbetween marrow and extramedullary disease suggests potentially limited CAR-Ttrafficking to sites of extramedullary disease. She suggested that treatmentat higher dose levels may be needed to overcome this limitation.

CAR T-cellexpansion occurred in all patents who responded, with a median peak inperipheral blood of 7%. At day 28, there were 1.3% CAR T cells in the bonemarrow. The persistence of the CAR T cells in peripheral blood was a median of45.6 days, as measured by flow cytometry.

Dr Shalabi concluded that this early experience with bispecific CD19/CD22 CAR T cells demonstrates clinical activity with reversible CRS and limited neurotoxicity. She noted that future studies will explore a 1 x 107 dose level, intensification of lymphodepletion prior to CAR-T infusion, and consideration of the potential role of immune checkpoint inhibitors to augment CAR-T in extramedullary disease.

References

Shalabi H, Yates B, Shahani S, et al. Safety and efficacy of CD19/CD22 CAR T cells in children and young adults with relapsed/refractory ALL. Presented at: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting I 2020; April 27-28, 2020. Abstract CT051.

This article originally appeared on Cancer Therapy Advisor

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Novel Bispecific CD19/CD22 CAR-T Therapy Deemed Tolerable in Relapsed/Refractory ALL - Oncology Nurse Advisor

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Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market was valued US$ 12 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach US$ 35 billion by 2026, at CAGR of 12.14 %during forecast period.

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The objective of the report is to present comprehensive assessment projections with a suitable set of assumptions and methodology. The report helps in understanding Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market dynamics, structure by identifying and analyzing the market segments and projecting the global market size. Further, the report also focuses on the competitive analysis of key players by product, price, financial position, growth strategies, and regional presence. To understand the market dynamics and by region, the report has covered the PEST analysis by region and key economies across the globe, which are supposed to have an impact on market in forecast period. PORTERs analysis, and SVOR analysis of the market as well as detailed SWOT analysis of key players has been done to analyze their strategies. The report will to address all questions of shareholders to prioritize the efforts and investment in the near future to the emerging segment in the Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market.

The report study has analyzed revenue impact of covid-19 pandemic on the sales revenue of market leaders, market followers and disrupters in the report and same is reflected in our analysis.

Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market: Overview

Cell therapy is a transplantation of live human cells to replace or repair damaged tissue and/or cells. With the help of new technologies, limitless imagination, and innovative products, many different types of cells may be used as part of a therapy or treatment for different types of diseases and conditions. Celltherapy technologies plays key role in the practice of medicine such as old fashioned bone marrow transplants is replaced by Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, capacity of cells in drug discovery. Cell therapy overlap with different therapies like, gene therapy, tissue engineering, cancer vaccines, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. Establishment of cell banking facilities and production, storage, and characterization of cells are increasing volumetric capabilities of the cell therapy market globally. Initiation of constructive guidelines for cell therapy manufacturing and proven effectiveness of products, these are primary growth stimulants of the market.

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Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market: Drivers and Restraints

The growth of cell therapy technologies market is highly driven by, increasing demand for clinical trials on oncology-oriented cell-based therapy, demand for advanced cell therapy instruments is increasing, owing to its affordability and sustainability, government and private organization , investing more funds in cell-based research therapy for life-style diseases such as diabetes, decrease in prices of stem cell therapies are leading to increased tendency of buyers towards cell therapy, existing companies are collaborating with research institute in order to best fit into regulatory model for cell therapies.Moreover, Healthcare practitioners uses stem cells obtained from bone marrow or blood for treatment of patients with cancer, blood disorders, and immune-related disorders and Development in cell banking facilities and resultant expansion of production, storage, and characterization of cells, these factors will drive the market of cell therapy technologies during forecast period.

On the other hand, the high cost of cell-based research and some ethical issue & legally controversial, are expected to hamper market growth of Cell Therapy Technologies during the forecast period

AJune 2016, there were around 351 companies across the U.S. that were engaged in advertising unauthorized stem cell treatments at their clinics. Such clinics boosted the revenue in this market.in August 2017, the U.S. FDA announced increased enforcement of regulations and oversight of clinics involved in practicing unapproved stem cell therapies. This might hamper the revenue generation during the forecast period; nevertheless, it will allow safe and effective use of stem cell therapies.

Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market: Segmentation Analysis

On the basis of product, the consumables segment had largest market share in 2018 and is expected to drive the cell therapy instruments market during forecast period at XX % CAGR owing to the huge demand for consumables in cell-based experiments and cancer research and increasing number of new product launches and consumables are essential for every step of cell processing. This is further expected to drive their adoption in the market. These factors will boost the market of Cell Therapy Technologies Market in upcoming years.

On the basis of process, the cell processing had largest market share in 2018 and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to in cell processing stage,a use of cell therapy instruments and media at highest rate, mainly in culture media processing. This is a major factor will drive the market share during forecast period.

Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market: Regional Analysis

North America to held largest market share of the cell therapy technologies in 2018 and expected to grow at highest CAGR during forecast period owing to increasing R&D programs in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. North America followed by Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the world (Row).Scope of Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market

Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market, by Product

Consumables Equipment Systems & SoftwareGlobal Cell Therapy Technologies Market, by Cell Type

Human Cells Animal CellsGlobal Cell Therapy Technologies Market, by Process Stages

Cell Processing Cell Preservation, Distribution, and Handling Process Monitoring and Quality ControlGlobal Cell Therapy Technologies Market, by End Users

Life Science Research Companies Research InstitutesGlobal Cell Therapy Technologies Market, by Region

North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South AmericaKey players operating in the Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market

Beckman Coulter, Inc. Becton Dickinson and Company GE Healthcare Lonza Merck KGaA MiltenyiBiotec STEMCELL Technologies, Inc. Terumo BCT, Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Sartorius AG

MAJOR TOC OF THE REPORT

Chapter One: Cell Therapy Technologies Market Overview

Chapter Two: Manufacturers Profiles

Chapter Three: Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market Competition, by Players

Chapter Four: Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market Size by Regions

Chapter Five: North America Cell Therapy Technologies Revenue by Countries

Chapter Six: Europe Cell Therapy Technologies Revenue by Countries

Chapter Seven: Asia-Pacific Cell Therapy Technologies Revenue by Countries

Chapter Eight: South America Cell Therapy Technologies Revenue by Countries

Chapter Nine: Middle East and Africa Revenue Cell Therapy Technologies by Countries

Chapter Ten: Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market Segment by Type

Chapter Eleven: Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market Segment by Application

Chapter Twelve: Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market Size Forecast (2019-2026)

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Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market : Industry Analysis and Forecast (2019-2026) - MR Invasion

Bone Marrow Stem Cells Comments Off on Global Cell Therapy Technologies Market : Industry Analysis and Forecast (2019-2026) – MR Invasion | May 4th, 2020

Leukemia are a heterogeneous group of cancers affecting the bone marrow and White Blood Cells (WBC). Leukemia is characterized by the rapid increase of abnormal blood cells growth or blasts, resulting in a decrease in the numbers of healthy, normal fully modified blood cells, leading to the typical symptoms of bleeding, anemia, and high risk of infection. Leukemia can grow along either the myeloid or lymphoid stem cell lines, it depends on the effect of genetic and epigenetic mutations on the progression of pluripotent stem cells to the various lines of mature cells which then pass into the blood. The effected line, combined with the rate of action and growth of disease reflects the four types of leukemias- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), chronic lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. AML: Acute Myeloid Leukemia, is a serious condition, its the most common leukemia suffered by adult people. According to a report from American Cancer Society, the average age for first diagnostic for AML is 64. With few days without treatment, AML develops fast, in duration of few weeks, the patient becomes severely ill. Due to its fast onset and acuteness in nature, there is no staging system for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).The treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) has changed in last 4 decades.

