But there are other hurdlessome so challenging that many scientists have given up. For one thing, nudging the stem cells in the right direction requires, it seems, a unique touch and expertise. Not just anyone will be able to make egg and sperm cells in the lab, says Saitou.

Saitou and Hayashi, now at Kyushu University, lead world-renowned teams of extraordinary skill. Their achievements might not have been possible without the contributions of Hiroshi Ohta, for example. Ohta is an expert in anesthetizing newborn mice using ice, performing intricate surgery on them, and injecting cells into the animals miniature gonads. The entire procedure must be completed within five minutes or the animals die. Only a few people have such skills, which take months to develop. I think our group was kind of lucky, says Saitou. It was a get-together of many talented scientists.

The work is hampered by the lack of in-depth knowledge about how the primitive forms of egg and sperm cells develop naturally in the embryoa process that is far from fully worked out in humans. Some of the embryos cells begin to differentiate into these primitive sex cells at around 14 days. But in some countries, it is illegal for researchers to even grow human embryos beyond 14 days. They would send me to jail if I went beyond day 14, says Azim Surani, who is working with precursors to artificial sex cells at the University of Cambridge in the UK.

The problem, from a research point of view, is that the 14-day rule comes in just as the embryos start to get interesting, says Surani. Without being able to easily study the critical process of how primitive cells begin forming egg and sperm cells, scientists are limited in their ability to mimic it in the lab.

Even if scientists were able to study embryos more freely, some mysteries would remain. Once the cells that make eggs and sperm are created, they are held in a kind of suspended animation until puberty or ovulation. What happens to them in the years in between? And how important is this phase for the health of mature eggs and sperm? The honest answer is we dont know, says Surani.

The stem cells in the lab must also be generated and cared for under precise conditions. To survive, they must be bathed in a cocktail of nutrients that must be replaced every day. Its very time consuming and labor intensive and it takes a lot of money, says Bjorn Heindryckx at Ghent University in Belgium, one of the scientists who have given up on creating human eggs this way in the lab. The outcome was too limited for the effort and the money that we spent on it, he says.

Part of the challenge is that for the precursor stem cells to develop into fully matured egg or sperm cells, they must be placed in an environment mimicking that of newly developing ovaries or testes. Researchers studying mice use tissue taken from mouse embryos to induce the stem cells to differentiate into sex cells. But similarly using human tissue from discarded embryos is ethically and legally problematic. So scientists are working on ways to create the right environment without using tissue from embryos.

The upshot is that it will likely take a highly skilled team years of dedicated research. Its not impossible, but it would not be easy to do, says Surani.

Continue reading here:
Inside the race to make human sex cells in the lab - MIT Technology Review

Jeanne Loring likes to say shes been to space without her feet even leaving the ground.

Just weeks ago, the Scripps Research Institute professor of molecular medicine sent some of her own genetically mapped cells to space as part of first-of-its-kind research to study the progression and onset of Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases.

I love traveling. Ive been on all the continents, and so I figured, whats left? Loring said jokingly. I just jumped at the opportunity when I learned that it was possible.

Newsletter

Get our essential investigative journalism

Sign up for the weekly Watchdog newsletter for investigations, data journalism and more.

Enter email address

Sign Me Up

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

In July, the cells arrived via cargo spacecraft at the International Space Station, where they remained under close observation for about a month 250 miles above Earth, and traveling at 17,500 miles per hour before they splashed back down to Earth last week.

The study is part of new National Stem Cell Foundation-funded neurodegeneration research to observe how cells communicate in microgravity in a way not possible on Earth, explained Paula Grisanti, founder and CEO of the foundation.

Its really pure exploration at this point, because theres no history of anybody doing this before, she said. Were paving the path.

An organoid derived from Dr. Jeanne Lorings induced pluripotent stem cells is prepared to be sent to the International Space Station.

(Courtesy of Dr. Davide Marotta)

Loring, a Del Mar resident who is one of the worlds leading experts in Parkinsons and a senior scientific advisor for the foundation, has been working with human-induced pluripotent stem cells since the technology was first discovered in 2006.

