StemCell Therapy

Editors note: Phil Gianficaro is a native of Pittston as was his mom, Josephine Gianficaro, who died Wednesday, April 8, of COVID-19. She was 88.

***

Our moms lifetime of generosity, not her death due to COVID-19 last week, will endure as her legacy.

She was where we could not be. A stranger with compassion in her heart and wings on her back. A palliative care nurse doing for my mom in her final hours that which COVID-19 forbade us from doing.

The nurse sat at Moms bedside in the dark and quiet of the quarantine hospital room as the stroke of midnight and her final moments approached. Head to toe in protective garb, she gently wound rosary beads in Moms fingers, stroked her cheek, held her hand, offered prayers. Administering Gods providence. A stranger doing for Mom what the virus wouldnt allow us to do: comfort her at the end.

The nurses name is Mary.

Fitting.

Coronavirus took my mother from us last week. Hers was the cruelest of goodbyes. Isolated. Unconscious. Alone, except for a nurse dispensing endless helpings of love we could not. Saying thank you from the bottom of our hearts comes up woefully short.

A week earlier, cancer was losing its battle against my mom. After three months and four cycles of chemotherapy, tumors caused by diffuse, large B-cell lymphoma were shrinking. Mom, at 88, was punching like a champ, whipping cancers tail. Only two chemotherapy cycles remained before she could begin thinking about returning to her kitchen to bake and deliver cakes and cookies for family and friends. While everyone thanked her, her gift was in the giving. A lesson for us all.

Cancer, fighting out of its weight class, looked at the scorecard with swollen eyes from unsteady knees about to surrender. Trailed late in the fight. Reinforcements were summoned. Enter coronavirus. A week later, Moms fight was over.

Sometimes there just arent enough punches.

While our hearts are breaking, anger toward the Lord does not rule my heart. When the end came, I closed my eyes and said a prayer, thanking God not only for blessing us with a wonderful mother for 60 years, but also for calling her home before more intense pain and suffering took hold.

While we wait for a shuttered world to reopen, to return to some degree of normal, our grief continues. Moms funeral arrangements, as are those of so many loved ones across the nation, are on hold. So, too, is what we as a family need most: a gathering to hug and cry and laugh and reminisce and celebrate the most loving, caring and magnificent person I ever knew. So we wait.

Mom was an umbrella when it rained, a scarf to blunt the chill, a smile to chase the sadness. A well of humanity that never ran dry. She checked all of Jesus boxes: Caring. Generous. Friendly. Faithful. Nurturing. Selfless. Loving. In the alphabet of concern, Mom was letter Z. Back of the line. Her choice. The less fortunate needed love and attention and comfort more. You go ahead, shed say. I can wait. Ill make do.

Whats Mrs. G. baking today? our friends would ask when my younger brother and I were kids. They loved sitting around Moms kitchen table, eagerly waiting for the oven door to open. Your kitchen always smells so good, Mrs. G., they would say. Pies. Cakes. Cookies. Comforting aromas from the oven, my friends assumed. They were wrong. What made them feel so good came not from her stove, but from her heart.

The stories are endless. Leaving a Thermos of coffee and a bag of baked goods on the front porch for trash collectors every week during the harsh winter months. Baking a Thanksgiving dinner for a poor neighbor family whose husband and father had lost his job a few weeks earlier. Several years ago, she phoned a surgeon decades after his medical magic ensured her sons a better life, to thank him again. The docs wife called back the next day. Hes beaming! she told Mom. You made his day! The well never ran dry.

As I turn an ear to heaven, I can hear the conversation:

St. Peter!

Yes, Jesus.

Your pants are getting a little tight around the waist, dont you think?

Yeah, Lord, um, Josie has been up here with us for a few days now. The cheesecakes. The Italian cookies. The cannolis. The rigatoni and meatballs in homemade sauce. The stuffed peppers. I cant resist. It all just smells so good.

Any cheesecake left?

Um, dont think so, Lord.

Then a sweet voice from heavens kitchen to Jesus ears:

How big a slice do you want? I have more.

With Mom, there was always more.

Phil Gianficaro

Columnist Phil Gianficaro can be reached at 215-345-3078, pgianficaro@theintell.com, and @philgianficaro on Twitter.

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Gianficaro: COVID-19 took my mom, but her legacy lives on - The Sunday Dispatch

David Johnson believes people are indulging in misconceptions about his longevity and durability.

The 6-1, 224-pound running back earned first-team All-Pro in 2016, his second season as a pro with the Arizona Cardinals. After dislocating his wrist the following year and missing the balance of the season after Week 1, Johnson disappeared from the national spotlight, much like the Cardinals who went through two coaching changes in that span.

Even though Johnson started all 16 games in 2018 and almost tallied 1,000 rushing yards, there are doubts about his durability and longevity.

I think that really is a big misconception, especially in this league, Johnson told the Houston media on a conference call. Its football. Guys get nicked up, get injuries all the time, so you cant really predict whats going to happen. I know that Im going to do everything that I can to be ready and keep my body as healthy as possible.

Johnson produced 2,101 scrimmage yards and 16 total touchdowns in his 29 games following his wrist dislocation in 2017.

I think that the biggest thing that Im going to really focus on is doing overtime as far as keeping my body healthy, said Johnson. Maybe doing the cold tub a little longer, doing treatment a little longer, even if I dont need to. Maybe I got a little bruise, just making sure I make sure thats as healthy as possible before I even go step on the practice field or in a game. I think thats the biggest thing.

Johnsons focus, whether doubts about his availability and health existed or not, is to get back into the shape that led to his meritorious 2016 season when he led the league with 2,118 scrimmage yards and 20 total touchdowns. In order to get back to that 2016 form, the former 2015 third-round pick from Northern Iowa is hearkening back to his rookie seasons preparations.

Just going back to my rookie year of doing everything that I can to make sure that my body is healthy and starting a clean slate for sure with a new team, Johnson said.

If the Texans can get a revitalized Johnson, they will have a formidable starter in the backfield behind two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson.

More here:
Texans RB David Johnson corrects the record on his longevity and durability - Texans Wire

OMAHA, (Neb.) Missy Henry from Edge Body Boot Camp says one of the most important parts of your body to work out is your back. Our cars in front of us the remote is in front of us. We're sitting at a computer. Everything in our daily life pulls us forward anyway so that back needs to be strengthened just for posture health for shoulder longevity a lot of things, said Henry.

In this weeks Move It Monday, were working this muscle group with a unique line-up. Instead of working out for 20 minutes, your goal is complete a certain amount of reps. Youll start by doing ten reps of bent over rows, straight-arm pull-aparts, and bicep curls. From there youll do mountain climbers, but instead of doing 10, youll add a zero to it and do 100. Each round youll go down by one. So we're doing 10 reps of everything. 9 reps of everything. Eight reps of everything and so your last round is going to be one, said Henry.

THE WORKOUT: After warming up complete the following rounds. When you are done, spend 5-10 cooling down.

Round 1:

10 bent over rows, straight-arm pull-aparts, and bicep curls.

100 mountain climbers (50 on each foot).

Round 2:

9 bent over rows, straight-arm pull-aparts, and bicep curls.

90 mountain climbers (45 on each foot).

Round 3:

8 bent over rows, straight-arm pull-aparts, and bicep curls.

80 mountain climbers (40 on each foot).

Round 4:

7 bent over rows, straight-arm pull-aparts, and bicep curls.

70 mountain climbers (35 on each foot).

Round 5:

6 bent over rows, straight-arm pull-aparts, and bicep curls.

60 mountain climbers (30 on each foot).

Round 6:

5 bent over rows, straight-arm pull-aparts, and bicep curls.

50 mountain climbers (25 on each foot).

Round 7:

4 bent over rows, straight-arm pull-aparts, and bicep curls.

40 mountain climbers (20 on each foot).

Round 8

3 bent over rows, straight-arm pull-aparts, and bicep curls.

30 mountain climbers (15 on each foot).

Round 9

2 bent over rows, straight-arm pull-aparts, and bicep curls.

20 mountain climbers (10 on each foot).

Round 10

1 bent over rows, straight-arm pull-aparts, and bicep curls.

10 mountain climbers (5 on each foot).

