Part IV - Roundtable 1, Regulation in the health care sector: are economic tools useful and used?
Part IV - hospinnomics launch event 2014 -- Chair: Bob Elliott (HERU, Aberdeen, UK) -- Brigitte Dormont (PSL, Universit Paris Dauphine, FR): #39;Hospital payment reform in France: which economic...
By: Chaire hospinnomics
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Grandma - Saint Elizabeth Health Care
A 30-second commercial in a series created for Saint Elizabeth Health Care. They approached us with the challenge of creating their first ever series of television advertisements on a not-for-profi...
By: Q Media Solutions
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With Fred Upton, seniors pay, while health care executives profit.
Want to know why? Follow the money. https://mayday.us/
By: MAYDAY. US
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With Fred Upton, seniors pay, while health care executives profit. - Video
Using Journalism and the Media for Public Health | Voices in Leadership | Joanne Kenen
Joanne Kenen, the health care editor of Politico, spoke at the Harvard School of Public Health as part of the Voices in Leadership series on October 20, 2014. Watch the entire leadership series...
By: Harvard Public Health
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Using Journalism and the Media for Public Health | Voices in Leadership | Joanne Kenen - Video
Future of You Promo - Trailer
A new era in health care is taking off, spurred by high-tech tools that track everything from sleep to stress. Discover Future of You, a new, multimedia project from KQED Science that...
By: KQED SCIENCE
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President Obama Speaks to Health Care Workers Fighting Ebola
Heart to Heart International was invited to the White House to participate in this event, due to our work to fight Ebola in Liberia. Video courtesy WH.GOV and edited only to remove pre and...
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President Obama Speaks to Health Care Workers Fighting Ebola - Video
President Obama Delivers Remarks on American Health Care Workers Fight Against Ebola
In the East Room of the White House, President Obama thanked American health care workers for their service on the frontlines of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. October 29, 2014.
By: The White House
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President Obama Delivers Remarks on American Health Care Workers Fight Against Ebola - Video
Once Medicare kicks in at age 65, picking a plan differs little from choosing a plan at work or on an ACA health-care exchange. Different plans offer different coverage, but the Employee Benefit Research Institute says that in general, Medicare covers about 60 percent of the cost of heath-care services, not including long-term care.
Ramnani said that to arrive at an accurate number, her firm estimates what kind of coverage might be chosen by clients and by what they pay out of pocket currently.
Read MoreHow to control health costs
"They might be using out-of-network providers or have specific health-care needs not being covered by insurance," she said. "We assume those expenses will continue."
The biggest costs come from co-payments, deductibles and excluded benefits, along with out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs and the cost of premiums for Medicare Part B (basic coverage) and Part D (prescription drug benefits). Premiums for Medicare are based on income; the higher your income, the more you'll pay. Beyond basic coverage, there also are other options that come with additional costs.
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FILE- In this Oct. 24, 2014 file photo, members of the Department of Defense's Ebola Military Medical Support Team dress with protective gear during training at San Antonio Military Medical Center in San Antonio. Even small clusters of Ebola cases could overwhelm parts of US medical care system, according to an Associated Press review of readiness at hospitals and other components of the emergency medical network. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
The U.S. health care apparatus is so unprepared and short on resources to deal with the deadly Ebola virus that even small clusters of cases could overwhelm parts of the system, according to an Associated Press review of readiness at hospitals and other components of the emergency medical network.
Experts broadly agree that a widespread outbreak across the country is extremely unlikely, but they also concur that it is impossible to predict with certainty, since previous Ebola epidemics have been confined to remote areas of Africa. And Ebola is not the only possible danger that causes concern; experts say other deadly infectious diseases - ranging from airborne viruses such as SARS, to an unforeseen new strain of the flu, to more exotic plagues like Lassa fever - could crash the health care system.
