BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics to Present at the 2020 Biotech Showcase and 3rd Annual Neuroscience Innovation Forum at JPM Week – GlobeNewswire

NEW YORK, Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that Chaim Lebovits, President and Chief Executive Officer, will provide a corporate overview at the 2020 Biotech Showcase, being held on January 13-15, 2020 at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square in San Francisco, California.

Mr. Lebovits will also present at the 3rd Annual Neuroscience Innovation Forum, taking place on January 12, 2020, at the Marines Memorial Club in San Francisco. Additionally, Ralph Kern M.D., MHSc, BrainStorms Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer, will participate on aRare & Orphan Diseases Panel.

Meetings

BrainStorms senior management will also be hosting institutional investor and partnering meetings at the 2020 Biotech Showcase conference (https://goo.gl/SGFm62). Please use the Investor contact information provided below to schedule a meeting.

About NurOwn

NurOwn (autologous MSC-NTF cells) represent a promising investigational approach to targeting disease pathways important in neurodegenerative disorders. MSC-NTF cells are produced from autologous, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have been expanded and differentiated ex vivo. MSCs are converted into MSC-NTF cells by growing them under patented conditions that induce the cells to secrete high levels of neurotrophic factors. Autologous MSC-NTF cells can effectively deliver multiple NTFs and immunomodulatory cytokines directly to the site of damage to elicit a desired biological effect and ultimately slow or stabilize disease progression. NurOwn is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 ALS randomized placebo-controlled trial and in a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial in Progressive MS.

About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of innovative autologous adult stem cell therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative diseases. The Company holds the rights to clinical development and commercialization of the NurOwn technology platform used to produce autologous MSC-NTF cells through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement. Autologous MSC-NTF cells have received Orphan Drug status designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in ALS. BrainStorm has fully enrolled a Phase 3 pivotal trial in ALS (NCT03280056), investigating repeat-administration of autologous MSC-NTF cells at six sites in the U.S., supported by a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM CLIN2-0989). The pivotal study is intended to support a filing for U.S. FDA approval of autologous MSC-NTF cells in ALS. For more information, visit BrainStorm's website at http://www.brainstorm-cell.com.

Safe-Harbor Statement

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information, including statements regarding future clinical trial enrollment and data, constitute "forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that could causeBrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'sactual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Terms and phrases such as "may", "should", "would", "could", "will", "expect", "likely", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "predict", "potential", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, BrainStorms need to raise additional capital, BrainStorms ability to continue as a going concern, regulatory approval of BrainStorms NurOwn treatment candidate, the success of BrainStorms product development programs and research, regulatory and personnel issues, development of a global market for our services, the ability to secure and maintain research institutions to conduct our clinical trials, the ability to generate significant revenue, the ability of BrainStorms NurOwn treatment candidate to achieve broad acceptance as a treatment option for ALS or other neurodegenerative diseases, BrainStorms ability to manufacture and commercialize the NurOwn treatment candidate, obtaining patents that provide meaningful protection, competition and market developments, BrainStorms ability to protect our intellectual property from infringement by third parties, heath reform legislation, demand for our services, currency exchange rates and product liability claims and litigation,; and other factors detailed in BrainStorm's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available athttp://www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on BrainStorm's forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release. We do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or assumptions if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, unless otherwise required by law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

CONTACTS

Corporate:Uri YablonkaChief Business OfficerBrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.Phone: 646-666-3188uri@brainstorm-cell.com

Media:Sean LeousWestwicke/ICR PRPhone: +1.646.677.1839sean.leous@icrinc.com

Read more:
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics to Present at the 2020 Biotech Showcase and 3rd Annual Neuroscience Innovation Forum at JPM Week - GlobeNewswire

A New "Census" of the Zebrafish Brain – Technology Networks

The zebrafish is a master of regeneration: If brain cells are lost due to injury or disease, it can simply reproduce them - contrary to humans where this only happens in the fetal stage. However, the zebrafish is evolutionarily related to humans and, thus, possesses the same brain cell types as humans. Can a hidden regeneration potential also be activated in humans? Are therapies for stroke, craniocerebral trauma and presently incurable diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's possible?

Dresden scientists have succeeded in determining the number and type of newly formed neurons in zebrafish; practically conducting a census in their brains. Following an injury, zebrafish form new neurons in high numbers and integrate them into the nervous system, which is the reason for their amazing brain regeneration ability.

The study was conducted as a collaboration project made in Dresden; scientists from the Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD) combined their expertise in stem cell biology with the latest methods from the DRESDEN-concept Genome Center and complex bioinformatic analyses from the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems and the Center for Systems Biology Dresden.

