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Archive for the ‘Personalized Medicine’ Category

What to Know in Washington: House to Hold Symbolic Vote on Iran – Bloomberg Government

Friday, January 10th, 2020

The House will vote today on a resolution to limit President Donald Trumps options for military action against Iran, with Democrats unsatisfied by the administrations justification for last weeks airstrike that killed a top Iranian official.

The war powers resolution from Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a former CIA analyst, would require the president to cease military actions against Iran unless authorized by Congress or in response to an imminent threat. A similar measure in the Senate has been introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

The vote is mostly symbolic because the Senate version is unlikely to attract much support from the chambers Republican majority and the House resolution by design would never go to the president to become law.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said it is Congresss duty to keep the American people safe, and she said Trumps actions in the region have endangered diplomats and members of the military by escalating tensions with Iran. Pelosi said the Democratic-led House may also soon consider legislation pushed by the partys progressives to cut off funding for action against Iran and repeal existing military authorizations.

Read the BGOV Bill Summary on the House resolution to end hostilities with Iran.

While the Senate resolution has little chance of passing the Republican-led chamber, Kaine did pick up two GOP supporters yesterday: Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) say they will support the resolution. Lee said that Trump administration officials left a briefing for lawmakers on Iran after only 75 minutes, adding hed sought more details on the U.S. drone strike on General Qassem Soleimani but White House officials werent forthcoming. Read more from Erik Wasson and Billy House.

Trumps Soleimani Hit Pays Off: Trump took the biggest risk of his presidency by killing a top Iranian general, and for the moment the bet is paying off. The question now is: For how long? A retaliatory Iranian missile attack on two U.S. bases in Iraq early yesterday caused no casualties, allowing the president an opportunity to stand down from what looked like an escalation toward war. We must all work together toward making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place, Trump said in remarks to the nation.

The Jan. 2 strike that killed Soleimani was a dramatic show of strength that, at least for now, reset the power dynamic between the U.S. and Iran. Trump appears to believe Iran will now think twice about provoking the U.S. and the two nations could even begin to forge a new understanding to reshape fraught Middle East politics. But its not at all clear that Iran is done with its reprisals. Read more from Justin Sink.

Trump yesterday vowed more sanctions as part of his maximum pressure campaign against Iran. The penalties are likely to target key regime figures and the countrys metals sector, a person familiar with U.S. plans said. The sanctions will likely be aimed at non-oil sectors of the Iranian economy and fit into a previously disclosed administration plan to choke off other sources of revenue now that the U.S. has clamped down on the nations oil exports, said the person, Nick Wadhams reports.

House to Vote on PFAS Bill Thats DOA in Senate: A far-reaching House bill that would force the federal government to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, contamination has little hope of becoming law in its current form, according to the chairman of the Senates environment committee. It has no prospects in the Senate, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said in an interview. None.

Barrassos comments came as the House is swiftly moving toward passage of the bill, which would change the way these persistent and potentially toxic chemicals are regulated. In addition to forcing the EPA to set nationwide drinking water standards for the chemicals, the bill also would require the agency to add the chemicals to its hazardous substance list, which potentially could turn every contaminated location into a Superfund site. Read more from David Schultz.

For more on the PFAS bill, see the BGOV Amendments Summary and BGOV Bill Summary by Adam M. Taylor.

Some Democrats Ask Pelosi to Let Trial Begin: Pelosi will hold her weekly news conference today amid the standoff over sending the impeachment charges against Trump to the Senate. Several Democratic senators are pressuring Pelosi to transmit the impeachment articles and let the Senate trial begin, and one said the trial could start next week.

If were going to do it, she should send them over. I dont see what good delay does, said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Pelosi said she is holding back the articles of impeachment adopted by the House last month until Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sets out his rules for the trial. But Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) suggested the House has little leverage in the matter. My expectation is that well be able to start this trial next week, Murphy said. The leverage over Republicans exists in the votes we take inside the trial. Read more from Billy House and Laura Litvan.

Sekulow to Join Trump Defense Team: Attorney Jay Sekulow will be a member of Trumps defense team for the Senate trial, according to a person familiar with the matter. Sekulow, who became one of Trumps private lawyers in mid-2017, specialized in constitutional issues in the Mueller investigation. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone will lead Trumps legal team for the trial. Separately, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is being recommended by some of the presidents allies to the White House as a possible member of his defense team. Read more from Jordan Fabian and Billy House.

Democrats Unveil Plan for 100% Clean Energy: House Democrats yesterday released ideas for future bills aimed at getting the U.S. to 100% clean energy by 2050 and said theyd work to build support for it in the months ahead. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) called the ideas a framework for a measure that will be called the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for Our Nations Future, or CLEAN Act. The bill hasnt been introduced, and Pallone said draft text would be released around the end of the month. Read more from Dean Scott.

IRS Asked to Advise Nonprofits on Refunds: The IRS should issue guidance instructing tax-exempt organizations how they can claim refunds for overpaid taxes after Congress repealed a portion of the 2017 tax law, House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) wrote in a letter to the agency. The 2017 tax overhaul required nonprofits to pay a 21% tax on parking and transportation benefits that they offer to employees, but lawmakers repealed the provision in December. Read more from Laura Davison.

FCC Pirate Radio Fines: The Senate unanimously cleared legislation that would allow the Federal Communications Commission to impose up to $2 million in fines against unauthorized radio broadcasters, or so-called pirate radio stations. The bill from Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), now heads to the presidents desk. The House passed the bill last February. Read more from Jon Reid.

Trumps Iran Strike Delights Supporters: Trumps loyal political base is standing by his decision to kill a top Iranian general, polls show, even though the move may undermine a key 2016 pledge to end U.S. military involvement in the Middle East. And recent polls show a clean partisan divide on the confrontation. About 67% of Republicans said they either strongly or somewhat approve of Trumps handling of Iran in the days following the U.S. airstrike on Soleimani, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday. About 69% of Democrats strongly disapprove.

But the political impact of the strike may be most telling among independent voters. About 48% of independents had a negative response to the presidents handling of Iran while roughly 36% answered positively, according to Reuters/Ipsos. And overall, a majority of Americans 53% disapproved of Trumps handling of Iran following the strike, an increase of 9 percentage points from December. Read more from Mario Parker.

Buttigieg Ad Highlights Black Support: Pete Buttigieg is seeking to overcome low support from black voters in South Carolina with a new ad highlighting residents of South Bend, Ind. The 30-second spot avoids any direct mention of race, but it features four black residents praising Buttigiegs record in the city. He listened to our community, says one resident. In recent weeks, Buttigieg has stepped up efforts to win over black voters, who make up the majority of Democrats in South Carolina, meeting with African-American leaders and holding smaller events. Read more from Ryan Teague Beckwith.

DOJ Says Virginias Push for Equal Rights Amendment Futile: The Virginia General Assemblys new Democratic leadership has opened the legislatures session with a pledge to adopt the Equal Rights Amendment. But a U.S. Justice Department official says in a newly released legal opinion that those efforts are in vain, as a 1979 ratification deadline set by the U.S. Congress has passed.

The ERA resolution has expired and is no longer pending before the States, according to Steven A. Engel, assistant attorney general with the Office of Legal Council. That deadline is binding and Congress has to restart the process, Engel said in the memo. Engels legal guidance was issued as Virginia appears to be poised to ratify the amendment. The commonwealth would become the 38th state to approve the ERA, which aims to set a broad guarantee of equal rights under the law, regardless of sex. Read more from Andrew M. Ballard.

Facebook Will Give Users the Option to See Fewer Political Ads: Responding to popular demand, Facebook will soon give users the option to see fewer political and social issue advertisements in their feed. This new setting, which will also be available in Instagram, is part of an effort to give people more control over what they see ahead of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

Facebook announced the new option Thursday in a broader update about political ads on the service. The company did not, however, announce major changes or restrictions to the ad-targeting tools available to political campaigns. Facebook has discussed potential changes to ad targeting internally in recent months following restrictions from rivals Google and Twitter Inc. The social network decided against changing its targeting tools, which can be very granular and specific, after extensive outreach and consultations with third parties, the company said in a blog post.

Facebook is also sticking with a controversial policy that stipulates the company will not fact-check posts from politicians, including political ads. Read more from Kurt Wagner.

(Michael Bloomberg is also seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. Bloomberg is the majority owner of Bloomberg Governments parent company.)

Kuwaiti Cash Fuels Misleading U.S. Media Coverage: A business executive accused of financial crimes in Kuwait is getting support from an all-star cast of famous Americans, including a son of the U.S. president who liberated the Gulf nation and several of Trumps allies. Theyve helped generate a torrent of sympathetic media coverage from the Middle East to Washington. The boldface names are part of a $4.9 million campaign that also has been marked by subterfuge and deception, including a fake protest, thousands of dollars in payments to some U.S. opinion writers, misleading news reports and a correspondent who may not exist. A review of government filings and an examination of dozens of articles shows just how easily money can warp U.S. press coverage. Read more from Zachary R. Mider, Benjamin Elgin and Joe Light.

Chinas Liu He to Travel to U.S. for Trade Deal Signing: China announced that Vice Premier Liu He will travel to Washington to sign the first phase of the trade deal with the U.S. next week, locking in Beijings commitment to a ceremony already announced by Trump. Liu, who has acted as Chinese President Xi Jinpings top trade negotiator throughout the tariff conflict, will travel to the U.S. from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15 at the head of the delegation, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng said today in Beijing. He said he has no more information to release about the trade talks, other than that the teams remain in close contact. Read more.

Medical Testing Sector Awaits Court Clarity on Patents: Medical companies that develop tests to diagnose neurological disorders, heart disease risk and fetal abnormalities have been in legal limbo since a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that limited the patenting of such tests, finding they occurred in nature and were not invented. The high court may signal as soon as tomorrow whether it will revisit the subject as such tests become critical to the burgeoning field of personalized medicine, in which doctors determine whether a patient is genetically susceptible to a particular disease or would respond to certain treatments. Read more from Susan Decker.

The Cost of IRSs Failure to Collect From Tax Cheats: The average U.S. household is paying an annual surtax of more than $3,000 to subsidize taxpayers who arent paying all they owe, a new report from the Taxpayer Advocate Service found. Reduced funding for the Internal Revenue Service has led to lower staffing levels and fewer audits, which has reduced the amount the IRS has been able to collect from taxpayers voluntarily or through enforcement, the Taxpayer Advocate, an independent branch of the IRS, said in its annual report to Congress yesterday. Read more from Laura Davison.