To assess America's ability to deal with a major outbreak, the AP examined multiple indicators of readiness: training, manpower, funding, emergency room shortcomings, supplies, infection control and protection for health care workers. AP reporters also interviewed dozens of top experts in those fields.
The results were worrisome. Supplies, training and funds are all limited. And there are concerns about whether health care workers would refuse to treat Ebola victims.
Following the death of a patient with Ebola in a Texas hospital and the subsequent infection of two of his nurses, medical officials and politicians are scurrying to fix preparedness shortcomings. But remedies cannot be implemented overnight. And fixes will be very expensive.
Dr. Jeffrey S. Duchin, chairman of the Public Health Committee of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and a professor of medicine at the University of Washington, said it will take time to ramp up readiness, including ordering the right protective equipment and training workers to use it. "Not every facility is going to be able to obtain the same level of readiness," he said.
AP reporters frequently heard assessments that generally, the smaller the facility, the less prepared, less funded, less staffed and less trained it is to fight Ebola and other deadly infectious diseases.
"The place I worry is: Are most small hospitals adequately prepared?" said Dr. Ashish Jha, a Harvard University specialist in health care quality and safety. "It clearly depends on the hospital."
He said better staff training is the most important element of preparation for any U.S. Ebola outbreak. He believes a small group of personnel at each hospital needs to know the best procedures, because sick people are likely to appear first at medium-size or small medical centers, which are much more common than big ones.
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The Turn 1 gate at Daytona International Speedway will be sponsored by Florida Hospital, which also is becoming the Speedways official health care provider.
DAYTONA BEACH Florida Hospital has been named the exclusive health care provider of Daytona International Speedway, replacing a public hospital that has had a long relationship with racing and the family that built NASCAR.
Florida Hospital and the Speedway have signed a 12-year partnership that will give the not-for-profit health care system branding rights to one of five remodeled entrances, a concourse, the infield care center and first-aid stations.
The partnership is a great way for Florida Hospital to reach a wide audience and promote its brand at the Speedway, which is in the midst of a $400 million renovation that will be completed in 2016, said Daryl Tol, a regional CEO for the Volusia-Flagler market.
We need to get out of the four walls of the hospital and get out into our communities, he said. We need to be there close to peoples homes where they celebrate, where they work, where they live rather than waiting for them to come to us.
Halifax Health, down the street from the Speedway, previously served as the tracks official health care provider.
Florida Hospital and the Speedway announced the partnership Thursday morning outside Turn 1 before an audience of cheering nurses, doctors and hospital staff. The agreement will take effect Jan. 1. Florida Hospital officials did not disclose how much they paid for the sponsorship.
During the ceremony, Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III presented Tol with a racing helmet autographed by racing star Dale Earnhardt Jr. In exchange, Tol gave a white lab coat to Chitwood.
Florida Hospitals competitor Halifax Health, a 678-bed public hospital system, has worked closely with the Speedway through the years. In a prepared statement, Halifax Health CEO Jeff Feasel said the hospital is proud of the long history of exceptional care provided to competitors, crew and fans at the Speedway, and that the move was strictly a business decision by the Speedway.
Halifax Health will continue to support Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR, the NASCAR Nation and the many fans who frequent our community for many years to come, Feasel said.
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Allina EMS first responders receive training on the latest protocol for handling future patients possibly infected with Ebola in Mounds View, Minn.
The U.S. health care apparatus is so unprepared and short on resources to deal with the deadly Ebola virus that even small clusters of cases could overwhelm parts of the system, according to an Associated Press review of readiness at hospitals and other components of the emergency medical network.
Experts broadly agree that a widespread nationwide outbreak is extremely unlikely, but they also concur that it is impossible to predict with certainty, since previous Ebola epidemics have been confined to remote areas of Africa. And Ebola is not the only possible danger that causes concern; experts say other deadly infectious diseases ranging from airborne viruses such as SARS, to an unforeseen new strain of the flu, to more exotic plagues like Lassa fever could crash the health care system.
