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Monthly Archives: June 2021
Exhibition to mark slave-owner turned Abolitionist John Newton – Church Times
Posted: June 18, 2021 at 7:38 am
THE contentious issue of commemorating in churches and cathedrals the lives of those who had been involved in the slave trade arose in the Consistory Court of Oxford diocese in a petition for a faculty to create an educational area dedicated to the life and work of the Revd John Newton (1725-1807), in the Grade I listed Church of St Peter and St Paul, Olney.
Newton was described in The Dictionary of National Biography (2010) by D. Bruce Hindmarsh as a slave trader and Church of England clergyman who had been accused of hypocrisy for holding strong religious convictions at the same time as being active in the slave trade, praying above deck while his human cargo was in abject misery below deck. Later in life, and after he had left the sea, he repented and supported the movement for the abolition of the slave trade.
An entry by Historic England stated that his singular position as a figure of unimpeachable moral authority with first-hand experience of the slave trade made his contribution to the success of the abolition movement extremely valuable.
The petition for the faculty was unopposed, and was brought by the Rector, the Revd Andrew Pritchard-Keens, and two churchwardens of St Peter and St Paul (the petitioners), where Newton had been an assistant curate from 1764 to 1780. On New Years Day 1773, he delivered a sermon, based on a hymn that he had written a few days earlier, Faiths Review and Expectations. That hymn later became Amazing Grace, and Olney came to be known, as the road sign into Olney proclaimed, The home of Amazing Grace.
In 1779, a book was published, Olney Hymns, written by Newton in collaboration with his close friend the poet William Cowper (1731 to 1800). It had 67 hymns by Cowper, and 281 by Newton, including Glorious things of thee are spoken and How sweet the name of Jesus sounds.
In 1780, Newton became Rector of St Mary Woolnoth, in the City of London, and while there he formed a strong relationship with William Wilberforce, whom he advised and supported in the campaign to abolish slavery. Newton and his wife were originally buried in the crypt under St Mary Woolnoth, but their remains had to be moved to accommodate the extension to the London Underground Northern Line, and the construction of Bank Underground Station. Their remains were transported to Olney, and interred in a tomb that is now a Grade II listed monument.
The Church of Englands guidance for parishes and cathedrals addresses concerns over memorials with links to slavery (News, 14 May). It notes that, although churches and cathedrals are, above all, places dedicated to the worship of God, not all members of the local community feel welcome there, and that might be because of the presence of objects commemorating people who were responsible for the oppression and marginalisation of others.
The report of the Archbishops Anti-Racism Taskforce also recognised that, while history should not be hidden, the Church did not want unconditionally to celebrate or commemorate those who had contributed to or benefited from the tragedy that was the slave trade (News, 23 April).
Given the sensitivity and relevance of Newtons involvement in the slave trade, the petitioners clarified how they proposed to approach the subject of the slave trade in their exhibits, which had been donated by the Cowper and Newton Museum, in Olney. They said that they intended to celebrate Newtons Christian conversion, his life as an evangelist and hymn-writer, and his inspiring relationship with Wilberforce. But they did not intend to sanitise or airbrush history and would highlight the evils of the slave trade and all that it involved. They also intended to celebrate Amazing Grace.
The Chancellor, the Worshipful David Hodge QC, said that, since the proposal was one that essentially involved the historical associations of the church and its cultural, ethical, and heritage values, it was not a proposal that, if implemented, would result in any harm to the significance of the church as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The ordinary presumption in faculty proceedings in favour of things as they stood had also been rebutted.
The planned changes were designed to bring into regular and beneficial use what was presently a little-used area of the church, and to ensure that it was available to educate visitors, in a balanced way, about Newton, his life and work, and to celebrate his later, and worthy, achievements while not overlooking or in any way seeking to diminish his earlier sins, the Chancellor said. As the home of Amazing Grace, with significant connections to Newton and Cowper, the church already attracted thousands of visitors every year, and the changes that were being proposed would serve only to enhance the visitor experience, thereby enhancing the churchs mission.
The Chancellor said that the new displays would serve to remind the worshipping congregation and visitors that Jesus came to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance (Luke 5.32), and would also bring to mind the true saying of St Paul, worthy of all to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1, 15), as they were instructed during the service of holy communion according to the Book of Common Prayer.
From the material presented to him, the Chancellor said, it appeared that the church was alive to the need to ensure that there was appropriate diversity amongst the materials to be displayed . . . and to recognise the vital contributions made to the abolition of the vile trade in human flesh by African and other global majority heritage writers and abolitionists, women and working-class reformers, rather than simply focusing upon the work of prominent white, upper- and middle-class male abolitionists like John Newton and William Wilberforce.
The faculty was therefore granted for the proposals to be implemented within six months.
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Conservative Creation: New Institutions to Preserve What We Hold Dear – Philanthropy Magazine
Posted: at 7:38 am
Earlier this year Andy Smarick, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, wrote a compelling piece in Public Discourse advocating a conservatism of creation. Noting that conservatives are typically adept at well, conserving, he exhorts them to also get great at creating new institutions. For readers who may see conservative creation as an oxymoron at first glance, Smarick assures them that it is, in fact, just what our nation needs to maintain the most important aspects of society, culture and governance.
Perpetual institutions are necessary for ongoing needs, he acknowledges, though they may require updating and reform from time to time. In times of massive change, however, conservatives might better discriminate between the perpetual institutions we need (family, marriage, national and state legislatures) and those which we simply happen to have. Rather than spending precious time and money doing the incremental work of fine-tuning the latter, conservatives should look to those extraordinary eras when Americas civil society exploded with institutional fertility.
