Relay Therapeutics Announces Dosing of First Patient in First-in-Human Clinical Trial of RLY-4008, a Highly Selective FGFR2 Inhibitor | Small…

DetailsCategory: Small MoleculesPublished on Friday, 04 September 2020 11:09Hits: 94

CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I September 03, 2020 I Relay Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RLAY), a clinical-stage precision medicine company transforming the drug discovery process by leveraging unparalleled insights into protein motion, today announced the first patient has been dosed in a first-in-human clinical trial of RLY-4008 enriched for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and other advanced solid tumors harboring a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) alteration. RLY-4008 is the only selective small molecule inhibitor of FGFR2 in clinical development.

We are excited to bring RLY-4008, our second targeted therapeutic, into clinical development, said Don Bergstrom, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president of R&D of Relay Therapeutics. FGFR2 altered tumors are known to respond clinically to pan-FGFR inhibitors but with limited benefit to patients. RLY-4008 is an exquisitely selective and purpose-built medicine, discovered with our Dynamo platform, designed to dramatically alter the course of disease for patients with FGFR2 altered cancers.

The first-in-human trial is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of RLY-4008 in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. The trial will predominantly enroll patients with molecularly identified FGFR2 fusions, mutations and amplifications during the dose escalation phase. Given RLY-4008s strong preclinical activity against both primary oncogenic alterations and acquired pan-FGFR inhibitor resistance mutations, the trial is enrolling patients who are nave to pan-FGFR inhibitors as well as those who have been exposed to prior therapy with pan-FGFR inhibitors. In the expansion part of the trial, five cohorts are planned to evaluate genetically defined populations: 1) ICC patients with a FGFR2 fusion previously treated with a pan-FGFR inhibitor; 2) ICC patients with a FGFR2 fusion not previously treated with a pan-FGFR inhibitor; 3) patients with an FGFR2 fusion and solid tumor other than ICC; 4) advanced, unresectable solid tumor patients with focal FGFR2 amplification; 5) advanced, unresectable solid tumor patients with an oncogenic FGFR2 mutation. Trial objectives include evaluating safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and anti-tumor efficacy. The trial is designed to enroll up to 125 patients.

About RLY-4008RLY-4008 is a potent, selective and oral small molecule inhibitor of FGFR2, a receptor tyrosine kinase that is frequently altered in certain cancers. FGFR2 is one of four members of the FGFR family, a set of closely related proteins with highly similar protein sequences and properties. Preclinically, RLY-4008 demonstrated FGFR2-dependent killing in cancer cell lines, while showing minimal inhibition of other targets, including other members of the FGFR family. RLY-4008 is currently being evaluated in a first-in-human trial designed to treat patients with advanced or metastatic FGFR2-altered solid tumors. To learn more about the first-in-human clinical trial of RLY-4008, please visit here.

About Relay TherapeuticsRelay Therapeutics (Nasdaq: RLAY) is a clinical-stage precision medicines company transforming the drug discovery process with the goal of bringing life-changing therapies to patients. Built on unparalleled insights into protein motion and how this dynamic behavior relates to protein function, Relay Therapeutics aims to effectively drug protein targets that have previously been intractable, with an initial focus on enhancing small molecule therapeutic discovery in targeted oncology. The Companys Dynamo platform integrates an array of leading-edge experimental and computational approaches to provide a differentiated understanding of protein structure and motion to drug these targets. For more information, please visit http://www.relaytx.comor follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE: Relay Therapeutics

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Relay Therapeutics Announces Dosing of First Patient in First-in-Human Clinical Trial of RLY-4008, a Highly Selective FGFR2 Inhibitor | Small...

Use of plasma therapy shouldn’t be considered as standard of care for Covid-19, NIH disputes Trump endorsement – MEAWW

There isn't enough evidence to support the use of plasma therapy for treating hospitalized Covid-19 patients, a panel of experts from the National Institute of Health said. The statement comes days after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an emergency approval of the treatment, despite a lack of data on its safety and efficacy.

"There are insufficient data to recommend either for or against the use of convalescent plasma for the treatment of Covid-19," the NIH panel said in a statement. This was because there was no data from experiments that are considered gold-standard for evaluating a treatment: well-controlled, adequately powered randomized clinical trials. Plasma is a yellow liquid portion of the blood that is rich in antibodies. The idea behind the treatment [convalescent plasma] is collecting plasma from survivors of the disease and administering it to the infected patients. It is a century-old practice that was used against the flu and measles in the past.

At a press conference on August 23, US President Donald Trump hailed the treatment, calling it safe and effective. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn told reporters that convalescent plasma could cut Covid-19 deaths by 35%. That claim, however, was found to be inaccurate.

Writing an open letter to Hahn, Eric Topol, the editor-in-chief of Medscape and a professor of molecular medicine at The Scripps Research Institute said: "We cannot entrust the health of 330 million Americans to a person who is subservient to President Trumps whims, unprecedented promotion of unproven therapies, outrageous lies, and political motivations". He added: You have two choices to do the right thing. We cannot and will not rest until you make that choice. Following the backlash, the FDA Commissioner has walked back on his claim.

I have been criticized for remarks I made Sunday night about the benefits of convalescent plasma. The criticism is entirely justified. What I should have said better is that the data show a relative risk reduction not an absolute risk reduction.

Hahn's claim comes from an unpublished study, which compared patients who received plasma with a high concentration of antibodies with those who were given a lower amount. The authors found no difference in 7-day survival overall. But the findings showed some benefits for people hooked to a ventilator: 11% of participants who received the treatment with high antibody levels died within 7 days, compared with 14% who were given lower levels.

Although the data suggest that plasma with high antibody may benefit patients who are not connected to a ventilator for breathing support, there is still uncertainty about the efficacy and safety of the treatment, the experts said of the unpublished study.

The current data suggest that adverse reactions to the plasma therapy were "infrequent". But, they add, the data on long-term risks and whether it could weaken a patient's immune response to a second infection is not clear. "Convalescent plasma should not be considered standard of care for the treatment of patients with Covid-19," they noted."Prospective, well-controlled, adequately powered randomized trials are needed to determine whether convalescent plasma is effective and safe for the treatment of Covid-19," they wrote. "Members of the public and health care providers are encouraged to participate in these prospective clinical trials."

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Use of plasma therapy shouldn't be considered as standard of care for Covid-19, NIH disputes Trump endorsement - MEAWW

Special Scientist, Biobank Information Management Systems job with UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS | 223742 – Times Higher Education (THE)

Title: Special Scientist (BIMS and EDC operation officer)Number of positions: One (1)Category: Contract for 2 years, with potential for renewalPlace of employment: University of Cyprus, Nicosia

The Molecular Medicine Research Center of the University of Cyprus has one opening for a Special Scientist, funded by the research program: Biobanking and the Cyprus Human Genome Project (CY-Biobank), which is co-funded by the European Commission, the Republic of Cyprus and the University of Cyprus.

Responsibilities

Requirements

Terms of employment

The position will be for full-time employment with a 2-year contract, and potential for renewal. The gross monthly salary will be commensurate to qualifications and previous experience and ranges between 1500 and 3000. There is no provision for a 13th salary.

Submission of applications:

The application material should be sent electronically as one single pdf file to: biobank@ucy.ac.cy at the latest until September 18, 2020.

For more information the candidates may contact the Coordinator of the project, Prof. C. Deltas, Tel.: 22-892882 or Email: Deltas@ucy.ac.cy

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Special Scientist, Biobank Information Management Systems job with UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS | 223742 - Times Higher Education (THE)

What’s Happening Week of Sept. 6 | News | thealmanac.net – The Almanac

Seafood dinner

Elks Lodge 2213 will host a seafood dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 11 at 2789 South Park Road, Bethel Park.

The event is eat-in or takeout. Menu items are: fish dinner with french fries, coleslaw, rolls and butter, $14.95; shrimp dinner with french fries, coleslaw, rolls and butter, $18.95, fish sandwich, $9.95; and clam chowder, $3.75.

Orders are in advance only by calling 412-831-0616.

Divorce workshop

A three-hour virtual divorce workshop will provide education and information on the legal, financial and emotional issues associated with divorce.

The workshop will be held via videoconference from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 12. Cost is $15 per person, and pre-registration is required by Sept. 9 to Donna at 724-493-9695.

Yoga in the Park

A Yoga in the Park program is scheduled for 9 to 10 a.m. Sept. 12 in the amphitheater at Peterswood Park, Peters Township.

No yoga experience is necessary. The certified instructor is Carrie Knight.

Items needed are a yoga mat and towel to protect the mat from the amphitheater stage floor. Wearing several layers of comfortable clothing is recommended, as is bringing water.

Social distancing and the use of masks are encouraged.

The fee is $12 for Peters Township Parks and Recreation members and $18 for nonmembers.

Online registration at http://www.peterstownship.com is preferred, but can also be done in person at the

Peters Township Community Recreation Center, 700 Meredith Drive. For more information, call 724-942-5000.

Barbecue dinner

Because of the continued limitations caused by the COVID pandemic, the Bethel Park Lions Club has decided to replace the scheduled fall fish fry with a drive-through barbecue event from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at Lions Park on Irishtown Road.

The meal will include 1/4 chicken, ribs, baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread and a drink for $14. A childrens meal of a hot dog, coleslaw, chips and a drink will be available for $5.

There will be no advance ticket sales. Food will be served until it runs out, so diners are advised to attend early.

For more information, call Nancy at 412-760-5871.

Farmers market extended

The Bethel Park Recreation Farmers Market is being extended for two weeks, until Oct. 13.

The market is held from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the VIP parking lot in South Park, off Corrigan Drive. For more information, visit http://www.bethelparkfarmersmarket.com/.

Recycling review

A program on recycling regulations and their changes over the years is scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. Sept. 14 in the community room at the Peters Township Community Recreation Center.

Social distancing will be practiced. Masks mandatory to enter the building.

The fee is $5 for members and $8 for nonmembers. Group size is limited to 12 participants ages 18 and older.

Registration deadline is Sept. 11 at http://www.peterstownship.com. For more information, call 724-942-5000.

COVID-19 virtual town hall

Medical experts from St. Clair Hospital and Mayo Clinic are hosting a free virtual town hall on Zoom to answer the communitys questions on the COVID-19 pandemic from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30.

The event is being moderated by Dr. Maria Simbra and will feature St. Clair physicians Stephen Colodny, chief of infectious disease; John Sullivan, senior vice president and chief medical officer; and Ruth Christoforetti, family medicine and primary care. Also joining are Mayo Clinic physicians Stacey Rizza, executive medical director for international academic affairs and Andrew Badley, professor of medicine and molecular medicine.

The virtual town hall coincides with St. Clairs fourth anniversary as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. For more information, including how to participate in the town hall, visit stclair.org.

Fairview Fall Virtual 5K

In lieu of South Fayette Community Day and other large in-person events this year, South Fayette Township and Dollar Bank are partnering to present a new community event, the Fairview Fall Virtual 5K and Family Fun Run.

Adults and children are invited to run or walk during event week, Sept. 26 through Oct. 2, to raise money toward building an Americans With Disabilities Act-accessible playground in Fairview Park.

Registration is $25 per person or $60 per family. The fee includes free T-shirts and other items, raffles and race prizes.

Everyone is welcome to participate as individuals, households or larger fundraising groups. Participants can run anywhere, at any time, during race week, and tune into Facebook @SouthFayetteTownship during event week for live videos and drawings.

For details and registration, visit https://runsignup.com/southfayette. Additional virtual and at-home activities are listed at https://southfayettepa.com/recathome.

For questions about the event, contact Paula Willis, South Fayette Township parks and recreation director, at pwillis@sftwp.com or 412-221-8700, extension 217.