To assess America's ability to deal with a major outbreak, the AP examined multiple indicators of readiness: training, staffing, funding, emergency room shortcomings, supplies and protection for health care workers. AP reporters also interviewed dozens of top experts in those fields.
The results were worrisome. Supplies, training and funds are all limited, and there are concerns about whether health care workers would refuse to treat Ebola patients.
Following the death of a man suffering from Ebola in a Texas hospital and the subsequent infection of two of his nurses, medical officials and politicians are scurrying to fix preparedness shortcomings. But remedies cannot be implemented overnight. And fixes will be expensive.
AP reporters frequently heard assessments that the smaller the facility, the less prepared it is to fight Ebola and other deadly infectious diseases. The U.S. has many more medium-size and small medical centers than large hospitals.
"The place I worry is: Are most small hospitals adequately prepared?" said Dr. Ashish Jha, a Harvard University health care quality specialist. "It clearly depends."
Other findings:
Experts concur that training health care workers on safe Ebola treatment and education is one of the antidotes.
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3 Health Care Picks To Beat Earnings
Ebola virus disease fears coupled with the lack of any approved treatment for Ebola has brought the spotlight on health care companies like Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp. ( TKMR ), Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) and GlaxoSmithKline ( GSK ) among others researching on Ebola vaccines or treatments. U.S. government agencies are working closely and providing support as well as funding to the companies developing vaccines/treatments targeting Ebola. With investors glued on Ebola vaccine/treatment related updates, companies working on Ebola therapies stand to make the most of the current furor.
On the other hand, tax-saving reverse mergers, which had until recently become a rage, have somewhat fizzled out owing to uncertainty surrounding proposed changes in U.S. tax laws. Earlier this month, AbbVie Inc. ( ABBV ) abandoned its plans to acquire Shire ( SHPG ) on proposed anti-inversion policies. The deal, valued at approximately $54.5 billion, was set to complete by year end.
However, tax saving is not the sole motivation behind reinvigorated M&A activities in the health care sector currently. Cash-rich companies are on the lookout for other players that have a portfolio of potential multi-million dollar products or lucrative pipeline candidates. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. ( VRX ) is looking to acquire Allergan ( AGN ) to strengthen its portfolio. However, Allergan has stated that Valeant's latest acquisition offer significantly undervalued the company. Another company rumored to be interested in Allergan is Actavis ( ACT ).
Despite the patent cliff being mostly over, some health care companies have continued to witness declining sales in the third quarter of 2014 owing to genericization. Several health care companies now have fewer blockbuster products. Increasing competition for legacy products in the form of newer therapies is also affecting sales. Merck ( MRK ) and Glaxo reported disappointing revenues in the third quarter - the former due to patent expiries of key products and the latter facing the brunt of increasing competition for Advair.
Health care companies have been resorting to share buybacks, restructuring, streamlining of operations, divestment of non-core/redundant assets to boost the bottom line. Amgen ( AMGN ) has initiated a company-wide restructuring, which involves the reduction of 20% of its workforce and approximately 23% of the facilities footprint by the end of 2015.
Some of the companies are also increasing their dividends to increase shareholder returns.
Thus, it may be a good idea to look at some companies in the health care sector that have the potential to beat earnings in their upcoming releases. These stocks are well positioned in today's market environment, and could see considerable upside riding on the aforementioned trends. An earnings beat should help these stocks gain investor confidence and show a favorable price movement.
How to Pick?
Given a large number of industry participants, pinpointing stocks that have the potential to beat estimates could appear to be a daunting task. But our proprietary methodology makes it fairly simple. One way to narrow down the list of choices this earnings season is by looking at stocks that have the combination of a favorable Zacks Rank - Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy) or #3 (Hold) - and a positive Zacks Earnings ESP .
