The Kraken, the mythical beast of the sea, is real.

Giant squid live in the dark depths of the ocean, and very little is known about them to this day.

Most of what the world has learned about the gargantuan creature, which can grow up to 40 feet long and live in a world devoid of sunlight, is taken from their floating carcasses, or from the belly of sperm whales.

Until 2005, no scientist had ever photographed a living giant squid. One hadn't been filmed until 2013. But scientists believe there are millions of them out there.

In June, a NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research expedition captured the first footage of a giant squid in American waters.

The New Yorker's David Grannwrote that giant squid can be "larger than a whale and stronger than an elephant, with a beak that can sever steel cables."

Here's what is known about the mysterious beast, and why so much is still not known.

Link:
Photos show the mysterious giant squid over 150 years of discovery - Business Insider

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

By JACKIE LEBOMore by this Author

I write this from Iten, home of, among many others, Sharon Cherop, winner of the 2012 Boston Marathon.

If one spent any significant amount of time here, it would be hard to believe that Kenyan athletic success may be innate as stated by Max Fisher in his 2012 article in the Atlantic Online titled, Why Kenyans make such great runners: A story of genes and culture.

The article exhibits a complete failure of imagination, research and knowledge. I have spent the last six years interviewing hundreds of runners, coaches, officials in Iten, Eldoret, Kaptagat, Kapsabet, Kisii and Nyahururu.

Athletes follow the New York Marathon at the Keellu Resort in Iten on November 5, 2017. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA |NATION MEDIA GROUP

I have lived with athletes, watched their training and travelled with them to races in the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy the US and Japan, as well as watched many local races here in Kenya. I will give a short history of the sport in Kenya and the context in which the running dominance occurs.

Fisher cannot imagine that, as in many centres of excellence, there exists a system of knowledge, institutional infrastructure, and people that has created and sustained Kenyans running dominance.

Fisher did not interview any Kenyan athletes, coaches or administrators, though a good number of them were present at the Boston Marathon, where a sweep of both the mens and womens races by Kenyan athletes was the starting point for his article.

Instead, the writer used dated and controversial studies to draw the flawed conclusion that Kenyan runners are dominant because of their genes.

Kenyas first major international competition was the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, where Nyandika Maiyoro was fourth in the three-mile event, Lazaro Chepkowny was seventh in the six-mile race, and the Kenyan team was fourth in the 4-by-400m relay. At the Olympics in Melbourne two years later, Maiyoro was seventh in the 5,000m race.

By the 1960 Olympics in Rome, where Abebe Bikila won East Africas first Olympic gold medal in the marathon event, Maiyoro was sixth in the 5,000m race and Seraphino Antao and Bartonjo Rotich reached the semi-finals of the 100m and 400m hurdles, respectively. At the 1962 Commonwealth Games, Antao won Kenyas first Club gold medals in the 100 and 220 yard sprints.

The Perth Games also saw the first appearance of Kipchoge Keino, who would go on to become Kenyas most famous runner of that era. The 1964 Tokyo Olympics saw Kenyas first Olympic medal, a bronze earned by Wilson Kiprugut in the 800m.

It was at the 1968 Mexico Olympic games that Kenyan athletes came into their own, winning 11 medals, including three gold by Amos Biwott in the steeplechase, Naftali Temu in the 10,000m, Amos Biwott in the steeplechase and Kipchoge Keino in the 1,500m.

From 1954 to 1968 there was a steady progression where Kenyan athletes, coaches and officials were interacting with the best in the world, learning from them, adapting their methods to fit the Kenyan training regime, and creating strategies to beat them.

The late Seraphino Antao told me in an interview he improved his training methods after meeting world leading sprinters like American world record holder and Olympic gold medallist Bob Hayes and Peter Radford, the British world record holder. This led to Antaos Commonwealth Gold medals.

On learning that altitude may be a factor at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, coach Charles Mukora moved part of the teams training to Nyahururu, situated at high altitude.

National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) president Charles Mukora (right), receives a report about Kenyas participation in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona from Isaiah Kiplagat in 1992. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Mukora and his coaching team also devised the strategy of Ben Jipcho going out really fast in the 1,500m so as to confuse the rest of the field, especially the American Jim Ryun, the then world record holder and pre-race favourite. It worked as Kipchoge Keino stormed to victory.

Other breakout athletes of the 68 Games in the disciplined forces include Jipcho (Kenya Prisons) and Naftali Temu (Kenya Army). The disciplined forces continue that tradition today, hiring young athletes after high school, and, predictably, winning national athletics competitions every year.

Iten is home to more than 1,000 runners from various parts of Kenya. An additional 1,000 runners live and train within a 70-km radius in Eldoret, Kaptagat, Kapsabet and Cherangany. Further afield in Kisii, Ngong, Nyahururu and Ukambani, there are another 1,000 runners. Some estimates put the figure of runners training in Kenya at 5,000. All running, not for recreation, but targeting excelling at the very highest levels of the sport and doing little else but eating, resting and training.

At the edge of Iten stands St Patricks High School. Founded in 1961 by Patrician Brothers, the school held both academic and sporting excellence in equal measure. St Patricks teams have been national high school champions in basketball and volleyball numerous times. They have excelled in football and hockey at regional level and produced many world-class runners.

In 1976, a young Irishman named Brother Colm OConnell came to the school to teach Geography. He found a strong athletic programme run by Peter Forster, the brother of British Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist Brendan Forster. Peter Forster was aware of the programme that his brother used, so the training at the school was already at a high level.

Bro. Colm OConnell, an athletics coach who has lived in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County for 42 years, during the launch of OConnell Street in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County on August 18, 2018. The street was named in his honour for the contributions in the county and country at large. PHOTO |JARED NYATAYA |NATION MEDIA GROUP

A year later, Peter Forster finished his volunteer term at St Patricks and Brother Colm became the new coach. He learned from the athletes, read all the material he could get his hands on, and attended coaching seminars in Nairobi.

The school had already produced Olympians such as Mike Boit, the 800m bronze medallist at the Munich Olympics who, by 1976, was in the American collegiate system. But it was the identical Cheruiyot twins running in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics while still high school students that captured the public imagination. At the 1988 Seoul games, Peter Rono became the first Brother Colm-trained athlete to win an Olympic Gold.

In those days running was a way to get a job after high school in state-owned-companies such as Kenya Posts and Telecommunications, Kenya Railways and the disciplined forces the military, police and prisons. All these organisations provided infrastructure in the form of coaches, training facilities and salaries so the athletes could focus fully on training.

The coaches came to high school championships to scout and recruit the best runners for their teams. And if a runners grades were good enough, it was a way to get into American universities with a full scholarship. Competition to get into St Patricks became intense and there were many promising athletes who could not secure a place at the school.

Brother Colm set about establishing a system that would take the St Patricks method to other schools. In December 1989, he started a holiday youth camp for athletes and coaches from the region, and soon Singore, Kapkenda and Tambach high schools had strong athletic programmes. Kitang, Kapcherop and St Francis Kimuron high schools soon followed, as did primary schools like Mokwo.

What the holiday youth camp in Iten did was to consolidate gains made by Kenyan athletics in the 50s, 60s and 70s and take that knowledge to a wider and younger pool of potential athletes. In the 30-or-so years that the camp has been in existence, nearly 2,000 athletes have passed through it.

They include David Rudisha (800m world record holder), Wilson Boit Kipketer (former 3,000m steeplechase world record holder), Sally Barsosio (1993 World 10,000m champion), Wilson Kipketer (former 800m world record holder and three-time 800m world champion), Mathew Birir (1992 Olympics 3,000m steeplechase champion, Rose Cheruiyot (1995 All Africa Games 5,000m champion), Stephen Cherono (former 3000m steeplechase world record holder), Janeth Jepkosgei (2007 800m World Championships), Edna Kiplagat (2011 Daegu World marathon champion), Brimin Kipruto (2008 Beijing Olympics 3,000m steeplechase champion), Vivian Cheruiyot (2011 World 5,000m and 10,000m champion), and 2012 Boston Marathon winner Sharon Cherop. This is by no means a comprehensive list.

Kenya's David Lekuta Rudisha poses next to the record board after winning the men's 800 final during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 9, 2012 in London. PHOTO | FRANCK FIFE | AFP

The late 80s and early 90s was also a time of great change at the IAAF. Under the leadership of the entrepreneurial Primo Nebiolo, the Federations annual budget grew from $50,000 (Sh5 million) to $40 million (Sh4 billion).

Nebiolo believed runners should make a living from the sport, just like football and basketball players. He approached companies, signed big sponsorship packages and negotiated lucrative television deals.

Athletes at the top of their events could earn hundreds of thousands of dollars each season. Stars were made, there was a rejuvenated interest in the sport and races started to pop up in many cities and towns as they could attract sponsorship.

Among the Kenyan athletes to benefit from professionalisation of the sport was Douglas Wakiihuri, who won the marathon at the World Championships in Rome in 1987.

Kenya Pipeline company Corporate communications Manager Jason Nyantino (right) hands over a dummy cheque of Sh3 Million to Soya awards brand ambassador Douglas Wakiihuri (left) as Claryce Anyango of Kenya Pipeline Communications department looks on at Laico Regency Hotel on January 8, 2019. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |NATION MEDIA GROUP

In 1989 he became the first Kenyan to win the London Marathon and the second Kenyan to win the New York Marathon in 1990. Other outstanding athletes from this period were John Ngugi, five-time World Cross Country Champion and gold medallist at the 5,000m in the 1988 Seoul Olympics; as well as Paul Kipkoech, the Rome 1987 World Championships 10,000m gold medallist.

The economist and 2011 MacArthur Fellow Ronald Fryer says that if you want to understand people, you have to look at which direction the incentives are pointing them to. With the professionalisation of the sport, runners stopped looking at athletics as a way to get a job or a college scholarship and started looking at it as a way to earn a living.

The first prize at the 2012 Boston Marathon was $50,000 (Sh5 million), and this did not take into account appearance fees, in the $100,000 (Sh10 million) to $250,000 (Sh25 million) range for top athletes, and shoe company bonuses. Kenyan runners do not operate in a vacuum, they operate within a global sports economy worth billions of dollars and overseen by the likes of Nike, Puma, Adidas, Asics, Brooks, New Balance, Under Armour and Champion.

The 2011 running shoe industry in the US alone was worth $2.33 billion. In 2010, 13 million people in the US finished road races, up 73 per cent from the year 2000. They buy running shoes, tights, shirts, hats, gels, power bars and energy drinks.

When an Adidas-sponsored Kenyan athlete wins the New York Marathon and breaks the course record, the company gets huge publicity, which in turn helps with product sales. Moments like this course records and world records are written into the athletes shoe contract, earning them lucrative bonuses and providing a strong incentive to run faster and faster.

When the first professional runners came back from the European circuit and paid cash for land, houses and cars, the young people around them took notice. The holiday youth camp at St Patricks provided the model for the professional training camps that sprang up in Iten, and many young people flocked to the camps with the dream of becoming star athletes.

In a country where higher education opportunities are limited, running presents a very real path to a better life, and that is why so many youngsters plunge into it.

The confluence of these events a long athletic tradition that went back to the 1950s, a stable country with institutions from schools to the disciplined forces and professional camps where training could evolve to the highest levels, connections through international athletic managers to races all over the world where there are large sums of money to be won in the face of limited opportunities, and many young people attempting the sport, making competition cut-throat has kept pushing the boundaries of distance running.

Nowhere else in the world do you get this combination of factors, except, perhaps to a lesser extent, in Ethiopia, Kenyas perennial distance-running rival.

Within these institutional frameworks you find a system that can now exploit elements like altitude by living in the higher elevation of Iten and training at the lower elevation of Chepkoilel. There are other places in the world where high altitude occurs, like Nepal and Columbia, but they dont have the institutions and resources dedicated to athletics that Kenya has.

This system exploits the fact that Kenya is an agricultural country that has relatively cheap food to meet the nutritional needs of its athletes. This system exploits the fact that, compared to other sports, distance running is relatively cheap to fund and the barriers to entry are low all you need are two pairs of running shoes and a track suit, easily obtained at any second-hand clothes seller.

This system exploits the fact that its rigorous training methods prepare athletes for the toughest competitions. This system exploits the fact that Eldoret has an international airport that is a 45-minute flight to Nairobi, and from there you can catch a flight to races all over the world.

This system exploits the fact that since many of the top distance runners in the world are here, the young runners in their training groups are always pitting themselves against the best. When these slim margins are stacked up, they constitute a considerable competitive advantage.

When the results of this system are presented, as in Fishers article, as how an ethnic minority that makes up 0.06 per cent of the world population came to dominate most of its long-distance races, it shows a complete lack of knowledge or understanding and reinforces a superstitious rather than factual approach to Kenyan running dominance.

It also perpetuates the myth that for a Kenyan to be a successful athlete all he or she has to do is lace up a pair of trainers. For every runner who makes it, there are ten who dont. Of the more than 2,000 runners who have gone through the holiday youth training camp in Iten, only slightly above 200 have made it to international level. Some 90 per cent dont make it. And the 90 per cent that dont make it were already at the top of their school or division. If this statistic made it into articles as often as the other one does, it would bring some much needed perspective into the discussion.

