Monthly Archives: July 2021

Ancient Greek Astronomers — And Modern Moguls — Aim for the Stars – Greek Reporter

Posted: July 2, 2021 at 8:50 pm

A clash among members of a famous galaxy quintet reveals an assortment of stars across a wide color range, from young, blue stars to aging, red stars. Ancient Greek astronomers paved the way for our modern understanding of the heavens. Credit: NASAandESA Public Domain

Business moguls Sir Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos should be thanking ancient Greek astronomers for being able to realize their travel off the face of the earth and into space this month. Virgin Galactics Branson hopes to beat Amazon CEO Bezos to travel to space, announcing plans to be Astronaut 001 on the firms July 11 test flight.

As civilized societies were just learning to use the wheel on earth, the ancient Greeks were aiming at the sky and the stars, contemplating outer space and how to measure it.

Even the science of the study of the sky and the stars, astronomy, finds its root in the ancient Greek wordAstronomia.

It was under Greek skies that ancient astronomers began to develop theories about the planets overhead, theories that are now proven. Christopher Columbus may or may not have set out to prove that the earth was spherical, but it was the ancient Greek astronomer Aristarchus who initiated the theory that the universe is heliocentric and that the planets are round.

The Babylonians of Mesopotamia first looked to the skies and postulated that the stars, the moon and the sun as gods that ruled over men. However, it was the ancient Greeks who analyzed those theories of deities and turned them into mathematical equations and calculations.

If you really want to travel to the stars, there is an easier way than heading to Cape Canaveral, where NASA launches rockets from Florida into outer space, or getting an extraordinarily pricey ticket aboard the craft that Branson and Bezos will travel on this month.

If you can get to the Acropolis, just a few hundred meters away is the National Observatory, known in Greece as the Asteroskopeio. From the observatory, positioned directly across from the Acropolis on Lofos Nymphon in central Athens, you can get a birds eye view of Mars and the moon through the Doridis refractor telescope.

The National Observatory with a telescope that allows the public to view the stars directly across from the Acropolis. Credit: Dimboukas Creative CommonsAttribution 4.0 International

The National Observatory of Athens was founded in 1842, as the first research center of modern Greece. Its history is linked with the evolution of basic and applied research, the development of services provided to the Greek State and society at large, and the promotion of science.

And how amazing is it, that literally just steps away from where ancient Greek astronomers conducted their first experiments, contemporary Greek astronomers are working today and they can show you the planets in the night sky?

Metonas was a Greek mathematician, astronomer and engineer who lived in Athens in the 5th century BC. He is best known for the calculations he made for the Metonic cycle in 432 BC for the lunar calendar year of Attica.

Metonas calendar assumes that 19 solar years equals 235 lunar months, which equals 6,940 days. This system arose from calculations made by Metonas based on his own astronomical observations, which were confirmed by Aristarchus 152 years later.

According to the testimonies of ancient historians, Metonas installed the first Heliotropion, or Helioscope, in Pynx, a hellion Athens. The foundations of the Helioscope are still visible just behind the steps leading to Pnyx, the archaeological site perched on a small, rocky hill, just over 330 feet high in the center of Athens.

The site is in a large park, just below the National Observatory, to the west of the Acropolis. Metonas determined the dates of the equinoxes and the solstices based on the specific location of this helioscope.

From this position the sunrise during the summer solstice is seen from the top of Mt. Lycabettus, while six months later, during the winter solstice, the sun rises from the top of Mount Hymettus. The annual apparent movement of the sun on the horizon creates an arc of 60 degrees, the bisector of which is aligned with the rock of the Acropolis. The exact determination of the summer solstice was important to the ancient Athenians because the first moon, after the summer solstice, marked the beginning of the new year.

Metonas was one of many ancient Greek astronomers to formulate calculations while gazing at the skies above. Renowned mathematicians, many of these scholars, branched off in astronomy, cataloguing, calculating and observing. Whether they catalogued stars, contemplated shapes or tried to measure the physical space within and beyond the borders of earth, their work put contemporary man in the sky.

Today it is hard to believe in any other notion than spherical planets that revolve around the sun.

Pythagoras of Samos, who lived from 570 to 495 BC, was an ancient Greek astronomer and philosopher and the eponymous founder of Pythagoreanism. Pythagoras was credited with many mathematical and scientific discoveries in antiquity. Since at least the first century BC, Pythagoras has commonly been given credit for discovering the Pythagorean theorem in geometry, which states that in a right-angled triangle the square of the hypotenuse is equal (to the sum of) the squares of the two other sides.

It was said that he was the first man to call himself a philosopher, a lover of wisdom, in the Greek language, (philo/friend of sophia/wisdom). He was the first to divide the globe into five climatic zones.

In astronomy Pythagoras is credited with the belief that the earth is spherical and for identifying the morning and evening stars that we know today as the planet Venus. By the end of the fifth century BC, this fact was universally accepted among Greek intellectuals.

Philolaus, who lived from 470 to 385 BC, was a Greek Pythagorean and pre-Socratic philosopher. He was born in a Greek colony in Italy and migrated to Greece. Philolaus has been called one of three most prominent figures in the Pythagorean tradition and the most outstanding figure in the Pythagorean school.

Pythagoras developed a school of philosophy that was dominated by both mathematics and mysticism. Most of what is known today about the Pythagorean astronomical system is derived from Philolaus views. He may have been the first to write about Pythagorean doctrine.

Philolaus asserted that the earth was not the center of the universe, rebelling against the geo-centrism of the time. He is credited with the earliest known discussion of concepts in the development of heliocentrism, insisting the sun is the center of in the human universe.

Archimedes of Syracuse, who lived from 287 to 212 BC, was an ancient Greek astronomer, mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists of classical antiquity. The most widely known anecdote about Archimedes tells of how he invented a method for determining the volume of an object with an irregular shape.

Archimedes principle involved a metal bar, placed into a container of water, on a scale. It displaces as much water as its own volume, increasing the mass of the containers contents and weighing down the scale.

A votive crown for a temple had been made for the king of Syracuse, who had supplied the pure gold to be used. Archimedes was asked to determine whether some silver had been substituted by a dishonest goldsmith. Archimedes had to solve the problem without damaging the crown, so he could not melt it down into a regularly shaped body to calculate its density.

Archimedes noticed while taking a bath that the level of the water in the tub rose as he got in. He realized that this effect could be used to determine the volume of the crown. For practical purposes, water is incompressible so the submerged crown would displace an amount of water equal to its own volume.

By dividing the mass of the crown by the volume of water displaced, the density of the crown could be obtained. This density would be lower than that of gold if cheaper and less dense metals had been added. Archimedes then took to the streets naked, so excited by his discovery that he had forgotten to dress himself, crying Eureka, which in Greek sounds like evreeka, literally meaning, I have found it!

The test on the crown was conducted successfully, proving that silver had indeed been mixed in with the gold.

Archimedes also explored astronomical measurements of the earth, the sun and the moon, as well as Aristarchus heliocentric model of the universe. Despite a lack of trigonometry and a table of chords, Archimedes described the procedure and instrument used to make observations, a straight rod with pegs or grooves, applied correction factors to these measurements, and finally gave the result in the form of upper and lower bounds to account for observational error.

Ptolemy, quoting Hipparchus, also references Archimedes solstice observations in the Almagest. This would make Archimedes the first known ancient Greek astronomer to have recorded multiple solstice dates and times in successive years.

Ptolemy, 335-405 BC, used an astrolabe to record astronomical observations.

Today we know the exact time, the positions to the stars and planets, and our exact location, to the tenth of a degree but all these things were available to the ancient Greeks as well, in one device, thanks to the invention of the astrolabe.

The scientistPtolemy, who lived in Alexandria, was the brilliant mind behind this genius machine, which used sets of dials to determine altitude, latitude as long as the time was known the shifting positions of stars and planets, and to survey or triangulate your location on land.

Basically, the astrolabe was a handheld model of the universe. Its many functions also made it an elaborate inclinometer and an analog calculation device that was capable of working out several kinds of problems in astronomy.

The importance of the invention of the astrolabe comes not only from the early discoveries in astronomy, but also in determining latitude on land or on calm water, making it possible to navigate the seas in a limited way.

Aristarchus of Samos,who lived from 310 to c.230 BC, was an ancient Greek astronomer and mathematician who presented the first known heliocentric model that placed the sun at the center of the known universe, with the earth revolving around the sun once a year and rotating about its axis once a day. Aristarchus identified the central fire with the sun. He put the other planets in their correct order of distance around the sun.