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What's Happening Week of Sept. 6 | News | thealmanac.net - The Almanac

Sep 4 Getting real with CBD- a veterinary surgeon’s perspective – Jill Lopez

It was about the third week into Bastions recovery from his TPLO surgery, and he was already having a rough time. Bastion was a gregarious yellow Labrador who had injured his stifle about 25 days earlier. Fortunately, his family elected to have the stifle surgically reconstructed. Initially, he was recovering well from surgery, but one day in particular, he returned to the hospital because hed had a brief setback. He was limping far more severely than would be normally expected at that stage of recovery. The osteotomy from his surgery had not yet completely healed, and he was still in the middle of his prescribed five weeks of strict exercise restriction. His family was trying their best, but Bastion wasnt having it. He was too active at home, and his humans were growing frustrated. Theyd received anti-anxiety medications but werent giving them. Instead, his family had decided to give him CBD oil at home. When I asked why, the client responded, I found CBD oil at the local farmers market, and I figured it would work just as well.

Like Bastion, an increasing number of pets are receiving cannabidiol (CBD) supplements. The popularity of CBD continues to rise, and many clients are incorporating it into the medication protocol for their pets, either as an adjunct or an alternative treatment option. Perhaps the initial interest in the benefits of CBD can be traced back to 1998, or possibly earlier, when scientists at the National Institutes of Health discovered that CBD could protect cells from oxidative stress. These findings fueled interest in the human medical field and, in large part, that appeal has beentransmuted into veterinary medicine. The regard for this molecule has risen to such levels that in many homes, CBD is being used as the sole treatment option for a variety of medical conditions. Veterinarians are becoming more fluent in the fascinating pharmacology regarding the use of this phytocannabinoid. A recent survey indicated that most veterinarians (61.5%) felt comfortable discussing the use of CBD with their colleagues, but only 45.5% felt comfortable discussing this topic with clients.1Furthermore, veterinarians and clients in states with legalized recreational marijuana were more likely to talk about the use of CBD products to treat canine ailments than those in other states.2Lastly, CBD was most frequently discussed as a potential treatment for pain management, anxiety, and seizures.1At first glance, the use of CBD has tangential or limited relevance in the world of veterinary surgery. However, as one takes a closer look at the putativeand provenbenefits, it is clear that we are just scratching the surface of its therapeutic benefits.

Pain

Whether you perform surgery within a specialty discipline (oncology, orthopedics, neurology, soft tissue surgery, mixed animal, oral/dental, etc.), or surgery is only a small part of your general practice, every veterinarian endeavors to manage pain aggressively. The first choice for pain relief among many clinicians are the medications that have been more extensively studied, including but not limited to anti-inflammatories, gabapentinoids, opioids, local anesthetics, and other analgesics (acetaminophen, amantadine, Cerenia, etc.). These medications or a combination thereof have been prescribed to treat pain from orthopedic surgery, soft tissue surgery, intestinal surgery, and surgical neuropathic conditions, to name just a few. In the most basic schema, pain is divided into four categories: nociceptive pain (a response to damaged tissue), neuropathic pain (a response to directly-damaged sensory or spinal nerves), centralized pain (the result of pain signals being improperly amplified), and inflammatory pain.1

Cannabinoids may have a role to play inmediatingall four of these types of pain states. When tissue is damaged, histamine, serotonin, TNF-alpha, IL-1-beta, IL-6 andIl -17 6, and interleukin 17 are released.2Cannabinoids bind to the CB1 receptors and attenuate the pain signal by slowing down the release of those neurotransmitters.3This process can take place locally or in the central nervous system.3Cannabinoids have also been shown to inhibit the release of GABA, a well-known neurotransmitter associated with pain.3Although there is a paucity of clinical research on the use of CBD to treat postoperative pain in the veterinary medical setting, there has been heartening research conducted in humans. Indeed, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concluded that there is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.

Opioids have long been the go-to option or cornerstone of pain management, but the potential for the adverse events associated with the use of opioids in veterinary patients is universally accepted.38I have seen how distressing it can be for a family to see their pet experiencing any of the unpleasurable side effects of opioids, including urine retention, delayed bowel movements, whining, panting, disorientation, or other manifestations of dysphoria. Those are just some of the challenges that clinicians face when using opioids for chronic pain management. Considering the ongoing consequences of the opioid epidemic, there is a search for pain management solutions that are innovative, prone to less adverse events, and are more effective. As the scientific community begins to evaluate the evidence for use of CBD, it is clear that more research is needed.

Anecdotal reports of CBDs efficacy as a pain reliever are ubiquitous, but more practitioners are turning to scientific data for evidence of CBDs efficacy. A study in 2020 evaluating effects of CBD hemp extract on opioid use and quality-of-life indicators in chronic pain patients found that over half of chronic pain patients (53%) reduced or eliminated their opioids within eight weeks after adding CBD-rich hemp extract to their regimens.5Almost all CBD users (94%) reported quality-of-life improvements.5A recent study evaluating orally consumed cannabinoids for long-lasting relief of allodynia in a mouse model found that cannabinoids reduced hyperalgesia, and a similar effect was not found with morphine.4Mouse vocalizations were recorded throughout the experiment, and mice showed a large increase in ultrasonic, broadband clicks after sciatic nerve injury, which was reversed by THC, CBD, and morphine.4The study demonstrated that cannabinoids provide long-term relief of chronic pain states.4If research shows that use of cannabinoids in animalsspecifically, CBDcan help to decrease the use of opioids for pain management, that would help make more animals comfortable and potentially help to fight the tragic epidemic of human prescription opioid abuse. Further research is needed in a variety of species, specifically, both the canine and feline species.

Bone Healing

Both general veterinary practitioners and veterinary surgeons commonly diagnose and treat fractures. No large retrospective study of fracture incidence in dogs in North America has been published since 1994; however, the findings from that years study are still informative regarding the frequency of bone injuries. The study demonstrated that approximately 24% of all patients in the population studied over a 10-year period were affected by a disorder of the musculoskeletal system, with fractures contributing the largest proportion (over 29%) of all of the diagnoses of the appendicular skeletal system.7Although that research is dated, the conclusions from this study, at the very least, indicate that fractures are commonplace in the clinical veterinary setting.7Fracture repair has gradually become more straightforward due to improvements in technology. Because of these innovations, specialty surgeons and general practitioners who repair fractures have begun to see better surgical outcomes. So whether you primarily stabilize fractures with implants, or if external coaptation of fractures with the intention to refer (or perhaps as the primary means of fixation) is your treatment of choice, all veterinary practitioners aim to help fractured bones heal quickly. Despite these technological improvements, bone healing can be protracted or non-existent with some fractures. There are a variety of options at a veterinarians disposal to kick-start the healing process, but perhaps in the near future, CBD may be added to thatarmamentarium[AC3]. The effect of CBD in fracture healing has been investigated evaluating bone callus formation in femur fractures in a rat model.8The findings demonstrated enhanced biomechanical properties of healing fractures in those given CBD compared with a control group.8This effect was not found in those given only 9-THC. Moreover, the bone-forming (osteogenic) effects of CBD were weakened when test subjects were given equal amounts of CBD and 9-THC.6Another in vivo research study indicated that when CBD is incorporated into a surface that promotes bone growth (osteoconductive scaffold) it can stimulate stem cell migration and osteogenic differentiation.9Further studies are needed to better evaluate the role of CBD in healing and bone metabolism of companion animals so that these findings can be applied in the clinical setting.

Additionally, cannabis has been shown to be a useful addition in treatment plans to improve bone health in laboratory studies. Studies have endeavored to better understand the role of CB2 receptors in maintaining bone health. CB2 receptors in bone cells have been linked to maintaining bone density and stimulating growth and may therefore have a part in reversing the effects of osteoporosis.10One study evaluating the role of CB2 receptors found that mice whose genes had been altered to remove the CB1 or CB2 receptors developed signs of bone weakness that were far more pronounced than those in the control group.12Another study in 2009 investigated the relationship between CB2 expression and bone disease in humans. It found that people with dysfunctional CB2 receptors have significantly weaker hand bones.11

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects many dogs, large and small. Most often, OA is the consequence of a developmental orthopedic disease that affects a single joint or a pair of joints and, less often, affects multiple joints. It is axiomatic that Mother Nature likes symmetry, thus developmental orthopedic diseases frequently affect both left and right joints. For example, hip dysplasia is reportedly bilateral in >60% of affected dogs,13and elbow dysplasia is bilateral in approximately 50% of affected dogs.14Osteoarthritis occurs secondary to a myriad of primary orthopedic conditions that affect a variety of joints including: the hip (most common causes of OA in the hip: hip dysplasia, Perthes disease); stifle (patellar luxation, cranial cruciate ligament disease, osteochondritis dissecans [OCD]); elbow (elbow dysplasia, elbow OCD, fragmentation of the medial coronoid process, incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle); shoulder (shoulder OCD, developmental shoulder subluxation); tarsus (OCD of the talus), and carpus (carpal laxity, carpal subluxation secondary to chondrodystrophy); andmetacarpophalangeal (MCP) and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) jointdegenerative osteoarthritis (digital osteoarthritis).

Cannabinoids were found to treat pain secondary to inflammation in a variety of studies on humans. Some of the most compelling research has shown that cannabis can reduce the inflammation in the joint caused in human patients diagnosed with immune-mediated arthritis.15One study found that cannabinoids could simultaneously reduce the secretion of cytokines involved in inflammation from one type of TH immune cells, which were being under-produced, while also increasing their numbers to correct their scarcity.15Furthermore, in a study in 2003, researchers found that plant-based cannabinoids could suppress the expression of interleukin-1betaone of the most prominent markers for inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritisby as much as 50%.16And finally, in 2006, transdermal applications of CBD were shown to decrease biomarkers that can contribute to neurogenic inflammation in a sample of arthritic rats.17

A report published inThe Journal of PAINand written by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine revealed the results of a large, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study on the positive effects CBD had in the fight against osteoarthritis.18The study was designed with two main goals: The first portion of the research studied the effect CBD had on the inflammatory molecules and cells in mice.18The second portion of the study investigated whether CBD improved the quality of life in dogs diagnosed with osteoarthritis. In lab tests and in mouse models, CBD significantly decreased the production of natural chemicals that promote inflammation, and it increased the natural chemicals that fight inflammation.18Essentially, they saw a drop in proinflammatory cytokines and an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines.18For dogs with osteoarthritis, CBD significantly decreased pain and increased mobility in a dose-dependent fashion. Importantly, a lower dose of liposomal CBD was as effective as the highest dose of non-liposomal CBD, indicating that the effect of CBD was quicker andmore powerful when CBD was delivered encapsulated in liposomes than without.18Blood samples indicated no significant harmful side effects or adverse events over the 4-week analysis period.18Although this study is very promising, and it supports the safety and therapeutic potential of hemp-derived CBD for relieving arthritic pain in dogs, it is important to consult with your pets veterinarian before giving any supplement or medication.

In the veterinary population, use of cannabidiol and other alternative treatments has the potential to obviate the need for other medications and thus spare patients from adverse effects associated with their use. More likely, the use of cannabinoids could be additive or synergistic in a multimodal treatment strategy and could increase quality-of-life issues associated with painful arthritic conditions.

Intervertebral Disk Disease

As our patients age, discs in their spines undergo degenerative changes. Thus, degeneration of intervertebral discs is inevitable. This process of degeneration is multifactorial, and it involves hypoxia, inflammation, neoinnervation, accelerated catabolism, and reduction in water and glycosaminoglycan content.39The magnitude and severity of disc degeneration can vary widely between patients. The most common locations of clinically relevant disc disease are the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and lumbosacral spine.40Although there are various manifestations of disc disease, broad classifications of Hansen Type I and Type II are typically used to describe the condition. In short, disc material may either extrude (acute herniations) or protrude (chronic herniations), both of which compress the spinal cord, which can ultimately cause pain, paresis, paralysis, and other neurological deficits.40Theprevalence of thoracolumbar disc disease in dogs has been estimated at 3.5%.40Depending on the neurologic examination, diagnosis, severity, prognosis, and other factors, surgery may be recommended to decompress the spinal cord. After surgical decompression,there is a hostof challenges that the patient, the family, and the surgeon may have to work through, including a potentially protracted recovery, recurrence of neurological signs, post-surgical pain, spinal instability, urinary disorders, (cystitis, urinary tract infection, urinary retention, micturition disorders), ascending myelomalacia, and others.41Could CBD play a part in helping to improve those affected by disc disease pre-, intra-, or post-operatively, and what types of spinal disorders could benefit from CBD? A study conducted on the use of CBD in mice with degenerative disc disease showed promise in mitigating the effect of disc damage and wear.19Instead of being ingested orally, CBD was injected at the site of the disc. Researchers investigatedthe effects of cannabidiol intradiscal injection using a combination of MRI and histological analyses.19A puncture was created in the disc, and then CBD was injected into the disc (30, 60 or 120 nmol) shortly after.19The effects of intradiscal injection of cannabidiol were analyzed within 2 days by MRI.17Fifteen days later, the group that received cannabidiol 120 nmol was resubmitted to MRI examination and then to histological analyses after the cannabidiol injection.19They found that cannabidiol significantly decreased the effects of disc injury induced by the needle puncture.19These results suggest that this compound could be useful in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration, perhaps using a novel route of administration. Unfortunately, the exact mechanism for howCBD oil helped alleviate disc damage is still being investigated. The hope is that theneuroprotective properties of cannabidiol can also be found in the study of canine and feline disc disease to ultimately improve functional recovery.