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The drug approval process is difficult in AML, (many drugs have not been approved by USFDA, for instance Laromustine, Dacogen and Tipitarnib) efforts have been made to introduce new therapies in the AML market.

Primary drivers boosting the growth of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market are minimal but increased prevalence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), increased drug approval rate for AML, classification of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as an orphan disease. Over the forecast period, population of people over 65 year is anticipated to increase, which is another key driver for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market.

However, lack of targeted therapies in current acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics landscape, the drug difficult approval process in AML can hinder the growth of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market, but this restraint has opened an opportunity for key players to innovate acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market.

How the Coronavirus Threat has Taken Global Business into Uncharted Waters

The global acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market is segmented on the basic of disease subtype, treatment type, end user and region.

Based on the disease subtype, the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market is segmented into the following:

Based on treatment type, the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market is segmented into the following:

Based on end user, the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market is segmented into the following:

The global acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market is anticipated to show lucrative growth owing to increased investment in innovative technologies by key players. Players in this market using various strategies to fuel their global footprint and to gain a competitive edge. Product pipelines, new product launches, agreements and collaborations, acquisitions, mergers and clinical trials are some key strategies applied from global players in recent years are anticipated to give a robust hike to the market in the forecast period.

Geographically, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market is segmented into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America is anticipated to be major contributor to this market accounting maximum percent of share in AML therapeutics market followed by Europe. Slow but constant growth in prevalence for AML in North America is anticipated to fuel the growth in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market. In Asia pacific region, China and India are anticipated to show high growth in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market due to new developments in healthcare infrastructure in the region.

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The players in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutics market include,

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Acute Myeloid Leukemia Therapeutics Market Latest Innovations, Drivers and Industry Key Events During Forecast 2017 2025 - Jewish Life News

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Abstract:Vaccine therapies for treatment andprevention of cancer have seen modest degrees of efficacy with wide variationrelated to the tumor type, vaccine type, adjuvants and clinical setting fortheir study. Over the course of the last two decades, various peptide vaccinesfor breast cancer have been studied. The current leading peptide vaccine forhuman application is a HER2-based vaccine known as Nelipepimut-S, which hasdemonstrated immune activity and promising clinical activity in some settings.This review covers the development of this newer peptide vaccine for both HER2amplified and non-amplified breast cancer.

Keywords:vaccine, breast cancer, HER2, peptide,human

INTRODUCTION

The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) proteinhas been one of the most extensively studied and targeted markers in oncologyin the last 30 years. The identification of the HER2 receptor and thedevelopment of antibodies to target it such as trastuzumab, pertuzumab andothers, are among the most successful advances in the treatment of breastcancer in the past 50 years. The research community learned that HER2signalling through its membrane-bound tyrosine kinase domain results indownstream activation of a cascade of events leading to angiogenesis, cellularinvasiveness, proliferation and survival proficiency. It is well known thatabout 20 percent of breast cancers will have marked overexpression of the HER2receptor and will benefit from HER2 targeting agents. It is generally acceptedthat most of the other 80% of breast cancers will express HER2, but at lowerlevels. There remains debate about the potential role of the HER2 protein andHER2 targeting in lower expressing breast cancers. Nevertheless, as a targetfor either passive or active immunotherapy, HER2 has been immunogenic due toantigens such as HER2369-377(also known as the E75 peptide)that are easily recognized by T cells and dendritic cells.

The currently available agents approved for HER2-overexpressing breast cancer include: trastuzumab, ado-trastuzumab, pertuzumab, lapatinib, neratinib, most recently trastuzumab deruxtecan, and five trastuzumab biosimilars (as of 1/2020). Additionally, the novel HER2 targeted monoclonal antibody, margetuximab, and a small molecule inhibitor, tucatinib, are currently being reviewed by the US FDA for possible approvals. While some of those drugs have been tested in HER2-low settings and non-breast settings, none have been approved to date for an indication outside of HER2-high or HER2 over-expressed cancer. Likewise, vaccine strategies have tested peptides, whole cell vaccines, dendritic cell vaccines, DNA vaccines and multipeptide vaccine in both HER2-high and HER2-low settings. The present review will examine the activity, development, efficacy and safety of the E75 peptide (also known as Nelipepimut-S when combined with GMCSF) as a peptide vaccine for breast cancer. Nelipepimut-S is currently in Phase III clinical development (NCT01479244) and has strong evidence of immunologic activity, though there is mixed evidence to date of clinical activity against early stage HER2-overexpressed breast cancer and there is little clinical activity reported against advanced metastatic disease. There is emerging data on Nelipepimut-S for HER2-low and triple negative breast cancer that will be reviewed.1

METHODS: LITERATURE SEARCH, INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

We performed a systematic search of peer-reviewed literaturedatabases from 11/1/2019 to 12/9/2019. This review was limited to manuscripts,abstracts and chapters available in the English language and catalogued inPubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and proceedings of national meetings including:ASCO, SITC, SABCS, ESMO (American Society of Clinical Oncology, Society forImmunoTherapy of Cancer, San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, and EuropeanSociety of Medical Oncology). We searched for keywords including: HER2peptide E75 peptide, Nelipepimut-S, Neu-vax, breast cancer. Weexcluded trials examining cancers other than breast cancer and other related peptidesoutside the studied amino acid sequence from HER2369-377.Multipeptide vaccine studies were included for completeness.

BACKGROUND OF NELIPEPIMUT-S

The aim of a cancer vaccine is to stimulate a cancerpatients immune system to recognize tumor associated antigens via activeimmunotherapy. Successful active immunotherapy results in T cell recognitionand killing of cells expressing the antigen of interest. Ideally, successful Tcell mediated tumor killing should lead to epitope spreading to increase therepertoire of T cells for cytolysis, and lead to long term T cell memory.Several peptide vaccines have been investigated for these purposes, and apeptide sequence that is successful to date is the E75 HER2 peptide vaccine,otherwise known as Nelipepimut-S.2This vaccine has severalpublished clinical and preclinical reports and has been studied in aregistrational phase III study.3Nelipepimut-S, or the E75vaccine, is a 9 amino acid sequence from the extracellular domain of the HER2receptor (residues 369377 of HER2neu: KIFGSLAFL4). This 9 aminoacid sequence has long been known to be the immunologically dominant epitope ofthe protein and is presented both by HLA-A2 and HLA-A3 (HLA restricted).2,5,6Thesetwo alleles represent a majority of patients with breast cancer. HER2 is ofcourse a self-antigen, but overexpression is largely limited to breast cancers(and occasionally lung, gastric and colon cancers). Surprisingly, there doesnot appear to be negative thymic selection of HER2369-377specificT cells as shown by several groups.710Thus the E75 antigenfrom HER2 is a reasonable target for a variety of immunotherapies.

During in vitro preclinical development, the E75 peptide wasrecognized by CD8+ T lymphocytes. Subsequently, it was demonstrated thatE75-stimulated cytotoxic T lymphocytes were capable of lysis of HER2-expressingcancer cell lines.4,10,11The specificity of pulsed T cells forHER2 expressing cells was replicated in mouse models of cancer.8,12Additionally,it was found by multiple groups that lymphocytes in circulation occasionallyharbor pre-existing responses against the E75, 9 amino acid sequence HER2neu369-377usedin the subsequent development of Nelipepimut-S.6,11-13Likewise,dendritic cells from normal donor blood sources have been shown to be able topresent the E75 peptide and to generate E75-specific T cells.14

CLINICALS TRIALS WITH THE E75 PEPTIDE

The earliest Phase I pilot study of the E75 peptide inhumans also incorporated a MUC1 peptide (M1.2) in an autologous dendritic cellvaccine in breast and ovarian cancer.14Among 10 patients, CD8responses to E75 and M1.2 were observed (via intracellular interferon assay andchromium release assays) in 5 patients. The authors also reported evidence ofepitope spreading in two patients after repeat vaccination.