The observable in Kenyan running is far more awe-inspiring than the mythical. That is why runners from all parts of the world now come to train in Iten. After a stint in Iten in 2012, British athlete Paula Radcliffe, then the womens marathon world record holder, ran her best 10,000m in years.

Another British athlete, the 2012 breakout distance runner Mo Farah, credits part of his success to spending time with Kenyan athletes.

Britain's Mo Farah pays homage to Jamaica's Usain Bolt as he crosses the line to win 3000m Final event during the IAAF Diamond League Anniversary Games athletics meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park stadium in Stratford, west London on July 24, 2015. PHOTO | GLYN KIRK |AFP

Genes cannot be passed on by observation and immersion in the Kenyan athletic system. But knowledge can. On the day of the Boston Marathon, young runners from primary and high schools in the Rift-Valley were reporting to St Patricks holiday youth camp. For some of these 13-, 14- and 15-year-olds, it was the beginning of a long and difficult journey to the peak of distance running.

On the first day of the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, Kenya won all six of the medals that were on offer, sweeping the womens marathon that morning and the womens 10,000m in the afternoon. Given that dominant display, those looking for easy answers would attribute it to genetics.

But the back story on the first day of Daegu was that womens athletics in Kenya was evolving just as womens roles in society were evolving. Both gold medallists Edna Kiplagat and Vivian Cheruiyot, as well as marathon bronze medallist Sharon Cherop, had been through the holiday youth camp in Iten, which gave equal opportunity to both male and female athletes each session had 20 male and 20 female athletes.

The womens ascendancy also had an economic component: mens running had become so competitive that it was hard to make a living while there was a lot more to give in the womens events, yet the prize money was equal.

Now, Ednas and Vivians husbands, both accomplished runners in their own right, had given up their own careers and were focused on training with and taking care of their wives as the couple could earn much more in that arrangement.

There have been no changes in the law, as Mr Fisher states in his article, apart from the new Constitution that was promulgated in August 2010, and the ascendancy of Kenyan women athletes started years before, fuelled by increased education and opportunities.

Though Mr Fisher states in his article that scientific research on the success of Kenyan runners has yet to discover a Cool Runnings gene, he goes on to base his articles genetic argument on two controversial studies that look at physiological traits. The studies, hardly neutral in the first place, do not even identify specific genes.

The first Kenyan to participate in the Winter Olympics was Philip Boit. Boit, a former distance runner, spent nearly two years preparing for the Olympics but came in last in the 10km cross-country skiing race at the 1998 Nagano Games. Bjrn Dhlie of Norway won that race.

Dhlie has also achieved one of the highest VO2 max scores ever recorded, which is the maximum rate of oxygen consumption of the body during exercise. The top ten list has two other Norwegian, one Swedish and one Finnish cross-country skiers. It is almost impossible to imagine a Kenyan journalist then writing an article that states the accomplishments of Northern European skiers was the result of high VO2 max and this was in turn the result of genes.

It is also difficult to imagine a group of Kenyan scientists taking Philip Boit, Kenyas skiing superstar, to Norway and then being amazed if he was beaten in a skiing competition by a group of Norwegian schoolboys.

Another area where athletes from Nordic countries have excelled is the javelin throw. When the Kenyan javelin thrower Julius Yego wanted to improve his performance, he turned to YouTube: since Kenya focuses so much of its resources to distance running, he did not have proper coaching.

The knowledge he gained from watching champion javelin throwers such as world record holder Jan Zelezny and Olympic Champion Andreas Thorkildsen on the internet led to a national record and a gold medal at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo.

Jackie Lebo, producer of the athletics documentary Gun to Tape, is a writer and film producer with The Content House.

Go here to read the rest:
Why many get the back story of Kenyas huge success wrong - Daily Nation

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

PEARLAND, Texas A 2-year-old whose family has been fighting for a $2 million drug to battle her rare disease received approval for the drug Friday.

Krista James has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA, a life-threatening condition that severely impacts kids muscle movements. Her family has been fighting for the toddler to receive Zolgensma, a cutting-edge gene therapy that treats the disease at the genetic level.

RELATED: Pearland family fighting to get $2.1 million drug for toddler with rare genetic disease

Zolgensma is the most expensive drug to ever receive FDA approval. The treatment is priced at $2.125 million.

Despite Kristas doctor telling Medicaid its what the toddler needs, the request for coverage was denied until Friday, which happened to be Kristas 2nd birthday. Texas Health and Human Services approved the family's appeal.

The family told KHOU 11 they are beyond blessed and considered the approval the best birthday present ever.

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$2.1 million drug approved for Pearland toddler with rare genetic disease - KHOU.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The Weekend Edition is pulled from the daily Stansberry Digest.

Twenty years ago, Stansberry Research founder Porter Stansberry hired me...

He wanted me to write about the economics of medicine for the everyday investor.

The goal was to track revolutions, not evolutions. That meant finding actionable information on new, world-changing drugs, not new hospital beds.

The first great drug we came across was a cancer drug called Gleevec. It worked miracles... but only for a vanishingly small number of cancer patients.

In fact, you needed a specific tragedy in your genetic code to get the defect that Gleevec could hit. If two clusters of your DNA split and rejoined in a special way, your body built a gene that didn't exist before, and it led to leukemia...

This was one of the first cancer genes ever discovered, and the pill landed right in its heart. Gleevec killed the cancer cells that made the target.

In the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's ("FDA") Phase II trials, the results were astonishing: 98% of people's cancers disappeared, meaning they had a "complete response" to the pill.

The FDA approved Gleevec based on the astonishing results.

But we passed on it. We never recommended subscribers invest in it. You see, despite the drug's promise, there was no buying opportunity back then...

The global pharmaceutical company Novartis (NVS) developed Gleevec.

Novartis was a $100 billion firm two decades ago, so investors had to balance the upside on a $1 billion (or more) blockbuster drug against the revenue of its other products.

This brings up an important point...

The world's largest drug firms are marketing machines as much as factories for innovation...

They must keep selling new drugs.

It typically takes about 10 years to develop a drug, and "patent protection" is 20 years... after which the drug then becomes a cheaper generic. So a drug company has roughly just 10 to 12 years to make back its return on investment.

That means if a Big Pharma company has two dozen drugs like Novartis did at the time then two or more will likely be coming off patent protection every year. That could mean a sudden 75% drop in revenue on that product line.

It's a complicated picture.

So instead, Porter and I focused on smaller pharmaceutical firms the ones that were pure inventors.

That's because big firms need to buy up the smaller firms' new drugs... so they can always be selling branded products.

In short, there's an economy in new medicines...

In the U.S., all medicine everything from hospital stays to ACE bandages is a segment of the economy that accounts for $3.5 trillion per year. But globally, medicines alone are worth $1.3 trillion in annual sales. And the latest inventions are valuable.

You should know, I'm not a doctor. And of course, neither is Porter...

So when we started to look for innovative medicines, we looked at it from a different perspective, like we were patients.

We didn't think we'd get all these dreaded diseases. But we knew some folks did or their families did so we respected that.

It's a medical spin on one of Porter's pillars of Stansberry Research: What would we want from you if our positions were reversed?

As we looked for new medicines to invest in, we looked at what was best for patients...

And that led us to a truth about side effects that at the time was alien to most doctors and Wall Street... People don't like side effects.

Sounds trivial, right? But here's the economic impact... When you realize that patients are customers, you realize they make choices. And they will always choose the safer course.

Imagine a drug that's 25% effective, with minimal side effects. Then compare it with a drug that's 50% effective that comes with severe side effects. You'd try the safer drug first.

There's no reason not to at least try it, because there's no downside. That's how a 25% effective drug can win 100% of the market... and disrupt "traditional" medicine.

Keep in mind, companies still need to prove the effectiveness of their medicines in controlled clinical trials. We didn't like herbal medicines, or success by anecdote, or outright falsehoods (like stem-cell treatments).

With our early subscribers, we entered the ground floor of a new way of looking at medicine...

We looked for biotechnology drugs that could be vastly more effective and safer than any drug or treatment before...

For example, we picked Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) in March 2004 when it was an $18 stock. A little more than a year later, in April 2005, we booked a 124% return. Today, ISRG shares trade for roughly $566.

The big idea here was robotic-assisted surgery plus, patents from the lone inventor who first imagined this concept. But these patents were more of a sketch than a device. The magic was in the engineering...

You see, engineering is what really drives biotech developments...

A core demand in our economy is reproducibility, or the ability to scale. You have a smartphone only because a billion people have smartphones. Otherwise, you'd be holding a Faberg egg. Let me explain...

More than a hundred years ago, Russian Tsar Alexander III purchased the first of these fancy eggs from Faberg, a jewelry firm founded in Saint Petersburg. It's said only as many as 69 eggs were created, and Alexander bought one each year.

They're now the ultimate luxury bauble. I'm not sure if one will hit the auction stand... But I figure they'd go for $20 million each today.

Meanwhile, for $1,000, you can buy the recently released iPhone 11 Pro Max from Apple (AAPL). It has front and rear cameras that capture hours of high-resolution video and can transmit pictures and video globally in real time.

Both a Faberg egg and the smartphone are hand-held objects. They're colorful, even glistening. But one is ultimately static and unmoving. The other is all about movement, up to and including moving images.

Another way to put this is that the Faberg egg is about what Faberg, the company's founder, wants you to see...

The smartphone is about giving you choices, which you can change at will.

Overall, the annual market for Faberg eggs is worth, well, nothing, because they're all in private hands. More than $500 billion worth of smartphones were sold around the world last year.

This is the value of craftsmanship versus engineering.

Twenty-first century medicine is like this, too...

Not a single advance in biotech is cut off from science and engineering. New chips, new software, and even new micro-fluidics shape what we can learn.

One of the trends we follow in my Stansberry Venture Technology financial advisory is artificial intelligence ("AI"), which has amazing potential in health care.

Consider cancer detection... Radiologists don't scan for brain tumors if you get an MRI for a stomachache. AI can.

This is a screening function by the machine itself a radiologist will confirm what the AI finds. But this means early detection to stop a cancer before it becomes life-threatening. It's a fail-safe.

What to do when the worst happens...

The American Cancer Society foresees 600,000 deaths from cancer in the U.S. in 2019. But for almost all types of cancer, the age-adjusted death rates are slowly decreasing.

Overall, that's tremendous news. It reflects, in large part, more refined radiation therapy machines, better surgical techniques, and safer, more effective medicines. (We cover all these advances in Venture Technology.)

But some exceptions exist... The death rates for liver, pancreatic, and uterine cancers are still increasing. For liver cancer, it's driven by hepatitis, alcohol, and obesity. For uterine cancer, it's obesity and lack of screening.

Fortunately, Big Pharma companies Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Merck (MRK) now offer cures for hepatitis (at steep prices, mind you). And better screening for uterine cancer will follow, as MRIs with AI move from the research stage into general practice.

So the real outlier is pancreatic cancer. But there's light at the end of the tunnel... Earlier this month, in the leading science journal Nature, we learned that pancreatic cancer might be caused by an infection from a common fungus the same one that causes dandruff and eczema.

So maybe anti-fungal medications can help with that.

As it happens, we're already tracking the first new class of anti-fungal drugs in Venture Technology. This is a developmental drug that completed its FDA Phase II mid-stage trials. And for fungal infections, it has a very high cure rate...

That's because it's new...

Fungi can evolve around the threat of an anti-fungal drug... just like bacteria can evolve around antibiotics, and fast-growing cancers evolve around targeted therapies like Gleevec.

Yes, that's right... The first drug that Porter and I thought was a revolution in cancer care Novartis' Gleevec turned out to be a temporary fix.

Research has since found that up to one-third of patients will not achieve "optimal response." In all these patients, their cancers surge back. We noted this recently while recommending another biotech company to Venture Technology subscribers in April 2018...

Novartis went on to make $12 billion globally on Gleevec. It's only recently run out of patent. The dark secret was that the target that Gleevec hit could mutate so the effect did not last.

In order to cure cancer, you need to do one of two things...

The first method is well-known...

It takes good diagnostics and good surgical techniques. Ideally, this is minimally invasive surgery, not open surgery. That's the goal.

But a problem occurs if there are two, three, five, or seven sites of cancer. Or if it's a spread-out tumor. Or if it's around a critical organ... like your spinal cord.

Many advanced cancers simply can't be treated with surgery.

Finally, let me tell you about the second method...

It's brand-new. We only confirmed it last month, when a therapy we've been tracking for three years won a gold medal at a major medical society.

We've been tracking this all over the world in San Diego... San Antonio... Washington... London... Milan... Turin... and Chicago. Plus, we'll keep tracking it in the years to come.

It's that powerful.

Indeed, it's already here it's at the turning point, which is the best time for investors to get involved.

More than a quarter of all U.S. cancer patients will get this treatment in 2020. But no one else is reporting on this.