Neuropathic Pain

Fortunately, more effort, research, and attention is being paid to treating pain in veterinary medicine.Nociceptive pain is caused by external pressure, cold, heat, or internal trauma, stimulated by the release of compounds like bradykinin, prostaglandins, or leukotrienes.20Humans may describe this pain as a sharp, aching, or throbbing sensation. In veterinary patients, nociceptive pain may be manifested by limping, sharp movements, lip smacking, panting, vocalization, or, in select cases, no obvious response. The function of nociceptive pain in humans, and presumably in pets, is to alert them that they are injured and hopefully prevent further injury.20

Neuropathic pain, caused by direct damage to sensory or spinal nerves, allows aberrant pain signals to be sent to the brain.21In veterinary patients, a common example of neuropathic pain that I diagnose commonly is sciatic or radial nerve hyperpathia, but lumbar or cervical foraminal radiculopathies can also be relatively frequent causes of neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain syndromes are often secondary to intervertebral disc disease, static and dynamic nerve foramen impingement, vertebral instability, recent surgery, trauma, abnormal conformation, abnormal gait, and chronic joint pain.21A classic example of neuropathic pain in humans is diabetic neuropathy.

Unfortunately, there are some challenges to diagnosing and understanding neuropathic pain in the veterinary setting, particularly in the presence of an otherwise normal orthopedic exam. To be sure, neuropathic pain can be evoked by low- or high-intensity stimuli; it can be spontaneous and not stimulus-dependent; it is maladaptive (maintained in the absence of tissue trauma), and it responds poorly to opiates and anti-inflammatory drugs.21

CBD use has shown promise in the treatment of neuropathic pain. In a 2010 study, researchers looked at a sample of diabetic rats and administered daily doses of Cannabis sativa ranging from 25 to 100mg/kg[AC6]of body weight.22After fourteen days, the rats exhibited significant reductions in tingling, heat, and pain in the extremities associated with advanced diabetes.22Another study, from 2015, compared descriptions of spontaneous pain among sixteen patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy in a randomized, double-blinded setting.23The study subjects were administered four single-dosing sessions of placebo or cannabis. Significant reduction in pain intensity varied directly with the size of their dose.23

As we begin to understand neuropathic pain in animals more clearly, treatment strategies and pharmaceutical alternatives will more adequately address their pain, possibly including the use of CBD or CBD alternatives. Additional research will hopefully actualize the promise and potential that CBD may have in treating the veterinary population in neuropathic pain.

Anxiety

Exercise restriction is a critical component for successful surgical outcomes in many elective orthopedic surgeries. For example, post dynamic stifle stabilization surgery, I frequently recommend a minimum of five to eight weeks of strict monitoring and exercise restriction. This recommendation can be extremely challenging for families, because many of the animals are inclined to be active, are frequently powerful and athletic, and are young and unaccustomed to confinement. Implant failure or a poor surgical outcome overall can many times be ascribed to the challenges related to activity restriction. Difficulties with this process may lead to protracted recovery or even surgical treatment failure, necessitating a second surgical procedure.

Common pharmaceutical strategies employed to help with exercise restriction include the use of Trazodone and Acepromazine.24However, both of these medications can have variable effects depending on the individual, and in some cases, there are undesirable adverse effects (e.g. excessive sedation and paradoxical excitation with Acepromazine,serotonin syndrome with Trazodone, etc.).24

Could CBD or CBD derivatives enhance calmness and alleviate anxiety in animals? Based on CBDs proposed mechanism of action in mitigating anxiety, the answer may be encouraging. Higher levels of natural endocannabinoids in the human body are associated with an antidepressant effect.25Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the central nervous system and play a key part in maintaining our sense of well-being. They are particularly numerous in cells tasked with manufacturing serotonin where it is needed.25

Cannabidiol may also have an effect on the hippocampus, which is a region of the brain responsible for memory and mood. Glucocorticoids are secreted during stress, which may cause the hippocampus to atrophy.26That shrinking process plays a role in diminished memory and depressed mood.26Cannabinoids have shown an ability to counter this process through the phenomenon ofhippocampal neurogenesis(regrowth and development in nerve tissue), which can be activated by the expression of cannabinoid type-1 receptors.26Both natural endocannabinoids and plant-based cannabinoids have both been shown to accelerate this process.26

In another random-controlled trial performed on humans, subjects receiving a 600 mg CBD supplement also reported less subjective anxiety symptoms during public speaking than those whod taken a placebo.27CBD also shows activity specific to the limbic system in the brain. A study evaluating that effect on the limbic system found that CBD administration helped to reduce symptoms in people with social anxiety disorder.28Indeed, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine specifically referenced CBDs effects in a statement about anxiety disorders, there is evidence that cannabidiol is an effective treatment for the improvement of anxiety symptoms, as assessed by a public speaking test in individuals with social anxiety disorders.30

A 2019 study in mice simulated to have an anxiety disorder, (Fragile X Syndromea neurodevelopmental disorder that affects intellectual, social, and physical development due to a mutation of the FMR1 gene) were shown to have fewer anxiety-related behaviors across tests when given CBD.31Furthermore, CBD decreased the anxiety response of all mice tested while not affecting their cognitive performance.31

The potential for CBD to be efficacious in treating anxiety in other species will be important to study, but its use as an anxiolytic and sedative is growing in popularity despite the paucity of research specific to this indication. As previously mentioned, anxiety was one of the most common reasons for veterinarians to discuss CBD.1The most commonly used CBD formulations were oil/extract and edibles1for the putative benefits of relieving anxiety, among others.1As CBD research continues to gain steam, more attention will hopefully be directed towards how the full ensemble of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids seem to complement each other, working through multiple receptors at once, and often enhancing each others signals to the body (entourage effect).

Wound Healing

When it comes to wounds, all medical professionals are generally united in a common purpose: we want wounds to heal faster. Indeed, products that promote or accelerate wound healing have been of interest to veterinarians and physicians since the advent of wound treatment. Wound healing products and topical agents may target different phases of wound healing, including debridement, wound contraction, epithelialization, and granulation. Many products promote the formation of granulation tissue, while others are more effective after granulation tissue has formed (e.g. hyaluronic acid). For this reason, adapting the topical dressing specific to the stage and progress of wound healing is of utmost importance.

CBD has shown efficacy in the maturation phase of wound healing and some inflammatory skin conditions.33In a 2019 study of 20 patients with two most frequent skin disorderspsoriasis (5 patients), atopic dermatitis (5), and resulting outcome scars (10)the subjects were instructed to administer topical CBD-enriched ointment to lesioned skin areas twice daily for three months.33The results showed that topical treatment with CBD-enriched ointment significantly improved the skin parameters and the symptoms associated with the skin condition.33This study concluded that the topical administration of CBD ointment, without any THC, is a safe, effective, and non-invasive alternative for improving the quality of life in patients with some skin disorders, especially inflammatory ones.33Another study in 2019 investigated the potential effect of a Cannabis sativa L. ethanolic extract standardized in cannabidiol as anti-inflammatory agent in the skin.34The study found that the extract inhibited the release of mediators of inflammation involved in wound healing and inflammatory processes occurring in the skin.34The down-regulation of genes involved in wound healing and skin inflammation was at least in part due to the presence of cannabidiol.34The findings provided new insights into the potential effect of Cannabis extracts against inflammation-based skin diseases.

Bacterial infiltration can negatively influence wound healing. Another area in which topical cannabis treatments show a great deal of potential is in the treatment of bacteria-related skin disorders. One study from 1976 indicated that isolates of THC and CBD were effective in reducing samples of staphylococci and streptococci, two bacteria associated with acne.35Another study from 2008 found that the plant-based CBD, CBC, CBG, THC, and CBN were substantially potent against a variety of Staphylococcus aureus strains, which were resistant to the antibiotic methicillin (MRSA).36

However, a recent study perhaps underscores the importance of adjusting topical therapy according to the stage of healing. In 2020, theAustralian Veterinary Journalreported a study on horses with wounds that were created in a laboratory setting and then deliberately contaminated. Each wound was assigned to a treatment group that contained 1% cannabidiol in three different manuka honey formulations.37Treatments were applied topically daily for a total of 42 days. The results indicated that irrespective of the treatment, wounds did not retract as expected in the first seven days after wound creation.37There was no difference in wound area, daily healing rate, or days to complete healing between treatment groups.37This study highlights the importance for continued study on the correct time, concentration, and best practices when using CBD to accelerate wound healing.

Conclusion

Though the overall potential for cannabidiol to address specific surgical conditions is encouraging, strong double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies with large sample sizes are lacking. Based on the research thats available in animal models and among human patients, there are large pockets of convincing research that inspire hope and promise in the use of CBD in veterinary surgery and veterinary medicine writ large. To be sure, the concept of scientific integrative medicine should be considered along with other first-line treatments for veterinary patients. Evidence-based solutions should be prioritized when treating disease, but innovative or novel treatments may have to be considered in patients with neuropathic pain, disc disease, anxiety, or debilitating arthritis.New discoveries in the world of cannabis-based medicine may be just what the doctor ordered for an effervescentLabrador like Bastion.

References:

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Abraham, A.D., Leung, E.J., Brenden, A., Wong, B.A., Rivera, Z.M., Kruse, L.C., et al. (2020) Orally consumed cannabinoids provide long-lasting relief of allodynia in a mouse model of chronic neuropathic pain. 45(7):1105-1114. DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0585-3. Epub 2019 Dec 7.

Capano, A., Weaver, R., Burkman, E. (2020) Evaluation of the effects of CBD hemp extract on opioid use and quality of life indicators in chronic pain patients: a prospective cohort study.Postgraduate Medical Journal.132(1):56-61. DOI:10.1080/00325481.2019.1685298. Epub 2019 Nov 12.

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Kogan, N.M., Melamed, E., Wasserman, E. (2015) Cannabidiol, a Major Non-Psychotropic Cannabis Constituent Enhances Fracture Healing and Stimulates Lysyl Hydroxylase Activity in Osteoblasts.Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 30(10):1905-13. DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.2513. Epub 2015 May 10.

Kamali, A., Oryan, A., Hosseini, S., Ghanian, M. H., Alizadeh, M., Baghaban Eslaminejad, M., & Baharvand, H. (2019) Cannabidiol-loaded microspheres incorporated into osteoconductive scaffold enhance mesenchymal stem cell recruitment and regeneration of critical-sized bone defects.Materials Science and Engineering, 101, 6475. DOI:10.1016/j.msec.2019.03.070

Bab, I., Zimmer, A. (2007) Cannabinoid Receptors and the Regulation of Bone Mass.British Journal of Pharmacology, 153:182-188. DOI:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707593

Idris, A.I. (2010) Cannabinoid Receptors as Target for Treatment of Osteoporosis: A Tale of Two Therapies.Current Neuropharmacology,8(3), 243253.DOI:10.2174/157015910792246173

Karsak, M., et al. (2009) The Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 (CNR2) Gene Is Associated with Hand Bone Strength Phenotypes in an Ethnically Homogeneous Family Sample.Human Genetics, 5:629-36. DOI:10.1007/s00439-009-0708-8.