Aristarchus suspected that the stars were just other bodies like the sun, albeit farther away from earth. His astronomical ideas were rejected in favor of the geocentric theories of Aristotle and Ptolemy.

Aristarchus estimated the sizes of the sun and moon as compared to earths size. He also estimated the distances from the earth to the sun and moon. He is considered one of the greatest astronomers of antiquity.

Aristarchus of Samos developed the first mathematical formula of astronomy to calculate planet size. Credit: Screenshot Youtube

Since Aristarchus suspected the stars were other suns that are very far away, there was no observable parallax that is, a movement of the stars relative to each other as the earth moves around the sun. Since stellar parallax is only detectable with telescopes, his accurate speculation was unprovable at the time.

It was not until the sixteenth century that a mathematical model of a heliocentric system was presented by the Renaissance mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic cleric, Nicolaus Copernicus, leading to the Copernican Revolution. In the following century, Johannes Kepler introduced elliptical orbits, and Galileo de Galilei presented supporting observations made using a telescope.

Eratosthenes of Cyrene, who lived from 276 BC to195 BC, was an ancient Greek astronomer who was also a multi-discipline scholar, or polymath. He was a mathematician, geographer, poet, astronomer and music theorist. He was a man of such learning that he also became the chief librarian at the Library of Alexandria. His work is comparable to what is now known as the study of geography, and he introduced some of the terminology still used in that discipline today.

Eratosthenes is best known for being the first person known to calculate the circumference of the earth, which he did by using the extensive survey results he could access in his role at the Library of Alexandria. His calculation was remarkably accurate. He was also the first to calculate earths axial tilt, which also proved to have remarkable accuracy. He created the first global projection of the world, incorporating parallels and meridians based on the available geographic knowledge of his era.

Eratosthenes was the founder of scientific chronology. He endeavored to revise the dates of the main events of the semi-mythological Trojan War, dating the Sack of Troy to 1183 BC. In number theory, he introduced the sieve of Eratosthenes, an efficient method of identifying prime numbers.

The measurement of Earths circumference is the most famous among the results obtained by Eratosthenes, who estimated that the meridian has a length of 252,000 stadia, with an error on the real value of less than two percent. Eratosthenes described his arc measurement technique, in a book entitled On the measure of the Earth.

Hipparchus of Nicaea, 190120 BC, yet another ancient Greek astronomer, erected an early observatory on the island of Rhodes around 150 BC, and set about compiling a star catalogue with approximately 850 entries. He calculated the celestial coordinates for each star using the first known trigonometric table, and developed and improved several astronomical instruments, including the astrolabe.

Dedicated to Hipparchus contribution to the early study of the solar system, a crater on the surface of Mars, was named after him in 1973. A larger crater on the moon was also named after the ancient Greek astronomer.

The Antikythera Mechanism,often referred to as the worlds first computer, was discovered inside an ancient shipwreck by Greek sponge divers on May 17, 1901. After numerous studies, it was estimated to have been constructed between 150 BC and 100 BC.A later study places it at 205 BC,just seven years after the death of Archimedes.

The worlds oldest surviving mechanical calculator, it was used by ancient Greek astronomers. The device has now been somewhat deteriorated by the passage of time, but when intact it would have appeared as a box, housing dozens of finely machined bronze gear wheels.

When manually rotated by a handle, the gears spun dials on the exterior showing the phases of the moon, the timing of lunar eclipses, and the positions of the five planets then known (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) at different times of the year. This even accounted for their retrograde motion an illusionary change in the movement of planets through the sky.

The moving parts of a a reproduction of the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient analog computer. Credit: Freeth, T., Higgon, D., Dacanalis Creative CommonsAttribution 4.0 International

It may even have been the work of Archimedes himself, but there is no documentation of that, only speculation. Gearing technology with the sophistication of the Antikythera Mechanism was not seen again for one thousand years.

The ancient calculator also includes an astrological calendar, as the indicators seem to revolve around the zodiac, revealing the movements of both the moon and the planets.

A reproduction of the Antikythera Mechanism on display at the National Observatory in Athens. Credit: Moravec Creative CommonsAttribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

The National Observatory is the contemporary location for a journey to the stars. As noted above, the Asteroskopeio is within close proximity to the physical space used by ancient Greek astronomers who contributed so much to what we know of the universe today.

Ancient Greek astronomers such as Metonas, Pythagoras, Philolaus, Eratosthenes, Ptolemy, Aristarchus, Hipparchus, Archimedes developed the theories of calculation of the size, the time and the distance of planets within the human solar system. These contributions were the building blocks that made journeys off earth possible today.

Progress was marked by enlightened and renowned scientists in Greece who paved the way to knowledge with the creation of the Asteroskopeio in the 1800s. Thanks to the National Observatory, visitors to Athens can travel to the stars even if they are not Richard Branson or Jeff Bezos.

The tycoon Branson said, After more than 16 years of research, engineering, and testing, Virgin Galactic stands at the vanguard of a new commercial space industry, which is set to open space to humankind and change the world for good.

Lets hope he remembers to thank all those ancient Greek astronomers and not just the people who work for Virgin Galactic.

Read this article:

Ancient Greek Astronomers -- And Modern Moguls -- Aim for the Stars - Greek Reporter

Posted in Astronomy | Comments Off

How big is the universe? Henrietta Leavitt led Edwin Hubble to a better, bigger answer. – Vox.com

Posted: at 8:50 pm

In the early 1900s, the universe seemed to be a much, much smaller place. Back then, astronomers believed the Milky Way galaxy was all there was. They didnt know there were billions of other galaxies; they didnt know how small we really are.

They didnt know this because they couldnt measure distances to far-flung stars. Why? There was a pretty simple problem in astronomy: A bright, faraway star looks almost the same as a dim star thats close by.

Its the same here on Earth. Imagine youre on the beach at night and see two lighthouse lights glowing in the distance, but one seems brighter than the other. If you knew both lighthouses used the same lightbulb, you could conclude that the dimmer light is farther away. But its also possible that the dimmer light just comes from a lower-wattage lightbulb, perhaps nearer to you.

Scientists needed a way to find out the intrinsic brightness of stars to figure out their wattage, so to speak. Thats when Henrietta Leavitt, a Massachusetts-born computer who worked at the Harvard College Observatory, came along. In 1908, she published a discovery that may sound small but is one of the most important in the history of astronomy. It cracked open the universe.

Before Henrietta Leavitt, many astronomers looked at the stars in whats today known as the Andromeda galaxy some 2.5 million light-years away and mistakenly thought they were part of our own Milky Way galaxy (which is only around 100,000 light-years in diameter).

Those Andromeda stars were orders of magnitude further away. Scientists just didnt know it.

At the time, astronomers had some methods to figure out distances to stars, but they only worked for stars relatively close to Earth. Leavitts discovery linking the pulse of one type of star to their actual brightness, as described in the graphic above was the key to measuring objects farther and farther out into space.

If astronomers wanted to measure faraway things, Leavitts discovery showed, they just had to look out for cepheids. Her formula led astronomers to chart out relative distances to stars: They could use it to compare two stars and figure out which one was closer.

It took some more work by other scientists to calibrate this yardstick, to put concrete numbers on it. But once they did, and started measuring with it, the cosmos grew and grew.

Fifteen years after Henrietta Leavitts discovery, the preeminent astronomers Harlow Shapley and Heber Curtis were locked in a heated debate.

Curtis believed that Andromeda was a separate galaxy far, far away from the Milky Way. At the time, this was an outlandish idea. Shapley represented the more mainstream view that Andromeda was just a hazy, cloudy region within our galaxy, which he had recently estimated to be around 300,000 light-years across. That was also the assumed size of the entire universe.

If Curtis was right, it would mean the universe was double or triple the size that Shapley estimated at least.

To settle the debate, Edwin Hubble the namesake of the famous space telescope looked for Cepheid stars in Andromeda. Night after night, he took photographs of Andromeda, searching for cepheids. In October 1923, he found one, blinking in one of Andromedas spiral arms. Another week of observations allowed him to follow Leavitts formula and determine its distance.

Hubble estimated it to be around a million light-years from Earth well outside the boundaries of Shapleys universe. (Hubble was a little off: Andromeda is closer to 2.5 million light-years away.) After reading about Hubbles finding, Shapley reportedly said: Here is the letter that destroyed my universe.

Scientists kept building on Leavitts ruler to measure the universe. And as they used these measuring tools, their understanding of the universe evolved. They realized it was far bigger than previously thought, there are billions of galaxies, and its expanding: Those galaxies are moving further and further away from one another.