Read more from the original source:
MOVE IT MONDAY: Back Workout - KMTV - 3 News Now

Yesterday, Apple announced the new $399 iPhone SE. The TL;DR appears to be really simple: the iPhone 8s body, the iPhone 11s processor, and the iPhone XRs camera system with a few new capabilities. Ill obviously wait to review this phone to tell you if its any good, but assuming Apple lives up to its usual standards I can tell you something right away:

At $399, the second-generation iPhone SE is a shockingly good value.

The most important thing to know about the SEs value proposition is simply that it has the A13 Bionic processor, which is bar-none the fastest processor you can get on any smartphone at any price, full stop. You could spend $1,449 on a fully maxed-out iPhone 11 Pro Max and it wouldnt be faster than the iPhone SE. You could spend $1599.99 on a maxed-out Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G and it would be theoretically slower (with the exception of 5G downloads).

This isnt just a matter of processor megahertz per buck, its a matter of the longevity of the phone itself. More than any other phone company, Apple supports its phones for a very long time. Since this iPhone SE has the most modern processor available, its quite likely that it will receive software updates for many years to come.

Hell, Apple even did the right thing with storage: offering a humane 64GB at the base level and making the 128GB model only $50 more.

Over the course of 2019, we marveled at the level of quality you could get in a long series of relatively inexpensive Android phones. Thats still true today, but those phones will receive three years of updates from Google at most. And as my colleague Chris Welch will argue later today, the iPhone SE sets a bar that the upcoming Google Pixel 4A will have an incredibly difficult time clearing.

Again, well need to review the new iPhone SE and the Pixel 4A to know whether one of them has an advantage with any particular feature (like the camera). So no final judgements here. But I just need to point out that for most of 2018 and 2019, every Android maker has had a bit of a green field to play in: phones that cost less than $500.

Google, Asus, Samsung, and many others did good work in that green field, but now theres real competition from Apple.

On Tuesday in this newsletter, I had half a thought about these low-cost phones. Forgive me for quoting myself:

Increasingly, I find that flagship phones are mainly about luxuries instead of tangible benefits to most people. Those luxuries include screen quality, 5G, wireless charging, face unlock, speed, overall build quality, camera quality, and a smattering of other things.

Will the iPhone SE match the iPhone 11 or 11 Pro on most of those metrics? Nope. But when I wrote that I hadnt imagined that Apple would use its newest chip. The inclusion of the A13 Bionic means the SE will match the most luxurious phone on speed and on longevity.

I know Ive now brought up software updates twice now, but its super important. $399 spent on this iPhone SE means its less likely youll be forced to spend another $399 next year or the year after.

There are several things to be bummed about with the iPhone SE 2 starting with the fact that Apple calls it the second-generation iPhone SE, which is a bad name. Eventually well settle on what to call it, but until then prepare for iPhone SE, second-generation iPhone SE, iPhone SE 2, iPhone SE (2020), the new iPhone SE, and probably something I cant imagine right now. Ugh.

I kid, thats not really a real problem. Neither is the claim that this is just a parts bin phone. Yes, Apple is using a lot of parts that have been bouncing around its product lines for years. But, and I want you to really feel this: who cares? It doesnt matter how old the parts are if theyre good.

No, there are real issues we know about already just from the basics. For example, this form factor the same as the iPhone 6 isnt especially inspiring. I hate the size of the bezels. It seems like a petty complaint, but reducing them really does change your experience. You get more screen in a smaller body. Plus, its something most Android phones accomplished by putting a fingerprint sensor on the back or under the screen.

Speaking of size, this iPhone SE is larger than the last iPhone SE, which means that even small phones are big now, as Dan Seifert observed yesterday. Finding a truly good, truly small smartphone is nigh impossible right now.

And though I know many people will tell me to just get over it already, the fact that this low-cost iPhone lacks a traditional headphone jack is a bit of a bummer. Other low-cost Android phones explicitly include them. Bluetooth headphones arent just another thing to charge, theyre another thing to buy and another thing that could break.

Apple has a reputation for overcharging for hardware. Its become a point of contention in the flamewars between Apple, Windows, and Android stans. My take is that sometimes Apple is guilty and sometimes its not. The new MacBook Air is a great value. Selling Mac Pro wheels for $699 and literal metal posts for $299 is so incredibly hilarious that even pointing out that its become self-parody feels so obvious its embarrassing.

On that spectrum, the new iPhone SE (or whatever we decide to call it) is not just a good value for Apple. Its one of the very best values Ive seen in the smartphone market in years. In theory, at least: now we just have to test it and see if it lives up to its spec sheet.

Apples second-gen iPhone SE is here: all the news and details. Heres a story stream of all of our iPhone SE 2 coverage.

The iPhone SE 2s camera setup is going to lean on Apples software. Jon Porter on how Apples advances in image processing are going to be vital to this phones success.

Apples new iPhone SE doesnt come with custom U1 locator chip. Its not in the new iPad Pro with LiDAR either, where you would think it would make sense as the iPad Pro is practically designed for AR and AR development. I dont know whats up with the U1 chip (or AirTags), but increasingly it feels like something is weird about the whole thing.

Apples new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro goes up for preorder, ships next week. Heres something unexpected! Long ago I promised to share my thoughts on the trackpad support in iPadOS but havent really finished that thought yet. When I review this, I will.

Dells new XPS 13 is everything a Windows laptop should be. Monica Chin on what is going to be a contender for best Windows laptop of 2020, if not best laptop full stop:

The XPS 13 speaks for itself. This isnt a laptop thats trying to push boundaries or rewrite the rules; its just giving users what they want. I would take a better webcam, I would take better cooling, I would take a USB-A, and I would take a slightly more color-accurate screen. But none of those are glaring flaws because they arent big impediments to the user experience. And in the areas that matter most build, display, keyboard, touchpad, battery life, performance the XPS 13 doesnt just check all the boxes. It blows the boxes off the page.

The TurboGrafx-16 Mini is a great plug-and-play console that doubles as a history lesson. Andrew Webster reviews:

The TurboGrafx-16 Mini fills a different niche. For many people, it wont be a chance to revisit classic games from their youth, but instead an opportunity to discover a period of retro gaming they likely missed the first time.

Google and Apples COVID-19 tracking system cant save lives all on its own. Nicole Wetsman on what the rollout of this system should actually look like. Its clearly built to be part of a larger system of testing and communal action. If the latter doesnt come, the former wont be of use (and could actually be a detriment). As ever, we need more testing, more PPE, and consistent guidance from political leaders. All three are in short supply.

How GM and Ford switched out pickup trucks for breathing machines. Sean OKane explains how ventilators are much more complicated than you might realize.

Automakers are well-suited for these partnerships for a few reasons, according to Adrian Price, the global vehicle engineering director at Ford whos overseeing the companys ventilator effort. Not only do these companies already work with components that are similar to the ones found in ventilators, but cars are highly complex products that require a unique amount of knowledge, planning, coordination, and logistics to build.

Russia conducts another test of its missile system to take out satellites. Loren Grush explains many of the reasons why these tests are not a good idea.

ASAT tests are also widely condemned by many in the space community, as these demonstrations typically create hundreds to thousands of pieces of debris that can last for months, and even years, in orbit. Because these tests are high speed and high impact, the resulting debris can spread far and wide. Those pieces then pose a threat to other functioning spacecraft. A fast-moving piece of junk can render an operational satellite inoperable if they hit head on.

What Payment Status Not Available on the IRS coronavirus aid site means. Bad error messages are terrible in the best situations. Here, its awful, and Adi Robertson tells us exactly why this dark pattern is a huge problem.

How a new book about Instagram changes our understanding of the founders departure. Casey Newton has a review and some insight on Sarah Friers new book: No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram. Ive fallen out of my reading habit since I started working from home so much, but I am excited enough about this book that I think itll push me back into it again.

Ecobees new security camera doubles as an Alexa speaker. Dan Seifert looks at Ecobees new product line, which you can turn into an inexpensive home security system.

The device is actually just one piece of a new home security platform, which the company calls Haven. In addition to the new SmartCamera, Ecobee is also introducing SmartSensor for doors and windows, a combination entrance and motion sensor thats not unlike Googles Nest Detect.

