Hope S. Rugo, MD, FASCO, describes working in medical oncology as a tapestry of experiences. In her case, its a very rich, complicated piece of art.

The 2020 Giants of Cancer Care award winner in the education category is at the forefront of the exploration and development of novel targeted therapies and immunotherapy for patients with breast cancer, including combinations that may overcome resistance, and of strategies to alleviate adverse effects of cancer treatment. She serves in leadership roles for several collaborative clinical investigations and is a noted lecturer at conferences throughout the world.

Through it all, Rugo prizes her relationships with patients. She maintains an active clinical practice at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she is a professor in the Department of Medicine and the director of breast oncology and clinical trials. At UCSF, she leads the Breast Forum, a discussion platform for patients, families, and caregivers.

Its that tapestry that really creates this rich experience. I have had amazing interactions with patients who were remarkable and courageousindividuals who I feel really taught me a lot about life and gave me lessons that I brought back to other patients, Rugo said in a recent interview with OncLive News Network. I continuously learn from my patients and I love those interactions. Breast oncology, in some ways, is amazing because we can know an individual for many, many years and see them quite frequently; we know a lot about those patients and their families and how theyre dealing with these incredible challenges.

Rugo will join other leading breast cancer experts in translating her vast clinical knowledge for oncology specialists at the virtual 38th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference (MBCC), which Physicians Education Resource, LLC (PER) is hosting March 4 to 7, 2021. PER named Rugo as its 2020 Educator of the Year in recognition of the role she plays in sharing her insights with the cancer care community.

Patrick I. Borgen, MD, chair of the Department of Surgery and head of Maimonides Breast Center at Maimonides Cancer Center, both at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, serves as program chair for MBCC. Rugo is cochairing the conference with Anees B. Chagpar, MD, MBA, MSc, MPH, a professor in the Department of Surgery at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and Debu Tripathy, MD, professor and chairman of the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

The MBCC agenda always features important new data and expert insights on treatment approaches across the care spectrum and is updated after the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS 2020) to present the latest information to attendees.

There are just so many things going on that are really exciting right now in breast cancer, Rugo said. Miami Breast is great because it includes the new data in surgery, in radiation oncology, and in medical oncology, and both early-stage and metastatic disease.

One of the hallmarks of the conference is the give-and-take between speakers and audience members, which helps to provide valuable perspective on the latest data. MBCC focuses not only on the latest data, but also on how to apply that data in the clinic.

We do have selected debates about controversial areas, Rugo said. Were going to talk about where we want to de-escalate treatment, where we want to escalate it, and how were using our increasing knowledge of cancer biology to apply this [information].

We talk a lot about how [treatment] impacts the patient. What are the impactsin terms of fertility? Weve talked about cardiac effects, and patient-reported outcomes, how we treat patients who are older versus younger, she continued. We really try to cover all of the very clinically pertinent information and the information thats come out of the most recent presentations and publications. And then theres the ability to discuss this and ask questions with the presenters, which is, I think, really great.

Rugo will be putting into perspective the evolving treatment landscape for patients with estrogen receptorpositive, high-risk, early-stage breast cancer and will present data on novel oral therapies. She expects that recent findings involving antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), CDK4/6 inhibitors, and the use of circulating tumor DNA as a predictive biomarker will be key points of discussion.

There have been so many exciting studies presented this year which are practice changing that I think the Miami Breast meeting is a perfect time to really put this all together in a clinically applicable state, she said. And by being virtual, youll have access to everyone, and in some ways its even easier to attend.

Rugo is anticipating a busy year in breast cancer research, with investigators building upon many recent advancements. She said that noteworthy findings likely to change practice this year and beyond include research presented at SABCS 2020 into the clinical utility of the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test, immunotherapy in neoadjuvant and metastatic settings, and emerging novel therapies.

Her own research led to a significant development when the FDA approved margetuximab-cmkb (Margenza) in combination with chemotherapy for adults with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have previously received 2 or more antiHER2 regimens, at least one of which for metastatic disease, in December 2020.

Rugo was the principal investigator for the phase 3 SOPHIA trial (NCT02492711), which showed that the Fc-engineered monoclonal antibody plus chemotherapy reduced the risk for disease progression or death by 24% compared with trastuzumab (Herceptin) plus chemotherapy. The median progressionfree survival (PFS) was 5.8 months (95% CI, 5.5-7.0) in the margetuximab-cmkb arm compared with 4.9 months (95% CI, 4.2-5.6) with the trastuzumab regimen (HR, 76; 95% CI, 0.590.98; P = .033).1,2

Investigators observed an objective response rate (ORR) of 22% in the margetuximab arm versus 16% with trastuzumab. Drug maker MacroGenics plans to release overall survival (OS) data in the second half of 2021. The company said that margetuximab is the first HER2-targeted therapy to demonstrate improved PFS compared with trastuzumab in a head-to-head phase 3 clinical trial.

ADCs and TKIs

In the past 13 months, the FDA has granted accelerated approvals for 2 novel ADCs: fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu), for patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have received 2 or more prior antiHER2- based regimens in the metastatic setting3; and sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy), for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have received at least 2 prior therapies for metastatic disease.4

In December 2019, the FDA approved trastuzumab deruxtecan based on findings from the DESTINY-Breast01 trial (NCT03248492), in which the agent demonstrated an ORR of 60.3% (95% CI, 52.9%-67.4%), with a 4.3% complete response (CR) rate and a 56% partial response rate among 184 patients. The median duration of response (DOR) was 14.8 months (95% CI, 13.8-16.9).3

In updated results presented at SABCS 2020, the median DOR expanded to 20.8 months. The estimated 12- and 18-month overall survival (OS) rates were 85% (95% CI, 79%-90%) and 74% (95% CI, 67%-80%), respectively. The median PFS was 19.4 months (95% CI, 14.1-not estimable [NE]), and the preliminary median OS, although still immature, was 24.6 months (95% CI, 23.1-NE).5 In April 2020, the FDA approved sacituzumab govitecan based on findings from the phase 1/2 IMMU-132-01 trial (NCT01631552), which showed an ORR of 33.3% (95% CI, 24.6%-43.1%) with a median DOR of 7.7 months (95% CI, 4.9-10.8).4

Survival data from the phase 3 ASCENT trial (NCT02574455), presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Virtual Congress 2020, showed that sacituzumab govitecan improved median OS by more than 5 months compared with chemotherapy (12.1 vs 6.7 months; HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.38-0.59; P < .0001). Median PFS for participants who received sacituzumab govitecan was 5.6 months (95% CI, 4.3-6.3) compared with 1.7 months (95% CI, 1.5-2.6) for patients who had chemotherapy (HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.32-0.52; P < .0001).6

The ADC also demonstrated an ORR of 35% versus 5% with physicians choice of chemotherapy. Ten (4%) patients in the experimental arm had CRs compared with 2 (1%) in the control group.6

Further, the FDA also approved tucatinib (Tukysa), a HER2-directed TKI, in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine in April 2020, for patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. The approval includes patients with brain metastases who have received at least 1 prior antiHER2-based regimen in the metastatic setting.7

The agency based its decision on results from the HER2CLIMB trial (NCT02614794), in which the tucatinib-containing combination demonstrated a median PFS of 7.8 months (95% CI, 7.5-9.6) compared with 5.6 months (95% CI, 4.2-7.1) for patients who received placebo plus standard therapy (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.42-0.71; P < .00001). The median OS was 21.9 months (95% CI, 18.3-31.0) with the addition of tucatinib versus 17.4 months (95% CI, 13.6-19.9) with standard therapy alone (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.50-0.87; P= .00480).7

At SABCS 2020, investigators reported that the tucatinib regimen reduced the risk of deterioration of health-related quality of life in patients with brain metastases by 49% versus standard therapy (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28-0.93).8

We have ADCs that are changing care for HER2-positive and for triple-negative disease with trastuzumab deruxtecan and sacituzumab govitecan. We have now a very potent and less toxic oral TKI, tucatinib, which has been combined with capecitabine and trastuzumab and results in not only improved PFS but improved OS in the metastatic setting and in patients with active brain metastasesvery exciting data that have led to new studies, Rugo said.

Were going to see data in the next year about the efficacy of these ADCs in other populations, such as patients with newly defined HER2-low diseasenot HER2 positive but not zero by IHC [immunohistochemistry]and also the ADC sacituzumab govitecan-hziy in [hormone receptor]positive disease. There are, I think, really intriguing studies that will potentially allow us to further expand the use of this highly effective therapy, she said.

The adverse event profile of a new therapy also must be taken into consideration, Rugo noted. It is always important to understand toxicity with novel agents, she said. Trastuzumab deruxtecan has a relatively novel toxicity that is worth mentioning as it is so important for clinicians to recognize and understand. Interstitial lung disease [ILD] or pneumonitis can be seen with this ADC, and the mortality in the phase 2 trial was 2.7%. Current guidelines provide careful and detailed recommendations for managing this toxicityholding the ADC for grade 1 asymptomatic ILD seen only on imaging, and permanently discontinuing along with steroid treatment for grade 2.

CDK4/6 Inhibitors

According to Rugo, data presented at SABCS 2020 suggest an exciting future for CDK4/6 inhibitors. Results from an updated analysis of the phase 3 MONALEESA-7 trial (NCT02278120) showed that adding ribociclib (Kisqali) to endocrine therapy continued to significantly improve OS and delay subsequent chemotherapy compared with placebo, irrespective of endocrine partner, in pre- and peri-menopausal patients with hormone receptorpositive, HER2-negative breast cancer in combination with suppression of ovarian function.

At a median follow-up of 53.5 months (range, 46.9-66.4), median OS with ribociclib plus endocrine treatment was 58.7 months versus 48.0 months with placebo/endocrine therapy (HR, 0.763; 95% CI, 0.608-0.956), translating into a 24% relative reduction in risk of death with the CDK4/6 inhibitor.9

We saw the updated survival data for MONALEESA-7, [which were] very impressive in young women, Rugo said.

The conference also featured the primary outcome findings from monarchE (NCT03155997). The phase 3 trial tested the CDK4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib (Verzenio) in combination with standard-of-care endocrine therapy versus endocrine therapy alone in 5637 patients with HER2-positive, hormone receptorpositive, node-positive, high-risk early breast cancer.

Results showed that adding abemaciclib significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) compared with standard endocrine therapy alone (HR, 0.713; 95% CI, 0.583-0.871; P = .0009) in the intention-to-treat population. This translated into a 28.7% relative reduction in the risk of developing an iDFS event.10

In further analysis of the study data, investigators suggested that high expression of Ki-67, a protein marker of cellular proliferation, potentially could be used in conjunction with clinicopathological features to indicate which patients have a greater risk of recurrence and might have the greatest benefit from the addition of the CDK4/6 inhibitor.

Although patients benefited from abemaciclib therapy regardless of Ki-67 expression, outcomes were worse for those with a high level, defined as 20% or greater on IHC testing. These patients had a lower rate of 2-year iDFS of 91.3% (95% CI, 88.9%-93.2%) compared with 94.7% (95% CI, 92.8%-96.1%) for patients with a Ki-67 low score.11

The study marked the first time the prespecified threshold for high Ki-67 was used prospectively with a standardized assay in a phase 3 trial, investigators said. Rugo is excited about the potential for its use as a biomarker. Its not just clinical features, like stage and grade, but also Ki-67 is emerging as an incredibly important factor, Rugo said. I think this is likely to be practice changing in the next year.

Targeted Therapy

Findings that Rugo and colleagues presented at SABCS 2020 for alpelisib (Piqray), a PI3K inhibitor, are likely to inform treatment choices for a subset of patients with hormone receptorpositive, HER2-negative progressive metastatic disease. In the ongoing phase 2 BYLieve trial (NCT03056755), investigators are evaluating alpelisib in patients with previously treated PIK3CA-mutant hormone receptorpositive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.12

The trial has 3 arms: cohort A, testing alpelisib plus fulvestrant (Faslodex) in patients whose immediate prior treatment was a CDK4/6 inhibitor plus an aromatase inhibitor (AI); cohort B, evaluating alpelisib plus letrozole in patients whose immediate prior treatment was a CDK4/6 inhibitor plus fulvestrant; and cohort C, testing alpelisib plus fulvestrant in patients who progressed on or after AI therapy and then received chemotherapy or endocrine therapy as their immediate prior treatment.12

Results were presented for 115 patients in cohort B, in which 82% of participants had progressed on prior AI therapy. A total of 46.1% of patients were alive without disease progression at 6 months per local investigator assessment (n = 53; 95% CI, 36.8-55.6), meeting the primary end point of the study. At a median follow-up of 15 months, the combination of alpelisib and letrozole led to a median PFS of 5.7 months (95% CI, 4.5-7.2).