Seriously. We scoured the popular press... and literally nothing came up. Thousands of medical articles describe it, but no major or minor news outlet has picked it up yet.

That's why we think this research, in addition to being life-changing or life-saving for those with cancer, is so valuable to investors. You can learn more about it right here.

Regards,

Dave Lashmet

Editor's note: Dave believes the study of cancer has crossed an important threshold... For the first time in his career, he says it's reasonable to start talking about a cure. It still may be a few years away, but that's why now is the time to invest in the trend... Dave and his team just put together an urgent video presentation with all the details. Watch it right here.

See original here:
The 'Magic' Behind Every Successful Blockbuster Drug - DailyWealth

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Neuroblastoma is a paediatric cancer of the nerve tissues. It usually affects infant and children below the age of 5. Though it usually happens in and around the adrenal glands, it can also occur in other parts of the abdomen, chest, neck, pelvis, bones and also near the spine. In very rare cases, it can affect older children too. If your child complains of pain in the bones and has recurring fever, consult a doctor. Early detection and treatment can make the difference between life and death. This paediatric cancer can also strike older children and adolescents in very rare cases.

Now researchers at The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified a targetted therapy for adolescent patients with neuroblastoma. The study is published in Cancer Cell. It has a very poor prognosis in older children mainly because of lack of effective targeted therapies.

New therapy for neuroblastoma identified by Mount Sinai Hospital researchers.

Researchers found that neuroblastoma in older children and adolescents harbouring deletions within a gene called ATRX may be responsive to a targeted therapy called tazemetostat. According to them, this therapy disables an enzyme called EZH2 that inhibits genes that promote normal neuron development, in turn killing neuroblastoma cells.

They say that neuroblastoma arises in immature nerve cells of the adrenal glands and portions of the spine during the development of the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the bodys flight or fight response to stress. EZH2 inhibitors are already being tested in phase I and phase II clinical trials for other cancers, including lymphomas, sarcomas, and other solid tumours, with some favourable results, they add.

There are some cancers that are more common in children though they may also get some adult cancers too in rare cases. According to a modelling study in The Lancet Oncology, there are almost 400,000 new cases of childhood cancer annually, while current records count only around 200,000. Researchers say that the new model makes predictions for 200 countries and estimates that undiagnosed cases could account for more than half of the total in Africa, South Central Asia and the Pacific Islands. In contrast, in North America and Europe only three per cent of cases remain undiagnosed. If no improvements are made, researchers estimate that nearly three million further cases will be missed between 2015 and 2030.

Another study at the University of Colorado Cancer Center says that treatments for childhood cancers have improved to the point that 5-year survival rates are over 80 per cent. However, one group has failed to benefit from these improvements. These are children who die so soon after diagnosis that they are not able to receive treatment. Sometimes late treatment also increases the fatality rate of paediatric cancers.

Here, let us take a look at a few types of paediatric cancers other than neuroblastoma.

This is the most common type of paediatric cancer. It affects the bone marrow and blood. According to the American Cancer Society, this type of paediatric cancer accounts for about 30 per cent of all cancers in children. There are many types of leukaemia and the most common types are acute lymphocytic leukaemia and acute myelogenous leukaemia.

What to look out for: Be alert to symptoms of bone and joint pain, unusual tiredness, weakness and a pale skin, bleeding or bruising, fever and weight loss. Early detection can save your child.

The American Cancer Society says that these tumours account for about 26 per cent of paediatric cancers. In children, tumours often occur in the lower parts of the brain.

What to look out for: Symptoms are severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, vision problems, dizziness, seizures and convulsions and coordination issues. Take prompt action if you see any of these signs in your child.

This cancer begins in the cells that develop into skeletal muscles. It can occur in any part of the body The American Cancer Society says that this cancer is relatively rare and affects only about 3 per cent of children globally.

What to look out for: Symptoms are pain, swelling or both.

Also called nephroblastoma, this occurs in one, or in very rare cases, both the kidneys. It mostly affects children below the age of 3 to 4 years.

What to look out for: The first sign is usually a swelling or lump in the abdominal area. Other symptoms are fever, pain, nausea and loss of appetite.

This is a cancer that manifests in the immune system cells called lymphocytes. It affects the bone marrow and other organs. But this paediatric cancer is rarer than leukaemia and brain tumour.

What to look out for: Symptoms are usually unexplained weight loss, recurring fever, bouts of sweating, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes under the skin of the neck, armpit or groin.

This is eye cancer. It strikes children at around 2 years of age. It may make a childs eye look different gradually.

What to look out for: Be alert to any changes in colour and size of eyes. The pupils may also start to look white or pink. You can take a picture of your child with the flash on. This will reveal the whiteness of the pupil.

Published : October 19, 2019 10:32 am | Updated:October 19, 2019 10:33 am

Continued here:
Save your child from paediatric cancer: Know what to look out for - TheHealthSite

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A more efficient approach to gene therapy that could lower costs and improve patient outcomes has recently been developed by a team from Scripps Research. This work, published on October 17 in the journal Blood, offers a potential alternative to the standard process of delivering gene therapy, which is expensive, time-consuming, and requires many steps to administer healthy genes to the patients stem cells.

If you can repair blood stem cells with a single gene delivery treatment, rather than multiple treatments over the course of many days, you can reduce the clinical time and expense, which removes some of the limitations of this type of approach, explained research leader Bruce Torbett, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology.

The goal of gene therapy is to introduce a healthy version of a gene to a patients stem cells to replace a defective copy of this gene. This approach is designed to treat inherited conditions caused by genetic mutations, such as sickle cell anemia. Patients with sickle cell have a mutation in a gene that codes for a protein in blood cells, leading to misshaped cells that cause a myriad of clinical issues. The goal of gene therapy is to replace this mutated gene with a healthy copy to restore normal protein synthesis and eliminate the disease symptoms. This is often done by implanting the healthy gene into a modified virus, known as a viral vector, and having this virus use its innate ability to infiltrate host cells and inject this healthy gene into them.

Gene therapy treatments typically require the harvesting of a small population of hemopoietic stem cells, the cells that serve as precursors for all types of blood cells, from the patients blood. Viral vectors containing therapeutic genes are then introduced to these cells with the goal being for them to insert this genetic information into the stem cells.

The hemopoietic stem cells defend themselves from viral penetrance using interferon-induced transmembrane (IFITM) proteins that block the viral vectors. For this reason, many gene therapies require a large number of vectors and many attempts for success, which is an expensive process.

In their work, the Scripps team focused on caraphenol A, a molecular relative of resveratrol, a natural compound made by grapes and other plants present in wine. Resveratrol is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Although caraphenol A shares these anti-inflammatory properties, it served a much different purpose in this work.

Observing the chemical properties of resveratrol and associated molecules such as caraphenol A, Torbett and colleagues wanted to investigate whether they could be used in gene therapy to improve the viral vectors ability to enter blood stem cells. Enhancing viral vector penetrance into host cells would be advantageous, being that the cells natural defense mechanisms against viral attacks present a challenge in gene therapy.

This is why gene therapy of hemopoietic stem cells has been hit-or-miss, explained Torbett. We saw a way to potentially make the treatment process significantly more efficient.

The researchers found that by adding caraphenol A to human hemopoietic stem cells with the viral vector present, the stem cells defense was weakened, and the viral penetrance increased. When these treated stem cells were implanted into mice in this study, they were observed to produce blood cells that contained the new genetic information.

In addition to saving costs, this approach also cuts down the time required for a patient to receive a gene therapy treatment. Reducing treatment time is not only convenient for the patient, but it lowers the chance that the stem cells lose their self-renewing properties as well. The more time the stem cells spend being outside of the body and being manipulated, the higher the likelihood of them losing their proliferative ability is.

Torbetts team is continuing to research how stem cells combat viral attacks, hoping to lower the cost of gene therapy while improving efficiency.

Excerpt from:
New Gene Therapy Approach Reduces Cost and Improves Efficiency - DocWire News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Sanofi is accelerating nascent efforts in gene therapy, aiming to use its expertise in vaccines to catch up in a competitive field that's well ahead of the French pharma.

The company has prioritized gene therapy programs amid a broader effort to boost internal R&D speed and impact, said John Reed, Sanofi's head of research and development, in a Wednesday interview at Sanofi's Cambridge office.

"When I joined, I saw that we were dabbling in gene therapy and decided that we need to get more serious about gene therapy if we are going to continue to be impactful in that space," said Reed, who came over to Sanofi from Roche last July.

In particular, the company is retrofitting one of its vaccine facilities near Lyon, France, to produce GMP-grade adeno-associated viral vectors, or AAVs. Reed said he expects the plant to be operational in about a year.

The new R&D chief is steering the company away from areas for which it's historically been known, including, most notably, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Sanofi is largely exiting cardiovascular R&D and is cutting spending in half on diabetes R&D, Reed said.

While vaccines make up a comparatively smaller portion of Sanofi's revenues, Reed noted the company's decades-long expertise in producing inactivated viruses could translate well to gene therapy. Reed was recently in Lyon to discuss the budget and headcount requirements for the change, he said.

"We have an opportunity to really leverage those competencies around vaccines for the gene therapy area," Reed said. "We are looking at how we can use that as a competitive advantage to be players in that space."

Several of Sanofi's pharma peers have bet heavily on gene therapy, investing in manufacturing and snapping up biotech leaders through multi-billion dollar acquisitions, such as by Novartis for AveXis and Roche for Spark Therapeutics.

Smaller companies like BioMarin Pharmaceutical, meanwhile, hold sizable leads in therapeutic areas that Sanofi hopes to play a larger role in, like hemophilia.

Reed acknowledged an acquisition "could be an accelerator" in establishing Sanofi's presence in cell and gene therapy.

"We flirt with those things all the time," he said, when asked about his openness to a deal like those for AveXis and Spark. "It's a bit challenging to point your finger at any one gene therapy company and say that solves all our problems."

"It's been really tough to pull the trigger on something like that," he added. "In the interim, we've been establishing the capabilities more internally."

How much it would be willing to pay, or afford, is another question. Under former CEO Olivier Brandicourt, the company last year targeted roughly 20 billion euros in acquisitions, a budget largely consumed by deals for Bioverativ and Ablynx in the blood disease space.

The company's first AAV-delivered gene therapy recently entered the clinic for a form of a rare eye disease called Leber congenital amaurosis, Reed added.

Two gene-edited cell therapies are in Phase 1/2 testing via a collaboration with Sangamo Therapeutics. Other programs remain preclinical as the group works on establishing GMP manufacturing capabilities.

All of this is taking place against a backdrop of change for Sanofi research and development teams.

Reed is working to narrow the company's focus to advance only first- or potentially best-in-class therapies, a bar that led Sanofi to cut several dozen programs from its pipeline earlier this year.

Reed has also restructured employee's incentives, taking away bonuses for starting projects and replacing them with an emphasis on starting first-in-human studies, a milestone Sanofi usually reaches slower than industry leaders.

"I don't want to reward people for starting projects, I want to reward them for finishing projects," he said. "We have too many projects."

Part of that's involved reducing bureaucracy and streamlining decision-making, moving from 33 committees that interact with R&D teams to three. Reed's given decision-making authority to team leaders for each molecule, calling them CEOs of their drug candidate.

Even before Reed came on board, productivity had begun to improve from a nadir in 2014, when Sanofi's entire organization produced only two clinical candidates that year. Now, Sanofi is delivering about six per year and, with the 2018 acquisitions of Bioverativ and Ablynx, should reach eight or nine per year.

Still, of the last 10 drugs Sanofi has won approvals for, only one was an internal project, Reed said. For the company's next 10 assets, Reed expects six or seven to have been internally developed.

As Reed re-focuses, Sanofi has exited or restructured partnerships this year with Regeneron, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals.

Paring down the pipeline and restructuring deals also speaks to Sanofi's R&D budget, which the company expects to keep flat for the next few years. The pharma spends about half what companies with larger revenues like Pfizer, Novartis and Roche do.

Reed says the ultimate goal is to bring about 12 programs into clinical development each year, and growing internal R&D to the point where it's responsible for the majority of those candidates progressing.

"With the resources we have, that would be industry competitive," he added.

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Sanofi investing in gene therapy as R&D focus turns toward rare disease - BioPharma Dive

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A made-in-Canada medical breakthrough that disappeared from the market because it wasn't profitable is being revived by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC).

It's the latest chapter in the saga of Glybera, the world's first approved gene therapy, which also became the world's most expensive drug after it was licensed toa Dutch company and priced at $1 million for a one-time dose.

Glybera treats arare and potentially deadly genetic disorder called lipoprotein lipase deficiency, or LPLD.Canada has the world's largest population of LPLD patients clustered in the Saguenay region of Quebec, where an ancestor with the genetic mutation settled several hundred years ago.

People with LPLD lack a critical enzyme that helps their bodies process the fat from food. There is currently no available treatment and no cure. Those with LPLDmust avoid most dietary fat to try to prevent painful and dangerous attacks of pancreatitis.

