Posted: May 3, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Pathways leading to beta cell division identified, may aid diabetes treatment Science Daily Impairment and the loss of beta cells interrupts insulin production, leading to type 1 and 2 diabetes. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers have, for the first time, mapped out pathways that regulate beta cell growth that could be exploited to ... |
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Pathways leading to beta cell division identified, may aid diabetes treatment - Science Daily
Posted: May 3, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Digital Diabetes Solutions
With employers footing a major part of the nation's massive diabetes-driven $300 billion medical bill, new digitally based workplace programs are showing progress in managing those costs and improving employees' lives.
By Tom Starner
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
What if an employer could cut in half the amount of prescription drugs used to treat employees' diabetes?
The obvious, extremely potent benefit of that scenario would be the dramatic improvement of affected employees' lives. And then there is the obvious cost saving, which would add up quickly for employers trying to stem the ever-rising price of healthcare benefits.
Human resource leaders at Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Ind., are finding out what it's like to experience such a dramatic change within its workforce.
Purdue is much like other employers affected by the costs involved in managing employees' diabetes, with more than 1,800 known Purdue employees and their family members living with the disease, leading to millions of dollars in medical costs. Since early 2016, however, a subgroup of Purdue employees has been enrolled in a specialized program from San Francisco-based Virta Health in an effort to treat their type 2 diabetes while also saving money and living healthier lives.
The early results, according to Purdue's HR department, show the program's promise.
"Virta did the work for us and kept our employees engaged, and the results have been incredibly promising," says Denny Darrow, Purdue's vice president of HR. "And based upon early success, we are now making Virta available to all eligible people with type 2 diabetes in our employee and dependent populations."
Diabetes is among the top five chronic health conditions affecting Purdue employees, Darrow says, adding that incorporating Virta -- which is delivered online -- into the diabetes outreach that already exists at the university provides another avenue for those living with type 2 diabetes (or for those who have been identified as in the "pre-diabetes" segment) to get assistance.
"Our hope is that it is successful for all affected Purdue employees as well," he says. "For those who choose to participate and are successful, research shows that, not only will their overall health improve, but there should be savings on healthcare medications."
On a more personal level, one Purdue employee who participated in the program calls it a lifesaver.
Kim Canine, a housing business process analyst at Purdue, lived with type 2 diabetes for two years and was on diabetes and blood pressure medication when she enrolled in the program. A year later, she's been able to stop taking all her old medications.
"I have tried everything to get my sugar and weight under control, and nothing worked," Canine says. "I was concerned about losing time with my family due to this disease. I can confidently say that Virta has saved my life, and it has also helped my mother and brother.
"The food is not a focus anymore in my life," she adds. "It's my friends, it's my family, it's my work. It's being outside and enjoying life again."
According to Mike Payne, head of commercial and policy at Virta Health, there is an estimated $300 billion spent annually on diabetes and pre-diabetes management nationwide. Among the U.S. workforce, 29 million people suffer from type 2 diabetes and 86 million from pre-diabetes -- an average of one in 10 employees or dependents.
The Virta-Purdue partnership comes on the heels of Virta's peer-reviewed studyin which the firm's approach was successful in lowering A1c levels (the primary blood glucose metric) below the diabetic range in more than 50 percent of trial participants with type 2 diabetes. To do that, the online clinic offers physician supervision and a dedicated health coach, digital tracking tools and an app, and a personalized nutrition and care plan.
For people with type 2 diabetes, Payne says, achieving blood sugar value reductions to below the diabetic range -- rather than simply managing the disease -- leads to more energy and better health. He says that employers in industries such as healthcare, education, government, transportation, utilities and manufacturing have large diabetic populations within their workforces.
"We are seeing much interest from HR leaders who understand that not all great healthcare comes from health plans alone," he says, adding that Virta's calculations find that employers can see a break-even ROI in year one or, at the latest, year two.
Apart from comprehensive programs such as Virta's offering, disease management using digital solutions can also have a positive impact. For example, a new study from the Northeast Business Group on Health, finds that digital diabetes solutions can make a difference.