In this cohort, the majority of patients had previously been exposed to an AI and had had progression on that treatment, so this is really the most endocrine-resistant population that has been treated with alpelisib combined with an endocrine therapy, Rugo said.

The median PFS, she noted, is quite impressive for a patient population treated with an AI after exhibiting resistance to an AI.

The research Rugo presented at SABCS 2020 provides a glimpse at her expansive accomplishments as a clinical investigator, starting in the late 1980s while she was a hematology and oncology fellow at UCSF.

Over the years, she has served as the principal investigator in more than 60 clinical trials, many of which led to major discoveries. Specifically, Rugo led studies exploring the use of agents such as palbociclib (Ibrance) and abemaciclib, and was a member of the steering committees for multiple clinical trials including for the ABRAZO and EMBRACA studies (NCT02034916 and NCT01945775) evaluating the PARP inhibitor talazoparib (Talzenna) in patients with BRCA-mutant metastatic breast cancer.

In the immunotherapy field, Rugo was a primary investigator for the IMpassion130 trial (NCT02425891), which led to the March 2019 FDA approval of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) plus nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) for patients with unresectable, locally advanced PD-L1positive TNBC. This marked the first immune checkpoint inhibitor to be approved for the treatment of breast cancer.13

She also was on the steering committee for the KEYNOTE-355 trial (NCT02819518) testing pembrolizumab (Keytruda) plus chemotherapy for patients with TNBC and presented a subset update at SABCS 2020. The results of this trial led to FDA approval of pembrolizumab plus either nab-paclitaxel, paclitaxel, or gemcitabine with carboplatin for PD-L1positive TNBC in November 2020.14

Rugo is actively involved in the multicenter adaptively randomized I-SPY 2 trial, where she is chair of the safety committee and serves on the novel agent committee, publishing the results of 1 of the first arms of the trial (paclitaxel plus veliparib-carboplatin).15

Rugo also has made relieving toxicities of cancer treatment part of her mission. She was the principal investigator for a study evaluating the DigniCap Scalp Cooling System, which uses scalp cooling technology to help prevent chemotherapy-related hair loss. In 2017, DigniCap became the first FDA-approved cooling cap for patients with solid tumors.16 She also led the 2017 SWISH trial (NCT02069093), which investigated a dexamethasone-based mouthwash that reduces stomatitis and mouth and lip inflammation in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving treatment with everolimus (Afinitor). Findings showed that the oral solution reduced the severity of stomatitis, and the mouthwash has been used ever since.17

These are projects we all have worked on together and as a community have been able to really make a difference for patients who are being treated with these agents understanding the time course of toxicity, she explained. These have been really great to work on.

One of Rugos lasting contributions to the field is likely to be in training junior faculty and helping patients and their families understand their options for treatment. She also runs UCSFs Breast Forum, an open bimonthly evening educational session for patients with breast cancer and their families and friends.

Rugo is a master educator and clinician, according to Laura J. Esserman, MD, MBA, the 2018 Giants of Cancer Care award winner in the cancer diagnostics category. Not only is she good at educating residents and other physicians and scientists, but she is fantastic at educating her patients about what their risks are, what their options are, said Esserman, the Alfred A. de Lorimier Endowed Chair in General Surgery and director of the Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. She has that amazing talent for putting information together in such a way that people can make better decisions.

According to Rugo, her experiences in medical education not only taught her how to convey information, but also help her better relate to her patients and colleagues. She considers herself very fortunate to have worked in the field, both nationally and internationally, and credits her career choice and focus to her mother, who died of breast cancer more than 20 years ago.

That also gives you lots of ideas about clinical research and it keeps you in touch with the community at large, she said. Then you learn a lot about other cultures and how people manage different aspects of both cancer care and life and death issues as wellthats been an amazing experience.

References

The rest is here:
Rugo Sets the Stage for a Busy Year in Breast Cancer - OncLive

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People who are transgender have been turned into a medically and socially vulnerable group who face numerous health disparities. As the coronavirus outbreak brings acute mental distress to many specific groups of people raising international health concerns, trans people too face unprecedented difficulties in their bodily and social well being, along with difficulties in accessing health care, which have placed a tremendous burden on them.

Even before the pandemic there were many cisgender hurdles to trans people accessing health care: such as a dearth of specialised health professionals. As a result, very few transgender individuals received general medical care, hormone interventions, or gender affirmation surgeries, especially in low and middle income societies.

Sidelined by society, the inequalities imposed on transgender people by legislation or rules based on the gender binary, or by other social aspects, have increased their risk of infection, disease and mortality during the COVID19 crisis.

Most hospitals in India and many other countries, in trying to prevent the potential overload of health systems by patients of COVID19, have postponed, cancelled or simply stopped providing elective procedures to save their inadequate resources.

This has made it even more difficult for trans people to approach doctors for general medical care, HIV treatment, hormone interventions or gender affirming surgeries.

In India the lockdown left people who are trans at greatly increased risk of poverty and ill health: because they are made to exist on societys margins, often earning a livelihood through sex work or begging work.

According to a social worker at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai who wished not to be named:

It is a grim reality seen in India, as though a number of NGOs and corporates were seeing feeding the poor on the streets, distributing masks and other essential things, Indias third gender hijras have been largely overlooked. From any sector or community, no organised help was coming to them. The transgender people do not get help or assistance from their family members or any help from society.

And according to a hijra-transgender person from Hyderabad who declined to be named:

We do not have the social privilege of operating within a distant online world when we know our lives are precariously balanced on the thread of social interaction and functions. Only our trans community members have helped each other during this global health calamity.

As the health and well being of the Trans community has suffered decades of institutional neglect, the pandemic has especially intensified their suffering.

Many of my community members dont get called to a childbirth event now, or to a marriage ceremony after the coronavirus outbreak, and we are left with no choice. Due to this loss our community members are at health risk because of increasing hunger and poverty, said Rani, a trans woman.

There are many challenges which Trans community members face during the pandemic, and a few of them are very critical.

Most measures introduced by our governments and assemblies have focused on women, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. They do not address the needs of LGBTQI individuals.

It was found that a lot of trans people are living with HIV, which leads to their being immunocompromised. As such they need special care at this point. While anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres are currently open and dispensing medicines, there may be a lack of doctors. And with public transport systems brought to a halt, people living with HIV were not able to access the hospitals where they were registered for treatment.

Trans people undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were unable to access their doses, or pharmacists who were ready to administer the hormone injections.

It was also reported that Trans activists demand separate quarantine wards for the community as currently wards are segregated under the gender binary, causing them further problems and trauma.

There were a few cases in Delhi and other Indian cities where discrimination and stigma were perpetrated on Trans persons trying to access health services.

In a few instances, doctors refused to give Trans women a prescription for a COVID19 test in public hospitals.

A trans woman from Mumbai was reported to have been kept in a male ward when admitted to hospital for treatment.

Cisgender society also spread rumours in Bangalore claiming that Trans individuals and Hijras were the main carriers of the new coronavirus.

According to a Trans activist in Bangalore who asked not to be named:

At many hospitals, the constant misgendering we faced at the hands of healthcare professionals was very traumatising, and this trauma has only worsened during COVID19, when frontline health workers were found not to have been sensitised to trans health.

To escape this trauma, some Trans women have resorted to unscientific castration, leading to urinary tract infections and kidney related problems.

Significantly, there are also subsection differences in transgender individuals physical and mental health needs. According to a physician based in Mumbai:

During the pandemic transgender women have faced additional health problems compared with transgender men. To prevent harmful consequences caused by barriers to healthcare when resources are limited, governments should try to implement urgent solutions to guarantee general medical care, prescription supply, such as hormones, and provide remote online physician counselling for transgender individuals.

In response to the ongoing health emergency, it is proposed that governments and the commercial sector should keenly consider the unprecedented difficulties and conditions imposed on Trans people, and implement corrective strategies to serve this group marginalised by cisnormative society.

This may include addressing the humiliation, stigma and other issues that make trans people more vulnerable to health hazards, extending equal rights and legal protections to transgender individuals, and revising the medical curriculum to include a chapter on transgender health.

Dr Dhananjay D. Mankar (MD, PhD) is assistant professor at the Centre for Hospital Management, School of Health Systems Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

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Surviving while Trans: Hijras and Others Face Life Threatening Covid Problems - The Citizen

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This article was originally published here

PLoS One. 2021 Jan 22;16(1):e0243150. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243150. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Patients with autoimmune disorders (AD) have altered cancer risks compared to the general population. Systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis lead to a heightened risk for hematological malignancies and decreased risk for breast, ovarian, and prostate malignancies. Often patients with autoimmune disease have dysregulated antiviral immune responses, including against oncogenic viruses. To uncover the relationship between viral incidence and cancer risk in the context of autoimmune disease, we extracted electronic health records (EHR) from Vanderbilt University. ICD-9/10 codes and laboratory values were collected for hematological, lung, anal-vaginal, thyroid, hepatobiliary, bladder, prostate, and breast cancers; and viruses including Epstein Barr virus (EBV), Human papilloma virus (HPV), and Hepatitis A/B/C (Hep). Only viral infections that led to a physician visit or laboratory test were entered into the EMR; therefore, only clinically relevant cases were noted and considered positive in this study. The relationship between virus infection and cancer in an SLE cohort (SLE-cases n = 2,313, and SLE-controls n = 5,702) and an MS cohort (MS-case n = 7,277, MS-control n = 7,277) was examined by multilinear logistic regression. Viral infection was strongly associated with increased risk for cancer overall. SLE and MS patients were more susceptible to all viral infections. MS patients trended toward increased risk for cancers overall, while decreased risk for hormone-based cancers in SLE patients non-significantly reduced their risk for overall cancer. Both SLE and MS patients had increased clinically relevant EBV infection, which was associated with risk for hematological cancers. Preventing viral infections by vaccination may be especially helpful in controlling risk for cancer in SLE and MS patients.

PMID:33481783 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0243150

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Contribution of viral infection to risk for cancer in systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis - DocWire News

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That in turn fends off diseases associated with extra weight like cancer, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Even something as simple as walking functions as medicine. Greenlee said she tries to get out every day, even in the rain.

Ive recently discovered Walking with Leslie videos on YouTube, Greenlee said. Theyre super fun, high-energy, and they can be done inside, too.

Just as important as moving is finding a moment to be still. Take a few deep slow breaths. Quiet the brain and think about the biological machine thats housing you. These types of techniques where you mindfully check in with yourself are proven to reduce stress.

We teach mind-body techniques to many of our cancer patients, Greenlee said. The important thing is to get into the parasympathetic state via mindful breathing, meditative walking or yoga.

Im cooking so much more at home and thought I was eating healthier than before COVID, but I somehow managed to gain five pounds, Judith Rixner, 64, wrote on the private Facebook group Knowledge is Power Breast Cancer Tribe. Is a sleeve of double-stuffed Oreos considered too much?

Calorie-rich, nutritionally empty processed foods may be tempting, especially during, say, a plague, but they are not our friends.

Plants are. They provide our bodies with a slew of phytonutrients and some, like brassicas, also known as cruciferous vegetables, actively fend off cancer.

Cruciferous vegetables like arugula, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower,kale, radishes and swiss chard have highcarotenoid content, vitamins C and K,folate, manganese and potassium, said Kate Ueland, a registered dietitian who works with Greenlee and sees cancer patients at SCCA. Theyre an excellent source of fiber and contain a group of phytonutrients known as glucosinolates, which inhibit cancer in all kinds of ways.

Greenlee pointed to a recent study in Nature emphasizing how our gut microbiome is shaped by what we eat. The findings, from the long-running PREDICT study, show that a diet rich in nutrient-dense, whole foods supported the growth of beneficial microbes that promoted good health.

What you put in your mouth matters. So, if stress-eating and/or snacking is your downfall, Greenlee said at least try to make it healthy.

Her snack of choice is kale chips, a recipe she took from Cook for Your Life, a healthy cooking site for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and anyone else interested in learning more about what a healthy diet is, and how to achieve and maintain it. Greenlee is director of the site.

These chips are incredibly easy to make baked with a little olive oil and salt, she said. You get the crunch and the saltiness but youre eating kale.