The decision to re-develop a Canadian version of Glybera is the result of a serendipitous series of events, beginning when the NRC'sdirector of research and development for translational bioscience happened to be watching CBC'sThe Nationallast November.

Dr. Danica Stanimirovic was in the process of selecting the first project for a new federally funded program aimed at bringing rare gene and cell therapies to Canadians at an affordable price. Thenshe sawCBC's feature report telling the story ofhow Glybera was pulled from the Europeanmarket after only one commercial sale. The drug was never offered for sale in Canada or the U.S.

"That really sparked some thinking," she said."We really have the abilityto advance that."

So she picked up the phone and called Dr. Michael Hayden in Vancouver.He's thescientist at the University of British Columbiaand the BC Children's Hospital whose team developed Glybera.Hayden said he was happy to get the call.

"I was thrilled because this represented a unique response to solve a big Canadian problem, particularly for families in Quebec.And I was just thrilled that we could do something as a national effort to achieve this."

The Glybera story started at UBC in the early 1990s, when Hayden and his teamdiscovered the first genetic mutations that caused LPLD. The researchers then developed a method to fix the malfunctioning gene and allow patients to live a nearly normal life.

After doing the preliminaryresearch, the Canadian discovery was licensed to a Dutch companycalled uniQure, which took Glybera through the rigorousclinical trialandapproval process.

When the treatment was approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2012, it made headlines as the world's firstgene therapy the first treatment that could repair a faulty gene.

When it went on sale in Europe in 2015,Glybera quickly made headlines again, this time as the "world's most expensive drug,"priced at $1 millionfor the one-time dose.

Dr. Sander van Deventer,uniQure's chief scientific officer, told CBC News last year that the price was a business calculation based on the price of other drugs that treat rare diseases. Many of those drugs cost more than $300,000 per patient per year.Because Glybera is a one-time treatment thatkeeps working for years, the $1-million price seemed reasonable, he said.

Less than twoyears later, the drug was pulled from the market after only one commercial sale. uniQure has no plans to revive the therapy.

Although Hayden discovered the gene mutation and developed the early phase of the treatment, he had no role in the commercialization of his discovery. And that meant he also had no control over the price.

"You don't determine the outcome, you don't determine its costs," he said."I'd say what went wrong is that it was very hard to be able to make sure that this got to patients at a reasonable cost."

Stanimirovic said the fact that Canada has such a large population of LPLD patients was an important factor in deciding to give Glybera a second chance.

"This gene mutation is very prevalent in Canada compared to other places in the world," she said. "For us, it was almost calling us to do something on the manufacturing side for this particular gene therapy."

LPLD is rare, affecting one or two out of every million people around the world. But inthe Saguenay region of Quebec, where the gene mutationhas been passed down through generations,the numbers are 30 times higher.Up to one in 50 people in some communities are carrying the gene mutation. Both parents must have the mutation for a child to inherit the disease.

The ultimate goal of gene therapy is to fix a genetic problem by giving the patient a new gene. Specially engineered viruses are used to deliver therepair gene to the patient's cells. The cost of manufacturing those virusesis often cited as one reason for the high price of therapies. The need to generate pharmaceutical shareholder profits is another factor.

"[Gene therapies] areusually targeted to very smallpatient populations," Stanimirovicsaid. "It's hard to make them in a typical pharma-driven model because it drives theprice of these therapies to astronomical levels."

At its facility in Montreal, theNRChas already developed expertise in producing viral vectors thatact as the delivery system for gene therapy. Because the scientistswill be re-engineeringGlyberausing new viral vectors,and improving the therapy, any remainingpatentswill not be an obstacle,Stanimirovicsaid.

The ultimate plan is to developpublic sector manufacturing capacity to create not just an affordable version of Glybera but other gene and cell therapies as well. The total federal funding for six projects including Glyberais estimated at about $80 million over seven years.

"Our goal is to create new partnership models that will create therapies that are more accessible and more affordable," said Stanimirovic. "We hope we can do that through public partnership or public/private partnerships. So the end goal is to really, through this project, develop Canadian capacity to take on subsequent gene therapies."

Hayden called the plan a "beautiful Canadian story."

"Now we have to translate this into something that will truly be effective forpatients in a limited time frame and I'm so excited to do this."

For patients suffering from LPLD, the wait is frustrating.

Felix Lapointe, a 10-year-old from Repentigny, Que.,was fiveweeks old when his mother learned the terrible news that her son had thepotentially deadly genetic disease.

Because there is no treatment available right now, he'smanaging the disease through a strict diet to reduce the risk of dangerous pancreatic attacks. He will have to wait another five years for the first clinical trials of the re-inventedGlybera.

"We'd like it to happen tomorrow morning," said Brenda Potter, Felix's mother. "Still, we're a little used to this. We'vebeen fighting for 10 years with doors closed. The possibility that something is comingis encouraging, but yes, it's long."

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Canadian breakthrough that became the world's most expensive drug, then vanished, gets second chance - CBC.ca

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The report, interstitial cystitis drugs market 2019-2023, has been added to Technavio's catalog. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the market, including its global and regional market share as well as market segmentation based on type and geography for the forecast period 2019-2023.

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High prevalence of interstitial cystitis will drive the interstitial cystitis drugs market

Patients suffering from interstitial cystitis experience symptoms such as lower urinary tract issues and bladder pain. Women are highly affected by this condition. This condition is associated with various comorbidities such as endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and allergies. The increasing number of interstitial cystitis cases is driving the demand for interstitial cystitis drugs.

Advent of gene therapy An emerging trend in the interstitial cystitis drugs market

Most of the interstitial cystitis drugs and off-label drugs are small molecules and have failed to fully cure the disease. In addition, these drugs are expensive and cause many side-effects. This is encouraging companies to establish innovative treatment options such as regenerative therapy and gene therapy as these drugs cause lesser side-effects compared to the conventional off-label drugs already available in the market.

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Growth of Interstitial Cystitis Drugs Market to be impacted by the Advent of Gene Therapy | Technavio - Business Wire

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --American Gene Technologies (AGT) announced today the submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND)application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for AGT's lead HIV program, AGT103-T, which is potentially a single-dose, lentiviral vector-based gene therapy developed for the purpose of eliminating HIV from people infected with the disease.

"Our aim is to treat HIV disease with an innovative cell and gene therapy that reconstitutes immunity to HIV and will control virus growth in the absence of antiretroviral drugs" said Chief Science Officer C. David Pauza, PhD. "Development of this complex product (AGT103-T) required our deep knowledge of both HIV disease and lentivirus vector technology; it is the first cell and gene immunotherapy addressing the most critical feature of HIV infection, which is the chronic absence of virus-specific CD4 T cells."

"We are excited to have reached this milestone of submitting our first IND application to the FDA for an HIV gene/cell therapy. This event brings us closer to reaching our mission to transform lives with genetic medicines. Based on our successful commercial-scale product manufacturing runs and features of the product observed in our laboratories, this therapy has a high potential to be effective. I feel confident that AGT103-Twill make an important difference in the lives of HIV infected persons," said Jeff Galvin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AGT."HIV is the first drug candidate to result from AGT's proprietary platform and model for creating gene and cell therapeutics more efficiently, predictably and reliably for clinical development. Our platform is also supporting robust efforts to cure the inherited disease phenylketonuria (PKU) and to introduce new therapies for cancer based on our proprietary methods for modifying tumor cells to activate the natural killing mechanisms of gamma delta T cells. Additionally, product development efforts behind this IND submission are supporting investigations into other chronic viral diseases that may be targeted in future human clinical trials.Success in HIV would allow AGT to accelerate these projects as well as quickly broaden our pipeline to dozens of infectious diseases, monogenic disorders, and cancers."

Upon acceptance by the FDA, this IND allows AGT to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial that will investigate the safety of AGT103-T in humans, measure key biomarkers, and explore surrogate markers of efficacy. AGT expects to begin recruiting patients for the Phase 1 study in January.

About HIV

Today, approximately 37.9 million people worldwide and 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV/AIDS. The U.S. Government has estimated that 38,700 Americans were newly infected with HIV in 2016 and 1.7 million individuals globally were newly infected with HIV in 2018 (HIV.gov).

Since the late 1980s, antiretroviral drugs have restored quality of life to persons living with HIV and, in some cases, have even been used to prevent new infections. However, no approved treatments can cure HIV. This is an unmet medical need that AGT seeks to address.

About AGT 103-T

AGT103-Tis a genetically-modified cell product made from a person's own cells. AGT's approach is unique in that it focuses on repairing the key immune system damage caused by HIV. When HIV infection causes this specific damage, killing of T helper cells required for immunity to HIV, the infected person becomes unable to eliminate the virus and thus, becomes chronically infected. AGT's approach is designed to repair the T helper cell defect and provide durable virus control that is not compromised by HIV strains that vary in sequence or use alternate ways to enter and infect T cells. AGT's AGT103-T HIV therapeutic drug should work to remove infected cells from the body and decrease or eliminate the need for lifelong antiretroviral treatment.

"Previous cell and gene therapies for HIV provided very low doses of critical virus-specific CD4 T cells that are needed to repair the immune defect caused by HIV. AGT103-T becomes highly enriched in these specific cells during our proprietary 12-day manufacturing process. By providing high doses of virus-specific helper T cells, which are protected from HIV damage by a safe genetic modification, AGT's goal is to rebuild the capacity for normal, unhindered immune responses against HIV that may control the infection and protect against future virus exposures. We believe this product will be suitable for persons in different disease stages and with multiple types of HIV infection" explains Chief Science Officer C. David Pauza, PhD.

AGT has entered into a Research Collaboration Agreement with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and was able to demonstrate AGT103-T's mechanism of action. Read about AGT's NIAID Research Collaboration Agreement here.

About American Gene Technologies (AGT)

American Gene Technologies (AGT)is a gene and cell therapy company with a proprietary gene-delivery platform for rapid development of cell and gene therapies to cure infectious diseases, cancers, and inherited disorders. The Company's mission is to transform people's lives through genetic medicines that rid the body of disease. The Company expects to take its patented lead candidate for an HIV cure into the clinic in 2019. AGT has received seven patents for its unique immuno-oncology approach to stimulate gamma-delta () T cells to destroy a variety of solid tumors. The Company has developed a synthetic gene for treatingPhenylketonuria (PKU), a debilitating inherited disease. AGT's treatment for PKU has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and it is expected to reach the clinic in 2020.

AGT Contacts

C. Neil Lyons, Chief Financial Officer Phone: (301) 337-2269 Email: info@americangene.com

Sasha Whitaker, Digital Marketing and Communications Phone: (301) 337-2100 Email: swhitaker@americangene.com

SOURCE American Gene Technologies

http://www.americangene.com

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IND Application Submission To FDA For Phase 1 Trial Of Genetically Modified Autologous Cell Therapy For HIV Announced by American Gene Technologies -...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Mount Sinai researchers have identified a targeted therapy for adolescent patients with neuroblastoma, a deadly pediatric nerve cancer, who would otherwise have no treatment options, according to a study published in October in Cancer Cell.

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common and aggressive pediatric nervous system tumors and generally has a poor prognosis, particularly when it advances in older children. Treatment success for the disease varies, but is exponentially less in adolescent patients, particularly because the disease lacks effective targeted therapies.

The Mount Sinai researchers found that neuroblastoma in older children and adolescents harboring deletions within a gene called ATRX may be responsive to a targeted therapy called tazemetostat. Tazemetostat disables an enzyme called EZH2 that inhibits genes that promote normal neuron development, in turn killing neuroblastoma cells. Neuroblastoma arises in immature nerve cells of the adrenal glands and portions of the spine during the development of the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the body's "flight or fight" response to stress. EZH2 inhibitors are already being tested in phase I and phase II clinical trials for other cancers, including lymphomas, sarcomas, and other solid tumors, with some favorable results.

"We hypothesized that mutant ATRX proteins contribute to aggressive neuroblastoma," said Emily Bernstein, PhD, Professor of Oncological Sciences at The Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and senior corresponding author. "In this study, we aimed to decipher the underlying biology of these altered proteins in neuroblastoma, a tumor for which effective therapeutic strategies remain obscure, and to exploit identified dependencies."

Mount Sinai scientists continue to expand this research into the role of the mutant ATRX protein in the laboratory and hope to eventually open a clinical trial with collaborating institutions. Based on this research, they believe that EZH2 inhibitors could also be effective in other ATRX mutant cancers, such as pediatric glioblastoma multiforme and osteosarcoma.

Reference: Qadeer, et al. ATRX In-Frame Fusion Neuroblastoma Is Sensitive to EZH2 Inhibition via Modulation of Neuronal Gene Signatures. Cancer Cell,DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2019.09.002

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

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Targeted Therapy Could Help Children With Deadly Nerve Cancer - Technology Networks

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

TheGlobal Gene Therapy Marketresearch report is published to deliver a complete rundown of the global Gene Therapy industry structure, competition, segmentation, leading players, and industry environment. The report heavily emphasizes the evaluation of industry in terms of market size, share, demand, sales volume, and revenue reported by the industry. The report pursues historical and present market status to offer authentic estimations for the forecast period.