The years between 1820 and 1860 marked one such period, driven by the Second Great Awakening; reformers championing abolition, temperance and womens rights and the founding of many new colleges and universities. Smarick also cites the years between 1880 and 1920 when the Red Cross, NAACP, Boy and Girl Scouts and many other organizations were established. For conservatives, however, the real Golden Age was the two-decade organization spree between 1964 (Barry Goldwaters loss) and 1984 (Ronald Reagans landslide re-election) when conservative social entrepreneurs and donors established numerous institutions (including the Federalist Society, the Heritage Foundation, and the Manhattan Institute) which pushed conservative ideas forward and continue to do so today.
In encouraging a rebirth of conservative creation, Smarick deftly links such action to the conservative intellectual tradition, citing Alexis de Tocqueville, Robert Nisbet and Friedrich Hayek. He is equally careful to avoid advocating change in place of continuity, referring to Edmund Burkes comment that a state without the means of some change, is without the means of its own conservation. He cautions conservatives to avoid looking to national solutions for the problems they choose to tackle and turn instead on social entrepreneurialism that is focused more locally, that produces a diversity of institutions and that engages our fellow citizens in collective action.
And finally, Smarickaware of the frustrations that conservatives may face in attempting to reform perpetual institutions (and higher education comes immediately to mind)asks them to stay in those fights. We need to be part of the debates that take place inside of and about longstanding entities, he writes. But we must also appreciate that sometimes in order to preserve principles and practices that we hold dear, we must create new institutions dedicated to such causes.
For donors and others interested in following Andy Smaricks work around conservative creation, the Manhattan Institute held an event on June 2 titled A Conservatism of Creation: Building New Education Institutions. You can access it here.
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Conservative Creation: New Institutions to Preserve What We Hold Dear - Philanthropy Magazine
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Peru’s Election Commission says it is working at maximum speed to resolve election questions – Texasnewstoday.com
Posted: at 7:38 am
File Photo: Peruvian Presidential Candidate Pedro Castillo addresses supporters from the headquarters of the Free Peruvian Party in Lima, Peru, June 8, 2021.Reuters / Sebastian Castaneda
June 17, 2021
Marco Aquino and Stephanie Eschenbacher
Lima (Reuters) -Perus Election Commission voted against the June 6 presidential election on Thursday to quickly declare the final result and end the swirling tensions and uncertainties. He said he was working at maximum speed to check.
National Election Jury President Jorge Saras said in a Twitter message that all staff members of the organization would work to ensure that the checks on the votes contested throughout the weekend were accelerated.
Socialist Pedro Castillo claimed victory https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/perus-castillo-leads-election-with-501-votes-after-all-ballots-tallied-2021- 06-15 This weeks votes were slightly higher than his right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori. However, Fujimori vowed to fight, denying her party allegations of fraudulent elections that provided little evidence.
Election experts said the task of checking the disputed votes could take days or weeks, given that the Fujimori Party has demanded the abolition of about 900 voting tables.
In the 2011 and 2016 elections, Fujimori also ran and was defeated, but the official announcement of the winner was made until the end of June, and the number of votes was reduced.
Castillo has recently met with presidential candidates, other political party representatives, and civil society groups who ran in the first round of the election to build a bridge to form a government.
A clear election of 51-year-old former teachers and union leaders in power of the party in support of Marxist ideas is https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/stashing-cash-perus-urban-elite -Panics-socialist-looks-set-clinch-presidency-2021-06-15 A small urban elite in Peru.
Questions have also been raised about the possibility of a new wave of leftist government in South America, with elections scheduled in Chile, Colombia and Brazil within the next 18 months. Like Peru, everything is characterized by increasingly polarized political and economic problems exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Castillo claims https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/perus-socialist-president-in-waiting-seeks-calm-fears-amid-vote-tension-2021-06-16. He is not a communist and uses democratic means to redistribute wealth. But his promise to renegotiate mining taxes and abolish the countrys constitution surprised investors.
Ordered Regime Change
In a note on Thursday, JP Morgan said a more moderate message delivered by Castillo and his team as the vote lowered mass blood pressure.
Reaching out to more centrists will usher in a story of moderation, opening the door to moderate regime change scenarios, he added.
With 100% of the votes counted on Tuesday, Castillo was ahead with 50.125%, 44,058 votes behind Fujimori, the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, who was imprisoned.
The tough elections have deeply divided the Peruvians. Protest marches by supporters of both candidates take place almost daily in downtown Lima, calling for a quick resolution and respect for the will of the masses.
Julio Lewis, chief economist at Itau Bank in Brazil in Mexico and Peru, said the impasse in elections and the resulting delay in announcing the new governments economic policies could also have a ruthless impact on investment.
At a press conference on Thursday, Fujimori announced a team of lawyers appointed by her party to challenge the validity of the 250,000 votes cast at 900 voting tables in almost poor rural areas.
We have the right to know the truth, said Fujimori.
Attorneys at her party have stated that they will provide evidence of fraud to agencies such as the Organization of American States and the European Union. International observers have previously stated that they consider elections clean and transparent.
(Report by Marco Aquino and Stefanie Eschenbacher, Written by Aislinn Laing, Edited by Rosalba OBrien)
Perus Election Commission says it is working at maximum speed to resolve election questions
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World Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Market Report 2021: The Rise of CMOs & CDMOs – Funding the Cell and Gene Therapy Boom -…
Posted: at 7:37 am
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "The Market for Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing - The Rise of CMOs & CDMOs (2021)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
Funding the Cell and Gene Therapy Boom
The rapid ascension of cell and gene therapies (CGT) has created a crucial turning point in the history of modern medicine. Not only have new therapies such as CAR-T produced a shift towards highly individualized medicine and a powerful new front in the war against cancer, but the rapidity of change with the CGT sector has taken the world by storm.
