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BioMarin has submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for valoctocogene roxaparvovec (BMN 270) for the treatment of hemophilia A in adults. This is the first marketing application submission for a gene therapy product for any type of hemophilia.

Valoctocogene roxaparvovec is an investigational adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy that is administered as a single infusion to produce clotting factor VIII. The BLA submission is supported by interim analysis of a phase 3 study and 3-year phase 1/2 data. Results from the ongoing phase 1/2 study showed that bleed rate control and reduction in factor VIII usage was maintained for a third year following a single administration of valoctocogene roxaparvovec.

The FDA previously granted Breakthrough Therapy and Orphan Drug designations to valoctocogene roxaparvovec. The Company anticipates the BLA review to commence in February 2020.

We look forward to working with the FDA as we seek marketing authorization for the potential first gene therapy for hemophilia A, said Hank Fuchs, MD, President, Global Research and Development at BioMarin. Our hope is one day very soon to deliver a transformative treatment that has the potential to change the way hemophilia A is treated.

For more information visit biomarin.com.

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BLA Submitted for Gene Therapy to Treat Hemophilia A - Monthly Prescribing Reference

Maximum Life Foundation ("MaxLife"), is rapidly transforming the way we treat aging diseases. MaxLife plans to use a promising gene therapy offered by Integrated Health Systems to give free access to ten (10) early to mid-stage Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients. David Kekich, MaxLife's CEO, stated "MaxLife will grant 100% of the therapy costs to help bring pioneering gene therapy to cure this disease and make Alzheimer's Disease a thing of the past."

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (PRWEB) December 30, 2019

Cure Now Instead of Palliative Care

According to the Alzheimer's Association:

Alzheimer's costs Americans $277 billion a year and rising. Sharp increases in Alzheimer's disease cases, deaths and costs are stressing the U.S. healthcare system and caregivers. About 5.7 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. To date, no one has survived it.

Improvements of AD symptoms and the recovery of normal brain functions have been demonstrated in-vivo in mouse experiments, and in-vitro in human cell experiments through the rejuvenation of microglia (the brain's first line of defense against infection) and neurons as well as stimulating mitochondrial function using the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) protein.

One human patient received a lower dose therapy in August 2018 with no adverse side effects. To date, the patient's disease has not progressed. MaxLife hopes to see symptom reversals in the next patients.

"If we can prove a benefit to patients that have no other option now, we can potentially treat Alzheimer's Disease in people in early to mid-stage Alzheimer's, finally creating effective medicine at the cellular level," states Kekich. "If successful, this treatment could potentially be used on other diseases such as Parkinson's and ALS."

The unique difference is developing treatments against the cellular degeneration caused by aging as the root cause of most major diseases. Studies have proven aging is the leading risk factor for many life-threatening diseases, including Alzheimer's.

With a world class Scientific Advisory Board, MaxLife is ready to push forward into practical solutions. A gene therapy facilitator, Integrated Health Systems plans to treat other adult aging-related diseases with no previous cure such as Sarcopenia, Atherosclerosis, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and even aging itself with gene therapies.

"This technology could halt many of the big age associated killers in industrialized countries'" states Kekich. "Compassionate care helps patients with no other option to get access to experimental therapies that may benefit both themselves and society as a whole."

MaxLife also seeks grants and donations for human gene therapy studies for atherosclerosis, sarcopenia and chronic kidney disease as well as for human aging. The protocols have already been developed. Please Click Here and scroll to the bottom of the page to see how to donate.

To apply for a free therapy or for more information, see http://www.maxlife.org/alzheimers-disease/ and https://maxlife.org/how-to-register-and-qualify-for-the-alzheimers-human-study/.

For Further Information, Contact: David Kekich, CEO Maximum Life Foundation.

Maximum Life Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit corporation founded in 1999.

Tax I.D. #31-1656405. David A. Kekich Tel. #949-706-2468. Info@MaxLife.org

For the original version on PRWeb visit: https://www.prweb.com/releases/first_alzheimers_disease_gene_therapy_human_study_provided_by_maximum_life_foundation_offers_10_free_therapies_for_qualifying_patients/prweb16809113.htm

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First Alzheimer's Disease Gene Therapy Human Study Provided by Maximum Life Foundation, Offers 10 Free Therapies for Qualifying Patients - Benzinga

In the summer, a mother in Nashville with a seemingly incurable genetic disorder finally found an end to her suffering -- by editing her genome. Victoria Gray's recovery from sickle cell disease, which had caused her painful seizures, came in a year of breakthroughs in one of the hottest areas of medical research -- gene therapy. "I have hoped for a cure since I was about 11," the 34-year-old told AFP in an email.

"Since I received the new cells, I have been able to enjoy more time with my family without worrying about pain or an out-of-the-blue emergency." Over several weeks, Gray's blood was drawn so doctors could get to the cause of her illness -- stem cells from her bone marrow that were making deformed red blood cells. The stem cells were sent to a Scottish laboratory, where their DNA was modified using Crispr/Cas9 -- pronounced "Crisper" -- a new tool informally known as molecular "scissors." The genetically edited cells were transfused back into Gray's veins and bone marrow. A month later, she was producing normal blood cells.

Medics warn that caution is necessary but, theoretically, she has been cured. "This is one patient. This is early results. We need to see how it works out in other patients," said her doctor, Haydar Frangoul, at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville. "But these results are really exciting." In Germany, a 19-year-old woman was treated with a similar method for a different blood disease, beta thalassemia. She had previously needed 16 blood transfusions per year.

Nine months later, she is completely free of that burden. For decades, the DNA of living organisms such as corn and salmon has been modified. But Crispr, invented in 2012, made gene editing more widely accessible. It is much simpler than preceding technology, cheaper and easy to use in small labs. The technique has given new impetus to the perennial debate over the wisdom of humanity manipulating life itself. "It's all developing very quickly," said French geneticist Emmanuelle Charpentier, one of Crispr's inventors and the cofounder of Crispr Therapeutics, the biotech company conducting the clinical trials involving Gray and the German patient.

Cures

Crispr is the latest breakthrough in a year of great strides in gene therapy, a medical adventure started three decades ago, when the first TV telethons were raising money for children with muscular dystrophy. Scientists practising the technique insert a normal gene into cells containing a defective gene. It does the work the original could not -- such as making normal red blood cells, in Victoria's case, or making tumor-killing super white blood cells for a cancer patient. Crispr goes even further: instead of adding a gene, the tool edits the genome itself.

After decades of research and clinical trials on a genetic fix to genetic disorders, 2019 saw a historic milestone: approval to bring to market the first gene therapies for a neuromuscular disease in the US and a blood disease in the European Union. They join several other gene therapies -- bringing the total to eight -- approved in recent years to treat certain cancers and an inherited blindness. Serge Braun, the scientific director of the French Muscular Dystrophy Association, sees 2019 as a turning point that will lead to a medical revolution. "Twenty-five, 30 years, that's the time it had to take," he told AFP from Paris.

"It took a generation for gene therapy to become a reality. Now, it's only going to go faster." Just outside Washington, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), researchers are also celebrating a "breakthrough period." "We have hit an inflection point," said Carrie Wolinetz, NIH's associate director for science policy.These therapies are exorbitantly expensive, however, costing up to $2 million -- meaning patients face grueling negotiations with their insurance companies. They also involve a complex regimen of procedures that are only available in wealthy countries.

