StemCell Therapy

Animation of stem cell therapy attacking malignant glioma. (Northwestern Medicine)

CHICAGO - A first-of-a-kind neural stem cell therapy that works with a common cold virus to seek out and attack a lethal and aggressive brain cancer is being tested at Northwestern Medicine in a Phase I clinical trial for patients newly diagnosed with malignant glioma.

The novel drug to treat malignant glioma, notorious for recurring after typical bouts of standard cancer treatment, was developed by a Northwestern scientist and has been approved as an investigational drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This is only the second time the University has supported and filed an investigational new drug as a sponsor.

We have discovered that combining stem cells with a virus causes the new drug to react like a cancer-seeking missile targeting cancerous cells in the brain said principal investigator, Dr. Maciej Lesniak, the Michael J. Marchese Professor and chair of neurological surgery atNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicineand a neuro-oncologist at Northwestern Medicine. If it works in humans, it could be a powerful weapon against brain cancer and an option that our patients are desperate for.

One reason malignant glioma recurs so often is because a small subpopulation of cancer cells, often deep in the brain tissue, is highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiation.

We havent seen significant progress in the last decade for patients with a brain tumor, and that is why its crucial to do everything we can to find a better treatment for brain tumors.

The pre-clinical work done by Lesniak and his team has shown that the approach being tested at Northwestern Medicine can target this population of therapy resistant cells, further delaying and sometimes even preventing tumor recurrence.

The stem cells used in the research came from a collaboration of researchers from City of Hope.

We havent seen significant progress in the last decade for patients with a brain tumor, and that is why its crucial to do everything we can to find a better treatment for brain tumors, said Dr. Roger Stupp, a co-investigator who is working alongside Lesniak on this clinical trial. Combining novel therapy with medical expertise, we are able to get one step closer to eradicating this lethal disease.

Stupp, a world-renowned neuro-oncologist, recently joined Northwestern Medicine as director of neuro-oncology and associate director for strategic initiatives at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. He is best known for developing temozolomide in combination with radiation as the standard-of-care chemotherapy for patients with glioblastoma.

Lesniak and his team of scientists are starting to test the safety and dosage of the treatment in patients at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Lesniak began the research more than a decade ago while at the University of Chicago and completed it when he moved to Northwestern in 2015.

This investigational new drug contains neural stem cells to deliver a potent virus responsible for the common cold, oncolyotic adenovirus, which is engineered to kill brain cancer cells. The novel treatment works synergistically with chemotherapy and radiation to enhance the standard cancer treatments effectiveness.

Malignant gliomas are the most aggressive forms of cancer and are predicted to affect nearly 20,000 new patients this year, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. Sometimes called the grow-and-go tumors, gliomas can make their own blood supply, which fuels the tumors rapid growth and helps them hatch satellite tumors. Each tumor sends out tentacles that infiltrate and dig deep into normal brain tissue, making complete removal of cancerous cells impossible. Any cancerous cells in the brain left over from standard of care can cause the tumor to recur.

Lesniak plans to enroll up to 36 newly diagnosed patients with glioma. These patients will be divided into two groups: those with tumors that can be removed and those where the tumors are not removable by surgery.

Next step, Northwestern Memorial will extend this research to the collaborating partners at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, California.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke grant U01NS069997.

Link:
New investigational drug acts like a cancer-seeking missile in brain - Northwestern University NewsCenter

Alimorad Farshchian, M.D., founder and medical director of The Center for Regenerative Medicine, founded in 1999.

A Miami doctor who has developed an international reputation for medical innovation over the last 18 years has become a pioneer in the burgeoning and critically important field of stem cell therapy.

Alimorad Farshchian, M.D., founder and medical director of The Center for Regenerative Medicine, founded in 1999, has developed innovative, safe and effective stem cell treatments for Parkinsons Disease, spinal stenosis and other physical ailments, such as back and knee problems. More recently, he has developed stem cell-derived eye drops that have successfully treated a range of eye disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa.

Since 2006, Dr. Farshchian has treated more than 11,000 patients in more than 50countries with his proprietary stem cell therapies. Despite his major innovation and success with stem cell therapies, he is best-known worldwide for successfully treating the late Michael Jackson for his addiction to prescription painkillers and also for an ankle injury before what would have been the new tour Jackson planned before his death.

Stem cells are the bodys most fundamental raw materials the cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. They either become new stem cells or specialized cells, such as retina cells for the eyes. No other cell in the human body has the ability to generate new types of cells that address specific bodily functions.

Beginning in 1999, Dr. Farshchian, a member of the American Academy ofAnti-Aging Medicine, began a quest to develop new and more effective treatments forneurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons Disease. In 2006, he began experimenting with revolutionary stem cell treatments that involve using the patients own stem cells, known as autologous stem cells, which are reinjected into the patients body after minimal processing.

Ive experienced great improvement as a result of the stem cell treatments, says 62-year-old Sharon Davis of Cocoa, Florida, who was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease three and a half years ago. After taking medications for more than three years that did not eliminate her symptoms and also had unpleasant side effects, she sought out Dr. Farshchian after he successfully treated her 37-year-old daughter, Heather Fleckinger, who had suffered from chronic and severe lower back problems for five years.

A series of three monthly stem cell injections significantly relieved Ms. Daviss symptoms, especially the shaking she was experiencing on her right side, and reduced her need for prescription medications. Based on how much he helped me, I tell everybody I know to go see him, says Ms. Davis, who is continuing treatment in the hope her symptoms will be completely alleviated, ending her need for any medications.

Her daughter, Ms. Fleckinger, says, I feel like Dr. Farshchian saved my life. Before I went to see him, I wore a back brace and took daily medications, but my back problems still prevented me from doing my job as a horse trainer and I had to wear a back brace almost constantly. Over a five-year period, I also tried chiropractors and acupuncture, but nothing worked.

Then, she says, a series of three stem cell injections from Dr. Farshchian over a one-week period cured her. Within three weeks, my back felt much better, she says. And after four weeks, it didnt hurt at all. I could hardly believe it. I consider it a miracle. She returns for follow-up booster shots every six to 12 months.

Rose Rubino, a 69-year-old business owner from Cape Canaveral, has been treated with Dr. Farshchians stem cell therapies over the last seven years for knee problems, severe arthritis, and spinal stenosis.

The first time I went to see him, I was scheduled for knee replacement surgery,Ms. Rubino says. But I ended up being able to avoid surgery because of the incredible resultI got from the stem cell injections. She received three injections over a one-week period.

Three months later, her 54-year-old sister suffered a frozen shoulder. Doctors told herthe condition required arthroscopic surgery. Instead, based on Ms. Rubinos recommendation, she saw Dr. Farshchian, who treated her successfully with a single stem cell injection. So shewas able to avoid surgery, just like I was, Ms. Rubino says.