Greenlee and Ueland work with patients at SCCA and via Cook for Your Life, recently relaunched after being acquired by the Hutch. Greenlee and her research staff use the site to test out interventions and educate people about food.

Her studies have shown people can change their eating habits for the better and for the long term if you give them the right tools and resources.

Cook for Your Life provides them: a thousand-plus recipes, 400 blog posts on nutrition and cancer, hundreds of how-to-cook videos, food myth-busting, easy substitutions and more. Tools help with online grocery shopping; special menus are available for those going through treatment. Read more about the site here.

They even teach you how to use a knife properly.

In one of our first studies, we found that if we taught people how to shop for fruits and vegetables and how to prepare them and eat them, we could change their taste preferences, she said. People were more likely to make a long-term increase in fruit and vegetable intakeand they increased their snacking of fruits of vegetables. Thats a good habit to have.

While there are thousands of food websites out there, few are science-based or bilingual, Greenlee said. Cook for Your Life highlights the nutrition research coming out of the Hutch and even offers a chance to participate in research studies.

There are a lot of recipes out there that taste great but theyre not healthy, Greenlee said. We want to provide support and we want people to feel better. This is a way for people to learn to cook at home in an easy, accessible, cost-effective, joyful and healthy way.

Even with vaccination underway, its going to be months before the country reaches herd immunity. On top of that, scientists still dont know if the COVID-19 vaccines protect against transmission.

So, continue to mask up, keep your distance and wash your hands regularly.

At this point, we do not know even with the high efficacy reported in reducing symptomatic disease whether after vaccination individuals are still infectious, Dr. Larry Corey, Hutch president and director emeritus and co-leader of the COVID-19 Prevention Networks vaccine testing program, wrote in a recent blog post.

And dont put off those cancer screenings and wellness checks that are traditionally part of the January reboot.

People should absolutely schedule their cancer screenings and wellness checks, said Dr. Rachel Issaka, a Hutch health services researcher and SCCA gastroenterologist. In the midst of a pandemic, we cannot and should not abandon chronic disease management or disease prevention.

Greenlee said its also important for our health to stay connected even when apart.

Maintaining connection with people is really important, she said. We may have to do it virtually but its still important for people to pay attention to what makes them feel good and to support the people around them.

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Shed the pandemic pounds ... and the stupor - Fred Hutch News Service

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Have you been recently diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)? Are you finding it tough to achieve restful sleep with the constant trips to the bathroom, not forget the overpowering pain? Usually, men are advised to take alpha-blockers, which help to ease the symptoms of BPH temporarily. There has to be another way around this, right? This is where ProstaStream enters the picture.

Forget temporary solutions that only increase dependence with time, as a new solution is trusted to resolve BPH permanently. According to the creator of ProstaStream, Frank Neal, all it takes is a unique combination of plants and herbs that is likely to promote a peaceful mind, relaxation, and healthy prostate, urinary tract, and bladder, among others. The following review will uncover every possible layer of ProstaStream, starting with its intended purpose:

What is ProstaStream?

ProstaStream is a dietary supplement that aims to support a healthy prostate. More specifically, men who have been diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) might find comfort in this all-natural solution. BPH is a condition where men experience enlargement in the prostate gland. Though scarce information is available on the mechanisms that drive BPH, it has since been disclosed that factors including changes to the male sex hormones and age play a significant role.

Nonetheless, an enlargement in the prostate is said to put immense pressure on the bladder and urethra (i.e., the tube that allows the flow of urine). Unfortunately, this means nothing but hindrances, as the latter are the reasons why men face a wide range of symptoms, from frequent trips to the bathroom and pain while urinating to the inability to release urine from the bladder completely [1].

As explained on the official sales page, ProstaStream, which appears to have been created by Frank Neal, aims to address the root causes of an enlarged prostate. Interestingly, Frank believes that societys claims that age and changes to male sex hormones are the only known factors dont paint the complete picture. What might be the missing piece(s)? It turns out that inadequate inflammatory response and immune system are issues that trigger enlarged prostates. By reversing the additional factors, ones prostate health is trusted to get better with time.

With all of the aforementioned in mind, the only way to fully understand the ProstaStream formula is by studying the selected ingredients that make-or-break prostate health!

What ingredients are inside ProstaStream?

ProstaStream is an extensive formula seeing that it includes up to 32 ingredients per serving. To ensure that individuals are aware of what they are ingesting, weve decided to highlight a thing or two on each ingredients properties. Heres what weve managed to gather thus far (the listed concentrations are per serving):

Plant Sterols Complex (300mg)

Plant sterols are a group of substances derived from plants. They have since been widely linked to lowering cholesterol levels and may prevent cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. The latter benefits stem from its antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-atherogenicity, and anti-inflammatory properties [2].

Saw Palmetto Berries (200mg)

Saw palmetto berries are supposedly grown on a tree called Serenoa repens. These berries have been long used in traditional medicine to support male health. To be more specific, ingesting such berries are trusted to decrease inflammation, improve the urinary tract, and prevent hair loss while possibly tending to testosterone levels and prostate health [3].

Pygeum Africanum Bark (100mg)

Pygeum is a tree, where its bark has been widely used for medicinal purposes. At the time of writing, we discovered that this ingredient is essential in specific communities, especially when it comes to treating symptoms linked to BPH, and pains that arise due to increased inflammation, kidney-related concerns, and stomachache, among others [4].

Red Raspberry (50mg)

Red raspberries are commonly liked for their underwhelming sweetness. What many people do not know is that they have been a staple in folk medicine. Why? According to existing research, this fruit is not only rich in vitamins and minerals (i.e., B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, etc.) but is highly valued for its antioxidant properties [5].

Annona Muricata Leaf (50mg)

Also referred to as soursop, Annona muricata is a flowering, evergreen tree whose leaves have been used for medicinal concoctions. To date, its medicinal properties have been praised because they are known to depict diverse pharmacological aspects, namely, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects [6].

Green Tea Leaf (50mg)

Green tea is generally consumed because of its rich source of a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate, one of the fewest potent antioxidants known to humanity. The latter allows this ingredient to shine in different health-related areas, including brain function, fat accumulation, heart health, and cancers, prostate being one of them as well [7].

Cats Claw Bark (30mg)

Cats claw is a vine that grows in rainforests and is quite popular in South and Central America. If this ingredient is of interest, it comes in varying species, with the two most common ones being Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis. Whats interesting about this ingredient is that it may heal numerous concerns. Some examples include inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammation-related risks, diarrhea, eczema, and Alzheimers [8].

Broccoli Leaf, Stems and Buds (20mg)

Broccoli is a type of cruciferous vegetable rich in fiber, protein, and an array of vitamins and minerals. This property is beneficial for men with BPH. Some evidence suggests that cruciferous vegetable ingestion can prolong prostate cancer growth and reduce or even prevent the condition from further advancing [9].

Tomato (10mg)

Tomatoes are by far the only fruits to house the highest concentration of an antioxidant called lycopene, which has been found to prolong BPH progression. It can also be taken to fulfill ones vitamin C, potassium, and folate requirements, to name the least. Finally, aside from its antioxidant properties, this ingredient may also increase healthy inflammation response [10].

Stinging Nettle Leaf (20mg)

Stinging nettle is an herbaceous perennial flowering plant that has since been associated with anti-inflammatory properties. If we were to consider what science suggests regarding its ingestion, some evidence indicates that it may reduce inflammation, treat BPH, and support healthy blood pressure and sugar levels [11].

Maitake, Reishi and Shitake Mushrooms and Roots (30mg)

Maitake, reishi, and shitake mushrooms are known for their increased cytokine levels, which play a significant role in boosting immune cell responses [12]. In addition to cytokines presence, an antioxidant called ergothioneine in the trio is believed to positively impact prostate health by lowering cancer risk [13].

Vitamin E (13mg)

Vitamin E is an essential nutrient that carries both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This is a unique ingredient because it is extensively found in many ecosystems that we are accustomed to (i.e., sunflower oil, almonds, pumpkin, red bell peppers, etc.). That said, this vitamins role in prostate health is supposedly tricky, as it can either better or worsen the situation [14].

Vitamin B6 (3.33mg)

Also known as pyridoxine, vitamin B6 is similar to vitamin E because it can also be consumed through food (i.e., pork, chicken, turkey, fish, peanuts, soya beans, etc.). Regarding the prostate, this vitamin might help to prevent the testosterone hormone from triggering prostate-located tumor growth. It is essential to mention that the latter is based on one study [15].

Zinc (10mg)

Zinc is an essential trace mineral that is naturally found in the foods we consume. It has been tasked with modulating the immune, kidney, stomach, colon, and metabolism functions while aiding with healing processes. A fascinating finding that has since been shared is that most people with BPH or prostate carcinoma are believed to have a zinc deficiency [16].

Selenium (140mcg)

Selenium is a type of antioxidant that tends to the body by freeing it from oxidative stress and toxins while building an extensive protective layer against future invaders. Above all, this antioxidants plasma, serum, and tissue are reasoned as being inversely related to the risk of developing prostate cancer; that is, an increase in selenium can decrease prostate cancer cells [17].

Copper (0.2mg)

Copper is an essential trace mineral and has been considered a cofactor for several enzymes. Research suggests that it may support cardiovascular health and Alzheimers disease [18]. Since copper and zinc fall within the same classification, one can expect the duo to work hand-in-hand to yield results.

ProstaStream also contains a proprietary blend (142mg), which is believed to house:

Quercetin Dihydrate

Quercetin dihydrate is an insoluble pigment classified under flavonoids, which carries a rich source of antioxidants. This, in turn, is expected to reduce inflammation, allergy symptoms, and blood pressure levels [19]. To add to that, quercetin might help prevent prostate cancer because of its anti-cancer effects [20].

Juniper Berry

Juniper berries come from an evergreen shrub called Juniperus communis. They are not only high plant compounds but have also been tied to properties such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and antifungal [21].

Uva Ursi

Uva ursi, like Juniperus communis, is a shrub that grows flowers and berries, where its berries are commonly used to make medicine. Its been traditionally used to treat urinary infections, which has been proven to some extent [22].

Buchu Leaf

Buchu is a plant that is commonly found in Africa and has since been relied upon to treat the bladder, urinary tract infections, inflammation, and inflammation-induced effects on the prostate [23].

L-Glutamic Acid, L-Alanine, and L-Glycine

L-glutamic, L-alanine, and L-glycine are all types of non-essential amino acids. While this trio plays role remains unclear, ingesting them together has supposedly shown to improve prostate symptoms such as nighttime urination, prostate swelling, and frequency and discomfort of urination [24].

D-Glucarate

Also referred to as calcium D-glucarate, this respective ingredient is nothing but salt. However, its benefits are enormous. As reported, it can prevent breast, prostate, and colon cancers by removing toxins and cancer-triggering components in the body [25].

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seed or pepita is an edible seed found within pumpkins. It is not only full of essential nutrients but also antioxidants. Altogether, administering a supplement with pumpkin seeds may improve prostate, bladder, and heart health and lower blood sugar levels, among others [26].

Burdock

Burdock is a type of biennial plants whose roots, leaves, and seeds can be found in alternative medicine. The key here is its seeds, which contain a lignan compound called arctigenin. To be more specific, arctigenin has been found to prevent prostate tumor growth [27] potentially.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is usually sought because of its compound, capsaicin, which represents anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective properties [28]. Its anti-inflammatory properties are what needs to be highlighted here, as it may destroy prostate cancer cells. That said, more research is still required to make sound conclusions.

Goldenseal

Goldenseal or Hydrastis Canadensis is a perennial plant that grows in North America. Regarding its properties, its roots and leaves have been historically incorporated in traditional medicine to treat any health concerns involving infections and/or inflammation [29].

Gravel Root

Lastly, we have gravel root, an herbaceous perennial plant that has since been classified as belonging to the sunflower family. Its roots and bulb are mainly used for treating urinary tract problems, bladder infections, and painful urination all of which are supposedly continued despite safety issues [30].

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who created ProstaStream?

The sales page insists that an individual named Frank Neal created the ProstaStream formula. Frank claims to have spent years of personal trials and experiments before arriving at his so-called special blend of ingredients which may help anyone support a healthy prostate. The main concern is that we know close to nothing about Frank and the manufacturing company. In fact, Frank Neal is just a pen name used to protect the authors identity.

What features does ProstaStream have?

As far as features go, it has been hinted that ProstaStream is made in the U.S., as the supplements label reads, The Food & Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. To add to that, it is deemed natural, safe, and 100% pure as well.