Astronomers also realized that the universe had a beginning. If galaxies are moving away from one another now, it means they were closer together in the past which led scientists to the idea of the Big Bang.

It also led them to realize that the universe may, eventually, end.

This weeks episode of Unexplainable, Voxs podcast about unanswered questions in science, tells that story and more.

Visit link:

How big is the universe? Henrietta Leavitt led Edwin Hubble to a better, bigger answer. - Vox.com

Posted in Astronomy | Comments Off

Are We Missing Other Earths? Dramatic New Evidence Uncovered by Astronomers – SciTechDaily

Posted: at 8:50 pm

This illustration depicts a planet partially hidden in the glare of its host star and a nearby companion star. After examining a number of binary stars, astronomers have concluded that Earth-sized planets in many two-star systems might be going unnoticed by transit searches, which look for changes in the light from a star when a planet passes in front of it. The light from the second star makes it more difficult to detect the changes in the host stars light when the planet passes in front of it. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. da Silva

Astronomers studying stellar pairs uncover evidence that there could be many more Earth-sized planets than previously thought.

Some exoplanet searches could be missing nearly half of the Earth-sized planets around other stars. New findings from a team using the international Gemini Observatory and the WIYN 3.5-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory suggest that Earth-sized worlds could be lurking undiscovered in binary star systems, hidden in the glare of their parent stars. As roughly half of all stars are in binary systems, this means that astronomers could be missing many Earth-sized worlds.

Earth-sized planets may be much more common than previously realized. Astronomers working at NASA Ames Research Center have used the twin telescopes of the international Gemini Observatory, a Program of NSFs NOIRLab, to determine that many planet-hosting stars identified by NASAs TESS exoplanet-hunting mission[1] are actually pairs of stars known as binary stars where the planets orbit one of the stars in the pair. After examining these binary stars, the team has concluded that Earth-sized planets in many two-star systems might be going unnoticed by transit searches like TESSs, which look for changes in the light from a star when a planet passes in front of it.[2] The light from the second star makes it more difficult to detect the changes in the host stars light when the planet transits.

The team started out by trying to determine whether some of the exoplanet host stars identified with TESS were actually unknown binary stars. Physical pairs of stars that are close together can be mistaken for single stars unless they are observed at extremely high resolution. So the team turned to both Gemini telescopes to inspect a sample of exoplanet host stars in painstaking detail. Using a technique called speckle imaging,[3] the astronomers set out to see whether they could spot undiscovered stellar companions.

Using the `Alopeke and Zorro instruments on the Gemini North and South telescopes in Chile and Hawaii, respectively,[4] the team observed hundreds of nearby stars that TESS had identified as potential exoplanet hosts. They discovered that 73 of these stars are really binary star systems that had appeared as single points of light until observed at higher resolution with Gemini. With the Gemini Observatorys 8.1-meter telescopes, we obtained extremely high-resolution images of exoplanet host stars and detected stellar companions at very small separations, said Katie Lester of NASAs Ames Research Center, who led this work.

Lesters team also studied an additional 18 binary stars previously found among the TESS exoplanet hosts using the NN-EXPLORE Exoplanet and Stellar Speckle Imager (NESSI) on the WIYN 3.5-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, also a Program of NSFs NOIRLab.

After identifying the binary stars, the team compared the sizes of the detected planets in the binary star systems to those in single-star systems. They realized that the TESS spacecraft found both large and small exoplanets orbiting single stars, but only large planets in binary systems.

These results imply that a population of Earth-sized planets could be lurking in binary systems and going undetected using the transit method employed by TESS and many other planet-hunting telescopes. Some scientists had suspected that transit searches might be missing small planets in binary systems, but the new study provides observational support to back it up and shows which sizes of exoplanets are affected.[5]

We have shown that it is more difficult to find Earth-sized planets in binary systems because small planets get lost in the glare of their two parent stars, Lester stated. Their transits are filled in by the light from the companion star, added Steve Howell of NASAs Ames Research Center, who leads the speckle imaging effort and was involved in this research.

Since roughly 50% of stars are in binary systems, we could be missing the discovery of and the chance to study a lot of Earth-like planets, Lester concluded.

The possibility of these missing worlds means that astronomers will need to use a variety of observational techniques before concluding that a given binary star system has no Earth-like planets. Astronomers need to know whether a star is single or binary before they claim that no small planets exist in that system, explained Lester. If its single, then you could say that no small planets exist. But if the host is in a binary, you wouldnt know whether a small planet is hidden by the companion star or does not exist at all. You would need more observations with a different technique to figure that out.

As part of their study, Lester and her colleagues also analyzed how far apart the stars are in the binary systems where TESS had detected large planets. The team found that the stars in the exoplanet-hosting pairs were typically farther apart than binary stars not known to have planets.[6] This could suggest that planets do not form around stars that have close stellar companions.

This speckle imaging survey illustrates the critical need for NSF telescope facilities to characterize newly discovered planetary systems and develop our understanding of planetary populations, said National Science Foundation Division of Astronomical Sciences Program Officer Martin Still.

This is a major finding in exoplanet work, Howell commented. The results will help theorists create their models for how planets form and evolve in double-star systems.

Notes

This research is presented in the paper Speckle Observations of TESS Exoplanet Host Stars. II. Stellar Companions at 1-1000 AU and Implications for Small Planet Detection to appear in the Astronomical Journal.

Reference: Speckle Observations of TESS Exoplanet Host Stars. II. Stellar Companions at 1-1000 AU and Implications for Small Planet Detection by Kathryn V. Lester, Rachel A. Matson, Steve B. Howell, Elise Furlan, Crystal L. Gnilka, Nicholas J. Scott, David R. Ciardi, Mark E. Everett, Zachary D. Hartman and Lea A. Hirsch, Accepted, Astronomical Journal.arXiv:2106.13354

The team is composed of Kathryn V. Lester (NASA Ames Research Center), Rachel A. Matson (US Naval Observatory), Steve B. Howell (NASA Ames Research Center), Elise Furlan (Exoplanet Science Institute, Caltech), Crystal L. Gnilka (NASA Ames Research Center), Nicholas J. Scott (NASA Ames Research Center), David R. Ciardi (Exoplanet Science Institute, Caltech), Mark E. Everett (NSFs NOIRLab), Zachary D. Hartman (Lowell Observatory & Department of Physics & Astronomy, Georgia State University), and Lea A. Hirsch (Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Stanford University).

NSFs NOIRLab (National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory), the US center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy, operates the international Gemini Observatory (a facility of NSF, NRCCanada, ANIDChile, MCTICBrazil, MINCyTArgentina, and KASIRepublic of Korea), Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), and Vera C. Rubin Observatory (operated in cooperation with the Department of Energys SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). It is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with NSF and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The astronomical community is honored to have the opportunity to conduct astronomical research on Iolkam Duag (Kitt Peak) in Arizona, on Maunakea in Hawaii, and on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachn in Chile. We recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that these sites have to the Tohono Oodham Nation, to the Native Hawaiian community, and to the local communities in Chile, respectively.

See the rest here:

Are We Missing Other Earths? Dramatic New Evidence Uncovered by Astronomers - SciTechDaily

Posted in Astronomy | Comments Off

Atsena Therapeutics Receives Orphan Drug Designation from – GlobeNewswire

Posted: at 8:49 pm

DURHAM, N.C., June 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atsena Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on bringing the life-changing power of genetic medicine to reverse or prevent blindness, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation for its investigational gene therapy product for the treatment of GUCY2D-associated Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA1), a genetic eye disease that affects the retina. The safety and efficacy of the gene therapy are being evaluated in a Phase I/II clinical trial, which is currently enrolling patients (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03920007).

Receiving orphan drug designation from the FDA is an important milestone for our LCA1 gene therapy clinical program, said Kenji Fujita, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Atsena. We look forward to the continued progression of our Phase I/II clinical trial as we seek to develop a new treatment for children and adults who have severe visual impairment or blindness due to GUCY2D-associated LCA1.

The FDA may grant orphan drug designation to drugs and biologics intended to treat diseases or conditions that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Orphan drug designation provides certain benefits, such as tax credits for qualified clinical testing, exemptions from certain FDA application fees, and seven years of market exclusivity, if approved.

Atsenas LCA1 program is based on more than 15 years of research conducted at the University of Florida. The company exclusively licensed the rights to the gene therapy from Sanofi, which originally licensed it from University of Florida.