Over the past five years, Dr. Farshchian has also successfully treated Ms. Rubino for arthritis and spinal stenosis. Dr. Farshchian saved my life, as far as Im concerned, she says. Nobody ever told me that as I aged, I would develop all these painful physical ailments that would supposedly require surgery. And every time, Dr. Farshchians stem cell treatments worked. I consider myself his unofficial spokesperson, because as far as Im concerned he performed multiple miracles in my life. So I tell the world about him, every chance I get.

Dr. Farshchians latest progress is in the field of optical regeneration. He has developed proprietary eye drops, trademarked as iFarshchian Drops, to treat retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that involves a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina.

The drops are uniquely developed for each patient from his or her own stem cells and are engineered to penetrate the sclera, or white outer layer of the eyeball, in order to find damaged eye cells and rejuvenate them.

Dr. Farshchian stresses that recently reported and serious complications from therapy at a South Florida clinic that injected stem cells into the eyes of patients were the result of flawed delivery of the therapy, rather than the therapy itself, which has been proven safe and successful in ongoing clinical trials at University of California at Irvine and at RIKEN Laboratory in Kobe, Japan. He also emphasizes that his eye drops are less invasive and safer than injections.

This spring, Dr. Farshchians eye drops successfully treated 89-year-old James

Enochs of Prince George, VA for degenerative eye disease. Ive already had significant improvement in my ability to read an eye chart, says Enochs, who was successfully treated with stem cell therapy by Dr. Farshchian for chronic knee problems seven years ago. My eyes had been very sensitive to wind and light. And Ive noticed a significant improvement in that sensitivity. I can only speak about the eye drops from my own experience. But for me,they have already delivered pretty remarkable results. He will now continue to use the dropsat home.Dr. Farshchian is a very brilliant and innovative doctor, Enochs says. I was justabout as skeptical as you could be the first time I came to Miami seven years ago fortreatment on my knees. But I had a huge success with my knees, and was able to avoid thesurgery that my orthopedist wanted to perform. Now Ive also had success with my eyes.So Im very impressed with his work with stem cells. Im not a skeptic anymore. Because Dr. Farshchian uses only autologous stem cells those taken from a patients own body the therapies are neither restricted nor regulated by the Food & Drug Administration. But, Dr. Farshchian points out, he fully complies with all stem cell-related FDA recommendations.

The three primary disorders that I treat with stem cells retinitis pigmentosa, Parkinsons Disease, and spinal stenosis, are difficult to treat traditionally because they are stubbornly resistant to surgery, Dr. Farshchian says. That means that most patients with those conditions are in dire need of a new alternative that works. And very few of them are aware yet of the dramatic breakthroughs being made with stem cell therapies.

His stem cell treatments are not Dr. Farshchians first major medical innovation. Almost 20 years ago, he coined the term orthopedic regenerative medicine to describe the highly effective new treatments he developed for common ailments such as arthritis.

The Center for Regenerative Medicine is located at 1001 NE 125th Street in North Miami. For more information , call (305) 891-4686 or visit ArthritisUSA.net.

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Miami Doctor Pioneers Innovative Stem Cell Therapies For Parkinson's Disease, Spinal Stenosis And Degenerative ... - Miami's Community Newspapers

After decades of practising conventional, high-tech, hospital-based medicine, I experienced a profound shift in my understanding of health and healing. I realised that healing was an internal process that the body itself performed. The human body was designed with a tremendous capacity to heal itself. I, the doctor, was not really the healer.

My job with my medicines, surgery and other techniques was to support and encourage the healing process, to create the optimal circumstances for repair and healing to take place. Yes, my treatments could help correct a negative situation, restore balance and even save a life, but ultimately, the body could heal itself.

The human body is composed of up to 100 trillion microscopic units called cells. These cells are the building blocks of life. Each cell is intelligent and sophisticated, cooperating with its fellows to maintain the body's health.

Normally, cells are not immortal and as they age, get damaged or diseased, they die and are replaced. For example, liver and skin cells have a three-month lifespan; red blood cells live for four months; while the cells lining your intestines are quickly replaced every two days.

Every minute, millions of your body's cells die and new ones take their place. Each year, over 90 per cent of your cells are replaced as the body continually repairs itself. Old medical dogma had insisted that once brain cells died they could not be replaced. We now know that even the brain can regenerate new cells.

Heart specialists had also claimed that when heart cells die from a heart attack, they never grow back. Not true. Groundbreaking research has overturned the old, negative thinking, showing that heart cells are capable of regenerating themselves. This is great news, as heart attacks that damage hearts and strokes that injure brains are two of the commonest causes of death and disability worldwide. Old beliefs die hard, and years may pass before most doctors come to accept these new discoveries.

The body repairs itself using special cells called stem cells. A stem cell is a cell produced in the body with the ability to create all types of new cells. Your body creates these stem cells every day and they act as a repair system, replenishing damaged tissues. Modern medicine is racing to find expensive ways to transplant stem cells into patients to promote healing. This has been called regenerative medicine. An example of this approach is the injection of stem cells into the hearts of people with severe heart disease. The world welcomes all the help modern, sophisticated medicine offers.

However, my focus is on natural regenerative medicine: how to encourage your body to produce more of its own stem cells for your healing. Then, if that fails, we can consider the more dangerous, expensive and invasive options. Research has shown that your lifestyle influences the activation of these stem cells and may improve the ability of your body to self-repair and heal.

New research reveals that the body increases stem cell numbers when we exercise. The more active we are, the more new cells we need and the more stem cells we make. Physical exercise not only stimulates an increase of stem cells in your muscles, but also in other tissues such as heart, bone, brain, liver, etc.

Researchers in China report that people who practise the martial art tai chi saw a significant boost in their stem cell populations. I suspect the same may be true of yoga.

Regular exercise not only prevents disease, but also keeps stored stem cells in reserve for healing after stress and injury. Although exercise can boost stem cell numbers, optimal stem cell activity is enhanced when exercise is accompanied with healthy sleep and good stress management.

Research shows that fasting boosts stem cell production. Even after a few days of fasting, the number of stem cells in the blood is definitely elevated. It seems that the body becomes more efficient when food intake is lowered and boosts its stem cell output. Meals low in calories but high in nutrient value are ideal for this purpose. The quality of your nutrition has a major impact on the quality of your cells. The cellular nutrition meal-replacement shake and supplements are great tools for that purpose.

Research conducted at the University of Pennsylvania medical school revealed that a type of oxygen therapy using hyperbaric oxygen dramatically increases stem cell activity. The results were amazing. After only one treatment, concentrations of stem cells doubled, and after a full course of 20 treatments, stem cell levels increases by 800 per cent!

Our neighbours, the Cubans, have long promoted and successfully used hyperbaric oxygen to help in the recovery from strokes and other nervous system and circulatory problems. Other simpler and still useful oxygen therapies include ozone therapy, breathing oxygen while exercising, and even some deep-breathing techniques.

We live in a toxic world. For example, the plastic industry has filled our lives with products made of or stored in plastic. There is growing evidence that some of the chemicals in plastics such as bisphenol-A and polyvinyl chloride are dangerous and may damage stem cells. Regular detoxification of the body is therefore very important for good health.