While it's not a panacea, digital solutions can offer employers valuable assistance in combatting diabetes among their populations, says Jeremy Nobel, executive Director of NEBGH's Solutions Center, which conducted the Digital Diabetes Solutions in Action: An Opportunity Study.
"Diabetes remains a major concern for employers because of direct cost of treatment, as well as impairment in employee performance," Nobel says, adding that NEBGH research has confirmed that employers are very receptive to the potential benefits of digital diabetes care and see it as part of a "next generation" approach to supporting employees and dependents suffering from the disease.
Adding a digital component to diabetes care coordination offers significant advantages in better engaging patients in their care, he says, as well as proving an important stream of digital data that can be used to optimize therapy and assist patients in meeting treatment goals.
"It's too early for long-term measurable results . . . but based on observations we would encourage other employers to consider whether implementing a digital health solution -- for managing diabetes or other chronic illnesses -- might benefit their employee populations."
Send questions or comments about this story to hreletters@lrp.com.
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Digital Diabetes Solutions - Human Resource Executive Online
Posted: May 2, 2017 at 1:45 pm
May 01, 2017 07:30 ET | Source: Research and Markets
Dublin, May 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of Jain PharmaBiotech's new report "Animal Biotechnology - Technologies, Markets and Companies" to their offering.
This report describes and evaluates animal biotechnology and its application in veterinary medicine and pharmaceuticals as well as improvement in food production. Knowledge of animal genetics is important in the application of biotechnology to manage genetic disorders and improve animal breeding. Genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics are also being applied to animal biotechnology.
Transgenic technologies are used for improving milk production and the meat in farm animals as well as for creating models of human diseases. Transgenic animals are used for the production of proteins for human medical use. Biotechnology is applied to facilitate xenotransplantation from animals to humans. Genetic engineering is done in farm animals and nuclear transfer technology has become an important and preferred method for cloning animals.There is discussion of in vitro meat production by culture
Biotechnology has potential applications in the management of several animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, avian flu and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The most important biotechnology-based products consist of vaccines, particularly genetically engineered or DNA vaccines. Gene therapy for diseases of pet animals is a fast developing area because many of the technologies used in clinical trials humans were developed in animals and many of the diseases of cats and dogs are similar to those in humans.RNA interference technology is now being applied for research in veterinary medicine
Molecular diagnosis is assuming an important place in veterinary practice. Polymerase chain reaction and its modifications are considered to be important. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays are also widely used. Newer biochip-based technologies and biosensors are also finding their way in veterinary diagnostics.
Biotechnology products are approved by the Center for Veterinary Medicine of the FDA. Regulatory issues relevant to animal biotechnology are described.
Approximately 124 companies have been identified to be involved in animal biotechnology and are profiled in the report. These are a mix of animal healthcare companies and biotechnology companies. Top companies in this area are identified and ranked. Information is given about the research activities of 11 veterinary and livestock research institutes. Important 108 collaborations in this area are shown.
Share of biotechnology-based products and services in 2016 is analyzed and the market is projected to 2026.
Key Topics Covered:
Executive Summary
1. Introduction to Animal Biotechnology
2. Application of Biotechnology in Animals
3. A Biotechnology Perspective of Animals Diseases
4. Molecular Diagnostics in Animals
5. Biotechnology-based Veterinary Medicine
6. Research in Animal Biotechnology
7. Animal Biotechnology Markets
8. Regulatory issues
9. Companies Involved in Animal Biotechnology
10. References
For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6hlgn5/animal
Source: Jain PharmaBiotech
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Animal Biotechnology Technologies, Markets and Companies 2016-2026 - GlobeNewswire (press release)
Posted: May 2, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Dr. Felister Makini, Deputy Director General (crops) at the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), noted that African women play a critical role in ensuring food security. She urged the government to make farming easier for them by providing modern tools such as biotechnology. As African women, we are the ones who suffer most whenever drought and food shortages strike, despite the availability of technological solutions to these problems, she said. We need to speak with one voice and advocate for a predictable policy environment. I have children and a family to protect. I cannot advocate for something that I know would affect them she added.