A study by Zaks and Rosenberg (Table 1) examined theactivity of the single E75 peptide formulated with incomplete Freunds adjuvantin various solid tumors, including breast cancer. CD8 responses were againobserved in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) -A2 and HLA-A3 patients, but anergyrather than memory was the long term outcome,15possibly due tooverstimulation related to incomplete Freunds adjuvant.

Subsequently, the E75 peptide was combined with GM-CSF toattempt to overcome the anergy suspected to be due to the incomplete Freundsadjuvant in the prior study. When combined with GM-CSF, the vaccine is termedNelipepimut-S (also previously called Neu-vax). Two phase I studies of 6 and 14patients respectively with advanced disease were completed using Nelipepimut-Sby intradermal injection, and safety was observed for up to 1000 micrograms(mcg) of Nelipepimut-S along with 250mcg of GM-CSF. Immune response wasobserved by means of ELIspot and delayed type hypersensitivity analysis.16,17Patientsreceived monthly vaccinations for up to 10 months and no dose limiting toxicitywas observed.

Given the challenge of developing an immunotherapy inheavily pre-treated metastatic patients, the Nelipepimut-S was subsequentlytested in early stage, surgically resected breast cancer patients. Testing inearly stage disease was expected to be safe given the excellent safety profileobserved in the metastatic setting. Thus, a paired set of trials (NCT00841399,NCT00584789) were performed for stage II or stage III, HER2-expressing breastcancer as defined as any immunohistochemical (IHC) staining from 1+ to 3+. Thesister clinical trials (phase II) were performed in the United States and havesince been published.7,18,19In the studies, all patients wereclinically disease-free and were permitted to use concomitant endocrinetherapies as well as prior Trastuzumab therapy. The dose and schedule wereoptimized in these early adjuvant trials. Ultimately, 195 patients wereenrolled and followed for 60 months.18,19There were 100patients vaccinated and 95 control patients. In the primary analysis, with amedian 20 months follow-up after vaccination, the recurrence rates were 5.6% vs14.2% in vaccinated vs unvaccinated participants (p=0.04).20Thusthe studies met their primary endpoint. However, for secondary analysis it wasfound that the short-term recurrence difference observed at 20 months did notpersist at any of the later analyses. For example, there was no difference inrecurrence at the 26month analysis (p=0.15) nor at 60 months (p=0.08). Therewas no difference in overall survival (OS) with p value=0.1. The authorssuggested that waning immunity due to lack of boosting contributed to the lackof long term benefit of the vaccine strategy.20Interestingly,there was a higher rate of visceral metastases in the vaccine-treated patientswhen they recurred. The toxicities of this vaccine strategy included flu-likesymptoms, fatigue, and bone pain. Less than 2% of patients experienced any highgrade toxicity (highest grade=3). The study concluded that an optimal dosewould be 1000mcg and that a potential phase III trial should be performed.

In the sister Phase II trials, boosting was explored and asuggestion of benefit was observed with boosting once every 6 months.Exploratory analysis also showed that the low-grade breast cancers seemed toderive greater benefit from Nelipepimut-S vaccination than higher grade breastcancers. In a late followup report, there was only one recurrence observed inthe 21 participants with optimal dosing of booster vaccines.18

Following completion of the phase II studies, a phase IIIstudy of Nelipepimut-S as a single agent, was designed and given the acronym,PRESENT. The PRESENT study (NCT01479244) fully accrued across 197 researchsites by Galena Biopharma Inc. PRESENT was a registrational study of 758patients with early stage, node positive breast cancer with low to intermediateHER2 expression with a primary endpoint of 3 year disease free survival (DFS).Patients received either Nelipepimut-S with GM-CSF or GM-CSF alone over thecourse of six intradermal injections followed by boosting every 6 months for 3years.3The interim analysis was published in 2019 anddemonstrated no overall difference in disease free survival (DFS) between armsat 16 months follow-up. There was a numerically higher number ofimaging-detected recurrences in the Nelipepimut-S vaccinated patients (54.1%)compared to placebo (29.2%).3The phase III PRESENT study wasdiscontinued due to futility in 2016, based on that interim analysis and thedata monitoring committee recommendation. No new safety signals were reported,and no cardiac signals were seen. The protocol design required empiriccross-sectional body imaging yearly in all patients. This imaging requirementwas a deviation from the existing standard of care (which would be for no crosssectional imaging unless symptoms arise). The required cross sectional imagingmay have impacted on the early termination of the study. The control arm had arecurrence rate comparable to rates seen in contemporary trials in early stagepatients. There is some speculation about whether pseudoprogression findingsmight have been observed in the radiographic recurrences, but biopsyconfirmation was not undertaken, so no conclusion can be drawn. Given anegative phase III result in PRESENT, there is unclear future for thedevelopment of Nelipepimut-S in the node positive, HER2-low, adjuvant breastcancer population.

COMBINATION CLINICAL TRIALS WITH NELIPEPIMUT-S

Given the challenge and phase III disappointment ofdeveloping Nelipepimut-S as a stand-alone therapy, it is now also beingexamined in combinatorial studies. Preclinical data had suggested thattrastuzumab could increase cross presentation of the E75 epitope and moreefficient expansion of specific CD8+T cells. The first phaseIIb combination trial of E75 and trastuzumab (NCT01570036) enrolled 275patients with HER2 low (IHC 1+ or 2+) breast cancer in the United States andcombined Nelipepimut-S with trastuzumab.1The patients receivedeither Nelipepimut-S with trastuzumab or trastuzumab/GM-CSF. The study designwas based on the observation, during the early phase Nelipepimut-S studies,that 12 patients were concurrently exposed to trastuzumab as a standard of careand none of those 12 patients experienced recurrent breast cancer.21Inthis newer phase IIb combinatorial study of Nelipepimut-S with trastuzumab,overall, there was no statistically significant difference in DFS (p=0.18),although there was a benefit seen in the subgroup of patients deemed to betriple negative. In this subset of 97 patients, the DFS for Nelipepimut-S plustrastuzumab was 92.6% compared with 71.9% for the trastuzumab/GM-CSF group (HR=0.26, p=0.01).1This encouraging subset finding has reportedlyled to the design of an upcoming clinical trial in the triple-negative earlystage setting.

NELIPEPIMUT-S WITH TRASTUZUMAB IN HER2 IHC3+ BREAST CANCER

In a recently completed randomized phase II trial (NCT02297698), 100 patients with traditionally-defined HER2 overexpression (IHC 3+) and otherwise high risk, non-metastatic breast cancer were enrolled to 1 to 1 randomized study of trastuzumab Nelipepimut-S and followed for DFS. This study completed accrual in 2017, and interim results demonstrated that Nelipepimut-S was well tolerated, and no significant difference in side effect profile nor cardiac ejection fraction was observed between the two arms of the study.22Clinical results have not been released to date.

TRIAL OF NELIPEPIMUT-S IN DCIS OF THE BREAST

A phase II study (NCT02636582) termed the VADIS study isassessing Nelipepimut-S against GM-CSF for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) inthe neo-adjuvant window of opportunity design.23The premisefor this is supported by work published by Lowenfeld et al.24Inthis ongoing VADIS study, Nelipepimut-S or GM-CSF is given as two injectionsprior to definitive breast surgery. The primary endpoint is circulating immuneresponse at 6 months after vaccination. Secondary endpoints are toxicity andsafety. The study completed accrual in July 2019, and findings are stillpending.