What is the suggested use for ProstaStream?

ProstaStream should be treated as a dietary supplement; individuals are suggested to take two capsules daily.

Is ProstaStream generally safe to take?

ProstaStream comes across as being generally safe because it includes nothing but plants, herbs, vitamins, and minerals. Despite the latter, individuals need to further reflect on their health and the fact that certain all-natural ingredients may lack scientific evidence or may worsen ones health depending on the condition that is being targeted. Finally, anyone taking prescribed medication should consult a physician before buying ProstaStream.

Are there any side effects to taking ProstaStream?

At the time of writing, side effects have not been reported. However, ProstaStream does contain soy (i.e., plant sterols). Therefore, anyone with such allergies should refrain from taking this supplement.

How long will it take to receive ProstaStream?

On average, it can take 5 to 7 business days and up to 15 business days for orders shipped to the U.S. and international locations, respectively.

How does the ProstaStream refund process work?

A 60-day money-back guarantee protects ProstaStream. So, individuals will first need to make sure that their requests to customer service at contact@prostastream.com are made within the 60-day period that follows from the day the orders have been shipped. To ensure that everyone has a record, the date will be written on the package or sent in an email. Once approved, shipments need to be sent to the fulfillment center at 37 Inverness Drive East, Suite 100, Englewood, Colorado, 80112. It is then a matter of waiting for the shipment to be received, and the refund will then be processed.

How much does ProstaStream cost?

Each ProstaStream bottle can be purchased at the following rates:

The above prices do not reflect shipping or any customs clearance fees on international orders. At the time of writing, it was disclosed that international orders would indeed incur a shipping fee of $15.95. As for U.S. orders, these fees do not apply.

Final Verdict

Ultimately, ProstaStream is prostate support that aims to alleviate symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The approach was taken by the supposed Frank Neal involves clearing the body of toxins, and inflammation, both of which are steps that can naturally help to fortify the immune system. Frank insists that natural ingredients have been proven to support prostate health from different angles.

In researching the ingredients, we did notice that many of them contained vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties, to name a few. We also came across a handful of studies that have either indicated that prostate issues flourish due to a deficiency in nutrients or that the presence of a particular component can prevent prostate tumor growth, reduce prostate cancer effects and possibly eliminate its known symptoms.

Having said all that, individuals need to realize that the above ingredients summary primarily focuses on its properties and not entirely on scientific evidence. As a result, we strongly recommend that everyone do their respective due diligence (i.e., in terms of health, medication interaction, medical history, etc.) before proceeding.

Another aspect worth deliberating upon is the lack of transparency. Despite the beneficial features of ProstaStream, factors such as the company, creator background, mission statement, and quality testing have all been hidden. This is undoubtedly to elicit discomfort and doubt, but luckily, customer service information is available. For people who want more details on ProstaStream, either sending an email to the team or visiting the website might be the best course of action.

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ProstaStream Review: Does It Work or Ingredient Side Effects - The Daily World

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Everyone has different amounts of facial hair. The fullness, growth pattern, and texture of a person's facial hair often differs from person to person. Compared to the hair on the scalp, beard hair tends to be thicker, coarser, and curlier.

"The biggest factor for beard growth is genetics. External hormones, like testosterone or other anabolic steroids, can sometimes make people grow thicker beards than they otherwise would," says Jay Vary, MD, PhD, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Washington.

It's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle because diet, stress levels, and exercise also influence beard growth. Here's what you need to know about growing a beard.

No, not everyone can grow a beard. "Beard growth is mainly genetically predisposed," says Anthony Rossi, MD, attending dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. "It is under genetic and hormonal control."

Therefore, facial hair growth will vary depending on your ethnicity, says Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology.

In general, for those with testes, beard growth starts during puberty as testosterone levels increase. Testosterone is key for beard growth because its byproduct, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), triggers hair follicles to grow longer and thicker hairs. For transgender men, the growth of facial hair typically begins a year or more after starting their testosterone intake.

Though beard growth depends heavily on your genetics, there are some things you can do to improve the facial hair you do have and encourage it to grow.

Here are six tips from the American Academy of Dermatology Association for growing a healthy beard:

Moreover, it's important to keep the skin in the beard area as healthy as possible to avoid acne and dandruff.

It varies among different people as some grow fuller beards faster than others, says Rossi.

"Beard hair can grow at a rate of half an inch per month. It is possible to begin to grow a beard in two weeks as it is thought that facial hair grows faster than scalp hair, but it can take up to two to four months to grow a full beard," says Garshick.

According to Vary, most beards continue to grow thicker as people age into their 20s and 30s. However, if you've tried and haven't developed a thick, full beard by age 30, then it's less likely to see a big difference because that's when testosterone levels start to decrease with age, says Garshick.

You may not be able to grow a beard instantaneously, but certain practices can help stimulate hair growth, such as:

"Depending on how much it bothers you, there is such a thing as a beard transplant to actually take hairs from the back of your scalp and place them in your beard area," says Garshick.

You don't have to undergo this procedure unless you find your facial hair to be a major cosmetic concern.

One of the biggest factors for beard growth is genetics, but testosterone levels, diet, exercise, and stress levels can also influence it. Beard hair grows about half an inch per month, and it will take you about two to four months to grow a full beard from having a clean-shaven face.

Shaving generally doesn't make hair grow thicker, but you can encourage beard growth by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Proper grooming, such as cleansing and moisturizing the beard area, is important to have a healthy-looking beard.

"If someone is trying to grow a beard, patience and genetics need to be on their side," says Vary. "Some people were born to grow thick beards and others were born to grow thinner beards or none at all."

Link:
6 dermatologist-approved tips to grow a healthy, full beard - Insider - INSIDER

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Who doesnt want fuller, healthier eyelashes? Beauty bloggers and YouTubers swear that thickening and growing your eyelashes is as simple as coating them with an ingredient you probably already have stashed in your kitchen: olive oil.

But is olive oil truly an effective remedy for eyelash growth? Heres what the research and dermatologists have to say.

Eyelashes are a type of hair but instead of sprouting from your scalp, they grow out of your eyelids. Theyre actually most similar to eyebrow hair. Theyre coarser and grow slower than scalp hair, says Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologist at Shafer Clinic in New York.

The complete life cycle of an eyelash is 411 months. Similar to scalp hair, eyelashes thin out and go gray with age.

Olive oil is rich in fatty acids, including oleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid. Fatty acids have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, and they are used worldwide for hair growth.

These fatty acids may help condition the lashes, soften skin, and encourage healthy functioning of the follicles, says Engleman. We do know that olive oil can help strengthen the hairs, she says.

A dietary deficiency in essential fatty acids has been linked to hair loss. But theres very little research showing that applying fatty acids directly to eyelash follicles helps with hair growth, notes Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospitals Department of Dermatology.

Most of the research that does exist is theoretical. And it looks at scalp hair, not eyelashes.

Some research suggests that oxidative stress may be linked to premature hair loss. One study found that olive oil can penetrate the skin and has an antioxidant effect.

Some research, including a 2018 study done in mice, suggests that safflower oil, which is high in linoleic acid, may also support hair growth.

A 2015 study found that applying oleuropein (the molecule that gives olives their bitter taste) to the skin of mice helped regulate their hair growth.

But its difficult to know if these findings would apply to humans. Whats more, the processing olives undergo after theyre picked greatly affects the amount of oleuropein any given product contains.

Want to try olive oil on your eyelashes? Heres how:

The typical lash growth cycle is between 30 to 60 days, at which point hair rests before falling out. That means you can expect to see results within 2 to 4 months, says Engelman.

Since the jury is out on whether olive oil is truly effective for eyelash growth, here are a few more other methods worth considering:

Im a huge supporter of science-backed skin care. Some ingredients made in a lab can deliver great results and be perfectly safe to use, says Engelman.

Latisse is the only medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for eyelash growth. It has been shown to increase eyelash thickness, although it may change the color of the iris and darken the skin around the lash line, says Engelman.

Always use it under the direction of your prescribing physician.

Rich in ricinoleic acid and vitamin E, castor oil helps prevent microbe growth, says Engelman. Castor oil penetrates deep into the skin to nourish the follicle, improve moisture, and promote hair growth over time.

Engelman recommends the Majestic Pure Cosmeceuticals Eyelash Serum, which uses 100 percent cold-pressed castor oil.

Research suggests this natural ingredient helps to promote eyelash growth by increasing circulation.

Engelman recommends the bbrowbar Luscious Lash Oil, which contains rosemary oil as well as castor oil, jojoba oil, and apricot kernel oil to nourish lashes.

A potent antioxidant, vitamin E neutralizes free radical damage to reduce inflammation that can interfere with the health of skin and hair follicles, says Zeichner.

Consider trying the Kate Blanc Cosmetics Vitamin E Oil.

While theres little data to support the claims that biotin treats thinning hair and eyelashes, theres little downside to taking biotin supplements, says Zeichner.

We know that biotin deficiency is associated with hair thinning, so the thought is that biotin supplements can help hair grow, he adds.

Peptides help to nourish and repair damage to hair protein, which strengthens lash hair, improving shine and elasticity, says Engelman.

She suggests the Hydropeptide Lash Longer Fuller Lusher Lash.

No matter which treatment you choose, remember to be gentle with your lashes. Dont scrub them, pick at them, or use a harsh makeup remover.

Also, keep in mind that a well-balanced diet helps keep hair in tip-top shape. Hair thrives on protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12, says Engelman.

No ingredient is 100 percent free of side effects for all users.

If youre using a natural product, like olive oil, there should be no side effects unless theres an allergy to an ingredient, says Engelman. If you notice redness or irritation from any skin care product, stop using it.

Theres little research to suggest that olive oil can boost eyelash growth.

However, olive oil contains several types of fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.

Experts say olive oil may help condition the lashes and promote healthy lash follicles function. Apply once a day for several weeks to see results.

Colleen de Bellefonds is a Paris-based health and wellness journalist with over a decade of experience regularly writing and editing for publications including WhatToExpect.com, Womens Health, WebMD, Healthgrades.com, and CleanPlates.com. Find her on Twitter.

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Olive Oil for Eyelashes: How it Works, Ways to Use It, Products to Try - Healthline

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Kent Hoskins, MDEileen Lindsay Heidrick Professor in OncologyDivision of Hematology/OncologyUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoDirector of Cancer GeneticsCo-Leader, Breast Cancer Research GroupUniversity of Illinois Cancer Center

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: The racial disparity in breast cancer mortality emerged in the US in the late 1980s in the wake of widespread implementation of mammography screening and the development of successful systemic adjuvant therapies for early breast cancer. Unfortunately, more than three decades later, Black women in the US still have a 40% higher mortality rate from breast cancer compared with non-Hispanic White women despite similar disease incidence. Health disparities research has primarily focused on the fact that Black women have a higher incidence of the aggressive triple-negative subtype, and that they are more likely to present with more advanced stages of disease. As important as those factors are, in recent years our group and others reported that Black women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer have worse survival than non-Hispanic white women even after adjustment for stage at diagnosis and treatment. Since nearly 2/3 of breast cancers in Black women are hormone receptor-positive, this is a significant contributor to the overall mortality disparity. Importantly, these studies also suggested that Black women disproportionately develop biologically aggressive forms of hormone-dependent breast cancer, which is typically considered a more favorable disease subtype.

Using data on more than 70,000 patients from the SEER registry that is linked to data from Genomic Health Laboratory, which provides the Oncotype DX recurrence score (the most commonly ordered prognostic/predictive multi-gene expression assay for early breast cancer), we set out to address three questions:

1) is there evidence of disproportionately aggressive tumor biology among Black women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer, as reflected in the Oncotype DX recurrence score?

2) Is there a racial survival disparity even among patients with early stage, axillary node-negative tumors with comparable recurrence scores on the Oncotype assay? and

3) Is there is a difference in the prognostic accuracy of the Oncotype assay between Black and non-Hispanic white patients, since there was limited representation of Black women in the development and validation of the Oncotype assay and other prognostic/predictive assays?

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: We found that Black women with axillary node-negative tumors were 30% more likely to have a high risk recurrence score. When we adjusted for age and tumor size, Black women were still 20% more likely to have a tumor with a high risk recurrence score.

We also found that Black women with axillary node-negative tumors had a 66% higher rate of breast cancer death overall. Within each recurrence score risk category, Black women were 1.5-2.5 times more likely to die from breast cancer compared with non-Hispanic white women, even after adjusting for age, tumor size, and treatment (initiation of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy). Importantly, the SEER dataset does not collect information on use of endocrine therapies, which is an important limitation of this study.