Private Push for Trump Wall Hits Legal Snags: An effort to build pieces of Trumps Mexico border wall using private funding and land has run into an unlikely obstacle the federal government. The U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission isnt exactly a core pillar of the Trump administration. But with help from the top federal prosecutor in southern Texas, the agency is pushing back against the likes of Steve Bannon and other Trump allies who are trying to put up an 18-foot tall bollard-style barrier along a 3 1/2-mile stretch of the Rio Grande that they claim is used for illegal border crossings and drug smuggling. Read more from Peter Blumberg and Tom Korosec.

To contact the reporters on this story: Zachary Sherwood in Washington at zsherwood@bgov.com; Brandon Lee in Washington at blee@bgov.com

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Giuseppe Macri at gmacri@bgov.com; Loren Duggan at lduggan@bgov.com

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What to Know in Washington: House to Hold Symbolic Vote on Iran - Bloomberg Government

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Disruptive Technologies in Pharma 2020 – the "Healthcare Disruptors" – – pharmaphorum

Friday, January 10th, 2020

SMi has released an exclusive interview with industry expert Shikta Das, Independent Senior Data Scientist, ahead of the upcoming Disruptive Technologies in Pharma conference this January.

Disruptive Technologies in Pharma will bring together experts in pharma technology to explore the latest developments within artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, digital therapeutics, eHealth and blockchain, highlighting the challenges of implementation and how to overcome them.

During the run-up to the conference, SMi interviewed industry expert and conference speaker Shikta Das, an Independent Senior Data Scientist. Here is a snapshot of what was discussed:

What is your background in disruptive technologies and which technologies have you been involved with throughout your career?I have been a research scientist most of my career and recently started working with the pharma industry as a Data Scientist. My undergraduate degree was in Zoology and I became fascinated with the advances in genomics with the human genome coding in 2001. Therefore, I decided to study for an MSc in Bioinformatics from Birkbeck, London. That MSc opened the door to Imperial College Londons Bioinformatics team, working with pioneering bioinformatics research. I loved Imperials open mindedness and focus on innovation and decided to purse my PhD there. I thoroughly enjoyed that rigour and became a well acknowledged PhD. To be honest, I have never looked back since then.

I had long been at the edges of Data Science I have been handling large amounts of data and running statistical modelling on clinical datasets, both of which seemed fundamental requirements for data science nowadays. I have continued to gain good coding experience in R since my MSc days and a great passion for personalized medicine- it is no accident that I have ended up in pharma! Also as I was very keen on learning prediction from data, I got involved with ML.

As a data analyst in healthcare, what is your insight on the digital transformation process of the healthcare sector and the need for such transitioning?In my work, I spend a lot of time thinking about qualitative and quantitative data and connecting digital technologies with predictive models

To read the full interview, visit: http://www.disruptivetech-pharma.com/pr8

Shikta Das will be presenting on Healthcare Disruptors, which will cover recent advances in using AI in Healthcare and the impact of AI in Healthcare.

Disruptive Technologies in Pharma20th 21st January 2020London, UK

ENDS Contact Information:For media enquiries contact Neill Howard on +44 (0)20 7827 6164

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Using Tools of Neuroscience to Make Personalized Care a Reality in Schizophrenia – A Free Webinar from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation -…

Friday, January 10th, 2020

New York, Jan. 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation is hosting a free webinar Using Tools of Neuroscience to Make Personalized Care a Reality in Schizophrenia on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, from 2pm to 3pm ET. Gregory A. Light, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, will be the presenter.

Dr. Light will describe precision medicine trials his team has conducted which significantly reduced symptoms and improved cognitive and daily functioning in patients with chronic psychosis in a real-world setting: a long-term community inpatient facility. They also found that reliable, easy-to-obtain signatures of brain-wave activity recorded at the outset of treatment can be used to identify which patients are most likely to benefit (or not) from treatments. This work ultimately aims to develop personalized biomarker assessment tools to deliver the right treatment to the right person at the right time, to improve outcomes among the millions of people with psychotic disorders, most notably schizophrenia.Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., President and CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation and Host and Executive Producer of the public television series Healthy Minds, will be the moderator. Join by phone or on the web at bbrf.org/januarywebinar.

This webinar is part of a series of free monthly Meet the Scientist webinars on the latest developments in psychiatry offered by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awards research grants to develop improved treatments, cures, and methods of prevention for mental illness. These illnesses include addiction, ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, and schizophrenia, as well as research on suicide prevention. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $408 million to fund more than 4,800 leading scientists around the world, which has led to over $4 billion in additional funding. 100% of every dollar donated for research is invested in research grants. BBRF operating expenses are covered by separate foundation grants. BBRF is the producer of the Emmy nominated public television series Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, which aims to remove the stigma of mental illness and demonstrate that with help, there is hope.

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Ionis finds new partner in a young biotech and its hopeful founder – Endpoints News

Friday, January 10th, 2020

Omri Gottesman came to the US from the UK 10 years ago, wide-eyed like many others.

The human genome project was long-complete and, with great fanfare, researchers were beginning to try and leverage those insights into treatments. Mount Sinai School of Medicine offered him a fellowship focused on just that: genomic medicine.

At the time, there was a lot of hope and hype that we had solved health, and would be able to discover and prevent everything and treat everyone, Gottesman told Endpoints News. It was the reason I came to Mount Sinai.

Over the ensuing decade, human biology proved much more elusive than they imagined. Genetics was more complicated than A-T and C-G. There were no easy hacks. Still, the field advanced and after 4 years at Mount Sinai and a stint at Regeneron, Gottesman decided he wanted to advance it on his own and build a new platform around the original mission: Analyze genetic information to home in on ideal drug targets. He called the new company Empirico and soon raised $30 million.

Its not a unique concept, but its one Gottesman pulled off well enough to today score a three-year partnership with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, one of the oldest and more successful genetics-based drug developers.

Ionis will make a $10 million equity investment into Empirico and offer $30 million in near-term operational and preclinical milestones, with another $620 million promised for clinical, regulatory and sales goals. In exchange, Empirico will make up-to 10 platform-discovered drug targets available to Ionis.

We spent about a year building the discover-first platform, Gottesman said. Part of the motivation for the Ionis collaboration and exploring collaborations more broadly is that we now have more potential targets than our capacity to develop therapies for them.

On the Ionis side, this is the latest collaboration for a biotech that has sought many since its founding and is trying to keep early-stage strong while some late-stage programs come to fruition. The deal also includes an option for Empirico to license a drug back from Ionis as it strives to become a target-to-market company.

Youve heard of platforms like Empirico before; its the mixed machine learning and wet lab approach taken by a growing number of biotechs. Gottesman and his team use their computer platform to interrogate genetic data for the roots of diseases. Should the computer find a mispelling or other variant in genetic code that appears to cause the malfunction, they then produce cell lines with that mispelling in the lab. Should those cell lines show the same malfunction as the disease, they then use their platform to identify the best form for a therapy.

Theyve used that method to build 5 preclinical targets, leading to a small molecule program for an upper airway disease and an siRNA candidate for glaucoma.

The targets for the Ionis collaboration will be those Empirico finds can be best-treated with their partners signature antisense technology. The biotech has already identified a couple, although they didnt disclosed them.

A 40-year-old concept, antisense therapies have recently brought some of the genetics-based health gains Gottesman and others sought. Along with a handful of approved drugs, last year a neurologist in Boston created a personalized therapy for a young girl with a never-before-seen genetic error. And yesterday, Ionis founder Stanley and Rosanne Crooke launched a charity to make those kinds of genetics-based ultra-personalized medicines broadly accessible.

Those bespoke therapies are arguably the apex of the vision Gottesman and others had 10 years ago. Its a vision he thinks has made more progress than some think, even if it hasnt brought any utopian dream.

Over the last decade, weve realized its really harder than it seems, he said. But actually, if you work at it, theres real value.

Social image credit: Ionis via YouTube

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Invest With A Purpose: Own The Future With Megatrend ETFs – Forbes

Friday, January 10th, 2020

We now drive electric cars, watch our favorite shows on mobile devices, attend concerts via virtual reality and control the temperature in our homes by giving instructions to a voice assistant.

Technological innovations like these underpin the transformative forces that are changing how we live and work.

You can harness the growth potential of these powerful forces by investing in megatrend ETFs.

An ETF (exchange-traded fund) is a diversified collection of securities (like a mutual fund) that trades on an exchange (like a stock). Megatrend ETFs capture targeted groups of stocks perceived to be well-positioned to benefit from shifts in technology, society, the environment and demographics over time.

Here's why megatrend ETFs are the next frontier of access and a glimpse at the five megatrends BlackRock sees at the forefront of our changing world.

With megatrend ETFs, iSharesBlackRock's ETF businessoffers individual investors access to opportunities that were once available primarily to institutional investors able to qualify for venture capital, private equity and other private market investments.

This is unlike sector indexes (like Technology or Communications) that more rigidly track companies within a single sector, or broad indexes (like the S&P 500) that track a universe of companies across many industries and are weighted heavily toward larger, more established companies rather than smaller, more disruptive players.

As an example, with megatrend ETFs, investment in the self-driving and electric vehicles trend would go beyond carmakers and also include hardware companies that make road-monitoring sensors, software companies that make the algorithmic "brains" required to guide vehicles as well as battery producers. By looking beyond sectors and regions and selecting companies that are leaders in a particular ecosystem, investors can access the full growth potential underpinning these trends.

Megatrend ETFs are also transparent and easy to own, removing the need to pick single-stock winners, which has proved difficult for investors to successfully do. With the potential to capture long-term growth opportunities, megatrend ETFs can be seen as complementary holdings to your core portfolio.

BlackRock has identified five megatrends shaping our future. Here's a look at each and how they can help position you for tomorrow.

Technology is such a prevalent force that the current era has been dubbed the Fourth Industrial Revolution. How you live and work is shaped by exponential technologies like artificial intelligence, 3D printing and synthetic biology, to name just a few. Technology is driving exponential progress in the tech sector and far beyond and underpins the other megatrends we'll mention shortly.

You can tap into the firms harnessing technology to solve privacy threats by investing in iShares Cybersecurity and Tech ETF.1 The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of companies involved in cybersecurity and technology, including cybersecurity hardware, software, products and services.