By 2025, the FDA has indicated that it will be reviewing an estimated 10 to 20 of CGTs per year, while the European Medicines Agency (EMA), has estimated that it will soon be approving as many as a dozen such therapies per year.
With the hard-earned marketing approvals gained by cell and gene therapy companies in recent years, biopharmaceutical companies have substantially increased their interest in the CGT sector. Some biopharma companies are resorting to increasing their manufacturing capacity by investing in expansion and new facilities, while others are partnering with third-party contract manufacturing organizations to outsource this work.
With the future in mind, contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) and contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) are also investing heavily in expanding their manufacturing capacity to be able to take on new clients and larger, later-stage projects as the market expands.
Currently, the cell and gene therapy field is currently on track for a massive capacity shortage. In particular, there is likely to be a shortage of manufacturing capacity at the commercial scale. Although approximately 90% of cell and gene therapy developers would prefer to use CMOs, related CMO capacity is not available within the industry.
Moreover, the lead time for CMOs to begin cell and gene therapy projects averages over 18 months. Thus, CGT developers are often forced to expand their in-house capacity. Of course, CMOs are also investing heavily into the expansion of their cell and gene therapy manufacturing capabilities, but these large build-outs take time.
This report is tailed to the strategic needs of cell and gene therapy (CGT) companies, as well as the CMOs and CDMOs who are handling third-party manufacturing services for these clients. With the competitive nature of this global market, you don't have the time to do the research. Claim this report to become immediately informed, without sacrificing hours of unnecessary research or missing critical opportunities.
In compiling this report, the research analysts leveraged nearly a decade of historical data on the cell and gene therapy manufacturing industry. In addition to conducting extensive secondary research, our analysts interviewed dozens of highly regarded industry leaders.
Key Topics Covered:
1. Funding the Cell and Gene Therapy Boom
1.1 Recent CMO/CDMO Expansions in Cell and Gene Therapy Sector
1.1.1 Expected Capacity Crunch
1.1.2 Investments for CGT Capacity Expansion
1.1.3 Other CGT Manufacturing Investments
1.1.4 Events Driving Expansion for CGT Facilities and Infrastructure
2. Recent Merger and Acquisition (M&A) Deals within the Cell and Gene Therapy Sector
2.1 Charles River Laboratories International/Retrogenix
2.2 Charles River Laboratories International/Cognate BioServices
2.3 Beam Therapeutics/Guide Therapeutics
2.4 Thermo Fisher Scientific/Henogen
2.5 Eli Lilly/Prevail Therapeutics
2.6 Novartis/Vedere Bio
2.7 Bayer/Asklepios
2.8 AGC Biologics/MolMed
2.9 Sorrento Therapeutics/SmartPharm
2.10 Catalent/MaSTherCell
2.11 ElevateBio
2.12 Ixaka
3. Financing Rounds
3.1 Major Private Placements
3.1.1 Orchard Therapeutics
3.1.2 Amryt
3.1.3 BioNTech
3.1.4 Kiadis Pharma
3.2 Major Venture Capital Financings
3.2.1 ElevateBio
3.2.2 Century Therapeutics
3.2.3 Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc.
3.2.4 Vineti, Inc.
3.2.5 Ori Biotech Ltd.
3.2.6 Neogene Therapeutics
3.2.7 Forge Biologics
3.2.8 Sana Biotechnology
3.2.9 Orca Bio
3.2.10 Freeline Therapeutics
3.2.11 Poseida Therapeutics
3.2.12 Kriya Therapeutics
3.2.13 Legend Biotech Corporation
3.2.14 Lyell Immunopharma
3.2.15 Mammoth Biosciences
3.2.16 Kyverna Therapeutics
3.3 Major Corporate Partnerships within the CGT Market
3.3.1 Bayer/Atara Biotherapeutics
3.3.2 Novartis/Mesoblast
3.3.3 Novartis/Sangamo
3.3.4 Janssen Biotech/Fate Therapeutics
3.3.5 Biogen/Sangamo
3.4 Follow-on Public Offerings by CGT Companies
3.4.1 Rocket Pharmaceuticals
3.4.2 Adaptimmune Therapeutics
3.4.3 Allogene Therapeutics
3.4.4 Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.
3.4.5 Bluebird bio
3.5 Initial Public Offerings (IPO)
3.5.1 Legend Biotech
3.5.2 Decibel Therapeutics
3.5.3 Sana Biotechnology
3.5.4 Rocket Pharmaceuticals
3.5.5 JW Therapeutics
3.5.6 AlloVir
3.5.7 Akouos
3.5.8 Generation Bio
3.5.9 Passage Bio
3.5.10 Beam Therapeutics
4. Market Size for Cell and Gene Therapy CMO/CDMOs
5. Profiles of Cell and Gene Therapy CMOs and CDMOs
5.1 3P Biopharmaceuticals
5.2 ABL, Inc.
5.3 AGC Biologics
5.4 Advent BioServices Ltd.
5.5 Akron Biotech
5.6 Aldevron
5.7 Anemocyte S.r.l
5.8 Applied Viromics
5.9 ATVIO Biotech, Ltd./Orgenesis Biotech Israel, Ltd.
5.10 Austrianova
5.11 Avid Bioservices, Inc.
5.12 Batavia Biosciences B.V.
5.13 Bio Elpida
5.14 BioCentriq
5.15 BioNTech IMFS GmbH
5.16 BioReliance Corporation/Merck Millipore
5.17 Bio-Techne
5.18 Biovian Oy
5.19 Boehringer Ingelheim BioXcellence
5.20 Brammer Bio/Thermo Fisher Scientific
5.21 C3i
5.22 Catalent Biologics
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World Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Market Report 2021: The Rise of CMOs & CDMOs - Funding the Cell and Gene Therapy Boom -...