Called organoids, these cells are made from human skin tissue, which is put into a culture dish and turned into pluripotent stem cells, Loring explained.

Pluripotent stem cells only exist in culture dishes, they dont exist in our bodies, she said. Pluripotent means they can form any cell type in the body so for Loring, that meant forming nerve cells to create brain-like structures.

Its hard to study peoples brains, Loring said. You can do all this external stuff like they do with physical exams, but theres not any window into the brain so this is providing a sort of brain avatar.

Organoids provide a stand-in for the brain that can be studied by researchers, Loring explained. They make connections with each other, the cells talk to each other, so in a lot of ways, its a really good model of the brain, she added.

Moreover, the organoids mimic the brains of people with MS and Parkinsons.

Loring has been working with these organoids for years through Aspen Neuroscience, a San Diego-based company she co-founded that is working to create the worlds first personalized cell therapy for Parkinsons, using a patients own cells so they dont have to worry about rejection. Clinical trials may start as early as next year, she said.

Tubes containing neural organoids are loaded into a rack in preparation for placement in Cube Lab to travel to the International Space Station.

(Courtesy of Space Tango)

For the last four years, the foundations team of bicoastal researchers has been working together to study these organoids in space.

While an experiment in space presents its own challenges, Loring said its worth the work, as researchers hope to gain valuable and unique insight into how disorders like Parkinsons and MS develop. You can see them interacting and talking to each other in 3-D in a way that you cannot on Earth, Grisanti said.

Along with Lorings healthy organoids, which are used as a control, organoids derived from patients with Parkinsons and MS were sent to the space station, while the entire experiment was replicated on Earth.

Specifically, researchers are studying the neuroinflammation in the organoids, which is like when the immune system in the brain is overactive, Grisanti explained.

Organoid cultures are sealed in holders and ready to be placed in Cube Lab for space flight. The cover shows National Stem Cell Foundations SpaceX CRS-25 mission patch.

(Courtesy of Space Tango)

What we hope to find is a point at which things start to go wrong in those neurodegenerative diseases, where we could then intervene with a new drug or cell therapy, she said. And were seeing signs that that happens more in space than it does on the ground, so it helps create the type of interaction that you would see early in a neurodegenerative disease.

Grisanti said they hope to be able to use this research to develop a new drug or cell therapy to treat these disorders and potentially other neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

I think weve cracked the door open, but weve got some more flying to do, she added.

Continued here:
To better understand Parkinson's disease, this San Diego expert sent her own cells to space - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Westford, USA, Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the world increasingly becomes connected and people live longer, surgery and medical procedures become more complex. Surgery, one of the most common medical procedures, is now estimated to use over 1 million surgical tools each year. In order to meet the rising demand for surgical tools, surgeons are turning to biomaterials as a key component in their procedures. The main reason for this growth of the global biomaterials market is the increasing demand for novel biomaterials in various sectors such as automotive, aerospace, construction, and medical applications.

The growing demand for biomaterials has led to several companies developing unique biomaterials specifically for surgery. Some of the most well-known biomedical materials including polypropylene microspheres, chitosan hydrogel, and alginate matrix were pioneers in the field of biomaterials. Today, there are numerous new types of biomaterials being developed and marketed for a variety of medical applications, such as wound healing and orthopedic surgery. Global biomaterials market is expanding rapidly due to increasing public awareness of the benefits of using these materials and growing demand from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

SkyQuest has published a report on global biomaterials market. The report provides a detailed market analysis, which would help the market participant in gaining is insights about market forecast, company profiles, market share, pricing analysis, competitive landscape, value chain analysis, porters five, and pestle among others.

Get sample copy of this report:

https://skyquestt.com/sample-request/biomaterials-market

Demand For Biomaterials in the Healthcare Industry will Grow by 53% Over the Next Five Years

The demand for biomaterials market in the healthcare industry is growing rapidly, according to SkyQuest study. We studied global economic data and discovered that the demand for biomaterials in the healthcare industry will grow by 53% over the next five years. In 2021, 10.7 million patients used some kind of biomaterials across different applications such as wound care, tissue implant, surgeries, and medical devices, among others. This rising demand is impacting not only hospitals and clinics, but also diagnostic laboratories and pharmaceutical companies.