Gray spent months in hospital getting blood drawn, undergoing chemotherapy, having edited stem cells reintroduced via transfusion -- and fighting a general infection. "You cannot do this in a community hospital close to home," said her doctor. However, the number of approved gene therapies will increase to about 40 by 2022, according to MIT researchers. They will mostly target cancers and diseases that affect muscles, the eyes and the nervous system.

Bioterrorism

Another problem with Crispr is that its relative simplicity has triggered the imaginations of rogue practitioners who don't necessarily share the medical ethics of Western medicine. Last year in China, scientist He Jiankui triggered an international scandal -- and his excommunication from the scientific community -- when he used Crispr to create what he called the first gene-edited humans. The biophysicist said he had altered the DNA of human embryos that became twin girls Lulu and Nana.

His goal was to create a mutation that would prevent the girls from contracting HIV, even though there was no specific reason to put them through the process. "That technology is not safe," said Kiran Musunuru, a genetics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, explaining that the Crispr "scissors" often cut next to the targeted gene, causing unexpected mutations. "It's very easy to do if you don't care about the consequences," Musunuru added. Despite the ethical pitfalls, restraint seems mainly to have prevailed so far.

The community is keeping a close eye on Russia, where biologist Denis Rebrikov has said he wants to use Crispr to help deaf parents have children without the disability. There is also the temptation to genetically edit entire animal species -- malaria-causing mosquitoes in Burkina Faso or mice hosting ticks that carry Lyme disease in the US. The researchers in charge of those projects are advancing carefully, however, fully aware of the unpredictability of chain reactions on the ecosystem.

Charpentier doesn't believe in the more dystopian scenarios predicted for gene therapy, including American "biohackers" injecting themselves with Crispr technology bought online. "Not everyone is a biologist or scientist," she said. And the possibility of military hijacking to create soldier-killing viruses or bacteria that would ravage enemies' crops? Charpentier thinks that technology generally tends to be used for the better. "I'm a bacteriologist -- we've been talking about bioterrorism for years," she said. "Nothing has ever happened."

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Year in Review: Gene Therapy Technology and a Milestone 2019 for Medical Research - News18

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The rest is here:
Industry VoicesA doctor's perspective on the top 3 healthcare trends to watch in 2020 - FierceHealthcare

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As we close out this decade, our biggest medtech stories of the past year have all looked toward whats coming nextwhether its new treatments or renewed companies, the common thread running through our most popular reads is that people are eager to see these advancements realize their promise.

Our top 10plus some honorable mentionsinclude research and breakthroughs in diabetes, Alzheimers disease, cancer testing and vision care, with some products tantalizingly close to that FDA green light and getting into the hands of doctors and patients.

It also covers large devicemakers and big pharmas aiming to remake themselves by embracing new technology or potentially new acquisitions.

How ICON, Lotus, and Bioforum are Improving Study Efficiency with a Modern EDC

CROs are often at the forefront of adopting new technologies to make clinical trials more efficient. Hear how ICON, Lotus Clinical Research, and Bioforum are speeding database builds and automating reporting tasks for data management.

Up first is our report on a closed-loop artificial pancreas system being developed by Tandem Diabetes Care and Dexcom that promises to automatically deliver insulin based on continuous glucose data and eliminate the need for frequent fingerstick draws or daily injections for people who have Type 1 diabetes.

A six-month trial supported by the National Institutes of Health followed participants as young as 14 as they used the system over their daily lives and found it helped keep blood sugar in a healthy range for longer. More importantly, users saw fewer spikes and drops over a 24-hour periodimportant news for children and adults who would prefer to sleep than manage their diabetes. The Control-IQ system recently picked up its FDA approval.

In an interesting twist, another of our most read stories also featured an artificial pancreas system, though it first debuted in 2016. Making its viral return this year was our piece on the FDAs approval of Medtronics MiniMed 670G, designed to regulate insulin with little personal input.

Our second story of 2019 comes from the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, where blood testing upstart Grail delivered early study results for its cancer-seeking diagnostic. Its liquid biopsy was able to identify 12 early-stage cancers and their locations in the body by searching for small, tainted pieces of tumor DNA floating in the bloodstream.

In third place is Novartis new, expansive partnership with Microsoft, which aims to put artificial intelligence tools in the hands of each of the big pharmas research associates. The five-year project includes plans for joint AI labs and clinical research supportand is paired with our tenth most popular story of the year, on the drugmakers separate team-up with Amazon to help revamp its supply chain and personalized medicine manufacturing.

Next, we have startup Sigrid Therapeutics, developer of an edible medical device to help ward off the progression of Type 2 diabetes. Technically a therapeutic material, Sigrid has been working on a superfine silica powder that mechanically separates stomach enzymes from food to slow down digestive processes.

In fifth is Strykers $4 billion acquisition of Wright Medical, which looks to give the company a stronger foothold in fast-growing orthopedic markets focused on the upper and lower extremitiesincluding joint replacements, bone grafts and fixation systems for shoulders, elbows, wrists, ankles and toes.

Elsewhere, Apple, Eli Lilly and Evidation presented their first results from a collaboration that hopes to develop digital warning signs for Alzheimer's by sifting through the data and patterns created in our day-to-day lives. Their work, on trying to spot the nearly imperceptible symptoms and changes that could belie cognitive decline, was featured in our list of the top lighthouse projects in AI and biopharma to keep an eye on in the future.

In seventh and eighth place we have two pieces exploring the latest in contact lens technology. A new silicone hydrogel material from Alcon contains 51% water and holds a permanent layer of moisture on the surface of the daily disposable. A second lens, developed by CooperVision, is designed to help slow the progression of nearsightedness in children by splitting off incoming light and reducing a potential driver of myopia.

Number nine delves into the future of the $8 billion diagnostics maker Qiagen as it considers being acquired by one of several potential suitors. That includes fellow diagnostics maker Thermo Fisher Scientific, which has begun early talks, according to reports. The news comes just a month after Qiagen announced its long-time CEO plans to step down amid a reorganization of the company around a 15-year partnership with Illumina.

Finally, we have our annual class of the FierceMedTech Fierce 15, the private companies we think will best move the needle when it comes to patient outcomes and technological advancement in the field.

And on a broader note, wed like to thank you all for helping to make 2019 FierceMedTechs best year yetreadership has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 12 months, and by at least 1 million views over 2018s total. But that wouldnt be possible if we didnt cover a dynamic industry with a surplus of interesting stories to tell.

Though were taking a short publication break for the holidays, we, like you, are still looking forward to 2020 and the decade ahead. Check in for any breaking news, and feel free to share your tips, thoughts and stories with us. We will return Jan. 2. Conor Hale

Read your top 10 stories here:

1) Closed-loop artificial pancreas from Tandem, Dexcom aces Type 1 diabetes study

2) ASCO: In early study results, Grail's blood test identifies 12 cancers before they spread

3) Novartis to put AI on every employee's desk through Microsoft partnership

4) Sigrid Therapeutics aims to ward off Type 2 diabetes with an edible, powdered medical device

5) Stryker to buy orthopedic device maker Wright Medical for $4B

6) Apple, Eli Lilly and Evidation present first results from digital Alzheimer's study

7) Alcon to launch new water-containing silicone hydrogel contact lenses in the U.S.