Loder, R.T. & Todhunter, R.J. (2017) The Demographics of Canine Hip Dysplasia in the United States and Canada.Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 115. DOI:10.1155/2017/5723476

ONeill, D.G., Brodbelt, D.C., Hodge, R., Church, D.B., Meeson, R.L. (2020) Epidemiology and clinical management of elbow joint disease in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK.Canine Medicine and Genetics, volume 7:1

Pross, S.H., et al. (1990) Differential Suppression of T-cell Subpopulations by THC (delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol).International Journal of Immunopharmacology, 12, no. 5: 539-44. DOI:10.1016/0192-0561(90)90118-7

Zurier, R.B., et al. (2003) Suppression of Human Monocyte Interleukin-1 Production by Ajulemic Acid, a Nonpsychoactive Cannabinoid.Biochemical Pharmacology, 4:649-55. DOI:10.1016/s0006-2952(02)01604-0.

Hammell, D.C., et al. (2015) Transdermal Cannabidiol Reduces Inflammation and Pain-related Behaviours in a Rat Model of Arthritis.European Journal of Pain, 6:936-48. DOI:10.1002/ejp.818

Verrico, C.D., Wesson, S., Konduri, V., Hofferek, C.J., Vazquez-Perez, J., et al. (2020) A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of daily cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis pain.Pain. DOI:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001896

Silveira, J.W., Issy, A.C., Castania, V.A., Salmon, C.E.G., Nogueira-Barbosa, M. H., et al. (2014) Protective Effects of Cannabidiol on Lesion-Induced Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.PLOS One, 9:12. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0113161

Yam, M., Loh, Y., Tan, C., Khadijah Adam, S., Abdul Manan, N., et al. (2018) General Pathways of Pain Sensation and the Major Neurotransmitters Involved in Pain Regulation.International Journal of Molecular Sciences,19(8), 2164.DOI:10.3390/ijms19082164

Costigan, M., Scholz, J., & Woolf, C. J. (2009) Neuropathic Pain: A Maladaptive Response of the Nervous System to Damage.Annual Review of Neuroscience, 32(1), 132. DOI:10.1146/annurev.neuro.051508.135531

Arora, A., Taliyan, R., Sharma, P.L. (2010) Ameliorative Potential of Cannabis Sativa Extract on Diabetes Induced Neuropathic Pain in Rats.International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 1.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/216536386_Ameliorative_potential_of_cannabis_sativa_extract_

Wallace, M.S., et al. (2015) Efficacy of Inhaled Cannabis on Painful Diabetic Neuropathy.Pain, 16(7): 616-27. DOI:10.1016/j.jpain.2015.03.008.

Gruen, M. E., Roe, S. C., Griffith, E., Hamilton, A., & Sherman, B.L. (2014) Use of Trazodone to facilitate postsurgical confinement in dogs.Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 245(3), 296301. DOI:10.2460/javma.245.3.296

Serra, G. & Fratta, W. (2007) A possible role for the endocannabinoid system in the neurobiology of depression.Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health, 3(1), 25. DOI:10.1186/1745-0179-3-25

Kim, E. J., Pellman, B., & Kim, J.J. (2015) Stress effects on the hippocampus: a critical review.Learning & Memory, 22(9), 411416. DOI:10.1101/lm.037291.114

Demirakca, T., Sartorius, A., Ende, G., et al. (2010) Diminished gray matter in the hippocampus of cannabis users: Possible protective effects of cannabidiol.Drug and Alcohol Dependence. DOI:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.09.020

Bergamaschi, M.M., et al. (2011) Cannabidiol Reduces the Anxiety Induced by Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment-Nave Social Phobia Patients.Neuropsychopharmacology, 36(6):1219-26 DOI:10.1038/npp.2011.6.

Crippa, J.A.S., et al. (2010) Neural Basis of Anxiolytic Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder: A Preliminary Report.Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25:1 DOI:10.1177/0269881110379283.

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Zieba, J., Sinclair, D., Sebree, T., Bonn-Miller, M. (2019) Cannabidiol (CBD) reduces anxiety-related behavior in mice via an FMRP1-independent mechanism.Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior. DOI:10.1016/j.pbb.2019.05.002

Pamplona, F.A., da Silva, L.R., & Coan, A.C. (2018) Potential Clinical Benefits of CBD-Rich Cannabis Extracts Over Purified CBD in Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy: Observational Data Meta-analysis.Frontiers in Neurology, 9. DOI:10.3389/fneur.2018.00759

Palmieri, B., Laurino, C., Vadal, M. (2019) A therapeutic effect of CBD-enriched ointment in inflammatory skin diseases and cutaneous scars.La Clinica Terapeutica, Mar-Apr, 170(2):e93-e99. DOI: 10.7417/CT.2019.2116.

Sangiovanni, E., Fumagalli, M., Pacchetti, B., Piazza, S., et al. (2019) Cannabis sativa L. extract and cannabidiol inhibit in vitro mediators of skin inflammation and wound injury.Phytotherapy Research. DOI:10.1002/ptr.6400

Van Klingeren, B. & Ten Ham, M. (1976) Antibacterial Activity of 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol.Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 42(1-2): 9-12. DOI:10.1007/bf00399444.

Appendino, G., et al. (2008) Antibacterial Cannabinoids From Cannabis Sativa: A StructureActivity Study.Journal of Natural Products, 71(8):1427-430. DOI:10.1021/np8002673

McIver, V., Tsang, A., Symonds, N., Perkins, N., et al. (2020) Effects of topical treatment of cannabidiol extract in a unique manuka factor 5 manuka honey carrier on second intention wound healing on equine distal limb wounds: a preliminary study.Australian Veterinary Journal. DOI:10.1111/avj.12932

White, D.M., Mair, A.R., & Martinez-Taboada, F. (2017) Opioid-free anaesthesia in three dogs.Open Veterinary Journal, 7(2), 104. DOI:10.4314/ovj.v7i2.5

Hansen, T., Smolders, L.A., Tryfonidou, M.A., et al. (2017) The Myth of Fibroid Degeneration in the Canine Intervertebral Disc: A Histopathological Comparison of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Chondrodystrophic and Nonchondrodystrophic Dogs.Veterinary Pathology, 54 (6): 945-952.

Jeffery, N.D., Levine, J.M., Olby, N.J., et al. (2013)Intervertebral disk degeneration in dogs: consequences, diagnosis, treatment, and future directions. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 27 (6):1318-33.

Balducci, F., Canal, S., Contiero, B., et al. (2017)Prevalence and Risk Factors for Presumptive Ascending/Descending Myelomalacia in Dogs after Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disk Herniation. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine,31 (2):498-504.

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Sep 4 Getting real with CBD- a veterinary surgeon's perspective - Jill Lopez

Illumina Collaborates With 54gene in the Creation of a World-Class Genomics Facility in Nigeria – Business Wire

CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) today announced a collaboration with 54gene, a health technology company whose mission is to advance precision medicine capabilities in Africa through research, advanced molecular diagnostics and clinical programs. The partnership will support the establishment of a new genetics facility in Lagos, Nigeria, equipped with a suite of Illumina's cutting-edge sequencing and high-density microarray technology platforms, which will generate genetic information for health research and drug development.

Africa contains more genetic diversity than any other continent because the African genome is the oldest human genome. Yet it is estimated that fewer than 3% of the genomes analyzed come from Africans, making it a potentially rich source of new genetic information for health and drug discovery research, which 54gene intends to leverage as a global research resource while ensuring Africans benefit from cutting-edge medical innovations.

Paula Dowdy, SVP, General Manager EMEA, Illumina, said, Its incredibly important to ensure equitable access to genomic sequencing technology across the world so that genomes can be interpreted in the context of global diversity. Through partnerships such as this with 54gene, we aim to remove barriers of access to sequencing and expand the benefits of genomics to as many people as possible.

54gene Founder and CEO Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong said, The addition of Illuminas cutting-edge technology to our research and diagnostic capabilities is a critical step for 54gene in fulfilling our mission of equalizing access to precision medicine. This is part of our wider commitment to build capacity and infrastructure in Africa, which will allow us to significantly expand genomics research, while also improving health outcomes on the continent. Alongside our many partners in the African medical and scientific community, we want to make advanced molecular diagnostics more accessible to the region, while creating hundreds of skilled jobs in molecular biology and bioinformatics.

Through the partnership, African samples stored in 54genes de-identified biobank, will be genotyped, sequenced and analyzed without the need to send samples overseas, reflecting Illuminas commitment to enabling Africa to expand its genomic capabilities. Having local infrastructure will reduce costs and turnaround time for test results. Illumina will also deliver its renowned training to support the use of its sequencing and microarray equipment and ensure ongoing support for 54genes growing team of molecular scientists.

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To learn more, visit the Illumina News Center.

About Illumina

Illumina is improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Our focus on innovation has established us as the global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, serving customers in the research, clinical and applied markets. Our products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture and other emerging segments. To learn more, visit http://www.illumina.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

About 54gene

54gene is a health technology company advancing the state of healthcare through large-scale discovery and translational research, advanced molecular diagnostics, and inclusive clinical programs for the benefit of Africans and the global population. Founded in 2019, 54gene utilizes human genetic data derived from diverse African populations, to improve the development, availability, and efficacy of medical products and diagnostics that will prove beneficial to Africans and the wider global population.

Use of forward-looking statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on our expectations as of the date of this release and may differ materially from actual future events or results. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements are our ability to expand the adoption and use of genomics, especially in clinical settings, together with other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, or in information disclosed in public conference calls, the date and time of which are released beforehand. We undertake no obligation, and do not intend, to update these forward-looking statements, to review or confirm analysts expectations, or to provide interim reports or updates on the progress of the current quarter.

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Illumina Collaborates With 54gene in the Creation of a World-Class Genomics Facility in Nigeria - Business Wire

A unique molecule present in the venom of Honeybee can Kill Breast Cancer Cells, a study hints – News Landed

The honeybee is one such fascinating flying insect that plays a great role in developing the social environment and also giving us some natural nutritious food. Most people associate bees with honey or pollen. But another bee product bee venom remains unnoticed and has been researched over the years. The bee uses its pointy weapon to inject the venom, thereby creating unusual pain, but it could be more than just a nuisance. It has got several medicinal properties, which makes the researchers focus on this particular topic.

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) venom is effective in treating eczema and also able to inhibit tumor cells. Even before 1960, reports were stating that the venom could reduce the growth of tumors in plants. Recently, the scientists worked in the lab and showed that the bee venom could kill a Breast Cancer Cell in just 60 minutes, with the least harm to the normal body cell.

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Researchers used the venom of 312 honeybees and bumblebees from Australia, Ireland, and England to the different types of breast cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). It is the aggressive form of breast cancer with fewer treatment options and is more likely to recur after treatment. On analyzing the potential effect of the venom, they identified that the bumblebee venom, which doesnt contain melittin but has other anti-cancerous agents, had not had a significant effect on the breast cancer cell. But the honey bee venom is extremely potent in reducing the tumor growth within 60 minutes.

Read Also: FDA is going to fast-track coronavirus vaccine availability

It is mainly due to the component melittin, which makes half of the venom of the honeybees. They secrete this 26-membered polypeptide as a result of resisting their own pathogens in the system. The molecular underpinning of how it acts is still poorly understood. TNBC cell produces more amount of the EGFR molecule than that of the normal cell, which is encountered by the melittin substance. To prove that this specific component is responsible for such outstanding results, researchers had the strategy to block the melittin by use of an antibody. When they did, they saw the cancer cell survived and produced various signaling molecules. Hence, they declared that the melittin kills a cancer cell by interfering with some signaling pathways such as EGFR and HER2.

The most important outcome is that they do not harm much of the host cells. With this idea, they also created the synthetic melittin in favor of using it as a medicine and successfully proved. Also, they try to experiment with the substance in combination with the chemotherapy drug (docetaxel) in mice. It showed the potential ability of the combined drug to reduce the levels of a molecule used by the tumor cell to avert the immune response. This study was on the journal Nature PrecisionOncology.

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This groundbreaking research may be useful in treating other cancers too. The researchers cautioned that its use to the humans would take several years as it was just successful in the Petri-dishes. Lets hope that we will get some efficient anti-tumorous medicine soon.