For their study, the team led by Dr. Christian Lange and Prof. Dr. Michael Brand from the CRTD used adult transgenic zebrafish in whose forebrain they were able to identify the newborn neurons. The forebrain of the zebrafish is the equivalent to the human cerebral cortex, the largest and functionally most important part of the brain. The Dresden research team investigated the newborn and mature neurons as well as brain stem cells using single cell sequencing. Thus, they discovered specific markers for newborn neurons and were able to comprehensively analyze which types of neurons are newly formed in the adult brain of the zebrafish.

The scientists discovered two types of neurons that can be newly formed; projection neurons, which create connections between brain areas, and internal neurons, which serve to fine-tune the activity of the projection neurons. The researchers also investigated the data obtained from brain cell sequencing of mice and found that zebrafish and mice have the same cell types. This also makes these results highly relevant for humans.

"On the basis of this study, we will further investigate the regeneration processes that take place in zebrafish. In particular, we will study the formation of new neurons after traumatic brain damage and their integration," explains Prof. Dr. Michael Brand, CRTD Director and senior author of the study. "We hope to gain insights that are relevant for possible therapies helping people after injuries and strokes or suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. We already know that a certain regenerative ability is also present in humans and we are working on awakening this potential. The results of our study are also important for understanding the conditions under which transplanted neurons can network with the existing ones and thus could let humans re-gain their former mental performance.

Reference

Lange et al. (2020) Single cell sequencing of radial glia progeny reveals diversity of newborn neurons in the adult zebrafish brain. Development. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz232

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

See the original post here:
A New "Census" of the Zebrafish Brain - Technology Networks

Cynata Therapeutics (ASX:CYP) receives R&D tax incentive refund of more than $1.8M – The Market Herald

Cynata Therapeutics (CYP) has received a research and development tax incentive refund of $1,891,795 for the 2018-2019 financial year.

This tax incentive refund increases the company's cash position which stood at $9.2 million at the end of the September quarter.

It also enables further resources to be invested towards Cynata's phase 2 clinical trial programs for the critical limb ischemia (CLI) (reduced blood flow) and osteoarthritis products.

This will be alongside the anticipated phase 2 trial for CYP-001 in graft-versus-host disease which will be conducted by Fujifilm.

CLI is an advanced stage of peripheral artery disease which is the narrowing of the arteries in the limbs, typically in the lower legs.

It results from severely impaired blood flow which can cause pain, tissue damage, and gangrene.

Around 25 per cent of CLI patients who are unable to undergo surgery to remove the affected area, often an amputation, will die within a year of diagnosis.

Cynata' Cymerus mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been successfully tested in a mouse model of CLI.

Muscles on the ischaemic leg were injected with Cymerus MSCs or a control.

Over a four-week follow-up period, the return of blood flow was measured and in animals treated with Cymerus MSCs blood flow in the injured limb was significantly higher at every point compared to the control.

MSCs are an adult stem cell found in a wide range of human tissues including bone marrow, fat tissue and placenta.

They are multi-potent which means they can produce more than one type of cell, for example they can differentiate into cartilage cells, bone cells and fat cells.

MSCs have been shown to ease regeneration and effects on the immune system without relying on engraftment (when the transplanted cells start to grow and make healthy cells).

The research and development tax incentive is an important Australian Government program that encourages companies to engage in research and development benefiting Australia by providing a tax offset for eligible activities.

Cynata's share price is up a steady 4.82 per cent with shares trading for $1.20 apiece at 3:29 pm AEDT.

More here:
Cynata Therapeutics (ASX:CYP) receives R&D tax incentive refund of more than $1.8M - The Market Herald

Contemporary Bone Alleviates Mechanisms Have Prospective Therapeutic Applications – MENAFN.COM

(MENAFN - News Satori)

Spearheaded by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine divulges a contemporary mechanism that donates to adult bone conservation and restores and unfurls the possibility of advancing the therapeutic plan of action for enhancing bone healing.

Corresponding author Dr. Dongsu Park professor of molecular and human genetics said that adult bone repairs depend on the setting off of bone stem cells which yet remains deficiently distinguished. Bone stem cells have been discovered both in the bone marrow interior of the bone and also in the periosteum the exterior layer of the tissue that wraps the bone. Former studies have portrayed that these two communities of stem cell albeit they apportion various characteristics also have distinctive functions and particular regulatory processes.

Of the two periosteal steam cells are the minimalistcomprehended. It is known that they constitute a heterogeneous population ofcells that can bestow to bone density, molding and rupture restoration,however, scientists had not been able to discern between varied subtypes of thebone stem cell to scrutinize how their varied purposes are controlled.