8) FDA approves first contact lens to slow childhood nearsightedness

9) Thermo Fisher looks to buy fellow diagnostics maker Qiagen: Bloomberg

10) Novartis' digital transformation continues apace with Amazon supply chain tie-up

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FierceMedTech's top 10 stories of 2019: Looking toward a new decade on the cutting edge - FierceBiotech

All too often, software patents stop more innovation than they promote. Patents are legal instruments that can be used to sue people and companies for creating, selling, or using software. Very often, the entities wielding software patents are patent trollscompanies that make money off suing and threatening to sue others instead of building or doing anything of their own.

Weve been advocating against problematic patents, particularly in software, for many years. In the past few years, its fair to say that patent trolls have been downbut not out. Two big changes that happened several years ago have made it realistic, finally, to get bad patents kicked out of the system. The first is the creation of the inter partes review system, in 2012; and next, the Supreme Courts Alice v. CLS Bank decision, in 2014.

Unfortunately, 2019 has shown us that we need to keep working to protect the patent system. Congress and the U.S. Patent Office have been working remarkably hard to roll back these positive changes, and make life easier for patent trolls. At the same time, the Federal Circuit has been eroding the effect of Alice in decisions like last years in HP v. Berkheimer and this years Garmin v. Cellspin.

At the beginning of the year, USPTO Director Andre Iancu promulgated new guidance for patent examiners that essentially allows them to blow off the clear guidelines of the Alice decision. What that meant, in practice, is that examiners are being told to issue more of the worst type of software patentsones that simply take abstract ideas, and make them sound like an invention by adding generic computer language. That means more patents coming out that will be fodder for patent trolls.

At EFF, we encouraged people to let the Patent Office know that the new guidelines were a bad idea. While we werent able to stop the new guidelines from taking effect, our supporters sent more than 1,500 comments to the Patent Officesending a strong message that everyday users of technology are finally watching a government office that, all too often, is left in a state of total industry capture.

In the U.S. Senate, leaders of a newly reconstituted IP Subcommittee have pushed forward two ideas that threaten to bring back the bad old days of peak patent trolling. The first attempt to empower patent trolls is a year-long effort to undermine Section 101 of the patent laws. Thats the section that bans patents on abstract ideas, natural phenomenon, and laws of nature. Its the area of law that the Supreme Court properly interpreted in the Alice case, and in recent years, has allowed courts to throw hundreds of junk patents out of the system.

Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) have insisted that Section 101 has stopped good inventions from getting patents. Thats not true. Many of the parties asking Congress to alter Section 101 are flat-out patent trolling entities, who dont invent any technology themselvestheyre simply good at manipulating the patent system and threatening lawsuits. Others are large incumbent companies with massive patent portfolios, like GlaxoSmithKline, Qualcomm, and IBM. These companies simply want more monopolies on areas of emerging technology, like artificial intelligence and personalized medicine.

At EFF, we spoke out against this misguided effort, and EFF Staff Attorney Alex Moss testified in front of Congress. In the end, no bill to damage Section 101 has yet been introduced. Thats a testament to the advocacy of EFF and our many allies on this issue. But well have to stay vigilant on this front, since theres no doubt the same groups, seeking to wring more money from the patent system, will be back again in 2020. Fortunately, were able to work together with a huge range of alliesnot just tech companies that want a balanced patent system, but also health care providers, labor unions, and consumer organizations.

Another perennial bad idea that returned in 2019 was the Stronger Patents Act, which would do a great job of strengthening patent trolls but offers nothing to true innovators. The Stronger Patents Act would have essentially wrecked inter partes review, or IPR, which is one of the most effective ways of challenging patents. Were glad to report this bill went nowhere, and hope we dont see it again.

Patent trolls continue to seek unjustified payments from companies of all sorts, many of them small firms that cant afford the million-dollar legal bills that would come with a patent trial. Just one example: a patent troll called Inventergy sued a family-owned GPS tracking company, along with several other GPS firms. Inventergy backed off once we sent a letter explaining the problems with its patent, and EasyTracGPS has become one of the firms that was Saved by Alice.

Another great example is Ruth Taylor, who was sued over her website that organized online photography contests. We helped Ruth win her patent case back in 2015. This year, we published a video interview with Ruth talking about her experience, facing down a patent trolls demand for $50,000 over her hobby website.

EFF scored a big win for transparency in the patent system when we intervened in a lawsuit filed by Uniloc, one of the most litigious patent trolls of all time, in court. Uniloc has sued dozens of technology companies, but at the same time has kept much of its most important pleadings redacted. But when Uniloc sued Apple, documents emerged that seemed to indicate Uniloc may not have rights to the patent it was asserting, because it had split the rights with a murky patent investment fund. EFF intervened to demand that the redacted documents be published, so that the public can understand the nature of Unilocs far-ranging allegations.

In May, Uniloc definitively lost this attempt to hide its machinations and shell games from the public. Uniloc has chosen to appeal this case to the Federal Circuit, where well defend the publics First Amendment right of access to the courts.

Finally, 2019 saw a major win for patents and free speech. In New Hampshire, a patent troll called Automated Transactions, LLC sued more than a dozen people and a trade group claiming it was defamedsimply because these groups had described it as a patent troll. EFF filed an amicus brief arguing this term cant be defamatory. The New Hampshire Supreme Court agreed, finding that calling someone a patent troll is a statement of protected opinion, not fact.

In 2020, with our supporters help, well continue to litigate, and advocate, for a fairer and more balanced patent system. And, when we need to, well call a troll a trolland you can, too.

This article is part of our Year in Review series. Read other articles about the fight for digital rights in 2019.

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Time to Save Alice: 2019 Year in Review - EFF

The United States is the top food exporter in the world, and scientists are constantly studying ways to protect the ag sector from the field and into the storage bins that hold crops, according to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Mycotoxins, a family of toxins generated by fungi attacking grains, nuts and other foods and commodities, impact public health and international trade. Researchers at the UA are leading some of the worlds most cutting-edge efforts to stop the prevalent toxins.

Burt Bluhm, associate professor of plant pathology for the University of Arkansas, is primary investigator and director of the Mycotoxin and Seed Borne Disease Research Lab. After operating out of the Rosen Alternative Pest Control Center on the UA Fayetteville main campus, the lab relocated in 2018 to the newly-constructed Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences, several miles north.

Bluhm said that mycotoxins, while pervasive, are still relatively unstudied, compared to other dangers faced by producers.

Mycotoxins in particular have been overlooked in some corners of the research world, Bluhm said. There are a lot of reasons for that. In some ways, especially in corn, and in the United States, its historically been perceived as a Southern problem. Mycotoxins havent been as common in the big corn-producing states through the Midwest.

Countries worldwide try to minimize an influx of foods that have these fungi. The European Union has stringent intolerances for the presence of mycotoxins in any grain shipment, especially imports, leading to the rejection of exports that would otherwise meet or exceed safety standards at the point of origin. In other areas of the world dealing with elevated food scarcity, mycotoxins are sometimes tied to severe illness.