The global Gene Therapy market has been exhibiting robust performance over the last few years with a leaping CAGR. The market is expected to grow more intensely in the upcoming years as rising demand for the Gene Therapy, product awareness, technological advancements, rapid industrialization, raw material affluence, and increasing disposable incomes are boosting growth in the industry. The market is influencing its peers and parent markets and could impact on the international trading and economic structure.

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The report on the global Gene Therapy market additionally renders sequential elaboration on strategic moves performed by leading players which includes mergers, acquisitions, ventures, partnerships, amalgamations as well as product launches and brand promotions. Insightful analysis of strategies helps clients to gain a clear perception of their competitors potential moves and activities which make them alert while operating their business and building strategies.

The report digs deep into the operations of leading Gene Therapy manufacturers and companies. It analyzes various activities of players such as product innovation, research, recent developments, and technology adoptions, which aids them in delivering more effective product ranges in the industry. The report also sheds light on their financial assessment based on gross margin, sales volume, revenue, profitability, growth rate, and revenue share which helps to comprehend their positions, strengths, and weaknesses in the global Gene Therapy market.

Get thorough exploration of Global Gene Therapy Market:https://www.marketresearchexplore.com/report/global-gene-therapy-market-research-report-2019-2023/311855

Study of crucial segments in the global Gene Therapy market:

The report also illuminates various segments of the global Gene Therapy market such as types, applications, regions, and end-users. Each segment is deeply evaluated in the report considering revenue, share, demand, production, and sales volume. The regional analysis of the market is also highlighted in the report which revolves around regions including North America, Europe, South America, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific, and vital regions from the rest of the world.

Furthermore, the report shifts its focus to current and forthcoming opportunities and challenges in the global Gene Therapy market. The report also helps clients convert opportunities into lucrative business gains and poses more critical challenges against competitors in the industry. It also hints at potential risks, obstacles, threats, and uncertainties that could harm the markets growth momentum in the near future.

Thanks for reading this article. You can contact us at[emailprotected]to explore the Gene Therapy market in detail.

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Gene Therapy Market Research Report by Downstream Applications, Competitive Analysis And Regional Forecast by 2024 - Online News Guru

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

AMHERST, Mass. Peter Reinhart, director of the University of Massachusetts Amhersts Institute of Applied Life Sciences (IALS), has announced that six campus research teams have been named recipients of the first Manning/IALS Seed Grants. The awards will support next steps in their research such as proof-of-concept studies and business development, fundamental research into new products, technologies and services to benefit human health and wellbeing.

Earlier this year, alumnus Paul Manning and his wife, Diane, committed $1 million through their family foundation to establish theManning Innovation Program. It provides three years of support in advancing a robust and sustainable pipeline of applied and translational research projects from UMass Amherst.

The seed grants announced this week were awarded after a competitive process that narrowed 35 teams to six winners. Faculty researchers will not only receive seed funding of $100,000 each over three years, but also business training and mentorship from IALS, the College of Natural Sciences, the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship and the Isenberg School of Management, among others.

The winning team leaders and their projects are:

The Manning Foundations gift provides an investment in UMass Amherst as a partner of choice in advancing and applying knowledge and innovation for the betterment of society.

Peter Reinhart, founding director of IALS, says, The Manning/IALS Innovation Program provides much-needed support allowing promising UMass Amherst research programs to move towards translational technology, prototypes, product candidates. This in turn will facilitate follow-on investments from venture organizations such as the Maroon Fund.

Paul Manning, a 1977 graduate of UMass Amherst, is an entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, who most recently founded PBM Capital Group in 2010. It is a healthcare-focused private investment group that looks for opportunities to use its entrepreneurial and operational experience to make high-growth pharmaceutical, molecular diagnostic, gene therapy, life science, health/wellness and consumer product investments.

Manning was also the anchor investor in Maroon Venture Partners, the first venture-capital fund at UMass Amherst. Created in 2017, the fund is a $6 million for-profit investment vehicle created to support alumni, faculty, and student businesses in their early stages.IALS was established in 2014, supported by a total investment of more than $150 million from the Massachusetts Life Science Center and the campus.

Originally posted here:
UMass Amherst Institute of Applied Life Sciences Announces Six Winners of the Inaugural Manning/IALS Prize - UMass News and Media Relations

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The recent announcement that scientists discovered water on the planet K2-18b, 110 light years away, prompted a media swoon. News stories, including a piece written by me, billed it as the first detection of water on a potentially habitable planet outside our solar system.

The blowback from the astronomy community was swift. A chorus of critics stated on Twitter that, although K2-18b orbits its host star within a distance range astronomers call the habitable zone, the planet is most likely too hot and under too much pressure to support life.

The sentiments expressed in a Scientific American essay by Harvard University astronomer Laura Kreidberg were typical of many in the community. Kreidbergs piece suggested that news outlets were crying wolf and that scientists, press officers, and the press had all contributed to the misreporting of the story.

But in describing K2-18b as a potentially habitable planet, journalists were accurately reporting the views of the scientists who led one of the research studies. Those scientists repeatedly stated to reporters that the planet was potentially habitable and they continued to say so when the specific criticisms of their peers were put to them.

Also read:Science Needs More Space in Mainstream Media

The episode highlights a longstanding issue: How should we science journalists cover incremental research advances, especially when the underlying science is unsettled?

Recent history gives us numerous examples of how these so-called single-study stories can go wrong. Among the most notable was the coverage of a 1998 Lancet paper in which Andrew Wakefield and coauthors proposed that a combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine was linked to autism and bowel disease. Another high profile case involved papers published in Science in 2004 and 2005 in which a group led by Hwang Woo-Suk claimed to have cloned human embryonic stem cells for the first time.

Both research efforts were later discredited. In the case of the Wakefield paper, the selection of the sample group was biased, there were undisclosed vested interests, and the authors made several claims that did not stand up to scrutiny. The paper was retracted in 2010. Woo-Suks papers were simply fraudulent.

Id suggest that both of these cases are outliers; the media was duped as were the journals themselves by researchers who had an agenda or were simply dishonest about their results. Even when scientists act in good faith, however, things can go wrong. It is legitimate to ask those at the highest level of their profession to give their view on their own work, even if that view is speculative and at odds with what their rivals and colleagues have to say. But there are a few provisos.

First, a journalist should always reflect dissenting views. Sadly, much if not most coverage of the K2-18b story failed to do this, as is all too often the case with other single-study stories. (My own K2-18b coverage came under criticism for initially not including enough dissenting voices.) Many journalists believe that if research has been published in a peer-reviewed journal, it must be credible, and they make the mistake of reporting the research uncritically.

As I suggested in an article for BBC News, it is our job as science journalists to challenge what we are told. This is especially the case now that more of us report on controversial topics such as genetically modified crops, cloning, and climate change, which have complex political, as well as scientific, dimensions.

But even in the case of basic science discoveries in the realm, say, of anthropology or dark energy there is often plenty of debate. The standard narrative, people used to think x and now, because of this discovery they think y, is not the way science works, and it quite frankly makes for boring copy.

A second proviso is that all voices are not equal. The views of people who are not qualified in the particular area of research in question carry less weight than those of people who are. Like many serious journalism platforms, BBC News, where I work, has a strict policy of balance and impartiality. In the 1990s and 2000s, that policy led many of our programs to balance scientific voices warning of climate change or reassuring people about the safety of vaccines with the voices of people arguing the opposite.

The contrarian views would often come from pressure groups such as climate change deniers and anti-vaxxers or from scientists commenting on a specialty different than their own. The BBCs science and health correspondents argued strongly against the policy, which had been at the heart of the organisations journalism. In 2010, this led to a change in editorial guidelines, the new stance being that due weight should be given to the scientific consensus on any given subject before reflecting contrary views.

A third and final proviso is to beware of science journalisms oldest enemy: hype. Journalists should be wary both of researchers natural enthusiasm and of their sometimes-deliberate efforts to drum up publicity in order to secure research funding. In academia, cures for cancer, a new understanding of physics, and bottomless sources of clean energy are seemingly always between five and 10 years away.

The most recent example of a new technology being touted as an answer to all our problems is gene editing. In August 2017, Shoukhrat Mitalipov and colleagues reported in the journal Nature that they had successfully repaired a gene associated with a rare heart condition in a human embryo. The research has since been challenged, but in reporting the development, Britains bestselling daily newspaper, The Sun, loaded on the hyperbole, writing that the revolutionary work could help end 10,000 hereditary illnesses including cancer and that scientists say it could signal the end to inherited diseases.

Seventeen years earlier, British tabloids were saying the same thing about gene therapy. A story in The Daily Expresss Sunday Review in July 2000 asked: Could we be on the verge of the greatest medical advance ever seen, even greater than the defeat of smallpox or cholera the defeat of time itself? Similarly rosy predictions were made in 2007 about how microbes would provide an endless supply of biofuel.

Such credulous reporting may be becoming more prevalent, ironically, because of scientific institutions efforts to be helpful to science journalists. Organizations such as the UKs Science Media Center have sprouted up to coordinate the dissemination of press releases and other resources to journalists, often with the stated aim of countering misinformation. We science journalists get ideas, our editors get happy, uplifting stories, and the public gets a warm glow in its heart.

Also read:How Social Media Is Shaping Indian Science

But an information pipeline that runs uninterrupted from scientists to press officers to the news media puts us at risk of another kind of misinformation. A great science story counts for nothing if it gives readers a misleading impression or paints a cartoonish, one-dimensional picture of how science works. Such stories are their own brand of fake news. In writing them, we do neither the scientists, their press officers, nor our readers any favours.

When I started as a science journalist in the 1980s, single-study stories were the norm. Our job was to translate complex scientific information and artfully explain its significance to a non-scientific audience.

But many of us saw a responsibility to do more: to challenge, weigh, and assess the tablets of stone we were handed from omniscient researchers and to put them in a societal context. In other words, we became journalists, using our own skills and experience to add value and provide an important civic service.

My sense, though, is that because of staff and budget cuts, the extra time and effort needed to fulfil that role are seen by editors as luxuries, and so single-study stories are on the increase.

Perhaps in 20 years time scientists will have confirmed that K2-18b really is habitable. Until then, lets hope that science journalists will have the time and the self-confidence to listen to a range of views, and to give their own perspectives.

Pallab Ghosh is an award-winning science correspondent with BBC News. He works across television, radio, online, and digital platforms.

This article was originally published on Undark. Read the original article.

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How Should Science Journalists Cover Single-Study Stories? - The Wire

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The global gene therapy market rides on the back of technology. As consumer focus shifts from access to comfort, players in the market for gene therapy are looking at new opportunities to capitalize on the potential. This exclusive report from Transparency Market Research will take you through an extensive analysis of every aspect in the gene therapy market that is critical for defining your success strategy. It offers prudent information on markets under currents, trends that will open new doors, factors that will remain important, challenges that need to be overcome, prevailing competition in the market, and the geographical landscape.

Based on a tested and proven research methodology, our research analysts bring to you fact-checked information. Besides presenting the current market figures, our analysts provide you with accurate forecasts that can be the game-changer for your winning strategies for tomorrow. On the other hand, our reports also offer tailor-made insights. Further, our reports are packed with experts viewpoints which are transcribed from interviews conducted by our analysts.

For every market, information on leading players can be the difference between success and failure, be it a prominent brand or not. Our reports cover every significant players in the global gene therapy market providing information about the company profile, products, winning strategies and market revenues. Not just that, TMR also provides information on the competitive landscape, helping you understand what impacted in one company being the market leader and others not. It also explains on the companies imperatives that define their success in the global market for gene therapy.

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Healthcare, unlike most industries, is typical of the region. Humans have multiple races and hence their genetic makeups are different. As a result, one condition has different impacts depending on the region. Therefore, information on how consumer requirements are different in regional landscape of the global gene therapy market is provided her in the report. Further, the economic capabilities of a country has a huge impact on healthcare infrastructure. TMRs report analysis the current economic scenario and also brings to you information on affordability during the coming years.

From market share to region-specific strategies, the report covers it all. At the same time, players in the gene therapy market who are looking to expand might want to assess the potential of a prospective region. Our reports can provide you with custom-made insights for specific regions in the global gene therapy market. The geographical analysis also covers regions-specific factors that could turn out to be hurdle for growth in the coming years.

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Gene Therapy Market Global Outlook and Overview 2018-2026 - Statsflash

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The Gene synthesis market research report likewise conveys rundown of the main rivals and gives the crucial knowledge about the key elements affecting the In Vitro Diagnostic business. This market report additionally gives measurements on the present condition of the business as a profitable wellspring of direction and guidance for organizations and speculators keen on this market. It incorporates a far reaching examination of past, present just as well as forthcoming patterns in the market. The report uncovers significant elements of the market which can help the business experts in basic leadership.