To be really safe, try to limit storing food in plastic containers, or drinking out of plastic bottles. Also, never microwave food in a plastic container of any kind, even if it says it is microwave-safe. In general, use microwave ovens as little as possible.

Based on current evidence, popularly advertised stem cell enhancement supplements are not effective. Stem cell experts say they are at best a waste of money and at worst a risk to your health.

- You may email Dr Vendryes at tonyvendryes@gmail.com or listen to 'An Ounce of Prevention' on POWER 106 FM on Fridays at 9 p.m. Visit http://www.tonyvendryes.com for details on his books and articles.

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Ounce of Prevention | The wonder of natural regenerative medicine - Jamaica Gleaner

A WOMENS organisation in Yate has awarded 3,000 to a blindness charity after organising a series of events over the past year.

Members of Yate and District Townswomens Guild chose Retinitis Pigmentosa(RP) Fighting Blindness as their charity of choice for 2016-17, and raised funds for the organisation by hosting beetle drives, sales tables, a fashion show and Christmas Craft Stalls.

Rhona Cowie, Chairman of Yate and District Townswomen's Guild,said: "I would like to extend my thanks to all of the ladies of the guild for their hardwork and effort.

"My predecessorChristina Shinton did an amazing job organising the fashion show, which was attended by around 160 people and raised most of the money."

"Models wearing clothing fromM&CO and Next also made the fashion show a very successful evening."

Rhona and Christinapresentedrepresentatives from RP Fighting Blindness with a 3,000 cheque at the Townswomen's monthly meeting in April.

RP Fighting Blindness is a charity dedicated to finding a treatment for a group of eye conditions (retinitis pigmentosa) that affect vision and can ultimately lead to blindness.

There is currently no cure for RP, which affects around 25,000 people in the UK, but the charity provides support and guidance for those who have been diagnosed.

Ian Watson, Fundraising Manager at RP Fighting Blindness, said: We were delighted to hear of the support from Yate and District Townswomens Guild.

Community support of this type is so important for our charity; not only does it raise much-needed funds, but spreads the word of our work too, raising awareness of inherited retinal dystrophies with the general public.

The Townswomen's Guild have now announced that their next charity will beDogs for Good, an organisation that trains assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities and children with autism.

They will be hosting a luncheon on Wednesday, May 31 at 12.30pm at the Masonic Hall in order to raise funds for the charity.

Those wishing to book a ticket should contact Rhona on 01454 881532.

She added: New members are always welcome to join us. We area friendly group who enjoy meeting, having a chat and give amazing support to various charities.

Excerpt from:
Yate and District Townswomen's Guild raise 3000 for blindness charity - South Cotswolds Gazette

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. If youve lived in central Indiana for a while, youve probably heard Bernie Eagans voice come through the radio at work, at home or in your car.

Bernie is the afternoon radio personality from 4 to 8 p.m. on Soft Rock B105.7. Hes also been working at Emmis Communications, which also owns 93 WIBC, since 1981 and has only been on two radio stations this entire time. Before joining B105.7 as their morning radio personality in 2002, Bernie had worked as a DJ at Lite Rock 97.1 WENS, which is now Country 97.1 HANK FM.

But if youve listened to Bernie over the past 36 years, you may have never known this entire time that he is blind.

It doesnt matter. It doesnt add to the show, it doesnt take away from the show. If it made a difference, they probably wouldnt have hired me, says Bernie who says he focuses instead on talking about the music, station events, upcoming concerts and things that he says his listeners can relate.

Because Bernie may rarely, if ever, mention on-air that he is blind, he says his listeners are surprised to find out when they meet him.

If youve never met a blind person, people dont know how to behave, says Bernie.

His wife Teresa drives him to and from work and helps him to the studio to start his show. Once she sets up the computer for him, hes ready to roll.

A lot of times shell help me with transcribing things. Shell read them, Ill write them down. When youre blind, theres no question there are certain things that somebody has to help you with and she is just great, says Bernie.

Shes [also] a much better driver than I am, says Bernie jokingly about Teresa, whom he married in 1995.

Bernie also takes the music logs for B105.7, which tells a radio DJ the order the songs on the station will play, and transcribes them into braille to print off and use for his show.

Bernie had gone to the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired through high school and knew that he wanted to work in radio as a teenager.

I went down to what use to be Indiana Central College, now the University of Indianapolis. They [have] a station, WICR, and so I used to bug those guys because I used to live very close. My mother took me over to the station and I went in and started telling the [DJ] how to do his show because I was 14 years old, so I [thought I] knew everything. And [the DJ] finally said to me, do you want to take over the show? Of course it scared me unbelievably, and I said, sure! Bernie says the WICR DJ showed him how to run the equipment, and he had his first taste of being on-air.

From there, Bernie went to Ball State University to study Radio Broadcasting and worked at several stations in East Central Indiana including WERK, which is where David Letterman also got his first start.

In 1981, Bernie applied to work at a new station called WENS, and was hired by Program Director Rick Cummings, who is now the President of Radio Programming for Emmis Communications. Bernies first day on the air was July 11, 1981, which was one full week after WENS had debuted as an Adult Contemporary format on July 4.

After nearly 36 years on the air in Indianapolis, does Bernie have any plans of slowing down anytime soon and stepping away from his passion in radio?

Im not really sure. Im going to work here, if I can, until I retire. Then after that, well see what happens.

CLICK BELOW TO HEAR BERNIE EAGAN TALK WITH 93 WIBCS C.J. MILLER ABOUT OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF BEING BLIND AND WHY HE DECIDED TO GO INTO RADIO BROADCASTING.

93 WIBCS C.J. MILLER REPORTING.

Twitter: @CJMillerWIBC

Photo Credit: C.J. Miller / WIBC

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B105.7 Radio DJ Bernie Eagan on Overcoming Challenges of Blindness - 93.1 WIBC Indianapolis

Monday was a good start to the week for stocks, with major benchmarks climbing around half a percent on the day. Most market participants pointed to a lack of bad news over the weekend and anticipation about expected favorable economic data in the coming days as drivers of the generally positive attitude among investors.

But there are still plenty of factors that are preventing stocks overall from mounting stronger gains, including nervousness about geopolitical issues as well as weaker parts of the global economy. Nevertheless, some stocks posted strong gains, and Puma Biotechnology (NASDAQ:PBYI), Applied Optoelectronics (NASDAQ:AAOI), and Ferroglobe (NASDAQ:GSM) were among the best performers on the day. Below, we'll look more closely at these stocks to tell you why they did so well.

Image source: Getty Images.