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A unique molecule present in the venom of Honeybee can Kill Breast Cancer Cells, a study hints - News Landed

Oncology Molecular Diagnostics Market | 2020 Global Industry Analysis By Size, Share, And Growth Factors With Forecast To 2026 – The Daily Chronicle

The global oncology molecular diagnostics market is expected to rise with an impressive CAGR and generate the highest revenue by 2026.Fortune Business Insights in its latest report published this information. The report is titled Oncology Molecular Diagnostics Market Size, Share and Global Trend By Product (Instruments, Reagents), By Cancer Type (Blood Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Skin Cancer, Cervical Cancer), By Technology (Polymerase Chain Reaction, Chips & Microarrays, Sequencing, Mass Spectroscopy, Transcription Mediated Amplification), By End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers) and Geography Forecast till 2026. The report discusses research objectives, research scope, methodology, timeline and challenges during the entire forecast period. It also offers an exclusive insight into various details such as revenues, market share, strategies, growth rate, product & their pricing by region/country for all major companies.

For more information, Get sample pdf @ https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/oncology-molecular-diagnostics-market-101145

The report provides a 360-degree overview of the market, listing various factors restricting, propelling, and obstructing the market in the forecast duration. The report also provides additional information such as interesting insights, key industry developments, detailed segmentation of the market, list of prominent players operating in the market, and other oncology molecular diagnostics market trends. The report is available for sale on the company website.

List of companies cover in the research report are:

The increasing prevalence of numerous cancer is likely to back the growth of the global automated and advanced diagnostic market revenue. The rising shift towards precision medicine and increasing demand for preventive care is expected to boost the global oncology molecular diagnostics market growth. Further, increasing demand for automated and advanced diagnostic techniques for cancer is also expected to aid the global oncology molecular diagnostics market shares. According to the World Health Organization, the number of cancer cases in the world in 2018 is estimated to be 18.0 million, which is expected to further fuel the global oncology molecular diagnostics market.

View press release for more information @ https://www.medgadget.com/2020/06/oncology-molecular-diagnostics-market-2020-industry-analysis-by-size-growth-rate-share-covid-19-impact-new-developments-key-players-emerging-trends-regional-and-global-forecast-to-202.html

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About Us:Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data.

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Oncology Molecular Diagnostics Market | 2020 Global Industry Analysis By Size, Share, And Growth Factors With Forecast To 2026 - The Daily Chronicle

Gene therapy research for HIV awarded $14.6 million NIH grant – USC News

Paula Cannon. (USC Photo/Richard Carrasco)

An HIV research program led by scientists at USC and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle has received a five-year, $14.6million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The team is advancing a gene therapy approach to control the virus without the need for daily medicines.

The programs co-directors are Paula Cannon, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and Hans-Peter Kiem, MD, PhD, the Stephanus Family Endowed Chair for Cell and Gene Therapy at Fred Hutch. Other key partners are David Scadden, MD, a professor at Harvard University, and the biotechnology company Magenta Therapeutics.

The NIH award will support preclinical studies that combine gene editing against HIV with technologies for safer and more effective hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Such transplants, also known as bone marrow transplants, are currently used for severe blood cancers. They renew a patients immune system, which can be damaged by cancer therapies, by infusing healthy donor blood stem cells that can grow into any type of blood or immune cell.

The researchers goal is to build a therapy that prepares patients for a stem cell transplantation using their own cells with little to no toxicity, engineers their own stem cells to fight HIV and stimulates those cells to quickly produce new and engineered immune cells once theyre reintroduced into the patient.

This grant funds a team with an overarching goal of developing what our perfect HIV gene therapy would look like, Cannon said. All of these pieces could happen separately, but the fact that the NIH has funded us as a team means that the sum will be so much bigger than the parts.

Halting HIV without daily drugs

About 38million people worldwide are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is manageable with daily antiretroviral drugs, but the research team seeks a more durable solution.

Their strategy is inspired by the three cases where patients seem to have been cured of HIV. All had aggressive leukemia and received blood stem cell transplants from donors who also carried a mutation that confers immunity to HIV. The mutation was in the CCR5 gene, which encodes a receptor that HIV uses to infect immune cells and is present in about 1 percent of the population.

Timothy Ray Brown, famously nicknamed the Berlin patient, received such a transplant in 2007; he has been off antiretroviral drugs since then, and the virus remains undetectable in his system. In recent years, patients in London and Dusseldorf have shown similar results.

I think of the Berlin patient as proof of principle that replacing the immune system with one thats HIV-resistant by removing CCR5 is a possible way to treat somebody, Cannon said.

However, the rigors of the blood stem cell transplant process, combined with the difficulty in finding tissue-matched CCR5-negative donors, make it highly unlikely that this will provide more than a very rare treatment.

Three for one gene therapy

The research team will tackle these two major problems. First, to get around the lack of CCR5-negative donors, Cannon has already helped pioneer the use of gene editing to remove CCR5 from a patients own stem cells. This is now an investigational treatment for HIV in a clinical trial at City of Hope in Duarte, California.

She will now combine CCR5 disruption with additional genetic changes, so that the progeny of engineered stem cells will release antibodies and antibody-like molecules that block HIV.

Our engineered cells will be good neighbors, Cannon said. They secrete these protective molecules so that other cells, even if they arent engineered to be CCR5-negative, have some chance of being protected.

Meanwhile, Kiems group is providing a third approach by adapting an emerging cancer treatment called CAR T cell therapy. This re-engineers T cells of the immune system with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which are customized to recognize cancer cells.

In this project, Kiem and colleagues will create stem cells whose T cell descendants can instead hunt down HIV-infected cells.

A gentler blood stem cell transplant

The grant also supports two other components that relate to the blood stem cell transplant.

Magenta Therapeutics is developing less-toxic protocols for conditioningpreparing a patients bone marrow to receive a transplant. Traditionally, mild chemotherapy or radiotherapy is needed to make room for newly infused stem cells and to help them re-engraft.

The company is instead using antibody-drug conjugates to deliver this conditioning much more narrowly and to reduce the side effects that occur with systemic chemo or radiation.

Meanwhile, Scadden and his team are addressing another drawback of stem cell transplants and conditioning, the delay before infused stem cells generate new immune cells in sufficient numbers. In cancer patients, this delay leaves them highly susceptible to infection.

Scadden is approaching this using an injectable gel that biochemically resembles the bone marrow environment, to quickly repopulate the immune system with HIV-fighting cells.

With success, the teams research may free HIV patients from the need for daily medication and the expense and potential side effects that come with it. Their work may also improve other therapies based on blood stem cells, for conditions such as cancer, sickle cell disease and autoimmune disorders.

A home run would be that we completely cure people of HIV, Cannon said. What Id be fine with is the idea that somebody no longer needs to take anti-HIV drugs every day because their immune system is keeping the virus under control, so that it no longer causes health problems and, importantly, they cant transmit it to anybody else.

By Wayne Lewis

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Gene therapy research for HIV awarded $14.6 million NIH grant - USC News

Professor on using AI to detect medical errors, the future of AI in medicine – The Stanford Daily

Scripps Professor of Molecular Medicine Eric Topol gave a talk on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging Symposium on Aug. 5, where he discussed developing medicine that is much more accurate than it is now. According to Topol, there are over 12 million serious medical errors per year, leading to added costs and other complications.

In one sense, machines are much more capable than humans at detecting errors, Topol said. Machines are able to find different medical complications that doctors themselves may not be able to find, such as tumor nodules, and can advance medical technology, as with mammographies.

If you show this picture [of a retina] to retinal authorities, their chance of getting [the gender] right is 50%, Topol said. But interestingly, an AI algorithm can be trained to be 97 to 98% accurate.

Machines can identify many other aspects of a patient simply from the retina, including ones possibility of kidney disease, Alzheimers and diabetes and age and sex. Topol said applications of AI are not limited to images of the retina: AI can interpret all sorts of slides and images that pathologists cannot see or make conclusions.

This is going to affect, in the future, every medical discipline, he said. Theres no exception here. And its not just those in the hospital. Its paramedics, its all the paraprofessionals, pharmacists the works.

Topol said AI would transform the health and medical field with tasks such as interpreting scans, selecting embryos for in vitro fertilization and predicting death in hospitals. AI will also greatly improve the resolution and quality of medical scans.

Machines will not replace physicians, Topol said, quoting professor and neurosurgeon Antonio Di Leva. But physicians using AI will soon replace those not using it.

Even with the tremendous potential of AI applications, Topol still emphasized that humanistic medicine is important in the long-term advancement of AI in medicine.

Even now, Topol said that patients often feel rushed during their doctor visits. Its not uncommon to see physicians typing on computers or facing their screens, without making eye contact with patients during doctor visits.

Topol said in medicine there is a lack of empathy, which companies and institutions should focus on improving.

We want to restore the humanistic side the critical component of what is medicine, Topol said.

Contact Amanda Zhu at amandaz9888 at gmail.com.

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Professor/Associate Professor in Medicine Obesity and Metabolism job with NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY – NTNU | 223116 – Times…

About the position

At the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, we have a vacancy for a 100% permanent position as Professor/Associate Professor in Medicine (Obesity and Metabolism).

The position is at theDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Medicine.

You willreportto the head of department.

Duties of the position

The appointee is expected to teach within their relevant expertise across all study programmes at the Faculty.

The person appointed must comply with the decisions about changes due to developments in the subject area, and the organizational changes that may result from decisions regarding the university's activities.

Required selection criteria

The position of Professorwithin obesity and metabolism requires that you meet the criteria in theRegulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts section 1-2.

In addition to formal qualifications in teaching at university level, you must document

For appointment as a professor, an academic level conforming to establishednational standardsis required

The position of Associate Professor within obesity and metabolism requires that you meet the criteria in theRegulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts section 1-4.

You will be expected to deliver high-quality teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and undertake supervision of Masters and Doctoral candidates. Evaluation of these skills will be based on documented experience and relevant teaching qualifications. Applicants with teaching experience at university level are preferred. Quality and breadth of the teaching qualifications will be evaluated.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according toThe San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.This means that we pay special attention to the quality and professional breadth of these works. We also consider experience from research management and participation in research projects.

You must document relevant basic competence forteaching and supervision at university/higher education-level. If this cannot be documented, you are required to complete an approved course in university teaching within two years of commencement. NTNU offers qualifying courses.

It is a prerequisite that within three years of appointment, new employees who do not speak a Scandinavian language can demonstrate skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level three in thecourse for Norwegian for speakers of other languages at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU.

Please see theRegulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

Personal characteristics

In the assessment of the best qualified applicant, we will emphasize education, experience and personal suitability as well as your motivation for the position.

We offer

Salary and conditions

In a position as professor (code 1013) you will normally be remunerated from gross NOK 704 900,- to NOK 900 000,- per year,depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

In a position as associate professor (code 1011) you will normally be remunerated from gross NOK 573 100,- to NOK 704 900,- per year,depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

It is a prerequisite that you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation must be in English.

Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

The application must include:

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

Your application will be considered by an expert committee and the most suitable applicants will be invited to interview and to deliver a lecture.

General information

A good working environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. NTNU wishes to increase the proportion of women in its academic positions, and women are therefore encouraged to apply.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact head of department Torstein Baade R, telephone +47 99 61 40 25, emailtorstein.ro@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Yngve Lorentzen, e-mail:yngve.lorentzen@ntnu.no

Please submit your application and supporting documentation via jobbnorge.no.

Application deadline: 15.09.2020

The city of Trondheimis a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MH) is one of NTNUs largest faculties with about 1800 employees (

1300 full-time equivalents). The Facultys main activities are education and research in close integration with St Olavs Hospital. For further information, see:https://www.ntnu.edu/mh.

Deadline15th September2020EmployerNTNU - Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyMunicipalityTrondheimScopeFulltimeDurationPermanentJobbnorge ID186952

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Professor/Associate Professor in Medicine Obesity and Metabolism job with NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - NTNU | 223116 - Times...