About LCA1Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is the most common cause of blindness in children. LCA1 is caused by mutations in the GUCY2D gene and results in early and severe vision impairment or blindness. GUCY2D-LCA1 is one of the most common forms of LCA, affecting roughly 20 percent of patients who live with this inherited retinal disease.

About Atsena TherapeuticsAtsena Therapeutics is a clinical-stage gene therapy company developing novel treatments for inherited forms of blindness. The companys ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial is evaluating a potential therapy for one of the most common causes of blindness in children. Its additional pipeline of leading preclinical assets is powered by an adeno-associated virus (AAV) technology platform tailored to overcome significant hurdles presented by inherited retinal disease, and its unique approach is guided by the specific needs of each patient condition to optimize treatment. Founded by ocular gene therapy pioneers Dr. Shannon Boye and Sanford Boye of the University of Florida, Atsena is based in North Carolinas Research Triangle, an environment rich in gene therapy expertise. For more information, please visitatsenatx.com.

Media Contact:Tony Plohoros6 Degrees(908) 591-2839tplohoros@6degreespr.com

Business Contact:info@atsenatx.com

Go here to see the original:
Atsena Therapeutics Receives Orphan Drug Designation from - GlobeNewswire

Posted in Gene Medicine | Comments Off

Cellular Model of a Developing Mouse Is Built With Spatial Resolution – Technology Networks

Posted: at 8:49 pm

A new technique called sci-Space, combined with data from other technologies, could lead to four-dimensional atlases of gene expression across diverse cells during embryonic development of mammals.

Such atlases would map how the gene transcripts in individual cells reflect the passage of time, cell lineages, cell migration, and location on the developing embryo. They would also help illuminate the spatial regulation of gene expression.

Mammalian embryonic development is a remarkable phenomenon: a fertilized egg divides repeatedly and turns, in a matter of weeks or months, into a complex organism capable of a myriad of physiological processes and composed of a variety of cells, tissues, organs, anatomical structures.

A better understanding of how mammals form before birth -- particularly the prenatal spatial patterns of gene expression at a single-cell level during embryonic development -- could advance biomedical and veterinary research on a variety of conditions. These range from inherited disorders to congenital malformations and developmental delays. Understanding how organs originate might also assist future regenerative medicine efforts.

An international team led by scientists at UW Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine in Seattle demonstrated the proof-of-concept of their sci-Space technique in mouse embryos.

Their results are published in the July 2 edition of Science. The lead authors are Sanjay R. Srivatsan of the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Mary C. Regier of the UW Department of Bioengineering.

The senior authors are Jay Shendure, UW Medicine professor of genome sciences, and director of the Brotman Baty Institute, and an investigator at the Allan Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing; Kelly R. Stevens, UW assistant professor of bioengineering; and Cole Trapnell, associate professor of genome sciences. Regier and Stevens are also investigators at the UW Medicine Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research.

The researchers observed the orchestration of genes in 120,000 cell nuclei. All the body's somatic cells contain the same DNA code. The researchers captured information on which genes were turned on or off in these nuclei as mouse embryos took shape. The scientists also investigated how cells' locations in an embryo affected which genes were activated during development.

This technique builds on previous work in which these scientists and other groups developed ways of conducting whole-organism profiling of gene expression and DNA-code accessibility, in thousands of single cells, during embryonic development. They did so to track the emergence and trajectory of various cell types.

How cells are organized spatially - what physical positions they take as an embryo forms - is critical to normal development. Misplacements, disruptions, or cells not showing at the right time in the right spot can cause serious problems or even prenatal death.

However, gaining knowledge on spatial patterns of gene expression has been technically difficult. It has been unwieldy to assay gene transcripts of individual cells over wide swaths of the embryo. This limited the scientific understanding of how spatial organization influences gene expression and, consequently, why which cell types form where, or how neighboring groups of cells influence each other's future roles.

The scientists on the present study had earlier developed a method to label cell nuclei, a technique they called sci-Plex. They then went on to index single-cell RNA sequencing, with a method called sci-RNA-sequencing.

Now, with sci-Space, by analyzing spatial coordinates and cell gene transcripts the scientists identified thousands of genes whose expression was anatomically patterned. For example, certain genetic profiles emerged in neurons in the brain and spinal cord and others in cardiac muscle cells in the heart.

The scientists also used spatial and gene profile information to annotate subtypes of cells. For example, while both blood vessel cells and heart muscle might both express the gene for a particular growth factor, only the heart muscle cells produced certain growth factor receptors.

The researchers also observed that cell types varied greatly in the extent of their spatial patterning of gene expression. For example, connective tissue progenitor cells showed a relatively large proportion of spatially restricted gene expression. This observation suggests that subtypes of these cells behave in a position-dependent manner throughout the body.

To measure the power of spatial position on a cell type's gene transcript profile, the researchers also calculated the physical distance between cells and the angular distance of their gene expression profiles.

"For many cell types, as the physical distance between cells increased, so did the angular distance between their transcriptomes," the researchers noted in their paper. However, they added that this trend varied considerably. It was most pronounced in certain brain and spinal cord cells.

The genetic transcript profiles of some other cell types were highly influenced by their position in the developing embryo. Among these are certain cartilage cells, which become part of the scaffolding for bones of the head and face.

The researchers also studied gene expression dynamics that took place as part of brain cell differentiation and migration during mouse embryonic development. The researchers examined how various brain cell trajectories were anatomically distributed. The researchers did so by using the Allen Institute's Anatomical Reference Brain Atlas as a guide.

"Cells from each trajectory overwhelmingly occupied distinct brain regions," the researchers noted. They also observed gradients of developmental maturity in different regions of the brain. These gradients revealed both known and new patterns of migration.

In the future, the researchers hope sci-Space will be further applied to serial sections that span the entire mouse embryo and that cover many points of time.

Reference:Srivatsan SR, Regier MC, Barkan E, et al. Embryo-scale, single-cell spatial transcriptomics. Science. 2021;373(6550):111-117. doi:10.1126/science.abb9536

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

See more here:
Cellular Model of a Developing Mouse Is Built With Spatial Resolution - Technology Networks

Posted in Gene Medicine | Comments Off

AGC Biologics expands further in Colorado with purchase of Novartis Gene Therapies plant – FiercePharma

Posted: at 8:49 pm

As the cell and gene revolution heats up, contract manufacturer AGC Biologics is getting ahead of the curve with plans for its second commercial plant in Colorado.

Angling to bolster cell and gene production, AGC has clinched a deal for a commercial Novartis Gene Therapies factory in Longmont, Colorado. Located just 16 miles from AGCs 20,000-liter mammalian facility in Boulder, the new plant is expected to add significant additional capacity, AGC said in a release.

The move comes shortly after AGC charted an expansion at its cell and gene site in Milan, Italy, which it snared last July in its buyout of Italian CTG biotech Molecular Medicine (MolMed).

AGC hasnt divulged the Novartis plants price. The company didnt say how big it expects the Longmont workforce to be, but it will [aim] to hire a significant percentage of Novartis staff there.

RELATED:Novavax enlists AGC Biologics to manufacture adjuvant for COVID-19 shot

The 622,000-square-foot factory comes equipped with offices and production space across six buildings. It sits on a 229-acre campus located 40 miles north of Denver, AGC said.

Last June,AGC got its hands on its Boulder plant through similar means, picking up the commercial facility from AstraZeneca. That facility came equipped with two 20,000-liter stainless steel bioreactors, plusspace to add four more in the future. That same month, AGC tied up with Novavax to scale up and produce the Matrix-M adjuvant for its late-stage COVID-19 vaccine candidate,NVX-CoV2373.

Meanwhile, AGC has invested heavily in cell and gene therapiessince acquiring MolMed in 2020. With the addition of two MolMed commercial plants in Italy, AGC became one of the very few CDMOs to include both plasmid production and end-to-end cell and gene therapy services in its manufacturing repertoire, the company noted last year.

RELATED:AGC plots $194.5M, capacity-doubling upgrade to Copenhagen biologics site

At the time, AGC specifically highlighted MolMeds manufacturing know-how in genetically modified cells and viral vectors, or the engineered viruses used to deliver the cutting-edge medicines. That component, which is also used in AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnsons recombinant COVID-19 vaccines, is already in shortage, with the bottleneck expected to tighten even more unless regulators, biopharmas and contractors move fast to address production shortfalls, GlobalDatasaid in a recent report.

And in March, AGC blueprinted an upgrade to its factory in Milan, sketching a capacity boost and the introduction of viral vector suspension capabilities. The expanded facilities should startfull operations in 2022, AGC has said.