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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
29-Oct-2014
Contact: Krista Conger kristac@stanford.edu 650-725-5371 Stanford University Medical Center @sumedicine
The ability to pop a working copy of a faulty gene into a patient's genome is a tantalizing goal for many clinicians treating genetic diseases. Now, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have devised a new way to carry out this genetic sleight of hand.
The approach differs from that of other hailed techniques because it doesn't require the co-delivery of an enzyme called an endonuclease to clip the recipient's DNA at specific locations. It also doesn't rely on the co-insertion of genetic "on" switches called promoters to activate the new gene's expression.
These differences may make the new approach both safer and longer-lasting. Using the technique, the Stanford researchers were able to cure mice with hemophilia by inserting a gene for a clotting factor missing in the animals.
"It appears that we may be able to achieve lifelong expression of the inserted gene, which is particularly important when treating genetic diseases like hemophilia and severe combined immunodeficiency," said Mark Kay, MD, PhD, professor of pediatrics and of genetics. "We're able to do this without using promoters or nucleases, which significantly reduces the chances of cancers that can result if the new gene inserts itself at random places in the genome."
Using the technique, Kay and his colleagues were able to insert a working copy of a missing blood-clotting factor into the DNA of mice with hemophilia. Although the insertion was accomplished in only about 1 percent of liver cells, those cells made enough of the missing clotting factor to ameliorate the disorder.
Kay is the senior author of the research, which will be published Oct. 29 in Nature. The lead author is postdoctoral scholar Adi Barzel, PhD.
A possible alternative to CRISPR
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New way of genome editing cures hemophilia in mice; may be safer than older method
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
29-Oct-2014
Contact: Pete Farley peter.farley@ucsf.edu 415-502-6397 University of California - San Francisco @ucsf
Scores of autoimmune diseases afflicting one in 12 Americans ranging from type 1 diabetes, to multiple sclerosis (MS), to rheumatoid arthritis, to asthma mysteriously cause the immune system to harm tissues within our own bodies. Now, a new study pinpoints the complex genetic origins for many of these diseases, a discovery that may lead to better diagnosis and ultimately to improved treatments.
A team of scientists from UC San Francisco, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Yale School of Medicine developed a new mathematical tool to more deeply probe existing DNA databases. In so doing they discovered how certain DNA variations, when inherited, are likely to contribute to disease.
By applying their method to analyzing data from previous studies of 21 different autoimmune diseases, the research team has deepened scientific understanding of the genetic underpinnings of a wide range of these disorders. They also found the specific immune cells most responsible for the diseases. Their study is published online on October 29, 2014 in Nature.
The researchers examined a wealth of data from 39 large-scale studies called genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Teams of scientists in recent years have conducted GWAS typically enlisting thousands of study participants to identify large blocks of DNA within the human genome within which genetic variants are implicated as risk factors for common diseases. But examination of GWAS data to date has seldom pointed to altered proteins, as surprisingly few protein-encoding gene variants within these broad swaths of DNA have been associated with the diseases under investigation.
Instead, the genetic risks identified through GWAS more often appear to be associated with DNA variations that do not reside within genes. The nature of this risk has defied understanding until now, fueling a perception that few medical benefits have thus far emerged from large-scale studies of human genetic variation being conducted in the wake of the initial Human Genome Project.
In the new study the researchers found that the presence of specific genetic variants in different autoimmune diseases can alter patterns of activity of genes in particular ways that affect functions of the immune system. This was true despite the fact that the genetic variants are not within genes.
To make their discoveries, the researchers developed software and used next-generation sequencing techniques to probe "epigenetic" characteristics of specialized immune cells, in which gene activity is affected without changes to the DNA sequence itself within the affected genes.
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In autoimmune diseases, researchers pinpoint genetic risks, cellular culprits
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Newswise Scores of autoimmune diseases afflicting one in 12 Americans ranging from type 1 diabetes, to multiple sclerosis (MS), to rheumatoid arthritis, to asthma mysteriously cause the immune system to harm tissues within our own bodies. Now, a new study pinpoints the complex genetic origins for many of these diseases, a discovery that may lead to better diagnosis and ultimately to improved treatments.