Shares of Puma Biotechnology soared 39% as investors anticipated that the biotech company will get approval of its neratinib breast cancer drug from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. An FDA advisory committee is scheduled to meet later this week, and documents supporting that meeting were released today. In those documents, investors found fewer critical views of neratinib than some had expected, and that led those following the stock to conclude that the drug is likely to get a favorable review from the advisory panel. That by itself won't mean certain approval for neratinib, as the final decision from the FDA doesn't necessarily hinge on the advisory panel. Nevertheless, positive signs have investors excited about Puma, and there's potential for further gains if the FDA does indeed follow through with approval later this year.

Applied Optoelectronics stock climbed 12% after the supplier of fiber-optic components got a favorable review from Wall Street analysts. Needham & Co. began its coverage of Applied Optoelectronics stock with a strong buy rating, arguing that the company has a lot of growth potential stemming from moves among enterprise data center users to upgrade their performance and incorporate faster transfer speeds. Needham set an $85-per-share price target on the stock, which still gives investors nearly 20% upside from current levels. If Applied Optoelectronics can turn the new upgrade cycle into accelerating growth, then investors could see even greater gains in the long run.

Finally, shares of Ferroglobe rose 9%. The producer of silicon metal and various related alloys released its first-quarter financial results, which included flat revenue compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 and a minimal net loss for the quarter. Shipment volumes were down from year-ago levels, but a rise in prices for manganese alloys was sufficient to keep total average selling prices relatively steady. Yet CEO Pedro Larrea was optimistic about the company's performance, noting that "significant margin improvement reflects solid demand across end markets and a continued improvement in the overall pricing environment." Even with the gains, Ferroglobe shares have lost half their value in the past two years, but investors are optimistic that the company can earn back some of those losses over time.

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

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Why Puma Biotechnology, Applied Optoelectronics, and Ferroglobe Jumped Today - Motley Fool

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Biotechnology Congress 2017 - (5th in the Series) Academic" conference to their offering.

The 'Global Biotechnology Congress 2017' would provide eminent scientists the opportunity to present their cutting edge researches in the field of biotechnology and its applications in medicine. A number of Nobel Laureates and leading researchers are expected to participate in this important conference.

This unique international conference provides a platform for researchers and decision makers in biotechnology to present their latest findings and learn about all the important developments in biotechnology. Many Nobel Laureates and world's renowned experts will participate in the conference.

The conference will cover the translational nature of biotechnological research, with emphasis on both the basic science as well as its applications in industry and academia. Presentations will include major research advances in biotechnology, business development, strategic alliances, partnering trends, product opportunities, growth business models and strategies, licensing and pharmaceutical biotechnology (e.g. vaccines, CNS, cancer, antibodies), medical biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, protein engineering, plant and environmental technologies, transgenic plant and crops, bioremediation, and microbial diversity research.

Throughout the course of the four day conference, you will have the opportunity to both network and hear leaders from the international academic and corporate biotechnology communities.

Benefits of Attending

- Exchange ideas and network with leading biotechnologists and decision makers.

- Bring together top international biotechnology professionals presenting cutting-edge discoveries, research and opportunities for new biotech business practices and partnerships.

- Participants can gain direct access to a core audience of biotechnology professionals and decision makers, and have increased visibility through branding and networking at the conference.

- Obtain a global roundup of Pharmaceutical research capabilities and opportunities.

- The conference will feature a commercial exhibition and poster sessions.

For more information about this conference visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/tw4sc3/global

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Global Biotechnology Congress 2017: Academic Registration (Boston, United States - July 10-11-12-13, 2017 ... - Business Wire (press release)

BioTime to Present at 16 thNational Life Sciences and Biotechnology Week (MIXiii BIOMED)

BioTime, Inc.(NYSE MKT: BTX and TASE: BTX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and commercializing products addressing degenerative diseases, today announced that BioTime, and its subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd., will be featured in two presentations at the 16th National Life Sciences and Biotechnology Week (MIXiii BIOMED) on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 as part of the Regenerative and Cell Therapies track. The conference is being held at the David InterContinental in Tel Aviv, Israel, May 23-25, 2017.

Presentations will be held at 12:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. IDT in Hall B of the InterContinental, and will highlight both the companys technology and business model. Jim Knight, BioTime, Inc. Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Development, will discuss the evolution of the BioTime group of companies during one of the presentations. A second presentation will focus on cell-based transplantation therapy in AMD patients. Each presentation will be followed by a panel discussion. More information about the conference program and presentations can be found here.

About BioTime

BioTime, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies developed from what the company believes to be the worlds premier collection of pluripotent cell assets. The foundation of BioTimes core therapeutic technology platform is pluripotent cells that are capable of becoming any of the cell types in the human body. Pluripotent cells have potential application in many areas of medicine with large unmet patient needs, including various age-related degenerative diseases and degenerative conditions for which there presently are no cures. Unlike pharmaceuticals that require a molecular target, therapeutic strategies based on the use of pluripotent cells are generally aimed at regenerating or replacing affected cells and tissues, and therefore may have broader applicability than pharmaceutical products. BioTime also has significant equity holdings in two publicly traded companies, Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. and OncoCyte Corporation, which BioTime founded and which, until recently, were majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries of BioTime.

BioTimecommon stock is traded on the NYSE MKT and TASE under the symbol BTX. For more information, please visitwww.biotimeinc.comor connect with the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Google+.

Investor Contact: EVC Group, Inc. Michael Polyviou/Doug Sherk, 646-445-4800 mpolyviou@evcgroup.com;dsherk@evcgroup.com or Media Contact: JQA Partners, Inc. Jules Abraham, 917-885-7378 jabraham@jqapartners.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170523005380/en/

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BioTime to Present at 16th National Life Sciences and Biotechnology Week (MIXiii BIOMED) - Stockhouse

How to Trade these Stock After an unavoidable Selloff: Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (PBYI), BofI Holding, Inc. (BOFI) StockNewsJournal Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:PBYI) market capitalization at present is $1.42B at the rate of $37.80 a share. The firm's price-to-sales ratio was noted 0.00 in contrast with an overall industry average of 100.20. Most of the active traders and ... and more »

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How to Trade these Stock After an unavoidable Selloff: Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (PBYI), BofI Holding, Inc. (BOFI) - StockNewsJournal

BUZZ-Puma Biotechnology: Shares on the prowl:BUZZ-Puma Biotechnology: Shares on the prowl

** Puma Biotechnology shares soar 50.3 pct to $56.80 in heavy Monday morning trading; shares rise as high as $69.35, halted multiple times for volatility

** U.S. Food and Drug Administration posts documents reviewing Puma's neratinib for treating breast cancer ahead of FDA advisory committee meeting on the product on Weds

** Based on sensitivity analyses conducted, results appear to be generally similar to the primary analysis results, supporting an effect of neratinib, FDA staffers say in review documents

** Options market has been pricing in a move about 63 pct, positive or negative, in PBYI shares in reaction to neratinib review, JPMorgan analyst Cory Kasimov said in research note last week

** Short interest in PBYI shares stood at 21.5 pct of shares outstanding as of Apr 27, according to Thomson Reuters data

** Five analysts rate PBYI shares a "buy" or "strong buy", two rate "hold", according to TR data; median price target is $80

** PBYI shares have nearly doubled in 2017, against 9.7 pct rise for Nasdaq Biotechnology index

(This story has not been edited by timesofindia.com and is autogenerated from a syndicated feed we subscribe to.)