Longer lifespans and modern lifestyles will change medicine and consumer habits. If you are fascinated by the possibilities of medical technology, consider ETFs that target companies at the forefront of medical progress. iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF2 is one such option. This ETF seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of companies that could benefit from the long-term growth and innovation in personalized medicine: genomics, immunology and bioengineering.

It's expected that more than two-thirds of the world's population will reside in cities by 2050, double the percentage from 1950.3 This mass migration to cities will require new business models and infrastructure.

If you would like to invest in companies that may benefit from this megatrend, consider iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF.4 The fund seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of equities of U.S. companies that have infrastructure exposure and could benefit from a potential increase in domestic infrastructure activities. This ETF offers access to two groups of infrastructure companies that are equally weighted: owners and operators, such as railroads and utilities, and enablers, such as materials and construction companies.

Demand for a clean, green tomorrow will advance energy and conservation. If you drive, or would like to drive, an electric car, you may be interested in putting your money in an ETF with an environmental focus. iShares Self-Driving EV and Tech ETF5 seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of companies that may benefit from growth and innovation in and around electric vehicles, battery technologies and autonomous driving technologies.

It's expected that the number of newly affluent consumers will expand in Asia and across emerging markets. For example, China now has 3.5 million millionaires and more residents with wealth above $50 million than any country except the United States.6 iShares MSCI China A ETF7 can provide access to the Chinese market as it tracks the investment results of an index composed of domestic Chinese equities that trade on the Shanghai or Shenzhen Stock Exchange and are not well-represented in broad benchmarks.

Every day, you witness how megatrend-driven innovations are transforming our world. With iShares megatrend ETFs, you can invest in the future today.

For more information on how ETFs can help you invest in our changing world, click here.

Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses, which may be obtained by visiting http://www.iShares.com or http://www.blackrock.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

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Atrium Innovations to Further Scale the Future of Personalized Nutrition with the Acquisition of LivingMatrix – BioSpace

Sunday, January 5th, 2020

Atrium Innovations, a Nestl Health Science company, to leverage clinician-designed, algorithm-driven platform with healthcare providers

SUDBURY, Mass., Jan. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Atrium Innovations, a globally-recognized leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative, science-based nutritional health products, takes the next step in the company's mission to expand into personalized nutrition with the acquisition of San Francisco-based LivingMatrix. LivingMatrix, a technology-based, data and algorithm-driven personalized functional medicine platform, was designed by clinicians to help practitioners effectively evaluate and engage patients, create personalized, actionable care plans and track patient health outcomes.

"This exciting acquisition is reflective of the current mission and direction for Atrium Innovations, with support from Nestl Health Science, to expand our role in personalization within the medical professional and consumer spaces. The addition of LivingMatrix will allow us to take the next steps in leading the future of personalized health management," says Kyle Bliffert, President of Atrium Innovations. "Our goal is to further scale our personalization platform through integrating LivingMatrix with our existing PureGenomics platform and future healthcare provider patient management systems providing the most comprehensive solution in the industry."

"The addition of LivingMatrix to the Atrium Innovations growing personalized medicine portfolio will further elevate the way functional medicine practitioners and patients in our longstanding network view and use healthcare," adds Joy Devins, Chief Strategic Leader of Atrium Innovations.

"The launch of the LivingMatrix platform has been a critical turning point for personalized and functional medicine and now, with the support of the Atrium Innovations and Nestl Health Science family, we look forward to breaking even more barriers," says Priya Kamani, Founder and CEO of LivingMatrix. "This partnership brings opportunities to scale the business and accelerate our ability to drive and support additional research studies to expand the evidence base for effectively addressing chronic conditions."

LivingMatrix is the latest acquisition for Nestl Health Science as part of the company's mission to lead the personalized nutrition sector into its next evolution. Their recent acquisition of Persona, a science-based proprietary technology which considers specific factors in a consumer's lifestyle, history and individual needs to develop a personalized vitamin program, was announced in August 2019. Persona's individualized assessments meet consumers' desires to find the right nutritional supplements for their unique needs. These personalized vitamin and supplement services are available to consumers through http://www.personanutrition.com. These strategic acquisitions will leverage Atrium Innovations' nearly 30-year industry expertise, bringing valuable insight from the company's network of medical professionals as well as professional brand development knowledge to the partnership.

"Through combining the strength of Persona's proprietary algorithm, the LivingMatrix data-driven technology and Atrium Innovation's leadership in the industry, we are creating an exciting future for personalized nutrition for professionals and consumers alike," says Bliffert.

For more information about Atrium Innovations, visit http://www.atrium-innovations.com.

About Nestl Health Science (NHSc)Nestl Health Science (NHSc), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nestl, is a globally recognized leader in the field of nutritional science. NHSc is committed to empowering healthier lives through nutrition for consumers, patients and their healthcare partners. The company offers an extensive consumer health portfolio of industry-leading medical nutrition, consumer and VMS brands that are science-based solutions covering all facets of health from prevention, to maintenance, all the way through to treatment. NHSc is redefining the approach to their management of health in several key areas such as pediatric health, allergy, acute care, oncology, metabolic health, healthy aging, gastrointestinal health, and inborn errors of metabolism. Headquartered in Switzerland, NHSc employs over 5,000 people around the world, who are committed to making a difference in people's lives, for a healthier today and tomorrow. For more information, visit https://www.nestlehealthscience.com.

About Atrium Innovations Atrium Innovations is a recognized innovative leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of science-based nutritional and supplement health products. The company's mission is to be a global leader in vitamins, minerals and supplements, offering free form science based nutritional solutions through healthcare professionals. Its brands and business model are complementary with Nestl Health Science, its parent company, offering science-based nutritional solutions for consumers, patients, doctors, nurses and other partners in healthcare. Atrium Innovations Professional brands include Pure Encapsulations, Douglas Laboratories, Genestra BrandsTM, KLEAN Athlete, PharmaxTM, and Wobenzym.

About LivingMatrixLivingMatrix is the leading cloud-based, clinician-designed, outcomes-focused personalized medicine platform, helping over 600 practices in 22 countries engage in high-quality, personalized, therapeutic partnerships to address chronic conditions at scale effectively. LivingMatrix has partnered with the Institute for Functional Medicine and helps practitioners deliver a unique engagement process utilizing the Timeline and Matrix tools, and validated, patient-reported outcomes measures that provide a comprehensive assessment of a patient's health and objective tracking of patient progress. The result is a faster time to life-changing outcomes for the patient and an increase in referrals and growth for the practice. Learn more at https://livingmatrix.com

About Persona Persona combines therapeutic levels of nutritional support and a uniquely personalized vitamin program to deliver customized nutrition to subscriber's doorsteps. Based on science and using the highest-quality bioavailable ingredients, Persona's online assessment is built from its proprietary algorithm, which factors individual needs, lifestyle and prescription medications to deliver a recommendation as unique as the patient providing 5 trillion different recommendations. https://www.personanutrition.com Instagram:@personanutrition

Media Contact:Ashley HughesRLA Collective, a Ruder Finn Company(914) 241-0086, ext. 1014Ashley.Hughes@RLACollective.com

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Cardio Round-up: Look Back at 2019, The Importance of Sleep, and More – DocWire News

Sunday, January 5th, 2020

This weeks Cardio Round-up features a look back at what you may have missed during the holidays, as well as some of the big 2019 cardiology stories.

The past year saw some big stories like the Apple Heart study, presented at ACC.19, which essentially validated the ability of a wearable device (an Apple iWatch) equipped with a tachogram-tracking algorithm was able to detect pulse irregularities associated with atrial fibrillation. Icosapent ethyl also featured prominently, gaining an FDA approval for the reduction of cardiovascular disease risk as an add-on to statin therapy in high-risk patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Dapagliflozin (highlighted in the DAPA-HF study) also was shown to be an effective treatment for heart failure in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

2019 In Cardiology: Apple Heart Study Lands; Icosapent Ethyl Gets FDA Nod for New Indication; Dapagliflozin For Nondiabetics; and More

A new observational study published inEuropacesuggests it is possible to monitor and predict individual progression ofatrial fibrillation (AFib) using pacemakers or defibrillators.We aimed to study the progression of AER in individual patients with implantable devices and AFib episodes, the paper authors wrote. The study results indicated that the slope of AAR changes during the progression of AFib showed patient-specific patterns correlating with the time-to-completion of AER (R2 = 0.85). This technology opens up enormous possibilities in personalized medicine for AFib patients because it allows us to determine the progression rate of the arrhythmia in each individual and to optimize the timing of medical intervention with current treatment options, one of the researchers said in a press release.

Personalized Medicine for AFib: How Electric Activity in the Heart Can Predict Individual Progression of Atrial Fibrillation

A research team, publishing the study in the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, worked on converting adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells, which reside within fat cells, into cardiac progenitor cells. The ensuing cardiac progenitor cells can be programmed to aid heartbeats as a sinoatrial node (SAN), which is part of the electrical cardiac conduction system.We are reprogramming the cardiac progenitor cell and guiding it to become a conducting cell of the heart to conduct electrical current, said study co-author Bradley McConnell, associate professor of pharmacology, in a press release. Results of this study show that the SHT5 combination of transcription factors can reprogram CPCs into Pacemaker-like cells.

The Next Generation of Biologic Pacemakers? New Discovery in Stem Cells from Fat Creates Another Alternative Treatment

Diabetes mellitus is an independent predictor for heart failure, according to the findings of a study published inMayo Clinic Proceedings. In this study, using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, researchers assessed the long-term impact ofdiabeteson the development of heart failure by including 116 study subjects with diabetes, who were matched 1:2 based on age, hypertension, sex, coronary artery disease and diastolic with 232 participants without diabetes. The results showed that that diabetes is an independent risk factor for the development of heart failure. Over the duration of 10 years, 21% of participants with diabetes developed heart failure, independent of other causes. The researchers observed that by comparison, only 12% of patients without diabetes developed heart failure. The key takeaway is that diabetes mellitus alone is an independent risk factor for the development of heart failure, wrote one of the authors.

Diabetes is an Independent Predictor for Heart Failure

A new study suggests that regularly getting a good nights sleep isnt just a helpful overall health recommendation but is also an essential way to keep risk for heart disease and stroke down. The paper, published in theEuropean Journal of Cardiology, included more than 300,000 participants initially free of cardiovascular disease (CVD) from UK Biobank. According to the results, there were 7,280 documented cases of incident CVD (4,667 coronary heart disease and 2,650 stroke) cases. Participants with a sleep score of 5 had a 35% reduced risk for CVD, a 34% reduced risk for coronary heart disease, and a 34% reduced risk for stroke when compared to participants with a score of 0-1.As with other findings from observational studies, our results indicate an association, not a causal relation, one of the authors said in a press release. However, these findings may motivate other investigations and, at least, suggest that it is essential to consider overall sleep behaviors when considering a persons risk of heart disease or stroke.