See the original post here:
The new iPhone SE is a shockingly good value - The Verge

Who is Michael Jordan's real competition for the greatest NBA player of all time?

MJ's last championship run with the Chicago Bulls is captured in "The Last Dance," a 10-part documentary series debuting on ESPN on Sunday (9 p.m. ET). That sixth and final title helped Jordan earn a strong claim for GOAT status, with the Hall of Famer finishing No. 1 in ESPN's all-time NBArank in 2016.

But do legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have a stronger case than Jordan? What about LeBron James? And what qualities make one player the GOAT?

Heading into the series premiere, our NBA experts answer the biggest questions about the best basketball players ever.

MORE: Remembering the greatness of Michael Jordan and the Bulls dynasty

Bobby Marks: I've got 10 on my list for discussion: Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James. If you ask me the same question in 10 years, that list might also include one current and one former Golden State Warrior: Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.

Jackie MacMullan: For the purposes of this discussion, I have 11 players who need no introduction: Jordan, Russell, LeBron, Magic, Wilt, Oscar, Kareem, Shaq, Bird, Kobe and Jerry West.

Marc Spears: This conversation should definitely be a short one. The only former players I have are Magic, MJ, Wilt and Kareem, though I do go back-and-forth about Bird, Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Duncan, Kobe and Shaq. What keeps Russell off that list for me is that he was not a dominant force on the offensive end. The only current player who gets GOAT consideration is LeBron, but I do believe Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo have potential to join that discussion.

Kevin Arnovitz: Poring over the list of greats, I can assemble a case for only five players -- Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain, James, Jordan and Russell. This is a particularly difficult debate because digging into comprehensive statistics and footage from NBA history is damn near impossible. How many of even today's most rabid NBA fans under the age of 60 can say that they've watched more than a glimpse of Russell? How many of even the most advanced analysts can say that they have a real pulse on how to quantify Chamberlain's career based on the numbers available from his era?

1 Related

Kevin Pelton: I think four players have a legitimate case depending how you define what it means to be greatest: Jordan, James, Chamberlain and Russell. This seems unfair to Abdul-Jabbar, who plausibly had the best career of anyone before Jordan and LeBron, but of this group, he doesn't seem to dominate any single criteria except longevity.

Arnovitz: The GOAT should achieve sustained individual dominance over the long span of his career, coupled with team success. He should be among the very, very best for a very, very long time. He should also leave an indelible imprint on the game -- how we imagine basketball as an ideal, how we think of stardom, how those who come later adopt or appropriate his game.

MacMullan: There are great all-time players who have never won a championship, but everyone on my list has snagged at least one. West would have won multiple rings had he not annually run into the Russell/Bob Cousy/Sam Jones Celtics buzz saw. Game winners in clutch playoff situations also carry weight with me.

Spears: Winning multiple championships is certainly important to being a GOAT. So is leadership and the ability to make others better. You should not only succeed at multiple positions, but also on both ends of the floor. Handling defeat with grace is important. Having big moments in the biggest of games stands out. Enjoying the game and having a star personality is important too.

Pelton: To me, the question goes like this: If we put all players' careers in a draft, considering injuries and retirements, who would give the team you drafted the most championships? This means considering individual performance only to the extent that it drives championships, but also considering how the championships a player actually won are dependent on situation, teammates, coaching and good or bad fortune. I find it also appropriately balances the choice between peak value and longevity.

Marks: The same three characteristics that should be used when determining the MVP: wins, longevity and the impact that player had on his team.

2:03

Stephen A. Smith isn't ruling out the possibility of LeBron James catching up to Michael Jordan as a global brand.

MacMullan: Michael Jordan remains the greatest player of all time in my mind. His six championships were won in two different phases of his career with rotating supporting casts. MJ was a dominant offensive player who hit countless iconic game winners, but he was equally frightening on the defensive end. And he was a killer -- the most ruthless competition the game has ever seen.

The 10-part Michael Jordan documentary "The Last Dance" is here.

Latest updates, full schedule NBA experts on MJ's greatness Big moments from the premiere How to get ready for the doc

Spears: Magic Johnson, due to his ability to play four positions at an elite level, his ability to make everyone better, his leadership, his five championships and his shots in big games. Magic was the main reason the NBA grew into a giant before the Jordan explosion. Michael Jordan was the best scorer. Perhaps Bill Russell was the best defender. But overall, Magic was the best.

Pelton: By the definition I laid out in the previous question, it's LeBron, who has added another MVP-caliber season since I wrote about the Jordan-LeBron debate in the spring of 2018. Because he entered the NBA directly out of high school and never stepped away in his prime like Jordan, James gave his teams more great seasons. That is reflected by his record 12 All-NBA first team selections, as compared to 10 for Jordan, with one more surely in store whenever this unprecedented season concludes.

Arnovitz: Jordan. No matter which metric you prefer -- hard quant, traditional numbers, eye test, team dominance, stylistic influence, cultural impact -- Jordan rates at or near the top.

Marks: Jordan. I grew up a Knicks fan, and it felt like Jordan was superman each time he stepped on the court during those Bulls-Knicks playoff series. In 1998, I had an up-front seat to the first-round playoff series between the Bulls and Nets, and it felt automatic every time the ball left Jordan's hands.

Spears: A cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic might affect LeBron James' final legacy, because it could take away a potential championship that would add to his cause, but the LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and other teams would beg to differ on that argument. Either way, James already is in the GOAT discussion without question.

Arnovitz: Fiction. The modern NBA extends back for more than 70 seasons. Five weeks of basketball and, possibly, a postseason being canceled would be a blip in the historical sweep of the league and any conversation about its most distinguished players.

MacMullan: Fiction. It doesn't significantly alter the GOAT debate, but I'm sure fans of LeBron would feel cheated -- and they should. There's every reason to believe he had a chance to win his fourth ring, which would have inched him closer to Jordan's mother lode. But ring totals shouldn't be the only criteria -- if so, Russell would be everybody's choice.

Pelton: Given I've already picked LeBron as the GOAT, not really for me. I do think for the rest of the world, James' leading a third different team to a title would be an important validation of his career. From that standpoint, it would matter, and possibly significantly so.

Marks: Fiction. What LeBron has accomplished in his career is exceptional. But while James was on track to contend for his fourth championship this spring with the Lakers, nobody will top what Jordan accomplished in the '80s and '90s.

Arnovitz: Fact. Only two NBA players in history won a pair of MVP awards by the age of 25 -- Kareem and LeBron. Antetokounmpo likely will be the third. Whatever holes exist in his game or rsum at the present moment, there's ample time for Antetokounmpo to crack the code and situate himself squarely in that conversation.

MacMullan: Fact. Who knows what the future brings? Before his Achilles injury, I would have argued the versatile Kevin Durant had a chance at establishing himself as the best. Now, we'll see. Can we accurately forecast Zion Williamson or Luka Doncic so early in their careers? They both look like generational players to me, but can either evolve into the GOAT? Only time will tell.

Spears: Giannis has the ability to get into that conversation as he continues to grow as a player. The only thing he is lacking as a player is a 3-point shot, which will continue to grow.

Marks: Fiction. Giannis likely will win another MVP, but he doesn't have the full body of work, especially in the playoffs, to enter the conversation. The closest player under 30 is Kawhi Leonard, who has two championships and plays at an All-NBA level on both ends. It's hard for me to put Leonard in the GOAT debate, though, without knowing how his body will hold up for the rest of his career. Don't forget that Jordan played all 82 games nine times in his career. The most Leonard has played in a season is 74.

Pelton: It's certainly plausible for Antetokounmpo. And while he's got a lot more work to go, I think it's in the realm of possibility for Doncic, who was putting together one of the best age-20 seasons ever.

Original post:
NBA GOAT debate - Big questions on Michael Jordan and the greatest players ever - ESPN

In countries like South Korea, even though more women were tested positive for Covid-19, more men have died due to the deadly disease.(Photo: Reuters)

When it comes to fighting the deadly novel coronavirus which has killed over 2 million people globally, worldwide data suggest that the mortality rate is much higher in men than women.

In an exclusive interview to India Today, Dr Sharon Moalem, a Canadian-born physician and rare disease specialist, explained why women fared better in fighting Covid-19 than men.