OTHER E75 STUDIES IN BREAST CANCER

The potential promise of Nelipepimut-S vaccines, butnegative results in the large phase III trial, raise questions of whetheralternate vaccine formulations may induce stronger and more effective immuneresponses. A recently published study created and tested a liposomalformulation of the vaccine by attaching the E75 peptide to the surface ofdistearoyl phosphocholine and distearoyl phophoglycerol of nano-liposomes forvaccination.25ELISpot analysis and flow cytometry demonstratedsignificantly enhanced antitumor responses as well as tumor inhibition andprolonged survival time in the mouse TUBO model, which is a cell line thatoverexpresses the rHER/neu protein. Thus, this approach offers promise fortranslation to human clinical trials. There is also an ongoing autologous dendriticcell vaccine of the E75 peptide in combination with vinorelbine and trastuzumabin human cancer patients at the University of North Carolina (NCT00266110).26Finally,a series of four clinical trials performed at the University of Virginiaincorporated the E75 peptide into multipeptide vaccines for breast and ovariancancer, and using either polyICLC or incomplete Freunds adjuvant, rather thanGM-CSF (NCT00892567, NCT00304096, NCT01532960, NCT00091273). Immune responseswere detected, but clinical activity was not observed.27,28

DISCUSSION

The Nelipepimut-S vaccine alone demonstrates immune activityin patients expressing HLA-A2 or HLA-A3. As detailed above, the use of theNelipepimut-S vaccine in adjuvant breast cancer settings has not led toclinically meaningful improvements in overall survival or disease free survivalin a large randomized trial to date. Nevertheless, there are hints that thisparticular vaccine may hold potential clinical value in selected settings. Forexample, a meta-analysis of the 5 human clinical trials that involvedrandomization was performed in an effort to combine data from the smallertrials. In a published meta-analysis, the delayed hypersensitivity (DTH)responses and DFS combined data across trials suggested significant benefits tovaccination over control (p<0.05 and p=0.001 respectively). The combineddata for OS and recurrence were suggested to also have relevance (p=0.863 andp=0.388).29The conclusions of the meta-analysis do notablydiffer from some of the individual trials and obviously the patient populationshad major differences, thus rendering the impact of a meta-analysis unclear.Despite the criticisms of aggregation of data in the meta-analysis, it doessuggest that in appropriate settings that the Nelipepimut-S may have clinicalbenefits for some patients without untoward toxicity. Raw data from the large750 patient randomized phase III PRESENT trial, which was stopped for futility,was not available for analysis in that meta-analysis.

Thus, vaccine researchers in breast cancer are leftwondering which direction to focus limited resources on. Clearly there isimmunogenicity when vaccinating with the E75 peptide, and it tends todemonstrate synergy with passive antibody-based immunotherapy (ie, trastuzumabcombinations). It is also intriguing that the triple negative early stagebreast cancer population may have the greatest relative benefit afterNelipepimut-S vaccination. To date, there has been little traction indeveloping combinatorial strategies with checkpoint inhibitors or with myeloidsuppressing immunotherapy strategies. With checkpoint inhibitors approved inthe metastatic triple negative setting and expected in the triple negativeadjuvant setting, it is unclear what role peptide vaccination strategies may beable to play in the future triple negative treatment landscape.

Some remaining concerns for the E75 HER2 peptide developmentinclude the criticism that the peptide is HLA restricted and thus not availableuniversally to all patients. Also there is an unresolved question about how toaddress waning immunity and the need for long-term boosting strategies. Finally,the question about how best to select patients, especially in light of majorimmune system modulation that occurs during and immediately following adjuvantchemotherapy. It remains unknown whether the rebounding immune system in the 6months following cytotoxic chemotherapy presents a stimulatory or suppressiveenvironment for peptide vaccine generally and specifically for thisNelipepimut-S vaccine. Likewise, since HER2 targeting antibodies also impact onthe immune recognition of antigens from HER2, it is further unclear whetherearly adjuvant vaccination at the time of adjuvant HER2 antibodies or followingthe course of HER2 maintenance antibodies will be optimal.

CONCLUSION

Nelipepimut-S demonstrated immune activity against HER2positive breast cancer and suggestion of activity against triple negativebreast cancer. Its development in the adjuvant HER2 low to intermediatepopulation might be unlikely to continue based on the negative phase IIIPRESENT trial. Nevertheless, several important studies are yet to be performedfor the Nelipepimut-S and related E75 vaccines, such as combinatorial studies,novel adjuvant studies, boosting strategies, and biomarker driven studies.Recently there is rising interest in vaccine therapy for breast cancer, so thisor related vaccine strategies are likely to continue to be explored. Optimalpatient selection and monitoring may aid in future development of this cancertherapy.

Acknowledgments

Drs. Dillon, Brenin and Slingluff are supported by NCIsupport grant: 2P30CA044579-26 for the University of Virginia Cancer Center.

Disclosure

Drs. Dillon and Slingluff have published studies on peptidesreferenced in this manuscript. The University of Virginia was a subsite for aclinical trial referenced in this manuscript. Dr Dillon participated in aclinical trial for Galena Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Slingluff is an inventor onlicensed patents held by the University of Virginia Licensing and Venturesgroup for peptides used in melanoma vaccines. Dr Slingluff reports grants,non-financial support from Celldex for providing antibodies for clinical trialsand for preclinical studies. He also reports grants and/or non-financialsupport from Merck, Immatics, Polynoma, and GlaxoSmithKline; non-financialsupport from Theraclion, outside the submitted work. Dr Slingluff also in theprocess of joining the scientific advisory board with CureVac. In addition, DrSlingluff has patents on peptides used in cancer vaccines with royalties paid,a pending patent on biomarkers, a patent for a surgical device issued. Theauthors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Patrick M. Dillon,1Christiana M. Brenin,1Craig L. Slingluff Jr2

1University of Virginia, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA;2University of Virginia, Department of Surgery, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA

Correspondence: Patrick M DillonDivision of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Box 800716, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USATel +1-434-982-1495Fax +1-434-244-7534Email Pmd5b@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

References

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3.Mittendorf EA, Lu B, Melisko M, et al. Efficacy and safety analysis of Nelipepimut-S vaccine to prevent breast cancer recurrence: a randomized, multicenter, phase III clinical trial.Clin Cancer Res. 2019;25(14):42484254. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-18-2867

4.Fisk B, Blevins TL, Wharton JT, Ioannides CG. Identification of an immunodominant peptide of HER-2/neu protooncogene recognized by ovarian tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte lines.J Exp Med. 1995;181(6):21092117. doi:10.1084/jem.181.6.2109

5.Benavides LC, Gates JD, Carmichael MG, et al. The impact of HER2/neu expression level on response to the E75 vaccine: from U.S. Military Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Group Study I-01 and I-02.Clin Cancer Res. 2009;15(8):28952904. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-08-1126

6.Fisk B, Savary C, Hudson JM, et al. Changes in an HER-2 peptide upregulating HLA-A2 expression affect both conformational epitopes and CTL recognition: implications for optimization of antigen presentation and tumor-specific CTL induction.J Immunother Emphasis Tumor Immunol. 1995;18(4):197209. doi:10.1097/00002371-199511000-00001

7.Amin A, Benavides LC, Holmes JP, et al. Assessment of immunologic response and recurrence patterns among patients with clinical recurrence after vaccination with a preventive HER2/neu peptide vaccine: from US Military Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Group Study I-01 and I-02.Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2008;57(12):18171825. doi:10.1007/s00262-008-0509-2

8.Brossart P, Stuhler G, Flad T, et al. Her-2/neu-derived peptides are tumor-associated antigens expressed by human renal cell and colon carcinoma lines and are recognized by in vitro induced specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes.Cancer Res. 1998;58(4):732736.