For the E.U., its primarily a trade issue, Bluhm said. But in developing nations in Asia and Africa, mycotoxins are a more serious problem. Where food security is an issue, where people have to eat whatevers available, if the food is contaminated with mycotoxins, youll see outbreaks of extreme illness and death.

Mycotoxins are a family of toxins created when fungi feed on grain, either during the growing season, or when grain has been improperly stored. The fungi feed off the available carbohydrates, then secrete toxins into the colonized grain. In addition to corn, mycotoxins are found in other grains, tree nuts and cotton. There is a concern, Bluhm said, about possible mycotoxins in rice.

There are really two issues at play, Bluhm said. One is that a little bit of mycotoxin goes a long way, so to speak. So even if you have a low percentage of infected kernels, the mycotoxin-per-kernel can be very high. So at the level of a truckload, when that grain is eventually homogenized, even a relatively low incidence of infection can lead to serious problems.

Mycotoxins are relatively stable, and can easily survive the food making process, according to the World Health Organization. These fungi can cause liver damage, several types of cancers, kidney damage, can compromise a consumers immune system, and ingestion in some cases can lead to death, the World Health Organization reported. The fungi can be visible to the naked eye in the form of mold, but often it goes undetected.

Bluhm received his training in pathology, and mycotoxins specifically, at Purdue University in Indiana. When he arrived in Arkansas, he said, it was clear that the problem was more widespread in the states (and the regions) corn crops that he had realized.

Over the past decade, Bluhms lab has worked to map the genetic layout of the 20-30 fungi involved in creating mycotoxins around the world, searching for specific weaknesses to attack. The lab is also working to develop biological control agents to combat mycotoxins.

In some cases, if you apply a non-toxigenic strain of a species like you would a fungicide or insecticide, you overwhelm the fungus with that nontoxic cousin of whats naturally out there, Bluhm said. It can be very effective.

In October, the Division of Agriculture hosted the annual conference of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, commonly known as CAST. More than 70 representatives of academic, legal, governmental and other institutions attended the 2019 Annual Fall Board Meeting, touring facilities and projects chosen to highlight the universitys efforts and contributions to modern agriculture.

Dr. Mark Cochran, vice president for agriculture for the University of Arkansas System, said he selected Bluhms lab for conference attendees to tour because, in addition to the lab being fundamentally important to international food safety, it also speaks to CASTs concerns regarding the advancement of science and technology within the world of agriculture.

We tried to match our expertise with some of the issues CAST is addressing, Cochran said. CAST is organized into animal, plant and food working groups. A lot of the more complex issues are going to transcend all three of those areas.

Cochran also noted that Bluhm has been broadly recognized for his work as a molecular pathologist with particular expertise in mycotoxins of grain, Cercospora diseases of corn and soybeans, and the development of novel approaches for disease control.

His approaches have included molecular genetics, gene editing and the use of RNA interference, Cochran said. His research has been supported by several nationally competitive grants.

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Scientists trying to find ways to stop mycotoxins in crops, commodities - talkbusiness.net

This past year proved profitable for investors in Incyte (NASDAQ:INCY) and Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ:SGEN). Handily beating broad market and biotech indexes, these two drug manufacturers hit the $20 billion valuation mark and are poised to continue growing in the coming year -- unless, of course, an acquirer emerges.

Image Source: Getty Images

2019 was a solid year for Incyte, with its stock rising approximately 42%. Sales of its lead drug Jakafi exceeded $1.2 billion in the first nine months of the year. The company expects full-year sales of Jakafi to reach $1.65 billion to $1.68 billion. Royalties and sales of leukemia drug Iclusig in Europe added another $283 million over the first three quarters of the year.

Incyte's pipeline remains one of the most extensive in biotech. With nine late-stage drug candidates, seven have two or more phase 2 or phase 3 clinical trials under way. Its early stage portfolio sports another dozen drug candidates.

What does this mean for investors? Expect to see continuous program updates and clinical trial results throughout 2020 and 2021. Also, the breadth of the research and development pipeline coupled with revenues approaching $2 billion in 2020 should be able to absorb any R&D setbacks or failures.

Seattle Genetics flourished in 2019 with its stock more than doubling on the heels of positive news. Adcetris, Seattle Genetics' first approved cancer drug, continued to reach record sales levels each quarter, representing growth between 30% and 42% compared to the corresponding periods in 2018. The company expects the total year revenue to range between $625 million to $640 million for Adcetris.

This week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval three months ahead of schedule for Seattle Genetics' drug Padcev to treat the most common form of bladder cancer.Earlier this month, the company highlighted promising clinical trials results for a novel breast cancer drug called tucatinib. While Seattle Genetics feverishly readies tucatinib's New Drug Application (NDA) for approval, the FDA designated the drug as a Breakthrough Therapy.

Seattle Genetics is a stock to own for 2020.Padcev's approval means another revenue stream in addition to Adcetris. Importantly, three products could be marketed by the end of 2020. The company's management announced that it expects to file the NDA for tucatinib in the first quarter. This promising breast cancer drug also showed the ability to combat cancer that spread to the brain.

Incyte and Seattle Genetics are both perennial M&A targets. However, since both companies boast valuations of $20 billion, any acquirer needs to be able to afford that plus the premium to make a buyout attractive. Only big pharmaceutical companies can afford to shell out $20 billion to $40 billion, assuming a 100% acquisition premium at the top end of the range.

Currently, several big pharmaceutical companies are trying to digest recent or on-going acquisitions, taking them off the table as prospective near-term buyers. In January, Takeda Pharmaceuticalclosed its $62 billion acquisition of Shire. Bristol-Myers Squibbconcluded its $74 billion acquisition of Celgene in November. AbbVieremains in the thick of its $63 billion deal with Allergan. And by mid-2020, Pfizerhopes to complete the Viatris transaction, formed through the spinoff and merger of its Upjohn business unit with Mylan.

Japanese pharma Astellas(OTC:ALPMF) stands out as the natural buyer for Seattle Genetics. The companies enjoy a long-standing partnership dating back to 2007, which yielded Adcetris and now Padcev. However, Astellas' market cap is just $33 billion. Therefore, it would likely need to be a merger instead of an acquisition. Culturally, the existing partnership may be more productive than forcing a cross-border merger. Astellas traces its roots back to 1894and may prefer smaller, less dilutive acquisitions, like its recent $3 billion buyout of gene therapy companyAudentes Therapeutics.

Incyte partners Novartis (NYSE:NVS) and Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) seem like the most likely buyers. Even for Eli Lilly, the smaller of the two, an acquisition could be manageable. Earlier this month, Eli Lilly appointed Josh Bilenker and two of his key lieutenants to run oncology R&D. Eli Lilly bought their company Loxo Oncology earlier this year for roughly $8 billion. Could this changing of the guard with a deep background in targeted small molecules look to make a statement by acquiring Incyte?

Since we're speculating, here's another food for thought scenario. What if Incyte and Seattle Genetics merged? It's not so far-fetched...at least, on paper.

Both companies focus on oncology, while Incyte would bring diversification through its R&D in immunology, rheumatology, and dermatology. The merged company would have five marketed drugs. That could easily reach seven if Seattle Genetics' tucatinib and Incyte's pemigatinib gain approval in 2020.