On her part, Prof. Caroline Thoruwa, Chairperson, African Women in Science and Engineering (AWSE), noted that for Africa to advance in agri-biotech, women must be involved. It is time to tell the public about the positive side of biotechnology. We need to raise up the status of women in biotechnology and also encourage women to network in order to achieve the noble goal of sharing their science, she said.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post:AFRICAN WOMEN IN BIOSCIENCES CALL FOR SUPPORTIVE POLICIES ON BIOTECHNOLOGY
For more background on the Genetic Literacy Project, read GLP on Wikipedia
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Kenyan scientists push for female farmers' access to biotechnology - Genetic Literacy Project
Posted: May 2, 2017 at 1:45 pm
The CBD Magic Hemp Series line will include cleansers, moisturizing lotions and anti-aging products created using supercritical CO2 extraction technology. CBD Biotech also plans to launch a series of oral spray vitamins and supplements that can be used for relaxation, pain relief and sleep, among others things. Yun will oversee marketing and sales of these products in China, and utilizing his branding and marketing expertise, he will work to grow the CBD Biotech brand.
"I believe Yun is the perfect candidate to oversee CBD Biotech's operations. I am confident in his ability to introduce this revolutionary CBD-based skin care line to China and create and generate substantial revenue for CIIX," says Wang.
Yun served as a marketing executive for the cosmetics branch company of TianJing Department Store to introduce both Procter & Gamble and Ponds to the Chinese market. As a brand agent, Yun experienced how Procter & Gamble cooperated with GuangZhou Soap Factory to enter the Chinese market, where he introduced the Head & Shoulders and Olay brands to the Chinese market. In 1996, Yun founded Sino-US Trade Development Co., Ltd. in TianJing Development Zone, and at the same time introduced the French L'anfu Cosmetics brand and Shanghai L'anfu Cosmetics brand to the Chinese market. Over the past 28 years, Yun has served as Chinese brand agent to many major skin and health care brands.
About ChineseInvestors.com (OTCQB: CIIX)
Founded in 1999, ChineseInvestors.com endeavors to be an innovative company providing: (a) real-time market commentary, analysis, and educational related services in Chinese language character sets (traditional and simplified); (b) advertising and public relation related support services; and (c) retail and online sales of hemp-based products and other health related products
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Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.
Contact: ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. 227 W. Valley Blvd, #208 A San Gabriel, CA 91776
Investor Relations: Alan Klitenic +1-214-636-2548
Corporate Communications: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) New York, New York http://www.NetworkNewsWire.com +1-212-418-1217 Office Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
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ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. Appoints Summer Yun as CEO of CBD Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Wholly-owned - PR Newswire (press release)
Posted: May 2, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Is stories | Prana Biotechnology Limited (ADR) (NASDAQ:PRAN) Soars On Xenetic Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:XBIO) Distribution ... StockNewsUnion Prana Biotechnology Limited (ADR) (NASDAQ:PRAN) continues to power high in the market on the back of a recently announced product distribution deal. A deal with Xenetic Biosciences is expected to make the company's products available on the ... Traders are Following Technical Levels for Prana Biotechnology Ltd (PRAN) Notable Institutional Stake In These Stocks: Prana Biotechnology (NASDAQ:PRAN), Adamis Pharmaceuticals ... Does Prana Biotechnology Limited (PRAN)'s current closing price competes the market? |
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Prana Biotechnology Limited (ADR) (NASDAQ:PRAN) Soars On Xenetic Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:XBIO) Distribution ... - StockNewsUnion
Posted: May 2, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Stocks Gallery | 379,289 Shares in Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Acquired by ... The Cerbat Gem Emerald Advisers Inc. PA bought a new stake in shares of Puma Biotechnology Inc (NYSE:PBYI) during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F ... Puma Biotechnology (PBYI) Receives Daily Media Sentiment Rating of 0.44 Credit Suisse Group AG Reaffirms "Outperform" Rating for Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Puma Biotechnology, Inc.'s (PBYI) is at $40.55 per share and Abaxis, Inc.'s (ABAX) is listed at $45.84 |
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379,289 Shares in Puma Biotechnology Inc (PBYI) Acquired by ... - The Cerbat Gem
Posted: May 2, 2017 at 1:44 pm
The ability of stem cells to divide into different mature cell types has ignited the field of regenerative medicine. Stem cells promise to repair and regenerate damaged or diseased tissues without the need for orthodox medical or surgical interventions.