Most biomedical materials are manufactured from organic materials such as skin, bone, cartilage, and tendons. While these materials can be derived from a variety of sources, synthetic biomedical materials are often cheaper and more readily available. However, synthetic biomedical materials do not have the same properties as natural materials, which means they may not be as effective when used in medical treatments. Biologically based biomaterials are more effective because they can mimic the properties of natural tissues. Their potential benefits make them a highly desired commodity in the healthcare industry across the global biomaterials market. In 2021 alone, sales of artificial joints were worth $2.2 billion, while sales of regenerative medicine products such as stem cells and platelet-rich plasma were estimated to be worth $8.8 billion in the same year.

SkyQuest has done a detailed study on global biomaterials market and prepared a report that also covers current consumer base, potential demand for products, demand analysis by category and volume, expected growth, prominent growth factors, market dynamics, trends, opportunities, and innovation, among others.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://skyquestt.com/report/biomaterials-market

Top 4 Biomaterials in Global Market

1. Stem cells- Stem cells have become one of the most promising areas of biomaterial research because they can be modified to create a wide variety of tissue types, including cartilage, skin, and bone.

2. Chitosan- Chitosan is a natural polymer found in creatures ranging from crabs to shrimp, and it is prized for its ability to form strong and durable bonds with other materials.

3. Polycaprolactone- Polycaprolactone is a modified form cellulose that has been shown to have many potential biomedical applications, including as a replacement for hard tissues like heart valves and bones.

4. Mesenchymal stem cells- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult cells found in the connective tissue and skeletal muscles of mammals. MSCs have characteristics that make them especially effective at repairing tissues damaged by disease or injury, which is why they are commonly used in studies on regenerative therapies.

Recent Advancements in Biomaterials Market

Successful applications of biomaterials in disease treatment have made them a preferred choice for many medical procedures. For example, use of biomaterials for artificial heart valves has revolutionized the way these devices are operated and prevented heart failure in patients.

In addition, various biomaterials are being developed for use in regenerative medicine. For example, researchers in the global biomaterials market are exploring the possibilities of using nano-sized polymers to promote the growth of new tissue in injured or damaged tissues. This approach may prove to be an effective way to restore function to damaged organs and limbs.

Biomaterials are also being used to create new types of prosthetic devices. For example, doctors are currently testing a new type of artificial hip that uses a biocompatible material as its main component.

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

https://skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/biomaterials-market

SkyQuests report on global biomaterials market would help you in gaining insights about current developments and its impact on the overall market growth, pricing, demand and supply, change in growth strategies of existing players, among others. Also, the report would help in understanding how the market value is changing and affecting the forecast revenue over the period.

Top Players in the Global Biomaterials Market

Related Reports in SkyQuests Library:

Global Cell Therapy Market

Global Flow Cytometry Market

Global Bioinformatics Market

Global Synthetic Biology Market

Global Biopharmaceutical Analytical Testing Services Market

About Us:

SkyQuest Technologyis leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally.

Address:

1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886

Phone:

USA (+1) 617-230-0741

Email:sales@skyquestt.com

LinkedInFacebookTwitter

Read the original:
Global Biomaterials Market to Reach Value of $372.7 Billion by 2028 | Demand For Biomaterials in the Healthcare Industry will Grow by 53% Over the...

We are what we eat. And drink. And how we sleep, detox, and exercise or not.

Nothing new there. But in a world where new-to-market serums, creams, and spiritual berry tonics extracted by hand by Tibetan monks are in our (digital) face every day, were being presented with so many cool options on how to cleanse, moisturize, and treat wrinkles, lackluster skin, and hair that its next to impossible to keep up, let alone care for.