Medical Bioinformatics Market shares and strategies of key players – BioSpace

Bioinformatics involves the development and application of novel informatics techniques in the field of biology. It improves the methods of storing, organizing, retrieving and analyzing biological data. Major activity in bioinformatics is to develop software tools in order to generate useful biological knowledge database. In molecular biology, bioinformatics techniques such as signal processing allow extraction of useful results from large amount of raw data. In the field of genetics it helps in sequencing, annotating genomes and to observe mutations. Bioinformatics study acts a biological literature and developmental data bank for biology related data.

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Similarly, biomedical informatics is an emerging discipline which defines the study of inventions and implementation of structures, algorithms to improve communication, understanding and managing the medical information. The National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) conducts research in bioinformatics and chemo informatics. The bioinformatics tools were created for analysis and integration of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics datasets and transcriptomics.

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The growth of global medical bioinformatics market is driven by increasing initiatives and funding, use of bioinformatics in drug discovery and biomarkers. The market is expected to offer opportunities with the introduction and adoption of upcoming technologies such as cloud computing and other sequencing technologies. The global medical bioinformatics market can be segmented by tools approved from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or European Federation for Medical informatics (EFMI) for further research process.

Medical Bioinformatics market is based on the tools, application and end users.

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The global medical bioinformatics market can be segmented based on types of tools and the list of bioinformatics tools approved by FDA are as follows:

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The global medical bioinformatics market can be segmented by application as follows:

The global medical bioinformatics market can be segmented by end user as follows:

Medical bioinformatics market is segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World. North America leads the market followed by the European nations in terms of revenue. Globally, the medical bioinformatics market growth is expected to increase with the demand in development of generic drug development and mode of sequencing the genes in order to have prevalence from various diseases. In 2015, Department of Biomedical Informatics was inaugurated at Harvard Medical School. This was initiated in order to bring quantitative methods and technological development to biomedicine engineering research. According to Harvard Medical School, Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) and research associates planned to break the wall of autism by detecting the disorder in newborns using the same standard of testing device used to check for hearing impairment. According to Food and Drug Administration, collaboration with National Center for Toxicological Research has driven the demand and use of bioinformatics tools such as predicting patient-specific treatment outcomes with in silico tools. Latin America and Asia Pacific regions are anticipated to be the emerging markets in the global medical bioinformatics market during the forecast period. The effective guidelines from EFMI reports the promotion of high standard application and development in medical bioinformatics. Increase in patient population base and rising disease incidences in the Asia Pacific region is expected to fuel the use of bioinformatics tools for research and tests, which is projected to propel the demand in global medical bioinformatics market in the forecast period.

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The key players in the global medical bioinformatics market develop bioinformatics tools, and software which is used in drug designing, sequencing methods. Some of the top players in the global medical bioinformatics market are Optra HEALTH, Affymetrix, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Illumina, Inc., QIAGEN, Paraxel, Station X and others.

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.

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Medical Bioinformatics Market shares and strategies of key players - BioSpace

Understanding Neurodegenerative Disease Such as Alzheimers and ALS by Examining the Overlap of microRNAs, Oxidative Stress, and Mitochondria…

Newswise MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been addressed as novel mediators of cellcell communication, being secreted from cells, and are found in many different biological fluids. Such characteristics also make miRNA potential disease biomarkers. Alterations in miRNA expression have been linked to pathological features and these characteristics make miRNA potential disease biomarkers.

In a review article published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences Special Issue Crosstalk between MicroRNA and Oxidative Stress in Physiology and Pathology 2.0, authors from the Sbarro Health Research Organization (SHRO), at the Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, and the University of L'Aquila, Italy, focused on miRNAs and their role in mitochondrial dysfunction in aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. The article, titled MicroRNAs Dysregulation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Diseases, explores the potential of both as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. These aspects may have important implications for the design of new drugs and therapeutic interventions for these progressive and incurable diseases.

The ms points towards the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration, says Annamaria Cimini of the University of L'Aquila, lead author of the review.

It appears clear that any neurodegenerative disease is characterized by specific miRNAs, with the consequent downregulation or up-regulation of specific genes, says Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and the Sbarro Health Research Organization (SHRO). However, each condition analyzed shares some miRNA with the others, thus indicating an overlapping of some pathways. This is conceivable if the common presence of oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment in diverse diseases is considered, Giordano concludes.

The authors would like to acknowledge support from the Ken and Ann Douglas Charitable Foundation.

About the Sbarro Health Research OrganizationThe Sbarro Health Research Organization (SHRO) is non-profit charity committed to funding excellence in basic genetic research to cure and diagnose cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other chronic illnesses and to foster the training of young doctors in a spirit of professionalism and humanism. To learn more about the SHRO please visitwww.shro.org

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Understanding Neurodegenerative Disease Such as Alzheimers and ALS by Examining the Overlap of microRNAs, Oxidative Stress, and Mitochondria...

World-leading Virologists to Speak at COVID-19 International Conference – PRNewswire

WARSZAWA, Poland, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --On September 30, 2020, opinion leaders in virology and epidemiology will participate in the International Conference COVID-19.

The event will bring together more than 150 specialists: doctors, professors, scientists, leading researchers of the Ebola vaccine, and other viruses. Among the speakers at the conference are Nobel Prize winner in Physiology and Medicine, Australian virologist Peter Doherty and Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry Michael Levitt.

Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization Zsuzsanna Jakab will make a welcoming speech at the opening of the conference.

Also, speakers at the conference will be:

Oyewale Tomori, Nigeria - Redeemer's University, former President of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences, has studied viral infections including Ebola, yellow fever and Lassa fever.

Pedro Simas, Portugal - The Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) at the University of Lisbon, one of the creators of the reusable mask that disables coronavirus upon contact with fabric

Polly Roy, UK - London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Officer of the Order of the British Empire for service in Virus research.

Alla Mironenko, Ukraine - Gromashevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases of the NAMS of Ukraine, Doctor of Science, 30 years experience in the field of infectious diseases.

Anupam Varma, India - President of the World Society for Virology, former President of the Indian Virology Society, Honorary Scientist of INSA Emeritus.

The event will be held as online broadcasts on YouTube and Facebook.

The first broadcast will start on September 30 at 6:00 GMT. The conference will be broadcasted in the format of two-hour sessions. Each session will bring together 15 speakers and will end with a block of questions from viewers and participants. One hour break between broadcasts will take place.

In total there will be 10 live broadcasts, the conference will last 30 hours and will end on October 1 at 11:00 GMT.

The final session summing up the event will start on October 1 at 12:00 GMT.

From October 2, 2020, all the video records of the sessions will be available on the conference website and the event channel on YouTube.

The conference is being organized by the Foundation for the support of International Projects based in Warsaw, Poland.

The media are welcome to cooperate with the organizers of the conference.

The partners of the conference will be able to talk to the participants by video call.

More detailed information about the conference and its participants is available on the project website https://www.education-forum.com/ru/covid.

In order to realize any of the 17 goals of sustainable development of the world, including defeating Coronavirus infection (COVID-19), we need to develop a quality education today. Today, COVID-19 does not defeat us, but makes us stop - the virus stops the growth of the global economy, and the global educational and medical community forces us to look for a solution and, most importantly, unite in finding a solution to defeat COVID-19.

The unification of the global medical community in the fight against COVID-19 once again confirms the correctness of the path we have chosen to achieve all the goals of sustainable development of the world.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE COVID-19 International Conference

https://www.education-forum.com/ru/covid

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COVID-19 & Healthcare: Personalized Medicine is the Future – The National Law Review

Thursday, August 27, 2020

In this episode, Foley PartnersJudy WaltzandAntoinette Konskitalk withEdward Abrahams, the President of the Personalized Medicine Coalition, to discuss the issues facing personalized medicine and how the concepts underpinning the field may be applied to diagnose and treat COVID-19.

We encourage you to listen to thepodcast in its entirety.

Following is a transcript of this podcast. Please feel free to download aPDF version here.

Please note that theinterview copy below is not verbatim. We do our best to provide you with a summary of what is covered during the show. Thank you for your consideration, and enjoy the show!

Personalized or precision medicine is the field of medicine that finds the best treatment for each patient at the right time. Physicians use diagnostic tests, medical history, circumstances, and values, as well as information from prior patient therapies, to prevent disease and develop targeted therapies that can expedite a patient's treatment and recovery.

The Personalized Medicine Coalition, or PMC, is an advocacy and educational group that represents innovators, scientists, patients, providers, and payers to promote the understanding and adoption of personalized medicine concepts, services, and products. Dr. Edward Abrahams is the president of the PMC and has charted its growth from its original 18 founding members in 2004 to more than 200 members today.

I am pleased to have Ed as our guest to explore issues facing personalized medicine and how its concepts and emerging research may be applied to diagnose and treat COVID-19. Ed, thank you so much for being with us here today. Did I hit the mark on precision medicine? Is there anything you would like to add by way of introduction to yourself or the PMC?

I think you have defined personalized medicine very well indeed. Let me begin by noting, as you just did, that I have never met a patient who did not prefer getting the right medication the first time, rather than going through a process of trial and error because the right diagnosis could not be made in advance of selecting the right therapy.

The good news is that we have many more molecular diagnostics today to target the right treatments to the right patients at the right time, as is often said. But personalized medicine also promises lower costs for systems that incorporate the tests and treatments underpinning the field into their clinical work streams. This is very important. By becoming more efficient with targeted therapeutics and avoiding costly interventions that don't work, personalized medicine can help these systems save money, and, at the same time, provide better outcomes for individual patients.

In other words, and this is terribly important in today's context of constricted resources for health care, with personalized medicine, we can enjoy the benefits of innovation and reduce costs. But we have to be smart about how we develop these opportunities. At present, we have only anecdotal evidence that personalized medicine can deliver both clinical and economic benefits, which is why PMC is doing the research to demonstrate that even if individual therapies come with high price tags, as many in fact do, they can and will produce cost savings if we target them to only those patients who will benefit.

That, in brief, is the real promise of personalized medicine. We believe personalized medicine can provide tremendous value, not only to patients, but also to the systems and countries that in fact have the courage to implement it.

Thank you so much for that explanation and background on personalized medicine and how it is being used today to treat and prevent disease. Ed, for me, one of the highlights of the year is the publication of PMC's annual report that summarizes the key advances the industry has made over the past year. When will the 2020 edition be released, and can you give us a preview of what to expect?

Within the next eight weeks, the Personalized Medicine Coalition will publish the sixth edition ofThe Personalized Medicine Report. We used to call itThe Case for Personalized Medicine, but we now believe that the case has been made.

The report is our effort to define the field by explaining personalized medicine's opportunity, documenting its status, and discussing the challenges it faces. It's a widely read report that is written for laymen, particularly policymakers at federal agencies and on Capitol Hill.

The sixth edition will, for example, show that in 2008, there were only five personalized medicines, which we define as therapeutics with biomarker strategies on their labels, on the market. Today, there are over 250, so you can see there's been enormous progress over these past 10 years or so.

While most of these products are in oncology, we have also seen progress in other indications as well, including cardiovascular illness, depression, and especially rare diseases. The report will also show that today there are 75,000 genetic testing products on the market, up from fewer than 66,000 in 2016. In other words, this is an exploding field.

Also new in this report are discussions of how advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are yielding new insights about how other biological and environmental factors, in addition to genetics, influence a patient's disease risk and response to various treatments, thus opening the door to preventive medicine, one of personalized medicines most important if as yet unrealized promises.

The report documents how, by targeting effective treatments to those patients who benefit, personalized medicine can achieve key goals for patients and health systems. It can shift the emphasis in medicine from reaction to prevention with emerging technologies like liquid biopsies, which may be able to detect cancer before any symptoms occur. This is tremendously important and a great promise. It may reduce trial-and-error prescribing, which patients would absolutely love.

Personalized medicine can also cut the number of adverse drug reactions, which right now are the third or fourth largest cause of death in the United States. It can use cell-based or gene therapy to replace or circumvent molecular pathways associated with disease, thereby offering cures where none had existed before. It can reveal additional targeted uses for medicines and drug candidates. It will obviously increase patient adherence to treatment, as patients will be more likely to stay on medications that don't have dangerous side effects, for example.

Personalized medicine will also reduce high-risk invasive procedures, which it already has done in say, kidney transplants, for example. It will help move patient-physician engagement toward patient-centered care. And finally, as I mentioned, it could and should reduce the overall cost of health care.