"Females have two X chromosomes whereas males have one X and one Y chromosome. X chromosomes are necessary for survival and contain important genes related to the brain. Y chromosomes, on the other hand, are found only in males and are not crucial for survival. Men are more biologically fragile due to this," Dr Sharon Moalem, who is also the author of 'The Better Half: On the Genetic Superiority of Women' said.

In countries like South Korea, even though more women were tested positive for Covid-19, more men have died due to the disease.

"Men have more muscle mass and more physical strength and that doesn't mean longevity or long life. However, women -- who have XX chromosome --- are born with the advantage of longevity," Dr Moalem said.

'Men are biologically more fragile'

According to Dr Moalem, another reason why women are genetically tougher than men is that they have stronger immune systems due to the presence of estrogen in their body.

"Women, along with double XX chromosome power, also have hormones in their body like estrogen which is good for immunity. Men have testosterone which reduces immunity further. Men are more biologically fragile," Dr Moalem said.

Traditionally, women have always fared better than men when fighting an infection or famine. Women also fight cancer better, Dr Moalem said.

"This is because women have the power of double X power. This gives the female an advantage from the day they are born," Dr Moalem said.

View post:
Why coronavirus is killing more men than women | Expert explains - India Today

NEW YORK, April 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The stem cell therapy market was valued at US$ 1,534.55 million in 2019 and is estimated to reach US$ 5,129.66 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.7% from 2020 to 2027.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05882135/?utm_source=PRN

The increasing awareness related to the stem cells therapy in effective disease management and growing demand for regenerative medicines are the key factor driving the stem cell therapy market. However, high cost related of the stem cell therapy limits the growth of the market.Stem cell research has been widely investigated globally for various medical applications, especially for the treatment of humans.This raises the importance of creating public awareness about stem cell research and its clinical potential.

The main role of stem cells is in the replacement of dying cells and reconstruction of damaged tissues. Based on the extensive stem cell research, many scientists have claimed that these cells could probably be used in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease.There is a large number of potential treatment procedures that are undergoing clinical trials, and a notably few stem cell therapies have won FDA (i.e., US Food and Drug Administration) approval for clinical usage. For instance, in 2019, the FDA approved Fedratinib for the first-line treatment for myelofibrosis. Moreover, stem cell therapies are widely used in bone marrow transplantation, and these therapies have benefited thousands of people suffering from leukemia. Hematopoietic stem cells are used for treating more than 80 medical diseases, including immune system disorders, blood disorders, neurological disorders, metabolic disorders, genetic disorders, and several types of cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma; this is also likely to boost the demand for this treatment procedure during the forecast period. Researchers are further investigating the use of stem cell therapies in the treatment of autoimmune disorders.

The global stem cell therapy market has been segmented on the basis of type, treatment, application type, and end user.Based on type, the market has been segmented into adult stem cell therapy, induced pluripotent stem cell therapy, embryonic stem cell therapy, and others.

The adult stem cell therapy held the largest share of the market in 2019; however, induced pluripotent stem cell therapy is estimated to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.Based on treatment, the stem cell therapy market has been segmented into allogeneic and autologous.

The allogeneic segment held a larger share of the market in 2019; however, the market for the autologous segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period.Based on application type, the stem cell therapy market has been segmented into musculoskeletal, dermatology, cardiology, drug discovery and development, and other applications.

The musculoskeletal segment held the largest share of the stem cell therapy market in 2019, whereas the drug discovery and development segment is expected to report the highest CAGR during 20202027. Based on end user, the market has been segmented into academic and research institutes, and hospitals and specialty clinics. The academic & research institutes held the largest share of the market in 2019, and it is also expected to report the highest CAGR during the forecast period.Several essential secondary sources referred to for preparing this report are the FDA, World Health Organization (WHO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, National Institutes of Health, Spanish Agency for Medicines (AEMPS), Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine, and Indian Council of Medical Research, among others.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05882135/?utm_source=PRN

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Analysis Report on Canine Stem Cell Therapy Market

A report on global Canine Stem Cell Therapy market has hit stands. This study is based on different aspects like segments, growth rate, revenue, leading players, regions, and forecast. The overall market is getting bigger at an increased pace due to the invention of the new dynamism, which is making rapid progress.

The given report is an excellent research study specially compiled to provide latest insights into critical aspects of the Global Canine Stem Cell Therapy Market.

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Some key points of Canine Stem Cell Therapy Market research report:

Strategic Developments: The custom analysis gives the key strategic developments of the market, comprising R&D, new product launch, growth rate, collaborations, partnerships, joint ventures, and regional growth of the leading competitors operating in the market on a global and regional scale.

Market Features: The report comprises market features, capacity, capacity utilization rate, revenue, price, gross, production, production rate, consumption, import, export, supply, demand, cost, market share, CAGR, and gross margin. In addition, the report offers a comprehensive study of the market dynamics and their latest trends, along with market segments and sub-segments.

Analytical Tools: The Global Canine Stem Cell Therapy Market report includes the accurately studied and assessed data of the key industry players and their scope in the market by means of a number of analytical tools. The analytical tools such as Porters five forces analysis, feasibility study, and many other market research tools have been used to analyze the growth of the key players operating in the market.

COVID-19 Impact on Canine Stem Cell Therapy Market

Adapting to the recent novel COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global Canine Stem Cell Therapy market is included in the present report. The influence of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the growth of the Canine Stem Cell Therapy market is analyzed and depicted in the report.

The global Canine Stem Cell Therapy market segment by manufacturers include

Market Taxonomy

The global canine stem cell therapy market has been segmented into:

Product Type:

Application:

End User:

Region:

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Important queries addressed in the report:

Moreover, the report highlighted revenue, sales, manufacturing cost, and product and the States that are most competitive in the lucrative market share idea. There is a discussion on the background and financial trouble in the global Canine Stem Cell Therapy economic market. This included the CAGR value during the outlook period leading to 2025.

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Conclusively, this report will provide you a clear view of each and every fact of the market without a need to refer to any other research report or a data source. Our report will provide you with all the facts about the past, present, and future of the concerned Market.

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Potential impact of coronavirus outbreak on Canine Stem Cell Therapy Market Size, Top Manufacturers, Product Types, Applications and Specification,...

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Stem Cell Therapy Market: Competitive Landscape

The last chapter of the Stem Cell Therapy market research report focuses exclusively on the competitive landscape. It examines the main market players. In addition to a brief overview of the business, analysts provide information on their assessment and development. The list of important products in preparation is also mentioned. The competitive landscape is analyzed by understanding the companies strategies and the initiatives they have taken in recent years to overcome intense competition.

Stem Cell Therapy Market: Drivers and Restraints

The report explains the drivers of the future of the Stem Cell Therapy market. It assesses the different forces which should have a positive impact on the whole market. Analysts have looked at investments in research and development for products and technologies, which should give players a significant boost. In addition, the researchers undertook an analysis of the evolution of consumer behavior which should have an impact on the cycles of supply and demand in the Stem Cell Therapy market. In this research report, changes in per capita income, improvement in the economic situation and emerging trends were examined.

The research report also explains the potential restrictions on the Stem Cell Therapy market. The aspects assessed are likely to hamper market growth in the near future. In addition to this assessment, it offers a list of opportunities that could prove lucrative for the entire market. Analysts offer solutions to turn threats and restrictions into successful opportunities in the years to come.

Stem Cell Therapy Market: Regional Segmentation

In the following chapters, analysts have examined the regional segments of the Stem Cell Therapy market. This gives readers a deeper insight into the global market and allows for a closer look at the elements that could determine its evolution. Countless regional aspects, such as the effects of culture, environment and government policies, which affect regional markets are highlighted.

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What will the report contain?

Market Dynamics: The report contains important information on influencing factors, market drivers, challenges, opportunities and market trends as part of the market dynamics.

Global Market Forecast: Readers receive production and sales forecasts for the Stem Cell Therapy market, production and consumption forecasts for regional markets, production, sales and price forecasts for the Stem Cell Therapy market by type and consumption forecasts for the Stem Cell Therapy market per application.