A team of scientists from UC San Francisco, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Yale School of Medicine developed a new mathematical tool to more deeply probe existing DNA databases. In so doing they discovered how certain DNA variations, when inherited, are likely to contribute to disease.
By applying their method to analyzing data from previous studies of 21 different autoimmune diseases, the research team has deepened scientific understanding of the genetic underpinnings of a wide range of these disorders. They also found the specific immune cells most responsible for the diseases. Their study is published online on October 29, 2014 in Nature.
The researchers examined a wealth of data from 39 large-scale studies called genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Teams of scientists in recent years have conducted GWAS typically enlisting thousands of study participants to identify large blocks of DNA within the human genome within which genetic variants are implicated as risk factors for common diseases. But examination of GWAS data to date has seldom pointed to altered proteins, as surprisingly few protein-encoding gene variants within these broad swaths of DNA have been associated with the diseases under investigation.
Instead, the genetic risks identified through GWAS more often appear to be associated with DNA variations that do not reside within genes. The nature of this risk has defied understanding until now, fueling a perception that few medical benefits have thus far emerged from large-scale studies of human genetic variation being conducted in the wake of the initial Human Genome Project.
In the new study the researchers found that the presence of specific genetic variants in different autoimmune diseases can alter patterns of activity of genes in particular ways that affect functions of the immune system. This was true despite the fact that the genetic variants are not within genes.
To make their discoveries, the researchers developed software and used next-generation sequencing techniques to probe epigenetic characteristics of specialized immune cells, in which gene activity is affected without changes to the DNA sequence itself within the affected genes.
The team discovered that a majority of key DNA changes associated with autoimmune diseases occur in functional bits of DNA known as enhancers.
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In Autoimmune Diseases Affecting Millions, Researchers Pinpoint Genetic Risks, Cellular Culprits
What is Synthetic Biology?: Engineering Life and Livelihoods
It has been referred to as extreme genetic engineering and the new frontier of biotechnology. What is "SynBio", and how will it affect the food we eat and the farmers who provide it? This short...
By: ETC Group
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What is Synthetic Biology?: Engineering Life and Livelihoods - Video
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
30-Oct-2014
Contact: Kathryn Ryan kryan@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News @LiebertOnline
New Rochelle, NY, October 30, 2014Oligonucleotide-based therapeutics present unique challenges when it comes to testing their potential to cause reproductive and developmental harm. New consensus guidelines for toxicity testing that take into consideration the combined chemical and biological characteristics of these novel biopharmaceuticals are presented in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers. The article is available free on the Nucleic Acid Therapeutics website until November 30, 2014.
Joy Cavagnaro, Access BIO (Boyce, VA), Cindy Berman, Berman Consulting (Wayland, MA), Doug Kornbrust, Preclinisight (Reno, NV), Tacey White, Exponent (Philadelphia, PA), Sarah Campion, Pfizer (Groton, CT), and Scott Henry, Isis Pharmaceuticals (Carlsbad, CA), coauthored the white paper that highlights key points to consider in the design of scientifically valid and predictive toxicity studies. The authors summarize the findings of the Reproductive Subcommittee of the Oligonucleotide Safety Working Group (OSWG) in the article "Considerations for Assessment of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Oligonucleotide-Based Therapeutics."
"I highly commend this latest white paper from the OSWG to researchers and regulators alike involved in the development and implementation of oligonucleotide or antisense based interventions," says Executive Editor Graham C. Parker, PhD, The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI.
Nucleic Acid Therapeutics is under the editorial leadership of Co-Editors-in-Chief Bruce A. Sullenger, PhD, Duke Translational Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, and C.A. Stein, MD, PhD, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA; and Executive Editor Graham C. Parker, PhD.