Read the rest here:
AGC Biologics expands further in Colorado with purchase of Novartis Gene Therapies plant - FiercePharma

Posted in Gene Medicine | Comments Off

BioMarin Announces 12 Presentations at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 2021 Virtual Congress – BioSpace

Posted: at 8:49 pm

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., July 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.(NASDAQ: BMRN) today announced three oral presentations and nine poster presentations related to valoctocogene roxaparvovec, an investigational gene therapy for the treatment of adults with severe hemophilia A, at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 2021 Virtual Congress being held July 17-21, 2021. Notably, these presentations will include highlights from the Phase 3 GENEr8-1 trial, the largest gene therapy trial in Hemophilia A, and five years of clinical follow-up from the Phase 1/2 study, both of which continue to demonstrate prolonged hemostatic efficacy without the need for other treatment for hemophilia A.

"We are proud of the consistent and dramatic bleed control results to date, based on both long-term extension studies of at least five years, and the largest and most definitive gene therapy study in Hemophilia A. We look forward to the scientific presentations of the growing body of evidence for valoctocogene roxaparvovec and ensuing discussions at this important meeting," saidHank Fuchs, M.D., President, Worldwide Research and Development at BioMarin.

BioMarin's presentations at ISTH include:

Platform Presentations

Efficacy and Safety of Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec Adeno-associated Virus Gene Transfer for Severe Hemophilia A: Results from the Phase 3 GENEr8-1 TrialProfessor Margareth C. Ozelo, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine,Internal Medicine Department - School of Medical Sciences of UNICAMP,University of Campinas-UNICAMPMonday, July 19, 2021, 10-11 AM EDT

Hemostatic Response is Maintained for up to 5 Years Following Treatment with Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec, an AAV5-hFVIII-SQ Gene Therapy for Severe Hemophilia AProfessor Michael Laffan, faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology and Inflammation at Imperial College London, Director of the Hammersmith Hospital Haemophilia CentreWednesday, July 21, 2021, 10-11 AM EDT

Investigation of Early Outcomes Following Adeno-associated Viral Gene Therapy in a Canine Hemophilia ModelDr. Paul Batty, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's UniversityWednesday, July 21, 2021, 1-2 PM EDT

Poster Presentations

Poster #

Title and Authors

LPB0022

Global seroprevalence of pre-existing immunity against various AAV serotypes in people with haemophilia A

Klamroth R, Hayes G, Andreeva T, Suzuki T, Hardesty B, Shima M, Pollock T, Slev P, Oldenburg J, Ozelo M, Castet S, Mahlangu J, Peyvandi F, Kazmi R, Leavitt A, Callaghan M, Pan-Petesch B, Quon D, Li M, Wong WY.

PB0663

A savvy approach in clinical trial recruitment for the SAAVY (Seroprevalence of AAV AntibodY) study in the era of COVID-19: Designing for a prospective, observational study in the United States during a global pandemic

Valentino L, Vaghela M, Lauw M, Dela Cerda G, Jones M, Hinds D, Newman V, Leal-Padinas F, Rotellini D, Schafer K, Pipe S.

PB0488

Exploring the level of congruence between patient- and physician-reported anxiety and depression in persons with haemophilia A

Burke T, Shaikh A, Pedra G, Hawes C, Camp C, O'Hara J.

PB0468

Examination and validation of a patient-centric joint metric: "PROBLEM JOINT"; empirical evidence from the CHESS Paediatrics dataset

Burke T, Rodriguez-Santana I, O'Hara J, Chowdary P, Curtis R, Khair K, McLlaughlin P, Noone D, O'Mahoney B, Pasi J, Skinner M.

PB0452

Real-world clinical and patient-centric outcomes in people with haemophilia A in France: Combined findings from the CHESS and CHESS II studies

Shaikh A, Burke T, Hawes C, Duport G, O'Hara J, Camp C.

PB0487

Real-world clinical and patient-centric outcomes in people with haemophilia A in Germany: Combined findings from the CHESS and CHESS II studies

Shaikh A, Burke T, Hawes C,Becker T, Brandt S, O'Hara J, Camp C.

PB0464

Real-world clinical and patient-centric outcomes in people with haemophilia A in Italy: Combined findings from the CHESS and CHESS II studies

Shaikh A, Burke T, Hawes C, Lupi A, O'Hara J, Camp C.

PB0456

Real-world clinical and patient-centric outcomes in people with haemophilia A in Spain: Combined findings from the CHESS and CHESS II studies

Shaikh A, Burke T, Hawes C, O'Hara J, Camp C.

PB0479

Real-world clinical and patient-centric outcomes in people with haemophilia A in the United Kingdom: Combined findings from the CHESS and CHESS II studies

Shaikh A, Burke T, Hawes C, McKeown W, Morgan D, O'Hara J, Camp C.

Founded in 1969, the ISTH is the leading worldwide not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of thrombotic and bleeding disorders. The ISTH is an international professional membership organization with more than 7,700 clinicians, researchers and educators working together to improve the lives of patients in more than 110 countries around the world. Among its highly regarded activities and initiatives are education and standardization programs, research activities, meetings and congresses, peer-reviewed publications, expert committees and World Thrombosis Day on 13 October.

Regulatory Status

BioMarin resubmitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on June 25, 2021. In May 2021, the EMA granted the Company's request for accelerated assessment. Accelerated assessment potentially reduces the time frame for the EMA Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) to review a MAA for an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP). A CHMP opinion is anticipated in the first half of 2022.

The MAA submission includes safety and efficacy data from the 134 subjects enrolled in the Phase 3 GENEr8-1 study, all of whom have been followed for at least one year after treatment with valoctocogene roxaparvovec, as well as four and three years of follow-up from the 6e13 vg/kg and 4e13 vg/kg dose cohorts, respectively, in the ongoing Phase 1/2 dose escalation study.

In the United States, BioMarin intends to submit two-year follow-up safety and efficacy data on all study participants from the Phase 3 GENEr8-1 study to support the benefit/risk assessment of valoctocogene roxaparvovec, as previously requested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). BioMarin is targeting a Biologics License Application (BLA) resubmission in the second quarter of 2022, assuming favorable study results, followed by an expected six-month review by the FDA.

The FDA granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation to valoctocogene roxaparvovec inMarch 2021. RMAT is an expedited program intended to facilitate development and review of regenerative medicine therapies, such as valoctocogene roxaparvovec, that are intended to address an unmet medical need in patients with serious conditions. The RMAT designation is complementary to Breakthrough Therapy Designation, which the Company received in 2017.

In addition to the RMAT Designation and Breakthrough Therapy Designation, BioMarin's valoctocogene roxaparvovec also has received orphan drug designation from the FDA and EMA for the treatment of severe hemophilia A.The Orphan Drug Designation program is intended to advance the evaluation and development of products that demonstrate promise for the diagnosis and/or treatment of rare diseases or conditions.

Robust Clinical Program

BioMarin has multiple clinical studies underway in its comprehensive gene therapy program for the treatment of hemophilia A. In addition to the global Phase 3 study GENEr8-1 and the ongoing Phase 1/2 dose escalation study, the Company is actively enrolling participants in a Phase 3b, single arm, open-label study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of valoctocogene roxaparvovec at a dose of 6e13 vg/kg with prophylactic corticosteroids in people with hemophilia A. The Company is also running a Phase 1/2 Study with the 6e13 vg/kg dose of valoctocogene roxaparvovec in people with hemophilia A with pre-existing AAV5 antibodies, as well as another Phase 1/2 Study with the 6e13 vg/kg dose of valoctocogene roxaparvovec in people with hemophilia A with active or prior FVIII inhibitors.

About Hemophilia A

People living with hemophilia A lack sufficient functioning Factor VIII protein to help their blood clot and are at risk for painful and/or potentially life-threatening bleeds from even modest injuries. Additionally, people with the most severe form of hemophilia A (FVIII levels <1%) often experience painful, spontaneous bleeds into their muscles or joints. Individuals with the most severe form of hemophilia A make up approximately 45 to 50 percent of the hemophilia A population. People with hemophilia A with moderate (FVIII 1-5%) or mild (FVIII 5-40%) disease show a much-reduced propensity to bleed. The standard of care for adults with severe hemophilia A is a prophylactic regimen of replacement Factor VIII infusions administered intravenously up to two to three times per week or 100 to 150 infusions per year. Despite these regimens, many people continue to experience breakthrough bleeds, resulting in progressive and debilitating joint damage, which can have a major impact on their quality of life.