Regional Market Analysis: It can be divided into two different sections: one for the analysis of regional production and one for the analysis of regional consumption. Here, analysts share gross margin, prices, sales, production, CAGR, and other factors that indicate the growth of all regional markets examined in the report.

Market Competition: In this section, the report provides information on the situation and trends of competition, including mergers and acquisitions and expansion, the market shares of the three or five main players and the concentration of the market. Readers could also get the production, revenue, and average price shares of manufacturers.

Key Players: The report provides company profiles for a decent number of leading players in the Stem Cell Therapy market. It shows your current and future market growth taking into account price, gross margin, income, production, service areas, production locations and other factors.

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Stem Cell Therapy Market 2020 Break Down by Top Companies, Applications, Challenges, Opportunities and Forecast 2026 Cole Reports - Cole of Duty

This is a list of all Biotechnology ETFs traded in the USA which are currently tagged by ETF Database. Please note that the list may not contain newly issued ETFs. If youre looking for a more simplified way to browse and compare ETFs, you may want to visit our ETFdb.com Categories, which categorize every ETF in a single best fit category.

* Assets and Average Volume as of 2020-04-17 20:21 UTC

This page includes historical return information for all Biotechnology ETFs listed on U.S. exchanges that are currently tracked by ETF Database.

The table below includes fund flow data for all U.S. listed Biotechnology ETFs. Total fund flow is the capital inflow into an ETF minus the capital outflow from the ETF for a particular time period.

Fund Flows in millions of U.S. Dollars.

The following table includes expense data and other descriptive information for all Biotechnology ETFs listed on U.S. exchanges that are currently tracked by ETF Database. In addition to expense ratio and issuer information, this table displays platforms that offer commission-free trading for certain ETFs.

Clicking on any of the links in the table below will provide additional descriptive and quantitative information on Biotechnology ETFs.

The following table includes ESG Scores and other descriptive information for all Biotechnology ETFs listed on U.S. exchanges that are currently tracked by ETF Database. Easily browse and evaluate ETFs by visiting our ESG Investing themes section and find ETFs that map to various environmental, social, governance and morality themes.

This page includes historical dividend information for all Biotechnology ETFs listed on U.S. exchanges that are currently tracked by ETF Database. Note that certain ETPs may not make dividend payments, and as such some of the information below may not be meaningful.

The table below includes basic holdings data for all U.S. listed Biotechnology ETFs that are currently tagged by ETF Database. The table below includes the number of holdings for each ETF and the percentage of assets that the top ten assets make up, if applicable. For more detailed holdings information for any ETF, click on the link in the right column.

The following table includes certain tax information for all Biotechnology ETFs listed on U.S. exchanges that are currently tracked by ETF Database, including applicable short-term and long-term capital gains rates and the tax form on which gains or losses in each ETF will be reported.

This page contains certain technical information for all Biotechnology ETFs that are listed on U.S. exchanges and tracked by ETF Database. Note that the table below only includes limited technical indicators; click on the View link in the far right column for each ETF to see an expanded display of the products technicals.

This page provides links to various analysis for all Biotechnology ETFs that are listed on U.S. exchanges and tracked by ETF Database. The links in the table below will guide you to various analytical resources for the relevant ETF, including an X-ray of holdings, official fund fact sheet, or objective analyst report.

This page provides ETFdb Ratings for all Biotechnology ETFs that are listed on U.S. exchanges and tracked by ETF Database. The ETFdb Ratings are transparent, quant-based evaluations of ETFs relative to other products in the same ETFdb.com Category. As such, it should be noted that this page may include ETFs from multiple ETFdb.com Categories.

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Top 17 Biotechnology ETFs - ETF Database

Avecho Biotechnology's's (ASX:AVE) stock is up by a considerable 200% over the past month. Given the company's impressive performance, we decided to study its financial indicators more closely as a company's financial health over the long-term usually dictates market outcomes. Particularly, we will be paying attention to Avecho Biotechnology's ROE today.

Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. Simply put, it is used to assess the profitability of a company in relation to its equity capital.

View our latest analysis for Avecho Biotechnology

The formula for ROE is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Avecho Biotechnology is:

18% = AU$850k AU$4.8m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019).

The 'return' is the income the business earned over the last year. So, this means that for every A$1 of its shareholder's investments, the company generates a profit of A$0.18.

So far, we've learnt that ROE is a measure of a company's profitability. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or "retain", we are then able to evaluate a company's future ability to generate profits. Assuming everything else remains unchanged, the higher the ROE and profit retention, the higher the growth rate of a company compared to companies that don't necessarily bear these characteristics.

To begin with, Avecho Biotechnology seems to have a respectable ROE. Further, the company's ROE compares quite favorably to the industry average of 11%. This certainly adds some context to Avecho Biotechnology's exceptional 32% net income growth seen over the past five years. However, there could also be other causes behind this growth. Such as - high earnings retention or an efficient management in place.

Next, on comparing Avecho Biotechnology's net income growth with the industry, we found that the company's reported growth is similar to the industry average growth rate of 32% in the same period.

ASX:AVE Past Earnings Growth April 17th 2020

The basis for attaching value to a company is, to a great extent, tied to its earnings growth. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. This then helps them determine if the stock is placed for a bright or bleak future. One good indicator of expected earnings growth is the P/E ratio which determines the price the market is willing to pay for a stock based on its earnings prospects. So, you may want to check if Avecho Biotechnology is trading on a high P/E or a low P/E, relative to its industry.

Avecho Biotechnology doesn't pay any dividend to its shareholders, meaning that the company has been reinvesting all of its profits into the business. This is likely what's driving the high earnings growth number discussed above.

In total, we are pretty happy with Avecho Biotechnology's performance. In particular, it's great to see that the company is investing heavily into its business and along with a high rate of return, that has resulted in a sizeable growth in its earnings.

Story continues

If the company continues to grow its earnings the way it has, that could have a positive impact on its share price given how earnings per share influence long-term share prices. Remember, the price of a stock is also dependent on the perceived risk. Therefore investors must keep themselves informed about the risks involved before investing in any company.

You can see the 3 risks we have identified for Avecho Biotechnology by visiting our risks dashboard for free on our platform here.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.

Excerpt from:
Are Robust Financials Driving The Recent Rally In Avecho Biotechnology Limited's (ASX:AVE) Stock? - Yahoo Finance

Cuban scientists are working on 15 biotechnological projects to deal with COVID-19 that encompass diagnosis and treatment, officials from the BioCubaFarma entity announced.

Orlando Prez Rodrguez, director of Science and Innovation at BioCubaFarma, said that all clinical research and interventions have been duly authorized by Cuban regulatory entities and will be timely evaluated and reported to publicize Cuba's experience in this field.

He explained that 6 of the 15 projects are focused on treatment, the same number is prophylactic, two are diagnosticians and a medical team.

He added that the products focus on increasing people's innate immunity, reducing the viral load at the beginning of the disease and reducing the hyperinflammatory reaction in patients who develop it, especially in vulnerable groups (older adults or those with pathologies of antecedent).

As a sample of the responsiveness of Cuban Biotechnology, 9 of these projects are already in the phase of intervention trials or clinical studies and six are still in the research and development phase in laboratories, in addition to others in the design or early research.

He pointed out that in the treatment, in the initial stage Interferon Alpha 2B is used, for the management of the inflammatory reaction produced by COVID-19, the monoclonal antibody of the Immunoassay Center and a peptide from the Center for Genetic and Biotechnological Engineering are studied (CIGB).

Most products focus on the use of prophylactics, including nasal administration of interferon Alfa (to stimulate immunity), biomodulin-T (for those over 60 years of age), transfer factor (stimulates immunity in vulnerable groups), CIGB 2020 (immuno enhancer) and a vaccine candidate from the Finlay Institute (contains components of the Cuban meningitis vaccine).

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Cuban Biotechnology develops 15 projects to face the pandemic - Tehran Times

The president of BioCubaFarma, Eduardo Martnez, highlighted in the Mesa Redonda television program that in the fight against the coronavirus, his institution has a plan that covers different aspects, one of which is to guarantee the medicines designed for the protocols. He ensured their availability for patients who could be diagnosed, even in the worst case scenario.