Finally, we found that the Oncotype assay has lower prognostic accuracy in Black compared with non-Hispanic white women. This suggests that genomic assays, like the Oncotype assay, that are used to make decisions on the use of chemotherapy in early breast cancer need to be re-calibrated for women from racial/ethnic minority groups.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: I think the main message here is that even among women with presumably favorable prognosis breast tumors (HR-positive, axillary node-negative), Black women die from their cancer at a significantly higher rate than women from most other racial/ethnic groups, even after controlling for treatment and known prognostic variables (including the Oncotype recurrence score). Tumor biology plays an important role, but it is probably not the only factor underlying this disparity. Social determinants of health are almost certainly a major driver of this disparity as well, and the finding of a biologic component cannot allow us to take our eye off the critical role of social factors that are at the root of health disparities.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: The most immediately impactful research would be studies that formally test the calibration of multigene expression assays that are used to make chemotherapy decisions for early breast cancer in racial/ethnic minority groups. These assays may require re-calibration in order to provide the most accurate prognostic and predictive information for patients from minority groups. Over the longer term, it will be important to determine the underlying drivers of disproportionately aggressive tumor biology, and to conduct studies that examine the intersection between social determinants of health (SDH) and tumor biology. What are the non-biologic contributions of SDH to worse outcomes in Black women with early stage, HR-positive breast cancer, and do social determinants influence tumor biology? Ultimately this research will inform precision medicine approaches to therapy that target molecular drivers of disproportionately aggressive tumor biology in Black women with hormone-dependent breast cancer.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: I think this study highlights once again the far-reaching deleterious effects of biomedical research that does not have adequate representation of individuals from racial/ethnic minority groups in the formative stages of research, whether that research is to develop innovative diagnostic and prognostic tests or new therapeutic approaches.

I have received research support from Pfizer, Inc., which was not involved in the conception, design, data acquisition or analysis for this study and did not provide any funding for this study.

Citation:

Hoskins KF, Danciu OC, Ko NY, Calip GS. Association of Race/Ethnicity and the 21-Gene Recurrence Score With Breast CancerSpecific Mortality Among US Women.JAMA Oncol.Published online January 21, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.7320

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The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.

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Breast Cancer: Genome Assays May Need Recalibration for Racial and Ethnic Groups - MedicalResearch.com

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This will address an accelerating gene therapy market that is expected to grow globally by 16.6 percent from 2020-2027.

"The Gene Therapy Ready network demonstrates our commitment to empowering sites and supporting our industry partners as they pursue advanced genetic engineering to find cures for the world's most pressing health conditions," said Scott Uebele, President and Chief Research Services Officer at Advarra. "Our commitment to efficient study activation is unwavering, and this is another example of how Advarra bringslife sciences companies,CROs, research sites, investigators,andacademiatogether at the intersection of safety,compliance,technology, and collaboration."

All Gene Therapy Ready sites stand ready to help industry sponsors conduct clinical trials that advance cures, develop vaccines, and find treatments for rare disease. By placing clinical trials with a Gene Therapy Ready site, research sponsors can save significant time during study startup.

"This innovative network is truly the first of its kind. We constantly look for ways to support our sponsors in rapidly starting trials in a safe, compliant, and quality manner. With the Gene Therapy Ready network, we can improve study startup times by a month or more, potentially placing cures in the hands of patients faster," said James Riddle, Vice President of Research Services and Strategic Consulting at Advarra. "The Gene Therapy Ready site network charts a course to success by providing our sponsor clients with a clear choice for IBC review services."

About Advarra

Advarra advances the way clinical research is conducted: bringing life sciences companies, CROs, research sites, investigators, and academia together at the intersection of safety, technology, and collaboration. With trusted IRB and IBC review solutions, innovative technologies, experienced consultants, and deep-seated connections across the industry, Advarra provides integrated solutions that safeguard trial participants, empower clinical sites, ensure compliance, and optimize research performance. Advarra is advancing clinical trials to make them safer, smarter, and faster. For more information, visit advarra.com.

SOURCE Advarra

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Advarra Announces New Gene Therapy Ready Site Network - PRNewswire

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London, UK-based integrated cell and gene therapy company Ixaka formerly Rexgenero has launched with additional financing from existing shareholders totalling over 40m.

Ixaka is focused on developing cell therapies to treat serious diseases including cancer and chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI).

The company is continuing to develop its proprietary technology using concentrated multi-cell therapies (MCTs) and targeted nanoparticle (TNP) therapeutics.

These technologies aim to bolster the naturally therapeutic power of cells by targeting curative cells at the site of disease, or by modifying cells within the body to improve disease targeting and boost their restorative function.

Ixakas lead MCT product REX-001 is in clinical development for the treatment of CLTI and is currently being evaluated in the Phase III SALAMANDER trial across multiple sites in Europe.

Ixakas broad offering of integrated cell and gene therapy capabilities, encompassing cell-based products and an innovative in vivo gene delivery platform, provides a strong foundation for our ambitions to become a leader in cell and gene therapies, said Joe Dupere, chief executive officer of Ixaka.

Our focus is now on accelerating progress to help realise the potential for durable and curative cell and gene therapies. By exploring multiple therapies across oncology and cardiovascular, genetic, neurological and autoimmune diseases, we are well positioned to bring life-changing treatments to multiple patient populations with critical unmet needs, he added.

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UK biotech Ixaka scores additional funding for cell and gene therapy research - PharmaTimes

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Neurogene Inc., a company founded to bring life-changing genetic medicines to patients and families affected by rare neurological diseases, and University of Edinburgh, a world leader in biomedical and translational research for neurodevelopmental diseases, today announced a research collaboration to advance development of multiple platform approaches to enable next generation gene therapies.

The collaboration provides comprehensive research capabilities to Neurogene, enabling the company and the University to expedite a multiple platform approach to improve upon existing gene therapy technologies. Under the terms of the collaboration, Neurogene will provide financial support for Dr. Stuart Cobbs laboratory at the University of Edinburgh, in exchange for the right to license any applicable intellectual property at agreed-upon economic terms. Neurogene will be responsible for late stage preclinical and all clinical development of any products generated under the collaboration.

This partnership provides Neurogene with preeminent neurological research expertise and capabilities. Dr. Cobbs lab has contributed significant scientific expertise to improve the quality of our current rare disease pipeline and generated promising early data to allow us to tackle complex neurological diseases not addressable with conventional gene therapy, said Rachel McMinn, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Neurogene. With this collaboration, I look forward to advancing our mission to provide safe and effective genetic therapies to patients and families as quickly as possible.

Neurogene is a science-driven company committed to investing in innovation and is the right partner for us to build upon the early successes in gene therapy technology, Stuart Cobb, Ph.D., Simons Fellow and Reader in Neuroscience at the Patrick Wild Centre and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, stated. We are excited to collaborate with Neurogene on the critically-important endeavor of improving upon current gene therapy technologies. Gene therapy is a very promising yet complex development area, and we are privileged to help address the unmet needs that exist within rare neurological diseases.

In addition to Dr. Cobbs position at the University of Edinburgh, he serves as Chief Scientific Officer of Neurogene.

This Collaboration has been supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburghs commercialization service.

About Neurogene Inc.

Neurogene Inc. is focused on developing life-changing genetic medicines for patients and their families affected by rare, devastating neurological diseases. We partner with leading academic researchers, patient advocacy organizations and caregivers to bring therapies to patients that address the underlying genetic cause of a broad spectrum of neurological diseases where no effective treatment options currently exist. Our lead programs use adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-based gene therapy technology to deliver a normal gene to patients with a dysfunctional gene. Neurogene is also developing novel gene therapy technologies to advance treatments for complex neurological diseases that conventional gene therapy cannot successfully address. For more information, visit http://www.neurogene.com.

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Neurogene and University of Edinburgh Announce Research Collaboration to Advance Next Generation Gene Therapies - Business Wire

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

SUZHOU, China, Jan. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cure Genetics announced a collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to develop novel Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vectorsleveraging Cure Genetics' proprietary VELPTM platform to develop next-generation gene therapies. This new collaboration combines Boehringer Ingelheim's experience in disease biology and gene therapy development with Cure Genetics' AAV expertise in library construction and highly efficient in vivo AAV screening. The aim is to provide potential new AAV serotypes for patients.

The clinical applications of existing AAV serotypes are limited by some of their features, such as low transduction efficiency, low tissue specificity and immunogenicity. Therefore, finding new AAV serotypes to overcome these challenges becomes critical for the majority, if not all, AAV-based gene therapies.

Comparing to other traditional vector engineering technologies, Cure Genetics' proprietary VELPTM platform encompasses key methodical innovations, including a comprehensive strategy of engineering a plasmid library with high complexity and an effective ratio. the optimized AAV production protocol ensures high genome-capsid correspondence and world-class production capacity, and the most physiologically relevant models for vector selection and validation. It enables a significantly shorter process to find the "right" AAV vectors with almost all possibility effectively covered.

Boehringer Ingelheim aspires to develop the next generation of medical breakthroughs and gene therapy is one of the focuses under exploration by the team of Research Beyond Borders. The advanced VELPTM technology platform may provide effective solutions in increasing the efficiency of novel AAV screening and help further expand our efforts in the area of gene therapy development.

"This is the very first time that a global pharmaceutical group is collaborating with a Chinese biotech in the cutting-edge field of AAV vector engineering. We appreciate the recognition of Boehringer Ingelheim's recognition of our VELPTM platform. Novel AAV vectors enlarging the therapeutic window is key to unfolding the potential of gene therapy, which is also Cure Genetics' innovative focus . We believe, together with visionary partners like Boehringer Ingelheim, the quality of life for more patients in need can be improved by next-generation gene therapy." stated Dr. Qiushi Li, Cure Genetics' Chief Operating Officer.

The collaboration with Cure Genetics was initiated by Boehringer Ingelheim China External Innovation Hub. It consists of three business units: Research Beyond Borders, Business Development and Licensing, and Venture Fund. The hub is committed to becoming the preferred partner of China's biopharmaceutical industry and bringing more Chinese innovative partnership projects to enrich Boehringer Ingelheim's global R&D pipeline, thereby ultimately benefiting more patients. So far, Boehringer Ingelheim China External Innovation Hub has established various partnerships with reputable research institutions and biotech companies in China.

About Cure Genetics

Cure Genetics is a biotech company founded in 2016, committed to expanding the frontier of gene therapy via its innovative technology of gene editing and gene delivery. With the world-leading AAV manufacturing capability, Cure Genetics' proprietary VELPTM platform enables a fast yet systematic design, selection and optimization of AAV vectors with special features and significantly better performance of in vivo gene delivery, which will empower AAV-based gene therapy to be applied in a much broader range of disease treatments.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cure-genetics-collaborates-with-boehringer-ingelheim-to-develop-novel-aav-vectors-enabling-the-next-generation-liver-targeted-gene-therapy-301210036.html

SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim; Cure Genetics

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Cure Genetics Collaborates with Boehringer Ingelheim to Develop Novel AAV Vectors Enabling the Next-generation Liver-targeted Gene Therapy - BioSpace

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Jan. 20, 2021, FNF Research (fnfresearch.com) published the latest study on [2020-2026] Cancer Gene Therapy Market Report by Quantitative Research Incorporating Impact Of Economic And Non-economic Aspects was recently released. It uses exploratory techniques like qualitative and quantitative analysis to uncover and present data on the target market. Efficient sales strategies have been mentioned that would business and multiply customers in record time.

This report is presented in a clear and concise way to help you better understand market structure and dynamics. Recent trends and developments in the Cancer Gene Therapy Market have been analyzed. Opportunities leading to market growth have been analyzed and stated. The report focuses on the global market and provides answers to the most important questions that stakeholders are facing today in the world. Information on the size of the market raises the issue of expanding competitiveness and hindering market-leading sectors and market growth.

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Key Questions Answered in this Report

The report also features information about significant market players across global regions that are North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and India. This further helps to enlighten the strong and effective business outlook of the industrial global expanse. Apart from paying attention to the present competitive current market scenario, the report also shares knowledge on the growth prospects of global Cancer Gene Therapy market during the forecast period of 2020-2026. The report also contains a circumstantiated description of various key vendors that are operating in the global regions. Showcasing a cosmopolitan landscape of Cancer Gene Therapy sector, the report marks the prevalent industry competition that is visible on both domestic as well as the global level.