Hemophilia A, also called Factor VIII deficiency or classic hemophilia, is an X-linked genetic disorder caused by missing or defective Factor VIII, a clotting protein. Although it is passed down from parents to children, about 1/3 of cases are caused by a spontaneous mutation, a new mutation that was not inherited. Approximately 1 in 10,000 people have Hemophilia A.

About BioMarin

BioMarin is a global biotechnology company that develops and commercializes innovative therapies for patients with serious and life-threatening rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases. The company's portfolio consists of six commercialized products and multiple clinical and pre-clinical product candidates. For additional information, please visitwww.biomarin.com. Information on BioMarin's website is not incorporated by reference into this press release.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the business prospects of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., including without limitation, statements about: (i) the development of BioMarin's valoctocogene roxaparvovec program generally, (ii) the impact of valoctocogene roxaparvovec gene therapy for treating patients with severe hemophilia A, (iii) the anticipated timing of a CHMP opinion in the first half of 2022, (iv) our plans in the U.S. to submit two-year follow-up safety and efficacy data on all study participants from the GENEr8-1 study in response to FDA's request for these data to support their benefit-risk assessment of valoctocogene roxaparvovec, (v) our target Biologics License Application (BLA) submission date in the second quarter of 2022, assuming favorable study results, followed by an expected six-month review procedure by the FDA, and (vi) the potential approval and commercialization of valoctocogene roxaparvovec for the treatment of severe hemophilia A, including timing of such approval decisions.

These forward-looking statements are predictions and involve risks and uncertainties such that actual results may differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: results and timing of current and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials of valoctocogene roxaparvovec, including final analysis of the above interim data; any potential adverse events observed in the continuing monitoring of the patients in the Phase 1/2 trial; the content and timing of decisions by the FDA, the European Commission and other regulatory authorities, including the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the regulatory authorities' abilities to issue such decisions and the timing of such decisions; the content and timing of decisions by local and central ethics committees regarding the clinical trials; BioMarin's ability to successfully manufacture valoctocogene roxaparvovec; and those other risks detailed from time to time under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in BioMarin's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including BioMarin's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2021, and future filings and reports by BioMarin. BioMarin undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

BioMarin is a registered trademark of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

Contacts:

Investors

Media

Traci McCarty

Debra Charlesworth

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

(415) 455-7558

(415) 455-7451

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biomarin-announces-12-presentations-at-the-international-society-on-thrombosis-and-haemostasis-isth-2021-virtual-congress-301324874.html

SOURCE BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

See original here:
BioMarin Announces 12 Presentations at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 2021 Virtual Congress - BioSpace

Posted in Gene Medicine | Comments Off

The cell therapy manufacturing market is projected to reach USD 14.5 billion by 2030, growing at – GlobeNewswire

Posted: at 8:49 pm

London, July 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Roots Analysis has announced the addition of Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market (4th Edition), 2021-2030 report to its list of offerings.

Owing to the complex manufacturing processes, requirement of advanced production facilities and the growing demand for cell therapy products, developers are actively outsourcing certain manufacturing operations, in addition to expanding their in-house capabilities.

To order this 620 page report, which features 210+ figures and 280+ tables, please visit https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/view_document/cell-therapy-manufacturing/285.html

Key Market Insights

Around 200 organizations claim to be engaged in cell therapy manufacturingThe market landscape is dominated by industry players, which constitute 65% of the total number of stakeholders. Amongst these, over 25% companies are large firms.

280+ production facilities dedicated to cell therapies have been established worldwideNorth America has emerged as the manufacturing hub for cell therapies, with the presence of nearly 45% of the manufacturing facilities; this is followed by Europe (31%). Other emerging regions include China, Japan, South Korea and Australia.

90 cell therapy manufacturers are focused on immune cell and stem cell therapiesMost of the players in this domain are focused on manufacturing of T cell therapies, primarily CAR-T therapies, while the stem cell therapy manufacturers are primarily engaged in the production of adult stem cells and mesenchymal stem cell therapies

Presently, more than 70 companies carry out manufacturing at all scales of operation. Nearly 45% players have the required capabilities for commercial scale manufacturing. It is worth noting that all the industry players manufacture cell therapies required for clinical purposes.

35+ companies offer automated and closed systems to cell therapy developers More than 60 automated and closed systems are being used for cell therapy manufacturing. Organizations that are presently offering customized automated solutions for cell therapy processes / manufacturing are Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA (Germany), KMC Systems (US), RoosterBio (US) and Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine (US).

Several partnerships were established in this domain, during the period 2016-2021More than 180 deals have been inked during the given time period. A large proportion (34%) of the partnerships were related to manufacturing of cell therapies, followed by acquisitions (17%) and licensing agreements (14%).

Expansion activity in this domain has grown at a CAGR of 59%, between 2016 and 2021More than 75 facility expansions were reported during the given time period. Over 80% instances were related to the establishment of new facilities, followed by those involving the expansion of existing facilities (17%).

Role of big pharma players in this industry has evolved over the last few years; their initiatives increased at a CAGR of 41% during the period 2016-2020Several big pharma players have undertaken various initiatives focused on cell therapy manufacturing. Gilead sciences, Takeda Pharmaceutical and Novartis are some of the prominent big pharma players in this domain.

The currently available global cell therapy manufacturing capacity is estimated to be over 1.88 billion sq. ft. of dedicated cleanroom areaThe maximum (48%) installed capacity (in terms of cleanroom area) belongs to companies based in North America (48%); the region has higher number of players having multiple production facilities. This is followed by Asia Pacific (29%) and Europe (23%).

The demand for cell therapies is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 22%, during 2021-2030Presently, the clinical demand for stem cell and CAR-T cell-based products is the highest; this trend is unlikely to change in the foreseen future as well. On the other hand, the demand for tumor cell, NK cell and dendritic cell therapies is expected to grow at a relatively faster pace, over the next decade.

By 2030, the market for commercial scale cell therapy manufacturing is likely to grow at an annualized rate of 31.5%Currently, North America and Europe capture more than 70% share of the overall market. Specifically, the cell therapy manufacturing market in Asia Pacific is driven by countries, such as China, Japan, South Korea, India and Singapore. It is worth noting that the current market in Asia Pacific is primarily driven by the clinical demand for cell therapies.

To request a sample copy / brochure of this report, please visit https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/view_document/cell-therapy-manufacturing/285.html

Key Questions Answered

The USD 14.5 billion (by 2030) financial opportunity associated with cell therapy manufacturing market has been analyzed across the following segments:

The report also features inputs from eminent industry stakeholders, according to whom, the manufacturing of cell therapies is largely being outsourced due to exorbitant costs associated with the setting-up of in-house expertise. The report includes detailed transcripts of discussions held with the following experts:

The research includes profiles of key players (industry and non-industry; listed below), featuring a brief overview company / organization, information on its manufacturing facilities, service portfolio, recent partnerships and an informed future outlook.

For additional details, please visithttps://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/view_document/cell-therapy-manufacturing/285.html or email sales@rootsanalysis.com

You may also be interested in the following titles:

Read this article:
The cell therapy manufacturing market is projected to reach USD 14.5 billion by 2030, growing at - GlobeNewswire

Posted in Gene Medicine | Comments Off

Apellis and Beam Therapeutics Enter Exclusive Research Collaboration to Apply Base Editing to Discover Novel Therapies for Complement-Driven Diseases…

Posted: at 8:49 pm

Collaboration combines Apellis expertise in complement, a complex biological system, with Beams proprietary base editing platform

Companies will collaborate on six research programs directed to tissues modulated by the complement system, including the eye, liver, and brain

WALTHAM, Mass. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: APLS) and Beam Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: BEAM) today announced an exclusive five-year research collaboration focused on the use of Beams proprietary base editing technology to discover new treatments for complement-driven diseases. The companies will collaborate on six research programs focused on C3 and other complement targets in the eye, liver, and brain.

Beam has pioneered base editing, which holds significant promise as a best-in-class technology for precision gene editing. This collaboration builds on our deep scientific expertise in complement and, together with our growing pipeline, positions Apellis for long-term leadership in the complement field, said Cedric Francois, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder and chief executive officer, Apellis. Apellis and Beam share a vision for advancing transformative medicines for patients, which is critically important as we embark on a highly innovative effort to modulate complement and discover new treatments across a wide range of debilitating diseases.

Base editing represents a potential new class of precision genetic medicine that uses a chemical reaction designed to create precise, predictable, and efficient single base changes at targeted genomic sequences without making double-stranded breaks in the DNA. Editing key elements of the complement pathway in target organs has the potential to alter the complement cascade and durably address diseases driven by abnormal complement activity.