Getting Quality Sleep, and the Right Amount, Can Offset Genetic Susceptibility for Heart Disease and Stroke Risk

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Iowa City doctor seeking more time with patients opens ‘concierge’ practice – The Gazette: Eastern Iowa Breaking News and Headlines

Sunday, January 5th, 2020

IOWA CITY Throughout his 29 years as an internal medicine doctor in Iowa City, Dr. Richard Larew felt the pressure building.

There were demands to see more patients, meaning he couldnt spend as much time with each patient as he wished.

I was trying to find a way to get back to the way we have done things in the past, Larew said. There was more time. There wasnt quite the same pressure to see so many people.

Larew left hospital practice earlier this year to go into private practice and open Larew Internal Medicine, at 2557 N. Dodge St. in Iowa City.

Hes using an alternative care model called concierge medicine that allows him more time with fewer patients for a fee.

In exchange for an annual retainer, Larew limits his patient count, allowing him time for extended visits and agreeing to be available to patients at any time for any medical concern.

Larew has about 200 patients on his retainer. Each patient pays about $1,800 a year for the service, or $150 a month.

Larew, who grew up in Iowa City, had worked for Mercy Iowa Citys Towncrest Internal Medicine for 29 years before opening his concierge practice in July.

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Larews patients are able to get same-day appointments for acute illnesses, such as influenza, and they have Larews cellphone number for questions they might have after hours.

The majority of Larews patients are those with multiple chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, who he sees every three months. He refers such patients to specialists and tracks their progress.

Thats not a model theyre accustomed to using, Larew said. They just come in when theyre sick. The idea that we would spend a good part of time (during the visit) talking about how they can improve things is a different way of thinking about it.

Through concierge agreements, Larew believes he is able to provide more comprehensive, proactive care to patients.

He also thinks the agreements give patients a chance to reconnect with their primary care physician.

Part of what has always made medicine and being a physician a great profession is that personal connection, he said.

Kathy McCue, 66, of Iowa City, signed up for Larews medical concierge service when it opened. Larew had been her doctor for at least 20 years, and she wanted to stay with him.

I dont have any big health concerns, but if something did come up, I would like him to be my point person to be able to talk through things, McCue said.

McCue described Larew as thorough, a good listener and someone who loves educating patients and answering their questions.

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I think thats why he transitioned to concierge medicine, she said. He loves that part in medicine, and I always said he would be a good professor in that way.

And, its nice to have as a patient.

Concierge medicine, sometimes known as membership medicine, was created in the late 1990s by two Seattle physicians who wanted to offer more personalized medicine.

Concierge Medicine Today, a trade publication, estimated 5,000 to 6,000 doctors were practicing concierge medicine in 2018, though no database tracks the numbers. The approach inspired a USA Network television series, Royal Pains.

The method comes in for criticism because its available only to those who can afford the monthly fee, on top of their regular health insurance premiums.

A 2016 study published by the Population Health Management journal found patients health care expenditures declined in the third year of participation in concierge medicine programs. Researchers suggested that happens because patients address untreated health concerns and are caught up with chronic disease management.

Not much other research exists on the concept.

No one knows how to measure whos getting healthier, but do I think that people are benefiting? Absolutely, Larew said.

I think were achieving what were hoping to, he said. I want people to have a great experience when they walk in the door, and I want to be able to provide people with that extra time.

Comments: (319) 368-8536; michaela.ramm@thegazette.com

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Atrium Innovations to Further Scale the Future of Personalized Nutrition with the Acquisition of LivingMatrix – PRNewswire

Friday, January 3rd, 2020

SUDBURY, Mass., Jan. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --AtriumInnovations, a globally-recognized leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative, science-based nutritional health products, takes the next step in the company's mission to expand into personalized nutrition with the acquisition of San Francisco-based LivingMatrix.LivingMatrix, a technology-based, data and algorithm-driven personalized functional medicine platform, was designed by clinicians to help practitioners effectively evaluate and engage patients, create personalized, actionable care plans and track patient health outcomes.

"This exciting acquisition is reflective of the current mission and direction for Atrium Innovations, with support from Nestl Health Science, to expand our role in personalization within the medical professional and consumer spaces. The addition of LivingMatrix will allow us to take the next steps in leading the future of personalized health management," says Kyle Bliffert, President of Atrium Innovations. "Our goal is to further scale our personalization platform through integrating LivingMatrix with our existing PureGenomics platform and future healthcare provider patient management systems providing the most comprehensive solution in the industry."

"The addition of LivingMatrix to the Atrium Innovations growing personalized medicine portfolio will further elevate the way functional medicine practitioners and patients in our longstanding network view and use healthcare," adds Joy Devins, Chief Strategic Leader of Atrium Innovations.

"The launch of the LivingMatrixplatform has been a critical turning point for personalized and functional medicine and now, with the support of the Atrium Innovations and Nestl Health Science family, we look forward to breaking even more barriers," says Priya Kamani, Founder and CEO of LivingMatrix. "This partnership brings opportunities to scale the business and accelerate our ability to drive and support additional research studies to expand the evidence base for effectively addressing chronic conditions."

LivingMatrixis the latest acquisition for Nestl Health Science as part of the company's mission to lead the personalized nutrition sector into its next evolution. Their recent acquisition of Persona, a science-based proprietary technology which considers specific factors in a consumer's lifestyle, history and individual needs to develop a personalized vitamin program, was announced in August 2019. Persona's individualized assessments meet consumers' desires to find the right nutritional supplements for their unique needs. These personalized vitamin and supplement services are available to consumers through http://www.personanutrition.com. These strategic acquisitions will leverage Atrium Innovations' nearly 30-year industry expertise, bringing valuable insight from the company's network of medical professionals as well as professional brand development knowledge to the partnership.

"Through combining the strength of Persona's proprietary algorithm, the LivingMatrix data-driven technology and Atrium Innovation's leadership in the industry, we are creating an exciting future for personalized nutrition for professionals and consumers alike," says Bliffert.

For more information about Atrium Innovations, visit http://www.atrium-innovations.com.

About Nestl Health Science (NHSc)Nestl Health Science (NHSc), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nestl, is a globally recognized leader in the field of nutritional science. NHSc is committed to empowering healthier lives through nutrition for consumers, patients and their healthcare partners. The company offers an extensive consumer health portfolio of industry-leading medical nutrition, consumer and VMS brands that are science-based solutions covering all facets of health from prevention, to maintenance, all the way through to treatment. NHSc is redefining the approach to their management of health in several key areas such as pediatric health, allergy, acute care, oncology, metabolic health, healthy aging, gastrointestinal health, and inborn errors of metabolism. Headquartered in Switzerland, NHSc employs over 5,000 people around the world, who are committed to making a difference in people's lives, for a healthier today and tomorrow. For more information, visit https://www.nestlehealthscience.com.

About Atrium Innovations Atrium Innovations is a recognized innovative leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of science-based nutritional and supplement health products. The company's mission is to be a global leader in vitamins, minerals and supplements, offering free form science based nutritional solutions through healthcare professionals. Its brands and business model are complementary with Nestl Health Science, its parent company, offering science-based nutritional solutions for consumers, patients, doctors, nurses and other partners in healthcare. Atrium Innovations Professional brands include Pure Encapsulations, Douglas Laboratories, Genestra BrandsTM, KLEAN Athlete, PharmaxTM, and Wobenzym.

About LivingMatrixLivingMatrix is the leading cloud-based, clinician-designed, outcomes-focused personalized medicine platform, helping over 600 practices in 22 countries engage in high-quality, personalized, therapeutic partnerships to address chronic conditions at scale effectively. LivingMatrix has partnered with the Institute for Functional Medicine and helps practitioners deliver a unique engagement process utilizing the Timeline and Matrix tools, and validated, patient-reported outcomes measures that provide a comprehensive assessment of a patient's health and objective tracking of patient progress. The result is a faster time to life-changing outcomes for the patient and an increase in referrals and growth for the practice. Learn more at https://livingmatrix.com

About Persona Persona combines therapeutic levels of nutritional support and a uniquely personalized vitamin program to deliver customized nutrition to subscriber's doorsteps. Based on science and using the highest-quality bioavailable ingredients, Persona's online assessment is built from its proprietary algorithm, which factors individual needs, lifestyle and prescription medications to deliver a recommendation as unique as the patient providing 5 trillion different recommendations. https://www.personanutrition.comInstagram:@personanutrition

Media Contact:Ashley HughesRLA Collective, a Ruder Finn Company(914) 241-0086, ext. 1014Ashley.Hughes@RLACollective.com

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Nutritional health products EMPOWERING HEALTHIER LIVES

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Understanding the Key Aspects of a Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis – Curetoday.com

Friday, January 3rd, 2020

A multiple myeloma expert helps newly diagnosed patients understand the standard of care for their disease.

Richter, an assistant professor of medicine at the Tisch Cancer Institute at the Ichan School of Medicine in Mt. Sinai Hospital located in New York City, noted that there are always exceptions to this rule, but the standard of care is to keep patients with multiple myeloma to continue therapy long term.

This standard of care, however, presents unique challenges and questions for newly diagnosed patients about to undergo treatment. In an interview during the 2019 CURE Educated Patient Summit on Multiple Myeloma in Charlotte, North Carolina, Richter had the chance to address the key aspects of a multiple myeloma diagnosis and how he addresses common questions from patients.

CURE: What does transplant eligible and transplant ineligible mean for patients?

Richter: The notion of transparent eligibility in the U.S. is not clearly defined. One of the people who trained me used to say, Do the patients have the tiger? relating back to Rocky, and essentially what this means is people who are younger tend to be more eligible. So, are you able to undergo the intensive nature of that procedure and chemotherapy?

If you're younger and healthier, you're generally transplant eligible. As you get older, with more medical problems, it becomes more of a risk. Everything in medicine from a Tylenol to a transplant has a risk and benefit. If you are 105 years old and had a heart attack last week, you're not going to be eligible. If you're 40 and otherwise healthy, you're eligible and everywhere in between is an evaluation of risks and benefits.