The report makes the argument that outstanding challenges in regulation, reimbursement, and clinical adoption slow our efforts to capitalize on advances made possible by personalizing treatments. Overcoming these obstacles, as we write, will require a collaborative effort to keep up with the pace of progress in science and technology. And this is in fact the overall mission of the Personalized Medicine Coalition.

At the end of the dayand you mentioned this a bit in your commentsfor personalized medicine to be a success and available to patients, it has to be adopted by the clinicians. How does that happen, and are there obstacles to that success?

This is a key thrust of the Personalized Medicine Coalition because we are learning that clinical adoption is a much slower process than patients want and expect. For example, PMC will publish a study this week documenting that medically appropriate genomic testing is quite inconsistent across the United States.

That means, for example, that some patients in cancer are not getting available treatments they need. The study shows that coverage and reimbursement strategies are not the only barriers to personalized medicine, as you might expect. Other barriers include lack of awareness among providers and patients, not to mention socioeconomic factors, including distance and access issues.

In medicine, it doesn't necessarily follow that if you build it, they will come. There are many mediators along the way from discovery and development to adoption. We also know from another PMC-commissioned study of the value of genomic testing in cancer care, for example, that many patients who are eligible for effective targeted therapies, as determined by genomic sequencing of their tumor, still do not receive the best treatment option based on the results.

This practice gap can be attributed to the limitations in the availability and interpretation of test results, sample processing constraints, limited access to targeted therapies, and especially lagging awareness of the rapidly evolving field of personalized medicine among physicians and other providers.

We demonstrate in this study that if all patients who were eligible to receive a targeted treatment actually received it, the cost-effectiveness of genomic sequencing, which is sometimes alleged to be too high, would significantly improve. In short, along with public policy, we know that the downstream issues focused on clinical adoption are extremely important and must be addressed.

We are in a continuing debate with respect to drug pricing in the United States. How does that debate impact the future of personalized medicine and how would you address or make some recommendations as to how we price our drugs?

That's a very important question because as you know, the drug pricing debate has gripped public attention. But we are not considering all ramifications. The debate has particular implications for the development of personalized medicines, which tend to be more expensive but may together have a positive impact on the health care system and on overall costs.

We have to ensure that innovative products remain accessible, including to those who cannot afford them. But we also have to be careful not to remove the incentives to discover and develop those products in the first place, which I am afraid that price controlsno matter how they are implementedwould do. That is to say, they would stifle innovation. Drug development is a risky business. There are no guarantees. If we move or decrease the financial incentive to find new cures to unmet medical needs, it follows that we're going to see fewer interventions.

Late last month, President Trump issued an executive order to tie the prices paid for physician-administered drugs, many of which are personalized medicines, to those that are paid in other countries. That may be politically popular because those other countries pay less. But the policy, if implemented, will have disastrous unintended consequences for the development of say, new cell-based therapies, gene therapies, and targeted medicines that are only now reshaping health care in ways no one thought possible ten years ago.

This is so because there are incentives in place to encourage the development of groundbreaking therapies. It's important to understand that when a pharmaceutical company invests in, say, finding a one-shot cure for spinal muscular atrophya rare and debilitating disorder that affects fewer than 25,000 people in the United Statesit does so without any guarantee of success, and it does so also with very high up-front costs that must be recovered. If the company that develops the cure cannot get a return on its investment, it's unlikely to take these big risks upon which patients depend. Long story short, patients will suffer and the costs of providing carenot curesfor those patients will remain higher than they could be.

I'd like your opinion on a topic of current urgent and global concern. Today, we are challenged medically and economically with the COVID-19 pandemic. How have the principles of personalized medicine been applied to diagnosing and treating COVID-19?

I actually believe that the principles of personalized medicine that emphasize stratified responses, even when it comes to public health, have significant implications for diagnosing and treating COVID-19. Those principles, I believe, should inform future interventions to stem this terrible pandemic that has already killed over 170,000 people in the United States alone.

I don't think these principles are being adequately considered as part of the debate. PMC looks forward to introducing those principles, because they're so very important if we're going to effectively address this pandemic.

First, we have been very slow to develop and deploy real-time diagnosticsthe backbone of personalized medicine. These diagnostics give us the tools to determine who is at risk, so we don't have to put in place one-size-fits-all public health responses, including closing down whole economies, when that might not be necessary if we knew who had the disease or who was likely to get the disease.

To date, we have not been able to target long-term prevention and treatment plans to the most at-risk populations, which would be enormously helpful in reopening economies, which we would obviously like to do sooner than later.

Second, and equally important, we know that the coronavirus expresses itself differently among different populations. For example, older men, racial and ethnic minorities, and those with particular underlying conditions seem to be more vulnerable to disease. It behooves us, therefore, to understand the molecular and environmental reasons for this differentiated response, and to develop and deploy therapies and vaccines that are targeted to those who are in need.

Today, we are looking for one-size-fits-all solutions because there's an urgency to find one. But eventually, scientists in my opinion are going to recognize that, because not everyone responds the same, different medicines are going to have to be developed to treat COVID-19 and other viruses.

We've already seen this in AIDS, and so I don't think the coronavirus is going to be different. We have to be really smart about how we address this pandemic. By the way, on September 3rd, PMC is organizing a virtual seminar, titledCOVID-19 and Personalized Medicine: Current Status and Lessons Learned. It is free, and if you want to register, you can do so on ourwebsite.

Ed, thank you so much for being with us today, and as we wrap up, I'd like to invite you to make any closing remarks or comments on the topics we covered today.

I'd really like to thank you both for your loyal support to the Personalized Medicine Coalition, and for giving me the opportunity to discuss these very important issues with your audience. I hope people will pay attention to personalized medicine. We believe it represents the future, and we also believe that if we invest in it, if we come together collaboratively as a community, we can have a health care system that we deserve based upon the developments in science and technology, which have never been more promising. Again, thank you for your attention, and I look forward to working with you and everybody on this podcast to move this field forward. It's not going to happen by itself.

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COVID-19 & Healthcare: Personalized Medicine is the Future - The National Law Review

Identifying emerging diseases focus of new international collaboration – Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

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School of Medicine to become 1 of 10 sites under new Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is one of 10 sites and a coordinating center forming the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The centers are a coordinated network with collaborators in different regions across the globe where emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks have proven likely to occur.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are establishing a new international collaboration that aims to help scientists prepare for the next pandemic and, perhaps, provide insight into the current one.

The School of Medicine is one of 10 sites and a coordinating center forming the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Washington Universitys center will be supported by a five-year, $8.1 million grant.

The Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID) is a coordinated network with centers that will each have collaborators in different regions across the globe where emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks have proven likely to occur. The Washington University-led center includes researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology in San Diego and international collaborators in China, Hong Kong, Nepal and Ethiopia. In recent years, these regions have seen the emergence of multiple dangerous viruses, including H5N1 influenza, SARS, MERS and, most recently, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

We want to be able to respond quickly and effectively to the emergence of a new infectious disease, said David Wang, PhD, principal investigator of the new center at Washington University. If we can understand the source of the infection, how it spreads and how it affects people, we have a better shot at preventing a new infectious disease from becoming a major threat to global public health.

Multidisciplinary teams of investigators will conduct surveillance of potential sources of new diseases and the local populations at risk of infection. The researchers will study transmission, disease progression, and immunologic responses in the host, and will develop diagnostic tests and animal models of the new diseases for improved detection of important emerging pathogens and the methods by which they spread.

Such information could help predict which new infectious diseases are at highest risk of reaching pandemic status and aid in efforts to understand the new disease and prevent its spread.

In addition to Wang, a professor of molecular microbiology, and of pathology & immunology, key researchers at Washington Universitys center include Michael S. Diamond, MD, PhD, the Herbert S. Gasser Professor of Medicine; Jacco Boon, PhD, an associate professor of medicine; and Scott A. Handley, PhD, an associate professor of pathology & immunology.

The international centers will monitor local populations for the most common red flags of an emerging infection: respiratory disease, inflammation of the brain, and unexplained fever. The researchers will study patient samples to look for new viruses or other microbes with the potential to cause disease. At the same time, investigators will survey local livestock, mosquitoes and ticks to help identify the potential origins of viruses that could be infecting people in a particular region.

The Washington University researchers will focus on the molecular biology and genetics of emerging viruses and on developing animal models, such as mice and other rodents, to help study potentially dangerous viruses, understand how they spread and set the stage for developing treatments.

If we find a new virus that we want to prioritize, we will develop diagnostic tests, and tools to study the virus and will begin to develop treatments, such as therapeutic antibodies, Wang said. We could use our animal models to test possible new drugs. We also will fine tune plans so that we are quick to respond to new emerging outbreaks, such as SARS-CoV-2, first reported in Wuhan, China.

Weve prioritized studies of COVID-19 at the university, Wang added. Were sequencing the genomes of SARS-CoV-2 viruses to understand the transmission and evolution of the virus that is circulating in the St. Louis region. Were also trying to understand how the proteins that the virus makes contribute to the severity of the infection.

The new centers are prioritizing the study of families of viruses that have shown the most potential to impact humans, including coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV), paramyxoviruses (measles and respiratory syncytial virus), flaviviruses (West Nile, Zika and dengue) and alphaviruses (chikungunya virus), among others.

There are clear sets of viral families that we are most concerned about because they have the highest likelihood of causing major disease in humans, Wang said. At the same time, were definitely looking for everything with our surveillance studies. Every viral family has the potential to be highly dangerous. We hope this program will help identify those infectious diseases most likely to cause major problems, so we can take steps to lessen the impact.

For more information, visit: https://creid-network.org

This work is supported by the NIAID of the NIH, grant number U01AI151810.

Washington University School of Medicines 1,500 faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals. The School of Medicine is a leader in medical research, teaching and patient care, ranking among the top 10 medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

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Identifying emerging diseases focus of new international collaboration - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Impact of exogenous antithrombin on low molecular weight heparin anti-Xa activity assays in a pediatric and young adult leukemia and lymphoma cohort…

Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) remains the most commonly prescribed pediatric anticoagulant. There is debate whether LMWH anti-Xa assays with or without exogenous antithrombin (AT) best reflect anticoagulation effect, and how much discrepancy exists between assay types.We assessed the effect of variable AT activity on LMWH anti-Xa levels in plasma samples from anticoagulated pediatric and young adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma (ALL/L) patients, using two instruments and their commercial kits with and without exogenous AT (ie, four platforms).We analyzed LMWH anti-Xa levels on 60 plasma samples with known AT activity from 12 enoxaparin-treated ALL/L patients, using four commercial kits from Siemens and Stago containing AT or not, on Siemens BCS and Stago STA R Max, respectively.Of 236/240 samples with interpretable results, mean AT activity was 80% (46-138%). Correlation was acceptable for published kit ranges of LMWH anti-Xa levels when comparing kits containing AT (r=0.82, P<.0001), or not (r=0.93, P<.0001), and within a manufacturer (Berichrom to Innovance, r=0.92, P<.0001; Stachrom to STA-Liquid Anti-Xa r=0.98, P<.0001). LMWH anti-Xa levels were lower in platforms without added AT (P<.0001). For Stago kits, this effect increased when AT<70% (P=.001, n=19, mean 56%). Assay variability, measured as mean percent difference, was less pronounced with Stago kits (14.7%, n=49) than Siemens (41.9%, n=50).Although LMWH levels from anti-Xa assays with added AT trend higher than in those without, correlation was fairly good between platforms in pediatric ALL/L plasmas, even when AT activity was <70%. 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

PubMed

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Impact of exogenous antithrombin on low molecular weight heparin anti-Xa activity assays in a pediatric and young adult leukemia and lymphoma cohort...

4D Molecular Therapeutics Appoints Susannah Gray to Board of Directors – BioSpace

Aug. 27, 2020 11:00 UTC

EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 4D Molecular Therapeutics (4DMT), a clinical-stage leader in the development of precision-guided AAV gene medicines based on directed evolution, announced the appointment of Susannah Gray to the Board of Directors. Ms. Gray brings more than 30 years of biopharmaceutical experience specifically in corporate finance and capital markets roles, most recently serving as EVP, Finance & Strategy of Royalty Pharma Management, LLC.