The report provides:

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Competition Analysis

The global Cancer Gene Therapy market is divided on the basis of domains along with its competitors. Drivers and opportunities are elaborated along with their scope that helps to boosts the performance of the industries. It throws light on different leading key players to recognize the existing outline of Cancer Gene Therapy market. This report examines the ups and downs of the leading key players, which helps to maintain proper balance in the framework. Different global regions, such as Germany, South Africa, Asia Pacific, Japan, and China are analyzed for the study of productivity along with its scope. Moreover, this report marks the factors, which are responsible to increase the number of patrons at domestic as well as global level.

The Cancer Gene Therapy market is expected to grow in the upcoming 2020 to 2027 year. Different risks are considered, which helps to evaluate the complexity in the framework. The progress rate of global industries is mentioned to give a clear picture of business approaches. Various factors, which are responsible for the growth of the market are mentioned accurately. It gives a detailed description of drivers and opportunities in Cancer Gene Therapy market that helps the consumers and potential customers to get a clear vision and take effective decisions. Different analysis models, such as Cancer Gene Therapy are used to discover the desired data of the target market. In addition to this, it comprises various strategic planning techniques, which promote the way to define and develop the framework of the industries.

Regional outlook:

As per the research study by FNF Market Research, the global Cancer Gene Therapy market has fragmented across several regions such as North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe on the basis of key players. It covers the broad analysis of regional business overview including the financial overview.

Major industry key players have been documented to study successful strategies employed by leading industries.

Vigene Biosciences

Sirion Biotech

Bluebird bio

Cellectis

Ziopharm

Cobra

Uniqure

Finvector

Sarepta Therapeutics

Different market factors such as type, size, applications, and end-users have been included to study businesses thoroughly. Major pillars of the businesses that affect the ups and downs of Cancer Gene Therapy companies are also included in this report. The study has been aggregated on the basis of recent scope, challenges faced by businesses, and global opportunities to enlarge the Cancer Gene Therapy sector in upcoming years.

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Global competitive landscape:

To offer a holistic snapshot of global competition, different leading industry key players have been profiled to get better insights about the strategies adopted by them. The notable feature of this research report is, it gives more focus on strategies to discover the potential customers and to identify the global customers to enlarge the businesses.

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Cancer Gene Therapy Market Size Study with COVID-19 Impact 2020, Share, Industry Analysis, Growth, Segmentation and Forecast to 2026 KSU | The...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Article content continued

They identified 100 genes out of around 10,000, and kat7 was the most efficient at contributing to senescence in cells, Qu said.

Kat7 is one of tens of thousands of genes found in the cells of mammals. The researchers inactivated it in the livers of the mice using a method called a lentiviral vector.

We just tested the function of the gene in different kinds of cell types, in the human stem cell, the mesenchymal progenitor cells, in the human liver cell and the mouse liver cell and for all of these cells we didnt see any detectable cellular toxicity. And for the mice, we also didnt see any side effect yet.

Despite this, the method is a long way from being ready for human trials, Qu said.

Its still definitely necessary to test the function of kat7 in other cell types of humans and other organs of mice and in the other pre-clinical animals before we use the strategy for human aging or other health conditions, she said.

Qu said she hopes to be able to test the method on primates next, but it would require a lot of funding and much more research first.

In the end, we hope that we can find a way to delay aging even by a very minor percentagein the future.

(Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard; Editing by Kim Coghill)

Continue reading here:
Chinese scientists develop new gene therapy that can delay the aging process - National Post

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Reuters | Published: January 21, 2021 10:37:09 | Updated: January 21, 2021 14:27:09

Scientists in Beijing have developed a new gene therapy which can reverse some of the effects of ageing in mice and extend their lifespans, findings which may one day contribute to similar treatment for humans.

The method, detailed in a paper in the Science Translational Medicine journal earlier this month, involves inactivating a gene called kat7 which the scientists found to be a key contributor to cellular ageing.

The specific therapy they used and the results were a world first, said co-supervisor of the project Professor Qu Jing, 40, a specialist in ageing and regenerative medicine from the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

These mice show after 6-8 months overall improved appearance and grip strength and most importantly they have extended lifespan for about 25%, Qu said.

The team of biologists from different CAS departments used the CRISPR/Cas9 method to screen thousands of genes for those which were particularly strong drivers of cellular senescence, the term used to describe cellular ageing.

They identified 100 genes out of around 10,000, and kat7 was the most efficient at contributing to senescence in cells, Qu said.

Kat7 is one of tens of thousands of genes found in the cells of mammals. The researchers inactivated it in the livers of the mice using a method called a lentiviral vector.

n liver cell and the mouse liver cell and for all of these cells we didnt see any detectable cellular toxicity. And for the mice, we also didnt see any side effect yet.

Despite this, the method is a long way from being ready for human trials, Qu said.

Its still definitely necessary to test the function of kat7 in other cell types of humans and other organs of mice and in the other pre-clinical animals before we use the strategy for human ageing or other health conditions, she said.

Qu said she hopes to be able to test the method on primates next, but it would require a lot of funding and much more research first.

In the end, we hope that we can find a way to delay ageing even by a very minor percentage...in the future.

Read more:
Gene therapy developed to delay ageing - The Financial Express

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

REGULATED INFORMATION

Clinical programs running on schedule, including Phase III trial of JTA-004 and Phase IIb trial of ALLOB

Extensive achievements in collaborations and partnerships to enhance development, manufacturing and commercialization capabilities

Strong financial position following fundraising, licencing agreement and optimisation of manufacturing assets

Gosselies, Belgium, 20January 2021, 7am CET BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the cell therapy company addressing unmet medical needs in orthopedics and other diseases, today provides a business update for the fourth quarter, ending 31 December 2020 as well as a business outlook for 2021.

Bone Therapeutics managed to achieve a highly productive period in the last few months. We have made major advances in nearly all aspects of our activities while executing on our business strategy, said Miguel Forte, Chief Executive Officer, Bone Therapeutics. We recently started treating patients in the Phase IIb study with our allogeneic bone cell therapy product ALLOB. We also completed patient recruitment in the pivotal Phase III trial with the enriched viscosupplement, JTA-004, ready to provide topline data in the third quarter of this year. This will be a critical milestone in the history of Bone Therapeutics. In addition to our clinical programs, we have strongly improved our manufacturing capabilities with a partnership with Catalent, a leading global cell and gene CDMO, and extended the geographic reach of our bone cell therapies into Asia thanks to the licensing agreement with our Chinese partners Link Health and Pregene. We also have explored new grounds in the collaborations with Rigenerand and BioWin consortium. These collaborations will further expand the application of our innovative cell therapy platform and broaden our advanced clinical pipeline with potential new breakthrough developments. Building on the strong foundation of these recent achievements and a strengthened cash position, we are confident for 2021, continuing the progress we have already made and moving our allogeneic cell therapy and advanced biological products through clinical development while exploring new innovations that meet critical needs of patients.

Clinical highlights Q4 2020 to date

Corporate highlights Q4 2020 to date

Financial highlights Q4 2020 (1)

Outlook for 2021

Financial Calendar 2021

29 April Full Year Results & Annual Report 202026 May Q1 2021 Business and Financial Highlights9 June Annual General Meeting 20218 September Half Year Results 202126 October Q3 2021 Business and Financial Highlights

The financial calendar is communicated on an indicative basis and may be subject to change.

(1) Unaudited number

About Bone Therapeutics

Bone Therapeutics is a leading biotech company focused on the development of innovative products to address high unmet needs in orthopedics and other diseases. The Company has a, diversified portfolio of cell and biologic therapies at different stages ranging from pre-clinical programs in immunomodulation to mid-to-late stage clinical development for orthopedic conditions, targeting markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation.

Bone Therapeutics is developing an off-the-shelf next-generation improved viscosupplement, JTA-004, which is currently in Phase III development for the treatment of pain in knee osteoarthritis. Consisting of a unique combination of plasma proteins, hyaluronic acid - a natural component of knee synovial fluid, and a fast-acting analgesic, JTA-004 intends to provide added lubrication and protection to the cartilage of the arthritic joint and to alleviate osteoarthritic pain and inflammation. Positive Phase IIb efficacy results in patients with knee osteoarthritis showed a statistically significant improvement in pain relief compared to a leading viscosupplement.

Bone Therapeutics core technology is based on its cutting-edge allogeneic cell therapy platform with differentiated bone marrow sourced Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) which can be stored at the point of use in the hospital. Currently in pre-clinical development, BT-20, the most recent product candidate from this technology, targets inflammatory conditions, while the leading investigational medicinal product, ALLOB, represents a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stromal cells from healthy donors into bone-forming cells. These cells are produced via the Bone Therapeutics scalable manufacturing process. Following the CTA approval by regulatory authorities in Europe, the Company has initiated patient recruitment for the Phase IIb clinical trial with ALLOB in patients with difficult tibial fractures, using its optimized production process. ALLOB continues to be evaluated for other orthopedic indications including spinal fusion, osteotomy, maxillofacial and dental.

Bone Therapeutics cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards and are protected by a broad IP (Intellectual Property) portfolio covering ten patent families as well as knowhow. The Company is based in the BioPark in Gosselies, Belgium. Further information is available at http://www.bonetherapeutics.com.

For further information, please contact:

Bone Therapeutics SAMiguel Forte, MD, PhD, Chief Executive OfficerJean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial OfficerTel: +32 (0)71 12 10 00investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com

For Belgian Media and Investor Enquiries:BepublicCatherine HaquenneTel: +32 (0)497 75 63 56catherine@bepublic.be

International Media Enquiries:Image Box CommunicationsNeil Hunter / Michelle BoxallTel: +44 (0)20 8943 4685neil.hunter@ibcomms.agency / michelle@ibcomms.agency

For French Media and Investor Enquiries:NewCap Investor Relations & Financial CommunicationsPierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Arthur RouillTel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94bone@newcap.eu

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such persons officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

Continue reading here:
Bone Therapeutics provides fourth quarter 2020 business update and 2021 outlook - GlobeNewswire

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Global Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy Market 2020 by Company, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2026

Adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) are stem cells derived from adipocytes, and can differentiate into variety of cell types. ADSCs have multipotency similar to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, thus ADSCs substitute for bone marrow as a source of stem cells. Numerous manual and automatic stem cell separation procedures are adopted in order to separate adipose stem cells (ASCs) from adipose tissue. Flow cytometry can also be used to isolate ADSCs from other stem cells within a cell solution.

This report is an essential reference for those who look for detailed information on the Global Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy Market. The report covers data on global markets including historical and future trends for supply, market size, prices, trading, competition and value chain as well as Global major vendor information. In addition to the data part, the report also provides an overview of Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy market, including classification, application, manufacturing technology, industry chain analysis and the latest market dynamics.

Global Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy Market Research Reports provides information regarding market trends, competitive landscape, market analysis, cost structure, capacity, revenue, gross profit, business distribution and forecast 2024.

Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy Market was valued at xx million US$ in 2020 and will reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2020-2025.

The Global Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy market is highly competitive and consists of a number of major manufacturers like BioRestorative Therapies, Inc., Celltex Therapeutics Corporation, Antria, Inc., Cytori Therapeutics Inc., Intrexon Corporation, Mesoblast Ltd., iXCells Biotechnologies, Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Tissue Genesis, Inc., Cyagen US Inc., Celprogen, Inc., and Lonza Group, among others.

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Scope of the Report:

The segmentation has been done on the basis of types, applications, technology, and users. Each segment has been further explained with the help of Table of Content, Tables and Figures. This breakdown of the market gives the readers an objective view of the global Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy market, which is essential to make sound investments. Both these assess the path the market is likely to take by factoring in strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

This report also includes the overall and comprehensive study of the Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy market with all its aspects influencing the growth of the market. This report is an exhaustive quantitative analysis of the Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy industry and provides data for making strategies to increase the market growth and effectiveness.

The Global Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy market 2019 research provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Global Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.

Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.

In addition to this, regional analysis is conducted to identify the leading region and calculate its share in the global Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy market. Various factors positively impacting the growth of the Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy market in the leading region are also discussed in the report. The global Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy market is also segmented on the basis of types, end users, geography and other segments.

On the basis of geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

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The major factors defined in this report are:

The study objectives of this report are:

To study and analyze the global Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, product type and application, history data from 2014 to 2018, and forecast to 2024.

To understand the structure of Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy market by identifying its various subsegments.