In the present study Park and his colleagues advanced aprocedure to recognize varied subpopulations of periosteal stem cells expoundtheir benefaction to bone fracture restoration in animate mouse models andrecognize particular components that control their migration and multiplicationunder psychological circumstances.

The researchers found particular trademarks for periosteal stem cells in mouse models. The trademarks recognized a definite subset of stem cells that donates to long-lasting adult bone resurrection.

MENAFN07012020007010660ID1099519082

Go here to see the original:
Contemporary Bone Alleviates Mechanisms Have Prospective Therapeutic Applications - MENAFN.COM

New Treatment Approved in Canada for Most Common Type of Leukemia – Canada NewsWire

CALQUENCE (acalabrutinib) is now available for adult patients with previously untreated and relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 8, 2020 /CNW/ - AstraZeneca Canada today announced that Health Canada has approved Calquence (acalabrutinib), an oral Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), as monotherapy or in combination with obinutuzumab in the first-line setting, and as monotherapy for relapsed/refractory (r/r) disease.1

CLL is the most common type of leukemia in adults, accounting for 44 per cent of all cases in Canada.2 Morethan 2,200 people in Canada are diagnosed with the disease each year and more than 600 will die from it.3,4 Despite advancements in the treatment of CLL, there is still no cure for the disease and even after successful initial treatment, some patients may relapse, leaving them in need of further innovation.

"CLL is most often diagnosed when patients are more than 60 years old, at a time when they are already dealing with other health conditions related to aging and are trying to maintain the best quality of life," says Antonella Rizza, CEO of Lymphoma Canada. "Today's announcement offers Canadians living with CLL an important new option for this incurable but treatable disease."'

The Canadian approval was granted under Project Orbis, a new international health authority collaboration which provides a framework for simultaneous submission and review of oncology products among international partners.5Under this collaboration, Health Canada, the U.S. FDA, and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) collectively reviewed the application for Calquence, making it the second treatment approved as part of the program and the first in hematology.

"In the last several years, we've been moving away from traditional chemotherapies to more targeted therapies for CLL." said Dr. Carolyn Owen, Alberta Health Services, Calgary. "Health Canada's approval of acalabrutinib provides a new effective and well tolerated treatment option for CLL patients and improves their treatment options."

The Health Canada approval of Calquence was based on positive interim data from two Phase III clinical trials, ELEVATE-TN and ASCEND.6,7The ELEVATE-TN trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of Calquence in combination with obinutuzumab, a CD20 monoclonal antibody, or Calquence alone versus chlorambucil, a chemotherapy, in combination with obinutuzumab in previously untreated patients with CLL. The ASCEND trial evaluated the efficacy of Calquence in previously treated patients with CLL.Together, the trials showed that Calquence in combination with obinutuzumab or as a monotherapy significantly reduced the relative risk of disease progression or death. Across both trials, the safety and tolerability of Calquence were consistent with its established profile.1

About chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most common type of leukemia in adults, which begins in the bone marrow, and progresses slowly.8 In CLL, too many blood stem cells in the bone marrow become abnormal lymphocytes and these abnormal cells have difficulty fighting infections.9 As the number of abnormal cells grows there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.9This could result in anaemia, infection and bleeding.9B-cell receptor signalling through BTK is one of the essential growth pathways for CLL. Many people with CLL do not have any symptoms upon diagnosis, and the disease is often found in blood tests for unrelated health problems.10

AboutCalquenceCalquence(acalabrutinib; previously known as ACP-196) is a selective inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK).1Calquencebinds covalently to BTK, thereby inhibiting its activity, and has demonstrated this with minimal interactions with other immune cells in pre-clinical studies.1,6,7In B cells, BTK signaling results in activation of pathways necessary for B cell proliferation, trafficking, chemotaxis and adhesion.1 The recommended dose ofCalquenceis one 100mg capsule taken orally twice daily (approximately 12 hours apart), until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.1Calquencemay be taken with or without food.1

About AstraZenecaAstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of primary and specialty care medicines that transform lives. Our primary focus is on three important areas of healthcare: Cardiovascular and Metabolic disease; Oncology; and Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity. AstraZeneca operates in more than 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. In Canada, we employ more than 675 employees across the country and our headquarters are located in Mississauga, Ontario. For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.astrazeneca.ca.

References

SOURCE AstraZeneca Canada Inc.