9.Holmes JP, Clifton GT, Patil R, et al. Use of booster inoculations to sustain the clinical effect of an adjuvant breast cancer vaccine: from US Military Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Group Study I-01 and I-02.Cancer. 2011;117(3):463471. doi:10.1002/cncr.25586

10.Kawashima I, Hudson SJ, Tsai V, et al. The multi-epitope approach for immunotherapy for cancer: identification of several CTL epitopes from various tumor-associated antigens expressed on solid epithelial tumors.Hum Immunol. 1998;59(1):114. doi:10.1016/S0198-8859(97)00255-3

11.Kono K, Takahashi A, Sugai H, et al. Dendritic cells pulsed with HER-2/neu-derived peptides can induce specific T-cell responses in patients with gastric cancer.Clin Cancer Res. 2002;8(11):33943400.

12.Lustgarten J, Theobald M, Labadie C, et al. Identification of Her-2/Neu CTL epitopes using double transgenic mice expressing HLA-A2.1 and human CD.8.Hum Immunol. 1997;52(2):109118. doi:10.1016/S0198-8859(96)00292-3

13.Kuerer HM, Peoples GE, Sahin AA, et al. Axillary lymph node cellular immune response to HER-2/neu peptides in patients with carcinoma of the breast.J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2002;22(5):583592. doi:10.1089/10799900252982061

14.Brossart P, Wirths S, Stuhler G, Reichardt VL, Kanz L, Brugger W. Induction of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses in vivo after vaccinations with peptide-pulsed dendritic cells.Blood. 2000;96(9):31023108. doi:10.1182/blood.V96.9.3102

15.Zaks TZ, Rosenberg SA. Immunization with a peptide epitope (p369-377) from HER-2/neu leads to peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes that fail to recognize HER-2/neu+ tumors.Cancer Res. 1998;58(21):49024908.

16.Knutson KL, Schiffman K, Cheever MA, Disis ML. Immunization of cancer patients with a HER-2/neu, HLA-A2 peptide, p369-377, results in short-lived peptide-specific immunity.Clin Cancer Res. 2002;8(5):10141018.

17.Murray JL, Gillogly ME, Przepiorka D, et al. Toxicity, immunogenicity, and induction of E75-specific tumor-lytic CTLs by HER-2 peptide E75 (369-377) combined with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor in HLA-A2+ patients with metastatic breast and ovarian cancer.Clin Cancer Res. 2002;8(11):34073418.

18.Mittendorf EA, Clifton GT, Holmes JP, et al. Final report of the phase I/II clinical trial of the E75 (nelipepimut-S) vaccine with booster inoculations to prevent disease recurrence in high-risk breast cancer patients.Ann Oncol. 2014;25(9):17351742. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdu211

19.Peoples GE, Gurney JM, Hueman MT, et al. Clinical trial results of a HER2/neu (E75) vaccine to prevent recurrence in high-risk breast cancer patients.J clin oncol. 2005;23(30):75367545. doi:10.1200/JCO.2005.03.047

20.Peoples GE, Holmes JP, Hueman MT, et al. Combined clinical trial results of a HER2/neu (E75) vaccine for the prevention of recurrence in high-risk breast cancer patients: U.S. Military Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Group Study I-01 and I-02.Clin Cancer Res. 2008;14(3):797803. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-07-1448

21.Mittendorf EA, Clifton GT, Holmes JP, et al. Clinical trial results of the HER-2/neu (E75) vaccine to prevent breast cancer recurrence in high-risk patients: from US Military Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Group Study I-01 and I-02.Cancer. 2012;118(10):25942602. doi:10.1002/cncr.26574

22.Peace KM, Litton JK, Murthy RK, et al. Pre-specified interim analysis in a prospective, randomized phase II trial of trastuzumab vs trastuzumab + NeuVax to prevent breast cancer recurrence in HER2+ breast cancer patients.Paper presented at: American Association of Cancer Researchers, Annual Meeting; 2017;Washington, DC.

23.Mittendorf Elizabeth A, Plitas G, Garber J, et al. Abstract OT3-01-04: VADIS trial: phase II trial of the nelipepimut-S peptide vaccine in women with DCIS of the breast.Paper presented at: San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016;San Antonio, TX.

24.Lowenfeld L, Mick R, Datta J, et al. Dendritic cell vaccination enhances immune responses and induces regression of HER2(pos) DCIS independent of route: results of randomized selection design trial.Clin Cancer Res. 2017;23(12):29612971. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-16-1924

25.Arab A, Behravan J, Razazan A, et al. A nano-liposome vaccine carrying E75, a HER-2/neu-derived peptide, exhibits significant antitumour activity in mice.J Drug Target. 2018;26(4):365372. doi:10.1080/1061186X.2017.1387788

26.Serody J; 2020. Vaccine Therapy, Trastuzumab, and Vinorelbine in Treating Patients With Locally Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00266110.AccessedMarch11, 2020.

27.Chianese-Bullock KA, Irvin WPJr., Petroni GR, et al. A multipeptide vaccine is safe and elicits T-cell responses in participants with advanced stage ovarian cancer.J Immunother. 2008;31(4):420430. doi:10.1097/CJI.0b013e31816dad10

28.Dillon PM, Petroni GR, Smolkin ME, et al. A pilot study of the immunogenicity of a 9-peptide breast cancer vaccine plus poly-ICLC in early stage breast cancer.J Immunother Cancer. 2017;5(1):92. doi:10.1186/s40425-017-0295-5

29.Chamani R, Ranji P, Hadji M, Nahvijou A, Esmati E, Alizadeh AM. Application of E75 peptide vaccine in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Pharmacol. 2018;831:8793. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.05.010

Source: Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy.Originally published April 3, 2020.

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Evaluating Nelipepimut-S in the Treatment of Breast Cancer: A Short Report on the Emerging Data - Oncology Nurse Advisor

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on Evaluating Nelipepimut-S in the Treatment of Breast Cancer: A Short Report on the Emerging Data – Oncology Nurse Advisor | May 4th, 2020

TEL AVIV, Israel & PARSIPPANY, N.J. & INCHEON, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA), and Celltrion Healthcare, Co., Ltd. (KRX KOSDAQ:091990), today announced that TRUXIMA (rituximab-abbs) injection is now available in the United States for the treatment of:

TRUXIMA is the only biosimilar to the reference product Rituxan1 (rituximab) available to treat rheumatoid arthritis in the United States. See important safety information below including Boxed Warning regarding fatal infusion-related reactions, severe mucocutaneous reactions, hepatitis B virus reactivation and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

We are proud to make TRUXIMA available to patients and providers as a treatment option for these indications, especially as this is the only rituximab biosimilar indicated for rheumatoid arthritis, said Brendan OGrady, Executive Vice President, North America Commercial, Teva. Following the launch of our other biosimilar earlier this year, we remain focused on our commitment to lower healthcare costs and increase price competition through the availability of biosimilars.

Celltrion Healthcare and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. entered into an exclusive partnership in October 2016 for Teva to commercialize TRUXIMA in the U.S. and Canada. In May 2019, TRUXIMA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to match all of the reference products oncology indications described below.

We are pleased that patients in the United States can now have access to TRUXIMA for these new indications, said Mr. Hyoung-Ki Kim, Vice Chairman at Celltrion Healthcare. We believe that the continued use of biosimilars in the U.S. market will contribute to addressing unmet needs for patients and providers.

Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) granted pass-through status for TRUXIMA in the hospital outpatient setting. The Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC or list price) for TRUXIMA will be 10 percent lower than the reference product. TRUXIMA is expected to be available through primary wholesalers at a WAC of $845.55 per 100mg vial and $4,227.75 per 500mg vial. Actual costs to individual patients and providers for TRUXIMA are anticipated to be lower than WAC because WAC does not account for additional rebates and discounts that may apply. Savings on out-of-pocket costs may vary depending on the patients insurance payer and eligibility for participation in the assistance program.

Teva also offers dedicated patient support services through the CORE program. CORE is available to help eligible patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals navigate the reimbursement process. CORE offers a range of services, including benefits verification and coverage determination, support for precertification and prior authorization, assistance with coverage guidelines and claims investigation, and support through the claims and appeals process. A savings program is also available for eligible commercially insured patients. To learn more, please visit TevaCORE.com.