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Cost watchdog ICER will bless some high-priced gene and cell therapies, but only with solid proof of benefit: Analyst – FiercePharma
Posted: at 7:37 am
On the surface, it may seem that the higher the price of a new medicine, the harder it is for its developer to get a thumbs-up from drug-price watchdog Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). For companies in the rapidly growing gene and cell therapy field, that would make ICERs review a tough hurdle to overcome, particularly if the agencys opinions take on more weight in determining insurance coverage decisions in the future.
But analysts at Mizuho Securities dug into most of ICERs verdicts on gene and cell therapies to date and found a surprising trend: The institutes reviewers have deemed more than half the products they reviewed so far to be cost-effective. And the evidence they used to reach those positive conclusions offers important lessons on research, development and pricing to developers of the next generation of gene and cell therapies, said analyst Difei Yang, Ph.D., the lead author of two reports Mizuho sent to clients last week, in an interview.
Clearly, theyre looking at the amount of time the patient gainsbut also the quality of life, Yang said. Companies that put in the effort to provide robust data proving a gene or cell therapy could outperform the standard of care on both measureshead-to-head trials, solid evidence of long-term benefit and so forthhad a higher likelihood of a positive ICER verdict on cost-effectiveness, Mizuho found.
Makers of CAR-T cancer cell therapies have so far been much more successful at proving superiority over the standard of care than have manufacturers of gene therapies for rare diseases, Mizuho noted. ICER approved of the cost-effectiveness of the first two CAR-Ts on the market, Gileads Yescarta for lymphoma and Novartis Kymriah for lymphoma and leukemia, both approved in 2017 and launched at $373,000 and $475,000, respectively. And the agency has already said it will give the thumbs-up to the yet-to-be-approved multiple myeloma CAR-T cilta-cel from Janssen and Legend Biotechprovided that it is priced at $475,000 or less.
Only one of four CAR-Ts that ICER reviewed did not hit the cost-effectiveness threshold: Bristol Myers Squibbs ide-cel for multiple myeloma, which was launched this spring with the brand name Abecma at a price of $419,500. A spokesperson for BMS griped at the time that ICER relied on inappropriate modeling of ide-cels overall survival data and a misguided view of retreatment.
ICERs president Steve Pearson, M.D.,cited important evidence gaps in the data available to the agency while it was reviewing the cost-effectiveness of multiple myeloma treatments.
Pearson said in an interview that ICERs reviewers sometimes struggle to determine how data from what are often brief studies will translate to real-world outcomes. We need to see longer-term data that we can connect to what were seeing in the short term, Pearson said. What we really want to see are patient-relevant outcomes, like how well theyre functioning and their quality of life.
Often, companies fall short when it comes to providing data that provide a clear contrast between patients who receive gene or cell therapies and those who do not, Pearson said. They may say [non-treated] patients would only have six months to live, but sometimes the comparison is just not that clean, he said. [Or] the [standard-of-care] data may be 10 years old. We know that care changes over 10 years.
BMS took a step in that direction with another CAR-T in its portfolio, Breyanzi, which was approved in February for large B-cell lymphoma. Last week, it released trial data showing an improvement in event-free survival in patients who received the CAR-T treatment versus those who were treated with the gold standard, Roches Rituxan, high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.
It is too early to define Breyanzis ability to extend lives, but BMS hopes the data will ultimately move the CAR-T earlier in the treatment regimen and set the product apart from lymphoma rivals Yescarta and Kymriah. Breyanzi was introduced at a list price of $410,300. ICER has not yet reviewed the product.
Mizuhos Yang says being able to getthe green light for earlier treatment may be the motivation for such head-to-head trials, and, ultimately, these data would likely bring ICER on board with high-priced cell and gene therapies, too. The earlier you treat the patient, the better off they are. And the better off they are, the lower the net cost will be to the healthcare system, she says.
RELATED: Bristol's new myeloma CAR-T needs a hefty discount to be cost-effective, watchdogs say while endorsing GSK's Blenrep
Gene therapies, on the other hand, have received mixed reviews from ICER on cost-effectiveness. Take Spark Therapeutics Luxturna, which is approved for a rareinherited disease that causes blindness for those aged one year and older. ICER found that the product, whichlaunched at $850,000, would be cost-effective if given to patients at the age of threebut not if patients were dosed at age 15 or later, because by that time they would have already lost a significant amount of eyesight.
Yang attributed the verdict to the cost of care. ICER tries to quantify how much a caregiver costs, so if the child is treated earlier, the idea would be that theyre more independent, they require less care, Yang says. If theyre treated at 15, a lot of that cost has already happened. And this message is consistent with gene therapy in general.
But Pearson said ICERs reviewers placed more weight on the overall value to society of preventing blindness. There really are no significant healthcare costs for being blind, he said. But society saves money to a certain extent, because educational costs are lower, patients have full careers and higher earnings potential if theyre fully sighted.
ICER initially balked at Novartis' $2.1 million gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Zolgensma, but it didn't approve of Biogen's SMA drug Spinraza either. Spinraza launched at up to $750,000 for the first year and half that every year thereafter, prompting ICER to ultimatelydetermine Zolgensma is the lesser of two evils on cost.