Global Gene Synthesis Marketis set to rise from its initial estimated value of USD 3,542.49 million in 2018 to an estimated value of USD 19,295.56 million in 2026, registering a CAGR of 23.60% in the forecast period of 2019-2026. This rise in market value can be attributed to the rise in numbers of start-ups dealing with gene synthesis and growth in gene synthesis investments & funds.

Key data and information used while preparing this Gene synthesis report has been collected from the consistent sources that range from journals, websites, research papers, case studies, and magazines. Competitor strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, and acquisitions can be utilized well by the In Vitro Diagnostic industry to take better steps for selling goods and services. Gene synthesis market report is an analytical estimation of the key challenges in terms of sales, export/import, or revenue that an organization may have to face in the coming years.

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Global Gene Synthesis Market Report potential

Recent industry trends and developments

Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on the product portfolios of the top players in the Xyz market

Market share and size of all the foremost industry players

Complete report on Global Gene Synthesis Market Report 2019-2026..spread across 350 Pages, profiling Top companies and supports with tables and figures.

Few of the major competitors currently working in the gene synthesis market are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Genewiz, Eurofins Scientific, ATD Bio Ltd., OriGene Technologies, Inc., Bioneer Corporation, Atum, Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., GenScript, Eurogentec, Twist Bioscience., BioCat GmbH, LGCBiosearch Technologies, Eton Bioscience, Inc., Quintara Biosciences, Bio Basic Inc., SBS Genetech Co., Ltd., Merck KGaA among others

WHY DATA BRIDGE MARKET RESEARCH?

Gene synthesis is the chemical in-vitro synthesis of double-stranded DNA molecules. It can develop mutated, recombinant, or entirely novel DNA sequences without any template DNA strand and synthesize oligos and RNA containing modified bases or chimeric DNA-RNA backbones along with DNA sequences. It has a crucial role in synthetic biology and biotechnology and also it is an important tool for various fields like vaccine development, molecular engineering, gene therapy, and heterologous gene expression in recombinant DNA technology. It can also be used in designing cancer enzymes and diagnosis of viral genomes for vaccine development.

Table Of Content:

Part 01: Executive Summary

Part 02: Scope Of The Report

Part 03: Global Market Landscape

Part 04: Global Market Sizing

Part 05: Global Market Segmentation By Product

Part 06: Five Forces Analysis

Part 07: Customer Landscape

Part 08: Geographic Landscape

Part 09: Decision Framework

Part 10: Drivers And Challenges

Part 11: Market Trends

Part 12: Vendor Landscape

Part 13: Vendor Analysis

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Market Segmentation:

By Products & Services (Consumables, Software, Services Market),Application(Diagnostics, Therapeutics, Research & Developmental Activities, Other Applications),Method(Solid Phase Synthesis, Chip based DNA synthesis, PCR based enzyme synthesis),End-User(Academic & Research Institutes Market, Diagnostic Laboratories Market, Biotech & Pharmaceutical Companies Market, Other Markets),Geography(North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends & Forecast to 2026

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Competitive Analysis:Global Gene Synthesis Market

Global gene synthesis market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of gene synthesis market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.

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Gene Synthesis Market is Anticipated to Grow at a CAGR of 27.8% over the forecast period 2019 2026 With Major Key Players Like ATDBio Ltd, ATUM,...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Phenylketonuria (PKU) Market report covers the disease overview, definition, classification, symptoms, ethology, pathophysiology and diagnostic methods. The investigation depends on patient take-up by treatments, deals forecast of each medication by concentrate the explanations for the maximal utilization of new medicines. A relative investigation is likewise done based on part of the overall industry and size by evaluating the drugs take-up to extend the treatment situating in the market. It also covers the complete treatment methodologies and therapy areas under research and development

Phenylketonuria (PKU) Market Understanding and Treatment Algorithm

The report gives an exhaustive record of the all patient pool, diagnosed cases and potential patient pool qualified for the treatment. It additionally incorporates the clarification of changing patterns of the study of disease transmission in the wake of assessing various examinations, review reports and perspectives.

For producing such excellent Phenylketonuria (PKU) Treatment Market research report, principal attributes such as highest level of spirit, practical solutions, dedicated research and analysis, innovation, talent solutions, integrated approaches, most advanced technology and commitment plays a key role. Global Phenylketonuria (PKU) Treatment market report provides in-depth market data and forecast by analyzing key business trends and identifying potential growth avenues across the entire value chain. According to this Phenylketonuria (PKU) Treatment report, new highs will be made in the Phenylketonuria (PKU) Treatment market in 2018-2025. This report not only lends a hand for intelligent decision making but also better manages marketing of goods and services which leads to growth in the business.

Get Sample Report of Phenylketonuria (PKU) Market @ https://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-phenylketonuria-pku-treatment-market

Phenylketonuria is a rare inherited genetic disorder that leads to the increase in levels of phenylalanine in blood. Phenylalanine is an amino acid which is comprised of proteins obtained from food and diet. Phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme converts phenylalanine in to tyrosine amino acid in human body. The tyrosine is required to create neurotransmitters, such as epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine in human body. Phenylketonuria is caused due to a defect in the gene which helps to produce phenylalanine hydroxylase. Absence of this enzyme leads to a buildup of phenylalanine in the body and starts getting stored in the blood stream and consequently, damaging the brain. The patient of phenylketonuria can develop symptoms such as seizures, skin conditions, tremors or trembling and shaking, hyperactivity, stunted growth and more.

The incidence of phenylketonuria is approximately 1 in 10,000 in European populations, although it is less common in the African-American population, with an incidence of approximately 1 in 50,000. Phenyketonuria is rare in Finland and Japan, although its incidence may vary markedly between different regions.

Key Market Players:- DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED, Ajinomoto Cambrooke, Inc., American Gene Technologies, Inc., Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Danone Nutricia , Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, Abbott, Promin Metabolics, Ajinomoto Cambrooke, Inc, Promin, Som innovation biotech, SL,Synthetic Biologics, Inc., Nestle, Codexis, BioMarin, Erytech Pharma are the key market players.

Market Drivers

Segmentation: Global Phenylketonuria (PKU) Treatment Market

By Type

By Drug Type

By Therapy Type

By Route of Administration

By End-Users

By Geography

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Key Developments in the Market:

Competitive Analysis: Global Phenylketonuria (PKU) Treatment Market

Global phenylketonuria (PKU) treatment market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of global phenylketonuria (PKU) treatment market for Global, Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.

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Phenylketonuria (PKU) Market 2019: Worldwide Industry Share, Size, Key Vendors, Growth Drivers, Regional, And Competitive Landscape Forecast To 2026 -...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Axovant Gene Therapies (NASDAQ:AXGT) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning, Zacks.com reports.

According to Zacks, Axovant Sciences Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company which focuses on the acquisition, development and commercialization of therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Its product candidate includes RVT-101 which is in different clinical trial for the treatment of Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Axovant Sciences Ltd. is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on AXGT. Svb Leerink assumed coverage on Axovant Gene Therapies in a research report on Friday, June 21st. They set an outperform rating and a $18.00 price target on the stock. Leerink Swann assumed coverage on Axovant Gene Therapies in a research report on Friday, June 21st. They set an outperform rating and a $5.79 price target on the stock. Cowen restated a hold rating on shares of Axovant Gene Therapies in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. ValuEngine upgraded Axovant Gene Therapies from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird upgraded Axovant Gene Therapies from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lowered their price target for the company from $16.00 to $13.00 in a research report on Monday, August 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. The stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $26.91.

Axovant Gene Therapies (NASDAQ:AXGT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 9th. The company reported ($1.23) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the Zacks consensus estimate of ($1.34) by $0.11. Research analysts expect that Axovant Gene Therapies will post -4.25 EPS for the current year.

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in AXGT. Sphera Funds Management LTD. bought a new position in shares of Axovant Gene Therapies during the first quarter valued at about $6,794,000. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in shares of Axovant Gene Therapies during the second quarter valued at about $1,482,000. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new position in shares of Axovant Gene Therapies during the first quarter valued at about $272,000. Jane Street Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Axovant Gene Therapies by 28.8% during the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 46,455 shares of the companys stock valued at $289,000 after buying an additional 10,375 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its stake in shares of Axovant Gene Therapies by 955.3% during the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,221 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 3,821 shares during the last quarter. 13.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Axovant Gene Therapies

Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd., a clinical-stage gene therapy company, focuses on developing a pipeline of product candidates for debilitating neurological and neuromuscular diseases. The company's current pipeline of gene therapy candidates targets GM1 gangliosidosis, GM2 gangliosidosis, Parkinson's disease, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal dementia.

Further Reading: Diversification Important in Investing

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Axovant Gene Therapies (NASDAQ:AXGT) Cut to Hold at Zacks Investment Research - Mitchell Messenger

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Dr. Sharyn Lewin & The Lewin Fund Honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month with

Womens Health & Wellness Symposium at the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey

On Thursday, October 17th, Gynecologic Oncologist, Dr. Sharyn Lewin, on behalf ofThe Lewin Fund, hosted a Womens Health & Wellness Symposium at the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey in Paramus.

The three-hour event included presentations by top health and wellness experts for an interactive discussion about the latest in research, awareness and prevention of womens cancers, including what patients need to know to take charge of their health.

Experts presentations included: Sharyn M. Lewin, MD as the host and moderator, Debbie Besson, MS, RD, CSO, Shari Brooks, Dr. Dorothy Chae, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Shari Siegel-Goldman, MD.

Guests also had the option to partake in on-site genetic testing and flu shots.

The Lewin Fund hosts monthly educational events to help educate and raise awareness for traditionally underfunded gynecologic cancers that impact one in three women and their families. The Lewin Funds next event will be a free genetics symposium focusing on Updates in Hereditary Cancers & Genetics, on Sunday, October 27thfrom 1:00 PM 3:30 PM at the Holy Name Medical Centers Marian Hall (718 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ). Guests can register atholyname.org/GeneticsSymposiumor by calling 201-833-3392.

AboutThe Lewin Fund

The Lewin Fund to Fight Womens Cancers is non-profit based in New York City that supports cutting-edge and comprehensive care for women with cancer.

The Lewin Fund is committed to sponsoring innovative womens cancer research and collaborating with womens cancer support programs to prevent cancer and extend life for women with cancer. The Lewin Fund is inspired by the vision of one courageous woman who battled gynecologic cancer and sought to push the frontiers of clinical research initiatives.

We are focused on: enhancing preventive and screening techniques to reduce the incidence of malignancies; funding cutting-edge, innovative research; supporting personalized medical strategies to treat cancer and decrease morbidity and mortality; and improving the quality of life during treatment and recovery by partnering with individuals on the front lines of cancer care.

Our founder, Sharyn Lewin, M.D., FACS, is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist, specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and management of ovarian, endometrial, uterine, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers. Her practice employs a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team approach to screening, treatment and overall improvement in quality of care for women at high risk for ovarian cancer and other gynecologic malignancies.

Dr. Lewin serves as medical director of the Regional Cancer Centers Gynecologic Oncology Division at Holy Name Medical Center and spearheads the development of a Womens Comprehensive Health Center, a female-focused initiative providing care and support for women of all generations.

To donate to The Lewin Fund, go toTheLewinFund.org/donate.

About Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey

Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey is dedicated to preserving, fostering and securing a vibrant Jewish community locally, in Israel and around the world. We provide the guidance, vision and resources necessary to help those in need. They work collaboratively with donors, volunteers and other Jewish organizations to ensure that your contributions will be distributed to achieve the maximum impact.

In todays hyper-connected, uncertain world where rapid response is critical Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey has their fingers on the pulse of issues and are nimble enough to react to crises and respond to where the need is greatest. They are the eyes, ears and voice of your Jewish community.

http://www.jfnnj.org

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Dr. Sharyn Lewin & The Lewin Fund Honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Women's Health & Wellness Symposium at the Jewish Federation of...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Male and female mouse brains could have significant differences that reach right down to the cellular level, according to a new discovery.

Based on a reading of their genetic activity, neurons in a part of the mouse nervous system responsible for aggression and mating behaviours appear to be chemically structured in subtle but distinctly different ways between the two sexes.

These findings haven't been tested in other mammal species as yet, so we can't read too much into them. But it's a fascinating study that warrants further investigation in the brains of other animals.

Researchers from the California Institute of Technology and the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle looked at a region of the brain called the ventrolateral subdivision of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl) in both male and female mice.

The VMHvl is tiny, made up of a mere 4,000 cells in mice, but still has quite a schedule on its hands, playing an important role in metabolism and complex sexual and social behaviours.

To identify cell types in the region, the researchers usedsingle cell RNA reading technology, which identifies genes that have been actively translated into RNA.

This is important, because while a species' full genome is kept in the nucleus of each cell, only a limited number of these genes will actually be expressed into proteins that meet the needs of the specific cell type. For example, a blood cell has different needs and therefore will activate different genes than a skin cell.

This technology provided the scientists with a snapshot of the 'books' being read in each cell's genetic library, giving them a clear idea of how each cell's individual physical make-up and activity differs.

Cells are considered to be of a certain type if clusters of genes in close proximity are expressed together to carry out a task.