He said that BioCubaFarma has also joined the production of soaps, disinfectants, hydroalcoholic solutions and protection means. He added that the antiviral action of interferon has been shown to be effective in treating the disease, along with other products developed by the biopharmaceutical industry. He said that many countries had asked Cuba for support in the supply of medicines. To date, 62 nations have requested interferon.

He insisted that asymptomatic patients constitute the fundamental cause of the spread of the epidemic; hence the importance of mass screening to identify suspects and isolate them. It is an international and local challenge, he said. This April 12, more than 2,000 tests were made in Cuba to diagnose the disease.

For his part, the director of the Finlay Vaccine Institute, Dr. Vicente Vrez, reported that even though the search for a vaccine will take time, there are other options to improve patients immune systems.

Cuba, he said, today has two vaccines used to fight both cancer and allergies, and they will start being applied to risk groups. Their purpose is aimed at strengthening peoples immune system. He explained that several researchers are working on a project aimed at finding out the incidence of these vaccines in patients to prevent them from developing a serious condition.

However, he said that the most important thing was social isolation, the use of the facemask and eyeglasses. All this makes it possible to put up a barrier against the virus and decrease the viral load in case of illness.

The director of the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Dr. Mara del Carmen Domnguez Orta, said that the institution has a research base of 20 years. A specific product, Molecule 258, is intended to regulate peoples immune systems and control inflammation of the organs without generating immunosuppression.

It has been applied, she said, in three critically ill patients at the IPK and the Naval Hospital with positive results, but, she pointed out, it is only used when there are no other options and with the prior consent of family members.

She stressed that this medicine is not a cure, but a therapeutic alternative, hence the importance of complying with prevention measures.

Lastly, Dr. Gerardo Guilln Nieto, director of Biomedical Research at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, said that the vaccine to strengthen innate immunity to COVID-19 is in the final phase of study.

The vaccine, which is applied sublingually, enhances immunity to the entry of the virus, he said, explaining that the samples analyzed after the application of the drug confirm that it stimulates the molecules that mark the activation of the innate immune system.

That vaccine will be favorable to the most vulnerable groups and will help them stimulate the immune response against the virus.

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Role of Cuban science and biotechnology against coronavirus addressed - OnCubaNews

WASHINGTON, D.C. In recognition of National Biotechnology Month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently launched a unified website for biotechnology regulation.

The website streamlines information about the three regulatory agencies charged with overseeing agriculture biotechnology products and is part President Donald J. Trumps Executive Order on Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products.

Agricultural biotechnology has been and will continue to be an essential tool in helping Americas farmers and ranchers feed, fuel and clothe the world, said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.

From producers to consumers, all Americans deserve a government that delivers science-based, common-sense regulations that foster innovation, conserve resources, and protect public healthespecially when it comes to the food supply, said Perdue.

The launch of this unified biotechnology regulation website is proof of President Trumps commitment to provide the American people with sensible regulations in a clear and transparent manner.

EPA is pleased to be working with our partners at USDA, FDA, and across the federal government to implement President Trumps Executive Order and launch this new, coordinated website, said EPA Administrator Wheeler.

This new website will help provide regulatory certainty and clarity to our nations farmers and producers by bringing together information on the full suite of actions the Trump Administration is taking to safely reduce unnecessary regulations and breakdown barriers for these biotechnology products in the marketplace, Wheeler said.

This is a time of unprecedented scientific innovation. Agricultural biotechnology promises to bring dynamic new products to the marketplace, said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, M.D.

At the FDA, we are committed to fostering flexible, risk-based approaches in this field while upholding our mission of protecting and promoting both human and animal health and animal well-being, Hahn said.

For example, by reducing their susceptibility to diseases like novel influenzas and resistance to zoonotic or foreign animal diseases. Our approach balances our internationally respected, science-based review standards, Hahn said, with our ongoing risk-based regulatory approaches to ensure the safety of our food supply.

Background

The Unified Website for Biotechnology Regulation describes the federal review process for certain biotechnology products and allows users to submit questions to the three agencies.

The goals of this website are to provide enhanced customer service to innovators and developers, while ensuring Americans continue to enjoy the safest and most affordable food supply in the world and can learn more about the safe use of biotechnology innovations.

For more information, visit https://usbiotechnologyregulation.mrp.usda.gov/biotechnologygov/home/.

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Unified website for biotechnology regulation recently launched - Daily Herald

IRVINE, Calif., April 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClearPoint Neuro, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLPT) is pleased to announce that Matthew B. Klein, MD, MS, FACS, has been appointed to ClearPoint Neuros Board of Directors effective immediately. Dr. Klein, Chief Development Officer of PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTC), is a veteran biotechnology company executive with extensive experience in drug discovery and development, and a board-certified surgeon. He succeeds Marcio Souza, who joined ClearPoint Neuros Board as PTCs representative in connection with PTCs May 2019 equity investment in ClearPoint Neuro. Mr. Souza, who resigned from his position as PTCs Chief Operating Officer, as was announced by PTC on March 16, 2020, will remain on ClearPoint Neuros Board as an independent member.

Prior to joining PTC, Dr. Klein served in several executive positions with BioElectron Technology Corporation (BioElectron), most recently as BioElectrons Chief Executive Officer and a Director prior to its acquisition by PTC in 2019. Dr. Klein has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MD from Yale University School of Medicine and an MS in epidemiology from the University of Washington School of Public Health.

We are thrilled by the addition of Matt to our board and the contributions he will make to our company and culture, commented Joe Burnett, President and CEO. As a patient-centric company, adding an established physician, scientist and leader to our board will improve our ability to evaluate new technologies and partnerships.

I am very excited to be joining ClearPoint Neuros Board and look forward to bringing my experience as a drug developer and a surgeon to help the company continue its growth and to fulfill its incredibly important mission, said Dr. Klein.

About ClearPoint Neuro

ClearPoint Neuros mission is to improve and restore quality of life to patients and their families by enabling therapies for the most complex neurological disorders with pinpoint accuracy. Applications of the Companys current product portfolio include deep-brain stimulation, laser ablation, biopsy, neuro-aspiration, and delivery of drugs, biologics and gene therapy to the brain. The ClearPoint Neuro Navigation System has FDA clearance, is CE-marked, and is installed in 60 active clinical sites in the United States. The Companys SmartFlow cannula is being used in partnership or evaluation with more than 20 individual biologics and drug delivery companies in various stages from preclinical research to late stage regulatory trials. To date, more than 3,500 cases have been performed and supported by the Companys field-based clinical specialist team which offers support and services for our partners. For more information, please visit http://www.clearpointneuro.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements herein concerning the Companys plans, growth and strategies may include forward-looking statements within the context of the federal securities laws. Statements regarding the Company's future events, developments and future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, plans, estimates or projections relating to the future, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of these laws. Uncertainties and risks may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward-looking statements. Particular uncertainties and risks include those relating to: future revenues from sales of the Companys ClearPoint Neuro Navigation System products; the Companys ability to market, commercialize and achieve broader market acceptance for the Companys ClearPoint Neuro Navigation System products; and estimates regarding the sufficiency of the Companys cash resources. More detailed information on these and additional factors that could affect the Companys actual results are described in the Risk Factors section of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:Harold A. Hurwitz, Chief Financial Officer(949) 900-6833hhurwitz@clearpointneuro.com

Jacqueline KellerVice President, Marketing(949) 900-6833jkeller@clearpointneuro.com

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Biotechnology Leader and Surgeon Dr. Matthew Klein Joins ClearPoint Neuro Board of Directors - BioSpace

The 38 rating InvestorsObserver gives to bluebird bio Inc (BLUE) stock puts it near the bottom of the Biotechnology industry. In addition to scoring higher than 19 percent of stocks in the Biotechnology industry, BLUEs 38 overall rating means the stock scores better than 38 percent of all stocks.

Finding the best stocks can be tricky. It isnt easy to compare companies across industries. Even companies that have relatively similar businesses can be tricky to compare sometimes. InvestorsObservers tools allow a top-down approach that lets you pick a metric, find the top sector and industry and then find the top stocks in that sector.