Please see the Important Safety Information below including the Boxed Warning regarding fatal infusion-related reactions, severe mucocutaneous reactions, hepatitis B virus reactivation and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. For more information, please see the full prescribing information.

Indications TRUXIMA (rituximab-abbs) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with:

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL)

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) (Wegeners Granulomatosis) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA)

Important Safety Information

WARNING: FATAL INFUSION-RELATED REACTIONS, SEVERE MUCOCUTANEOUS REACTIONS, HEPATITIS B VIRUS REACTIVATION and PROGRESSIVE MULTIFOCAL LEUKOENCEPHALOPATHY

Infusion-Related Reactions: Administration of rituximab products, including TRUXIMA, can result in serious, including fatal, infusion-related reactions. Deaths within 24 hours of rituximab infusion have occurred. Approximately 80% of fatal infusion-related reactions occurred in association with the first infusion. Monitor patients closely. Discontinue TRUXIMA infusion for severe reactions and provide medical treatment for Grade 3 or 4 infusion-related reactions

Severe Mucocutaneous Reactions: Severe, including fatal, mucocutaneous reactions can occur in patients receiving rituximab products

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Reactivation: HBV reactivation can occur in patients treated with rituximab products, in some cases resulting in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death. Screen all patients for HBV infection before treatment initiation, and monitor patients during and after treatment with TRUXIMA. Discontinue TRUXIMA and concomitant medications in the event of HBV reactivation

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), including fatal PML, can occur in patients receiving rituximab products

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Infusion-Related Reactions - Rituximab products can cause severe, including fatal, infusion-related reactions. Severe reactions typically occurred during the first infusion with time to onset of 30-120 minutes. Rituximab product-induced infusion-related reactions and sequelae include urticaria, hypotension, angioedema, hypoxia, bronchospasm, pulmonary infiltrates, acute respiratory distress syndrome, myocardial infarction, ventricular fibrillation, cardiogenic shock, anaphylactoid events, or death

Premedicate patients with an antihistamine and acetaminophen prior to dosing. For RA, GPA, and MPA patients, methylprednisolone 100 mg intravenously or its equivalent is recommended 30 minutes prior to each infusion. Institute medical management (e.g. glucocorticoids, epinephrine, bronchodilators, or oxygen) for infusion-related reactions as needed. Depending on the severity of the infusion-related reaction and the required interventions, temporarily or permanently discontinue TRUXIMA. Resume infusion at a minimum 50% reduction in rate after symptoms have resolved. Closely monitor the following patients: those with pre-existing cardiac or pulmonary conditions, those who experienced prior cardiopulmonary adverse reactions, and those with high numbers of circulating malignant cells (25,000/mm3)

Severe Mucocutaneous Reactions - Mucocutaneous reactions, some with fatal outcome, can occur in patients treated with rituximab products. These reactions include paraneoplastic pemphigus, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, lichenoid dermatitis, vesiculobullous dermatitis, and toxic epidermal necrolysis. The onset of these reactions has been variable and includes reports with onset on the first day of rituximab exposure. Discontinue TRUXIMA in patients who experience a severe mucocutaneous reaction. The safety of re-administration of rituximab products to patients with severe mucocutaneous reactions has not been determined

Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation - Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, in some cases resulting in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure and death, can occur in patients treated with drugs classified as CD20-directed cytolytic antibodies, including rituximab products. Cases have been reported in patients who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and also in patients who are HBsAg negative but are hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) positive. Reactivation also has occurred in patients who appear to have resolved hepatitis B infection (i.e., HBsAg negative, anti-HBc positive and hepatitis B surface antibody [anti-HBs] positive)

HBV reactivation is defined as an abrupt increase in HBV replication manifesting as a rapid increase in serum HBV DNA levels or detection of HBsAg in a person who was previously HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive. Reactivation of HBV replication is often followed by hepatitis, i.e., increase in transaminase levels. In severe cases increase in bilirubin levels, liver failure, and death can occur

Screen all patients for HBV infection by measuring HBsAg and anti-HBc before initiating treatment with TRUXIMA. For patients who show evidence of prior hepatitis B infection (HBsAg positive [regardless of antibody status] or HBsAg negative but anti-HBc positive), consult with physicians with expertise in managing hepatitis B regarding monitoring and consideration for HBV antiviral therapy before and/or during TRUXIMA treatment

Monitor patients with evidence of current or prior HBV infection for clinical and laboratory signs of hepatitis or HBV reactivation during and for several months following TRUXIMA therapy. HBV reactivation has been reported up to 24 months following completion of rituximab therapy

In patients who develop reactivation of HBV while on TRUXIMA, immediately discontinue TRUXIMA and any concomitant chemotherapy, and institute appropriate treatment. Insufficient data exist regarding the safety of resuming TRUXIMA treatment in patients who develop HBV reactivation. Resumption of TRUXIMA treatment in patients whose HBV reactivation resolves should be discussed with physicians with expertise in managing HBV

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) - JC virus infection resulting in PML and death can occur in rituximab product-treated patients with hematologic malignancies. The majority of patients with hematologic malignancies diagnosed with PML received rituximab in combination with chemotherapy or as part of a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Most cases of PML were diagnosed within 12 months of their last infusion of rituximab

Consider the diagnosis of PML in any patient presenting with new-onset neurologic manifestations. Evaluation of PML includes, but is not limited to, consultation with a neurologist, brain MRI, and lumbar puncture

Discontinue TRUXIMA and consider discontinuation or reduction of any concomitant chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy in patients who develop PML

Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) - Acute renal failure, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hyperuricemia, or hyperphosphatemia from tumor lysis, sometimes fatal, can occur within 12-24 hours after the first infusion of rituximab products in patients with NHL. A high number of circulating malignant cells ( 25,000/mm3) or high tumor burden, confers a greater risk of TLS

Administer aggressive intravenous hydration and anti-hyperuricemic therapy in patients at high risk for TLS. Correct electrolyte abnormalities, monitor renal function and fluid balance, and administer supportive care, including dialysis as indicated

Infections - Serious, including fatal, bacterial, fungal, and new or reactivated viral infections can occur during and following the completion of rituximab product-based therapy. Infections have been reported in some patients with prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia (defined as hypogammaglobulinemia >11 months after rituximab exposure). New or reactivated viral infections included cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, parvovirus B19, varicella zoster virus, West Nile virus, and hepatitis B and C. Discontinue TRUXIMA for serious infections and institute appropriate anti-infective therapy. TRUXIMA is not recommended for use in patients with severe, active infections

Cardiovascular Adverse Reactions - Cardiac adverse reactions, including ventricular fibrillation, myocardial infarction, and cardiogenic shock may occur in patients receiving rituximab products. Discontinue infusions for serious or life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Perform cardiac monitoring during and after all infusions of TRUXIMA for patients who develop clinically significant arrhythmias, or who have a history of arrhythmia or angina

Renal Toxicity - Severe, including fatal, renal toxicity can occur after rituximab product administration in patients with NHL. Renal toxicity has occurred in patients who experience tumor lysis syndrome and in patients with NHL administered concomitant cisplatin therapy during clinical trials. The combination of cisplatin and TRUXIMA is not an approved treatment regimen. Monitor closely for signs of renal failure and discontinue TRUXIMA in patients with a rising serum creatinine or oliguria

Bowel Obstruction and Perforation - Abdominal pain, bowel obstruction and perforation, in some cases leading to death, can occur in patients receiving rituximab in combination with chemotherapy. In postmarketing reports, the mean time to documented gastrointestinal perforation was 6 (range 1-77) days in patients with NHL. Evaluate if symptoms of obstruction such as abdominal pain or repeated vomiting occur

Immunization - The safety of immunization with live viral vaccines following rituximab product therapy has not been studied and vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended before or during treatment

Prior to initiating TRUXIMA physicians should ensure patients vaccinations and immunizations are up-to-date with guidelines. Administration of any non-live vaccines should occur at least 4 weeks prior to a course of TRUXIMA

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity - Based on human data, rituximab products can cause fetal harm due to B-cell lymphocytopenia in infants exposed to rituximab in-utero. Advise pregnant women of the risk to a fetus. Females of childbearing potential should use effective contraception while receiving TRUXIMA and for 12 months following the last dose of TRUXIMA

Concomitant Use With Other Biologic Agents and DMARDS Other Than Methotrexate

Observe patients closely for signs of infection if biologic agents and/or DMARDs are used concomitantly as limited safety data is available.