How would you describe the standard of care for patients with multiple myeloma?

In general, the standard of care is to attempt to get people onto three drugs. The three drugs usually mean a steroid, and then either an immunomodulatory drug, a proteasome inhibitor or a monoclonal antibody, and using those different combinations to come up with two or three-drug combinations, and actually in some cases four-drug combinations.

The general discussion of which one makes sense is we generally try to put some on a three-drug combination and the two most common ones now VRd (Velcade, Revlimid, and dexamethasone) is really a very big standard approach. There's some really wonderful, emerging data from the MAIA study, looking at taking Revlimid and dexamethasone and adding Darzalex (daratumumab) as a three-drug regimen for people who are not going on to transplant and some of that data looks amazing.

But for the most part, the precision that we use has to do not so much with the tumor but with the patient. Meaning for some diseases, the precision in the upfront setting is we look at a genetic marker and we target that. But for myeloma our upfront choice of therapy is saying, what are your comorbidities? What are your risks? For someone who has neuropathy, we may avoid Velcade. Someone has heart issues, we may avoid carfilzomib (Kyprolis) and if someone has difficult coming back and forth for long infusions, we may avoid Darzalex. So, most of the precision that we use is custom tailoring it not necessarily to the disease upfront, although that's part of it, but also to the patient.

What is the role of stem cell transplantation in treating patients with multiple myeloma?

The role of transplant is constantly evolving in myeloma. A generation ago, when we didn't have very good drugs, transplant was clearly the best thing to do because we didn't have good medicines. Transplant was the only way to get deep and durable remissions. Nowadays that we have such better therapies and even better ones along the way, it's being called into question about how much do we still need transplant. And it's a case by case basis, some people still clearly benefit from transplant.

It's an important discussion to have with your provider. But the risks have been well established for many years and we know how to manage them very well. Although there are risks for it, they're generally consolidated into a couple weeks to a couple of months, as opposed to being on long term treatment that can have ongoing risk of side effects. So, yes, they may be higher, but it's usually for a self-contained amount of time.

It's still a very important tool in our armamentarium to treat patients. Now, that being said, the majority of patients in the United States do not receive autologous transplant, so only about 30% and part of the reason has to do with the age of patients. The average age of a myeloma patient in the U.S. is 69, and many people in their 70s and 80s have other medical problems that make them not eligible for transplant.

There are some socioeconomic reasons, as well as referral patterns and access to care. I live in New York City, you can throw a rock and hit a transplant center, but there are parts of the country where the closest transplant center is hours and hours and hours away. And if you are older, sick or don't have easy transportation, it may be more difficult. So, many people do not receive transplant. However, many people nowadays may not even need it because our drugs have gotten so much better.

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Alzheimer ‘Tau’ Protein Far Surpasses Amyloid in Predicting Toll on Brain Tissue – UCSF News Services

Friday, January 3rd, 2020

Brain imaging of pathological tau-protein tangles reliably predicts the location of future brain atrophy in Alzheimers patients a year or more in advance, according to a new study by scientists at the UC San Francisco Memory and Aging Center. In contrast, the location of amyloid plaques, which have been the focus of Alzheimers research and drug development for decades, was found to be of little utility in predicting how damage would unfold as the disease progressed.

The results, published Jan. 1, 2020, in Science Translational Medicine, support researchers growing recognition that tau drives brain degeneration in Alzheimers disease more directly than amyloid protein, and at the same time demonstrates the potential of recently developed tau-based PET (positron emission tomography) brain imaging technology to accelerate Alzheimers clinical trials and improve individualized patient care.

The match between the spread of tau and what happened to the brain in the following year was really striking, said neurologist Gil Rabinovici, MD, the Edward Fein and Pearl Landrith Distinguished Professor in Memory and Aging and leader of the PET imaging program at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center. Tau PET imaging predicted not only how much atrophy we would see, but also where it would happen. These predictions were much more powerful than anything weve been able to do with other imaging tools, and add to evidence that tau is a major driver of the disease.

Alzheimers researchers have long debated the relative importance of amyloid plaques and tau tangles two kinds of misfolded protein clusters seen in postmortem studies of patients brains, both first identified by Alois Alzheimer in the early 20th century. For decades, the amyloid camp has dominated, leading to multiple high-profile efforts to slow Alzheimers with amyloid-targeting drugs, all with disappointing or mixed results.

Many researchers are now taking a second look at tau protein, once dismissed as simply a tombstone marking dying cells, and investigating whether tau may in fact be an important biological driver of the disease. In contrast to amyloid, which accumulates widely across the brain, sometimes even in people with no symptoms, autopsies of Alzheimers patients have revealed that tau is concentrated precisely where brain atrophy is most severe, and in locations that help explain differences in patients symptoms (in language-related areas vs. memory-related regions, for example).

No one doubts that amyloid plays a role in Alzheimers disease, but more and more tau findings are beginning to shift how people think about what is actually driving the disease, explained Renaud La Joie, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in Rabinovicis In Vivo Molecular Neuroimaging Lab, and lead author of the new study. Still, just looking at postmortem brain tissue, it has been hard to prove that tau tangles cause brain degeneration and not the other way around. One of our groups key goals has been to develop non-invasive brain imaging tools that would let us see whether the location of tau buildup early in the disease predicts later brain degeneration.

Despite early misgivings that tau might be impossible to measure in the living brain, scientists recently developed an injectable molecule called flortaucipir currently under review by the FDA which binds to misfolded tau in the brain and emits a mild radioactive signal that can be picked up by PET scans.

Rabinovici and collaborator William Jagust, MD, of UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, have been among the first to adopt tau PET imaging to study the distribution of tau tangles in the normally aging brain and in a smaller cross-sectional study of Alzheimers patients. Their new study represents the first attempt to test whether tau levels in Alzheimers patients can predict future brain degeneration.

La Joie recruited 32 participants with early clinical stage Alzheimers disease through the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, all of whom received PET scans using two different tracers to measure levels of amyloid protein and tau protein in their brains. The participants also received MRI scans to measure their brains structural integrity, both at the start of the study, and again in follow-up visits one to two years later.

The researchers found that overall tau levels in participants brains at the start of the study predicted how much degeneration would occur by the time of their follow up visit (on average 15 months later). Moreover, local patterns of tau buildup predicted subsequent atrophy in the same locations with more than 40 percent accuracy. In contrast, baseline amyloid-PET scans correctly predicted only 3 percent of future brain degeneration.

Seeing that tau buildup predicts where degeneration will occur supports our hypothesis that tau is a key driver of neurodegeneration in Alzheimers disease, La Joie said.

Notably, PET scans revealed that younger study participants had higher overall levels of tau in their brains, as well as a stronger link between baseline tau and subsequent brain atrophy, compared to older participants. This suggests that other factors likely other abnormal proteins or vascular injuries may play a larger role in late-onset Alzheimers, the researchers say.

The results add to hopes that tau-targeting drugs currently under study at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center and elsewhere may provide clinical benefits to patients by blocking this key driver of neurodegeneration in the disease. At the same time, the ability to use tau PET to predict later brain degeneration could enable more personalized dementia care and speed ongoing clinical trials, the authors say.

One of the first things people want to know when they hear a diagnosis of Alzheimers disease is simply what the future holds for themselves or their loved ones. Will it be a long fading of memory, or a quick decline into dementia? How long will the patient be able to live independently? Will they lose the ability to speak or get around on their own? These are questions we cant currently answer, except in the most general terms, Rabinovici said. Now, for the first time, this tool could let us give patients a sense of what to expect by revealing the biological process underlying their disease.

Rabinovici and his team also anticipate that the ability to predict future brain atrophy based on tau PET imaging will allow Alzheimers clinical trials to quickly assess whether an experimental treatment can alter the specific trajectory predicted for an individual patient, which is currently impossible due to the wide variability in how the disease progresses from individual to individual. Such insights could make it possible to adjust dosage or switch to a different experimental compound if the first treatment is not affecting tau levels or altering a patients predicted trajectory of brain atrophy.

Tau PET could be an extremely valuable precision medicine tool for future clinical trials, Rabinovici said. The ability to sensitively track tau accumulation in living patients would for the first time let clinical researchers seek out treatments that can slow down or even prevent the specific pattern of brain atrophy predicted for each patient.

Authors: La Joie is corresponding author on the study; Rabinovici is senior author. Additional authors on the study are Adrienne V. Visani, Jesse A. Brown, Viktoriya Bourakova, Jungho Cha, Kiran Chaudhary, Lauren Edwards, Leonardo Iaccarino, Orit Lesman-Segev, Zachary Miller, David C. Perry, Julie Pham, Julio C. Rojas, Howard J. Rosen, William W. Seeley, Richard M. Tsai, and Bruce L. Miller, all of UCSF; Suzanne L. Baker, Mustafa Janabi, and James P. ONeil, of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL); and Jagust, of LBNL and UC Berkeley.

Funding: The study was supported by the Alzheimers Association (AARF-16-443577), the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the US National Institutes of Health (R01-AG045611, P50-AG023501, P01-AG19724), the Tau Consortium, and an Alzheimers Disease Research Center of California grant (04-33516) from the California Department of Health Services.

Disclosures: Rabinovici receives research support from Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, GE Healthcare, and Life Molecular Imaging, and has received consulting fees or speaking honoraria from Axon Neurosciences, Roche, Eisai, Genentech, Merck. La Joie reports no conflicts of interest. See study online for a full list of conflict of interest disclosures.

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exclusively focused on the health sciences and is dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.UCSF Health, whichserves as UCSFs primary academic medical center, includestop-ranked specialty hospitalsandother clinical programs,and has affiliations throughout the Bay Area.

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HIT-related developments in APAC A 2019 Overview – Healthcare IT News

Friday, January 3rd, 2020

National level developments

Malaysia Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has said back in November 2018 that the Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring that the electronic medical record system (EMR) can be realised within three years at 145 hospitals nationwide. He estimated that it would cost up to RM1.5B to implement an EMR system for the 145 hospitals nationwide in Malaysia over the next five years, HealthcareIT News reported in July 2019. While there has been quite a lot of buzz about the nation-wide EMR implementation in the country, there seems to be a lack of concrete developments in the discussion and execution of the said EMR system, something that we hope to see more of in 2020.

Vietnam, on the other hand, has gone ahead and deployed their nationwide EHR in July last year, with 24 provinces implementing EHRs. Australias My Health Record (MHR) has a participation rate of 90% and the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA), which is in charge of MHR, has been working with software vendors to improve the functionality of the MHR.