However, there is disparity between the expectations held by the general public and some medical professionals versus the reality of the emerging clinical evidence. This disconnect was highlighted recently by the case of three elderly patients who were blinded by the use of an unproven stem cell therapy at a clinic in Florida, USA (BioNews 893).
While stem cell therapies in the field of haematology are showing promise, there are still many challenges in using them in any other disease models. In some countries, medical professionals are using unproven stem cell therapies as medical procedures to treat patients in lieu of conventional treatment pathways. What is more, these practitioners are operating under the premise of a trial.
Proponents of using stem cell therapies outside the context of a true clinical trial believe that these therapies are inherently safe, particularly if the stem cells derive from the individual patient themselves. And the medical professionals offering unproven stem cell therapies are convinced that the potential benefits of undergoing the therapy far outweigh the potential risks.
These benefits are used as an argument to forge ahead with unproven therapies outside ofclinical trials, as regulatory bodies are often to slow to regulate for the fast-paced field of regenerative medicine;gaining regulatory approval is usually a lengthy and costly process. And the regulation that is in place is often narrow in scope and does not account for the variety of products and manipulative techniques used in the field.
An anecdotal account of a stem cell therapys potential to cure a disease, however, does not make for an adequate standard of evidence. In the Florida case, three elderly patients with a progressive eye disease sought out an unproven stem cell therapy. The clinic involved was offering the therapy under the guise of a trial, however the patients had to pay for the procedure (in itself a 'red flag') that promised to 'cure' their disease. The therapy not only failed, but all three patients are now blind as described in The New England Journal of Medicine on 16 March.
Referring back to the disparity in expectations, how the word 'trial' is understood helps to clarify the basis of thedisconnect between the public and clinicians, and emerging evidence. The word 'trial' in the sense of a clinical trial calls for a robust experimental framework and sets of regulations and standards that safeguard the enrolled patients' rights and overall health. Furthermore, trials are performed in a phased manner to ensure any potential risks are minimised. The results generated from a certain phase informs the researchers as to the most effective way to proceed or indeed not proceed.
Using the word 'trial' in the sense of administering a therapy outside of the setting described above, however, only truly refers to the inherent risk of the therapy not working. Moreover, when being administered by a trusted medical professional, the harms of the therapy are often overshadowed by the promise of a'cure' relayed bythese professionals.
The differences in the interpretation of the word trial among medical professionals is reflected by the lack of strict regulation among professional bodies, such as medical councils and regulatory bodies including the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). While the FDA, for example, has published more specific guidelines in October 2015, these are unenforceable on a global scale.
Interestingly, on a regulatory level, there are opportunities afforded to medical professionals to use unproven stem cell therapies outside the context of a clinical trial as noted in the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2016 guidelines:
...the ISSCR acknowledges that in some very limited cases, clinicians may be justified in attempting medically innovative stem cell-based interventions in a small number of seriously ill patients.
However the ISSCR goes on to clarify that it 'condemns' the use of unproven stem cell therapies in any other setting where clinical need is not deemed serious.
In relation to classifying unproven stem cell therapies as a medical procedure, the 2014 United States of America v Regenerative Sciences, LLC et al case dealt with the use of mesenchymal stem cells taken from a sample of a patient's own bone marrow to treat their own orthopaedic disorders. In this case, the court was not convinced that manipulating stem cells outside the body and reintroducing them to the patient was a matter of standard 'medical procedure', as argued by the companyRegenerative Sciences LLC. Instead, the court upheld the FDAs right to regulate the manufacturing (or manipulating) of these stem cells: however cases where there is significantly less manipulation of stem cells are yet to be tested.