For further information: AstraZeneca Corporate Communications, [emailprotected]; Hibaq Ali, Weber Shandwick Canada, [emailprotected] / tel: 416-642-7915

http://www.astrazeneca.ca

Follow this link:
New Treatment Approved in Canada for Most Common Type of Leukemia - Canada NewsWire

Innovative Cellular Therapeutics Appoints Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Expert Christopher Ballas, Ph.D., as SVP of Manufacturing – BioSpace

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innovative Cellular Therapeutics (ICT), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing a comprehensive platform of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies for liquid and solid tumors,today announced the appointment of Christopher Ballas, Ph.D., as Senior Vice President of Manufacturing. Dr. Ballas previously served in senior manufacturing roles at Rocket Pharmaceuticals and WuXi AppTec, with a focus on gene and cell-based therapies.

Our need for quality vector and cell production is growing as we advance our liquid and solid tumor CAR-T programs into the clinic in the United States. We intend to assume full control of our key manufacturing processes, said Larry (Lei) Xiao, Ph.D., ICTs Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Chris is a valued addition to the ICT management team, as he will lead our manufacturing efforts and the expansion of our related infrastructure, Dr. Xiao added.

Dr. Ballas brings more than 20 years experience of working on cell and gene therapies. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Manufacturing for Rocket Pharmaceuticals, a leading publicly traded U.S. gene therapy company. Previously, he served as Senior Director of Process Development and Commercialization for WuXi AppTec, where he was responsible for manufacturing operations and program management for gene therapy clients. Dr. Ballas oversaw key programs including CAR-T, TIL, and classic CD34+ stem cell gene therapy.

Prior to WuXi AppTec, Dr. Ballas ran autologous cell therapy clinical trials for Cook Medical. Dr. Ballas also held several roles at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he developed the initial, scalable, clinical production capabilities for lentiviral vectors at the IU Vector Production Facility. As a faculty member, Dr. Ballas developed his own research programs targeting stem cells for gene therapy, which resulted in the collaborative development of an ultra-high throughput microinjection device with colleagues at the University of California Riverside (US9885059). In the past, Dr. Ballas served as an expert consultant to numerous companies on gene therapy and the production and use of viral vectors for gene therapies with contributions to Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control (CMC), regulatory filings, and regulatory meetings.

Dr. Ballas has a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and was a Childrens Brittle Bone Foundation fellow during his post-doctoral fellowship at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Dr. Ballas said, I have a passion for solving the practical challenges associated with producing and using viral vectors to deliver genes and create differentiated therapies. ICTs CAR-T platform is unique and compelling, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to optimize and expand our manufacturing capability to produce world-class products with the potential to transform cancer immunotherapy.

About Innovative Cellular TherapeuticsInnovative Cellular Therapeutics (ICT) is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of cellular immunotherapies for the treatment of liquid and solid tumors. ICT has achieved promising preclinical and clinical results in late-stage leukemia and lymphoma with its next generation CAR-T constructs. ICTs lead candidate in the United States, ICTCAR014, is a next generation CD19-targeting ArmoredCARTM T cell therapy that expresses a dominant negative PD-1 (dnPD-1) protein to block immunosuppression by cancer cells. ICTCAR014 has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational New Drug (IND) application clearance and is being developed for patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), including PD-L1 positive patients. In solid tumor, ICT has compelling human data from IRB-approved proof-of-concept trials in China demonstrating the viability of its proprietary CoupledCARTM technology platform. For more information, please visitwww.ictbio.com.

Read the original:
Innovative Cellular Therapeutics Appoints Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Expert Christopher Ballas, Ph.D., as SVP of Manufacturing - BioSpace

Gracell Initiates Investigational Study of the Technological Breakthrough TruUCAR Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory T-cell Malignancies – PRNewswire

SUZHOU, Chinaand SHANGHAI, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gracell Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. ("Gracell"), a clinical-stage immune cell therapy company, today announced the initiation of an investigational study of GC027, the first product candidate developed using TruUCAR to treat relapsed or refractory (R/R) T-cell malignancies.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or T-ALL is an aggressive form of ALL, which affects white blood cells and the bone marrows ability to generate healthy blood cells. About 15-20% of people with ALL have T-ALL. While T-ALL is treatable by chemotherapy and stem cell transplant, around 75% of patients will relapse within two years[1]. T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) is another devastating T-cell malignancies. For patients who develop R/R T-ALL or T-LBL, there are few options for treatment.

Autologus CAR-T therapies rely on patients' own T cells, which have been affected by prior therapies; thus, cell quality as well as efficacy remains questionable. Allogenic CAR-T therapies made of healthy donors' T cells would be characterized as being of consistently good quality with the potential to improve efficacy. Unlike autologous CAR-T cells, allogeneic CAR-T cells can be made as off-the-shelf product which means patients do not have to wait for lengthy production time. Furthermore, the cost of production can be significantly lower. Allogenic CAR-T therapies also provide a vital treatment option for patients with viral infections and/or other conditions prohibiting access to autologous cell therapies.