Use of concomitant immunosuppressants other than corticosteroids has not been studied in GPA or MPA patients exhibiting peripheral B-cell depletion following treatment with rituximab products

Use in RA Patients Who Have Not Had Prior Inadequate Response to TNF Antagonists

TRUXIMA should only be used in patients who have had a prior inadequate response to one or more TNF antagonist

Most common adverse reactions in clinical trials of NHL (25%) were: infusion-related reactions, fever, lymphopenia, chills, infection, and asthenia

Most common adverse reactions in clinical trials of CLL (25%) were: infusion-related reactions and neutropenia

Most common adverse reactions in clinical trials of RA (10%) were: upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, urinary tract infection, and bronchitis (other important adverse reactions include infusion-related reactions, serious infections, and cardiovascular events)

Most common adverse reactions in clinical trials of GPA and MPA (15%) were: infections, nausea, diarrhea, headache, muscle spasms, anemia, peripheral edema, and infusion-related reactions

Nursing Mothers - There are no data on the presence of rituximab in human milk, the effect on the breastfed child, or the effect on milk production. Since many drugs including antibodies are present in human milk, advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose of TRUXIMA due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants

About TRUXIMA TRUXIMA (rituximab-abbs) is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved biosimilar to RITUXAN (rituximab) for the treatment of: adult patients with CD20-positive, B-cell NHL to be used as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy or CLL in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC); for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in combination with methotrexate in adult patients with moderately-to severely-active RA who have inadequate response to one or more TNF antagonist therapies; and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) (Wegeners Granulomatosis) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) in adult patients in combination with glucocorticoids

TRUXIMA has the same mechanism of action as Rituxan and has demonstrated biosimilarity to Rituxan through a totality of evidence.

About Celltrion Healthcare, Co. Ltd. Celltrion Healthcare conducts the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution of biological medicines developed by Celltrion, Inc. through an extensive global network that spans more than 120 different countries. Celltrion Healthcares products are manufactured at state-of-the-art mammalian cell culture facilities, designed and built to comply with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cGMP guidelines and the EU GMP guidelines.

About Teva Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) has been developing and producing medicines to improve peoples lives for more than a century. We are a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day, and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry. Along with our established presence in generics, we have significant innovative research and operations supporting our growing portfolio of specialty and biopharmaceutical products. Learn more at http://www.tevapharm.com.

Teva's Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the launch of TRUXIMA Injection for Rheumatoid Arthritis in the United States, which are based on managements current beliefs and expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to:

and other factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, including in the sections captioned "Risk Factors and Forward Looking Statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

1 RITUXAN is a registered trademark of Genentech and Biogen.

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Teva and Celltrion Healthcare Announce the Launch of TRUXIMA (rituximab-abbs) Injection for Rheumatoid Arthritis, the Only Biosimilar to Rituxan...

Cardiac Stem Cells Comments Off on Teva and Celltrion Healthcare Announce the Launch of TRUXIMA (rituximab-abbs) Injection for Rheumatoid Arthritis, the Only Biosimilar to Rituxan… | May 4th, 2020

When the axons that extend from neurons break during a spinal cord injury, the result is often a lifelong loss of motor functioning, because vital connections from the brain to other body parts cannot be restored. Now, researchers from Temple Universitys Lewis Katz School of Medicine say they may have found a way to recover some functions lost to axon breaks.

The researchers discovered that boosting levels of a protein called Lin28 in injured spinal cords of mice prompts the regrowth of axons and repairs communication between the brain and body. Lin28 also helped repair injured optic nerves in the animals, they reported in the journal Molecular Therapy.

The Temple team zeroed in on Lin28 because its a known regulator of stem cells, meaning it controls their ability to differentiate into various cells in the body. The researchers examined the effects of Lin28 on spinal cord and optic nerve injuries using two mouse models: one that was engineered to express extra Lin28 and another that was normal and was given the protein after injury via a viral vector.

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All of the mice experienced axon regeneration, the researchers reported. But they found that the best results occurred in the normal mice that received Lin28 injections post-injury. In fact, in animals with optic nerve injuries, the axons regrew to the point where they filled the entire tract of the nerve.

Lin28 treatment after injury improved coordination and sensation in the mice, the researchers reported.

"We observed a lot of axon regrowth, which could be very significant clinically, since there currently are no regenerative treatments for spinal cord injury or optic nerve injury," said senior author Shuxin Li, M.D., Ph.D., professor of anatomy and cell biology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, in a statement.

RELATED: Gene therapy with 'off switch' restores hand movement in rats with spinal cord injury

Lin28 is already a target of interest, though it has garnered the most attention so far in cancer research. Startup Twentyeight-Seven Therapeutics is developing a small molecule that inhibits the protein in the hopes that doing so will boost Let-7, a cancer-suppressing microRNA. The company raised more than $82 million in a series A financing last year.

Several new approaches for repairing spinal cord injuries are under investigation, most notably gene therapy. King's College researchers are working on a gene therapy that repairs axons by prompting the production of the enzyme chondroitinase. A UT Southwestern team is targeting the gene LZK to increase levels of supportive nervous system cells called astrocytes in response to spinal injuries.

The Temple team has a two-pronged approach to further developing their Lin28-directed treatment. They hope to develop a vector that can be safely delivered by injection and that would deliver the therapy directly to damaged neurons. They also plan to study other molecules in the Lin28 signaling pathway.

"Lin28 associates closely with other growth signaling molecules, and we suspect it uses multiple pathways to regulate cell growth," Li said, potentially revealing other therapeutic molecules that could further boost neuron repair.

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Repairing spinal cord injuries with a protein that regulates axon regeneration - FierceBiotech

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Comments Off on Repairing spinal cord injuries with a protein that regulates axon regeneration – FierceBiotech | May 4th, 2020

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"Do you really need an eye cream?" It's a question that has intrigued many myself includedever since the tiny pots and tubes hit Sephora shelves.

One might wonder why you need a separate cream for your eye area when you already have a moisturizer for the face. Besides, your bathroom cabinet is probably already too crowded without having to add any more products, right?

In an attempt to resolve this skincare dilemma, three dermatologists weigh in on whether eye creams are actually a necessary skincare component or merely a nice-to-have:

Why you should invest in an eye cream?

"The skin around the eyes is thinner and shows signs of aging more quickly than other areas of the face do. This thinness makes it more delicate, vulnerable and prone to allergic reactions than other facial skin," says Dr. Craig Kraffert, board-certified dermatologist and president of Amarte Skin Care.

This is why the delicate skin around your eyes needs an extra dose of TLC, which a regular face moisturizer might not be able to deliver.

Moreover, the skin around your eyes also gets a much greater workout. "Every time you move your eyes, whether you squint, smile or widen them in surprise, you're using muscles around your eyes," notes Dr. Kraffert. Over time, factors like dryness and loss of collagen and elasticity lead to the formation of small wrinkles near your eyes, commonly known as 'crow's feet'. "Smoking and exposure to the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays can also contribute to wrinkle formation," adds the dermatologist.