BioMarins Roctavian, a hemophilia gene therapy, has hit some bumps on the road to approval, but ICER has already determined how it would be cost-effective. Using a placeholder price of $2.5 million, ICER estimated if the gene therapy is durable for a dozen years, it would save the healthcare system about $5 million per patient compared to chronically dosed factor VIII. Thats an example of where gene therapy can really bring down [costs], Yang said.
RELATED: ICER's blasted pharma pricing for years, but now drugmakers are 'rolling up their sleeves' to cooperate
After delving into ICERs methodology, Yang said she came away with one bone to pick with the agency. Right now, their judgments are based on clinical valuation, but there should be some sort of consideration for the value of innovation, she said. We learn something along the way, and there has to be long-lasting value in that. I dont think thats being captured.
Pearsons response? We are sensitive to the idea that theres value in having treatments that take different approaches, but we dont consider innovation as something thats separate from the benefits to patients and families, he said. Innovation matters to patients to the degree it helps them live better lives. If its not better for patients, Im not sure we should be paying more for it.
ICER has recently boosted its efforts to maintain an ongoing dialogue with biopharma developers and insurance companies. The agency adopted a formal 12-month checkup policy for each of its published reports, Pearson said. If any new data have been released during that time, reviewers may revisit their original verdict.
It also introduced ICER Analytics, a cloud-based portal that houses all of its economic models. Life sciences companies and insurers can subscribe to ICER Analytics. If [a drugmaker] has new evidence, or if they disagreed with our assumptions the first time around, they can put in their own information and create a different result on fair price, Pearson said. Well put that side by side with our original results so payers can see it. More than 50 companies have signed up for trial subscriptions since ICER Analytics launched in November, he said.
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Cost watchdog ICER will bless some high-priced gene and cell therapies, but only with solid proof of benefit: Analyst - FiercePharma
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CRISPR Therapeutics and Capsida Biotherapeutics Announce – GlobeNewswire
Posted: at 7:37 am
- Collaboration leverages expertise and capabilities of both companies towards developing life-changing treatments for severe neurological diseases -
ZUG, Switzerland and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., June 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CRISPR Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CRSP), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing transformative gene-based medicines for serious diseases, and Capsida Biotherapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to developing breakthrough gene therapies using fully integrated adeno-associated virus (AAV) engineering, cargo development and manufacturing, today announced a strategic partnership to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize in vivo gene editing therapies delivered with engineered AAV vectors for the treatment of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Friedreichs ataxia.
Under the agreement, CRISPR Therapeutics will lead research and development of the Friedreichs ataxia program and perform gene-editing activities for both programs, and Capsida will lead research and development of the ALS program and conduct capsid engineering for both programs. Capsidas high-throughput AAV engineering platform generates capsids optimized to target specific tissue types and limits transduction of tissues and cell types that are not relevant to the target disease, potentially allowing for improved efficacy and safety. CRISPR Therapeutics and Capsida will each have the option to co-develop and co-commercialize the program that the other company leads. Following such option, the companies would equally share all research, development and commercialization costs and profits worldwide related to the collaboration product. As part of the collaboration, Capsida will also be responsible for process development and clinical manufacture of both programs and have the option to manufacture commercial products generated under the agreement.
We are excited to enter this collaboration with Capsida. The combination of Capsidas AAV engineering platform and CRISPR Therapeutics gene-editing platform has the potential to enable transformative gene-edited therapies for patients with neurological diseases, said Samarth Kulkarni, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of CRISPR Therapeutics. This new partnership is one more step in our overall strategy of bringing together innovative and complementary technologies to unlock the full potential of our core platform.
Bringing together Capsidas fully integrated, tissue targeting gene therapy platform with CRISPR Therapeutics leading gene-editing capabilities gives us the potential to develop first-in-class gene therapies for patients with severe neurological disorders and expand the reach of Capsidas broadly enabling capabilities, said Robert Cuddihy, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Capsida Biotherapeutics.
AboutCRISPR Therapeutics
CRISPR Therapeuticsis a leading gene editing company focused on developing transformative gene-based medicines for serious diseases using its proprietary CRISPR/Cas9 platform. CRISPR/Cas9 is a revolutionary gene editing technology that allows for precise, directed changes to genomic DNA.CRISPR Therapeuticshas established a portfolio of therapeutic programs across a broad range of disease areas including hemoglobinopathies, oncology, regenerative medicine and rare diseases. To accelerate and expand its efforts,CRISPR Therapeuticshas established strategic collaborations with leading companies includingBayer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals andViaCyte, Inc.CRISPR Therapeutics AGis headquartered inZug, Switzerland, with its wholly-ownedU.S.subsidiary,CRISPR Therapeutics, Inc., and R&D operations based inCambridge, Massachusetts, and business offices inSan Francisco, CaliforniaandLondon, United Kingdom. For more information, please visitwww.crisprtx.com.