Apellis has established itself as a leader in complement with the advancement of compelling targeted C3 therapies, said John Evans, chief executive officer, Beam. This collaboration allows us to combine our proprietary technologies and capabilities in base editing with Apellis expertise in targeting the complement pathway to develop new medicines for diseases driven by complement biology. This also represents an important strategic initiative to explore opportunities that expand the application of base editing to address more biologically complex diseases for patients in need of new treatment options.

Story continues

Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Beam will apply its base editing technology and conduct preclinical research on up to six base editing programs that target specific genes within the complement system in various organs, including the eye, liver, and brain. Apellis will have exclusive rights to license each of the six programs and will assume responsibility for subsequent development. Beam may elect to enter a 50-50 U.S. co-development and co-commercialization agreement with Apellis with respect to one program licensed under the collaboration.

As part of the collaboration, Beam will receive a total of $75 million in upfront and near-term milestones from Apellis $50 million upon signing and an additional $25 million payment on the one-year anniversary of the contract execution date. After exercise of the opt-in license rights for each of the up to six programs, Beam will be eligible to receive development, regulatory, and sales milestones from Apellis, as well as royalty payments on sales. The collaboration has an initial term of five years and may be extended up to two years on a per year and program-by-program basis.

About Apellis Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company that is committed to leveraging courageous science, creativity, and compassion to deliver life-changing therapies. Leaders in targeted C3 therapies, we aim to develop transformative therapies for a broad range of debilitating diseases that are driven by excessive activation of the complement cascade, including those within hematology, ophthalmology, nephrology, and neurology. For more information, please visit https://www.apellis.com.

About Beam TherapeuticsBeam Therapeutics (Nasdaq: BEAM) is a biotechnology company committed to establishing the leading, fully integrated platform for precision genetic medicines. To achieve this vision, Beam has assembled a platform that includes a suite of gene editing and delivery technologies and is in the process of building internal manufacturing capabilities. Beams suite of gene editing technologies is anchored by base editing, a proprietary technology that enables precise, predictable and efficient single base changes, at targeted genomic sequences, without making double-stranded breaks in the DNA. This enables a wide range of potential therapeutic editing strategies that Beam is using to advance a diversified portfolio of base editing programs. Beam is a values-driven organization committed to its people, cutting-edge science, and a vision of providing life-long cures to patients suffering from serious diseases.

Apellis Forward-Looking Statement Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements in respect of the expected closing of the exchanges. The words anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, potential, predict, project, should, target, will, would and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: whether the research collaboration will result in programs that are licensed by Apellis; whether any product candidates that arise from these programs or are otherwise developed by Apellis will advance into clinical trials or through the clinical trial process on a timely basis or at all; whether the results of clinical trials of the companys product candidates will warrant submissions for regulatory approval or regulatory approval; whether any products that receive regulatory approval will be successfully distributed and marketed; and other factors discussed in the Risk Factors section of Apellis Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2021 and the risks described in other filings that Apellis may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Apellis specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Beam Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to: the therapeutic applications and potential of our technology, including our ability to develop life-long, curative, precision genetic medicines for patients through base editing. Each forward-looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statement, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to: our ability to raise additional funding, which may not be available; our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for our platform technology; the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to competitive products; and the other risks and uncertainties identified under the heading Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, and in any subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements (except as otherwise noted) speak only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Contacts:

Apellis:

Media:Lissa Pavlukmedia@apellis.com617.977.6764

Investors: Argot Partners apellis@argotpartners.com212.600.1902

Beam Therapeutics:

Media:Dan Budwick1ABdan@1abmedia.com

Investors:Chelcie ListerTHRUST Strategic Communicationschelcie@thrustsc.com

Posted in Gene Medicine | Comments Off

Roche to present new data at the ISTH 2021 Congress highlighting long-standing commitment to advancing – GlobeNewswire

Posted: at 8:49 pm

Basel, 02 July 2021 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that new data from its haemophilia A clinical programme will be presented at the virtual International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 2021 Congress, from 17-21 July 2021. Data will include the final analysis from the phase IIIb STASEY study of Hemlibra (emicizumab) and updated data from the phase I/II study of SPK-8011, an AAV-based gene therapy in development by Spark Therapeutics (a member of the Roche Group).1,2

Were excited to present new data from our haemophilia A programme at the ISTH 2021 Congress, said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Roches Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. These data reinforce our continued commitment to developing transformational therapies for the haemophilia A community and advancing understanding of the long-term efficacy and safety profile of Hemlibra.

Haemophilia A is a serious, inherited bleeding disorder in which a persons blood doesn't clot properly, as they either lack or do not have enough of a clotting protein called factor VIII. This can lead to uncontrolled bleeding, either spontaneously or after minor trauma. These bleeds can present a significant health concern as they often cause pain and can lead to chronic swelling, deformity, reduced mobility, and long-term joint damage.3 The development of factor VIII inhibitors can be a significant challenge in the treatment of people with haemophilia A as they bind to and block the efficacy of replacement factor VIII.4

The STASEY study is one of the largest open-label studies primarily assessing the safety and tolerability of a medicine for adults and adolescents with haemophilia A with factor VIII inhibitors. Final data from the STASEY study, evaluating the safety and tolerability of Hemlibra prophylaxis in adults and adolescents with haemophilia A with factor VIII inhibitors, will be presented at the congress.1 These results confirm the favourable safety profile of Hemlibra, as previously demonstrated in the phase III HAVEN clinical trials.1,5,6,7

Spark Therapeutics will share updated data from the ongoing phase I/II clinical trial of SPK-8011, an investigational AAV-based gene therapy developed for the treatment of haemophilia A. These data demonstrate that hepatocyte expression of factor VIII can be stable and durable for up to four years following vector administration, with an acceptable safety profile.2

We are looking forward to sharing data on our investigational gene therapy, SPK-8011, which is being evaluated in the largest phase I/II gene therapy trial in haemophilia A to date, and which reinforces Sparks mission to bring a novel gene therapy option to persons with haemophilia A, said Gallia Levy, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, Spark Therapeutics.

SPK-8011 data presentationUpdated results from Sparks ongoing phase I/II study of investigational SPK-8011 will be shared as an oral presentation during the meeting. These data highlight the safety profile and durability of SPK-8011 in 18 participants, up to four years following vector administration with SPK-8011 in four dose cohorts, ranging from 5x1011 vg/kg to 21012 vg/kg, with results showing a 93% reduction in annualised bleed rate (ABR) and a 97% reduction in annualised infusion rate.2

Key Hemlibra and haemophilia data presentationsFinal data from the STASEY study presented at the congress demonstrate that Hemlibra is effective, with ABRs consistent with observations reported from the pivotal HAVEN studies.1,5,6,7 Additionally, no new safety signals were identified in adults and adolescents with haemophilia A with factor VIII inhibitors, consistent with previous safety observations.1

Roche will also present a retrospective analysis comparing ABR and Hemlibra concentrations among obese and non-obese adults with haemophilia A from pooled data from the HAVEN 1, 3, and 4 studies.8 These data suggest that body weight does not significantly impact the efficacy of Hemlibra, regardless of dosing regimen, demonstrating that Hemlibra offers an effective, well tolerated treatment, with flexible dosing options, in obese and non-obese people with haemophilia A.

Additionally, an analysis of data from the 2017 CHESS PAEDs (Cost of Haemophilia across Europe: a Socioeconomic Survey in the Paediatric Population) study, examining the association between physical activity levels and bleed rates in children with haemophilia A, will be presented.9 Results from this analysis demonstrate the potential treatment needs and clinical burden in physically active children with moderate and severe haemophilia A receiving factor VIII replacement therapy.

Key abstracts from Roche and Spark that will be presented at ISTH can be found in the table below.

Follow Roche and Spark on Twitter via @Roche and @Spark_tx respectively, and keep up to date with ISTH 2021 Congress news and updates by using the hashtag #ISTH2021.

Virtual Meeting Room 3

Virtual Meeting Room 8

About Hemlibra (emicizumab)Hemlibra is approved for routine prophylaxis of bleeding episodes in people with haemophilia A with and without factor VIII inhibitors in over 100 countries worldwide for those with inhibitors and over 80 countries for those without inhibitors, in adults and children, ages newborn and older. Hemlibra is a bispecific factor IXa- and factor X-directed antibody. It is designed to bring together factor IXa and factor X, proteins involved in the natural coagulation cascade, and restore the blood clotting process for people with haemophilia A. Hemlibra is a prophylactic (preventative) treatment that can be administered by an injection of a ready-to-use solution under the skin (subcutaneously) once-weekly, every two weeks or every four weeks (after an initial once-weekly dose for the first four weeks). Hemlibra was created by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and is being co-developed globally by Chugai, Roche and Genentech. It is marketed in the United States by Genentech as Hemlibra (emicizumab-kxwh), with kxwh as the suffix designated in accordance with Nonproprietary Naming of Biological Products Guidance for Industry issued by the US Food and Drug Administration.