Jakafi and Adcetris combined should generate more than $2.25 billion in sales in 2019. Incyte also sells the leukemia drug Iclusig in Europe. This commercial infrastructure and capability could be leveraged to market tucatinib, assuming approval. Seattle Genetics owns worldwide rights to the drug.

What about the R&D fit? Historically, Incyte discovered and developed small molecule drugs to inhibit specific enzymes called kinases. Through recent partnerships with Agenusand Merus, Incyte expanded into therapeutic antibodies and bispecific antibodies. This allowed it to get into the ultra-hot immuno-oncology field.

Seattle Genetics' platform seeks to develop antibody-drug conjugates, a "smart bomb" cancer therapy that tethers highly potent cancer-killing small molecules to an antibody that recognizes a specific molecular target on a cancer cell. Seattle Genetics' 2018 acquisition of Cascadian Therapeutics gave it tucatinib, a kinase inhibitor for breast cancer that could be FDA-approved next year, and an early stage immuno-oncology program. Thus, the R&D efforts of both companies can be viewed at a high level as complementary.

The biggest potential roadblock in a deal like this comes down to management. Who will run the combined company? Arguably, both management teams have done tremendous jobs at creating shareholder value and delivering new therapies to patients, with more to come.

If the personnel issues can be worked out, and with some additional creative deal-making, I can envision a dynamic entity able to step in to fill the hole left by Celgene. Willing to bet on cutting-edge science, Celgene transformed into one of the most prolific dealmakers sought out by emerging biotech companies as their partner of choice. Can Incyte and Seattle Genetics do the same? If $1 plus $1 can equal $3, will $20 billion plus $20 billion equal $60 billion?

I hope readers fully grasp the speculative nature of my idea. Incyte and Seattle Genetics are great companies in their own right. Creating much-needed therapies for patients remains the backbone of their businesses. The two companies benefit from approved drugs providing attractive cash flow to support the additional promising R&D. Will either or both companies get acquired? Nobody knows for sure. However, the stock prices should be higher this time next year making them each a worthy investment opportunity today.

See the article here:
A $20 Billion Sweet Spot in Biotech - The Motley Fool

This is the fourth of several posts written by students at the North Carolina School of Science and Math as part of an elective about science communication with Dean Amy Sheck.

Dr. Giny Foudas research focuses oninfant immune responses to infection and vaccination.

Her curiosity about immunology arose during her fourth year of medical school in Camaroon, when she randomly picked up a book on cancer immunotherapy and was captivated. Until then, she conducted research on malaria and connected it to her interest in pediatrics by studying the effects of the parasitic disease on the placentas of mothers.

As a postdoctoral fellow at Duke, shethen linked pediatrics and immunology to begin examining mother to childtransmission of disease and immunity.

Today she is an M.D. and a Ph.D. and amember of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute. Shes an assistant professor inpediatrics and an assistant research professor in the Department of Molecular Geneticsand Microbiology at Duke University School of Medicine.

Based on the recent finding that children of HIV-positive mothers are more susceptible to inheriting the disease, Fouda believes that it is important to understand how to intervene in passive immunity transmissions in order to limit them. Children and adults recover from diseases differently and uncovering these differences is important for vaccine development.

This area of research is personally important to her, because she learned from her service in health campaigns in Central Africa that it is much easier to prevent disease than to treat.

However, she believes that it is important to recognize that research is a collaborative experience with a team of scientists. Each discovery is not that of an individual, but can be accredited to everyones contribution, especially those whose roles may seem small but are vital to the everyday operations of the lab.

At the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Fouda enjoys collaborating as a team and contributing her time as a mentor and trainer of young scientists in the next generation.

Outside of the lab, Fouda likes to spend time reading books with her daughter, traveling, decorating and gardening. If there was one factor that improve how science in immunology is conducted, she would stress that preventing disease is significantly cheaper than treating those that become infected by it.

Dr. Fouda has made some remarkable progress in the field of disease treatment with her hard working and optimistic personality, and I know that she will continue to excel in her objectives for years to come.

Post by Vandanaa Jayaprakash NCSSM 2020

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Infants, Immunity, Infections and Immunization - Duke Today

Simon Stevens, head of NHS England becomes a Sir, leading this year's healthcare field in the 2020 New Year Honours List.

The recipients in healthcare are alongside stars of sport, entertainment, public service, politics, charity work, and "the outstanding achievements of people across the United Kingdom".

The knighthood for services to health and the NHS in England in this year's list came just days after a study in the BMJ found health professionals are underrepresented by the honours system.

The health, science, and technology sector accounts for around 14.6% of honours, the Cabinet Office said.

Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Cally Palmer was already a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) but is now a dame for services to cancer medicine. She's also National Cancer Director for NHS England and NHS Improvement.

In a statement, she said: "I feel incredibly fortunate to work for the NHS and to be surrounded by brilliant teams making great strides in progress for people affected by cancer. My role is simply to enable them, and all our staff, to do what they do best.

"Weve seen exceptional and very significant advances in our knowledge and understanding about better ways of researching, treating and curing cancer in the time Ive been at The Royal Marsden and it is a joy and a privilege to be able to make these improvements for the benefit of patients in the NHS and worldwide through groundbreaking research."

Prof Lesley Regan, who stood down as president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists earlier this month, also becomes a dame.

Her successor, Dr Eddie Morris said she was an inspiration. "In her time as President, Lesley has not shied away from controversy or criticism and has infinite energy when defending the rights of women."

There were other health related knighthoods; Chair of Genomics England, Jonathan Symonds became a Sir as did Dr Mene Pangalos, executive vice-president, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit at AstraZeneca for services to UK science.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, former chief medical officer for England, now UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) said on Twitter: "I am thrilled to be recognised in the New Year Honours with a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

"I owe this to the incredible teams I have worked with across the NHS, Govt, third sector, industry, public & global health. There is much to do on AMR so cannot stop yet."

Prof Alan Lehmann, research professor of molecular genetics at the University of Sussex, receives a CBE for services to medical science due to his research into xeroderma pigmentosum and cockayne syndrome.

There's a CBE for Dr Paul Lelliott, former deputy chief inspector of hospitals at the Care Quality Commission, for services to mental health.

Prof Karen Barker, clinical director for trauma and orthopaedics at Oxford University Hospitals, is awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire). Dr Debra Adams, head of infection prevention and control (Midlands and East), NHS England and NHS Improvement, also gets an OBE for services to infection prevention and nursing.

World Dementia Envoy, Dr Dennis Gillings, is named Knight Bachelor for services to the advancement of dementia and life sciences.

To mark the start of the World Health Organisation's Year of the Nurse and Midwife in 2020, 12 nurses and five midwives receive OBEs, MBEs (Members of the Order of the British Empire), and BEMs (British Empire Medal).

This includes MBEs for midwife Nicolette Peel who supports women affected by cancer during pregnancy, and Elizabeth Evans, who developed special stoma care services.

Also marking the event, the Duchess of Cambridge sent an open letter of appreciation to all midwives for their "amazing work".

Kate wrote: "You are there for women at their most vulnerable; you witness strength, pain and unimaginable joy on a daily basis."

She described the time she spent behind the scenes at Kingston Hospital's Maternity Unit, saying: "It gave me a broader insight into the true impact you have on everybody you help."