CRISPR THERAPEUTICS word mark and design logo are registered trademarks ofCRISPR Therapeutics AG. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
CRISPR Therapeutics Forward-Looking StatementThis press release may contain a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements made by Dr. Kulkarni and Dr. Cuddihy in this press release, as well as statements regarding CRISPR Therapeutics expectations about any or all of the following: (i) the future activities of the parties pursuant to the collaboration and the expected benefits of CRISPR Therapeutics collaboration with Capsida; and (ii) the therapeutic value, development, and commercial potential of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technologies and therapies. Without limiting the foregoing, the words believes, anticipates, plans, expects and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Although CRISPR Therapeutics believes that such statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and they are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk. Actual performance and results may differ materially from those projected or suggested in the forward-looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: CRISPR Therapeutics may not realize the potential benefits of the collaboration; uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of preclinical studies, including availability and timing of results from preclinical studies; whether results from a preclinical study will be favorable and predictive of future results of future studies or clinical trials; uncertainties about regulatory approvals and that future competitive or other market factors may adversely affect the commercial potential for product candidates; potential impacts due to the coronavirus pandemic, such as the timing and progress of preclinical studies; uncertainties regarding the intellectual property protection for CRISPR Therapeutics technology and intellectual property belonging to third parties, and the outcome of proceedings (such as an interference, an opposition or a similar proceeding) involving all or any portion of such intellectual property; and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in CRISPR Therapeutics most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and in any other subsequent filings made by CRISPR Therapeutics with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. CRISPR Therapeutics disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, other than to the extent required by law.
About Capsida Biotherapeutics
Capsida Biotherapeutics Inc. is developing tissue-targeted gene therapies using its biologically driven, high-throughput adeno-associated virus (AAV) engineering and proprietary cargo development platform. As a fully integrated gene therapy company, Capsida is combining its differentiated AAV engineering and screening capabilities with cargo development and state-of-the-art manufacturing to establish a proprietary pipeline of groundbreaking gene therapies across a range of therapeutic areas for indications that are unreachable with current technologies. The companys leadership is backed by decades of successful biologics manufacturing experience and deep AAV biology expertise. Visit us at http://www.capsida.com to learn more.
CRISPR Therapeutics Investor Contact:Susan Kim+1-617-307-7503susan.kim@crisprtx.com
CRISPR Therapeutics Media Contact:Rachel Eides+1-617-315-4493rachel.eides@crisprtx.com
Capsida Media Contact:Greig Communications, Inc.Kathy Vincent+1-310-403-8951kathy@greigcommunications.com
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After Controversial AD Drug Win, Biogen’s Retinal Gene Therapy Flops – BioSpace
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John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Pivoting from conflicting andcontroversial pressover its recently approved Alzheimers disease treatment,Biogenhas announced yesterday that its gene therapy drug timrepigene emparvovec has failed to show a clinically meaningful benefit for a rare inherited eye disease in a Phase III trial.
The late-stage STAR study enrolled 169 adult males with choroideremia, an inherited retinal disease characterized by progressive vision loss and ultimate blindness. The investigators evaluated the efficacy and safety of a single subretinal injection of the investigational gene therapy timrepigene emparvovec. This drug was designed to deliver a functional human choroideremia gene into photoreceptor cells and the retinal pigment epithelium to address the conditions underlying genetic causative mechanisms.
In astatement on the STAR findings, Biogen stated the study failed to meet the primary endpoint of the proportion of patients who experienced a 15-letter improvement in the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at one year in the intervention arm versus the control group. The primary endpoint was assessed using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart.
Also, Biogen reported that the trial failed to show efficacy regarding the key secondary endpoints. However, the safety findings from the study were generally consistent with previous research trials.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all those who contributed to the STAR study, including the participants, investigators, site staff and the broader choroideremia community, said Katherine Dawson, M.D., Biogens Head of the Therapeutics Development Unit.
While we are disappointed by the results of the STAR study, we are hopeful that the clinical insights gleaned from this study may help to shape therapeutic innovation for inherited retinal diseases including choroideremia, so that in the future there may be treatment options for the community affected by these debilitating disorders.
The company noted it would continue to assess the STAR studys complete data set before confirming its future plans for clinical development of timrepigene emparvovec.
These topline results from the STAR trial follow a controversial approval of Biogens Alzheimers drug Aduhelm (aducanumab). Asreported by the companyon June 7, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to the therapy to address the accumulation of amyloid beta plaques in the brain associated with the neurologic disease.
The approval was based on clinical trial data showing the therapy could reduce these plaques, but these studies did not demonstrate an overall clinically meaningful reduction in cognitive decline. Instead, the plaques serve as a biomarker for cognitive dysfunction in patients with Alzheimers disease, and both Biogen and some regulators at the FDA surmise the reduction in these plaques could possibly provide a beneficial effect.
But as reported in opinion pieces in theNew York TimesandBloomberg, amongother publications, the approval of the dementia drug is based on spotty evidence, which serves to threaten the FDAs reputation.
As such, three-panel members of the FDAs Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee have resigned from their posts in protest over the Aduhelm approval.
My rationale was that the FDA needs to re-evaluate how it solicits and uses the advisory committees because I didnt think that the firm recommendations from the committee in this case were appropriately integrated into the decision-making process, said one of the resigning members, Aaron Kesselheim, a professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, in aninterview withReuters.
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Nanoparticle-Based Therapy Could Treat Fatal Lung Disease in Newborns – AZoNano
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Written by AZoNanoJun 15 2021
The rare lung disease is so complicated that its acronym is difficult to pronounce. However, for infants who were unfortunate enough to be born with this disorder, the outcome is generally fatal.
Thedisease is known as alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of the pulmonary veins, or ACDMPV for short. According to a study, the disease is associated with mutations in the FOXF1 gene. Medical experts throughout the world have recorded around 200 cases, but an unestimated number of infants could have died without the disorder ever being diagnosed, stated the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
The disease is induced by genetic changes that inhibit the formation of proper blood vessels in the lungs. Within a few days or weeks post birth, infants turn blue because of the absence of oxygen while blood pressure increases inside their lungs. The few infants who get to live do so by receiving exceptionally rare infant-sized lung transplants.