At the HIMSS AsiaPac19 conference in October 2019, the HIMSS Thailand National Digital Healthcare Workforce Development Initiative (WDI) was officially launched. This Initiative sees the development of a three-year work plan to address the demand of patients for digital healthcare services in light of the Thailand 4.0 digitization journey, as well as healthcare tourism being one of the key economy drivers.

As part of the HIMSS Thailand National Digital Healthcare WDI, HIMSS also announced its intention to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with True Digital Group, a subsidiary of True Corporation, a leading communications conglomerate in Thailand, to create a HIMSS Digital Health Centre @ True Digital Park, which is slated to be launched in early 2020.

Singapores Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Heng Swee Kiat announced in November 2019 a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy to transform Singapores economy and improve the lives of citizens. In terms of healthcare, the emphasis of the national AI strategy will be on chronic disease management and prevention. This includes the deployment of the Singapore Eye Lesion Analyzer, Selena+, a system which analyzes retinal photographs across the nation for diabetes screening by 2022.

Much ado about AI and its applications in healthcare

During the panel discussion on the current and future developments of AI at the HIMSS Singapore eHealth & Health 2.0 Summit in April 2019, Dr Ngiam Kee Yuan, GCTO, NUHS, observed that AI technologies in healthcare are slightly overhyped but in terms of real adoption, there needs to be factors like a really mature EHR system, good data streams, finding ways to deploy these AI technologies and training doctors to buy in into using these technologies. Simply put, good AI technology implementation in healthcare cannot just happen in a vacuum.

AI (in healthcare) needs to be human-centric and this sentiment is agreed upon by panelists at the Innofest Unbound conference in Singapore. A lot of radiologists are already using Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) for mammography and it has been happening for some time. So the idea is for us as a tech startup to pursue what we call human-centric AI. We try to make AI as explainable as possible and we always want humans to be involved in the whole process, said Dr Reid Lim, founder of MEDGIC, a startup which utilizes AI to detect skin conditions.

Cybersecurity risks still prevalent

Despite being more advanced than its neighbors in APAC, Singapore was hit by another healthcare cybersecurity incident in February 2019, which saw the leak of confidential information regarding 14,200 individuals diagnosed with HIV. Ransomware attacks hit hospitals and health services in Victoria, Australia in October 2019 and some facilities have had to revert to manual systems to maintain services.

Richard Staynings, Chief Security Strategist, Cylera said in an HealthcareIT News interview that healthcare compliance does not equal to security and the industry needs to adopt a risk-based approach to security based upon assets rather than controls.

2020 predictions?

The introduction of more user-friendly, less costly and accurate Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices, combined and complemented with advanced analytics, will take healthcare to the next level of value-driven care and personalized medicine, said Benedict Tan, Group Chief Digital Strategy Officer, SingHealth and Chairperson, Organizing Committee, HIMSS AsiaPac 20 Conference.

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Israeli scientists shed new light on how the brain functions – The Jerusalem Post

Friday, January 3rd, 2020

How does the brain work? What is the connection between its structure and its functioning? A team of Israeli scientists from the Technion Institute of Technology, in cooperation with colleagues from the US and France, has managed to demonstrate the significance of personalized brain models, which could have a meaningful impact in the field of personalized medicine.In an academic article published Thursday in PNAS, the official journal of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, the group demonstrated that the individual map of structural neural connections, which are the physical links between regions, predicts the individual functional connectivity patterns, namely, how neural activity is spreading in the brain.As explained in a statement, the researchers took advantage of mice studies to "systematically investigate the informative content of different structural features in explaining the emergence of the functional ones."They employed structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to scan mice's brains, then built a virtual model of their brain and tried to simulate their functional organization based on the structural connectivity, finally comparing it to the results of functional MRI on the same mice.With this study, the scientists were able to demonstrate that individual variations define a specific structural fingerprint with a direct impact upon the functional organization ofindividual brains. This finding will potentially support future clinical trials focusing on personalized treatments in brain disorders such as epilepsy, depression and Alzheimers disease, in which the virtual brain may predict treatment outcome in individual patients.The study was conducted by Professor Itamar Kahn, director of the Brain Systems Organization in Health and Disease Lab at Technion. Graduate students Eyal Bergmann and Francesca Melozzi were lead co-authors. Kahn's work focuses on investigating brain function and behavior in health and disease. As explained in the American Technion Society's website, his research has applications for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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Why Aurora Cannabis, Canopy Growth, and Other Top Canadian Marijuana Stocks Soared Today – Nasdaq

Friday, January 3rd, 2020

What happened

Several top Canadian marijuana stocks soared by double-digit percentages on Tuesday. Shares of Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) were up by 12.3% as of 3:08 p.m. EST. Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC) stock was jumping 12.1%. Tilray's (NASDAQ: TLRY) gain for the day was in the same ballpark, with shares up 12.5%. Aphria (NYSE: APHA) lagged behind slightly, with the stock rising 10.6%.

Two of the biggest winners, though, were Cronos Group (NASDAQ: CRON) and Sundial Growers (NASDAQ: SNDL), with shares vaulting 16.8% and 22.6% higher, respectively.

What lit a fire beneath these Canadian marijuana stocks on the last day of 2019? There wasn't any major news today. Probably the biggest factor behind today's spike is that the Cannabis 2.0 market for cannabis derivative products is picking up steam. Most of the stocks that jumped also have double-digit short percentages of shares outstanding, so any upward movement can result in short-sellers closing out their positions, contributing to even greater increases in share prices.

Image source: Getty Images.

All of the big marijuana stocks with big moves today have taken a shellacking in 2019, with the exception of Aphria, which fell only slightly during the year. The lack of an adequate retail infrastructure, particularly in Ontario, has presented a major obstacle for Canadian cannabis producers. However, the year is ending on a positive note; Ontario is taking steps to open more retail stores at the same time the Cannabis 2.0 market is shifting into gear.

There's a good reason for investors to be optimistic about the potential for these stocks in the Cannabis 2.0 market. Professional services organization Ernst & Young projects the market could reach close to 6 billion Canadian dollars by 2025.

It's still very early, though. Today's jump stems from anticipation and hopes, instead of hard sales numbers. Still, many investors could be justified in thinking that the 2019 sell-off for Canadian pot stocks could have been overdone, in light of the improving environment that should be on the way in 2020.

Watch for reports of how well sales in the Cannabis 2.0 market are going early in the new year. Aphria will be the first major Canadian cannabis producer to announce earnings results, on Jan. 14, 2020. Although those results are for the quarter ending in November and won't include any Cannabis 2.0 sales, the company's management could provide some insight into how the launch of its new products is going.

Here's The Marijuana Stock You've Been Waiting ForA little-known Canadian company just unlocked what some experts think could be the key to profiting off the coming marijuana boom.

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Cannabis legalization is sweeping over North America 11 states plus Washington, D.C., have all legalized recreational marijuana over the last few years, and full legalization came to Canada in October 2018.

And one under-the-radar Canadian company is poised to explode from this coming marijuana revolution.

Because a game-changing deal just went down between the Ontario government and this powerhouse company...and you need to hear this story today if you have even considered investing in pot stocks.

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Learn more

Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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Why Aurora Cannabis, Canopy Growth, and Other Top Canadian Marijuana Stocks Soared Today - Nasdaq

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Precision Medicine Market to Restrict Revenue Growth During the Forecast Period 2025 Bulletin Line – Bulletin Line

Friday, January 3rd, 2020

According to the latest study conducted byMarket Growth Analysisthe global market for precision medicine is anticipate grow manifold, reflecting a robust CAGR of over XX% during 2018 to 2025.

Rapid augmentation of the medicine industry across the globe will certainly benefit the global market for precision medicine. In addition, factors such as growing infrastructural development, higher investments, streamlined drug approval systems along with companion diagnostics are expected to favor the overall market growth during the assessment period. Cost-effective DNA profiling and increasing prevalence of carcinogenic diseases worldwide are additional factors that are projected to propel the market growth. Moreover, apt storage of genome data is of great significance to the global market for precision medicine as demand for data medicare is on the rise. However, acute data storage capacity, data privacy breach and discrepancies in funding systems and hefty price tag of personalized drugs may deter the market growth in the near future.

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The global market for precision medicine has been categorized into various parent segments that are further segmented into smaller sub-divisions.

On the basis of technology, next-gen sequencing, bioinformatics and drug discovery technology are expected to be the technologies highlighting the expanding the market width in forthcoming years. Based on applications, the oncology segment is expected to witness an overwhelming growth and is estimated to reach US$ XX Billion over 2025, reflecting a staggering XX% CAGR. This is primarily owing to increasing prevalence of tumor-related disease amongst the global geriatric population. On the other hand, increasing cases of arthritis will favor the growth of immunology segment, which is expected to surpass US$ XX Million in revenues by 2025 end.

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Key players operating in the global market for precision medicine include Eli Lilly And Company, Novartis AG, AstraZeneca and Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings. Most of the companies are implementing market strategies involving mergers, tie-ups and acquisitions. Increasing collaboration between healthcare and IT is expected to deliver fruitful gains to the market, expanding the overall business canvas for the stakeholders in the upcoming years.

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The popularity of precision medicine has grown significantly across various parts of the world, hence on the basis of region, the markets for precision medicine in Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is set to achieve new figures of growth over the next eight years. Precisely, the market in North America is expected to present new lucrative opportunities, occupying over XX% share of the market during the forecast period. In addition, the region is estimated to surpass a market valuation of over US$ XX Million by the end of 2025.

The US and Canada will be the heavyweights of the global market owing to the existence of well-established medical industries in both the countries. In Europe, the market is expected to witness a steady growth and will increase its revenues charts close to US$ XX Million, riding on a healthy CAGR of over XX% during the assessment period. This is largely due to the increasing demand for precision medicines in countries such as France, UK, Italy and Germany. The Asia Pacific region is another region which is considered to be full of business potentials. The region is projected to increase at over XX% CAGR to reach approximately US$ XX Million by 2025 end. The market in APAC will be heavily dominated by Japan, while, India and China will compete for the second spot. Likewise, the in Latin America the market is expected to surge at a pace in terms of revenue over 2025. However, MEA will witness a sluggish growth of the market which is attributed to the lack of initiatives for conductive extensive research and development activities.