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Puma Biotechnology: Shares on the prowl - Times of India

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bioverativ Inc. (NASDAQ: BIVV), a global biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies for hemophilia and other rare blood disorders, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire South San Francisco-based True North Therapeutics, a privately-held, clinical-stage rare disease biotechnology company, for an upfront payment of $400 million plus assumed cash. True North investors are also eligible to receive additional payments of up to $425 million contingent on the achievement of future development, regulatory and sales milestones.

As part of the acquisition, Bioverativ will obtain worldwide rights to True Norths lead candidate, TNT009, a first-in-class monoclonal antibody in development to treat cold agglutinin disease (CAD). CAD is a rare and chronic hemolytic condition that often leads to severe anemia, requiring numerous transfusions, and can result in life-threatening thrombotic events. There are no approved therapies for CAD, which occurs in approximately 16 people per million globally, including an estimated 5,000 people in the United States.

In May 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted TNT009 breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of hemolysis in patients with primary CAD, and plans for the full clinical development program, including a registrational program, are underway. Breakthrough therapy designation was created by the FDA to expedite the development and review of medicines that target serious or life-threatening conditions and have shown preliminary evidence of potential clinical benefit.

One of our strategic priorities is to invest thoughtfully in business development with a focus on building our pipeline in areas where we believe we can make a real difference for patients, said John Cox, Chief Executive Officer of Bioverativ. This acquisition of True North is aligned with those goals and with our vision to become the leading rare disease company focused on blood disorders. It strengthens our pipeline with a potential first-in-class therapy to treat CAD, a rare blood disorder with a high unmet patient need.

People living with CAD currently have no approved treatment options and suffer with a significant disease burden including crippling fatigue, frequent transfusions and an increased risk of life-threatening thrombotic events such as pulmonary embolism and stroke, Mr. Cox continued. By combining True Norths industry-leading science in complement biology with Bioverativs expertise in hematology and robust clinical and commercial capabilities, we believe we can bring meaningful progress to CAD patients. In addition, this transaction is consistent with our capital allocation philosophy, and we expect it to create significant value for our shareholders over the long term."

Todays announcement and TNT009s breakthrough therapy designation are testaments to the innovative science underpinning our lead candidate and the strength of the True North team. We are delighted to have progressed our pipeline to this stage, said Nancy Stagliano, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of True North. Bioverativ is well positioned to advance the development and commercialization of TNT009 on behalf of CAD patients who are greatly in need of safe and effective treatments.

The FDA granted TNT009 breakthrough therapy designation based on data from a Phase 1b trial, which showed that TNT009 normalized hemoglobin levels in six of six study participants with primary CAD, increasing hemoglobin by an average of 4g/dL and resolving their anemia. All participants were transfusion free while on treatment. TNT009 was generally well tolerated. As of December 21, 2016, five of six participants (83.3%) with primary CAD experienced at least one adverse event; all were mild to moderate in severity and no adverse event was assessed as related to TNT009 by the investigator.

TNT009 is designed to selectively inhibit the classical complement pathway by targeting C1s and directly impacting the central mechanism of CAD. The only therapy in development that targets C1s, TNT009 has received orphan drug designation from the FDA and the European Medicines Agency. A number of other rare, complement-mediated diseases share the basic underlying pathological mechanism involving C1s that could potentially be addressed by TNT009.

True Norths second molecule, TNT020, is a discovery-stage, follow-on monoclonal antibody that targets activated C1s with the potential for less-frequent dosing and subcutaneous administration.

The acquisition will be financed through a combination of cash on hand and debt. It is subject to customary closing conditions, including the expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Act of 1976 in the United States, and is expected to close in mid-2017.

Conference Call and Webcast Bioverativ will hold a brief conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the transaction. The conference call can be accessed through the Investors section of Bioverativs homepage, investors.bioverativ.com, and an audio replay will subsequently be available on the website for at least one month.

About Cold Agglutinin Disease (CAD) CAD is a debilitating autoimmune hemolytic anemia in which autoantibodies target red blood cells, leading to red blood cell destruction via complement activation initiated by the C1 complex, causing chronic anemia, severe fatigue and potentially fatal thrombotic events. CAD occurs in approximately 16 people per million, affecting an estimated 5,000 people in the United States. Typically, symptom onset begins around age 60. There are currently no approved therapies for CAD. Treatment is aimed at normalizing hemoglobin levels through blood transfusions, steroids or off-label immunotoxic therapy; however, current treatment options are often intensive, incomplete or nondurable, leaving patients dependent upon frequent transfusions, which can lead to chronic iron overload.

About TNT009 TNT009 is a first-in-class, humanized, monoclonal antibody that is designed to selectively inhibit the classical complement pathway by targeting C1s, a serine protease within the C1-complex in the complement pathway of the immune system. With a unique mechanism of action and high target specificity, TNT009 is designed to selectively inhibit disease processes in the classical complement pathway while maintaining activity of the alternative complement pathway and lectin complement pathway, which are important for immune surveillance and other functions.

About True North Therapeutics True North Therapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class product candidates for complement-mediated diseases. The companys lead product candidate, TNT009, is designed to selectively inhibit a target in the classical complement pathway. True Norths antibody drug development is focused on the treatment of certain rare diseases mediated by the complement system. True North Therapeutics is located in South San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit http://www.truenorthrx.com.

About Bioverativ Bioverativ is a global biotechnology company dedicated to transforming the lives of people with hemophilia and other rare blood disorders through world-class research, development and commercialization of innovative therapies. Launched in 2017 following separation from Biogen Inc., Bioverativ builds upon a strong heritage of scientific innovation and is committed to actively working with the blood disorders community. The companys mission is to create progress for patients where they need it most and its hemophilia therapies when launched represented the first major advancements in hemophilia treatment in more than two decades. For more information, visit http://www.bioverativ.comor follow@bioverativ on Twitter.

Safe Harbor This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to: the completion of the transaction with True North and timing thereof; the expected benefits of the transaction, including the potential to bring meaningful progress to CAD patients and create shareholder value; and anticipated clinical trials and the timing thereof. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as anticipate, believe, could, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, may, plan, potential, project, target, will and other words and terms of similar meaning. You should not place undue reliance on these statements.

These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements, including: risks that the transaction will be completed in a timely manner or at all; risks of failure to satisfy the conditions precedent to completion of the transaction, including the ability to secure regulatory approvals in a timely manner or at all; uncertainty of whether Bioverativ can achieve the expected benefits from the transaction and successfully integrate the operations of True North; risks of unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; integration difficulties, including the ability to retain key personnel; risks that Bioverativ will be able to obtain financing on satisfactory terms, if at all; risks relating to the protection of intellectual property; risks and uncertainties relating to product development, clinical trials, regulatory process and approvals, and commercialization that may impact or alter Bioverativs anticipated business plans, strategies and objectives; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors section of Bioverativ's quarterly and annual filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

These statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

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Bioverativ to Acquire Clinical-Stage Rare Disease Biotechnology Company, True North Therapeutics - Business Wire (press release)

Sanofi Genzyme's Kendall Square site.

Federal regulators Monday OKd a drug made by Cambridge-based Sanofi Genzyme to treat rheumatoid arthritis, a painful condition that affects millions of people worldwide, including more than 1.3 million in the United States.

The regulatory sign-off on Kevzara, co-developed with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Tarrytown, NY, marked the second major US drug approval this year for Sanofi Genzyme, the specialty care arm of French drug giant Sanofi SA. In late March, the Food and Drug Administration gave a green light to the companys medicine to treat severe forms of eczema.

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The FDA approved Kevzara for adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have not responded adequately to other treatments. Doctors can prescribe Kevzara as a sole treatment or in combination with other medicines. The drugs label will include a safety notice that it can cause side effects, including serious infections, in some patients.

We have very high hopes for Kevzara, said Jonathan Sadeh, a Sanofi vice president and clinical research lead for the drug program. It fills an important unmet need. In tests of the experimental drug on rheumatoid arthritis patients, he said, weve shown a clinically meaningful impact on symptoms and on slowing down the progression of the disease.

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Mondays approval came seven months after the FDA delayed a decision on the rheumatoid arthritis treatment, citing deficiencies found during inspection of a Sanofi manufacturing site in Normandy, France. The problems have since been addressed.

The drug was approved by Canadian regulators in January, and Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron which will split the revenues are awaiting decisions in Europe and Japan by the end of the year.

Unlike the eczema drug Dupixent, which biopharma analysts have pegged as a blockbuster product with peak sales topping $1 billion a year, Kevzara will enter a market crowded with existing medicines that work in different ways. The top-selling rheumatoid arthritis treatment is Humira, sold by North Chicago, Ill., biopharma AbbVie Inc.

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But the global rheumatoid arthritis market has been estimated at $20 billion, and its been growing at about 2 percent a year. That means Kevzara could generate significant revenue if it can make inroads into the market.

In more than a half dozen late-stage clinical trials, Kevzara outperformed Humira in improving the condition of patients who didnt respond well to a common first-line treatment called methotrexate. Its important to give clinicians more options in treating this disease, Sadeh said. If you have an inadequate response to one mechanism, its better to go to another mechanism.

Kevzara is a type of biologic drug known as a monoclonal antibody. It works by blocking the activation of cell receptors that cause inflammation of joints throughout the body. Sadeh said the same type of action could potentially treat many other diseases.

Scientists at Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron, who are collaborating in a broad drug development alliance, are actively reviewing other indications, Sadeh said.

In addition to Kevzara, the collaboration already has yielded two other approved drugs. One is Dupixent; the other is Praulent, which treats hypercholesterolemia, a condition that affects people with extremely high levels of cholesterol.

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FDA approves Sanofi Genzyme rheumatoid arthritis drug - The Boston Globe

Prevention.com

This Is What Rheumatoid Arthritis Actually Feels Like Prevention.com Most people think arthritis only affects those hovering around retirement age. But rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disorder, can actually strike those in their 20s or 30s. And unlike some other rheumatic diseases, the side effects of the ...

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This Is What Rheumatoid Arthritis Actually Feels Like - Prevention.com

BY RYAN STEWART For The Oklahoman Published: May 23, 2017 5:00 AM CDT Updated: May 23, 2017 5:00 AM CDT

Phlebotomist Lisa Fulks prepares to draw blood from a donor on the Oklahoma Blood Institute mobile blood drive unit parked on Robinson in downtown Oklahoma Cityin 2015. [Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman Archives]

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the Oklahoma Blood Institute have joined forces to combat rheumatoid arthritis.

The institutes will utilize OBI's new software system, Bio-Linked, to match willing blood donors with researchers at OMRF to build a volunteer group for StopRA, an innovative U.S.-based prevention trial for rheumatoid arthritis, which is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, through its Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence program.

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a chronic illness characterized by inflammation of the lining of the joints. The symptoms include pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, and ultimately the disease can result in loss of function and disability. While little is known about how RA develops, studies show some people at risk for the disease can be identified through testing for an autoantibody called anti-CCP.'

We know that individuals with this protein in their blood are at a higher risk, said Dr. Judith James, StopRA investigator and OMRF's vice president of clinical affairs and chair of the foundation's Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program. But we didn't know how we could screen a large number of healthy individuals to see if they're walking around with this risk factor to address the disease before it develops. That led to this beautiful partnership with OBI.

OBI's Bio-Linked initiative has made this early screening possible. Unveiled in late 2016, Bio-Linked is a unique software system in which OBI's generous blood donors are matched with medical research projects like StopRA.

This was created because we know there is a great need for people who are willing to participate in research, said Charles Mooney, OBI vice president of quality management and new business ventures. Our blood donors are the perfect people to recruit to do research because they are responsive, they care and they are willing to step up to do what needs to be done.

How it works

This partnership allows blood donors to sign up to have some of their extra serum submitted as blinded or de-identified samples to be tested for specific antibodies associated with RA. If they test positive for the CCP antibody, OMRF will contact OBI, who will reach out to the donors with more information about the study.

In the first 6 weeks of the new arrangement between OBI and OMRF, more than 3,000 people agreed to have their blood tested for the anti-CCP antibody. Out of that group, about 40 people had the risk factor and were contacted by OBI. Nearly all of them subsequently contacted OMRF to inquire about the trial.

James said the goal of the trial is to assess whether early treatment can prevent these individuals from ever becoming RA patients.

Coming off the promising initial response, OMRF and OBI are working to secure funding for another round of screening.

It is enormously rewarding for the Oklahoma Blood Institute to partner with Dr. James and OMRF in their valuable rheumatoid arthritis research, said Dr. John Armitage, OBI president and CEO.

Our donors have always been amazingly generous in giving blood to care for patients, but through this study, they are helping find ways to prevent disease symptoms from ever appearing in people with risk factors. This is a perfect public health collaboration whereby our healthy and willing volunteers are matched with brilliant scientists looking for people to help them unlock new medical treatments.

If you are interested in participating in StopRA or would like more information, please call 271-7221 or email Virginia-roberts@omrf.org. For more information on OBI's Bio-Linked initiative, go to Bio-Linked.org.

Preventing this disease from taking off would be life-changing not only for the individuals, but also their friends and families, said Dr. Stephen Prescott, OMRF president. This powerful partnership positions us to do something about it.

Ryan Stewart is media relations coordinator for Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

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OMRF, OBI partner to fight rheumatoid arthritis - NewsOK.com

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. (KMSP) - A new nationwide stem cell study is hoping to give dogs with arthritis a better life. Minnesota is one of about a dozen states involved in this ground breaking clinical trial.

Fourteen-year-old Max has arthritis and his owner, Lynsey Rossi says, "When he walks sometimes he can't keep balance and he doesn't have the stability." Rossi is excited Max was selected to participate in this new double blind stem cell study, even though she doesn't know if Max was injected with the placebo or the stem cells.

Dr. Ann Valenti at the Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital is tracking dozens of dogs' progress.

"They're taking the stem cells from the umbilical cords of puppies that would typically be waste material and they're purifying it and making it into a product that has a very rich stem cell component to it," Valentisaid.

The hope is the stem cells will produce more cartilage and joint fluid.

Max gets a lameness test every few months for up to six months to test his ability to walk and jog.

The good news for all dogs in this cutting edge trial, in the end, every single one will get injected with stemcells.

If you'd like to know if your dog could participate there are several qualifications, such as the dog has to be older than a year. Also it has to be in general good health besides arthritis.

Owners have to keep a diary about their dog plus they receive $400 in compensation for participating.

You can find out if your dog would qualify and learn more by going to dogstemcellstudy.com

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Study aims to give dogs with arthritis greater comfort in old age - KMSP-TV

Steroid injections don't do a lot to help relieve the pain of arthritis in the knees, a new study has found, suggesting the common treatment may be not be helpful.

The study found that giving patients cortisone injections every three months was no better than giving them a placebo injection for alleviating their knee pain in patients from osteoarthritis.

In fact, the researchers found that the steroid injections actually contributed to a loss in bone cartilage over two years.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting more than three million Canadians. The condition is marked by the breakdown in joints of cartilage, which is the tough elastic material that protects the ends of bones.

When the underlying bones begin to rub together, it results in pain and stiffness. It can also lead to synovitis, which is an inflammation of the membrane that lines the joints.

There is no cure for the condition, but doctors sometimes inject corticosteroids directly into the knee joint in a bid to quickly reduce some of the inflammation.

Some doctors are reticent to offer the treatment since it's known that repeated injections can actually contribute to the breakdown of cartilage in the knee.

For the study, a team led by Dr. Timothy E. McAlindon, of Tufts Medical Center in Boston randomly assigned 140 patients with knee osteoarthritis and synovitis to injections of either a corticosteroid called triamcinolone, or a simple saline solution, every 12 weeks for two years.

Id hoped that we might see some benefit from the triamcinolone because it supresses inflammation and we know there is inflammation in the knee joints, McAlindon said.

The researchers found that those receiving the injections of triamcinolone saw significantly greater cartilage volume loss than the saline group saw.

And though both groups experienced some relief from pain, there wasn't a significant difference between the two groups. Physical function remained about the same in both groups as well.

"The results of this study do not support the use of long-term, repeated corticosteroid injections for the management of pain or structural progression in osteoarthritis, and in fact indicate that there may be more cartilage loss in people who receive steroids," McAlindon said.

The study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Bheeshma Ravi, an orthopaedic surgeon at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, says the study confirms what a lot of surgeons have known for some time.

This study will really help doctors and patients understand these injections -- especially steroid injections -- dont really have much of an impact on patient pain and should not really be part of the care, he told CTV News.

Ravi believes that many steroid injections are "patient-driven," meaning it's patients who are requesting them because they have exhausted other pain management options but are leery of having joint replacement surgery.

"A lot of doctors use these injections in lieu of counselling patients that they may benefit from surgery," Ravi said

But the injections rarely work to relieve pain and only serve to delay joint replacement surgery, which has been shown to relieve pain and increase mobility.

"Sometimes people delay surgery for too long -- and sometimes they do that by using these injections and various other injections offered -- they may get to a stage where their function is so low, that the surgery can't really make much of a difference (to their ability to function)."

With a report by CTV News medical specialist Avis Favaro and producer Elizabeth St. Philip

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Study questions steroid injections for knee arthritis - CTV News

When a joint develops osteoarthritis, some of the cartilage covering the ends of the bones gradually roughens and becomes thin, and the bone underneath thickens.

According to Arthritis Research UK, over eight million people in the UK suffer from osteoarthritis - a condition perceived as only a disorder that affects the elderly.

However, now experts have revealed body fat can help treat bone joint conditions, including osteoarthritis.

A new device gently suctions, processes and uses a patient's own fat tissue to provide a potential source of stem cells and growth factors to promote healing.

Experts said it could help people who cant easily move their joints.

GETTY

Fat has long been used for support of tissue repair and replacement

Orthopedic physicians at a US medial centre are the first sports medicine specialists in the area to offer treatment with the device, called Lipogems, used at the time of arthroscopic surgery.

The FDA - the food and drug administration in the US approved Lipogems for use in November 2016.

"The technology is ideal for patients with certain orthopedic conditions, such as painful joints - including the knee, ankle or shoulder - with limited range of motion, said Dr Brian Cole, professor of orthopedic surgery and section head of the Rush Cartilage Restoration Center at Rush University Medical Centre.

Additionally, it can be used in soft tissue defects located in tendons, ligaments, and/or muscles to improve the biologic environment," he said.

"Fat has long been used for support of tissue repair and replacement.

"Fat has the ability to be a source of important cells which produce important proteins involved with healing and reduction in inflammation."

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During the process, fat cells are taken from the abdomen or thigh while the patient is sedated with a local anaesthetic.

The Lipogem procedure rinses and cleans inflammatory oils and blood from the harvested fat and keeps the beneficial properties of the fat tissue, which is injected into the injured site.

The entire procedure from harvesting to the injection is completed in less than 30 minutes.

The fat tissue tends to remain in the area where it is injected instead of being immediately reabsorbed by the body, allowing the body to maximise the benefits of the injection for an extended period of time.

GETTY

Following injection, the tissue promotes healing and symptom reduction as early as three weeks after treatment.

The treatment can be used when standard options - such as steroid injections or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs dont provide enough relief.

It offers benefits for people who are unable to get surgery, would like an alternative to surgery, or it can be used in conjunction with their surgery, Dr Cole said.

We are excited to be offering this alternative to our patients and are conducting ongoing basic science and clinical research trials on patients with knee arthritis and other conditions to investigate the role of stem cells and growth factors that are present in the small blood vessels in fat.

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Arthritis cure on horizon - THIS unusual treatment can ease symptoms - Express.co.uk

The global market for rheumatoid-arthritis drugs is expected to top $19 billion by 2020. Three of the 10 best-selling drugs in the world are arthritis medications. Pharmaceutical companies that market arthritis medications are making a lot of money -- and, as a result, some rank among the top dividend stocks around.

AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV), Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) appear to be the best dividend stocks among arthritis drugmakers. Here's why.

Image source: Getty Images.

AbbVie's Humira is the world's best-selling rheumatoid-arthritis drug and best-selling prescription drug overall, raking in $16 billion in sales last year. Thanks in large part to the success of Humira, AbbVie's dividend currently yields 3.84%, one of the highest among biopharmaceutical companies.

What's even better is that AbbVie has raised its dividend 60% since being spun off from parent Abbott Labs in 2013. The company appears to be in excellent position to continue dividend increases in the future, with a dividend payout ratio of less than 61% and growing earnings.

AbbVie depends on Humira for 63% of its total revenue, but the biotech has another rising star in cancer drug Imbruvica. In addition, AbbVie's pipeline includes several potential blockbusters, with cancer drug Rova-T and autoimmune-disease drugs ABT-494 and risankizumab at the top of the list.

Some might worry about threats from biosimilars to Humira. Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) won U.S. regulatory approval for its Humira biosimilar last year. However, AbbVie thinks it will be able to fend off U.S. rivals through 2022 by defending its array of patents for Humira.

Pfizer markets Enbrel along with partner Amgen. The drug ranked as the No. 2 rheumatoid arthritis drug in sales and the No. 3 prescription drug overall. Pfizer's portion of revenue generated by Enbrel in 2016 totaled $2.9 billion. (Amgen made nearly $6 billion from the drug.)

Enbrel was one of four megablockbuster drugs in Pfizer's product lineup last year. These big moneymakers helped Pfizer pay out a very attractive dividend, which currently yields 3.88%.

Although Pfizer's growth has been sluggish in recent years, the company should be in good shape for better performance in the future. Pfizer could become one of the biggest success stories in the cancer drug market, with soaring sales for Ibrance, the addition of Xtandi with its acquisition of Medivation last year, and a promising new drug, Bavencio.

Pfizer also should generate nice growth outside the oncology arena. Atopic dermatitis drug Eucrisa could reach peak annual sales of around $2 billion. Sales are also growing strongly for anticoagulant Eliquis, which Pfizer co-markets with Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Johnson & Johnson's Remicade stood as the world's third highest-selling arthritis drug last year. It also held the spot as the No. 5 prescription drug in overall sales. However, the position for Remicade could be in jeopardy in the near future as Pfizer cranks up its efforts in marketing its biosimilar, Inflectra.

J&J's dividend yield currently stands at 2.65%. That's lower than a few arthritis-drug stocks that aren't on this list, notably including both Amgen and Bristol-Myers Squibb (which markets Orencia). So why did J&J leapfrog these other stocks?

It comes down to history. Johnson & Johnson boasts one of the most stellar track records of any dividend stock. The company has increased its dividend for 54 consecutive years. That track record gives J&J a distinct advantage in attracting dividend-seeking investors.

The company's reliable cash flow should allow Johnson & Johnson to keep its streak of dividend increases going for a long time to come. J&J also has what I consider to be among the strongest pipelines of any major drugmaker. The company has 30 late-stage clinical programs and will add even more once its acquisition of Actelion closes.

Keith Speights owns shares of AbbVie and Pfizer. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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The 3 Best Dividend Stocks in Arthritis Medication -- The Motley Fool - Motley Fool

Ablynx said today it will receive a 15 million ($16.9 million) milestone payment from Merck KGaA after the pharma giant approved its preclinical package for ALX-1141, setting the stage for advancing the osteoarthritis candidate into clinical studies.

Merck KGaA will oversee clinical development of ALX-1141, Ablynx said.

ALX-1141 is the first candidate to be developed through a 6-year-old collaboration between the companies. Ablynx and Merck KGaA agreed in 2011 to develop candidates against two Merck-selected osteoarthritis targets, with Merck at the time agreeing to pay Ablynx 20 million ($22.5 million) upfront.

Ablynx is eligible for approximately 120 million ($135 million) in development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties into double digits, upon successful development and approval of ALX-1141.

ALX-1141 and the second osteoarthritis candidate are being developed using Ablynxs platform based on single-domain antibody fragments, or Nanobodies, that contain the unique structural and functional properties of naturally occurring heavy-chain-only antibodies. According to Ablynx, the platform is designed to allow for rapid generation and large-scale production of novel biological therapeutics that have potential in a wide range of human diseases.

Obtaining preclinical proof-of-concept was an important milestone in this collaboration, Ablynx CEO Edwin Moses, Ph.D., said in a statement. With no disease-modifying drugs currently approved for osteoarthritis, there is a huge unmet need for new treatments. This Nanobody has the potential to become a first-in-class treatment option for patients suffering from this degenerative joint disease.

Dr. Moses added that ALX-1141 is the second Nanobody expected to enter clinical development from any of four collaborations between Ablynx and Merck KGaA. The other is a bispecific anti-interleukin (IL)-17A/F (M1095) Nanobodydesigned to neutralize the proinflammatory cytokines IL-17A and IL-17Fwhich showed positive results as a psoriasis treatment in a Phase Ib study, the companies said in January.

In February, Ablynx included among its significant clinical and regulatory catalysts anticipated for 2017 the potential advancement to the clinic of another Nanobodya cancer candidate co-developed with Merck & Co. under a 5.78 billion ($6.5 billion) immuno-oncology collaboration launched in 2014 and expanded the following year.

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Ablynx Wins 15M from Merck KGaA as Arthritis Candidate Nears Clinic - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Question: How can a blood test determine if I have prediabetes? How much weight do I need to lose to bring my numbers down?

Answer: Doctors typically perform one of three blood tests to diagnose prediabetes, a condition marked by blood sugar (glucose) levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to qualify as diabetes. While prediabetes often leads to full-fledged Type 2 diabetes, many people can hold the condition in check if they lose a relatively small amount of weight and increase their physical activity, said Dr. Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

I stress to my patients that were not talking about a huge amount of weight. Just 5 to 7 percent of ones body weight she said. Thats 10 to 14 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds.

Two of the tests require fasting, which helps prevent results being distorted by a prior meal and provides an even baseline, Bentley-Lewis said.

One, the fasting plasma glucose test, checks blood glucose levels after an 8 to 10 hour fast; results of 100 to 125 milligrams per deciliter indicate prediabetes. The other, the oral glucose tolerance test, is the most sensitive. It checks blood glucose levels after fasting and then two hours after you consume a sweetened drink; levels of 140 to 199 after the drink indicate prediabetes.

A third test, the A1C test, may be the most convenient because it doesnt require fasting. It measures your average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months; results of 5.7 percent to 6.4 percent, which indicate the percentage of red blood cells that have glucose attached to them, indicate prediabetes.

Though doctors often repeat a test to confirm a diabetes diagnosis, they do not always do so for a prediabetes diagnosis, Bentley-Lewis said.

Doctors can treat prediabetes with medication, but many patients prefer to try weight loss and exercise first, she said.

Among thousands of people with prediabetes who participated in a national study called the Diabetes Prevention Program, those who received counseling about lifestyle changes, like losing a modest amount of weight, stepping up physical activity and reducing the amount of fat and calories in their diets, were able to reduce their risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent.

Roni Caryn Rabin writes for The New York Times.

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How much weight should you shed to avoid diabetes? - The San Diego Union-Tribune