Issues remain regarding how best to regulate the use of stem cell therapies, particularly in the early phases of their development. There have been calls for strict regulation through bodies such as the FDA, but others argue that strict regulation will only curtail the benefits stem cell therapies can impart. On the other hand, regulations that are too lenient, it is argued, will only harm the patient seeking the therapy, as a solid evidence base will not yet have been compiled for the therapy.
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Unproven stem cell therapies promise versus evidence - BioNews
Posted: May 2, 2017 at 1:44 pm
May 2, 2017 by Jennifer Gundersen A microscope image of brain cancer cells, a glioma tumor type known as anaplastic astrocytoma. Credit: Wikimedia/ CC BY-SA 3.0
Brain tumors recruit immune cells derived from bone marrow to transform what began as benign masses into deadly malignancies, according to two studies from Weill Cornell Medicine scientists. The findings suggest that inhibiting this cell-recruitment process can suppress tumor growth and may offer a way to predict which patients are at greatest risk for developing brain cancer.
Brain tumors, or gliomas, are classified as either low-grade, which are relatively benign, or high-grade, which are malignant and fatal. Some patients can live with low-grade gliomas for years without issue, particularly if the tumors are in a part of the brain that doesn't interfere with major cognitive functions. However, when the low-grade glioma develops into a malignancy, little can be done to halt or reverse tumor growth. Glioblastoma (GBM) develops in about 3 out of 100,000 people per year, and the typical prognosis is 17 months. There has previously been no way to predict which low-grade tumors will become malignant and when.
In two studies, published April 10 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and Dec. 30 in Clinical Cancer Research, Weill Cornell Medicine scientists discovered that the tumor microenvironment recruits immune cells from bone marrow that normally play an important role in repairing and regenerating tissues. The team found that these cells play a critical role transforming tumors into high-grade glioblastomas. The team then identified a distinctive therapeutic target to halt this recruitment and prevent tumor growth.
"The reason our studies are unique is that we're looking at the glioma a couple of steps before the malignant state," said senior author Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield, associate professor of neurological surgery and of neurological surgery in pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine, and a neurological surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "As a neurosurgeon, I didn't want to keep seeing incurable tumors in the operating room. Therefore, as a neuroscientist I decided to ask: 'How can we predict which tumors will become more aggressive, and how can we intervene before it's too late and the tumor becomes incurable?'"
The body's immune system normally functions to fight off infection, but with glioblastoma, the tumors turn the immune system against itself. In the Journal of Clinical Investigation study, the investigators discovered molecular communication between the low-grade tumors and the immune cells, called bone marrow-derived immune cells (BMDCs), which play a crucial role in the development of blood vessels. This communication reprograms BMDCs to support cancer development, the investigators found, instructing them to leave the bone marrow and travel through the bloodstream to the tumor's microenvironment.
The team then developed a blood test to detect BMDCs, theorizing that an overabundance of immune cells in the bloodstream may indicate increased cell-recruitment activity. They used their assay in mice with glioblastoma and found higher levels of BMDCs in the bloodstreams of rodents whose tumors were progressing to high grade or had already become malignant. The investigators say their findings demonstrate a new method to predict which tumors are most likely to progress and provide a more accurate prognosis (the current diagnostic standard is an MRI and tumor biopsy).
"Essentially you can take patients who look the same clinically or whose MRI scans look identical," Greenfield said. "With this data we believe that we can predict who will progress to more aggressive disease within a shorter time frame."
To validate this finding, the investigators in the Clinical Cancer Research study tested blood samples taken from mice with brain tumors as well as those from human patients with low-and high-grade tumors, and non-tumor controls. They found an increase in BMDC production in the bone marrow and the bloodstreams of mice and humans as the tumors progressed from low to high grade. Rodent tumor samples also revealed a thirtyfold increase of BMDCs in the microenvironment of the tumors between these stages.
"Our findings suggest that many of these bone marrow-derived cells may contribute to the creation of new blood vessels that support tumor growth," said lead author Dr. Prajwal Rajappa, a fellow in neurological surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine. "Subsequent to our initial findings, our aim was to impair the recruitment of BMDCs to the tumor."