In total the team identified 17 distinct types of brain cells in this tiny bit of brain tissue, which they then verified using glowing genetic tags in a process called fluoro in-situ hybridisation.

While that might sound like a lot of brain cell types, uncovering such a level of diversity shouldn't be all that surprising. Similar research has already identified scores of cell types across the entire hypothalamus.

What hadn't been seen before in mammals, at least were clear differences in neuron types between the male and female brains they analysed.

Some of these cell types were found in vastly greater numbers among mice of one gender or the other. One in particular was already known to make an enzyme that was present only in male mouse brains.

But another newly identified cell type was specific to female mice, not being found at all in male mice.

Importantly, these differences weren't a direct result of contrasting sex chromosomes, with the distinct brain cell types traced back to patterns of genes on parts of the genome both sexes possess.

Having genes that are generally active in one sex but not the other is hardly shocking. The small but significant leap in this case is finding clusters of activity large enough in brain cells to make them physically different types.

One thing that did come as a surprise was that only a few of these specific variations seemed to match specific behaviours, posing questions on just what it is many of these gender-biased cell types do.

"The results show that there are differences between male and female mammalian brains at the level of cellular composition as well as gene expression but that those differences are subtle, and their functional significance remains to be explained," says California Institute of Technology biologist, David Anderson.

It's a conclusion that's sure to polarise opinions on what is already a controversial topic. Research on the culture and biology of human gender is a divisive topic marked by a history of stereotypes and misinformation

On top of that, it's difficult to know how studies on lab animals might apply to humans. We're unlikely to be unique, but it's an assumption that would require further research to support.

Treading cautiously, studies like this one can't be dismissed out of hand either.

Like mice, there's a good chance our own brains not only promote different behaviours depending on whether we have a Y chromosome, but have fundamentally different cell types that just might be responsible for sex-specific functions.

That doesn't mean men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Genetics is complicated, and while we can generalise based on patterns, it doesn't dismiss the significance of individual variations or cultural influences.

Technology that can provide a detailed library list of genes being actively read in individual cells is changing what we know about everything from mental health to evolution to our own developing bodies.

We're almost certain to be surprised by just how diverse human biology can be.

This research was published in Cell.

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Gender-Specific Brain Cells Have Just Been Discovered Inside The Brains of Mice - ScienceAlert

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Have you ever wondered why you wash your rice or soak it overnight before cooking it? Perhaps you wash your rice grains to enhance taste, reduce starch levels, or maybe that's just the way your family has always prepped rice. Thanks to a tip from science communicator Samantha Yammine who came across Dr. Nausheen Sadiq's neat finding while live-tweeting a forum on Diversity and Excellence in Science it turns out there is another reason why, as washing rice actually helps reduce the concentration of heavy metals, like chromium, cadmium, arsenic, and lead.

Heavy metal contamination in crops can be caused by human activities, such as mining, fertilizers, pesticides, and sewage sludge. Compared to most cereal crops though, rice (Oryza sativa L.) actually accumulates more heavy materials, like cadmium or arsenic, where long-term heavy metal intake can cause health risks. For example, long-term arsenic exposure leads to skin disease, high blood pressure, and neurological effects. This is especially important to consider as rice is a staple food across the globe.

Heavy metal contamination in crops can be caused by human activities, such as mining, fertilizers, pesticides, and sewage sludge.

Photo by TUAN ANH TRAN on Unsplash

In a recent study, researchers investigated the effects of different cooking methods (normal, high-pressure and microwave cooking) on the concentration, bio-accessibility and health risks posed by three heavy metals (cadmium, arsenic and lead) in two strains of brown rice. After cooking 100 grams of brown rice grains, researchers evaluated bioaccessibility (i.e. how much of the heavy metal is released for absorption) by mixing rice samples with simulated gastric fluid, and then used spectrometery to measure heavy metal concentration. Lastly, the researchers calculated the health risk posed by the heavy metals by calculating values such as the average daily dose.

Overall, the researchers found that instead of the three different cooking methods, it was the washing process which significantly reduced concentrations of cadmium, arsenic and lead, suggesting that the reduction may be due to rice morphology. For example, lead is found largely in the outer compartments of rice kernels, so lead is more likely to be removed during rice washing.

In contrast, the three cooking methods did impact bioaccessibility i.e. how much of the heavy metal would be released for absorption by the body. Here, washing and soaking isn't enough as rice absorbs water poorly at 25C. This finding was also reflected in calculated values: the average daily doses of cadmium, arsenic and lead were lower in washed and cooked rice, compared to raw rice.

It's worth noting that the European Commission has enforced limits on heavy metal levels - for example, arsenic is currently limited to 200 parts per billion (ppb) for adults and 100 ppb for infants. Both the U.S. and Canada currently have no limits in place for arsenic in food though Canada is currently reviewing a proposal to add maximum levels for arsenic found in white and brown rice, while the U.S. FDA has previously released a (non-binding) risk assessment, suggesting the same 100 ppb levels as Europe.

So the takeaway here is that yes, your family and all those professional chefs have been right all along. Yes, washing rice involves sacrificing some of its nutritional value, but doing so means you can reduce the levels of heavy metals present in grains, and still enjoy dishes like rice cakes. And returning back to Yammine's reporting, Saudiq actually shared that by soaking and washing rice for ~5 mins, you can get rid of 50-100% of these elements. (Thanks Sam!)

More here:
Genomics has a diversity problem. Here's how scientists are tackling it - Massive Science

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

This week Gina Rodriguez stepped into a proverbial pile of poo (once again) by casually sharing a video of herself singing the n-word. And seriously yall. Im tired.

Tuesday afternoon the Jane The Virgin actress posted a questionable clip on Instagram of her rapping Lauryn Hills verse on Ready or Not. Much to everyones chagrin, it shows her looking directly into the camera, as she says, fronting n*ggas give me heebie-jeebies.

Mind you, this is the same person who was dragged all up and down Al Gores internet this time last year for a series of All Lives Matter-esque micro-aggressions that didnt sit well with Black Twitter, and swore shed learned her lesson.

READ MORE: Habitual Hater Gina Rodriguez is the Latina friend you DONT want speaking up for you

So it should come as no surprise to anyone (except for maybe Gina herself) that this post would not go over well and would only open up a whole new can of worms. Which is exactly what it did.

To make matters worse, initially, rather than show any real remorse, she made one of those condescending, Im sorry if I offended apologies that are dripping with so much ego they only make things worse.

I am sorry if I offended anyone by singing along to The Fugees, to a song I love that I grew up on, she said in the post Im sure her publicist has since begged her to take down.

When she realized that her critics had an emotional I.Q. and werent going to accept a backhanded dismissal, then and only then did she stop patronizing us and actually apologize.

But just like in the case of Kevin Hart, when you talk down to people first, and have to literally get spanked by the public before taking real accountability, its impossible to unring that bell and it also makes us wonder if you even really believe what you did was wrong.

Wednesday, Rodriguez updated her Instagram with a message in which she admits that she thoughtlessly sang along and that whatever consequences I face for my actions today, none will be more hurtful than the personal remorse I feel.

The word I sang carries with it a legacy of hurt and pain that I cannot even imagine, she further concedes. Then concluded that this is a much deserved lesson I have some serious learning and growing to do and I am so deeply sorry for the pain I have caused.

While I appreciate this rare moment of introspection, I cant help remembering back in January when Rodriguez appeared on the Sway in the Morning radio show. During that softball interview she took zero accountability for falling out of favor with the public and then tearfully explained that we all just misunderstood her.

She even went as far as to describe her father as dark-skinned, despite the fact that hes barely the complexion of undercooked toast.

Then, for the rest of the segment, she basically repeated over and over again how shes fundamentally a good person, how Black actresses reached out to her to agree that the backlash was silly, and how if she in any way triggered our frayed sensibilities, she was sorry. But still, we all got it wrong. Sorry though.

OPINION: Gina Rodriguez STILL doesnt get why were mad, cries over anti-Black accusations

So basically, what were seeing here is a pattern where:

1. Gina Rodriguez shows a racial blind spot, which is understandable because society is designed to ingrain those in us.

2. Black Twitter tells her to cut that s**t out.

3. She gives a backhanded apology that makes it sound like she thinks were all really just too dumb to understand shes above reproach simply because shes a good person who grew up around Black people. Oh and yeah shes Latina so that should count for something cause everyone knows theres no racism in Latin America, right?

4. When all else fails, cry. Extra points if you cry to a Black man who is taught to find you sympathetic. Triple points if you also manage to mention how your Black female friends forgave you, cause apparently they get to speak on behalf of the rest of us.

Got it. The Rodriguez Apology Tour itinerary is pretty clear at this point.

Whats sad is, it took something as egregious as the flippin N-WORD to get her to even stop long enough to consider that maybe just maybe shes actually be part of the problem.

So are we just gonna keep writing pieces pitting Black women against Latina women? my fellow Afro-Latina colleague asked me bluntly one day. Because who does that really serve?

She said this at the top of the year, in response to finding out that I was going to be penning an op-ed about Rodriguezs emotional appearance on Sway in the Morning.

And you know what? That inquiry hit me between the eyes because Ive written countless articles about the Oppression Olympics and how many of our spaces are both Black and Brown, therefore making it against our own best interests to constantly fight amongst each other while white supremacy is left off the hook.

I also have a deep personal aversion to having my sharp intellect used as a tool to bring down other women. Because trust and believe, as a writer there have been several times when potential employers have tried to finesse me into using my pen as a sword, as if I was some sort of literary goon or hitman commissioned to torpedo someones career.

Ive worked really hard to side-step all of these traps and so on that day 9 months ago, instead of going for the jugular in my piece I showed Rodriguez some grace. I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I also prayed all those Black actress friends she keeps mentioning encouraged her to spend less time shedding white woman tears and more time learning about her glaring blindspots.

For those who are asking: Wait, are you implying that Gina Rodriguez is a white woman? let me make this clear for the umpteenth time. Race is as much about optics as it is about genetics and culture.

You can pull out your Ancestry.com results and be as ethnic and proud about being 9% Black as you want. But the fact remains that your VISUAL proximity to whiteness be you fair, racially ambiguous, or a white presenting Latina will afford you privileges that it would be intellectually dishonest not to acknowledge.

So much in the same way when a white woman weaponizes her tears it usually brings society (even judges in high profile murder trials) to their knees, thanks to centuries of race based conditioning, when Rodriguez was in that Sway interview sobbing about how much we hurt her feelings in January many of those same white women tears dynamics were at play when the host, the audience, and even I all found ourselves feeling a little guilty for how much pain wed caused her.

She was dead ass wrong and yet somehow were the ones who felt bad, simply because she cried. Sound familiar?

READ MORE: Gina Rodriguez tearfully breaks down on Sway in the Morning

As a result of that coddling (which I now regret), sis got so comfortable around us again, she felt empowered to post a video of her saying the n-word. In 2019. During the Trump administration. Despite having a Netflix password and therefore access to dozens of documentaries that essentially explain, So, yeah. Lets not ever do that Gina.

So what have I learned from all this as not just a journalist but also as a critically thinking Black woman in America?

Welp! The next time I lovingly put my foot on someones neck and ask them to be accountable, as long as Im being fair and factual, Im not gonna let yall gaslight me into pulling punches.

I love uplifting women, I love uplifting my community and I still take no pleasure in ever dragging anyone (especially when the facts alone can do that). But stroking peoples egos to the point where theyre allowed to constantly play victim serves no one.

Rodriguez is probably a really lovely person, in fact Im almost convinced she is. But she apparently has a lot of maturing to do before she can even ever confidently stand on that soap box she keeps reaching for. Until she stops playing victim and really owns how she has consistently contributed to this ongoing PR nightmare, this probably wont be her last time issuing an apology to us. Tears and all.

Follow writer Blue Telusma on Instagram at @bluecentric

Read the rest here:
I TRIED to forgive Gina Rodriguez but her white woman tears are wearing me out - TheGrio

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

For women all over the world,acneis a skin concern that's likely reared its head on several occasions throughout life. From breakouts in our teen years to surprising smatterings in adulthood, we can hardly remember a time when we weren't reaching for products to help nip zitsfast.

Treating acne can be frustrating and complicated, so we turned toone of thebest dermatologists in Los Angeles, Nancy Samolitis, MD, co-founder and medical director ofFacile, to help break down the root causes, andthe best treatmentapproach. First and foremost, she'll cover the leadingacne-causing culpritsto help us better understand what we're up against. Then, continue on to check out Samolitis's expertly curatedskincare routinefor banishing breakouts, once and for all.

Despite our best efforts to care for our skin, sometimes acne and its contributors are just written into our genetic code. "The biggest contributor to acne is genetics," Samolitis says. "Some people are just programmed to have larger pores, more oil production, inflammatory skin, etc." That's not great news, but genetic or not, there are always solutions to help manage skin concerns like acne.