Susannahs extensive knowledge and experience in corporate finance and capital markets brings a valuable perspective to 4DMT. said David Kirn, MD, co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer of 4DMT. Susannahs appointment reflects our commitment to augmenting the capital markets expertise on the 4DMT board as we contemplate the capital required to support the clinical and preclinical development of our product candidates, two of which have recently entered the clinic. We look forward to benefiting from Susannahs extensive experience as we advance 4DMTs next-generation gene therapy programs.

Prior to joining 4DMT, Ms. Gray spent 14 years as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Royalty Pharma before retiring in 2019 just ahead of the Companys initial public offering. At Royalty Pharma, Ms. Gray led the Companys efforts to maximize its financial capabilities. She spearheaded the Companys successful implementation of a $2.3 billion credit facility in 2007 and has helped raise over $1.4 billion in equity capital for the Company. Prior to joining Royalty Pharma, Ms. Gray had a 14-year career in investment banking. In her most recent role, she was a managing director and the senior analyst covering the healthcare sector for CIBC World Market's high yield group from 2002 to 2004. She worked in a similar capacity at Merrill Lynch prior to joining CIBC World Markets. Ms. Gray joined Merrill Lynch in April 1999 after nine years at Chase Securities (a predecessor of JP Morgan), working in various capacities within the high yield and the structured finance groups. Ms. Gray received a BA with honors from Wesleyan University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia University.

I am excited to be part of this outstanding team at this key moment in the companys trajectory, said Susannah Gray. 4DMTs next-generation Therapeutic Vector Evolution platform enables the development of gene therapies with improved therapeutic profiles, enabling the company to pursue previously untreatable patient populations and to address a broad range of both rare and large market diseases. I look forward to working closely with the 4D team and supporting its mission to bring optimized gene therapies to patients.

About 4DMT

4DMT is a clinical-stage precision gene medicine company harnessing the power of directed evolution to unlock the full potential of gene therapy for rare and large market diseases in lysosomal storage diseases, ophthalmology, neuromuscular diseases, and cystic fibrosis. 4DMTs proprietary Therapeutic Vector Evolution platform enables a disease first approach to product discovery and development, thereby empowering customization of AAV vectors to target specific tissue types associated with the underlying disease. These proprietary and optimized AAV vectors are designed to provide targeted delivery by routine clinical routes of administration, efficient transduction, reduced immunogenicity, and resistance to pre-existing antibodies -- attributes that could enable the development of gene therapies that overcome known limitations of conventional AAV vectors. 4DMT vectors are designed to exhibit improved therapeutic profiles that enable the company to pursue previously untreatable patient populations and to address a broad range of rare and large market diseases.

4D Molecular Therapeutics, 4DMT, Therapeutic Vector Evolution, and the 4DMT logo are trademarks of 4DMT.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200827005202/en/

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4D Molecular Therapeutics Appoints Susannah Gray to Board of Directors - BioSpace

Oncocyte Announces Addition of Experienced Healthcare Executive, Jennifer Carter, MD, MPH, MBA to Board of Directors – GlobeNewswire

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncocyte Corporation (NYSE American: OCX), a molecular diagnostics company with a mission to provide actionable answers at critical decision points across the cancer care continuum, today announced the appointment of Jennifer Levin Carter, MD, MPH, MBA to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Carter is a true pioneer in applying precision medicine in the world of oncology, said Cavan Redmond, Chairman of the Board of Oncocyte. Her work at N-of-One was instrumental in advancing a new paradigm in cancer treatment which harnessed the power of molecular panels to correlate, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Dr. Carters deep expertise and understanding in this domain will be invaluable at Oncocyte as we push forward into the world of immunotherapy to leverage targeted response prediction and patient selection in both the clinic and Pharma services opportunities.

Dr. Carter added, Im honored to join the Board of Directors at Oncocyte and believe that their growing suite of molecular tests has the potential to markedly improve patient outcomes through a precision approach that identifies the right treatment for each patient. I look forward to leveraging my experience in developing molecular guided treatment strategies to advance Oncocytes rapid growth and physician adoption. Their strategic approach in identifying critical underserved decision points for patients has led to the development of two important tests for response prediction in NSCLC and now for immunotherapy, and I am thrilled to collaborate with the board and management as we work to broaden the patient population and partners that will benefit from these critically important tests.

Dr. Jennifer Levin Carter is a healthcare executive, board member and entrepreneur and was most recently VP, Head of Precision Health at Integral Health, A Flagship Pioneering company. She has founded and served as CEO at healthcare companies including N-of-One, Inc., where she was CEO from 2008-2012 and Chief Medical Officer from 2012 until its acquisition in 2019. At N-of-One, Dr. Carter led the creation of award-winning solutions that delivered novel treatment strategies to hundreds of thousands of patients with cancer globally.

In addition to her board appointment for Oncocyte, Jennifer serves as a Director of DFP Healthcare Acquisitions Corp.; on the Board of Directors of HouseWorks, LLC., a home healthcare company, eCaring, Inc., a digital health home care platform and Target Cancer Foundation where she has worked closely with the Executive Director on the design and launch of a precision medicine clinical trial for patients with rare cancer. She is a Founding Strategic Board member of XSphera Biosciences, Inc., an Ex Vivo Immuno-oncology diagnostic company and on the Directors Advisory Board at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale University. She is an Advisor and has consulted for numerous healthcare and life sciences startups and venture-backed companies on strategy, product development, business model design and fund raising.

About Oncocyte CorporationOncocyte is a molecular diagnostics company whose mission is to provide actionable answers at critical decision points across the cancer care continuum, with the goal of improving patient outcomes by accelerating and optimizing diagnosis and treatment. The Company recently launched DetermaRx, a treatment stratification test that enables the identification of early-stage lung cancer patients at high risk for recurrence post-resection, allowing them to be treated when their cancer may be more responsive to adjuvant chemotherapy. Oncocyte is also developing DetermaIO, a gene expression test that identifies patients more likely to respond to checkpoint immunotherapies.

DetermaRx and DetermaIO are trademarks of Oncocyte Corporation.

Oncocyte Forward Looking StatementsOncocyte cautions you that this press release contains forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as will, believes, plans, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, and similar expressions) are forward-looking statements. These statements include those pertaining to the commercial launch of DetermaRx, development of DetermaIO, unexpected expenditures or assumed liabilities or other unanticipated difficulties resulting from acquisitions, implementation and results of research, development, clinical trials and studies, commercialization plans, future financial and/or operating results, and future opportunities for Oncocyte, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the potential impact of COVID-19 on our financial and operational results, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential diagnostic tests or products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, the capacity of our third-party supplied blood sample analytic system to provide consistent and precise analytic results on a commercial scale, potential interruptions to our supply chain, the need and ability to obtain future capital, maintenance of intellectual property rights, and the need to obtain third party reimbursement for patients use of any diagnostic tests we commercialize, and risks inherent in acquisitions such as failure to realize anticipated benefits, unexpected expenditures or assumed liabilities, unanticipated difficulties in conforming business practices including accounting policies, procedures and internal controls, greater than estimated allocations of resources to develop and commercialize technologies, or failure to maintain any laboratory accreditation or certification. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and accordingly such statements should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of Oncocyte, particularly those mentioned in the Risk Factors and other cautionary statements found in Oncocytes Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available from the SECs website. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Oncocyte undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

Investor ContactBob YedidLifeSci Advisors, LLC646-597-6989bob@lifesciadvisors.com

Media ContactCait Williamson, Ph.D.LifeSci Communications, LLC656-751-4366cait@lifescicomms.com

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Oncocyte Announces Addition of Experienced Healthcare Executive, Jennifer Carter, MD, MPH, MBA to Board of Directors - GlobeNewswire

STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR MODELING TECHNIQUES MARKET PREDICTED TO ACCELERATE THE GROWTH BY 2017-2025 – Scientect

Structural Biology and Molecular Modeling Techniques Market: Overview

The global structural biology and molecular modeling techniques market is a novel conception in the global healthcare sector and has already made key contributions in obtaining remedies to a number of diseases. The structural biology and molecular modeling field is concerned with how various molecules in biological compounds are arranged and how the peculiarity of the arrangement affects the nature of the compound. The field also studies how alterations in the structure of the compounds affect their nature and how the position of each part of the structure is linked to the overall nature of the compound.

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The structural biology and molecular modeling techniques market has significant potential due to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. Improving the quality of medicine and healthcare in general has been a key focus of governments across the world in recent years due to the rising volume of patient demographics and the growing geriatric population. This has driven consistent investment in the medical research in recent years, making steady development of the structural biology and molecular modeling techniques market likely in the near future.

North America is likely to remain the leading regional market for structural biology and molecular modeling techniques in the coming years due to the strong emphasis on the widespread incorporation of healthcare IT and the presence of strong investment channels for the medical research field as well as several key healthcare industry players. The presence of advanced technological framework supporting research in complementary areas of the structural biology and molecular modeling techniques market, such as genomics, is also likely to be a key driver for the North America structural biology and molecular modeling techniques market in the coming years.

Global Structural Biology and Molecular Modeling Techniques Market: Snapshot

The global structural biology and molecular modeling techniques market has been thriving due to the high prevalence of chronic diseases. The market is also gaining a strong foothold across the globe as treating these diseases is becoming increasingly difficult due to the acquired drug resistance. In the light of these developments, research and development activities using structural biology and molecular modeling techniques have been in full swing. The increasing focus on improving the quality of medicines and ensuring patient recovery and safety has augmented the demand for various structural biology and molecular modeling techniques. The demand for these techniques is projected to soar as the need to reduce drug failure is an immense one amongst healthcare institutes.

The report answers questions pertaining to the size of the global market by the end of the forecast period, leading segments, and players amongst others. The report is a comprehensive outlook of the global market and it presents key market insights for readers with absolute objectivity.

Global Structural Biology and Molecular Modeling Techniques Market: Drivers and Trends

The rapid pace of technological developments and innovations have been exceptionally supportive of the global market over the past few years. Both these aspects have authenticated the sophisticated models that help in the accurate determination of cellular interactions and function, which in turn helps in identifying the problem area and a subsequent solution. The wide range of structural biology and molecular modeling techniques are expected to find tremendous scope in the area of drug discovery. These techniques will prove to be important in identifying the missing pieces that limit the process of drug discovery, thereby resulting in high success rates.

Adoption of these techniques in pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics are also expected to prove beneficial to the overall growth of the market. Analysts project that increasing incidences of diseases where several drugs cannot be administered to the patient will prove to be a lucrative ground for the global structural biology and molecular modeling techniques market.

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Global Structural Biology and Molecular Modeling Techniques Market: Regional Outlook

Spread over regions such as North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, Europe, and Latin America, the global structural biology and molecular modeling techniques market has truly made its market in North America. The higher understanding of diseases and empathy toward managing them with supportive regulatory policies has been North Americas winning strategy for the past few years. Increasing funding for research and development of novel drugs is expected to favor this regional markets growth in the coming years as well.

On the other hand, increasing expenditure on IT, healthcare infrastructure, and research organizations in Asia Pacific is also expected to open up new avenues for growth for the overall market. Furthermore, the rising standard of living of people in developing countries, improving GDPs, and better access to healthcare are also expected to fuel the demand for structural biology and molecular modeling techniques in Asia Pacific.

Global Structural Biology and Molecular Modeling Techniques Market: Competitive Landscape

The key players identified by the research analysts are Dassault Systemes, Agile Molecule, Acellera Ltd., Bioinformatic LLC, Affymetrix, Agilent Technologies, Inc., Illumina, Bruker Daltonics Inc., Biomax Informatics AG, Chemical Computing Group, and CLC bio. The report points out that the global market is expected to witness intense competition in the coming years. However, to stay ahead of the competition, several players are expected to focus on mergers and acquisitions, investments for novel drug development, and technological advancements.

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TMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to busi-ness entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experi-enced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.

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STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR MODELING TECHNIQUES MARKET PREDICTED TO ACCELERATE THE GROWTH BY 2017-2025 - Scientect