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About the Journal
Nucleic Acid Therapeutics is an authoritative, peer-reviewed journal published bimonthly in print and online that focuses on cutting-edge basic research, therapeutic applications, and drug development using nucleic acids or related compounds to alter gene expression. Nucleic Acid Therapeutics is the official journal of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Nucleic Acid Therapeutics website.
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New guidelines for reproductive & developmental toxicity testing of oligonucleotide drugs
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
29-Oct-2014
Contact: Kathryn Ryan kryan@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News @LiebertOnline
New Rochelle, October 29, 2014 Cities around the world are increasingly making urban data freely available to the public. But is the content or structure of these vast data sets easy to access and of value? A new study of more than 9,000 data sets from 20 cities presents encouraging results on the quality and volume of the available data and describes the challenges and benefits of analyzing and integrating these expanding data sets, as described in an article in Big Data, the highly innovative, peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The Open Access article is available free on the Big Data website.
In the article "Structured Open Urban Data: Understanding the Landscape," Luciano Barbosa and Marcos Vieira, IBM Research, Brazil, and Kien Pham, Claudio Silva, and Juliana Freire, New York University School of Engineering and NYU Center for Urban Science and Progress, NY, present several promising findings. These include a steadily increasing volume of open urban data, the ability to integrate different data sets, and the finding that much of the available data is published in standard types of formats. The authors also discuss the main challenges that make it difficult to take full advantage of these data sources.
"Big urban data is a powerful new phenomenon that has the potential to transform everyday lives of hundreds of millions of people quickly via personal devices that integrate, filter, and create useful personalized information. This paper documents the sources and value of these data," says Big Data Editor-in-Chief Vasant Dhar, Co-Director, Center for Business Analytics, Stern School of Business, New York University.
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About the Journal
Big Data, published quarterly in print and online, facilitates and supports the efforts of researchers, analysts, statisticians, business leaders, and policymakers to improve operations, profitability, and communications within their organizations. Spanning a broad array of disciplines focusing on novel big data technologies, policies, and innovations, the Journal brings together the community to address the challenges and discover new breakthroughs and trends living within this information. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Big Data website.
About the Publisher
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CLEVELAND and COLUMBUS, Ohio >> Data published today in the journal Molecular Therapy demonstrates initial clinical proof of principle of a gene therapy to increase muscle strength and function in Becker muscular dystrophy patients. The paper, titled "A Phase I/IIa Follistatin Gene Therapy Trial for Becker Muscular Dystrophy" describes results of the dose ascending trial to assess safety and efficacy in six patients with Becker muscular dystrophy.
All six of the patients were followed at least six months and three of the patients were followed for one year with no drug-related adverse events reported. On average, the patients showed statistically significant improvement in six minute walk distance and in stair climbing tests. Additionally, muscle biopsy histology demonstrated reductions in muscle fibrosis and central nucleation, and improved muscle fiber regeneration. Muscle satellite cells were not reduced.
Jerry Mendell, M.D., Professor at Nationwide Children's Hospital and lead author on the trial and manuscript stated, "This is the first gene therapy clinical trial to demonstrate functional improvement in any form of muscular dystrophy, and a major advance for those suffering with muscle disease." Brian Kaspar, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Nationwide Children's Hospital, author and compensated advisor and scientific founder of Milo said, "Upon evaluating the top line data in this trial, we are particularly impressed with the effects of our gene therapeutic to express follistatin long term, not only for the functional improvement, but also in improving the state of muscle health in the patients analyzed."
The therapy, developed at Nationwide Children's Hospital by Dr. Mendell and Dr. Brian Kaspar, is based on adeno-associated virus delivery of follistatin 344 to increase muscle strength and prevent muscle wasting. It could have broad ranging applications in muscular dystrophies, cancer treatment induced muscle wasting and age related muscle wasting. The clinical study, conducted at Nationwide Children's Hospital and funded by the foundation Parent Project MD, is also evaluating safety and efficacy in nine patients with inclusion body myositis. Results of the trial in inclusion body myositis will be published in mid 2015.