And while I wont be ditching my tried-and-true products any time soon, these newer, technologically advanced plant-based offerings are, in truth, quite effective. Products flooded with adaptogens help the body respond and adapt to various kinds of stress and inflammation. And how we weave them into our lifestyle regimens can be fun too.

Rather than barrage you with a ton of products, I thought a conversation regarding upcoming trends that embrace these new, full-circle, inside-and-out additions to our anti-aging routines is in order. We may have to look a little harder for these over-the-counter retail items, but not for long. Keep in mind that several of these brands combine two or three categories as ingestibles and topicals, which include CBD, functional mushrooms, and waterless skin care all of it nonpsychoactive, of course.

While recreational and medicinal marijuana are slowly becoming legal in more and more states, its tempting to get into the weeds with a cannabis/hemp/CBD tutorial. Lets simplify: it all comes from the same hemp plant thats loaded with restorative and preventative properties. CBD is legal (no high) and widely used for general to advanced wellness. Categories include singular isolates (113+ CBD extracts); broad spectrum (whole plant extract minus THC); and full spectrum (whole plant extract with less than 0.3 percent THC, the legal limit for all CBD products in the U.S.).

See the rest here:
A Groovy Guide to Anti-Aging Products With CBD and Mushrooms - Out Magazine

ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OpGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPGN, “OpGen” or “the Company”), a precision medicine company harnessing the power of molecular diagnostics and informatics to help combat infectious disease, announced today that it has launched next generation sequencing (NGS) services in the U.S. that were developed by its subsidiary, Ares Genetics (“Ares”), which strives to become a leader in bacterial genomics and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered antimicrobial resistance (AMR) solutions.

More:
OpGen Launches Ares Sequencing Services in the U.S. from its Rockville, Maryland Laboratory

Ublituximab is an investigational targeted B-cell therapy that shows superior efficacy when compared with teriflunomide, a commonly prescribed oral treatment for multiple sclerosis

The rest is here:
TG Therapeutics Announces Results from the ULTIMATE I & II Phase 3 Trials of Investigational Ublituximab in RMS Published in The New England...

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Frontier Medicines Corporation, a precision medicine company seeking to unlock the proteome to advance breakthrough therapies against otherwise undruggable disease-causing targets, today announced the appointment of Mark Dizon, J.D., to the position of general counsel.

Here is the original post:
Frontier Medicines Announces the Appointment of Seasoned Legal Executive Mark Dizon, J.D., as General Counsel

Abelacimab is the only Factor XI inhibitor currently being evaluated in Phase 3 trials

Read the original:
Anthos Therapeutics Launches Second Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Its Dual-acting Factor XI Inhibitor, Abelacimab

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Catalyst Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBIO) (“Catalyst,” the “Company” or “we”) today announced that the Board of Directors has declared a special, one-time cash dividend of $1.43 per share to holders of the Company’s Common Stock. The dividend is payable on September 20, 2022 to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 6, 2022. The aggregate amount of the payment to be made in connection with this special dividend will be approximately $45 million.

Read the original post:
Catalyst Biosciences, Inc. Declares Special Cash Dividend of $1.43 per share

Issued claims will protect use of a biomarker to assess response to Lomecel-B™ in patients with blood vessel dysfunction Issued claims will protect use of a biomarker to assess response to Lomecel-B™ in patients with blood vessel dysfunction

See original here:
Longeveron Receives Intent to Grant Notice from the European Patent Office for Methods to Monitor Efficacy of Lomecel-B™ Cell Therapy Through Levels...

PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oyster Point Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: OYST), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of first-in-class pharmaceutical therapies to treat ophthalmic diseases, today announced the presentation of analyses at the Women in Ophthalmology (WIO) Summer Symposium, which is taking place in Monterey, California from August 25-28, 2022.

Originally posted here:
Oyster Point Pharma to Present Analyses at the Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sofwave Medical Ltd (TASE: SOFW), an emerging leader in energy-based non-invasive, aesthetic medical devices for practitioners worldwide, today announced its live and in-person participation at the 5CC World (5-Continent-Congress) that is being held from September 1-4, in Barcelona, Spain.