Now, a new study headed by experts from Cincinnati Childrens and the University of Cincinnati has reported about helping mice (with a FOXF1 mutation that is identical to human ACDMPV patients) live longer with this fatal disease. This was done by applying high-tech nanoparticles to send a STAT3 gene into the lungs to trigger the growth of blood vessels.
STAT3 is a crucial downstream target of the FOXF1 gene and its delivery can rectify the vascular deficiency in ACDMPV mice. The study results were published online in the Circulation journal on June 11th, 2021.
If these findings can be matched in human analyses in the future, this success can potentially boost the speed of development for other nanoparticle-based treatments for many medical conditions, stated the study co-authors.
Nanoparticle carriers have shown minimal toxicity and have accelerated the development of novel therapies for human cancers, diabetes, and chronic inflammatory disorders. We have developed a unique nanoparticle delivery system that can deliver genes capable of stimulating micro-vessel growth in the newborn lung.
Vlad Kalinichenko, MD, PhD, Study Senior Author and Member of the Center for Lung Regenerative Medicine and Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center
Kalinichenko added, This study shows that a single injection of the nanoparticles with the STAT3 gene vector was sufficient to increase alveolar-capillary density, prevent excessively high blood pressuresand dramatically improve survival.
Around 70% of mice born with ACDMPV die in less than 28 days of birth without treatment. The new therapy reduced this mortality rate to 35%, stated Fei Sun, PhD, the first author of the study and a member of the Center for Lung Regenerative Medicine at Cincinnati Childrens.
This nanoparticle method is different from gene replacement therapies that can cause permanent changes in the body. It involves materials that do not remain in the body for more than seven days. Yet, in the mice examined so far, a single therapy early after the birth was sufficient to divert a whole stream of later-developing issues that take place with ACDMPV.
The treatment works by sending an engineered nanoparticle composed of many fatty acids, polymersand a small amount of cholesterol that transports the non-integrating STAT3 gene, which consequently encourages the growth of blood vessels in the lung tissue.
Kalinichenko and collaborators also noted the molecular processes involved as part of their ongoing analyses of lung development. The nanoparticle was designed with support from Zicheng Deng and Andrew Dunn, who are both graduate students mentored by Donglu Shi, PhD, from the Materials Science and Engineering Program at the University of Cincinnati.
With the presence of more blood vessels, the rapidly growing lungs in the newborns developed in a closer-to-normal fashion, without triggering harmful molecular remodeling signals that can lead to permanent malformations and even death from lung failure.
The study explains how the therapy enhanced various measures of heart, lungand blood vessel health, such as the ratio of pulmonary acceleration time to pulmonary ejection time (PAT/PET), blood pressure in the right ventricle, arterial oxygenation levels, the diameter of pulmonary arteriesand also the thickness of their walls.
More studies need to be completed before nanoparticles can be tested in human newborns with ACDMPV, such as safety tests and establishing whether recurrent treatments would be required.
Sun, F., et al. (2021) Nanoparticle Delivery of STAT3 Alleviates Pulmonary Hypertension in a Mouse Model of Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia. Circulation. doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.053980.
Source: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/
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Regenerative Medicine Market – Global Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026 – Increasing Demand For Car T-Cell Therapies – ResearchAndMarkets.com – Business…
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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Regenerative Medicine Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The regenerative medicine market size to grow at a CAGR of around 34% during the period 2020-2026.
Increased R&D investments by pharmaceutical companies will drive the demand for regenerative medicines. Europe plays a significant role in supporting the development and authorization of these products for several genetic and rare disorders. Increased funding via several venture capitalists and governments, and private institutions contribute significantly to the global regenerative medicine market growth.
The increased prevalence of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes can drive cell and gene therapy and tissue-engineered products. With the rise in thermal burns, occupational burn accidents, and chronic wounds, regenerative medicine products will experience steady growth. Novartis and Gilead Sciences are the key companies offering various therapies to treat cancer, genetic, and rare disorders.
The report considers the present scenario of the regenerative medicine market and its market dynamics for 2019-2026. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The study covers both the demand and supply sides of the market. It also profiles and analyzes leading companies and several other prominent companies operating in the market.
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE MARKET SEGMENTATION
The regenerative medicine market research report includes a detailed segmentation by application, products, end-users, geography. Oncology constitutes the largest portion of the global regenerative medicine market share. The development of curative therapies by CAR-T and cell and gene therapies is widely popularized in the oncology therapeutic area. The increasing global prevalence rates and the increasing rates of different types of life-threatening cancers are the most important key factors that drive the oncology segment.
Consistent innovations in gene therapies due to the increased number of clinical trials and pipeline products are driving the growth prospects. Hence, the increased inflow of funding for the development of gene therapy is one of the driving factors for the sector growth. Cell therapy is the major revenue contributor. The increasing prevalence of diabetes and foot ulcers is the primary factor contributing to the growth of tissue-engineered products. The tissue-engineered product segment to grow at a CAGR of 8% by 2026.
Hospitals are likely to remain a dominant revenue contributor to the global regenerative medicine market. Around 50% of therapeutic surgeries performed in the US annually, including cardiovascular and musculoskeletal, occur in hospitals. Cancer care centers are likely to witness an incremental growth of approx. USD 10 billion by 2026.
As cancer is the second leading cause of death across the globe, which is responsible for approx. 10 million deaths annually, the scope of cancer centers is growing. Key vendors are focusing more on cancer care centers than hospitals to promote their products. As the cancer centers are being covered under reimbursement schemes, the growth of these facilities is likely to increase during the forecast period.
KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:
1. How big is the regenerative medicine market?
2. What are the critical applications of regenerative medicine products?
3. Who are the key players in the regenerative medicine market?
4. Which segment accounted for the largest regenerative medicine market share?
5. Which region holds the largest share in the global regenerative medicine market?
6. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the regenerative medicine industry?