TruUCARbased GC027 is designed to meet the above unmet needs. Its cells are made of T cells from healthy donors, genetically edited and inserted with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) ex vivo, which can specifically bind to and eliminate target T malignant cells. Different from industry leaders' off-the-shelf CAR-T design, Gracell's proprietary and patented TruUCAR technology requires no co-administration of anti-CD52, a cytotoxic agent for ablating cancerous cells while inducing long term immune depletion in the patient.Instead, GC027 utilizes CRISPRgenome editing strategy that is expected to avoid graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) as well as graft rejection caused by the patients' immune system.

The prudent preclinical studies provide substantial evidence to trigger GC027 moving into a non-IND(investigational new drug)clinical trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of GC027 therapy in patients suffering from relapsed and refractory T lymphocyte malignancies.

TruUCAR is another technological breakthrough developed by Gracell following the recent announcement of FasTCAR technology and products. It enables producing off-the-shelf CAR-T cells from healthy MHC (major histocompatibility complex) mismatched donors with a large number of doses readily to be dispatched to patients in need.

"Launch of the investigational GC027 study as the first-of-its-kind therapy marks another significant milestone for Gracell," said Dr. William CAO, Founder and CEO of Gracell. "Once the concept is well-proved with solid evidence for safety and efficacy, we will immediately deploy development of a series of TruUCAR products for other medical unmet needs, including B cell malignancies."

About GC027

GC027 is an investigational, off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapy for T cell malignancies, derived from healthy donors. The use of healthy donor's cells are preferential to a patient's own with potential to improve efficacy, reduce production time, and lower cost of goods.

About T-ALL

T lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive form of T cell malignancies, with a diffuse invasion of bone marrow and peripheral blood. In 2015, ALL affected around 876,000 people globally and resulted in 110,000 deaths worldwide. T-ALL compromises about 15%-20% children and adults[1].Current standard therapies for T-ALL are chemotherapies and stem cell transplantation. A large portion of these patients will experience relapse within two years following treatment by conventional therapies.

About T-LBL

T lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) is an aggressive form of T cell malignancies, with rare lymphoproliferative neoplasm of mature T cells caused by infection with the retrovirus human T lymphotropic virus. T-LBL compromises about 2% of adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 30% of pediatric NHL patients[2]. Five-year overall survival is only 14% in adults.Although first-line treatment using cytotoxic combination chemotherapy can achieve 70% ORR, nearly 90% of patients relapse, often within months of completing chemotherapy.

About Gracell

Gracell Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. ("Gracell") is a clinical-stage biopharma company, committed to developing highly reliable and affordable cell gene therapies for cancer. Gracell is dedicated to resolving the remaining challenges in CAR-T, such as high production costs, lengthy manufacturing process, lack of off-the-shelf products, and inefficacy against solid tumors. Led by a group of world-class scientists, Gracell is advancing FasTCAR, TruUCAR (off-the-shelf CAR), Dual CAR and Enhanced CAR-T cell therapies for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and solid tumors.

CONTACT:

[1]Pediatric hematologic Malignancies: T-cell acute lymphoblastic Leukemia, Hematology 2016

[2]Clinical Review: Adult T-cell Leukemia/lymphoma, Journal ofOncology Practice 2017

SOURCE Gracell

http://www.gracellbio.com

See the original post here:
Gracell Initiates Investigational Study of the Technological Breakthrough TruUCAR Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory T-cell Malignancies - PRNewswire

Patrick Reed’s latest controversy and the other things in golf that matter right now – ESPN

Give Patrick Reed credit for his resiliency. He has refused to cower in the wake of all the clamor surrounding him, and he put himself right there again at the Sentry Tournament of Champions before losing in a playoff to Justin Thomas.

But make no mistake, the noise is not going away.

If Reed could be heckled with a "cheater'' taunt a moment after hitting his putt on the third extra playoff hole at sleepy Kapalua, imagine the commotion in a few months at, say, the U.S. Open in New York.

If a former player, Chris DiMarco, is calling you out on Twitter (the now-deleted "Just say you cheated and got beat!''), you know things are going to be rough.

And if television analyst Paul Azinger makes a point to say while Reed is dealing with a rules issue during the third round at the Tournament of Champions that he'll always have to be careful because "cameras will be on him like a hawk'' ... well, the "cheating'' charge will continue to dog him.