Focuses on the key global Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in next few years.

To analyze the Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.

To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).

To project the consumption of Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries).

To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.

To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.

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Table of Content:

Chapter One: Industry Overview of Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy

Chapter Two: Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis

Chapter Three: Development and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy

Chapter Four: Key Figures of Major Manufacturers

Chapter Five: Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy Regional Market Analysis

Chapter Six: Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy Segment Market Analysis (by Type)

Chapter Seven: Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy Segment Market Analysis (by Application)

Chapter Eight: Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy Major Manufacturers Analysis

Chapter Nine: Development Trend of Analysis of Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy Market

Chapter Ten: Marketing Channel

Chapter Eleven: Conclusion

View original post here:
Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy Market Projected to Witness a Double-Digit CAGR During 2018 to 2026 | Coherent Market Insights - The Courier

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

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New Jersey, United States,- Stem Cell Therapy Market Report gives a detailed analysis of the market. After a detailed examination of the current trends, the report shares the details around the factors fueling the markets momentum.

Forgiving an in-depth review of the market, the report showcases the factors that are affecting the markets overall growth. From network partners, production methods to revenue generating techniques, every detail is added in the report. In addition, the Stem Cell Therapy report has enclosed the data about the established players of the market.

Stem Cell Therapy report has a dedicated section that highlights the actions that can be appointed for global level expansion. The report is designed to guide through every step from planning till implementation.

The major players covered in the Stem Cell Therapy market are

Osiris Therapeutics Medipost Co. Ltd. Anterogen Co. Ltd. Pharmicell Co. Ltd. HolostemTerapieAvanzateSrl JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. Nuvasive RTI Surgical Allosource

It is worth noting that the Stem Cell Therapy market report also gives a complete overview in terms of volume, market value, demand and supply. All these factors add up to become the market dynamics of the Stem Cell Therapy market. For leaping ahead of the competition and to make the most out of the emerging opportunities, it is essential to understand the market dynamics.

As per the Verified Market Reports experts, the Stem Cell Therapy market is going to balloon in terms of revenue and customer base. This conclusion was drawn out from the market indicators that are considered in the Stem Cell Therapy market report to form curated data. The crucial pieces of data are included in the form of tables, charts and graphs to give a visual representation of the complex and huge database.

What key insights does the Stem Cell Therapy market research provide?

Past and current revenue statistics of the Stem Cell Therapy market players analyzed at the regional level. Individual profiling of major stakeholders. Analysis of the Stem Cell Therapy market size on the basis of product type and end-use type. Accurate Stem Cell Therapy market forecast of volume in numbers and percentages. Demand prospect of individual segments covered in the Stem Cell Therapy report.

Segmentation of Stem Cell Therapy Market:

1.Stem Cell Therapy Market, By Cell Source:

Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cord Blood/Embryonic Stem Cells Other Cell Sources

2.Stem Cell Therapy Market, By Therapeutic Application:

Musculoskeletal Disorders Wounds and Injuries Cardiovascular Diseases Surgeries Gastrointestinal Diseases Other Applications

3.Stem Cell Therapy Market, By Type:

Allogeneic Stem Cell Therapy Market, By Application Musculoskeletal Disorders Wounds and Injuries Surgeries Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease (AGVHD) Other Applications Autologous Stem Cell Therapy Market, By Application Cardiovascular Diseases Wounds and Injuries Gastrointestinal Diseases Other Applications

Stem Cell Therapy Market Report Scope

What queries are resolved by the Stem Cell Therapy market research?

1. What are the restraints slowing down the progress of Stem Cell Therapy market?2. Why are the end consumers getting more inclined towards alternative Stem Cell Therapy market products?3. How the Stem Cell Therapy market expected to shape in the next septennial?4. What strategies are being appointed by the major players of the Stem Cell Therapy market to stay ahead of the competition?5. What innovative technologies are being used by the established players of the Stem Cell Therapy market to stay ahead of the competition?

Why choose Verified Market Reports?

Smart dashboard to provide details about updated industry trends. Data collection from different network partners such as suppliers, vendors, service providers, for giving out a clear perspective of the Stem Cell Therapy market. Strict quality checking standards Data collection, triangulation, and validation. 24/7 at your service.

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The rest is here:
Stem Cell Therapy Market Size, Growth Opportunities, Trends, Key Players and Forecast to 2027 - The Courier

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The market research report titled Cell Isolation Market by Product (Instruments and Consumables), by Cell Type (Animal and Human), by Cell Source (Adipose Tissue, Embryonic/Cord Blood Stem Cells, and Bone Marrow), by Technique (Surface Marker-Based Cell Isolation, Centrifugation-Based Cell Isolation, and Filtration-Based Cell Isolation), by Application (Cancer Research, Biomolecule Isolation, Tissue Regeneration & Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Research, In Vitro Diagnostics, and Others), and By End-User (Hospitals & Diagnostic Laboratories, Research Laboratories & Institutes, Biotechnology & Biopharmaceutical Companies, and Others): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 20182025 published by Zion Market Research provides an insightful comprehension about the growth aspects, dynamics, and working of the globalCell IsolationMarket. The report entails details about the market with data collected over the years with its wide-ranging analysis. It also comprises the competitive landscape within the market together with a detailed evaluation of the leading players within the global Cell Isolation Market. In addition, it sheds light on the profiles of the key vendors/manufacturers comprising thorough assessment of the market share, production technology, market entry strategies, revenue forecasts, and so on. Further, the report will encompass the fundamental strategic activities such as product developments, mergers & acquisitions, launches, events, partnerships, collaborations, and so on. Apart from this, it will also present the new entrants contributing their part in the market growth.

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Becton, Dickinson, and Company, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Merck KGaA, Beckman Coulter Inc., Terumo BCT, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

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Global Cell Isolation Market SWOT Analysis, Key Indicators, Forecast 2027 : Becton, Dickinson, and Company, Thermo Fisher Scientific KSU | The...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The CRISPR systems inside bacteria serve as adaptive immune systems, but they also threaten to unleash autoimmune reactions. Fortunately, for bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes, these systems have a built-in safety feature: a long-form transactivating CRISPR RNA (tracrRNA). Unlike the short-form tracrRNA, which together with CRISPR RNA (crRNA) complexes with the CRISPR-Cas9 enzyme and guides it to DNA sites where it executes cuts, the long-form tracrRNA guides the enzyme to the enzymes own genetic promoter.

The long-form tracrRNA that complexes CRISPR-Cas9 enzyme doesnt need to bind to crRNA, and it doesnt cut. Instead, it merely lingers in place, preventing gene expression.

Essentially, long-form tracrRNA acts as a safety feature, dialing down a bacteriums immune system to prevent it from attacking the bacterium itself rather than foreign DNA. This self-protection function for long-form tracrRNA was uncovered by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. The researchers, led by Joshua W. Modell, PhD, also explored whether long-form tracrRNA could be reprogrammed to guide CRISPR-Cas9 to DNA sites other than the CRISPR-Cas9 promoter.

The researchers findings appeared in the journal Cell, in an article titled, A natural single-guide RNA repurposes Cas9 to autoregulate CRISPR-Cas expression. According to the researchers, long-form tracrRNA could serve as a programmable genetic dimmer switch, one that could be used to inhibit the expression of designated genes in research applications.

We show that in the S. pyogenes CRISPR-Cas system, a long-form transactivating CRISPR RNA folds into a natural single guide that directs Cas9 to transcriptionally repress its own promoter (Pcas), the articles authors wrote. Further, we demonstrate that Pcas serves as a critical regulatory node.

Scientists have long worked to unravel the precise steps of CRISPR-Cas9s mechanism and how its activity in bacteria is dialed up or down. Looking for genes that ignite or inhibit the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-cutting system for the common, strep-throat causing bacterium S. pyogenes, the Johns Hopkins scientists found a clue regarding how that aspect of the system works.

Specifically, the scientists found a gene in the CRISPR-Cas9 system that, when deactivated, led to a dramatic increase in the activity of the system in bacteria. The product of this gene appeared to re-program Cas9 to act as a brake, rather than as a scissor, to dial down the CRISPR system.

From an immunity perspective, bacteria need to ramp up CRISPR-Cas9 activity to identify and rid the cell of threats, but they also need to dial it down to avoid autoimmunitywhen the immune system mistakenly attacks components of the bacteria themselves, said graduate student Rachael Workman, a bacteriologist working in Modells laboratory.

To further nail down the particulars of the brake, the teams next step was to better understand the product of the deactivated gene, a tracrRNA. tracrRNAs belong to a unique family of RNAs that do not make proteins. Instead, they act as a kind of scaffold that allows the Cas9 enzyme to carry the guide RNA that contains a mug shot of previously encountered phage DNA. The mug shot allows Cas9 to cut matching DNA sequences in newly invading viruses.

tracrRNA comes in two sizes: long and short. Most of the modern gene-cutting CRISPR-Cas9 tools use the short form. However, the research team found that the deactivated gene product was the long-form of tracrRNA, the function of which has been entirely unknown.

In bacteria, DNA-cutting CRISPR-Cas9 complexes typically consist of a Cas9 enzyme and a guide RNA. The guide RNA consists of a short-form transactivating CRISPR RNA (tracrRNA) scaffold and a DNA-sequence-specific CRISPR (crRNA). Long-form tracrRNA, however, can complex with and guide Cas9 without crRNA. When long-form tracrRNA does so, it guides the Cas9 enzyme to a Cas9 promoter. The promoter is not cut, but expression is repressed. Left: A schematic of the long-form of the tracrRNA used by the CRISPR-Cas9 system in bacteria. Right: the standard guide RNA used by many scientists as part of the gene-cutting CRISPR-Cas9 system. (Often, the guide RNA is a single synthetic molecule, rather than a combination of tracrRNA and crRNA.) [Joshua Modell and Rachael Workman, Johns Hopkins Medicine]The long and short forms of tracrRNA are similar in structure and have in common the ability to bind to Cas9. The short-form tracrRNA also binds to the guide RNA. However, the long-form tracrRNA doesnt need to bind to the crRNA, because it contains a segment that mimics the crRNA. Essentially, long-form tracrRNAs have combined the function of the short-form tracrRNA and crRNA, explained Modell, assistant professor of molecular biology and genetics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

The researchers used genetic engineering to alter the length of a certain region in long-form tracrRNA to make the tracrRNA appear more like a guide RNA. They found that with the altered long-form tracrRNA, Cas9 once again behaved more like a scissor.

Other experiments showed that in lab-grown bacteria with a plentiful amount of long-form tracrRNA, levels of all CRISPR-related genes were very low. When the long-form tracrRNA was removed from bacteria, however, expression of CRISPR-Cas9 genes increased a hundredfold.

Bacterial cells lacking the long-form tracrRNA were cultured in the laboratory for three days and compared with similarly cultured cells containing the long-form tracrRNA. By the end of the experiment, bacteria without the long-form tracrRNA had completely died off. De-repression causes a dramatic 3,000-fold increase in immunization rates against viruses, the articles authors noted. However, heightened immunity comes at the cost of increased autoimmune toxicity.

These findings suggest that long-form tracrRNA normally protects cells from the sickness and death that happen when CRISPR-Cas9 activity is very high. We started to get the idea that the long form was repressing but not eliminating its own CRISPR-related activity, recalled Workman.

To see if the long-form tracrRNA could be re-programmed to repress other bacterial genes, the research team altered the long-form tracrRNAs spacer region to let it sit on a gene that produces green fluorescence. Bacteria with this mutated version of long-form tracrRNA glowed less green than bacteria containing the normal long-form tracrRNA, suggesting that the long-form tracrRNA can be genetically engineered to dial down other bacterial genes.

Another research team, from Emory University, found that in the parasitic bacteria Francisella novicida, Cas9 behaves as a dimmer switch for a gene outside the CRISPR-Cas9 region. The CRISPR-Cas9 system in the Johns Hopkins study is more widely used by scientists as a gene-cutting tool, and the Johns Hopkins teams findings provide evidence that the dimmer action controls the CRISPR-Cas9 system in addition to other genes.

Using bioinformatic analyses, we provide evidence that tracrRNA-mediated autoregulation is widespread in type II-A CRISPR-Cas systems, the Johns Hopkins scientists added. Collectively, we unveil a new paradigm for the intrinsic regulation of CRISPR-Cas systems by natural single guides, which may facilitate the frequent horizontal transfer of these systems into new hosts that have not yet evolved their own regulatory strategies.