This ranking system incorporates numerous factors used by analysts to compare stocks in greater detail. This allows you to find the best stocks available in any industry with relative ease. These percentile-ranked scores using both fundamental and technical analysis give investors an easy way to view the attractiveness of specific stocks. Stocks with the highest scores have the best evaluations by analysts working on Wall Street.

bluebird bio Inc (BLUE) stock is trading at $55.58 as of 1:27 PM on Friday, Apr 17, a gain of $3.02, or 5.75% from the previous closing price of $52.56. The stock has traded between $53.64 and $56.80 so far today. Volume today is high. So far 1,578,260 shares have traded compared to average volume of 1,164,930 shares.

To see the top 5 stocks in Biotechnology click here.

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Is bluebird bio Inc (BLUE) Stock Near the Top of the Biotechnology Industry? - InvestorsObserver

Theres a profound disconnect between what the latest gene-editing methods can do to increase yields and enhance crop disease and stress resistance and the trickle of such improved crops actually getting out into farmers fields.

The first generation of genetically modified (GM) crops has been remarkably successful. The whole world eats food containing ingredients derived from GM crops and feeds them to its myriad agricultural animals and pets. Despite many dire predictions of long-term negative health effects, a quarter century has passed and none have materialized.1 This remarkably clean track record should have assuaged public fears and assured the rapid development and adoption of GM crops of all kinds.

But it hasnt.

Decades after four major commodity biotech crops corn, soybeans, cotton and canola were introduced and rapidly soared to near market saturation in the countries that permitted their cultivation, the number of new GM crops being released to farmers remains tiny.

[Editors note: This article is part one of a four-part series on the progress of agricultural biotechnology. Read part two, part three and part four.]

Yet the need for higher yielding, disease-resistant and stress-tolerant crops grows with each passing year. The pressures of population growth and climate warming are already outpacing the speed with which conventional breeding practices are expanding the global food supply.2 Land and water availability are rapidly becoming limiting, hence the focus is sharply on the intensification of agriculture.3 But the breeding methods that fueled the spectacular advances in agricultural productivity over the 20th century are near exhaustion.

Over the same period, knowledge of plant physiology and genetics has grown at an explosive pace, as has the technology for identifying and modifying genes of agronomic interest. We know vastly more about what genes do and how plant genomes change both naturally and under human intervention than we did even when the first GM crops were introduced in 1996.4

The recent invention and rapid development of gene- or genome-editing technology (aka SSN or sequence-specific nuclease technology) has facilitated a quantum leap in the ease and precision of genetic intervention, positioning researchers to accelerate the increase in crop yields and to make crop plants more resilient to the biotic and abiotic stresses exacerbated by climate warming.5

Yet just a few of the crops that need to be improved are being improved using the latest techniques and of those, only a few reach farmers each year. To understand this deep disconnect between what can be done to improve crops using modern molecular techniques and what is being done requires a look at the tangle of issues around GM technology at the interface between science, business and society.

In this four-part series, I first examine the factors that led to the disconnect between what can be done and what is being done. I then review both the successes and failures of the first generation of GM crops modified using recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology. I next introduce the new gene-editing technologies and what they promise. And finally, I take a look at the regulatory, political and business decisions that actually determine what gets out of research laboratories and into farmers fields. The entire essay is available as a single publication from the author. Please email [emailprotected].

Part 1: The origins of the disconnect between the science and the farmer

Public resistance to innovation is not unusual, but hardly universal. People line up for the newest Apple iPhone, but have to be persuaded to try a GM apple that doesnt turn brown. Resistance generally subsides as a technology is widely adopted and proves harmless. GM technology in medicine, for example, is now broadly accepted, be it human insulin or any of the many new protein-based therapeutics. But the controversies around GM crops have persisted, and indeed intensified through the deliberate vilification efforts of both individuals and organizations.6,7

According to polls, the public remains largely ignorant of what GM organisms (GMOs) are and of how modern molecular methods fit into the long history of crop improvement.8 Because fear-based disinformation strategies are so effective, what has grown instead is the widespread conviction that GMOs are bad, meaning variously that they are harmful to health, unnatural, or produced by big biotech companies that unfairly exploit farmers.7,9

Part of the problem is that public awareness of genetic modification in agriculture is recent, arguably dating back only to the late 1980s when controversies erupted over field testing of the so-called ice-minus bacterium modified to eliminate a protein that promotes ice formation on the leaves of strawberries.10 Yet in a strictly scientific context, genetic modification denotes the entire spectrum of human interventions in the genetics of other organisms over more than 10 millenia.11

For crop plants, these encompass domestication, breeding, mutation breeding and, most recently, genetic improvement by molecular techniques. All involve genetic changes, aka mutations. Domestication and conventional plant breeding rely on organisms inherent genetic variation.

Direct genetic manipulation of crop plants using chemical and radiation mutagenesis (mutation breeding) dates back to the 1930s.12 But even now, few people other than plant breeders are aware that crops have long been improved through deliberate efforts to induce new mutations using both chemicals and irradiation. So today, it is the general understanding that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are only those that have been modified by molecular methods. That is, most people think genetic modification is quite new.

And then theres what the regulators built

As if this were not sufficiently problematic, the way in which the regulatory environment evolved reinforced suspicions about GM safety. Early efforts to regulate the commercial introduction of GM crops emphasized the need to regulate new crop traits rather than the particular method by which they were introduced. But thats not what happened.

Starting from the beginning of the regulatory activities in the late 1980s, the U.S. agencies that oversee GM organisms have regulated only organisms modified by molecular methods and theyve regulated all of them, without regard to either nature of the organism or the trait that was added.13 This has been true of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), although the Food and Drug Administration has generally followed its practice of post-market oversight. None of the agencies subjected new crop varieties produced by the older methods of chemical and radiation mutagenesis to regulatory oversight.

Complying with the regulatory requirements proved not only time consuming and prohibitively expensive to developers,14 but also reinforced the altogether unfounded popular conviction that molecular methodology is dangerous. Both negative popular views of GM foods and the high regulatory costs associated with their introduction have shaped the present availability of GMOs in agriculture. Indeed, it is virtually impossible to understand the contemporary paucity of GM crop varieties without considering both regulatory and acceptance issues.

The recent development of gene-editing methods has led to a new round of public and bureaucratic controversy worldwide over what should be classified as a GMO and subject to regulatory oversight. Because gene-editing techniques15 introduce the same kinds of mutations as the older mutagenesis methods, crops modified by gene editing can be indistinguishable at the molecular level from those improved by mutation breeding.

Mutation breeding has been in safe use for a century, hence there is no scientifically defensible rationale for imposing regulations on crops with the same kinds of genetic changes produced by the new, far more precise methods. This is being recognized in some countries by decreasing the regulatory burden on certain types of crop modifications produced by gene-editing techniques.

However, in 2018 the European Court of Justice ruled that gene-edited crops should undergo the same level of regulatory scrutiny as crops modified by older molecular methods.16 As they have over the past 4 decades, the outcome of such regulatory decisions will profoundly influence the kinds of genetic improvements that will be undertaken and actually become available to farmers and consumers.

Thus both public opinion and regulatory practices have made major contributions to the disconnect between the modern science of crop improvement and the farmer.

1EC (2010). A decade of EUfunded GMO research (20012010). European Commission https://ec.europa.eu/research/biosociety/pdf/a_decade_of_eu-funded_gmo_research.pdf; NASEM (2016). Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 978-0-309-43735-6 http://www.nap.edu/catalog/23395/genetically-engineered-crops-experiences-and-prospects

2Ray DK et al. (2013). Yield trends are insufficient to double global crop production by 2050. PloS One 8:e66428.

3Tilman D et al. (2011). Global food demand and the sustainable intensification of agriculture. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108:20260-4.

4Richroch AE (2013). Assessment of GE food safety using -omics techniques and long-term animal feeding studies. New Biotechnol 30:351-54; Fedoroff NV (2013). Plant transposons and genome dynamics in evolution. (Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK), p.212; Anderson JE et al. (2016). Genomic variation and DNA repair associated with soybean transgenesis: a comparison to cultivars and mutagenized plants. BMC Biotechnol 16:41.