Reed had a shaky Presidents Cup. He went 1-3 and his caddie, Kessler Karain, was not allowed carry the bag in final-day singles after an altercation a day earlier with a fan. And all this came after Reed's Hero World Challenge rules fiasco during the third round in the Bahamas last month when he was penalized 2 shots for improving his line of play in a waste area. Television replays were not kind, and nor has been the reaction to the incident.

Not once, but twice, Reed appeared to swipe sand from behind his ball when he took practice swings in the waste area. Reed maintained in interviews afterward that replays did not show a big space between his club and the ball, and that the video was misleading.

At the very least, it looked bad for Reed. Even his biggest supporters would have to admit that regardless of intent, the appearance was awful. Reed doubling down on it and showing no contrition surely did not help.

Nor did the fact that no rebuke from the PGA Tour -- at least not publicly -- has been forthcoming.

In the aftermath of the rules violation, the tour's rules official who handled the ruling, Slugger White, said Reed was "a gentleman'' in discussing the situation. And on Sunday in Hawaii, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan addressed a question in which he was asked if Reed should have faced further punishment.

"Golf is a game of honor and integrity, and you've heard from Patrick,'' Monahan said in comments reported by Golf Digest. "I've had an opportunity to talk to Patrick at length when he says that [he] did not intentionally improve [his] lie. As you go back to that moment, and the conversation that he had with Slugger, and the fact that a violation was applied and he agreed to it, and they signed his card and moved on. To me that was the end of the matter.''

Of course, Monahan and the PGA Tour want it to end. The integrity of one of the tour's members being questioned is not great for business. Cheating allegations in golf always come with a high price. But as we've seen, this is unlikely to go away anytime soon.

So what is Reed to do?

A public mea culpa would help. Acknowledge that a mistake was made, apologize, and do your best to move on.

So far, Reed has elected to try to steer clear of the issue. He shot a low final round to get into a playoff, had a great chance to win and ultimately fell short -- then did an interview afterward that he could have easily declined -- and is now ranked 11th in the world.

Playing well is great, but it appears that is not going to be enough.

The first tournament of the new year also offered an example of just how tight the fight will be for one of the four spots for Americans in the Olympic golf tournament this summer in Tokyo.

Thomas' victory further solidified his spot among the top Americans along with Brooks Koepka. Patrick Cantlay's fourth-place finish pushed him ahead of Tiger Woods in the world ranking to sixth and to fourth among the Americans. And while runner-up Xander Schauffele remains behind Woods (seventh) in the world ranking at eighth, he has moved ahead of the reigning Masters champion in the Olympic projection.

The projection for the Olympics begins with the 2018 Quicken Loans National tournament and will conclude on June 22, following the U.S. Open. So it doesn't exactly mirror the current ranking -- tournaments prior to the 2018 Quicken Loans still carry weight in the Official World Golf Ranking but will gradually drop off.

In the current projection, Thomas, Koepka, Schauffele and Cantlay hold down the top four spots, with Woods eighth, but just barely behind fifth-place Dustin Johnson. The ranking formula is complicated and will also be impacted by the tournament minimum divisor of 40 -- which Woods will not make. In the current OWGR, Woods is the fifth American.

The Olympic tournament will take 60 players, with two per country but up to four if players are ranked among the top 15. There are currently 10 Americans in the top 15, and with three major championships, the Players Championship and two World Golf Championship events still to be played, the situation can change frequently.

For Woods, it is going to require a high level of play through the U.S. Open. Not necessarily a win, but several top-5s at the very least.

Koepka, the top-ranked player in the world, has not played competitive golf since withdrawing at the CJ Cup in South Korea in October during the second round due to aggravating a knee injury. Koepka had stem cell treatment on the knee following the Tour Championship, and he pronounced himself good to go at the Shriners Hospital for Children tournament in Las Vegas, where he missed the cut.

He was scheduled to play the WGC-HSBC Champions in China and withdrew, then withdrew just weeks before the Presidents Cup. His agent said he will return next week at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, a European Tour event.

How he fares will be interesting to see. The last time Koepka returned from a lengthy injury -- two years ago following a wrist problem that kept him out for nearly four months -- he went on an impressive run that saw him win two major championships, a total he has since increased to four.

It is unclear when Koepka will make his first 2020 start on the PGA Tour. He is also scheduled to play the Saudi International event on the European Tour at the end of the month.

Justin Thomas had the Sentry Tournament of Champions seemingly won. Then, with two bogeys in his final three holes, it seemed lost. And then in a playoff, Reed was poised to win before Thomas ultimately won.

It was a strange victory for Thomas, who would have rued letting that one get away and was still stunned in the aftermath that he didn't lose.

But there was an eight-hole stretch on Sunday where Thomas made six birdies, showing just how much game he has in varying conditions. That he almost let it get away was odd but part of golf.