The underlying intellectual property was exclusively licensed in 2012 from Nationwide Children's Hospital to Ohio-based start-up Milo Biotechnology. Milo Biotechnology has received FDA orphan designation for Becker muscular dystrophy and for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Milo Biotechnology CEO Al Hawkins stated "This significant and long lasting clinical effect provides the basis for planning pivotal clinical studies beginning in 2015; we want to speed delivery of this important therapy to patients with debilitating muscular dystrophies."
About Milo Biotechnology Milo Biotechnology is a clinical stage startup company developing therapies to strengthen muscle and improve the lives of patients with neuromuscular diseases. Its lead program, AAV1-FS344, leads to the local expression of follistatin, a potent myostatin inhibitor. Milo's core technology was developed at and is exclusively licensed from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio; the company is based in Cleveland, Ohio, and has received funding from JumpStart Inc., the Cuyahoga County North Coast Opportunities Fund and from NIAMS Rare Disease SBIR program. Visit http://www.milobiotechnology.com for more information
CONTACT: infomilobiotechnology.com
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To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/milo-biotechnologys-follistatin-gene-therapy-increases-function-in-becker-muscular-dystrophy-patients-736674961.html
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Gene Therapy Increases Function in Becker Muscular Dystrophy Patients
MITTEILUNG UEBERMITTELT VON BUSINESS WIRE. FUER DEN INHALT IST ALLEIN DAS BERICHTENDE UNTERNEHMEN VERANTWORTLICH.
Distinguished Scientist To Lead Companys Gene Therapy Research Efforts
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 23.09.2014 --
Biogen Idec (NASDAQ:BIIB) today announced that Olivier Danos, Ph.D., has joined the company as senior vice president, Gene Therapy. Dr. Danos reports directly to Douglas Williams, Ph.D., executive vice president, Research and Development, and is a member of Biogen Idecs Senior Research and Development Leadership Team.
Dr. Danos will lead the companys gene therapy research group, a team dedicated to identifying and developing new technologies for gene transfer and genome engineering. As part of his role, Dr. Danos will also identify potential collaborations that complement the companys internal capabilities and support the development of treatments across Biogen Idecs therapeutic focus areas.
Olivier is a true pioneer in the field. We believe that his expertise will help accelerate our development of a world-class gene therapy platform that combines our growing internal capabilities with collaborations with leading research organizations across the globe, said Dr. Williams. Our commitment to this important area will complement our existing capabilities in antisense, small molecule and biologics research, and enhance our ability to effectively and efficiently develop new treatments for people with serious diseases.
I have dedicated my career to advancing the use of gene therapy as a technology to develop life-saving therapies for patients, said Dr. Danos. The team at Biogen Idec shares this passion. It is their commitment to innovative science and willingness to tackle difficult medical challenges that attracted me to the company. I am excited about the opportunities before us.
Dr. Danos joins Biogen Idec from Kadmon Pharmaceuticals, where he served as senior vice president, Molecular Medicine, Synthetic Biology and Gene Regulation since 2011. In this role, he was instrumental in assembling a gene therapy program and a technology platform for the development ofcontrollablegene expression systems. Prior to Kadmon, Dr. Danos acted as the director of the Gene Therapy Consortium of the University College of London and led a gene therapy research team at the Necker Hospital Enfants Malades in Paris.
Dr. Danos also served as chief scientific officer at Genethon and senior director of research at Somatix Therapy Corporation. He has held several senior roles at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. Dr. Danos is the former president and a founding member of the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy.
Dr. Danos received a Masters in Genetics and Molecular Biology at University of ParisOrsay, and his Ph.D. in Biology at the Pasteur Institute and University of Paris Diderot.
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BUSINESS WIRE: Olivier Danos Joins Biogen Idec as Senior Vice President, Gene Therapy