5Podevin N et al. (2013). Site-directed nucleases: a paradigm shift in predictable, knowledge-based plant breeding. Trends Biotechnol 31:375-83; Zhang D et al. (2016). Targeted gene manipulation in plants using the CRISPR/Cas technology. J Genet Genomics 43:251-62; Zhang Y et al. (2019). The emerging and uncultivated potential of CRISPR technology in plant science. Nature Plants 5:778-94.

6Apel A (2010). The costly benefits of opposing agricultural biotechnology. New Biotechnol 27:635-40.

7Ryan CD et al. (2019). Monetizing disinformation in the attention economy: The case of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). European Management J 38:7-18.

8Funk C et al. (2015). Public and scientists views on science and society. Pew Research Center http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/01/29/public-and-scientists-views-on-science-and-society/

9Funk C and Kennedy B (2016). Public opinion about genetically modified foods and trust in scientists connected with these foods. Pew Research Center http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/12/01/public-opinion-about-genetically-modified-foods-and-trust-in-scientists-connected-with-these-foods/

10Palca J (1986). Ice-minus bacteria: Further snag and further delay. Nature 320:2.

11Fedoroff NV (2015). Food in a future of 10 billion. Agricult Food Security 4:11.

12Ahloowalia B et al. (2004). Global impact of mutation-derived varieties. Euphytica 135:187-204.

13Fedoroff NV (2013). Will common sense prevail? Trends Genet 29:188-9; Wolt JD et al. (2016). The regulatory status of genomeedited crops. Plant Biotechnol J 14:510-8; Van Eenennaam A and Fedoroff N. How the federal government can get biotech regulation right. Des Moines Register, 1 March 2018

14McDougall P (2011). The cost and time involved in the discovery, development and authorisation of a new plant biotechnology derived trait. Crop Life International https://croplife.org/plant-biotechnology/regulatory-2/cost-of-bringing-a-biotech-crop-to-market/

15Kleter GA et al. (2019). Gene-edited crops: towards a harmonized safety assessment. Trends Biotechnol 37:443-7.

16Kupferschmidt K (2018). EU verdict on CRISPR crops dismays scientists. Science 361:435.

Nina V. Fedoroff is an Emeritus Evan Pugh Professor atPenn State University

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Viewpoint: How consumer fear and misguided regulation limit the progress of crop biotechnology - Genetic Literacy Project

The 72 rating InvestorsObserver gives to Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc (IOVA) stock puts it near the top of the Biotechnology industry. In addition to scoring higher than 84 percent of stocks in the Biotechnology industry, IOVAs 72 overall rating means the stock scores better than 72 percent of all stocks.

Analyzing stocks can be hard. There are tons of numbers and ratios, and it can be hard to remember what they all mean and what counts as good for a given value. InvestorsObserver ranks stocks on eight different metrics. We percentile rank most of our scores to make it easy for investors to understand. A score of 72 means the stock is more attractive than 72 percent of stocks.

This ranking system incorporates numerous factors used by analysts to compare stocks in greater detail. This allows you to find the best stocks available in any industry with relative ease. These percentile-ranked scores using both fundamental and technical analysis give investors an easy way to view the attractiveness of specific stocks. Stocks with the highest scores have the best evaluations by analysts working on Wall Street.

Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc (IOVA) stock has risen 13.99% while the S&P 500 is unchanged 0% as of 9:50 AM on Tuesday, Apr 14. IOVA is higher by $4.23 from the previous closing price of $30.23 on volume of 285,317 shares. Over the past year the S&P 500 is down -4.95% while IOVA is higher by 209.06%. IOVA lost -$1.59 per share the over the last 12 months.

To screen for more stocks like IOVA click here.

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Biotechnology Industry: Does Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc (IOVA) Stock Beat its Rivals? - InvestorsObserver

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (INO) is near the top in its industry group according to InvestorsObserver. INO gets an overall rating of 72. That means it scores higher than 72 percent of stocks. Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc gets a 83 rank in the Biotechnology industry. Biotechnology is number 6 out of 148 industries.

Finding the best stocks can be tricky. It isnt easy to compare companies across industries. Even companies that have relatively similar businesses can be tricky to compare sometimes. InvestorsObservers tools allow a top-down approach that lets you pick a metric, find the top sector and industry and then find the top stocks in that sector.

These scores are not only easy to understand, but it is easy to compare stocks to each other. You can find the best stock in an industry, or look for the sector that has the highest average score. The overall score is a combination of technical and fundamental factors that serves as a good starting point when analyzing a stock. Traders and investors with different goals may have different goals and will want to consider other factors than just the headline number before making any investment decisions.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (INO) stock has risen 8.82% while the S&P 500 is lower by -0.22% as of 10:32 AM on Thursday, Apr 16. INO is up $0.63 from the previous closing price of $7.14 on volume of 5,210,923 shares. Over the past year the S&P 500 is down -4.25% while INO is up 108.87%. INO lost -$1.21 per share the over the last 12 months.

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Is Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (INO) Stock Near the Top of the Biotechnology Industry? - InvestorsObserver

A new report from STAT News on Gilead's experimental drug Remdesivir serves as an encouraging update on the drug's potential to fight Covid-19, however analysts argue it's largely anecdotal and should be interpreted with caution.

Remdesivir was one of the first medicines identified as a contender to treat Covid-19 given it showed promise in the past in treating SARS and MERS, both caused by coronaviruses.

According to the report from an ongoing phase three trial at a University of Chicago hospital, patients showing severe Covid-19 symptoms who were given the drug saw rapid recoveries in fever and respiratory symptoms, with nearly all patients discharged in less than one week.

Gilead commented that, "the totality of the data need to be analysed in order to draw any conclusions from the trial," in a statement to Reuters. A statement from the University of Chicago Medicine said that "drawing any conclusions at this point is premature and scientifically unsound."

Jefferies equity analyst Michael J. Yee published in a research note that this Chicago report provides an "incremental positive" but he assumes this significant short-term move in Gilead's share price will probably pull back a bit given eventual broader awareness that this is not the actual phase three data and that this is overdone in the near term.

JPMorgan biotechnology equity analysts wrote in a published research note Thursday that "this clinical trial experience appears to represent another encouraging, albeit largely anecdotal, data point for this high-profile drug candidate."

Meanwhile, the Barclays health-care team called the update "encouraging" but note that questions persist.

The report from the Chicago hospital comes amid mounting anecdotal evidence supporting the drug's potential effectiveness in treating the virus. Last week, the New England Journal of Medicine published an analysis showing that two thirds of a small group of severely ill patients saw their condition improve after taking the drug. These patients were given Remdesivir as part of a compassionate use program which allows doctors to provide patients with unauthorized treatments when no other treatment is available.

There was no control group in the University of Chicago study. As CNBC's Meg Tirrell has highlighted, this is not controlled clinical trial data it is a glimpse into what one of the sites that is running the trial is seeing.

The information reported by STAT News came from an internal discussion among faculty members at a University of Chicago hospital captured on video, it was not official data released by Gilead or any other trial leader.

Furthermore, this data comes from a single trial site. The Barclays health-care equity research team wrote: "While these data are encouraging, they are uncontrolled and from a single center."

Jefferies echoes this point: "Similar to the NEJM publication last week, yesterday's reports are based on one site and there is no placebo."

There is also debate around the severity of the patients included in the study. This data is part of an ongoing phase three trial of patients with severe Covid-19 symptoms. However, the patients were not intubated to start the study. Barclays adds that there will be debate around the patient population and how they compare to past cohorts.

"There's still a great deal we don't know, and thus we hesitate to put too much into the results generated at a single center without a control group," said JPMorgan.

"Fortunately, we don't have to wait long for a Phase 3 readout in severe patients."

Gilead expects results from its trials with patients with severe Covid-19 later this month. Data from its trials on patients with moderate symptoms is expected in May.

In addition to these two trials being run by Gilead, there are several others underway concurrently to evaluate Remdesivir, including a phase two trial run by the National Institute of Health which is an adaptive, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Barclays adds that data from Gilead's clinical trials on severe cases due at the end of this month could support approval or expanded use authorization. A treatment is not going to end the pandemic. But it will provide a critical bridge to the ultimate panacea a vaccine.

CNBC's Berkeley Lovelace contributed to this article.

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Investors should be cautious on the potential for Gilead's drug Remdesivir, analysts say - CNBC