And how he has won three of his past seven starts.

Thomas, 26, has won 12 times on the PGA Tour and passed his buddy Jordan Spieth in victories. At the end of 2017, Spieth had 11 victories to seven for Thomas, who is now ranked fourth in the world.

"I feel like I'll really be able to take a lot from this once I figure out whatever it might be,'' a stunned Thomas said afterward.

His 12 victories are the most for any player in his 20s on the PGA Tour.

"Personally, it's not an accomplishment getting to 12; it's an accomplishment winning today,'' Thomas said. "But I'll have fun with my family and celebrate and [this] week we try to get to 13.''

Thomas is in the field for the first full-field event of 2020, the Sony Open.

The rest is here:
Patrick Reed's latest controversy and the other things in golf that matter right now - ESPN

Diomics Corporation and University of California, Irvine Collaborate to Enable Cell Therapy Clinical Trial for Type 1 Diabetes – GlobeNewswire

SAN DIEGO, CA, Jan. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE --Diomics Corporation, a leader in forensic, diagnostic, and therapeutic science since 2009, and the laboratory of Dr. Jonathan Lakey, Professor of Surgery and BiomedicalResearchand Director of the Clinical Islet Program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), today announced a Sponsored Research Agreement to ultimately improve islet transplantation for patients living with type 1 diabetes.

The current method for islet transplantation requires invasive, difficult, and time consuming surgeries that create stress and risk for both the patients and the islets. To circumvent these issues, cell encapsulation has been proposed as the next treatment option. Biomaterials can protect the transplanted islets from destruction from the body. Polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer has been used in cell replacement therapy, however, the PCL polymer degrade too slowly and exhibit poor cell adhesion qualities for optimal cell replacement therapy. Diomics technology overcomes these issues for improved cell adhesion.

Leading the Diomics Sponsored Research Agreementresearch at UCI is Dr. Jonathan Lakey, a world-class subject matter expert on cell therapies including pancreatic islets and stem cells. Dr. Lakey has pioneered the development of novel methods for implantation of pancreatic islets for patients with diabetes. I am thrilled for the opportunity to work with Diomics and examine this novel and important proprietary biomaterial, said Dr Lakey. I am most excited about the potential variety of applications for this novel material.

Diomics recently filed provisional patents with claims broadly covering its proprietary polymer technology, Diomat, for applications in cell therapy, transdermal and related drug delivery methods. The Diomics and UCI research will support the development of key data that can be leveraged in clinical trials for improved islet transplantation therapy. Improved islet transplantation can restore natural insulin production for type 1 diabetes patients.

In this sponsored research project, Diomat foams will be used to characterize the Diomics material and examine encapsulated pancreatic islets and stem cells for improved islet transplantation therapy. This data will provide the key results to proceed with clinical trials using Diomat foam-encapsulated products.

Diomics is committed to providing innovative solutions through its materials and technologies that will lead the way to remarkable life science discoveries, said Diomics Chairman of the Board, Kirk Avery. We are honored to collaborate with Dr. Lakey and UCI.

ABOUT DIOMICS CORPORATION

Diomics Corporation creates highly efficient hydrophilic materials, based on patented Diomat technology, that improve the speed, sensitivity, and accuracy in the capture and detection of nucleic acids, proteins, and similar compounds. Our technology has broad applicability in a multitude of nanoscale settings in biomedical engineering, genomics, proteomics, and stem cell research. Diomics has filed a total of 20 patents and has 12 issued patents. For more information, visit:www.Diomics.com

ABOUT DR. LAKEY AT UCI

Dr. Jonathan Lakey is Professor of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, and a world-class subject matter expert on cell therapies including pancreatic islets and stem cells. Dr. Lakey has over 395 publications and authored 45 book chapters and has pioneered the development of novel methods for implantation of pancreatic islets for patients with diabetes.

Diomics Contact:

Eric J. Mathur, CEO

Diomics Corporation

cell: 760.889.8929

emathur@Diomics.com

http://www.Diomics.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Jeff Ramson, Founder & CEO

PCG Advisory, Inc.

phone: 646-863-6893

jramson@pcgadvisory.com

http://www.pcgadvisory.com

Read the original post:
Diomics Corporation and University of California, Irvine Collaborate to Enable Cell Therapy Clinical Trial for Type 1 Diabetes - GlobeNewswire

Platelet Rich Plasma and Stem Cell Alopecia Treatment Market Research Explores The Key Success Factors, And Business Opportunities Including Key…

Transparency Market Research (TMR) has published a new report titled Platelet Rich Plasma & Stem Cell Alopecia Treatment Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20182026. According to the report, theglobal platelet rich plasma & stem cell alopecia treatment marketwas valued at approximately US$ 250Mn in 2017. The market is anticipated to reach a value of US$ 450.5 Mn by 2026, expanding at a higher single digit CAGR during the forecast period. Rise in awareness about platelet rich plasma & stem cell alopecia treatment and increase in funding for alopecia treatment research and stem cell research are expected to augment the global market from 2018 to 2026. The global platelet rich plasma & stem cell alopecia treatment market is projected to expand, owing to a rise in the incidence of alopecia and technological advancements.