Browse more detail information about this report visit at: http://marketgrowthanalysis.com/precision-medicine-market

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In 2020, AI to enable acceleration from automation to autonomy, say experts – Robot Report

Friday, January 3rd, 2020

In 2020, AI could empower robotics with tools such as this Brain Bulder workspace. Source: Neurala

For the past decade, robotics has been one of the most interesting areas for developers, industry analysts, and startups to focus on. From emerging technologies and new applications to ongoing challenges, both innovators and entrepreneurs will have a lot to watch in 2020.

The Robot Report spoke with the following executives at robotics and artificial intelligence companies about their observations of 2019s trends, as well as their expectations for the new year:

Which technologies do you expect to mature the most in 2020, such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), edge computing, 5G wireless networks, or autonomous vehicles?

Visti: In 2020, Industry 4.0 will become more of a reality than a vision. Smart machines keep getting smarter as they get access to more data, and they keep getting better at connecting to other machines and systems, and therefore they become truly useful for manufacturers.

Thomas Visti, Mobile Industrial Robots

While many companies have been hesitant and seen Industry 4.0 as merely a buzzword, were starting to see connected supply chains where MES [manufacturing execution systems], robots, and picking systems are connected.

We also see the connectivity between robots and ERP [enterprise resource planning] systems within production environments.

The entire process from ordering to producing and then transporting goods can now be fully automated. Industry 4.0 is still evolving, and it will not reach its full potential in 2020, but we will see more companies adopting the enabling technologies. This will also influence the workforce, as we will see the same companies wanting to upskill their current workforce and recruit new employees with Industry 4.0 skills.

Versace: Well see more demand for AI that can be trained, deployed, and refined at the edge. 2019 has shown us that many organizations, robotics companies included, are saying No to giving up their data and having to ping the cloud.

I believe that in 2020, AI will need to live and learn at the edge, so that processing occurs where the data is being generated. As a result, robotics companies will see reduced latency problems while mitigating privacy issues and massive cloud fees for manufacturers.

Sudhir Jha, Brighterion

Jha:Enterprises will transition into deploying complex AI models in production at scale. So far, most AI applications are experiments but not in production, simple recommendation/prediction/regression models, or applied to smaller problems.

In 2020, we will see more enterprises getting bolder with their AI ambitions and requiring their vendors to support large deployments.

There will be be an acceleration from automation to autonomy, and AI will play the most crucial role in this. Also, robotics will move further from industrial arena to consumer arena, where they will act as personal coaches, instructors for children, conversational buddies for elders, and guides for the disabled.

Which market or application represents the biggest area of growth potential in 2020?

Visti: We expect to see an increase in the use of robotics in all our existing markets such as automotive, electronics, FMCG [fast-moving consumer goods], pharmaceuticals, and more.

There is still a huge focus on optimization, and with the lack of qualified workers, the need for automation across industries has never been higher.

We expect big growth in the use of AMRs by the 3PL [third-party logistics] segment, which has not been an early adopter of AMRs. In fact, our recent survey showed that only around 50% of 3PLs are currently considering automating internal logistics with AMRs. We expect to see this figure increase significantly in 2020 and the years ahead.

The hospital sector is also looking to automate internal transportation worldwide. For MiR, we have many customers within this segment in Scandinavia and China, but we expect it to grow even more.

Jha: Verticals like healthcare will see expanded AI-based applications, not only in the areas of diagnosis and personalized medicine, but also on the operational side like customer service, payment processing, and FWA (fraud, waste, and abuse).

How will trade conflicts or the slowdown in automotive manufacturing affect robotics in 2020?

Visti: While the automotive manufacturing market may have slowed, the latest statistics from the Robotic Industries Association actually shows what looks like an uptick in ordering of industrial robots by automotive OEMs, up 47% for 2019 over 2018.

Were also experiencing increased growth in that market and overall, with companies like Toyota and Ford purchasing fleets of our AMRs.

We expect this is due to these manufacturers realizing how automation can help fill difficult-to-fill jobs; increase overall productivity; and enable humans to focus on higher-skilled, higher-quality, and higher-paid tasks. These are all benefits that can lead to growth and new job opportunities, which could help turn the automotive industry back around.

Versace: We will always be faced with some degree of socioeconomic uncertainty around the world. In terms of manufacturing, possible decoupling of Chinese and Western economies may actually bolster manufacturing in the U.S. and make it less reliant on overseas production in the long run. This may indirectly boost robotic deployments in the U.S. and Europe.

But at Neurala, were focused on what we can control, which is first and foremost to provide robotics and other companies with an AI platform that they can apply to solve real-world challenges. Our Brain Builder platform is helping organizations accelerate the process of building, deploying, and analyzing AI so they can focus on improving visual inspections.

Related content: Industry experts provide more robotics predictions for 2020

What challenges and opportunities do you expect for AI in 2020?

Jha: As AI-based solutions become more mainstream across industries, we need to carve out a handful domain where our technology provides sustainable differentiation and allows us to be a leader.

We have focused on risk and compliance areas in financial services and are looking to diversify in other verticals. Also our strength in building mission-critical applications in highly regulated industries will serve us well to ensure data privacy and ethical use of AI which is a growing trend globally.

Max Versace, Neurala

Versace: Im thinking of 2020 as the Year of Productization and the Customer.

At Neurala, well continue to work with customers so that they can independently build and deploy custom AI applications for the real world.

Furthermore, AI products such as Brain Builder will enable customers with little or no expertise in AI to build an end-to-end application from scratch, on their proprietary data. This means that enterprises will no longer be restricted by their size or resources when it comes to implementing AI as a part of their business strategies.

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Precision Medicine Paves the Way for Exciting Treatment Combinations for Patients with Multiple Myeloma – Curetoday.com

Monday, December 30th, 2019

Patients with multiple myeloma have a lot to look forward to in the treatment space thanks to precision medicine, but one treatment option alone will not cure the disease.

At the 2019 CURE Educated PatientSummit on Myeloma in Charlotte, North Carolina, Rodriguez, director of the myeloma and plasma cell disorder program at Wake Forest University, had the chance to speak to numerous patients with multiple myeloma on the current treatment landscape of the disease and precision medicines role in it.

This year, Rodriguez also participated in the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundations Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma program when he took a 10-day journey through the South American region of Patagonia with other multiple myeloma survivors and specialists. This journey allowed Rodriguez to have intimate contact with patients who have multiple myeloma and talk with them about the future of treatment for the disease.

In an interview with CURE, Rodriguez explained the role of precision medicine in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma and how he addresses common questions about it from patients.

CURE: How has precision medicine changed the landscape of treatment for patients with multiple myeloma?

Rodriguez: Precision medicine has changed the way we treat myeloma in many ways, and that not only means that we are finding new therapy that can target specific areas of the cancer cells, (allowing us) to have more effective therapy with less side effects, but it also means that we can actually tailor therapy to an individual patient.

It's not just that we're developing new drugs that are homing in on the cancer cells, but it also is that we're taking some time to individualize the care based on each patient's needs, each patient's requirements, and the cancer that each patient has. We do know that multiple myeloma is not a one-stop, everybody-has-the-same-type disease; everybody has different variants, and within a person, there's different subgroups of myeloma cells that needs to be targeted in a different way.

What are some of the questions about precision medicine that patients might have for you, and how do you address them?

One of the questions that normally arises whenever precision medicine, or personalized medicine, or targeted therapy all of these words are used interchangeably in clinic (comes up) is: Will a new treatment that targets a specific mutation cure my disease, if I have that mutation? And that's a very valid question, because you would think that if we've designed a therapy that can target a particular mutation that your cancer has, that we would eradicate the cancer.

Yet, the reality is, I don't think that targeting one particular mutation is going to be the solution to our problems. Myeloma is composed of many subgroups of myeloma cells within one patient.

So, combining precision medicine with a therapy that we already have and targeted immunotherapy that might give us a broader aspect of how we can target the cancer and have better control of it. Hopefully, by combining different targeted therapies with standard therapy, we might be able to eradicate the cancer. But the precision medicine or a single agent on its own is probably not going to be the solution for it.

What are some of the unique challenges from the use of precision medicine to treat patients with multiple myeloma?

One of the challenges of precision medicine in myeloma in particular is that myeloma tends to evolve as time goes by, and it's developing new mutations. And these new mutations can cause resistance to therapy. Even if we're using precision medicine that can target a particular mutation, if that cancer cell continues to evolve and mutate, maybe that particular mutation, or that target, might change as well, and then the therapy stops working.

That's a big challenge that we still have with precision medicine, that we need to figure out how we can factor that in whenever we're treating patients. So, resistance to therapy, despite (the use) of precision medicine, is something that we can potentially see.

What is the difference between DNA and RNA testing for patients with multiple myeloma?

The difference between DNA and RNA when it comes to cancer is a little bit different. We're using genes now to understand how cancer behaves. That's given us a lot of information about how we can potentially treat myeloma and how it normally behaves. A lot of doctors might say, Oh, I'm checking your DNA, or I'm checking your RNA to see what information we can get from it.

The main difference is, DNA is all the genes that we have in our body, and all the genes that are going to be in a cell and particular in a cancer cell. RNA are the genes that are actually used and expressed in those cancer cells. So not all the DNA is used. It's just the RNA portion that's going to be telling us what sections of the DNA are actually active and which ones are not.

Can you discuss some of the highlights from your keynote lecture at the 2019 CURE Educated Patient Summit on Multiple Myeloma?

The focus of the talk was on a few factors. One is that we've realized that treating myeloma patients it's not the same if I treat somebody here or if I treat somebody in a different state or in a different country. Humans are not all the same. We all are very unique. We all have very different characteristics and features, medical problems, social issues, environmental differences and walks of life. We cannot use one same treatment for all of us, because it's not going to be effective for all of us.

So, tailoring it for our different characteristics is one part of precision medicine. And then the other factor in my talk was the cancer itself. Myeloma is not just one cell type, where all the people who have myeloma are going to have the same characteristics. It's very variable, and within patients, there's variability, and there are different clones of myeloma cells in that same patient, and then each patient is very different in terms of how their myeloma is.

We've learned so much about cancer, and myeloma in particular, that we've now been able to identify different subgroups of myeloma cells within a patient, or between patients, that we can target and be more specific in how we treat. So, the goal of the talk was to let everybody see that whenever we are treating myeloma, we have to individualize the care to that particular patient.