Incorporating an eye cream into your daily skincare routine can help minimize the appearance of these wrinkles as well as tackle other skin concerns like dryness, puffiness, dark circles and pigmentation, tells Dr. Amy Ross, board-certified dermatologist and advisor for MONATs scientific advisory board.

And the sooner you start using one, the better. "The best time to start using an eye cream is before you think you need one," tells Dr. Ross. "Its easier to prevent signs of aging than correct them, so I recommend investing in an eye cream starting in your 20s," she says. Dr. Kraffert recommends applying an eye cream twice every day for optimal results.

What ingredients should you look for in an eye cream?

"Some key ingredients to look for are caffeine, hyaluronic acid and peptides," says Dr. Ross. Caffeine helps shrink under-eye bags by constricting the blood vessels and reducing inflammation. While peptides boost collagen production, making your skin plumper and more youthful.

Since the skin around your eyes has very few active oil glands, hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane and ceramides are essential for drawing in and sealing in the moisture.

For anti-aging benefits, "choose an eye cream contains retinol or a retinol derivative in a moisturizing baselook for ceramides, dimethicone, glycerin and oils in the ingredient list," says Dr. Estee Williams, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

In addition, you should also consider factors like your skin type, what skin concern you wish to target, whether you'll be layering makeup on top, etc. when picking an eye cream, suggests Dr. Williams.

The best eye creams for every skin concern:

Whether you want to tackle fine lines, treat dark circles or reduce puffiness, these skincare picks have got you covered:

For dryness: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream

Formulated with ultra-moisturizing hyaluronic acid, Neutrogenas Hydro Boost Gel-Cream penetrates quickly into the skin, plumping the skin cells with long-lasting moisture, making the delicate eye area visibly smooth and supple. It's lightweight, fragrance-free formula makes it suitable for all skin types, including oily and sensitive skin.

For dark circles: Sisley Paris Black Rose Eye Contour Fluid

Sisley Paris Black Rose Eye Contour Fluid

Infused with black rose extract, shea oil and caffeine, this luxe eye cream visibly smooths, revitalizes and brightens the skin around your eyes, making your peepers appear fresh and well-rested.

For de-puffing: Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream

Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream

Sunday Riley's Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream features a powerful blend of Brazilian ginseng root extract and caffeine that instantly invigorates and firms up the delicate eye area, reducing the appearance of under-eye bags. In addition, it contains horse chestnut extract that helps improve skin tone and smooth out fine lines.

For fighting photo-damage: Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35

Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35

The skin around your eyes is more sensitive and vulnerable to sun damage than the rest of your facial skin. This is why investing in an eye cream that also provides broad-spectrum protection is a good idea. Colorescience's three-in-one eye cream not only shields the eye area from harmful UVA and UVB rays but also noticeably improves the appearance of dark circles, wrinkles and fine lines.

For firming: No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream

No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream

Made with skin-nourishing ingredients like shea butter, ginseng root extract and white mulberry leaf extract, No7s Lift & Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream combats both uneven skin tone and fine lines, leaving your skin noticeably smooth, firm and radiant.

For dull, dry skin: Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream

Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream

Packed with date seed extract, peptides and avocado protein extract, this ultra-hydrating cream is like a tall glass of water for your skin. Its antioxidant-rich formula nourishes and brightens the delicate eye areamaking it instantly refreshed and reinvigorated.

For wrinkle repair: La Roche-Posay Redermic R Eyes Retinol Eye Cream

La Roche-Posay Redermic R Eyes Retinol Eye Cream

Featuring a potent formula supercharged with pure retinol, caffeine and thermal spring water, La Roche Posay's antioxidant-packed eye cream is a perfect pick for those whose primary skincare concern is wrinkles or fine lines.

For tackling signs of aging: Monat Eye Smooth Nourishing Eye Cream

Monat Eye Smooth Nourishing Eye Cream

Monat Eye Smooth Nourishing Eye Cream

From smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines to diminishing the appearance of dark circles, this rejuvenating cream does it all. Formulated with antioxidant-rich caffeine, peptides and plant stem cells, it plumps, brightens and evens skin tone, revealing a visibly smoother and youthful look around the eyes. Plus, it comes with a compact rose gold eye-roller that helps soothe puffy, stressed-out skin and improve circulation.

Excerpt from:
Heres Why You Should Never Skip Eye Cream, According To Dermatologists - Forbes

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Heres Why You Should Never Skip Eye Cream, According To Dermatologists – Forbes | May 4th, 2020

Washington: A recent study has suggested that adding a drug once commonly used to treat schizophrenia to traditional radiation therapy helped improve overall survival in mice with glioblastoma, one of the deadliest and most difficult-to-treat brain tumours.

The findings of the study conducted by researchers at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and colleagues was published in the journal 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences'.

It shows that a combination of radiation and the drug trifluoperazine not only targets glioblastoma cells but also helps overcome the resistance to treatment so common to this aggressive form of cancer. The results could prove promising for patients with the disease, for whom the median survival time is only 12 to 18 months following diagnosis.

Radiation is an integral part of therapy for people with cancer and one of the most effective treatments. In many cases, it can help cure the disease. But in glioblastoma, tumour cells often become resistant to radiation treatment because the radiation itself can induce "phenotype conversion," a process that turns certain non-tumour stem cells into tumour-producing cells, causing cancer to reoccur.

"While radiotherapy is one of the few treatments that prolong survival in glioblastoma patients, radiation alone does very little in treating the disease in our models because we are dealing with highly aggressive tumours," said the study's senior author, Dr Frank Pajonk, a professor of radiation oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a member of the Jonsson Cancer Center.

"The drug trifluoperazine by itself does not do much either, but we found when you combine them, they become highly efficient. Importantly, the drug does not sensitise cells to radiation but rather prevents the occurrence of resistant glioma stem cells," Pajonk added.

UCLA researchers have been exploring new ways to prevent glioblastoma tumour cells from becoming resistant to radiation by adding drugs to the treatment regimen that have traditionally been used for other purposes.

To find out if there were any existing drugs that could interfere with the radiation-induced phenotype conversion, the team screened more than 83,000 compounds through the shared resources at UCLA, which provides researchers access to specialised equipment and services to help them pursue cutting-edge research.

They were able to identify nearly 300 compounds, including the dopamine receptor antagonist trifluoperazine, that had the potential to block phenotype conversion and improve the efficacy of radiation therapy.

Once trifluoperazine was identified, it was tested on mice with patient-derived orthotopic tumours. The team found that when used in combination with radiation, trifluoperazine successfully delayed the growth of the tumours and significantly prolonged the overall survival of the animals.

Combining radiation treatment with trifluoperazine extended survival in 100 per cent of the mice to more than 200 days, compared to 67.7 days in the control group receiving only radiation.

"Many preclinical glioblastoma studies report fairly small increases in overall survival in mice, and that rarely translates into benefits for patients," said Pajonk, who is also a member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA.

"But here, we see pretty drastic effects in improved overall survival and I find that very encouraging. It gives us hope that this is all going to translate into a benefit for people," Pajonk further said.

The team plans to start a clinical trial this summer for people with recurrent glioblastoma to test using dopamine receptor antagonist with radiation therapy.

"I think we can find a combination of treatments with radiation that is very tolerable to patients and can do well," said co-author Leia Nghiemphu, an associate professor of clinical neurology at the Geffen School of Medicine and principal investigator on the upcoming clinical trial. "The next step is to see if we can stop this resistance to radiation in humans," added Nghiemphu.

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Schizophrenia drug combined with radiation shows promise in treating deadly brain tumours, says study - Free Press Journal

Skin Stem Cells Comments Off on Schizophrenia drug combined with radiation shows promise in treating deadly brain tumours, says study – Free Press Journal | May 3rd, 2020