Rise in Awareness about Platelet Rich Plasma Therapies and Stem Cell Therapiesis Propelling the Global Alopecia Treatment Market

The global platelet rich plasma & stem cell alopecia treatment market is expanding at a high growth rate, driven by an increase in awareness about platelet rich plasma & stem cell therapies for treating many types of alopecia. The prevalence of various types of hair loss is increasing rapidly across the world, due to a rise in the geriatric population, anxiety, vaccination, side effects of drugs, etc.. A rise in the incidence of autoimmune hair loss disorders such as alopecia is boosting the platelet rich plasma & stem cell alopecia treatment market. According to a report in the International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2013, female pattern hair loss (FPHL), which is also known as female androgenetic alopecia, is a common condition afflicting millions of women across the world.

Request PDF Brochure of the Report @https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=55800

Increase in Funding for Alopecia Treatment Research and Stem Cell Research

Stem cells hold promise for the treatment and cure of more than 70 major diseases, including alopecia and other conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. Several private and government organizations are supporting funding for stem cell research. According to Change.org, Inc., in the U.S., 64% of people support federal funding of research on the treatment of chronic diseases using stem cells taken from human embryos. Internationally, stem cell research is supported by significant government investments, with Asia being one of the most favorable regions. Stem cell research funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has increased 17% from US$ 1.2 Bn in 2013 to US$ 1.5 Bn in 2016. In 2017, nonprofit organization Alopecia UK donated US$ 0.6 Mn to the University of the West of Scotland for the development of early treatment to prevent the progression of alopecia areata. Research conducted by the university aims at developing a treatment for alopecia areata using a nonchemical stem-cell based technology based on nanovibrations known as nanokicking.

North America Dominates the Global Platelet Rich Plasma & Stem Cell Alopecia Treatment Market owing to a Rise in Technological Advancements and Prevalence of Alopecia

North America dominates the global platelet rich plasma & stem cell alopecia treatment market, owing to technological advancements, investments in research & development, and developed health care infrastructure. As per research, in 2015, 21% of women suffered from alopecia in the U.S, which supports the fact that alopecia has a higher prevalence in the country. Moreover, development of innovative products and increase in demand for products among the population in the region are contributing factors for the dominance of North America in the platelet rich plasma & stem cell alopecia treatment market.

Expansion in the Contract Research IndustryOffersSignificant Opportunities for Companies to Invest in Clinical Trials for Alopecia Treatment

Small and large biopharmaceutical companies have become increasingly reliant on contract research organizations (CRO) and other clinical services specialists to provide research services for their R&D operations. There are numerous government-funded medical and pharmaceutical institutions, with state-of the-art facilities, that can serve as ideal centers for multicentered clinical trials. Companies are expanding their footprints in developing countries, mainly in Asia Pacific. R&D costs in India are substantially lower as compared to those in developed countries. It is possible to conduct both new drug discovery research and novel drug delivery system programs at competitive rates. India offers cost efficiency, as the cost of conducting a trial in the country is 50% to 75% lower compared to that in the U.S. or the European Union.

Investments, Mergers & Acquisitions, and PARTNERSHIPS by Key Players are Driving the Platelet Rich Plasma & Stem Cell Alopecia Treatment Market

Key players dominating the global platelet rich plasma & stem cell alopecia treatment market are Kerastem, Eclipse, Regen Lab SA, STEMCELL Technologies, Inc., RepliCel Life Sciences, Histogen, Inc., and Glofinn Oy. Major players are focusing on mergers and acquisitions and are investing in the development of platelet rich plasma & stem cell alopecia treatment and making them available to the patient population. For instance, companies such as Stemcell technologies, Inc. highly focus on partnerships with research institutes to develop new advanced products. In 2019, Kerastem signed a partnership agreement with Myungmoon Bio Co., Ltd., a South Korea-based health care company focused on bringing innovative regenerative therapies.

Read more:
Platelet Rich Plasma and Stem Cell Alopecia Treatment Market Research Explores The Key Success Factors, And Business Opportunities Including Key...