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Industry VoicesA doctor’s perspective on the top 3 healthcare trends to watch in 2020 – FierceHealthcare

Monday, December 30th, 2019

As 2019 comes to a close, this is the perfect time to consider what lies ahead in the new year. As a physician working in digital health, my sense is that the pace of change in medicine is accelerating in ways that we havent seen before.

Here are my picks for the top healthcare trends to watch in 2020:

1. Tech giants will build more tools to support doctors.Apple, Amazon and other tech giants have been increasing their focus on consumer healthcare products for several years now, from the Apple Watch to Alexas voice-enabled prescription refills. In 2020, expect to see these companies increase their attention on the physician community.

Top health industry issues of 2020: Will digital start to show an ROI?

Each year, PwC's Health Research Institute (HRI) names the top issues for the health industry in the coming year. What made the list for 2020? Join HRI for a discussion of the most important trends for providers, insurers, pharma/life sciences and employers.

Google is determined to fix the mediocre choices among existing electronic health records (EHRs) with its own integrated charting system. They plan to leverage their dominance in Search to make it easier for doctors to find data across multiple systems with a single login. In addition, their smart compose technology will help clinicians enter information accurately, with typos becoming a thing of the past. Users will also be able to search scanned documents, such as faxes, handwritten and typed notes.

The optimist in me hopes that all EHR companieswill see Googles entry as a nudge to be more physician- and patient-friendly, enabling doctors to spend less time staring at computer screens and more time making eye contact with patients.

2. Personalized medicine will become even more precise.The past decade showed us that a one-size-fits-all approach to medicine is under attack. While customized medical therapies are not yet available on a wide-scale, we are on the path to making substantial life-saving strides soon. The capability to leverage a person's distinct genetic make-up to provide them with tailored therapies will continue to be refined in 2020 and beyond. This should give physicians more treatment options and possibly help patients diagnosed with serious conditions to live longer, fuller lives.

3. Telemedicine will continue its growth streak.Research reveals that patient demand for telehealth is growing fast. According to a study published inJAMA, telemedicine visits grew 261% between 2015 and 2017.And physicians are enthusiastically supporting this trend.

At Doximity, we saw the number of doctors that self-reported practicing telemedicinedouble in just three years between 2015 and 2018.At the same time, the government is recognizing the benefits of telemedicine.AnExecutive Ordersigned this year outlined Medicare reform intended to help speed telemedicine adoption.Additionally, theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairswill focus efforts on telemedicine to benefit veterans in need of care.

Technological advancements, an aging population, and personalized medicine will all have an impact on the future of healthcare. The next decade will certainly introduce the healthcare industry to new challengesand from those challenges solutions for providers and patients will emerge.

Peter Alperin, M.D., is vice president at Doximity, an online networking service for medical professionals.

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FDA approval of new breast cancer drug offers hope to patients with few options – Boston Herald

Monday, December 30th, 2019

A breast cancer drug that can provide a last resort option to patients who have run out of treatments has been granted accelerated approval from the Food and Drug Administration, a move that could provide a new standard of care for hundreds of thousands of women with the disease.

The drug, called Enhertu, was recently granted approval for patients who have received two or more prior treatments for inoperable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, a type of cancer that learns to resist the drugs designed to attack it.

The drug is given intravenously and will be available by prescription in the United States in the coming weeks. The drug can offer less severe side effects than chemotherapy for some patients.

Its always really hard to know the options are getting thinner. Theres a lot we can do for HER2-positive breast cancer, though we do reach a time where there is little else we have to offer and I think having a drug like this provides a lot of hope, said Dr. Eric Winer, director of the breast cancer program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Cheryl Osimo, executive director of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, was diagnosed with stage two HER2-positive breast cancer in 1991 and was given a poor prognosis.

It was a life-changing experience for me in more ways than one, Osimo said. Her cancer did not resist treatment, and six months of chemotherapy along with six weeks of radiation proved successful in beating the deadly disease.

Im one of the lucky ones, there are many women who are not so lucky, so those who have to move on to try other treatments, to learn there are options where there are less painful side effects is good news, said Osimo.

About one in five breast cancers are HER2-positive. The drug works by attaching chemotherapy to antibodies that offer a targeted attack on the cancer cells.

Dr. Michael Misialek, associate chair of pathology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, said Enhertu offers a new standard of care for patients running out of alternatives.

It gives patients another option, it gives oncologists another arrow in their tool kit to fight the cancer and the big picture here is that treatment of breast cancer is following the pathway more and more of personalized medicine, said Misialek, who is also the medical adviser to the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition.

Winer also noted a shift in cancer care with the approval of groundbreaking drugs like Enhertu, saying, I can imagine a time when we wont be giving standard chemotherapy.

Winer said new treatments are giving patients hope, This is an example of the fact that if they just hang in there and manage to do well for however long they can with the drug they have, there may be something else coming around the corner.

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Mateon Therapeutics Team Publishes a New Peer-Reviewed Oncology Article on the Positive Clinical Study Results for Its Lead Anti-Leukemia Drug…

Monday, December 30th, 2019

AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Dec. 27, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mateon Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB:MATN) today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed research article co-authored by Fatih Uckun MD. PhD, the Chief Medical Officer for Mateon, Vuong Trieu, PhD, the Chief Executive Officer and President for Mateon and four hematology/oncology professors from academic US institutions in the prestigious oncology journal Cancers (Basel).

The article describes in detail the data obtained in the recently completed multi-institutional OXI1222 study that was aimed to evaluate the clinical potential of Mateons lead anti-leukemia drug Combretastatin A1 (also known as OXi4503) in adult patients with previously treated relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This clinical study was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02576301. Patients were treated by participating leukemia experts affiliated with the University of Florida, University of Kansas Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami who co-authored the published article. The primary purpose of this Phase 1B study was to define the maximum tolerated dose and safety profile of OXi4503 and cytarabine administered in combination (OXA) in patients with relapsed/refractory AML. The study was completed in August 2019 and met its primary endpoint. The study showed that adding OXi4503 to the standard chemotherapy drug cytarabine was generally well tolerated by AML patients and a maximum tolerated dose level of OXi4503 was identified as the recommended dose for further clinical development of this novel two-drug combination. In 26 evaluable AML patients, there were 4 complete remissions (CR/CRi) and one partial remission (PR). The CR responses were associated with >1-year overall survival times. The combination therapy exhibited a manageable toxicity and a promising benefit to risk profile in older adults with relapsed AML who are in urgent need for effective new therapies. The safety, feasibility, and early clinical activity of this new treatment in relapsed/refractory AML deserves further clinical validation in a randomized registration study.

This work emphasizes our commitment to find effective new therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers,stated Dr. Vuong Trieu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mateon Therapeutics.

OXi4503 has received orphan drug designation for AML in both the US and the European Union. Further, the US FDA has granted fast-track designation to OXi4503 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory AML.

AML is the most common form of adult acute leukemia with >20,000 estimated new cases and >10,000 deaths in the United States (US) for 2019. Despite recent advances in therapy, the five-year overall survival remains < 30% and prognosis is grim in patients who experience a recurrence of their disease after first-line induction therapy, with <10% surviving five years after relapse.The greatest challenge in AML is relapsed or refractory disease. For relapsed or refractory AML, there is no consensus on a single re-induction regimen.By combining OXi4503 with the standard chemotherapy drug cytarabine, we hope to develop an innovative approach that improves outcomes for patients with relapsed AML, especially those who are older and have a dismal prognosis, explained Fatih Uckun, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of Mateon Therapeutics.

The research article "A Phase 1B Clinical Study of Combretastatin A1 Diphosphate (OXi4503) and Cytarabine (ARA-C) in Combination(OXA) for Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia" hasbeen published in Cancers (Basel) as part of the Special Issue Personalized Medicine:Recent Progress in Cancer Therapy and is available online:

Abstract:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/1/74PDF Version:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/1/74/pdfSpecial Issue:https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers/special_issues/PM_Cancers

About Mateon TherapeuticsMateon was created by the recent reverse merger with Oncotelic which became a wholly owned subsidiary of Mateon Therapeutics Inc. (OTCQB:MATN) creating an immuno-oncology company dedicated to the development of first in class RNA therapeutics as well as small molecule drugs against cancer. The founding team members of Oncotelic were responsible for the development of Celgenes Abraxane as a chemotherapeutic agent for breast, lung, melanoma, and pancreatic cancer. Abraxane was approved in 2005 and has more than $1B in sales annually. The same team was also responsible for the development of Cynviloq, a next generation Abraxane, which was acquired by NantPharma for $1.3B. Mateon/Oncotelic is seeking to leverage its deep expertise in oncology drug development to improve treatment outcomes and survival of cancer patients with a special emphasis on pediatric cancer patients. For more information, please visit http://www.oncotelic.com and http://www.mateon.com.

The Chief Executive Officer of Mateon, Dr. Vuong Trieu, PhD is a very experienced biotech executive and a KOL in the field of immunotherapy. He is best known for his seminal contributions to the development of Abraxane (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vuong-trieu-3a64aa3b).

The Chief Medical Officer of Mateon, Dr. Fatih Uckun MD, PhD, is an internationally renowned KOL in cancer research and treatment (https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatihuckun). Dr. Uckun is an elected Member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), an honor society for physician-scientists, and an active member of several professional organizations. He received numerous national and international awards for his work on biologics and small molecule targeted therapeutics for difficult-to-treat cancers. He is a former recipient of the Stohlman Memorial Award from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the highest honor given to a Clinical Leukemia Scholar.

Mateon's Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this communication regarding strategy, future operations, future financial position, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Words such as may, expect, anticipate hope, vision, optimism, design, exciting, innovative, promising, will, conviction, "estimate," "intend," "believe", quest for a cure of cancer, innovation-driven, paradigm-shift, high scientific merit, impact potential and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about future plans, the progress, timing, clinical development, scope and success of future clinical trials, the reporting of clinical data for the companys product candidates and the potential use of the companys product candidates to treat various cancer indications. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results, including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies, clinical trial site activation or enrollment rates that are lower than expected, changes in expected or existing competition, changes in the regulatory environment, failure of collaborators to support or advance collaborations or product candidates and unexpected litigation or other disputes. These risks are not exhaustive, the company faces known and unknown risks, including the risk factors described in the companys annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 10, 2019 and in the companys other periodic filings. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, whether as a result of new information future events, or otherwise.

Contact Information:For Mateon Therapeutics, Inc.:Amit ShahEmail: ashah@oncotelic.com

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