See the original post:
Sofwave™ to Showcase SUPERB™ (Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam Technology) Live and In-Person at 5CC International Aesthetic Medical and...

BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Wave BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:FWBI) (“First Wave BioPharma” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of targeted, non-systemic therapies for?gastrointestinal diseases, today announced that it intends to effect a reverse stock split of its common stock at a ratio of 1 post-split share for every 30 pre-split shares. First Wave’s common stock will continue to be traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol FWBI and will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis when the market opens on Friday, August 26, 2022, under a new CUSIP number, 33749P200.

See more here:
First Wave BioPharma, Inc. Announces Reverse Stock Split

ORLANDO, FL, Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Immune Therapeutics, Inc. (OTC PINK:IMUN) ("Immune" or "IMUN"), a pioneering pharmaceutical company involved in the acquisition, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical and biotechnology products that have a short and well-defined path to market, is pleased to announce it is in full compliance with OTC Markets following the filing of its 10-Q allowing removal of the delinquency flag and a return to Current Information status with the OTC Markets Group. New management, moving forward, will ensure the company continues to stay in full compliance with all OTC Markets reporting standards bringing confidence to the public.

Original post:
Immune Announces Filing of 10-Q and Removal of Delinquency Flag on OTC Markets Stock Quotes

NEWS RELEASE - REGULATED INFORMATION25 AUGUST 2022, 4:00PM EDT, 22:00 CET

See the rest here:
MDxHealth Reports Half Year 2022 Results

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc., (NASDAQ: MYGN), a leader in genetic testing and precision medicine, today announced Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has granted expanded coverage for the use of Myriad’s BRACAnalysis® Diagnostic System as a companion diagnostic to identify patients with germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) and HER2-negative high-risk recurrent breast cancer who may benefit from Lynparza®(olaparib).

Continued here:
Myriad Genetics Receives Expanded Coverage in Japan for Use of BRACAnalysis® Diagnostic System as a Companion Diagnostic for Lynparza® in...

Dr. Heron brings decades of experience in executive leadership and life sciences research and development to Vaxart's Board Dr. Heron brings decades of experience in executive leadership and life sciences research and development to Vaxart's Board

Read the original post:
Vaxart Announces Highly Regarded Biotech Executive Elaine J. Heron, Ph.D. Joins Board of Directors

Significant Milestones Achieved Significant Milestones Achieved

View post:
Kane Biotech Announces Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Travere Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: TVTX) today announced that the Company and its collaborators will present a genetic evaluation and an analysis of cognitive function from the Company’s ongoing longitudinal natural history study of people living with classical homocystinuria (HCU), at the Society for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism Annual Symposium in Freiburg, Germany, August 30 – September 2, 2022. Data exploring genomic population-based estimates of the incidence of HCU will also be presented. The Company is currently advancing a novel investigational enzyme replacement therapy, pegtibatinase, for the treatment of HCU.

See more here:
Travere Therapeutics to Present Abstracts at the Society for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism Annual Symposium

SOMERVILLE, Mass., Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Finch Therapeutics Group, Inc. (“Finch” or “Finch Therapeutics”) (Nasdaq: FNCH), a clinical-stage microbiome therapeutics company leveraging its Human-First Discovery® platform to develop a novel class of orally administered biological drugs, today announced that it will regain full development and commercial rights to FIN-524 (previously known as TAK-524) and FIN-525 from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”). Following a review of its pipeline, Takeda informed Finch of its decision to terminate its collaboration with Finch, effective November 17, 2022, resulting in the return to Finch of worldwide rights to develop and commercialize FIN-524, FIN-525, and any other microbiome product candidates for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). FIN-524 and FIN-525 are investigational, orally administered targeted microbiome product candidates composed of bacterial strains selected for their potential immuno-modulatory properties.

Continued here:
Finch Therapeutics Regains Full Rights to FIN-524 and FIN-525 Targeted Microbiome Product Candidates in Development for IBD