Key Vendors
Other Prominent Vendors
Key Topics Covered:
1 Research Methodology
2 Research Objectives
3 Research Process
4 Scope & Coverage
5 Report Assumptions & Caveats
6 Market at a Glance
7 Introduction
8 Market Opportunities & Trends
8.1 Latest Advances In Tissue-Engineering Therapies
8.2 Robust Product Pipeline Of Regenerative Medicine Companies
8.3 Strategic Acquisitions By Regenerative Medicine Companies
9 Market Growth Enablers
9.1 Increase In Acute, Chronic, & Genetic Disorders
9.2 Increasing Demand For Car T-Cell Therapies
9.3 Faster Regulatory Approvals & Special Designations Of Rm Products
10 Market Restraints
10.1 Manufacturing, Operational, & Ethical Challenges
10.2 High Cost of Regenerative Therapies
10.3 Outbreak of The COVID-19 Pandemic
11 Market Landscape
11.1 Market Overview
11.2 Market Size & Forecast
11.3 Five Forces Analysis
12 Application
12.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine
12.2 Market Overview
12.3 Dermatology
12.4 Musculoskeletal
12.5 Oncology
12.6 Genetic Disorders
13 Product
13.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine
13.2 Market Overview
13.3 Gene Therapy
13.4 Cell Therapy
13.5 Tissue-Engineering
14 End-Users
14.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine
14.2 Market Overview
14.3 Hospitals
14.4 Cancer Care Centers
14.5 Wound Care Centers
14.6 Ambulatory Surgical Centers
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cfc68n
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Regenerative Medicine Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026 - Increasing Demand For Car T-Cell Therapies - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business...
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Penn’s Gene Therapy Program Moves To Innovation Hub In King Of Prussia – Patch.com
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June 16, 2021
The Discovery Labs of King of Prussia now boasts another major research and development organization within its growing "Cellicon Valley." The innovation hub announced a multi-year lease with the University of Pennsylvania's Gene Therapy Program, a cutting-edge research and development organization, last month. It will focus its endeavors in Montgomery County on the development of medicine for rare and orphan diseases and treatments for contagious pathogens such as COVID-19.
Currently located in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, the Gene Therapy Program has outgrown its space at Penn's Translational Research Center. It's located in an area where space is at a premium. Rather than pay University City real estate's steep priceswhich have remained resilient amid the pandemicor commission new construction, Director James M. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., has decided to expand outward. The space at the Discovery Lab, formerly occupied by pharmaceutical giant GSK, provides the necessary infrastructure and size to house an expanding and technologically advanced research and development (R&D) program,
"The past few years have been a pivotal time in the development of gene therapies, and our new space at Discovery Labs will propel us even further in charting the future of the field," Wilson said. "With additional state-of-the-art equipment and increased operational capabilities, we are well-positioned to enhance the design and execution of our innovative, transformative therapies."
Largely driven by the lack of research and drug development dedicated to patients with rare, inherited diseases, the Gene Therapy Program has been at the forefront of research into Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Vectors. AAVs are largely benign viruses that have proven modifiable by gene therapy. By reconstructing or repairing the genetic material within the viruses, scientists have been able to produce therapeutic effects in patients with rare, genetic diseases. Wilson and others at the Gene Therapy Program have also expanded their research to include similar approaches to pathogenic viruses such as COVID-19.
Moving to the Discovery Labs enhances the program's ability to conduct such advanced research. The new space includes two full floors for the Penn Vector Core, a major technological resource for investigators and therapy designers that advances the understanding of gene function, allowing for the development of new vector medicines. The location also provides ample space for every stage of drug R&D, from discovery research all the way through applications for clinical trials. All told, the multi-year lease includes over 150,000 square feet of lab space and two buildings on the Discovery Lab's campus.
With innovative R&D organizations such as Penn's Gene Therapy Program flocking to the Discovery Labs, King of Prussia will find itself in an enviable position post-pandemic. Penn joins Thomas Jefferson University Health, CHOP, the Centers for Breakthrough Medicine, GSK, and numerous other major healthcare companies and institutions at the Discovery Labs, positioning the company as the host for some of the most innovative and groundbreaking medical research in the United States.
Led by founder and chairman Brian O'Neill, the Discovery Labs have sought to leverage its more than one million square feet of lab space in conjunction with the amenities of their immediate location and proximity to Philadelphia's "Cellicon Valley," to attract some of the largest and most impactful healthcare companies and organizations to King of Prussia. So far, it appears to be working.
"Dr. Wilson and his incredible team at Penn have helped establish Philadelphia as a leader in gene therapies, and we are deeply honored to have the opportunity to work with him and his incredible team of scientists through the expansion of their world-class research and development labs," O'Neill said. "To welcome Penn's Gene Therapy Program as the anchor tenant for our planned life sciences cluster here in King of Prussia is strong validation for the incredible life science ecosystem that is emerging in Greater Philadelphia."
It seems as if, for the foreseeable future, King of Prussia will stand as one of the brighter extensions of the Delaware Valley's expanding "Cellicon Valley," where medical innovation, scientific research, and treatment development are in the midst of an ongoing renaissance. The advent and growth of the Discovery Labs underscore the increased demand for top-flight R&D real estate, and offers promising returns for both the area and the greater medical community through its latest partnership with the University of Pennsylvania.
The Delaware Valley Journal provides unbiased, local reporting for the Philadelphia suburbs of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. For more stories from the Delaware Valley Journal, visit DelawareValleyJournal.com
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