Hormones help to regulate everything from reproduction to stress, and according to Samolitis, they can also have quite a bit to do with acne. "Hormonal stimulation of oil production is also an important factor. This is obviously a factor in teens, where their hormones are just starting to rise, but is also very common in adult womenoften for unknown reasons," she explains. "Certain hormonal medications such as the progesterone component of birth control pills, IUDs, and bioidentical hormone supplements can trigger acne."

It's no surprise that what we put into our bodies has an effect on our skin. After all, just about every fad diet out there claims to be a road to clearer skin. Samolitis believes that there are specific foods to watch out for while actively treating acne, "in particular, foods that spike insulin levels like sugary or processed foods, " she says. "The hormones in meat and dairy that are given to farm animals may also play a significant role in acne, but this is poorly understood."

"Finally, use (or lack thereof) of certain skincare products can trigger breakouts as well."With the ever-growing selection of products available now, we have to be more cautious than ever when trying new things, as to not upset the skin's delicate pH balance. "This day and age, there are not as many comedogenic (pore-clogging) products and makeup as there used to be, but products that contain thick creams or ointments may lead to clogged pores and worsening of acne," says Samolitis.

With so many different factors that could potentially be contributing to acne, it might feel like an impossible feat to figure out the best steps to take. And the truth is, there's no better place to start than by consulting a trusted physician to nail down a treatment plan."If you have acne that is severe, cystic, scarring, and is resistant to skincare and treatments, it's important to seek treatment by a board-certified dermatologist who can assess and work up the acne, ruling out underlying medical causes," Samolitis implores. "There are many prescription treatments that are safe when used under proper supervision and can treat severe acne before scarring occurs."

In the meantime, our trusty expert has mocked up a skincare routine that will help anyonewho would like to treat their acne.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Deep Cleansing Foaming Cream ($23)

Samolitis recommends starting the day with a clean slate by using a cleanser with salicylic acid. "Exfoliating acids, in particular, oil-busting salicylic acid, help to remove excess oil that is leading to clogged pores in the first place," she says.

Versed Just Breathe Clarifying Serum ($20)

After the skin is freshly cleansed, it's the perfect time to go in witha highly active ingredientbased serum. This one by Versed uses willow bark extractand a powerful zinc blend to clear out excess pore-clogging sebum.

PCA Skin Clearskin ($45)

"Niacinamide is a more newly recognized anti-inflammatory ingredient that works particularly well for adult female acne and also has anti-aging benefits as a bonus," Samolitis explains. She carries this niacinamide and antioxidant-rich treatment in her own practice andrecommends it to clients struggling with a multitude of inflammatory skin conditions.

Versed Dew Point Moisturizing Gel-Cream ($15)

As mentioned above, Samolitis cautionsagainstoil-based, heavy creams for those dealing with acne. The pore-clogging that could ensue just isn't worth the risk. That's why this lightweight, gel-cream moisturizer is the perfect alternative for achieving deep hydration without running the risk of breakouts.

EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 ($35)

And of course, any daytime regimen should include SPF. Samolitis calls this popular choice from EltaMD acne-friendly sunblock and points out that it also contains niacinamide as an added bonus.

Versed Wash It Out Gel Cleanser ($13)

In the evenings, Samolitis again recommends cleansing to keep the skin free and clear of acne-causing dirt and debris. Rose, mint, and apple amino acids make this one a super-gentle option that doesn't sacrifice efficacy.

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment ($13)

"Vitamin A derivatives (like retinol and adapalene, the active ingredient in over-the-counter Differin gel) help to normalize skin cell turnover and keep skin cells from sticking in the pores. They can also stimulate healthy collagen growth, improving acne scars," Samolitis advises.

Versed Hydration Station Booster With HA ($20)

Samolitis emphasizes how important it is toreplenish moisture in the skin to fight any possible redness or dryness thatmight arise while using a retinoid treatment. This Versed booster deploys two different kinds ofhydrolyzed hyaluronic acid into the skin.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Face Moisturizer Gel-Cream ($17)

"I love a light hyaluronic acidbased moisturizing cream like Neutrogena Hydro Boost," Samolitis says.

Neutrogena Rapid Clear Benzoyl Peroxide Leave-on Acne Face Mask ($8)

"When all is dry and soaked in, use benzoyl peroxide as needed.Naturally antibacterial, benzoyl peroxide detoxifies the bacterial overgrowth that occurs in inflammatory acne," Samolitissays. She recommends this leave-on mask by Neutrogena.

Malin + Goetz Acne Treatment Nighttime ($22)

As a final step, Samolitis also swears by a sulfur spot treatment as needed for any especially aggressive bumps. She likes this one by Malin+ Goetz.

Up next, everything you need to know to shrink a pimple overnight (really).

This article originally appeared on Who What Wear

Read More from Who What Wear

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A Top Dermatologist Says This Is the Best Skincare Regimen to Treat Acne - Yahoo Lifestyle

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

18 October 2019

Tania Adib discusses premature menopause with Female First

The menopause is a natural part of ageing for women, which occurs when their oestrogen levels start to decline, causing their periods stop and their ovaries to lose their reproductive function. The average age for a woman to start the menopause in the UK is 51 however, due to a range of different factors, some women can experience it before they reach the age of 40 often referred to as premature menopause.

Here, Ms Tania Adib, Consultant Gynaecologist at The Lister Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, explains 7 things that everyone should know about premature menopause.

Ms Tania Adib says: The symptoms of early menopause are often the same as those experienced by women undergoing menopause at a normal age. At first, symptoms may include irregular or missed periods, periods that are lighter or heavier than usual and hot flushes. These symptoms usually signal that that the ovaries are producing less oestrogen.

"Further to this, some women may also experience the following symptoms, which will coincide with the menstrual changes mentioned above:

Ms Tania Adib says: There are several known causes of early menopause, although for some women the cause cannot be 100% determined:

"In addition to the above factors, any medical treatments that damage the ovaries or stop oestrogen production can cause early menopause. (For example, chemotherapy for cancer)."

Ms Tania Adib says: Like all menopausal women, those experiencing premature menopause will experience lowered oestrogen levels. Low levels of oestrogen can lead to lots of changes in a womans overall health and may increase her risk for certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, colon cancer, gum disease, tooth loss, and cataract formation.

"Women experiencing premature menopause are encouraged to visit their GP if ever they experience any unusual symptoms that might be associated with the above, just so that they can receive a thorough examination and rule these out.

Ms Tania Adib says: Unfortunately there is not a cure for premature menopause however, treatment options are available to help women to manage some of the unpleasant symptoms or conditions that come with it.

"The most common treatment is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), as this can treat menopausal symptoms.

Ms Tania Adib says: With the help of IVF, and other modern assisted fertility treatments, it is still possible to conceive a baby after the menopause.

"For example, many young, healthy women are now choosing to freeze their eggs as precautionary measure. She can then undergo IVF or IUI when she is older, if she struggles to fall pregnant naturally or cant because she has reached menopause. If a woman knows that her mother or grandmother experienced premature menopause, they I would advise that she considers egg freezing as this can help to protect her fertility for the future.

"For women who are experiencing premature menopause, but havent frozen their eggs, there are other assisted fertility options for them to explore such as egg donation or embryo adoption.

View post:
World Menopause Day: Five things you need to know about premature menopause - FemaleFirst.co.uk

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Ive always admired multi-sport post-secondary student-athletes who can organize and adhere to demanding timetables, who excel in a two-pronged pursuit of higher education and championship trophies. Admittedly, this comes from someone whod be hard-pressed to get a one-float parade up and running. Still, its not hard to marvel at the exploits of Sophie de Goede, a two-sport star at Queens University.

The Victoria, B.C., native is a member of two varsity womens teams: basketball and rugby. She plays the former very well, the latter exceedingly well, while maintaining a lofty 3.9 grade point average in the third year of a challenging commerce program. She is first and foremost, as is any successful student/jock(ette) who competes on more than one varsity playground, a master of time management. Ask her and she will tell you that it is an essential attribute on the road to success in both disciplines. Time management skills, as the saying goes, are old hat for her, and they were long before she ever pulled on a tricolour jersey.

Im used to it, de Goede says nonchalantly, momentarily interrupting a Sunday study session to take a phone call from a newspaper hack. The two-time Academic All-Canadian is pleasant, polite, cheerful, simply flat-out nice all of which belies her well-earned reputation as a rugged, tenacious, fearless force on the pitch, so fit as to be practically inexhaustible. Wonderfully skilled, she is arguably the best rugby player in university today. She speaks of long-ingrained habits and a structured regimen that she began practising, in earnest, in high school, with hectic schedules routinely peppered with class times and plenty of practice/game times. Her high school sports included you get winded just reading the list rowing, soccer, field hockey, swimming, volleyball, basketball, cross-country, track and field and, of course, rugby. That excludes the rep roundball and Rugby Canada age-group clubs she played on and sometimes captained. (She was already a nationally carded rugby sevens athlete while in high school.)

My parents made sure I played other sports, de Goede recalls, and because I played other sports, its made me a better, more well-rounded rugby player. But my parents never pushed me towards rugby.

They didnt have to.

She was sold on the game practically by the time she was out of pull-ups. De Goede remembers scampering on the sidelines as a toddler while her dad coached a Victoria rugby club team, and just as often being on another sideline near her mom, who guided the same clubs womens side. Such front-row raw exposure to the sport at an early age was one reason why rugby took hold, osmosis-like.

The other reason was genetics. Sophie is a chip of the old block make that two old blocks the latest link in a regal rugby lineage. Her father, Dutch-born Hans de Goede, was a hard-nosed, no-nonsense lock forward who captained Canada in the first World Cup (1987). Her mom, Stephanie White, a Calgary native, was the inaugural captain of a Canadian womens side. Their distinguished playing and coaching careers were cited during eachs respective induction into the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame. Its an enviable ancestry, the equine equivalent of having Northern Dancer and Seabiscuit as your ma and pa. Youre born to run, baby, or in the case of the contact-craving de Goede, run around, over or through.

Team Canada senior womens coach Sondro Fiorino calls de Goede an exceptional, extremely gifted player. He coached her this summer when she joined the senior womens 15s for a Super Series tournament in San Diego.

Youve heard of the five-tool player in baseball? Fiorino asks before finishing his point. In rugby, its a four-tool player and Sophie possesses all four tools: speed, skills, size and smarts. Shes strong, agile, athletic, fast and intelligent. And she kicks for points. Not many forwards do that.

For good measure, he adds: Shes the fittest player in Canada, hands down. Her fitness scores are through the roof.

That glowing assessment doesnt surprise Mikela Lehan, an ex-Gaels rugby teammate who now manages the Gaels team. Lehan recounts a story from de Goedes very first day at training camp. Wed heard about this good first-year player coming from B.C., but you know, you never know what that persons going to be like, Lehan says. Sophie shows up just as were about to run our 1,600 metres, then she goes out and laps just about everyone.

As for de Goede the person, Lehan lauds. She is the most well-rounded person I know. She excels in every part of her life: friends, family, school, sports, socially. Sophies in her own category.

Ditto in university womens rugby. De Goede came to Queens asRugby Canadas reigning female player of the year after having spent the previous campaign training with the national sevens side. In her Golden Gaels debut, she tallied two tries and three converts, later copping OUA rookie-of-the-year laurels.

Her sophomore season brought OUA and U Sports player-of-the-year kudos, and this year de Goede, six feet and a solid 180 pounds, has upped her game and repeated as OUA top player.

Sophs a generational player, states her Queens coach, Dan Valley, who moonlights as an assistant with the Canadian senior womens club. Shes humble and helpful, a collection, really, of every positive sports cliche out there, an absolutely incredible talent and ultimate team player.

On the hardwood, de Goede isnt exactly taking up space.

In her freshman year, she played nearly 20 minutes a game and averaged seven rebounds and a hair under 10 points per outing. Despite missing half of her second season due to an injury sustained at the 2018 rugby nationals, she still finished second on the Gaels in rebounds.

Shes already a solid, dependable player, womens basketball coach James Bambury notes on his heady, agile charge, and we expect she will take a giant leap this season because of the commitment she made to the team this summer. He alludes to a month of training that de Goede put in with her hoops mates prior to leaving for the rugby Super Series, then an additional month after she returned.

Shes so versatile, the coach adds. Were comfortable using her at any position, one through five. She can run, shoot, pass, defend, rebound and has phenomenal vision on the floor.

Because the two sports overlap slightly, Bambury says de Goede, 20, will not play in any basketball games until the rugby campaign is over. With the (rugby) national championship on the table, we wont interfere. An exception was made for the recent McGill/Queens exhibition game commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first university womens basketball tilt between the same two schools. Citing its historical significance, de Goede asked to play, then went out and drained a team-high 20 points in her 20 minutes of floor time.

The pursuit of higher education is proceeding well. Now its time to chase down a national title. The unbeaten Gaels rugby unit, with its two-sport linchpin leading the way, competes in the eight-team U Sports womens rugby championship tournament, Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, in Ottawa.

Patrick Kennedy is a retired Whig-Standard reporter. He can be reached at pjckennedy35@gmail.com

See the article here:
Two-sport star shines for Queen's Gaels, national rugby teams - The Kingston Whig-Standard

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith