StemCell Therapy

Since first hearing about the COVID-19 outbreak in China, media outlets around the world have reported on strains of the virus originating in animals, on pets testing positive for the virus and most recently, on a tiger testing positive for COVID-19 at the Bronx Zoo.

Annette OConnor chairperson of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and professor of Epidemiology at Michigan State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine says that there are seven different types of coronaviruses and that the Centers for Disease Control doesnt believe the COVID-19 strain can be transmitted to domestic animals.

However, OConnor explains that since COVID-19 is a new virus, its critical for humans to take extra precautions around animals and pets since there isnt a wealth of research about the virus.

OConnor answers common questions related to COVID-19 and pets:

Can my pets get sick from COVID-19?

At this time, we have very limited information about animals and COVID-19 because it is too new of a virus. However, if pets do get sick, we would expect them to have signs such as diarrhea, vomiting or respiratory problems, like trouble breathing. If you are concerned about your pet, you should do what you would usually do: isolate them and contact your veterinarian.

Am I at risk for catching COVID-19 from an animal?

The transmission we see currently see of COVID-19 is human-to-human transmission. We do continue to see rare reports of cats and dogs that live with COVID-infected patients being infected.

To date, we have no evidence that owners can catch the virus from cats or dogs because we have no evidence that naturally infected cats and dogs shed the virus.

However, as this is a very new virus, pet owners need to continue to follow routine practices for pet hygiene recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association. These guidelines include washing your hands after petting animals, avoiding touching your face, dont kiss your pet, and dont share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels or bedding with other people or pets.

So what about the tiger at the Bronx zoo who tested positive?

The detection of the virus that causes COVID-19 in the tiger is interesting, because it appears to be an example of the transmission from humans to tiger a very rare event. This finding has highlighted the concern for our wild animal populations, and staff at zoos have adopted practices that will protect these valuable populations.

If I have or someone I know has COVID-19, can my pet catch it?

If an owner is ill with COVID-19, as suggested by the CDC, they should isolate themselves from the pets and have another household member care for them.

If isolation of the pet isnt possible, continue to use frequent hand washing and avoid touching your face. Also remember: if your pet requires veterinary care, make sure you inform your veterinarian that you or a household member is ill with COVID-19. That information will allow your veterinarian to take adequate precautions.

Can my pets catch the virus that causes COVID-19 from other pets?

There is evidence that cats can catch COVID-19 from other cats but there is only a small amount of evidence at this point. The largest study we have only involved 102 cats from Wuhan, China; of the 102 tested, only 11 had antibodies to COVID-19. None had evidence of the virus, so they were probably infected some time ago. In that study we also dont know how the cats became infected, perhaps they were infected from humans, or maybe cat-to-cat transmission does occur. We need to wait for more data.

Information and resources about the coronavirus, COVID-19 and animals is available through the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Read this article:
Ask the expert: pets and COVID-19 - MSUToday

College of Veterinary Medicine continues serving community and state

It has been a little under a month since COVID-19 was first recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Around the world, people from all walks of life have been asked to adapt to a new lifestyleone of constant change and social distancing.

Despite the upheaval, the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and its units continue to make daily contributions to the fight against COVID-19 providing vital equipment, research expertise and continued care to the communitys animals.

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital has remained open, operating on an emergency-only basis, with faculty and staff providing care for more than 575 patients since March 16. Likewise, our Diagnostic Laboratories in Tifton and Athens, our Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, and the colleges other affiliated laboratories continue to provide critical services that ensure the health of animal companions and safeguard the food supply both around the globe and here at home.

Additionally, researchers in the college have been engaged by Gov. Brian P. Kemps task force to perform research on COVID-19, develop testing protocols, and test the vaccines that might one day make this virus a threat of the past. Eleven researchers from across the collegeincluding the Center for Vaccines and Immunology and four academic departmentsare actively engaged in projects related to the virus. This research is being conducted in the colleges Animal Health Research Center in conjunction with universities around the state.

The college has also donated equipment to various hospital and testing services around the state. The colleges single human-appropriate ventilator is currently at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center. Likewise, vital testing equipment and reagents have been donated to Emory University and Georgia State University and personal protective equipment, such as N95 masks, have been donated to the state for distribution as needed.

The mission of the college is to create a healthier world for animals and humans. In the face of adversity, the college has stepped up and stayed the coursein their own way contributing to the cause during these unprecedented times. Dean Lisa K. Nolan summed it up in a recent email: We do what we do because we provide certain services no one else in the state can and because our clients and referring veterinarians count on us being here, supporting them.

Read the original post:
Staying the course in the face of chaos - University of Georgia

LOS ANGELES, April 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --A telehealth announcement shocks veterinarians in California trying to safely treat their patients during the Coronavirus pandemic. While many states amended their telemedicine laws to account for stay-at-home mandates, the California Veterinary Medical Board has made it harder for a pet to be seen by video call. The board announced Thursday that telemedicine may only be used with existing patients for preexisting conditions. Veterinarians like Dr. Shea Cox with PetHospice say these measures directly violate the medical professional oath 'to do no harm.'

"Putting up barriers to healthcare is the opposite of what should be done to protect pets," said Cox. "Veterinarians should be allowed to use sound judgment regarding telemedicine without fear of repercussion."

The board released a statement Thursday saying, "Telemedicine may be conducted by a veterinarian only within an existing Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) and can be used only for specific medical conditions for which the animal patient has been previously examined and diagnosed by the veterinarian."

"Taking this vital tool away from pet parents is harmful - especially during the time of a pandemic," said Cox. "Telemedicine can address many issues, keeping people at home; asking pet parents to come into a clinic causes unnecessary exposure to all."

Veterinarians use telemedicine for triage, symptom management, and to offload nonemergency care from overburdened veterinarians. Many are operating with reduced staff to comply with social distancing. Now, veterinarians can't see telehealth patients referred from other vets until they can first physically touch the patient.

"Say you're out of the fluids that manage your dog's kidney disease. Now, I can't call in medicine for you unless I've physically examined your pet within the year even if I have the diagnosis from your primary veterinarian," said Cox. "I'd have to first send one of our vets into your home, which then leaves the humans more susceptible to COVID-19."

Veterinarians are frustrated, asking why California isn't following other states by making temporary changes to laws in order to better serve pets and their people. "We shouldn't have to make the choice between risking our lives or risking our license in order to treat pets," says Cox.

For telehealth information and photos visit the PetHospice Press Kit.

SOURCE PetHospice

http://www.pethospice.com

More here:
Veterinarians in California risk losing their licenses if they treat new patients by video call during Pandemic - PRNewswire

Clinicians, staff, senior veterinary students are still doing rotations everyday

OLIVER MCKENNA | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

Charlie Powell, public information officer for the college of veterinary medicine, said the veterinary hospital is still open and treating emergency and urgent cases.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, WSUs Veterinary Teaching Hospital is open to emergency and urgent cases.

Charlie Powell, public information officer for the College of Veterinary Medicine, said clinicians, staff and senior veterinary students are on clinical rotations everyday.

Animals are being taken care of with the highest standards, under federal law, all the time, regardless of what the current situation is, Powell said.

He said the veterinary school is not closed to the public and they are still treating critical cases. A lot of those cases begin with meeting animals in the parking lot before bringing them inside.

According to WSUs Insider website, the hospital has modified some of its operations in accordance with federal, state and regional public health recommendations.

The hospital took precautions early on and the hospital is fully stocked, according to the website. Staff and faculty are being encouraged to conserve supplies where possible as all human and animal care facilities.

The hospitals fee schedule will remain the same as it is during times of regular weekday, weekend and holiday operations, according to the website.

All in-patients will be cared for as usual until their normal discharge is indicated, according to the website.

Oliver, an 18-month-old Kunekune pig, was brought in from Spokane after he was vomiting and acting lethargic, according to the hospitals website,

Dr. Rachel Baumgardner and Dr. Marcie Logsdon located an unknown foreign object that was irritating his gastrointestinal tract, according to the website.

Oliver responded well to medical management and is now back home, according to the website.

Hospital Director Deb Sellon said the hospital is lacking resources such as basic cloth masks to protect employees and clients during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

These masks will block droplet transmission if someone on the team is an asymptomatic carrier and help conserve our supply of surgical masks, Sellon said.

People who want to donate the masks are asked to leave them in the bin at the entrance of the hospital and call (509) 335-0711 when they do.

Original post:
Vet hospital still running amid COVID-19 pandemic - The Daily Evergreen

The Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) recently named its 2020-2021 executive board, comprised of veterinarians from across the state.

The newly elected officers are:

President Matt Povlovich, DVM, Tennessee Equine Hospital, Thompsons Station

President-Elect Tai Federico, DVM, Riverview Animal Hospital, Chattanooga

Vice President Bob Parker, DVM, Shelby Center Hospital for Animals, Bartlett

Secretary/Treasurer Margaret (Midge) Phillips, DVM, Clovercroft Veterinary Hospital, Franklin

Immediate Past President Danny Walker, DVM, University of Tennessee at Martin

Six members-at-large were also elected to represent East, West and Middle Tennessee. They are: Joanne Hibbs, DVM,Tazewell Pike Animal Clinic, Corryton; Robert Monin, DVM, Mountain Empire Large Animal Hospital, Johnson City; Lee Butler, DVM, Huntington Animal Clinic, Huntington; Lauren Dabney, DVM, Northside Animal Clinic, Humboldt; Beau House, DVM, Nashville Veterinary Specialists, Nashville; and Julie Buford, DVM, Nashville Veterinary Specialists, Nashville.

Deloris Green Gaines, CMP, serves as the executive director for the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association.

About Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association

Since 1909, the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association has been committed to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine. More than 1,200 members work to ensure that laws and regulations promote the health and well-being of all animals and protect public health and human welfare. Large and small animal practitioners, students and veterinary school graduates make up TVMA membership. For additional information, visit http://www.tvmanet.org.

View original post here:
Thompson's Station veterinarian named president of state executive board - williamsonherald.com

Dr. Bret McNabb has been appointed as director of the Large Animal Clinic at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, effective April 1 for a five-year term.

An assistant professor of clinical livestock reproduction in the School of Veterinary Medicines Department of Population Health and Reproduction, McNabb has been service chief for the VMTHs Livestock Herd Health and Reproduction Service since 2013.

Well respected as a leader, McNabbs clinical acumen and dedication to patient care is widely acknowledged and he, along with his service colleagues, has contributed to rebuilding the VMTHs livestock herd health and reproduction caseload in recent years. He has offered expanded clinical services and is the attending veterinarian for multiple campus herds belonging to the undergraduate Department of Animal Science and two UC field stations.

We are thrilled to welcome McNabb as the leader of our Large Animal Clinic and a member of our dedicated hospital leadership team, said Dr. Jane Sykes, VMTH chief veterinary medical officer. He brings a wealth of experience in our hospital; a warm personality and positive outlook; a special ability to bring people together to create positive direction; and a dedication to supporting our students, clinicians, staff, clients, referring veterinarians and patients. His leadership will allow us to promote our cultural beliefs and maintain our reputation for excellence in teaching, clinical research and patient care.

McNabb is active in maintaining a public presence for the VMTH, providing veterinary services for many animal events throughout California, including the California State Fair and the Professional Bull Riders Tours annual event in Sacramento. McNabb has also contributed materially to the design process for the new Livestock and Field Service Center, as part of the future Veterinary Medical Center at UC Davis.

I am excited for the opportunity to serve the Large Animal Clinic, and strengthen our equine and livestock services, McNabb said. Working collaboratively with our faculty, I plan to continue our legacy of clinical excellence and fulfill the mission of the School of Veterinary Medicine.

As director of the Large Animal Clinic in conjunction with Sykes and the VMTH leadership team McNabb will be responsible for the professional, academic, and ethical affairs; financial health; personnel welfare; and operational efficiency of the Large Animal Clinic. He will be responsible for promoting a culture of clinical excellence; equity, diversity, and inclusion for all; and ensuring a supportive clinical learning environment for students, house officers, and other trainees.

Excerpt from:
McNabb named director of the Large Animal Clinic at the UC Davis - Red Bluff Daily News

Showers will break away Friday with a brief lull in activity. On Sunday, pay attention to the weather as severe weather is possible.

THE FORECAST:

Today and Tonight: Clouds and showers may linger Friday morning followed by some returning sun and cooler highs in the low 70s. With northeasterly winds, expect overnight lows in the low 50s beneath partly cloudy skies.

Up Next: Drier conditions will last through Saturday morning and then a period of active, perhaps impactful weather will begin. A warm front lifting through the area from south to north will return showers and thunderstorms to the area as early as Saturday afternoon. When the associated cold front and upper level energy move into the area on Sunday, some of the thunderstorms are expected to be severe. The Storm Prediction Center is using bolder language than usual saying an outbreak of severe thunderstorms appears possible on Sunday. The day three outlooks places areas north of I-12 in an unusual 4/5 moderate risk with the remainder of the area in a 3/5 enhanced risk for severe weather. Everything from damaging wind gusts to hail to tornadoes will be possible. In this time of staying home with loved ones, now is a great opportunity to identify or review your severe weather plan. Find the lowest and most interior place in your home to use as a safe place if a warning is issued. Mobile Home residents should find a nearby brick and mortar home of a family member or friend as it is recommended you prioritize the near term weather threat over social distancing. CLICK HERE for some ideas. Quiet weather and below average temperatures will persist Monday through Wednesday.

The Mississippi River: At Baton Rouge, major flood stage continues with a level of 42.7 as of Thursday morning. It is projected to crest near 43 this weekend. The high water is primarily an issue for river traffic and river islands, although some inundation will continue for a few spots north and south of Baton Rouge that are not protected by levees. Unprotected low-lying areas will be flooded and agricultural operations will be impacted on the west side of the river. The grounds of the older part of Louisiana State University's campus become soggy. This includes the area around the Veterinary Medicine building, the Veterinary Medicine Annex, the stadium and ball fields. The city of Baton Rouge and the main LSU campus are protected by levees at this level. This comes after a year where the gauge at Baton Rouge spent a record smashing run of 212 consecutive days above flood stage between January and August. Peaking at 44.1 on March 19, 2019 the river set its 7th highest recorded crest at Baton Rouge. The level is also high in New Orleans and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opened the Bonnet Carre Spillway.

THE EXPLANATION:

Beyond morning showers, a lull in precipitation will come early Friday through early Saturday. Northerly winds will maintain cold air advection processes and keep below average temperatures in place through Saturday morning. A locations north of I-12 could even nip the upper 40s. An upper level low pressure system will advance out of the southwest U.S. on Saturday forcing a warm front to lift through the region. With warmer air surging northward, scattered showers and thunderstorms could develop late in the day. The deep upper level low pressure system will move over Texas by Sunday. As this occurs, it will begin to orient from northwest to southeast, this is called a negative tilt, and this is a reliable indicator for active weather. Rich low-level moisture will be drawn inland from the Gulf of Mexico in advance of a strengthening surface low that will move north of the local area dragging a cold front across the central Gulf Coast. Instability will work in tandem with a strong jet stream (winds aloft) to result in a very favorable environment for severe thunderstorms to develop. The combination is supportive of widespread damaging wind and strong, long-lived tornadoes. Timing is not yet clear, but will come into focus as we get closer. The front will clear to the east by Sunday night with cooler and drier conditions persisting into early next week. Please stay in touch.

--Josh

The WBRZ Weather Team is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App. on Apple and Android devices. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and Twitter for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

Go here to see the original:
Prepare now, uncommon moderate risk of severe weather Sunday - WBRZ

From Our Archives Medical Author: Frederick Hecht, MD, FAAP, FACMG

Gene therapy is the treatment of disease by replacing, altering, or supplementing a gene that is absent or abnormal and whose absence or abnormality is responsible for the disease. Gene therapy may use the genetic material, DNA, itself as the means of treatment.

DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is the very long molecule that encodes the genetic information. A gene is a stretch of DNA required to make a functional product such as part or all of a protein. People have about 100,000 to 150,000 genes. During gene therapy, DNA that codes for specific genes is delivered to individual cells in the body.

Most, if not all, diseases have a genetic factor. The genetic factor can be wholly or partially responsible for the disease. For example, in disorders such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and muscular dystrophy, changes in a gene directly result in the condition. In other conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, genetic and environmental factors interact to cause disease. Disorders associated with aging often involve the loss of gene activity in specific types of cells. Even infections can be related to genes. In fact, they have two sets of genetic determinants: the genes of the infective agent and the genes of the person with the infection.

Uses of gene therapy

Gene therapy is being used in many ways. For example,to:

A large variety of genes are now being tested for use in gene therapy. Examples include: a gene for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (a gene called CFTR that regulates chloride); genes for factors VIII and IX, deficiency of which is responsible for classic hemophilia (hemophilia A) and another form of hemophilia (hemophilia B), respectively; genes called E1A and P53 that cause cancer cells to undergo cell death or revert to normal; AC6 gene which increases the ability of the heart to contract and may help in heart failure; and VEGF, a gene that induces the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) of use in blood vessel disease.

A short synthetic piece of DNA (called an oligonucleotide) is being used by researchers to "pre-treat" veins used as grafts for heart bypass surgery. The piece of DNA seems to switch off certain genes in the grafted veins to prevent their cells from dividing and thereby prevent atherosclerosis.

Delivery of genes into cells

Gene delivery can be used in cells that have been removed from the body (ex vivo gene therapy) or in cells that are still in the body (in vivo gene therapy). Genes can be delivered into cells in different ways. The selection of a gene delivery system depends on the target cell, the duration of gene expression required for therapeutic effect, and the size of the piece of DNA to be used in the gene therapy.

Genes can be carried into cells by viruses. Viral vectors or carriers take advantage of the natural ability of a virus to enter a cell and deliver genetic material to the nucleus of the cell that contains its DNA. In developing virus carriers, the DNA coding for some or all of the normal genes of the virus to be used as a carrier are removed and replaced with a treatment gene. Most of these virus carriers are engineered so that they are able to enter cells, but they cannot reproduce themselves and so are innocuous.

Genes can also be delivered within tiny synthetic "envelopes" of fat molecules. Cell membranes contain a very high concentration of fat molecules. The fat molecule "envelope" can carry the therapeutic gene into the cell by being admitted through the cell membrane as if it were one of its own molecules.

Genes can also gain entrance into cells when an electrical charge is applied to the cell to create tiny openings in the membrane that surrounds a cells. This technique is called electroporation.

A "bionic chip"

A new "bionic chip" has been developed to help gene therapists using electroporation to slip fragments of DNA into cells. Electroporation was originally a hit-or-miss technique because there was no way to determine how much of an electrical jolt it took to open the cell membrane.

The "bionic chip" solves this problem. It contains a single living cell embedded in a tiny silicon circuit. The cell acts as a diode, or electrical gate. When it is hit with just the right charge, the cell membrane opens, allowing the electricity to pass from the top to the bottom of the bionic chip. By recording what voltage caused this phenomenon to occur, it is now posssible to determine precisely how much electricity it takes to pry open different types of cells.

Route of administration of gene therapy

The choice of route for gene therapy depends on the tissue to be treated and the mechanism by which the therapeutic gene exerts its effect. Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis, a disease which effects cells within the lung and airway, may be inhaled. Most genes designed to treat cancer are injected directly into the tumor. Proteins such as factor VIII or IX for hemophilia are also being introduced directly into target tissue (the liver).

The potential power of gene therapy

Most gene therapy for diseases such as cystic fibrosis and hemophilia has been designed only to ease, not to cure, the disease. However, the delivery of functional copies of genes provides a potential method to correct a disease at its most basic level.

Gene therapy also holds the potential to provide "patient-friendly" treatment regimens for a variety of diseases. Today, many patients with hemophilia and diabetes must have repeated injections in order to manage their disease because proteins exist in the blood stream for a limited period of time before they are degraded or eliminated. Since DNA is more stable and functions inside the cell, the delivery of genes may result in longer-term expression of the necessary proteins. SLIDESHOW Heart Disease: Causes of a Heart Attack See Slideshow

Because of its accuracy, gene therapy has the potential to eliminate cancer cells without damaging normal, healthy tissue. Furthermore, cancer gene therapies may provide alternatives when a disease does not respond to other older treatments.

The potential of gene therapy is great but, compared to its promise, the results to date are still quite limited. However, the benefits of gene therapy are believed to be on the near horizon. Gene therapy is one of the hottest areas of medical research today. (And gene therapy companies have been among the hottest in the stock market.)

The remarkable advances in genetics, including the human genome project, have opened new doors for the exploration of gene therapy. New technologies are needed to speed the progress of gene therapy. As these new technologies such as the "bionic chip" arrive, we believe that, without a doubt, gene therapy will play an increasingly important and prominent part in medicine in the decades to come.

CONTINUE SCROLLING FOR RELATED SLIDESHOW

View post:
Gene Therapy - The Future Is Here! - MedicineNet

Evotec has allied with Takeda to expand into gene therapy research. The move sees Evotec establish a 20-person team in Austria, the focal point of Takedas gene therapy operation, and sign up to work on programs for its Japanese partner.

Takeda acquired a gene therapy center in Orth an der Donau, Austria, through its acquisition of Shire, which picked up the site two years earlier in its takeover of Baxalta. Throughout the series of changes in ownership, which began when Baxter spun out Baxalta in 2014, a team at the site has worked on gene therapies.

Now, Evotec is set to start playing a role in those efforts. The German drug discovery shop has set up a gene therapy unit, Evotec GT, staffed by a team of more than 20 scientists in Orth an der Donau who have worked together for many years.

Virtual Clinical Trials Online

This virtual event will bring together industry experts to discuss the increasing pace of pharmaceutical innovation, the need to maintain data quality and integrity as new technologies are implemented and understand regulatory challenges to ensure compliance.

Evotec disclosed news of the move into gene therapies alongside details of a multiyear partnership with Takeda. The deal, which features an undisclosed upfront fee and other payments over time, tasks Evotec with applying its new gene therapy capabilities and broader drug discovery platform to Takedas cancer, rare disease, neuroscience and gastroenterology programs.

Neither Evotec nor Takeda referred directly to a transfer of employees in the statement to disclose the deal. However, Evotec did reveal that Friedrich Scheiflinger is leading its gene therapy unit. Until recently, Scheiflinger headed up drug discovery for Takeda in Austria, with a particular focus on gene therapies. In light of Evotecs comments about its new gene therapy team having worked together for years, it is likely that other gene therapy researchers made the move from Takeda with Scheiflinger.

The agreement gives Evotec a beachhead in the fast-growing gene therapy sector. In explaining(PDF) the rationale for moving into the space, Evotec expressed a desire to be "modality agnostic" and develop wholly and co-owned candidates.

Here is the original post:
Evotec allies with Takeda to move into gene therapy R&D - FierceBiotech

HAMBURG, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2020 / Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced that the Company has established a dedicated site for research and development of gene therapy-based projects: Evotec Gene Therapy (Evotec GT) which will start operations with a strong team of gene therapy experts at an R&D site in Orth/Donau, Austria.

Evotec GT is an integral part of Evotecs integrated drug discovery platform and complements the Companys existing expertise. This strategic addition marks an important step towards Evotecs long-term vision of becoming a fully modality-agnostic drug discovery and development partnership company.

The team in Austria have worked together for many years and applied their research within gene therapy to different gene therapy-related technologies as well as various indications. The scientists have deep expertise in vectorology and virology as well as disease insights, in particular in hemophilia, hematology, metabolic and muscle diseases. Evotec GTs fully operational site will enable the Company to perform dedicated services in the field of gene therapy along the value chain of its customers from Pharma and biotech as well as foundations and academia.

Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, commented: We are delighted to initiate our new gene therapy platform and step into this field, which perfectly fits into our business strategy going forward. In recent years, precision medicines based on cell and gene therapies have emerged and are predicted to grow significantly. Gene therapy is a promising approach in the development of genetic medicines for patients, especially for inherited and rare diseases. Finding the best candidate agnostic of modality for any given disease biology will ultimately bring forward the best medicine for patients.

Dr Friedrich Scheiflinger, EVP Head of Gene Therapy at Evotec, said: We are proud to join the growing Evotec team to add the highly promising modality of gene therapy to drug discovery projects. Our team has performed research in the field across different technologies and therapeutic areas for many years and we look forward to leveraging our expertise as part of the truly impressive, modality-agnostic Evotec platform.

About Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a technique that modifies a persons genes to treat or prevent disease by introduction, removal or editing of genetic material, specifically DNA or RNA, within the cells of a patient. Gene therapies aim to replace a disease-causing gene with a healthy copy, inactivate a disease-causing gene, introduce a new or modified gene or interfere on an expression-regulatory level to support treatment of a disease. Through this modification of gene expression, gene therapies can increase levels of disease-fighting proteins or reduce levels of disease-causing proteins within the cell. Since direct insertion of genes into cells is still very inefficient, gene delivery is facilitated by vehicles which are most often of viral origin. The structure of these viral vectors has been modified to accommodate for the therapeutic gene and to render the vector non-infectious. Depending on the indication and the affected tissue, the technique can be either applied ex-vivo or in-vivo, i.e. with or without removing the cells from the patients body for the therapeutic procedure.

According to various analyst reports, the gene therapy market was valued at approx. $ 500 m in 2018 and the market is expected to reach > $ 5 bn by 2025 with an impressive CAGR of ~34% over the forecast period. Furthermore, rapid and significant progress in the molecular and cellular biology arena, driven by technological advancements in genomics and gene-editing tools, has contributed to an increasing number of approved gene therapies as well as an expanding pipeline. According to the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), by the end of the second quarter of 2019, there were more than 700 clinical trials ongoing globally.[1]

ABOUT EVOTEC SE Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academics, patient advocacy groups and venture capitalists. We operate worldwide and our more than 3,000 employees provide the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery and development solutions. We cover all activities from target-to-clinic to meet the industrys need for innovation and efficiency in drug discovery and development (EVT Execute). The Company has established a unique position by assembling top-class scientific experts and integrating state-of-the-art technologies as well as substantial experience and expertise in key therapeutic areas including neuronal diseases, diabetes and complications of diabetes, pain and inflammation, oncology, infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, fibrosis, rare diseases and womens health. On this basis, Evotec has built a broad and deep pipeline of approx. 100 co-owned product opportunities at clinical, pre-clinical and discovery stages (EVT Innovate). Evotec has established multiple long-term alliances with partners including Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CHDI, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi, Takeda, UCB and others. For additional information please go to http://www.evotec.com and follow us on Twitter @Evotec.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of Evotec as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Contact Evotec SE:

Gabriele Hansen, SVP Corporate Communications, Marketing & Investor Relations, Phone: +49.(0)40.56081-255,

[1] Sources: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/gene-therapy-market; https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/at-339-cagr-gene-therapy-market-size-to-surpass-usd-518-billion-by-2025-2019-09-16; https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gene-therapy-market-to-garner-6-21-bn-globally-by-2026-at-34-8-cagr-says-allied-market-research-300975194.html

SOURCE: Evotec AG via EQS Newswire

View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/583999/Evotec-Expands-into-Gene-Therapy

View post:
Evotec Expands into Gene Therapy - Associated Press

German biotech giant Evotec has moved into gene therapy and partnered with Takeda to develop new therapies in oncology, rare diseases, neuroscience, and gastroenterology.

The two companies did not reveal financial details of the collaboration, but did say that it will be a multi-year alliance that adds to Evotecs existing deal with the big pharma that stretches back more than 10 years. The four therapy areas they will concentrate on align with Takedas core therapeutic focus.

The alliance with Takeda gives us a head start, Evotec CEO Werner Lanthaler told me. Takeda has strong experience in gene therapy and we are proud that they have chosen us as a partner.

Evotec also announced it will be opening a 20-person R&D site in Austria, in Orth an der Donau, to work on its gene therapies. While this will be run independently from the Takeda deal, according to Lanthaler, he said the discussions around the collaboration happened at the same time as the gene therapy site was being set up.

The site known as Evotec GT will be led by Friedrich Scheiflinger, who worked for Takeda before moving to Evotec. According to a statement from Evotec, the team has worked together for many years and as well as a focus on gene therapy techniques, has expertise in virology and blood disorders, as well as metabolic and muscle diseases.

Gene therapy has undergone a revolution in recent years and has changed dramatically since the 90s. With approvals of therapies such as the eye gene therapy Luxturna in 2018, many companies are now investing in and working to develop similar therapies.

One reason Evotec cites for moving into this area is the potential for rapid market growth. At present, there are only a few gene therapies on the market, but there are many in development. The value of the market is expected to reach 4.6B by 2025, a dramatic increase from 459M in 2018.

Evotec is also working on various other advanced therapies, including cell therapy with its EVOcells platform. The company announced last week that it made a licensing and investment agreement with Canadian biotech panCELLa, a company modifying cell therapies to evade the immune system and prevent rejection. Evotec additionally has a PanOmics platform that combines transcriptomics and proteomics data to find new drug targets.

After expanding our biologics capabilities through the acquisition of Just Evotec Biologics in 2019, Evotec GT is yet another important piece to complete the multimodality puzzle, explained Lathaler.

The timing was ideal, as Evotec GT brings our existing expertise in the gene therapy field to a new level. It also has close technological ties especially to our induced pluripotent stem cells and PanOmics platforms, so these platforms can grow and gain traction together.

Image from Shutterstock

See original here:
Evotec Makes Move into Gene Therapy with Takeda... - Labiotech.eu

German drug discovery company Evotec which has a thriving rolodex of biopharma partners such as Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Takeda is now venturing into gene therapies.

The company swallowed Seattle-based Just Biotherapeutics, a company focused on reducing the cost of manufacturing protein therapies last year. It is now setting up a dedicated R&D site for gene therapies in Austria, in an effort to achieve a modality-agnostic repertoire small molecules, biologics and now gene therapies.

The site will be run by a team of twenty researchers led by Friedrich Scheiflinger, who worked for Baxalta, Shire and Takeda. The scientists have expertise in vectorology and virology as well as disease insights, in particular in hemophilia, hematology, metabolic and muscle diseases.

In recent years, precision medicines based on cell and gene therapies have emerged and are predicted to grow significantly. Gene therapy is a promising approach to the development of genetic medicines for patients, especially for inherited and rare diseases, said Evotec chief Werner Lanthaler in a statement.

Cell and gene therapies are not easy to develop and are prohibitively expensive to manufacture.A combined $2 billion has been set aside by nearly a dozen drugmakers including Pfizer and Novartis for gene therapy manufacturing since 2018, according to an analysis by Reuters in November.

Read more:
Small molecules, biologics and now gene therapies: Germany's Evotec adds another feather to its R&D cap - Endpoints News

Niche players in the global gene therapy market must leverage greater government expenditure and upgrade their existing infrastructure along with expanding their gene therapy centers for sustaining their market hegemony.

ROCKVILLE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / April 8, 2020 / Global gene therapy market is poised for robust growth with net revenue pool set to exceed approximately US$ 5 Bn by 2026 end. The market is receiving tailwinds from advancements in synthetic biology. On that premise, the gene therapy market will expand 3X through over the forecast period, projects Fact.MR (2020-2026).

"Certain types of cancer such as Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) and lymphoblastic leukemia are contributing to high mortality rates across the world. Gene therapy is gaining increasing recognition in its immense potential for treating rare diseases. Continued research and development in the area of gene therapy is supporting market growth as well," states Fact.MR.

Request PDF sample of the 170-page report on the Gene Therapy Market-

https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=4648

Gene Therapy Market - Key Findings

Gene Therapy Market - Key Driving Factors

Explore 59 tables and 79 figures of the study. Request TOC of the report at-

https://www.factmr.com/report/4648/gene-therapy-market

Gene Therapy Market - Key Restraints

Impact of COVID-19 on Gene Therapy Market

In view of ongoing onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of major healthcare authorities of the world has gravitated towards developing vaccines for the deadly respiratory disease. Gene therapy is one such area of research which could help boost antibodies required to treat patients infected with Coronavirus. For instance, Generation Bio is exploring the potential role of gene therapy in treating COVID-19 patients. Hence, the global gene therapy market will benefit from the outbreak in that market players are rushing to develop multiple therapeutic approaches for SARS-CoV-2. Growing fears of similar Coronavirus outbreaks in the future will continue accelerating the development of gene therapy as well.

Competitive Landscape

Prominent players profiled in this Fact.MR study include, but are not limited to, Orchard Therapeutics Limited, CELGENE CORPORATION, Spark Therapeutics, Inc., Sibiono GeneTech Co. Ltd., Spark Therapeutics Inc., Gilead Sciences Inc., and Novartis AG. Developed regions remain the key focus area of major stakeholders in the global gene therapy market. Existing gene therapy centers are being prioritized by market players in order to utilize the full extent of their resources. Moreover, they are benefitting from success rates associated with gene therapy and faster drug approvals. Gilead Sciences Inc. expanded their gene therapy centers to a total of 90 recently.

About the Report

This 170-page study offers in-depth commentary on the gene therapy market. The study provides compelling insights on the gene therapy market on the basis of product (yescarta, kymriah, luxturna, strimvelis, and gendicine), application (ophthalmology, oncology, Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) across three regions (The United States, Europe, and Rest of the World).

Explore Fact.MR's Comprehensive Coverage on Healthcare Landscape

Foot Orthotic Insoles Market - Get Fact.MR's comprehensive insights on the global foot orthotic insoles market covering segmental analysis, region-wise data, and market players for the predefined projection period (2020-2026).

Automated External Defibrillators Market - Fact.MR's latest analysis on the global automated external defibrillators market encompasses qualitative and quantitative insights for the course of forecast period (2020-2025).

Foley Catheters Market - Know more about the key influencing factors, major drivers, opportunities, and challenges for the global foley catheters market through Fact.MR in-depth study during 2020-2027.

About Fact.MR

Expert analysis, actionable insights, and strategic recommendations of the veteran research team at Fact.MR helps clients from across the globe with their unique business intelligence requirements. With a repository of over thousand reports and 1 million+ data points, the team has scrutinized the Healthcare industry across 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides unmatched end-to-end research and consulting services. Fact.MR's healthcare market reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and take critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition.

Contact:

Fact.MR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb: https://www.factmr.com/PR- https://www.factmr.com/media-release/1409/global-gene-therapy-market

SOURCE: FactMR

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/584395/Gene-Therapy-Market-Set-for-3X-Expansion-Between-2020-and-2026-COVID-19-Stimulating-Development-of-Multiple-Therapeutic-Approaches-FactMR

See more here:
Gene Therapy Market Set for 3X Expansion Between 2020 and 2026; COVID-19 Stimulating Development of Multiple Therapeutic Approaches: Fact.MR -...

Base editors, which convert one nucleotide to another without a double-strand DNA break, have the potential to treat diseases caused by mutant genes. One drawback, though, is that the DNA that encodes CRISPR base editors is longtoo long to fit in the adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) most commonly used for gene therapy. In a study published in Molecular Therapy on January 13, researchers split the DNA encoding a base editor into two AAV vectors and injected them into a mouse model of inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The strategy disabled the disease-causing gene, improving the animals symptoms and prolonging their lives.

Wed like to be able to make gene editing tools that can fit inside an AAV vector. Unfortunately, some of the tools are so big that they cant fit inside, so in this study, they were able to come up with a solution to that by using a split protein, says David Segal, a biochemist at the University of California, Davis, who was not involved in the work. Its not the first time that that system has been used, but its the first time its been applied to this kind of base editor.

Pablo Perez-Pinera, a bioengineer at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and colleagues developed a strategy to split the base editor into two chunks. In a study published in 2019, they generated two different AAV vectors, each containing a portion of coding DNA for an adenine-to-thymine base editor. They also included sequences encoding so-called inteinsshort peptides that when they are expressed within proteins stick together and cleave themselves out, a bit like introns in RNA. The researchers built the inteins into the vectors such that when the inteins produced by the two vectors dimerized, bringing the two base editor parts together, and then excised themselves, they left behind a full-length, functional base editor.

When Perez-Pinera told Thomas Gaj, also a bioengineer at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, about the strategy, Gaj tells The Scientist,they immediately set out to test it in a mouse model of ALS. The transgenic mice have about 25 copies of the human gene, superoxide dismutase 1(SOD1), with mutations that cause ALS in people. The animals display motor neuron loss and muscle atrophy, plus their neurons accumulate inclusionsdense spots in the gray and white matter of their spinal cords that include SOD1 proteinbefore dying at about four months of age on average. The symptoms and life expectancy in the 20 percent of ALS patients with mutations in SOD1vary based on which mutation they have, but most have muscle weakness and motor neuron death, as well as inclusions containing SOD1 protein.

Instead of using the adenine-to-thymine base editor, the researchers developed a cytosine-to-thymine converter using the coding sequence of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 and a guide RNA that targets both wild type and mutant human SOD1 to create an early stop codon. This doesnt affect the mouse SOD1. In human cells, the split base editor seemed to be even more efficient than when the editor was transfected at full length, hitting about 29 percent of the target sites, compared to the full-length editors 19 percent.

Next the authors packaged their split base editor into two AAV backbones and injected them or a control AAV into the animals lumbar cerebrospinal fluid when they were around two months old. The vectors ended up primarily in astrocytes, as well as in neurons and microglia. While the researchers didnt see a difference in symptom onset at around three months, the mice that received the base editor maintained their weight and lived about 10 percent longer than controls. The treated mice also had fewer SOD1-positive inclusions and healthier motor neurons.

In this cross section of the spinal cord of a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), researchers delivered a CRISPR base editing system (yellow) to astrocytes (red) in order to disable the expression of a mutant gene and reduce symptoms.

Colin Lim, University of Illinois

Using base editors to disable the mutant SOD1 gene in astrocytes (a cell type that normally supports healthy nervous system function but in SOD1-ALS exerts toxicity onto motor neurons) led to a marked slowing in disease progression, Gaj writes in an email to The Scientist. Since many persons with ALS are diagnosed following the onset of symptoms, pre-clinical strategies that can meaningfully slow the disease are especially important and should be further studied.

This is a good indication that base editing actually can be used to treat ALS, says Baisong Lu, a gene therapy researcher at Wake Forest School of Medicine who did not participate in the work. He cautions that off-target effectsthe base editor can edit both DNA and RNAand how long the AAV delivery method lasts are both in need of more work before this technique would be safe for people.

The dual AAV strategy could also be expensive, says Mimoun Azzouz, a neuroscientist at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. Thinking about the clinical development and marketing and the commercialization of this product, you need to manufacture two viruses, and you need to assess these two viruses for safety, so the cost can be extremely high.

Despite the challenges, the strategy shows promise for translation to humans, Perez-Pinera writes in an email to The Scientist.AAVs are already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for gene therapy, he explains. Plus, using a humanized model of the diseasea mouse that contains the human sequence of the target genemeans that the method validated in mouse models can be translated to people without adapting them to target a different sequence. People who develop ALS due to a mutation in SOD1also have one good copy of the gene, just like the mice, which have a functioning mouse copy.

We injected animal models shortly before disease onset. While injecting the animals earlier could improve the outcome of the disease as demonstrated in other studies, the reality is that ALS is not typically diagnosed until the patient experiences symptoms. Our study predicts what can be expected from treating a patient recently diagnosed with the disease, Perez-Pinera writes.

We still have some distance to travel before the results in our current study can benefit ALS patients, Gaj acknowledges. The researchers are working on minimizing off target effects and on developing new delivery methods that could improve efficacy. We still have a number of important questions to answer and technological hurdles to address before we begin thinking about clinical translation.

C.K.W. Lim et al., Treatment of a mouse model of ALS by in vivo base editing,Molecular Therapy,doi:10.1016/ j.ymthe.2020.01.005, 2020.

Abby Olena is a freelance journalist based in Alabama. Find her on Twitter@abbyolena.

Read more from the original source:
Symptoms in ALS Mouse Model Improve with CRISPR Base Editing - The Scientist

The genetic code to alllife on Earth, both simple and complex, comes down to four basic letters: A, C,T and G.

Untangling the role thatthese letters play in lifes blueprint has allowed scientists to understandwhat makes everything from bacteria to people the way they are. But as researchershave learned more, they have also sought ways to tinker with this blueprint,bringing ethical dilemmas into the spotlight. The Gene, a two-part PBS documentary from executive producer Ken Burnsairing April 7 and 14, explores the benefits and risks that come withdeciphering lifes code.

The film begins with oneof those ethical challenges. The opening moments describe how biophysicist HeJiankui used the gene-editing tool CRISPR/Cas9 to alter the embryos of twin girls who were born in China in 2018 (SN: 12/17/18). Worldwide, criticscondemned the move, claiming it was irresponsible to change the girls DNA, asexperts dont yet fully understand the consequences.

This moment heraldedthe arrival of a new era, narrator David Costabile says. An era in whichhumans are no longer at the mercy of their genes, but can control and evenchange them.

Headlines and summaries of the latest Science News articles, delivered to your inbox

The story sets the stagefor a prominent theme throughout the documentary: While genetics holdsincredible potential to improve the lives of people with genetic diseases,there are always those who will push science to its ethical limits. But thedriving force in the film is the inquisitive nature of the scientistsdetermined to uncover what makes us human.

The Gene, based on the book of the same name by Siddhartha Mukherjee (SN:12/18/16), one of the documentarys executive producers, highlights many ofthe most famous discoveries in genetics. The film chronicles Gregor Mendels classicpea experiments describing inheritance and how experts ultimately revealed inthe 1940s that DNA a so-called stupid molecule composed of just four chemicalbases, adenine (A), thymine (T),cytosine (C) and guanine (G) is responsible for storing geneticinformation. Historical footage, inBurns typical style, brings to life stories describing the discovery of DNAshelical structure in the 1950s and the success of the Human Genome Project indecoding the human genetic blueprint in 2003.

The film also touches ona few of the ethical violations that came from these discoveries. The eugenicsmovement in both Nazi Germany and the United States in the early 20th century aswell as the story of the first person to die in a clinical trial for genetherapy, in 1999, cast a morbid shadow on the narrative.

Interwoven into thistimeline are personal stories from people who suffer from genetic diseases.These vignettes help viewers grasp the hope new advances can give patients asexperts continue to wrangle with DNA in efforts to make those cures.

In the documentarysfirst installment, which focuses on the early days of genetics, viewers meet a family whose daughter is grappling with arare genetic mutation that causes her nerve cells to die. The family searchesfor a cure alongside geneticist Wendy Chung of Columbia University. The secondpart follows efforts to master the human genome and focuses on AudreyWinkelsas, a molecular biologist at the National Institutes of Health studyingspinal muscular atrophy, a disease she herself has, and a family fighting tosave their son from a severe form of the condition.

For science-interested viewers, the documentary does not disappoint. The Gene covers what seems to be every angle of genetics history from the ancient belief that sperm absorbed mystical vapors to pass traits down to offspring to the discovery of DNAs structure to modern gene editing. But the stories of the scientists and patients invested in overcoming diseases like Huntingtons and cancer make the film all the more captivating.

Originally posted here:
The PBS documentary The Gene showcases genetics promise and pitfalls - Science News

A group of Korean researchers said they have confirmed a gene responsible for inherited retinal disorders (IRD) among Koreans.

IRD is a combination of several rare diseases that usually develops at a young age and progresses slowly over the lifetime. The patients gradually lose their sight, and most of them eventually lose their vision entirely due to continuous retinal cell degeneration.

The Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) Department of Ophthalmology and Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) Department of Laboratory Medicine jointly conducted the study.

Currently, antioxidant therapy, artificial retinal transplantation, and stem cell therapy are being used to treat the disorder regardless of mutations, but the only viable treatment is gene therapy. Even when gene therapy is possible, only less than 1 percent of all IRD patients can be treated with it.

In the West, genetic abnormalities of these retinal diseases have been studied and known well. However, researches on Korean cases are still lacking, and the joint research team tackled the subject to find the causative gene for IRDs with 86 domestic patients, the team said in a news release on Wednesday.

The team studied and identified the gene responsible for the disorders by using the latest technique of gene analysis with the most number of patients who have been reported so far.

The study revealed that only 44 percent of the patients, 38 out of 86, possessed the causal gene for IRDs. Even among the patients with retinitis pigmentosa, the most common disorder among the IRDs, only 41 percent had the causative gene.

The causative genes could be quite diverse even in the same disorder. The patients can find a responsible gene only when they receive genetic counseling very actively and can receive gene counseling, too, the research team explained.

Differences were found in the type and frequency of causal gene mutations between Korean and Western cases. However, there were similarities between those of Korean and other Asian nations, including Japan.

The research and diagnosis environment for IRDs has been very poor until now, and our study has significance as a basic data for diagnosis and treatment for Korean patients with IRDs, SNUH Department of Ophthalmology Professor Woo Se-joon said.

Patients need to receive causal gene tests actively to provide the domestic medical communities with sufficient data, and a list of patients who can be treated. By doing so, clinical trials and new drug development in gene therapy will progress smoothly, he added.

Previously, only a few hospitals could diagnose the causative gene for IRDs and afford to test and treat IRD patients due to the high cost of genetic testing. Recently, however, the chance of diagnosis has increased as more hospitals are conducting genetic tests amid the lowered cost thanks to insurance benefits.

Also, the therapeutic opportunity for IRD patients is likely to get broadened, as the retinal pigment epithelium 65 gene (RPE65) therapy won approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the first time in the world.

Although we do not have a clear way to prevent IRDs at the moment, the prediction of risk and their early detection are developing through the discovery of family history and causative genes, Professor Woo said. Early diagnosis can prevent impaired vision by gene therapy and vision correction, and the patients will be able to choose appropriate jobs with social activities.

Also taking part in the research team were Professors Joo Kwang-sic and Park Kyu-hyung of SNUBH and Professors Seong Moon-woo and Park Sung-sup of SNUH.

The results of this study were published in the Journal of Korean Medical Science.

shim531@docdocdoc.co.kr

< Korea Biomedical Review, All rights reserved.>

View post:
SNUH team finds causal gene of inherited retinal disorder - Korea Biomedical Review

LOS ANGELES, April 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enochian Biosciences, a company focused on gene-modified cellular therapy in infectious disease and cancer,announces that all three submissions to the 23rd Annual Meeting of the ASCGT were accepted for presentation. The Conference will be held virtually May 12-15, 2020.

Dr. Serhat Gumruku, inventor and co-founder, will have two presentations: Hijacking HBV Pol to Induce Apoptosis Specifically in Infected HepatocytesIn Vivo: A Novel Approach for Potential Treatment or Cure; and Increased Engraftment of Gene Modified HSPCs Overexpressing ALDH1 UsingIn VivoChemoselection. Dr. Ramesh Halder, Senior Staff Scientist, will present: Gene Modified CD34+Cells With Increased ALDH1 Expression ConfersIn VitroProtection Against Cyclophosphamide.

Forward-Looking StatementsStatements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the success or efficacy of our pipeline. All statements other than historical facts are forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as believes, plans, expects, aims, intends potential, or similar expressions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various uncertainties, including as set forth in Enochians most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and Enochian undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Contact: ir@enochianbio.com

More here:
Enochian Biosciences Announces Scientific Presentations at the American Society of Cell and Gene Therapy (ASCGT) Annual Meeting - Yahoo Finance

University of Georgia Honors student Landon Clark is among 396 undergraduates across the nation to be recognized as Barry Goldwater Scholars, earning the highest undergraduate award of its type for the fields of the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

Clark, from Leesburg, is a third-year CURO Honors Scholar who is triple majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology, genetics and biology.

Since 1995, 61 UGA students have received the Goldwater Scholarship, which recognizes exceptional sophomores and juniors across the United States.

The University of Georgia is proud of Landon and pleased that he is extending our record of success in this prestigious competition, said President Jere W. Morehead. Already as an undergraduate student, he is helping UGA fulfill our commitment to conduct research that helps people lead longer, healthier lives.

This year, recipients were selected from a field of more than 5,000 college sophomores and juniors who were nominated by 461 academic institutions nationwide. Each awardee will receive up to $7,500 toward the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

Of this years Goldwater Scholars, 50 are mathematics and computer science majors, 287 are majoring in the natural sciences and 59 are majoring in engineering.

I am thrilled for Landon, who is absolutely one of our very best students, said David S. Williams, associate provost and director of the Honors Program, who serves as the UGA campus faculty representative for the Goldwater Scholarship. As a CURO Honors Scholar, Landon was recruited to come to UGA because of his promise as a researcher. This Goldwater award and recognition proves that his hard work is paying off. I look forward to watching his career continue to blossom in the future.

Clarks long-term plans include pursuing an MD/PhD in immunology, performing translational research on immune diseases using gene and immunotherapy techniques, and teaching at a university. As a translational researcher specializing in immunology, he plans to use gene therapy techniques to treat and cure immune disorders in humans.

Since his first weeks as a UGA freshman in August 2017, Clark has conducted research in the lab of Michael Terns, Distinguished Research Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He researches the complex processes of CRISPR-Cas immune systems through a model archaeal organism, Pyrococcus furiosus. Now a junior, he has collaborated on three different projects, co-authored a paper, and mentors other undergraduates in this field.

Last summer, he worked in the translational research lab of H. Trent Spencer, a professor of pediatrics and director of the gene and cell therapy program at Emorys Winship Cancer Institute. There, Clark researched immune diseases and potential gene therapy techniques. In 2017, he also conducted research on sociological variables influencing educational inequality with Dawn Robinson, a professor of sociology at UGA.

Clark is a Crane Leadership Scholar, director of academic outreach for the Student Government Association, director of internal communications for UGA Red Cross, an exam writer for UGA Science Olympiad Outreach, co-president of the Biochemistry Undergraduate Society, co-president of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society, and treasurer of the Honors Program Student Council. He also volunteers in the neuroscience and cardiology units at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center.

Clark has presented his research at 10 conferences. He also studied neurology and cancer biology through UGAs Studies Abroad Program in Cortona, located in Tuscany, Italy.

The scholarship honoring Sen. Barry Goldwater was created to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering. Since its first award in 1989, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation has bestowed 8,628 scholarships worth more than $68 million.

See the article here:
UGA's Landon Clark named 2020 Goldwater Scholar - University of Georgia

Global Gene Therapy Market report underlines the specific study of the Biotechnology industry which explains what the market definition, classifications, applications, engagements, and global industry trends are. The market data analyses and evaluated in this Gene Therapy market report makes you achieve the business goals and objectives in preset time frame. It highlights a wide-ranging evaluation of the markets growth prospects and restrictions. This report is very useful to all sizes of business which makes it simpler to take informed decisions regarding different facets of industry. Gene Therapy market report truly acts as a backbone to the business.

A finest market research report acts as an innovative solution for the businesses in todays changing market place and hence this Gene Therapy report is generated. Key players in the market, major collaborations, merger and acquisitions along with trending innovation and business policies are also reviewed in this Gene Therapy report. The report has a list of key competitors with the required specifications and also provides the strategic insights and analysis of the key factors influencing the industry. The data and information of the Gene Therapy report not only helps business make data-driven decisions but also guarantees maximum return on investment (ROI).

Get the inside scope of the Sample report @https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPHE100001165/

MARKET INTRODUCTION

Gene therapy is introduction of DNA into a patient to treat a genetic disease or a disorder. The newly inserted DNA contains a correcting gene to correct the effects of disease causing mutations. Gene therapy is promising treatment for the genetic diseases and also includes cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy. Gene therapy is suitable treatment for the infectious diseases, inherited disease and cancer.

Key Competitors In Market are Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., bluebird bio, Inc., uniQure N.V., AveXis, Vineti, Solid Biosciences., Spark Therapeutics, Inc., CHIMERON BIO, RENOVA THERAPEUTICS, and HORAMA S.A.

MARKET SCOPE

The Global Gene Therapy Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the gene therapy industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global gene therapy market with detailed market segmentation by cell type, application, and geography. The global gene therapy market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.

Market segmentation:

By Cell Type (Somatic Gene Therapy, Germline Gene Therapy);

By Application (Genetic Disorder, Cancer, Neurological Disorder, and Others)

By Geography North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South & Central America. And 13 countries globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.

REASONS TO BUY

Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the wound irrigation system market.

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global wound irrigation system market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies.

Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.

Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin security interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution.

Click to buy full report with all description:-https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPHE100001165/

About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are committed to provide highest quality research and consulting services to our customers. We help our clients understand the key market trends, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions with our market research offerings at an affordable cost.We understand syndicated reports may not meet precise research requirements of all our clients. We offer our clients multiple ways to customize research as per their specific needs and budget

Contact Us:The Insight Partners,Phone: +1-646-491-9876Email: [emailprotected]

Read more here:
Gene Therapy Market 2020: Competitive Landscape and Recent Industry Development Analysis by Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., bluebird bio, Inc., uniQure...

Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly EuroBiotech Report. We start this week with AstraZeneca, which revealed it aims to have a COVID-19-neutralizing antibody in the clinic in the next three to five months. AstraZeneca's compatriot GlaxoSmithKline also shared an update on its COVID-19 activities. GSK added Xiamen Innovax Biotech to the list of organizations it is working with on a COVID-19 vaccine. While those are just two of the many initiatives targeting COVID-19, Wellcome is worried about a funding shortfall. Wellcome wants businesses to commit $8 billion this month to keep programs moving forward quickly. Researchers working outside of COVID-19 are faring worse still, with Cancer Research UK responding to the pandemic with deep cuts. Away from COVID-19, Evotec entered the gene therapy space through a deal with Takeda. And more. Nick Taylor1. AstraZeneca targets summer start for COVID-19 antibody trial

AstraZeneca has outlined its multipronged approach to the development of antibodies against the pandemic SARS-CoV-2 virus. The Big Pharma is applying its own discovery capabilities to the task and helping to evaluate candidates identified by academic partners in China and the U.S.2. GSK allies with Innovax for COVID-19 vaccine R&D project

GlaxoSmithKline has teamed up with Xiamen Innovax Biotech to evaluate a vaccine against the novel coronavirus behind the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement gives Innovax access to a GSK adjuvant to enhance the immune response triggered by its recombinant protein-based vaccine.3. Wellcome targets $8B raise in weeks to fix COVID-19 funding gap

Virtual Clinical Trials Online

This virtual event will bring together industry experts to discuss the increasing pace of pharmaceutical innovation, the need to maintain data quality and integrity as new technologies are implemented and understand regulatory challenges to ensure compliance.

Wellcome is calling on businesses to invest in an $8 billion (7 billion) fund focused on reducing cases of COVID-19 to zero as soon as possible. Almost half the money is earmarked for the development of drugs and vaccines that Wellcome sees as the worlds best exit strategy from the pandemic.4. COVID-19 claims Cancer Research UK funding cuts, forecasting major shortfall

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) said it has been forced to take the difficult decision to make deep funding cuts across its grants and institutes as the fallout from the pandemic continues to affect all areas of biomedical research.

5. Evotec allies with Takeda to move into gene therapy R&D

Evotec has allied with Takeda to expand into gene therapy research. The move sees Evotec establish a 20-person team in Austria, the focal point of Takedas gene therapy operation, and sign up to work on programs for its Japanese partner.And more articles of note>>

Go here to see the original:
EuroBiotech ReportAZ, GSK in COVID-19, $8B funding call, CRUK cuts and Evotec - FierceBiotech