To accomplish this, the investigators identified a cellular pathway called JAK/STAT3 that plays an important role in BMDC production and potentially in their recruitment into the tumor microenvironment. Using a JAK 1/2 inhibitor, the researchers found in mice that they could prevent the recruitment of BMDCs to the tumor site thereby stymying malignant transformation. Mice that received the treatment lived significantly longer than those that did not.
This opens the possibility of human clinical trials using a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug that targets the JAK/STAT3 pathway.
"If we intervene at an early stage with these tumors, we have a chance of turning this basic science progress into a clinical success reminiscent of how the script was flipped with HIV: a fatal disease turned into a chronic disease. We are hoping to keep pushing this until we can tell the story where one lives with a brain tumor that indefinitely remains benign," Greenfield said. "With suppressive therapy, a patient could theoretically turn a prognosis of 17 months into one of 17 years."
Explore further: Genetic mutations help brain tumors evade targeting by immunotherapy treatments
More information: Yujie Huang et al. A proangiogenic signaling axis in myeloid cells promotes malignant progression of glioma, Journal of Clinical Investigation (2017). DOI: 10.1172/JCI86443
Prajwal Rajappa et al. Malignant Astrocytic Tumor Progression Potentiated by JAK-mediated Recruitment of Myeloid Cells, Clinical Cancer Research (2016). DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-16-1508
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Immune cells play crucial role in brain cancer development - Medical Xpress
Posted: May 2, 2017 at 1:44 pm
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Magenta Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing therapies to improve and expand the use of curative stem cell transplantation for more patients, today announced rapid progress in advancing the companys strategic vision, including the completion of a $50 million Series B financing; in-licensing a clinical-stage program from Novartis to support the use of stem cell transplantation in a variety of disease settings; and a strategic partnership with Be The Match BioTherapiesSM, an organization offering solutions for delivering autologous and allogeneic cellular therapies.
The financing announced today is intended to fuel development of innovative product candidates across multiple aspects of transplantation medicine, including more precise preparation of patients, stem cell harvesting and stem cell expansion. The Series B round, which was oversubscribed, was led by GV (formerly Google Ventures), with participation from all existing investors, including Atlas Venture, Third Rock Ventures, Partners Innovation Fund and Access Industries. The financing also included Casdin Capital and other crossover investors, as well as Be The Match BioTherapies, a subsidiary of National Marrow Donor Program(NMDP)/Be The Match, the worlds leading organization focused on saving lives through bone marrow and umbilical cord blood transplantation.
Magenta has quickly established itself as a nexus of innovation in stem cell science, catalyzing interest in this area of medicine with the recognition that improvements will have profound impact on patients, said Jason Gardner, D. Phil., chief executive officer, president and cofounder of Magenta Therapeutics. We aspire to accelerate products that could unleash the potential of transplantation to more patients, including those with autoimmune diseases, genetic blood disorders and cancer. The resounding interest in Magenta from such a high-quality set of investors is a testament to our solid progress since launch, including building a world-class team and a robust pipeline, and generating promising early data.
MGTA-456: Investigational Product Addressing Significant Unmet Need in Stem Cell Transplant
The clinical-stage program in-licensed by Magenta from Novartis, MGTA-456 (formerly HSC835), aims to expand the number of cord blood stem cells used in transplants to achieve superior clinical outcomes compared to standard transplant procedures, and to enable more patients to benefit from a transplant. Under this agreement, Magenta gains rights to use MGTA-456 in selected applications and will develop MGTA-456 in multiple diseases, including immune and blood diseases.
Early results published in Science1 demonstrated the ability of MGTA-456 to significantly increase the number of umbilical cord blood stem cells. Clinical results reported in Cell Stem Cell2 demonstrated that this approach yielded an increased expansion of stem cells.
John E. Wagner, M.D., executive medical director of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Program at the University of Minnesota and the studys lead author, stated: MGTA-456 markedly shortens time to recovery, addressing one of the most significant challenges in stem cell transplantation today. MGTA-456 achieved a remarkable increase in the number of blood-forming stem cells, greater than that observed by all other methods that have been tested to date. This product has the potential to further improve cord blood transplant outcomes.