About SPK-8011 for haemophilia AInvestigational SPK-8011, a novel bio-engineered adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector utilizing the AAV-LK03 capsid, also referred to as Spark200, contains a codon-optimized human factor VIII gene under the control of a liver-specific promoter. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan-disease designation and breakthrough therapy designation in the U.S., while the European Commission has granted orphan designation to SPK-8011.

About haemophilia AHaemophilia A is an inherited, serious disorder in which a persons blood does not clot properly, leading to uncontrolled and often spontaneous bleeding. Haemophilia A affects around 900,000 people worldwide,10,11 approximately 35-39% of whom have a severe form of the disorder.11 People with haemophilia A either lack or do not have enough of a clotting protein called factor VIII. In a healthy person, when a bleed occurs, factor VIII brings together the clotting factors IXa and X, which is a critical step in the formation of a blood clot to help stop bleeding. Depending on the severity of their disorder, people with haemophilia A can bleed frequently, especially into their joints or muscles.10 These bleeds can present a significant health concern as they often cause pain and can lead to chronic swelling, deformity, reduced mobility, and long-term joint damage.3 A serious complication of treatment is the development of inhibitors to factor VIII replacement therapies.12 Inhibitors are antibodies developed by the bodys immune system that bind to and block the efficacy of replacement factor VIII,13 making it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a level of factor VIII sufficient to control bleeding.

About Roche and Spark Therapeutics gene therapy research in haemophilia AWe believe gene therapy has the potential to revolutionise medicine and improve the lives of patients with genetic and other serious diseases. Pairing Roches long-standing commitment to developing medicines in haemophilia with Spark Therapeutics proven gene therapy expertise brings together the best team of collaborators researching gene therapies in haemophilia A.

It is our aligned objective to develop gene therapies for haemophilia A that, with the lowest effective dose and the optimal immunomodulatory regimen, demonstrate safety, predictability, efficacy, and durability for patients.

About Spark TherapeuticsAt Spark Therapeutics, a fully integrated, commercial company committed to discovering, developing and delivering gene therapies, we challenge the inevitability of genetic diseases, including blindness, haemophilia, lysosomal storage disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. We currently have four programs in clinical trials. At Spark, a member of the Roche Group, we see the path to a world where no life is limited by genetic disease. For more information, visit http://www.sparktx.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Roche in haematologyRoche has been developing medicines for people with malignant and non-malignant blood diseases for over 20 years; our experience and knowledge in this therapeutic area runs deep. Today, we are investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options to patients across a wide range of haematologic diseases. Our approved medicines include MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab), Gazyva/Gazyvaro (obinutuzumab), Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin), Venclexta/Venclyxto (venetoclax) in collaboration with AbbVie, and Hemlibra (emicizumab). Our pipeline of investigational haematology medicines includes T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies, glofitamab and mosunetuzumab, targeting both CD20 and CD3, and cevostamab, targeting FcRH5 and CD3; Tecentriq (atezolizumab), a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with PD-L1; and crovalimab, an anti-C5 antibody engineered to optimise complement inhibition. Our scientific expertise, combined with the breadth of our portfolio and pipeline, also provides a unique opportunity to develop combination regimens that aim to improve the lives of patients even further.

About RocheRoche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve peoples lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, as well as growing capabilities in the area of data-driven medical insights help Roche deliver truly personalised healthcare. Roche is working with partners across the healthcare sector to provide the best care for each person.

Roche is the worlds largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. In recent years, Roche has invested in genomic profiling and real-world data partnerships and has become an industry-leading partner for medical insights.

Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. More than thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the twelfth consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as one of the most sustainable companies in the Pharmaceuticals Industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2020 employed more than 100,000 people worldwide. In 2020, Roche invested CHF 12.2 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 58.3 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit http://www.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

References[1] Jimnez-Yuste J, et al. Final Analysis of the STASEY Trial: A Single-arm, Multicenter, Open-label, Phase III Clinical Trial Evaluating the Safety and Tolerability of Emicizumab Prophylaxis in Persons with Hemophilia A (PwHA) with factor (F)VIII Inhibitors. Presented at: International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Congress; 2021 Jul 17-21; Philadelphia, PA, USA. Abstract PB0521.[2] George LA, et al. Phase I/II trial of SPK-8011: Stable and Durable FVIII Expression After AAV Gene Transfer for Hemophilia A. Presented at: International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Congress; 2021 Jul 17-21; Philadelphia, PA, USA. Abstract OC 67.2.[3] Franchini M, et al. Haemophilia A in the third millennium. Blood Rev. 2013; 179-84.[4] Shannon L. Meeks at al. Hemophilia and inhibitors: current treatment options and potential new therapeutic approaches. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 2016 (1): 657662. [5] Oldenburg J, et al. Emicizumab Prophylaxis in Hemophilia A with Inhibitors. N Engl J Med. 2017; 377:809-818.[6] Young G, et al. Emicizumab prophylaxis provides flexible and effective bleed control in children with hemophilia A with inhibitors: results from the HAVEN 2 study. Blood. 2018; 132 (Supplement 1): 632.[7] Pipe S, et al. Emicizumab subcutaneous dosing every 4 weeks is safe and efficacious in the control of bleeding in persons with haemophilia A with and without inhibitors: Results from the phase 3 HAVEN 4 study. Presented at: WFH World Congress; 2018 May 20-24; Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Abstract M-LBMED01-005 (854).[8] Recht M, et al. Emicizumab in Obese Adults with Hemophilia A Pooled Data from Three Phase III Studies (HAVEN 1, 3 and 4). Presented at: International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Congress; 2021 Jul 17-21 Philadelphia, PA, USA. Abstract PB0495.[9] Ofori-Asenso et al. Association of Physical Activity with Bleeding Frequency in Children with Hemophilia A: a CHESS PAEDs Study Analysis. Presented at: International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Congress; 2021 Jul 17-21; Philadelphia, PA, USA. Abstract PB0512.[10] Srivastava, A, Santagostino, E, Dougall, A, et al. WFH Guidelines for the Management of Hemophilia, 3rd edition. Haemophilia. 2020: 26 (Suppl 6): 1158.[11] Iorio A et al. Establishing the Prevalence and Prevalence at Birth of Hemophilia in Males. Ann Intern Med. 2019 Oct 15;171(8):540-546.[12] Gomez K, et al. Key issues in inhibitor management in patients with haemophilia. Blood Transfus. 2014; 12:s319-s329.[13] Whelan SF, et al. Distinct characteristics of antibody responses against factor VIII in healthy individuals and in different cohorts of haemophilia A patients. Blood. 2013; 121:1039-48.

Roche Group Media RelationsPhone: +41 61 688 8888 / e-mail: media.relations@roche.com

Posted in Gene Medicine | Comments Off

Monthly Archives: July 2021

Ancient Greek Astronomers — And Modern Moguls — Aim for the Stars – Greek Reporter

How big is the universe? Henrietta Leavitt led Edwin Hubble to a better, bigger answer. – Vox.com

Are We Missing Other Earths? Dramatic New Evidence Uncovered by Astronomers – SciTechDaily

Atsena Therapeutics Receives Orphan Drug Designation from – GlobeNewswire

Cellular Model of a Developing Mouse Is Built With Spatial Resolution – Technology Networks

AGC Biologics expands further in Colorado with purchase of Novartis Gene Therapies plant – FiercePharma

BioMarin Announces 12 Presentations at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 2021 Virtual Congress – BioSpace

The cell therapy manufacturing market is projected to reach USD 14.5 billion by 2030, growing at – GlobeNewswire

Apellis and Beam Therapeutics Enter Exclusive Research Collaboration to Apply Base Editing to Discover Novel Therapies for Complement-Driven Diseases…

Roche to present new data at the ISTH 2021 Congress highlighting long-standing commitment to advancing – GlobeNewswire

The Prometheus League

Breaking News and Updates

Prometheism

Forbidden Fruit

The Evolutionary Perspective

Transtopia Menu

Library Updates

Library Books

Future Euvolution

Lucid Dreams from Childhood

Genetic Revolution

Speciation + Self-Directed Evolution