She quoted, Florence Nightingale, whose 200th anniversary is marked in 2020: "I attribute my success to this: I never have or took an excuse" and it is that mantra that I have seen time and time again in all of my encounters with you. You dont ask for praise or for recognition but instead unwaveringly continue your amazing work bringing new life into our world. You continue to demonstrate that despite your technical mastery and the advancement of modern medicine, it is the human to human relationships and simple acts of kindness that sometimes mean the most."

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NHS England Boss Knighted in New Year Honours - Medscape

A Sussex University professor has been recognised by the Queen in the New Year Honours List.

Alan Lehmann

Alan Lehmann, a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), has been made a CBE for services to medical science and to patients and families affected by xeroderma pigmentosum and Cockayne syndrome.

Professor Lehmann is research professor of molecular genetics whose research has helped to show how cells are able to repair damaged DNA and how these repair processes can go wrong in patients with certain genetic disorders.

The Royal Society said: His work has furthered our understanding of the links between DNA repair and cancer.

He identified a faulty gene that is responsible for the skin condition xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), which causes extreme sensitivity to sunlight and a strong predisposition to skin cancer.

He subsequently showed how mutations in the same gene can cause two other conditions that are clinically very different from XP.

He has developed diagnostic tests for XP and his laboratory runs a worldwide diagnostic service for XP, as well as Cockayne syndrome and trichothiodystrophy other conditions resulting from mutations in the same or related genes.

His XP diagnostic service is an integral part of the national XP multidisciplinary clinic.

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Sussex University professor honoured by Queen - Brighton and Hove News

A HOLOCAUST survivor who won the hearts of the nation on a TV dating show has been honoured by the Queen.

As a child, Eastbourne resident Dorit Oliver-Wolff hid from the Nazis in a cellar without light or heating for nine months after her family fled Hungary in 1941.

Earlier this year she achieved fame after a heartwarming date on Channel 4 show First Dates.

Now the 84-year-old has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Holocaust education and awareness, having addressed embassies and governments around the world.

She said she was gobsmacked when she received the news.

My head is getting so big, she said.

When I lived in Novi Sad I always thought I lived in the biggest city in the world.

I didnt even know what England was, it was just a little faraway island. Now Im going to Buckingham Palace. Its really exciting.

Just because I have an accent doesnt mean I havent adopted this country, and I am so happy this country has adopted me.

Ms Oliver-Wolff said she wanted to spread the message that life is for living.

A lot of people are only concerned about what happens in front of their house or next door, she said. But what we need to learn is bad things dont happen to them, they happen to us.

Its not just the Jewish people who have had their Holocaust, but so many other groups too.

I love my public speaking and I always tell people life is for living, not for being nasty.

The Holocaust survivor was one of many to have been named in the 2020 New Year Honours list.

Former Argus reporter Annie Nightingale was awarded a CBE for services to radio as BBC Radio 1s longest-serving presenter.

Ms Nightingale, who previously received an MBE, first worked as a journalist in Brighton.

I was rather attracted to the idea of racing around in a sports car with front page news. Of course, it is very different from that in reality, she said. I was interviewing movie stars one day and somebody involved in a murder the next. It was an incredible beginning, it was a great grounding. I met a really amazing team of reporters, all destined for Fleet Street, so I really had to up my game.

Meanwhile 24-year-old Pevensey makeup artist Kaiya Swain earned a British Empire Medal for winning the gold medal for beauty therapy at the Worldskills championship. Ms Swain made her name at the 2017 skills Olympics in Abu Dhabi.

Now one of the best young role models in the country, she has her own home salon. Its incredible. Im so grateful. Ive spent four long hard years of training, she said. I work for myself and I have a salon at home.

I specialise in eyelash extensions and I offer a range of treatments.

The competition was for everyone from cooks and engineers to beauty therapists like me.

Veteran marathon runner Rosie Thompson was awarded an MBE for services to the Armed Forces.

The 62-year-old Hurstpierpoint resident has run more than 36 marathons as part of the Not Forgotten Association, which helps lonely veterans.

In her 21 years at the charity she has raised more than 250,000 for those in need. Im shocked but thrilled. Im just getting used to it, she said.

Im very aware that I get paid to work for a charity, and Ive always wanted to give something back.

Thats why I go out on the streets and run marathons. Its to give something back to the community.

Ms Thompson said she took inspiration from the veterans she helps.

What I like most about my job is seeing the progress of people injured, she said. Veterans who have been shot or lost limbs go on to climb Kilimanjaro.

They often say Im their inspiration, but theyre mine.

Brighton pensioner Peter Burrows receives a British Empire Medal for services to the citys community.

The 78-year-old has raised money for a food bank, an allotment, and a community garden in Queens Park.

But Mr Burrows said he was not worthy of the honour.

I dont think Ive done anything extraordinary. Im just doing my bit, he said. I do a lot of work for the church, I clean up litter, and I clear the pavements of ice just ordinary things that anyone would do. I havent got a clue who recommended me.

Meanwhile in the village of Lodsworth, Martin Lester was very surprised when he got news of his British Empire Medal.

The 76-year-old has helped building a village hall, a community shop, and Lodsworth Larder for sharing food.

But he felt the entire community deserved the award.

The larder was probably the best thing thats happened to this village, but it was the local pub that really helped out, he said.

Weve got one of the best village halls in Sussex that we keep updating and everyone in this village is fantastic. Ive been working on the parish council for 20 years and it has been a full team effort.

When I got the letter about the award I was told to keep schtum, which has been difficult. But its good fun.

University of Sussex Professor Alan Lehmann has been made a CBE for service to medical science.

The professor of molecular genetics has made groundbreaking research into two rare genetic conditions.

Jane Goldingham, 62, from Brighton, was awarded an MBE for services to social work. She has taken a leading role in East Sussex and across the South East to improve learning, practice and support for social workers.

She was a frontline social worker for 16 years, and more recently, she has worked in adult social care.

Samson Rattigan, 28, from Brighton, was awarded a BEM for services to young people and families from gypsy and traveller communities in Sussex.

And Lindfield charity chief Paul Ramsbottom has been given an OBE.

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Dorit Oliver-Wolff on New Year's Honour's list - The Argus

Smoking is bad and it can affect almost every aspect of your life. Passive smoking is also as bad as active smoking. In fact, some of the effects of smoking cannot be reversed even after you stop. But if you stop, then, you bring down your risk of many unwanted health complications. A study at Uppsala University and Uppsala Clinical Research Center says that smoking alters several genes that can be associated with health problems for smokers, such as increased risk for cancer and diabetes. The journal Human Molecular Genetics published this study.

Health complications due to smoking is a leading cause of death globally. In fact, cigarette smoking causes more deaths today than any other diseases including HIV, accidents, drug and alcohol abuse and firearm mortality.

Let us take a look at how smoking affects your body.

Cigarettes contain nicotine that can reach your brain within seconds of lighting up. As it is a stimulant, it gives you an energy rush for a while, but once the smoke subsides, it can make your brain feel tired and crave for more kicks of energy and pleasure.

Smoking also alters your brains response to senses such as taste and smell and can make you want to eat less while you smoke. Any time that you do not smoke, your body goes into a withdrawal mode that can have a negative effect on your cognitive abilities and lead to depression, anxiety and restlessness. It can also trigger headaches, blurry vision and insomnia.

Your lungs help to filter out any harmful chemicals that you may inhale, but inhaling smoke over a long period of time can damage your lungs ability to do so. Even though you may cough frequently as a result of smoking, the toxins will still remain inside your lungs and can lead to various respiratory diseases such as cold, flu and other infections.

Smoking can have a significant impact on your digestive system and increases your risk of certain types of cancer, such as cancer of the pancreas, kidneys and the mouth. It can also cause inflammation of the gums, known as gingivitis as well as infection in the gums, also known as periodontitis. It is also directly related to poor oral health, and can cause oral decay, bad breath as well as loss of tooth earlier as compared to those who are not exposed to smoke.

Smoking can directly impact the way your body reacts to insulin and can put you at a higher risk of having insulin resistance. It means that if you are regularly exposed to smoke, your chances of developing type 2 diabetes are very high and you will develop complications related to diabetes faster as compared to those who are not exposed to cigarette smoke.

Smoking can restrict the flow of blood to vital organs in your body and can limit the ability of erection in males. It can also make it more difficult for you to reach an orgasm as your brain does not get enough stimulus from the act.

Smoking can also lead to various complications in your pregnancy, put you at risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and birth defects. Mothers with exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy have a higher risk of having babies who will be prone to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Female smokers are also at a higher risk of reaching menopause earlier than those who do not smoke. They are more prone to cervical cancer.

Text sourced from zliving.com

Published : December 28, 2019 2:40 pm | Updated:December 28, 2019 2:40 pm

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Are you a chain smoker? Beware of blurry vision and diabetes - TheHealthSite

Washington D.C. (USA), Dec 29 (ANI): A recent study has suggested that food items containing more grease and fat can put the communication between intestine and rest of the human body to stop.

A team of Duke researchers has discovered that a high-fat meal completely shuts down the communication for a few hours. After they observed using the fish to examine cells that normally tell the brain and the rest of the body what's going on inside the gut after a meal.

The cells they were looking at are the enteroendocrine cells, which occur sparsely throughout the lining of the gut, but play a key role in signalling the body about the all-important alimentary canal. In addition to releasing hormones, the cells also have a recently-discovered direct connection to the nervous system and the brain.

These cells produce at least 15 different hormones to send signals to the rest of the body about gut movement, feelings of fullness, digestion, nutrient absorption, insulin sensitivity, and energy storage.

"But they fall asleep on the job for a few hours after a high-fat meal, and we don't yet know if that's good or bad," said John Rawls, an associate professor of molecular genetics and microbiology in the Duke School of Medicine.

Since enteroendocrine cells are key player's indigestion, the feeling of being full and subsequent feeding behaviour, this silencing may be a mechanism that somehow causes people eating a high-fat diet to eat even more.

"This is a previously unappreciated part of the postprandial (after-meal) cycle," Rawls said.

"If this happens every time we eat an unhealthy, high-fat meal, it might cause a change in insulin signalling, which could, in turn, contribute to the development of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes."

To understand the silencing better, the researchers tried to break the process down step by step in zebra-fish, reports the study published in 'eLife'.

After they first sense a meal, the enteroendocrine cells trigger a calcium burst within seconds, initiating the signalling process.

But after that initial signal, there's a delayed effect later in the after-meal period. It's during this later response that the silencing occurs, said Rawls, who also directs Duke's Microbiome Center.

The silenced cells change shape and experience stress in their endoplasmic reticulum, a structure that assembles new proteins. It seems that these enteroendocrine cells, which are specialized to synthesise and secrete proteins like hormones and neurotransmitters, become overstimulated and exhausted for a while.

The team tried the high-fat diet on a line of germ-free zebrafish raised in the absence of any microbes and found they didn't experience the same silencing effect. So they began looking for gut microbes that might be involved in the process.

After screening through all the kinds of bacteria found in the gut, they saw that the silencing appeared to be the work of a single type of gut bacteria, called Acinetobacter. (ANI)

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Fatty food can restrict gut communication with body: Study - Yahoo India News

For all of the wondrous potential of immunotherapies, there have been some notable obstacles in the early goings. Engineering immune cells to attack cancerous tumors can lead to solid results shortly after administering a dose, but for many patients the effects wear off once rapidly mutating tumor cells acquire new defense mechanisms.

Cellectis (NASDAQ:CLLS) thinks it may have a partial solution. In mid-November, the gene editing company published the results from a proof of concept study for its "smart" immunotherapy approach. Is the technique the future of cellular medicine?

Image source: Getty Images.

Today, cellular oncology therapies genetically engineer immune cells to bolster their safety and efficacy as a cancer treatment. There are T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and others. They're often engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) or T cell receptors (TCRs), which allow them to home in on and suppress specific genes in cancer cells.

While current-generation CAR T cells or CAR NK cells are capable of mounting formidable attacks on tumors at first, treatment responses aren't durable for all patients. That's because cancer cells mutate to rely on different proliferation genes, or secrete new molecules into the tumor microenvironment that neutralize immune cells. Meanwhile, overstimulating the immune system can reduce the potency of immune cells and lead to devastating side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome.

That prompted Cellectis to design "smart" CAR T cells capable of adapting to changes in the tumor microenvironment. In a proof of concept study, the company utilized synthetic biology concepts to rewire genetic circuits in three different genes of the initial T cells.

One edit made the immunotherapy more potent, but in a controlled manner to reduce off-target toxicity. The other two edits imbued CAR T cells with the ability to secrete inflammatory proteins inside the tumor microenvironment in proportion to the concentration of cancer cells.

In other words, the smart CAR T cells only asked for help from the rest of the immune system when it was needed most, which increased the anti-tumor activity of treatment and made native immune cells less likely to become neutralized. That should reduce the likelihood of triggering cytokine release syndrome, the most common (and potentially fatal) side effect of cellular medicines, which is caused by high concentrations of immune cells.

The study was conducted in mice, which means the safety and efficacy observations can't be extrapolated into humans. But that wasn't the point. The proof of concept demonstrates that the basic idea of engineering tightly controlled genetic circuits into immunotherapies is feasible. It could even allow multiple genetic circuits of the same drug candidate to be tested against one another in parallel, hastening drug development and lowering costs. Is it the inevitable future of cellular medicine?

Image source: Getty Images.

Gene editing tools are required to engineer immune cells. In fact, immunotherapies are the lowest hanging fruit for gene editing technology platforms today. It's simply easier to engineer immune cells in the lab (ex vivo) than it is to engineer specific cell types in the complex environment of the human body (in vivo).

That explains why nearly every leading gene editing company has immunotherapy programs in its pipeline. Coincidentally, all of the leading drug candidates in the industry pipeline are off-the-shelf CAR T cells engineered to treat CD19 malignancies such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), regardless of the gene editing approach used. The smart CAR T cells designed by Cellectis targeted CD22 malignancies, but the approach could be adapted to CD19 antigen.

Developer(s)

Drug Candidate

Gene Editing Approach

Development Status

Cellectis and Servier

UCART19

TALEN

Phase 2

Precision BioSciences (NASDAQ:DTIL)

PCAR0191

ARCUS gene editing

Phase 1/2

CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP)

CTX110

CRISPR-Cas9

Phase 1/2

Sangamo Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SGMO) and Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD)

KITE-037

Zinc finger nuclease

Preclinical

Data source: Company websites.

Will these companies eventually turn to "smart" immunotherapies with regulated genetic circuits? It does seem inevitable, especially if the approach can reduce or eliminate cytokine release syndrome and enable more durable responses.

For example, Cellectis reported that all seven patients taking part in the phase 1 trial of UCART19 suffered from at least grade 1 cytokine release syndrome, which caused complications that led to the death of one patient. Five of the seven patients achieved molecular remission, but one relapsed (and remained alive) and one died. To be fair, all patients taking part in the trial had advanced, heavily pretreated B-ALL.

Precision BioSciences has encountered similar obstacles in an ongoing phase 1/2 trial of PBCAR0191. The company's lead drug candidate was administered to nine patients with NHL or B-ALL. Three cases of cytokine release syndrome were reported, but all were manageable. Seven responded to treatment, including two that achieved a complete response, but three eventually relapsed.

CRISPR Therapeutics recently began dosing patients with CTX110 in a phase 1/2 trial that will eventually enroll up to 95 individuals, but initial results won't be available until 2020. Sangamo Therapeutics and Kite Pharma, a subsidiary of Gilead Sciences, are plowing ahead with zinc fingers,but are still in preclinical development.

Investors seem pleased with most of these gene editing stocksright now. After all, despite the obstacles, current-generation cellular medicines are delivering impressive results in patient populations with relatively few options. But upcoming data readouts could easily differentiate the pack. That could increase the need to invest in augmented capabilities, such as smart immunotherapies.

There's plenty of untapped potential in cellular medicine. Today, companies are developing drug candidates with engineered CARs and TCRs designed to test hypotheses about the function of immunotherapies. As approaches find success, measured in safer and more durable responses, the next layer of complexity will be added in an effort to find even more successful therapies. And the cycle will continue.

Therefore, it seems inevitable that the field of cellular medicine will turn to smart immunotherapies with more complex genetic edits, much like the field quickly embraced the need for engineered immune cells and off-the-shelf manufacturing processes. That said, the immediate focus for Cellectis and its peers is building a stable foundation -- and those efforts have only just begun.

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Did Cellectis Just Provide a Glimpse of the Future of Cellular Medicine? - The Motley Fool

Media Advisory

Friday, December 27, 2019

Findings from NIH-funded study could inform treatment strategies.

Identical twins with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience large differences in symptom severity even though they share the same DNA, according to an analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health. The findings suggest that identifying the causes of this variability may inform the treatment of ASD-related symptoms. The study was conducted by John Constantino, M.D., of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and colleagues. Funding was provided by NIHs Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The study appears in Behavior Genetics.

ASD is a developmental disorder that affects how a person behaves, interacts with others and learns. Previous studies have found that when one identical twin has ASD, chances are extremely likely that the other twin has it, too.

The authors analyzed data from three previous studies comprising a total of 366 identical twin pairs with and without ASD. The severity of autism traits and symptoms in the twins was measured by a clinicians assessment or by parents ratings on a standardized questionnaire. Some cases were diagnosed by both methods. The researchers determined a 96% chance that if one twin has ASD, the other has it, too. However, symptom scores varied greatly between twins diagnosed with ASD. The researchers estimated that genetic factors contributed to only 9% of the cause of trait variation among these twins. In contrast, among pairs of identical twins without ASD, the scores for traits were very similar.

The study authors do not know the reasons for differences in symptom severity, but they rule out genetic and most environmental causes because the twins share the same DNA and were raised in the same environment. Additional studies are needed to determine the cause.

Alice Kau, Ph.D., NICHD Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Branch, is available for comment.

Castelbaum, L. On the nature of monozygotic twin concordance for autistic trait severity: A quantitative analysis. Behavior Genetics.2019.

About theEunice Kennedy ShriverNational Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD conducts and supports research in the United States andthroughout the world on fetal, infant and child development; maternal, child and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visitNICHDs website.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

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Severity of autism symptoms varies greatly among identical twins - National Institutes of Health

Filmmaker and actor Xavier Dolan and the co-founders of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Andr Mnard and Alain Simard, were among those who were inducted into the Order of Canada on Friday. Legendary Quebec actor Marcel Sabourin, 84, was named an Officer of the Order.

Artists, former politicians, scientists and community leaders were recognized for their extraordinary contributions. A total of 120 people were either appointed to the Order or received promotions.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper and former ambassador Raymond Chrtien received the highest rank of Companion to the Order.

Mnard and Simard were appointed Officers Mnard for his contribution to the Montreal cultural scene, notably as artistic director of the (jazz festival), Simard for his key role in positioning Montreal as a city of festivals and for his leadership as the head of quipe Spectra.

Among the other new Officers of the Order are four-time Olympic womens hockey gold medallist Caroline Ouellette and former Quebec cabinet minister Raymond Bachand.

Denyse McCann, a co-founder of quipe Spectra, was selected as a Member of the Order. Dolan received the same honour for his talent, which has earned him international recognition as an actor, screenwriter and director. Gilles Ste-Croix was also appointed as a Member for his creativity and imagination as co-founder and director of the Cirque du Soleil.

In the university and scientific sector, UQAM professor Alain-G. Gagnon (Officer) was recognized for his contribution to the social sciences, notably for his research into federalism, francophone-anglophone relations, and national identities.

McGill University Professor Daniel Jutras (Officer), was honoured for his contributions to the development of pluralist law internationally and for his contributions as a lawyer, professor and university administrator.

CHUM researcher Pavel Hamet (Member), was recognized for his contributions to genetic medicine and to the development of new clinical treatments for hypertension and diabetes.

Jean-Charles Coutu, the former mayor of Rouyn-Noranda (Officer), was praised for his contributions to the legal profession in the area of Indigenous justice and for his community involvement.

Elsewhere in Canada, biologist Anne Dagg, known as the queen of giraffes, became a Member of the Order for her contributions to the modern scientific understanding of the giraffe.

Dagg was one of several women honoured by the Order for their scientific work, including 2018 Nobel Prize winner Donna Strickland (Companion) and Noni MacDonald of Halifax (Officer), a pediatrician who has served on behalf of the World Health Organization.

Other Montrealers named to the Order:

Officers

Annette av Paul, for her contributions to ballet and for her mentorship as a dancer, teacher and director.

Karen Messing, for her pioneering research into ergonomic work conditions, particularly as they affect womens health.

Members

Maurice Brisson, for his expertise in designing electrification plans and for his philanthropic contributions to electrical engineering education.

Marie Gigure, for her leadership in commercial and corporate law, for her commitment to increasing the role of women in business, and for her dedication to the community.

Arshavir Gundjian, for his contributions to recognizing and promoting Armenian culture in Canada and abroad.

Alcides Lanza, for his decades-long contributions to the contemporary music scene and for championing Canadian music here and abroad.

Isabelle Marcoux, for promoting diversity within Quebecs economic community and for her involvement in numerous fundraising campaigns.

Robert Dick Richmond, for his innovative designs as an aeronautical engineer and for his contributions to the aviation industry.

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Xavier Dolan, Andr Mnard and Alain Simard appointed to the Order of Canada - Montreal Gazette