Be The Match BioTherapies Strategic Partnership Agreement
Magenta and Be The Match BioTherapies also announced today that in addition to the equity investment, the two organizations have initiated a collaboration to support their shared goals of improving transplant medicine. Magenta and Be The Match BioTherapies will explore opportunities to work together across all of Magentas research efforts, from discovery through clinical development. Under this agreement, Magenta may leverage Be The Match BioTherapies capabilities, including its cell therapy delivery platform, industry relationships, clinical trial design and management, and patient outcomes data derived from the NMDP/Be The Match, which operates the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world. NMDP/Be The Match has a network of more than 486 organizations that support marrow transplant worldwide, including 178 transplant centers in the United States and more than 45 international donor centers and cooperative registries.
We are proud to have made our first equity investment as an organization in Magenta Therapeutics, and we share a vision to improve and advance the use of curative stem cell transplantation for patients with a wide range of diseases, said Amy Ronneberg, president of Be The Match Biotherapies.
About Magenta Therapeutics
Magenta Therapeutics is a biotechnology company harnessing the power of stem cell science to revolutionize stem cell transplantation for patients with immune- and blood-based diseases. By creating a platform focused on critical areas of transplant medicine, Magenta Therapeutics is pioneering an integrated, but modular approach to stem cell therapies to create patient benefits. Founded by internationally recognized leaders in stem cell transplant medicine, Magenta Therapeutics was launched in 2016 by Third Rock Ventures and Atlas Venture and is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. For more information, please visitwww.magentatx.com.
About Third Rock Ventures
Third Rock Ventures is a leading healthcare venture firm focused on investing and launching companies that make a difference in peoples lives. The Third Rock team has a unique vision for ideating and building transformative healthcare companies. Working closely with our strategic partners and entrepreneurs, Third Rock has an extensive track record for managing the value creation path to deliver exceptional performance. For more information, please visit the firms website atwww.thirdrockventures.com.
About Atlas Venture
Atlas Venture is a leading biotech venture capital firm. With the goal of doing well by doing good, we have been building breakthrough biotech startups since 1993. We work side by side with exceptional scientists and entrepreneurs to translate high impact science into medicines for patients. Our seed-led venture creation strategy rigorously selects and focuses investment on the most compelling opportunities to build scalable businesses and realize value. For more information, please visitwww.atlasventure.com.
About GV
GV provides venture capital funding to bold new companies. In the fields of life science, healthcare, artificial intelligence, robotics, transportation, cyber security, and agriculture, GV's companies aim to improve lives and change industries. GV's team of world-class engineers, designers, physicians, scientists, marketers, and investors work together to provide these startups exceptional support on the road to success.
Launched as Google Ventures in 2009, GV is the venture capital arm of Alphabet, Inc. GV helps startups interface with Google, providing unique access to the worlds best technology and talent. GV has $2.4 billion under management and is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in San Francisco, Boston, New York, and London. Launched as Google Ventures in 2009, GV is the venture capital arm of Alphabet, Inc. For more information, please visit http://www.gv.com.
About Be The Match BioTherapies
Be The Match BioTherapies partners with organizations pursuing new life-saving treatments in cellular therapy. Built on the foundation established over the last 30 years by theNMDP/Be The Match, the organization has unparalleled experience in personalized patient management with a single point of contact, cell sourcing and collection, cell therapy delivery platform, immunogenetics and bioinformatics, research and regulatory compliance. By leveraging proven capabilities and established relationships, Be The Match BioTherapies can bring customizable solutions to organizations in every stage of cellular therapy developmentfrom discovery through commercialization. Discover how Be The Match BioTherapies can assist your company atBeTheMatchBioTherapies.com.
For more information on todays announcement, see Jason Gardners post in the Life Sci VC blog: https://lifescivc.com/2017/05/building-a-bioteth-a-triple-play/.
1Science.2010 Sep 10;329(5997):1345-8. 2Cell Stem Cell.2016 Jan 7;18(1):144-55.
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Magenta Therapeutics Advances Stem Cell Transplantation Strategy with $50 Million Series B Financing, Licensing of ... - Business Wire (press release)