The researchers also found the genetic components of long-form tracrRNA in about 40% of the Streptococcus group of bacteria. Further study of bacterial strains that dont have the long-form tracrRNA, said Workman, will potentially reveal whether their CRISPR-Cas9 systems are intact, and other ways that bacteria may dial back the CRISPR-Cas9 system.

The dimmer capability that the experiments uncovered offers opportunities to design new or better CRISPR-Cas9 tools aimed at regulating gene activity for research purposes. In a gene editing scenario, Modell suggested, a researcher may want to cut a specific gene, in addition to using the long-form tracrRNA to inhibit gene activity.

Excerpt from:
Natural CRISPR's Safety Feature Could Become Genetic Dimmer Switch - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

TipRanks

Big Tech has been in the news lately, and not necessarily for the right reasons. Accusations of corporate censorship have hit the headlines in recent weeks. While serious, this may have a salutary effect the public discussion of Big Techs role in our digital lives is long overdue. And that discussion will get underway just as the Q4 and full-year 2020 financial numbers start coming in. Of the FAANG stocks, Netflix has already reported; the other four will release results in the next two weeks. So, the upcoming earnings will garner well-deserved attention, and Wall Streets best analysts are already publishing their views on some of the markets most important components. Using TipRanks database, we pulled up the details on two members of the FAANG club to find out how the Street thinks each will fare when they publish their fourth quarter numbers. According to the platform, both have received plenty of love from the analysts, earning a Strong Buy consensus rating. Facebook (FB) Lets start with Facebook, the social media giant that has redefined our online interactions. Along with Google, Facebook has also brought us targeted digital marketing and advertising, and the mass monetization of the internet. Its been a profitable strategy for the company. Facebooks market cap is up to $786 billion, and in the third quarter of 2020, the company reported $21.5 billion at the top line. Looking ahead to the Q4 report, due out on January 27, analysts are forecasting revenues at or near $26.2 billion. This would be in-line with the companys pattern, of rising quarterly performance from Q1 to Q4. At the predicted sum, revenues would rise 24% year-over-year, roughly congruent with the 22% yoy gain already seen in Q3. The key metric to watch out for will be the growth in daily active users; this metric slipped slightly from Q2 to Q3, and further decline will be taken as an ominous sign for the companys future. As it stands now, Facebooks daily average user number is 1.82 billion. Ahead of the print, Oppenheimer analyst Jason Helfstein boosted his price target to $345 (from $300), while reiterating an Outperform (i.e. Buy) rating. Investors stand to pocket ~26% gain should the analyst's thesis play out. (To watch Helfsteins track record, click here) The 5-star analyst commented, "[We] anticipate 4Q advertising revenue will handily top Street estimates. We now forecast 4Q advertising revenue +30% y/y vs. Street's +25% estimate based on a regression of US Standard Media Index Data (r-squared 0.95) and accelerating global CPM data from Gupta Media (4Q +35% y/y vs. 3Q's -12%). Additionally, we are very bullish on FB's eCommerce opportunity following conversations with our checks and our initial work conservatively estimating Shops is a $2550B opportunity vs. current $85B revs. We believe shares currently trading at 7.1x EV/NTM sales offers the most favorable risk/ reward in internet large cap." Overall, the social media empire remains a Wall Street darling, as TipRanks analytics showcasing FB as a Strong Buy. This is based on 34 recent reviews, which break down to 30 Buy ratings, 3 Holds, and 1 Sell. Shares are priced at $276.10 and the average price target of $327.42 suggests a one-year upside of ~19%. (See FB stock analysis on TipRanks) Amazon (AMZN) Turning to e-commerce, we cant avoid Amazon. The retail giant has a market cap of $1.65 trillion, making it one of just four publicly traded companies valued over the trillion-dollar mark. The companys famously price is famously high, and has grown 74% since this time last year, far outpacing the broader markets. Amazons growth has been supported by increased online sales activity during the corona year. Globally, online retail has grew 27% in 2020, while total retail slipped 3%. Amazon, which dominates the online retail sector, is projected to end 2020 with $380 billion in total revenue, or 34% year-over-year growth, outpacing the global e-commerce gains. Cowen analyst John Blackledge, rating 5-stars by TipRanks, covers Amazon and is bullish on the companys prospects ahead of the earnings release. Blackledge rates the stock Outperform (i.e. Buy), and his price target, at $4,350, indicates confidence in a 31% upside on the one-year time horizon. (To watch Blackledges track record, click here) We forecast 4Q20 reported revenue of $120.8BN, +38.2% y/y vs. +37.4% y/y in 3Q20 led by AWS, advertising, subscription and 3P sales [..] We estimate US Prime sub growth accelerated in 4Q20 (reaching 76MM subs in Dec '20 and ~74MM on avg in 4Q20), helped by pandemic demand, Prime Day in Oct, & elongated shopping period, as well as 1 Day delivery [...] In '21, we expect strong top-line growth to continue driven by eCommerce (helped by COVID pull forward in Grocery), adv., AWS & sub businesses," Blackledge opined. That Wall Street generally is bullish on Amazon is no secret; the company has 33 reviews on record, and 32 of them are Buys, versus 1 Hold. Shares are priced at $3,301.26 and the average price target of $3,826 implies that it will grow another 16% this year. (See AMZN stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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CRISPR (CRSP) Up More Than 80% in Past 3 Months: Here's Why - Yahoo Finance

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL January 20, 2021 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: CRISPR Therapeutics AG CRSP, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated VRTX and Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. NTLA.

Shares ofCRISPR Therapeutics have rallied 87.3% in the past three months compared with theindustry'sincrease of 15.4%.

The company has made rapid progress with the development of its lead pipeline candidate, CTX001. The candidate is an investigational ex vivo CRISPR gene-edited therapy, which is currently being developed for treating sickle cell disease ("SCD") and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia ("TDT") in partnership withVertex Pharmaceuticals.

In December 2020, the companiesannouncedpromising additional data on CTX001, which demonstrated a consistent and sustained response in treating patients with SCD and TDT. Treatment with CTX001 showed that all seven patients with TDT remained transfusion independent until the last follow-up, while all three patients with SCD were free of vaso-occlusive crises through the last follow-up.

Both diseases have a significant unmet medical need, and if successfully developed and commercialized, the candidate can lend a huge boost to CRISPR Therapeutics' prospects.

Notably, CTX001 has been granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy, Fast Track, and Orphan Drug designations by the FDA for both TDT and SCD. The European Commission has granted Orphan Drug Designation to the gene therapy candidate for both indications.

Genomic editing to repair a defective genetic material that causes diseases using CRISPR technology is probably one of the most promising and exciting healthcare innovations seen in decades. The technology has the potential to change how diseases, especially those caused by genetic mutations, are treated.

Story continues

Though the market holds great potential, competition remains stiff in the space. Other companies likeIntellia Therapeutics are also engaged in developing candidates to address different indications using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology.

CRISPR Therapeutics is also developing three gene-edited allogeneic cell therapy programs, chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) candidates, CTX110, CTX120 and CTX130 for the treatment of hematological and solid tumor cancers. Several data readouts on the above candidates are expected in the ongoing year and a positive outcome might drive the stock further up in the days ahead.

CRISPR Therapeutics currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can seethe complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.

Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumedthat any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein andis subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free reportVertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) : Free Stock Analysis ReportIntellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NTLA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research

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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: CRISPR Therapeutics, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Intellia Therapeutics - Yahoo Finance

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Generally speaking, investors are inspired to be stock pickers by the potential to find the big winners. Not every pick can be a winner, but when you pick the right stock, you can win big. One such superstar is CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP), which saw its share price soar 411% in three years. On top of that, the share price is up 115% in about a quarter.

Check out our latest analysis for CRISPR Therapeutics

CRISPR Therapeutics wasn't profitable in the last twelve months, it is unlikely we'll see a strong correlation between its share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Arguably revenue is our next best option. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth.

CRISPR Therapeutics' revenue trended up 81% each year over three years. That's much better than most loss-making companies. In light of this attractive revenue growth, it seems somewhat appropriate that the share price has been rocketing, boasting a gain of 72% per year, over the same period. Despite the strong run, top performers like CRISPR Therapeutics have been known to go on winning for decades. In fact, it might be time to put it on your watchlist, if you're not already familiar with the stock.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

CRISPR Therapeutics is a well known stock, with plenty of analyst coverage, suggesting some visibility into future growth. So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think CRISPR Therapeutics will earn in the future (free analyst consensus estimates)

Pleasingly, CRISPR Therapeutics' total shareholder return last year was 241%. So this year's TSR was actually better than the three-year TSR (annualized) of 72%. The improving returns to shareholders suggests the stock is becoming more popular with time. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for CRISPR Therapeutics you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.

PromotedIf you decide to trade CRISPR Therapeutics, use the lowest-cost* platform that is rated #1 Overall by Barrons, Interactive Brokers. Trade stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds on 135 markets, all from a single integrated account.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. *Interactive Brokers Rated Lowest Cost Broker by StockBrokers.com Annual Online Review 2020

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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Investors Who Bought CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP) Shares Three Years Ago Are Now Up 411% - Simply Wall St

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Sickle cell anemia and thalassemia are genetic diseases that result in the production of anomalous hemoglobin (protein that carries oxygen) and deformed red blood cells. There is no cure for these ailments, but ten patients who have had their genes edited are on their way to get rid of them, thanks to the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats technique or CRISPR.

It is possible to edit human cells and safely infuse them in patients; this treatment has totally changed their lives, said haematologist Haydar Frangoul of the Sarah Cannon Research Institute. He is the doctor accompanying the studys first volunteer, the housewife and mother of three children Victoria Gray.

The work consisted of activating the generation of fetal hemoglobin, which is still produced in the womb and which results in healthy red blood cells. When the baby is born, the gene turns off and, in patients with thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, the result is the production of anomalous hemoglobin.

To receive the stem cells edited by CRISPR, patients first had to go through a painful stage: numerous rounds of chemotherapyAfter all the stem cells that produced the anomalous hemoglobin were destroyed, those edited were infused into the patients to reproduce and manufacture fetal hemoglobin.

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Read more:
We may have a CRISPR cure for red blood diseases sickle cell anemia and beta thalassemia - Genetic Literacy Project

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The genomics space is rapidly innovating. The ARK Genomic Revolution Multi-Sector Fund (CBOE: ARKG) makes accessing innovation much easier.

For investors, ARKGs active management and utility are vital because the fund is flexible and able to capitalize on genomics advancements more rapidly than index-based rivals. Those advancements include gene editing.

Crispr-Cas9 is the second generation of technologies that seek to repair thousands of inherited genetic disorders and battle cancer in new ways. Gene editing is advancing so quickly that next-generation technologies are already on the heels of Crispr-Cas9, including a more-precise tool called base editing, reports Bill Alpert for Barrons.

The CRISPR technology may also be under the spotlight as another disease fighting tool, with the world refocusing on the need for improved healthcare solutions.

The ARK Genomic Revolution ETF tracks the convergence of tech and healthcare. The underlying components are expected to substantially benefit from extending and enhancing the quality of human and other life by incorporating technological and scientific developments and advancements in genomics into their business.

While gene-editing start-ups will lose money during years of clinical trials, its hard to say the stocks are overvalued. If their one-time interventions can cure diseases that otherwise require chronic treatmentor lack any treatment at allthen the stocks will fly, according to Barrons.

That speaks to a big advantage with ARKG: investors dont have to stock pick in the gene editing arena.

Looking ahead, CRISPR-based innovations to accelerate given the technologys ease of use, cost-efficacy, a growing body of research surrounding its safety, and AI-powered CRISPR nuclease selection tools. CRISPR could also be utilized to address some of the most prominent healthcare problems, which opens up a significant investment opportunity in monogenic diseases.

CRISPR can cut DNA/RNA at a single point or in stretches; insert DNA/RNA and create novel gene sequences; activate and silence genes without making permanent changes; regulate protein expression levels epigenetically; record and timestamp biological events; track the movement of specific biological molecules; identify the presence of specific cancer mutations and bacteria; locate molecules without making changes; target and destroy specific viral and bacterial DNA and RNA; interrogate gene function multiplexed, and activate drug release at a specified trigger.

Because gene editing permanently changes the genome, it doesnt appear to suffer from these issues. Nature evolved many tools to cut DNA at specific spots in the genome, addsBarrons.

For more on disruptive technologies, visit our Disruptive Technology Channel.

The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.

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The ARKG ETF: Join the Genomics Revolution - ETF Trends

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith