Category Archives: Immunology

The global market for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was valued at USD 172.29 Million in 2019 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.46%…

December 12, 2020 medical

New York, Dec. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Market, By Product, By Application, By Technique, By Source, By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05953172/?utm_source=GNW

The global market for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was valued at USD 172.29 Million in 2019 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.46% during 2020 - 2025. The PBMC are crucial to carry out the biology and pathology related studies as well as in clinical research. Besides, PBMCs are also utilized in research related to fatal diseases, immunology, vaccine development, etc. However, high cost of PBMCs related studies might act as a challenge for the adoption of technology, especially in developing economies.

The global peripheral blood mononuclear cells market is segmented based on product, application, technique, source, and region.The product segment is further divided into cryopreserved or frozen PBMC, cultured or fresh PBMC and peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolation & viability kits.

As of 2019, the cryopreserved PBMC or the frozen PBMC segment held the dominant market share as they can be used for longer durations of time if stored carefully at lower temperatures. Based on regional analysis, North America accounted for the largest market share in the year 2019, on the back of a number of pre-existing peripheral blood mononuclear cells-based companies in the region. The economy of the region is also rich enough, which makes it easier to carry out the complex and costly R&D procedures.

Major players operating in the global peripheral blood mononuclear cells market include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Corning Incorporate, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Cellero, LLC, Life Technologies (India) Pvt. Ltd., Cell Applications, Inc., DAPCEL, Inc., Creative Bioarray, iXCells Biotechnologies USA, LLC, Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & CO. KG, STEMCELL Technologies Inc., Precision Medicine Group, LLC., StemExpress, LLC, HemaCare Corporation, BioVision, Inc., BioLegend, Inc., BioIVT LLC, Biopredic International, Zen-Bio Inc., etc.

Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: 2015 - 2018 Base Year: 2019 Estimated Year: 2020 Forecast Period: 2021 - 2025

Objective of the Study:

To analyze and forecast the market size of global peripheral blood mononuclear cells market. To classify and forecast global peripheral blood mononuclear cells market based on product, application, technique, source, and region. To identify drivers and challenges for global peripheral blood mononuclear cells market. To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers & acquisitions, etc., in global peripheral blood mononuclear cells market. To conduct pricing analysis for global peripheral blood mononuclear cells market. To identify and analyze the profile of leading players operating in global peripheral blood mononuclear cells market. The analyst performed both primary as well as exhaustive secondary research for this study.Initially, the analyst sourced a list of leading market players across the globe.

Subsequently, the analyst conducted primary research surveys with the identified companies.While interviewing, the respondents were also enquired about their competitors.

Through this technique, the analyst could include the research organizations and companies which could not be identified due to the limitations of secondary research. The analyst examined the research organizations and companies, and presence of all major players across the globe. The analyst calculated the market size of global peripheral blood mononuclear cells market using a bottom-up approach, wherein data for various end-user segments was recorded and forecast for the future years. The analyst sourced these values from the industry experts and company representatives and externally validated through analyzing historical data of these product types and applications for getting an appropriate, overall market size.

Various secondary sources such as company websites, news articles, press releases, company annual reports, investor presentations and financial reports were also studied by the analyst.

Key Target Audience:

Biotechnology and pharma companies and other stakeholders Government bodies such as regulating authorities and policy makers Organizations, forums and alliances related to peripheral blood mononuclear cells Market research and consulting firms The study is useful in providing answers to several critical questions that are important for the industry stakeholders such as research organizations & companies and partners, end users, etc., besides allowing them in strategizing investments and capitalizing on market opportunities.

Report Scope:

In this report, global peripheral blood mononuclear cells market has been segmented into following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below: Market, By Product: o Cryopreserved or Frozen PBMC o Cultured or Fresh PBMC o Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Isolation & Viability Kits Market, By Application: o Immunology o Infectious disease o Hematology o Others Market, By Technique: o Density gradient centrifugation process o Leukapheresis Market, By Source: o Human o Animals Market, By Region: o Asia-Pacific - China - India - Japan - South Korea - Singapore - Australia o Europe - France - Germany - United Kingdom - Italy o North America - United States - Mexico - Canada o South America - Brazil - Argentina - Colombia o Middle east & Africa - South Africa - Saudi Arabia - UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in global peripheral blood mononuclear cells market.

Available Customizations:

With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Study: Innate lymphoid cells are involved in many aspects of human health, disease – News-Medical.Net

December 12, 2020 medical

Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado) Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (CCBD) announced today that a study about the manipulation of bone marrow stem cells into innate lymphoid and natural killer cells will be published in Science Immunology, a well-respected, high-impact medical journal.

It is well established that bone marrow stem cells give rise to all types of blood cells. However, the conditions that drive this process are not understood. The Children's Colorado research conducted on the Anschutz Medical Campus characterizes how the cancer-fighting Natural Killer (NK) cells develop.

The work also shows how another blood cell type, called "innate lymphoid cells" develops. This latter cell type is involved in many aspects of human health and disease.

By understanding these factors, researchers will be able to manipulate the stem cells and tailor therapies for children and adults who are receiving cancer treatments in the years to come. Based on the results of the Children's Colorado CCBD study, the team applied for intellectual property protection around the methods used in the research, and the paper was accepted by Science Immunology.

We are very encouraged by the results of this study and believe the results will help us better treat children and adults in the future. This significant research and subsequent publication in Science Immunology distinguishes Children's Colorado as a leader in the medical community and sets us up for meaningful advances in cancer treatment and therapies in the future."

Mike Verneris, MD, Professor, Pediatrics-Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Children's Hospital Colorado

As the holder of the Barton Family Endowed Chair in Bone Marrow Transplant, Dr. Verneris has relied on philanthropic support to advance his groundbreaking research. In addition to federal research funding, the investment of generous donors played a critical role in this breakthrough.

Source:

Journal reference:

Tufa, D. M., et al. (2020) Human innate lymphoid cell precursors express CD48 that modulates ILC differentiation through 2B4 signaling. Science Immunology. doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.aay4218.

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Study: Innate lymphoid cells are involved in many aspects of human health, disease - News-Medical.Net

Immunology

Real-world Preschool Peanut Oral Immunotherapy Effective After One Year of Maintenance – PR Web

December 12, 2020 medical

The main takeaway for parents is that in this study, OIT provided protection from accidental exposures for 98.3% of preschoolers, said Lianne Soller, PhD

MILWAUKEE (PRWEB) December 08, 2020

Data published in The Journal of Allergy and Immunology: In Practice (JACI: In Practice), an official journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), demonstrated that peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) is effective after one year of maintenance in preschool participants who received a follow-up oral food challenge (OFC).

Preschoolers (9-70 months old) enrolled in the real-world study were administered increasing peanut doses in a clinic every two weeks over 8-11 visits until reaching the 300mg peanut protein maintenance dose. After spending approximately 12 months taking maintenance doses, patients were invited to complete a peanut follow-up OFC.

A total of 164 patients completed build-up and three dropped out of maintenance, leaving 161 patients available for follow-up OFC. A total of 117 of the 161 eligible patients received the follow-up OFC. Among them, 92 (78.6%) were able to tolerate a cumulative peanut protein dose of 4,000mg. A total of 115 (98.3%) tolerated a cumulative 1,000mg dose at follow-up, which would protect against accidental peanut exposures.

The main takeaway for parents is that in this study, OIT provided protection from accidental exposures for 98.3% of preschoolers, said Lianne Soller, PhD, corresponding author of the study and University of British Columbia allergy research manager. These data, in combination with our previous data demonstrating safety of peanut OIT in preschoolers, suggest that this therapy could be considered for this age group as an alternative to the current recommendations to avoid peanut.

Also of note was that epinephrine use during maintenance dosing remained low with only two participants requiring it, and only 10.5% of participants experienced allergic reactions at all. During the maintenance phase, only one patient needed to go to the emergency department due to an allergic reaction.

Our study is the first to report on effectiveness of peanut OIT in preschoolers in a real-world setting, as opposed to a clinical trial setting, said Dr. Soller. We plan to continue to follow-up with this cohort long-term so we can continue to strengthen and solidify our recommendations regarding peanut exposure and oral immunotherapy.

You can learn more about the current state of oral immunotherapy at the AAAAIs website, aaaai.org.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 7,100 members in the United States, Canada and 72 other countries. The AAAAIs Find an Allergist/Immunologist service is a trusted resource to help you find a specialist close to home.

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Immunology

CollPlant to Supply rhCollagen to STEMCELL Technologies for Use in a Broad Range of Cell Culture Applications – PRNewswire

December 12, 2020 medical

REHOVOT, Israel and VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CollPlant (NASDAQ: CLGN), a regenerative medicine company, and STEMCELL Technologies, Canada's largest privately owned biotechnology company, which develops cell culture media, cell separation systems, instruments, and other reagents for life sciences research, today jointly announced they have entered into aproduct manufacturing and supply agreement. CollPlant will sell its proprietary recombinant human Type I collagen (rhCollagen), the world's first plant-based rhCollagen, to STEMCELL Technologies, which will incorporate CollPlant's product into cell culture media kits.

The recently signed agreement follows the companies' established business relationship, which started in 2014 when STEMCELL began purchasing and incorporating CollPlant's rhCollagen into some of its cell culture expansion and differentiation media kits. To date, hundreds of companies, as well as research and academic institutes, have used these kits for research and development projects. STEMCELL will distribute the kits globally for use in the regenerative medicine research market.

"Incorporation of rhCollagen into STEMCELL's cell culture applications sold to researchers worldwide is designed to help advance the science in a broad range of dynamic fields including stem cells, immunology, cancer, regenerative medicine, and cellular therapy. We are happy to have entered into this agreement with STEMCELL, which, as Canada's largest biotechnology company, is very well positioned to make rhCollagen-containing cell culture kits widely available in the market," stated Yehiel Tal, Chief Executive Officer of CollPlant. "The cell culture market is just one example of the vast potential of our rhCollagen platform technology in life science applications. We continuously evaluate new fields in which CollPlant's products and technologies have the potential to enable breakthroughs that improve patients' lives."

Dr. Sharon Louis, STEMCELL's Senior Vice President of Research and Development noted that "STEMCELL is pleased to utilize CollPlant's animal component free rhCollagen to promote cell attachment in several products that support the culture of diverse human progenitor cell types. The quality and animal component-free composition of CollPlant's rhCollagen is what first brought this product to STEMCELL's attention, and the robust performance rhCollagen provides with a variety of STEMCELL media is what we want to be able to provide to our customers. Upon entering into this agreement, STEMCELL and CollPlant will together provide high-quality reagents that will be used to further our understanding in life sciences and potentiate regenerative medicine research."

About STEMCELL Technologies

STEMCELL Technologies is Canada's largest biotechnology company. Based in Vancouver, STEMCELL supports life sciences research around the world with more than 2,500 specialized reagents, tools, and services. STEMCELL offers high-quality cell culture media, cell separation technologies, instruments, accessory products, and educational resources that are used by scientists advancing the stem cell, immunology, cancer, regenerative medicine, microbiology, and cellular therapy fields.

Find more information at http://www.stemcell.com

About CollPlant Biotechnologies

CollPlant is a regenerative and aesthetic medicine company focused on 3D bioprinting of tissues and organs, and medical aesthetics. Our products are based on our rhCollagen (recombinant human collagen) that is produced with CollPlant's proprietary plant based genetic engineering technology.

Our products address indications for the diverse fields of tissue repair, aesthetics and organ manufacturing, and, we believe, are ushering in a new era in regenerative and aesthetic medicine.

Our flagship rhCollagen BioInk product line is ideal for 3D bioprinting of tissues and organs. In October 2018, we entered into a licensing agreement with United Therapeutics, whereby United Therapeutics is using CollPlant's BioInks in the manufacture of 3D bioprinted lungs for transplant in humans.Recently, the parties announced the expansion of the collaboration with the exercise by United Therapeutics of its option to cover a second lifesaving organ, human kidneys.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to CollPlant's objectives, plans and strategies, as well as statements, other than historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that CollPlant intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are often characterized by terminology such as "believes," "hopes," "may," "anticipates," "should," "intends," "plans," "will," "expects," "estimates," "projects," "positioned," "strategy" and similar expressions and are based on assumptions and assessments made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Many factors could cause CollPlant's actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the CollPlant's history of significant losses and its need to raise additional capital and its inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; CollPlant's expectations regarding the timing and cost of commencing clinical trials; regulatory action with respect to rhCollagen-based products, including but not limited to acceptance of an application for marketing authorization, review and approval of such application, and, if approved, the scope of the approved indication and labeling; commercial success and market acceptance of the CollPlant's rhCollagen-based BioInk; CollPlant's ability to establish sales and marketing capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties and its reliance on third-party distributors and resellers; CollPlant's reliance on third parties to conduct some aspects of its product manufacturing; the scope of protection CollPlant is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights and the company's ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; the overall global economic environment; the impact of competition and new technologies; general market, political, and economic conditions in the countries in which the company operates; projected capital expenditures and liquidity; changes in the company's strategy; and litigation and regulatory proceedings. More detailed information about the risks and uncertainties affecting CollPlant is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" included in CollPlant's most recent annual report on Form 20-F, filed with the SEC, and in other filings that CollPlant has made. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and reflect CollPlant's current views with respect to future events, and CollPlant does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact atCollPlant:

Eran RotemDeputy CEO & CFOTel: + 972-73-2325600[emailprotected]

Contact at STEMCELL: Luba Metlitskaia Vice President, Business Development & Licensing [emailprotected]

SOURCE CollPlant

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CollPlant to Supply rhCollagen to STEMCELL Technologies for Use in a Broad Range of Cell Culture Applications - PRNewswire

Immunology

Gossamer Bio to Host Webcast Focused on GB002 and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) on December 15, 2020 – Business Wire

December 12, 2020 medical

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gossamer Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOSS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, acquiring, developing and commercializing therapeutics in the disease areas of immunology, inflammation and oncology, today announced that it will host a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 11:00am ET to discuss GB002, its inhaled PDGFR inhibitor, for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

This webcast will include a discussion of GB002s development program in PAH and initial results from the ongoing two-week Phase 1b clinical trial in patients, in addition to the PAH treatment landscape and unmet therapeutic need. Gossamer management will present along with the key PAH opinion leaders, Lewis Rubin, M.D., Emeritus Professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and Vallerie McLaughlin, M.D., the Kim A. Eagle, M.D. Endowed Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine at University of Michigan. As part of the event, Gossamer Bio management, Dr. Rubin and Dr. McLaughlin will be available for questions.

Lewis J. Rubin, M.D., is Professor of Medicine, Emeritus and former Director of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He has published nearly 300 peer-reviewed scientific papers and seventy-five book chapters, and he has edited seven books dealing with the pulmonary circulation. He has been the Principal Investigator or a Steering Committee member for the clinical trials leading to regulatory approval of most currently approved medical therapies for PAH. He has served on the editorial boards of the Annals of Internal Medicine and the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, and as senior consulting editor for the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. He has served as an advisor to the NIH, the FDA, and numerous medical and scientific organizations worldwide. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Yeshiva University. He is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and the recipient of the Dickinson Richards Memorial Award from the American Heart Association, the Simon Dack Award from the American College of Cardiology, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute. He was listed among Thomson Reuters Most Influential Researchers in the World in 2014 and 2015, and he received the CHEST College Medalist Award from the American College of CHEST Physicians in 2016. Most recently, Dr. Rubin was presented with the European Respiratory Societys ERS Award for Lifetime Achievement in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Vallerie V. McLaughlin, M.D., is the Kim A. Eagle, M.D., Endowed Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Associate Chief Clinical Officer for Cardiovascular Services of the UMMG, Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Program, and Associate Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. She is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American College of CHEST Physicians and the American Heart Association, and she is a member of the American Thoracic Society. She has served as Chair of the American Heart Association Women in Cardiology Committee, Chair of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Clinical Expert Consensus Document on PH, member of the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions Program Committee, and member of the Scientific Committee for the World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension 2008, 2013, and 2018. Professor McLaughlin is a past Chair of the Scientific Leadership Council of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, past Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension and past Chair of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Board of Trustees. She was inaugurated as a charter member into the Clinical Excellence Society at the University of Michigan and is a founding member of the World Symposia on Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

Conference Call and Webcast

Gossamer will host a conference call and live audio webcast at 11:00 am ET on Tuesday, December 15. The live audio webcast may be accessed through the Events / Presentations page in the Investors section of the Company's website at http://www.gossamerbio.com. Alternatively, the conference call may be accessed through the following:

Conference ID: 6947845Domestic Dial-in Number: (833) 640-7726International Dial-in Number: (602) 585-9912Live Webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ztf8h6mc

A replay of the audio webcast will be available for 30 days on the Investors section of the Company's website, http://www.gossamerbio.com.

About Gossamer Bio

Gossamer Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, acquiring, developing and commercializing therapeutics in the disease areas of immunology, inflammation and oncology. Its goal is to be an industry leader in each of these therapeutic areas and to enhance and extend the lives of patients suffering from such diseases.

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Gossamer Bio to Host Webcast Focused on GB002 and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) on December 15, 2020 - Business Wire

Immunology

Silicon Therapeutics Announces Members of Scientific Advisory Board – Business Wire

December 12, 2020 medical

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Silicon Therapeutics, a privately-held, integrated therapeutics company with a pioneering drug discovery platform based on physics-driven molecular simulations, today announced the members of the Silicon Therapeutics scientific advisory board (SAB), which include Dr. Elliot L. Chaikof, Dr. Timothy P. Heffernan, Dr. Sun Hur, Dr. Pasi A. Jnne and Dr. Lijun Sun.

The Silicon Therapeutics SAB is comprised of experts in biophysics, medicinal chemistry, translational medicine and research and development (R&D) in oncology and immunology. These experts will serve as a strategic resource for Silicon Therapeutics to provide scientific review and high-level advice about the companys drug discovery strategy as it continues to advance the companys therapeutic pipeline using its proprietary simulation platform.

We are honored to officially welcome Drs. Chaikof, Heffernan, Hur, Jnne and Sun as members of our SAB, said Christopher Winter, Ph.D., chief of research and development. Each members expertise, insights and direction will provide a tremendous knowledge base that will help inform our approach regarding research and clinical development activities, which will be invaluable as we head into the next phase of our growth advancing our in-house research programs developed utilizing our proprietary drug discovery platform.

The SAB will be involved in strategic discussions related to targets, research and pre-clinical development, as well as the next generation, first-in-class therapeutic pipeline.

Silicon Therapeutics is focused on the discovery and development of first-in-class small molecules targeting key drivers of disease in cancer and inflammation that have proven difficult to treat with prior approaches and thus previously considered undruggable. The companys unique discovery platform is fully integrated with Silicon Therapeutics internal laboratories using cutting edge experimental capabilities in biophysics, biology and chemistry.

ABOUT THE SILICON THERAPEUTICS SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD

Elliot L. Chaikof, M.D., Ph.D. is a co-founder of Silicon Therapeutics and chair of the Roberta and Stephen R. Weiner department of surgery and surgeon-in-chief at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), as well as the Johnson & Johnson professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston. Dr. Chaikof is a member of the Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering of Harvard University and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, also in Boston.

Dr. Chaikof earned a bachelor of arts degree and medical doctor degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and a doctor of philosophy degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, where he focused on the design of artificial organs. Dr. Chaikof completed his training in general surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and in vascular surgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Timothy P. Heffernan, Ph.D. is head of oncology research within the division of therapeutics discovery and development at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Dr. Heffernan also serves as executive director for the Translational Research to Advance Therapeutics and Innovation in Oncology (TRACTION) platform, a translational research unit focused on accelerating the pre-clinical evaluation of novel drugs to inform innovative clinical trials.

Dr. Heffernan earned a doctor of philosophy degree in cell and molecular pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, N.C. and performed his postdoctoral training at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Sun Hur, Ph.D. is an Oscar M. Schloss professor in the department of biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology in the department of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Dr. Hur earned a bachelor of science degree in physics from Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea and a doctor of philosophy degree in physical chemistry with Dr. Thomas C. Bruice at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Hur did her post-doctoral work in x-ray crystallography with Dr. Robert M. Stroud at the University of California, San Francisco. She joined Harvard Medical School in 2008 as an assistant professor and became affiliated with Boston Childrens Hospital in 2010.

Pasi A. Jnne, M.D., Ph.D. is a thoracic medical oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a professor at Harvard Medical School, director of the Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology and director of the Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science in Boston.

Dr. Jnne earned a medical doctor degree and doctor of philosophy degree at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He completed postgraduate training in internal medicine at Brigham and Womens Hospital and in medical oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Lijun Sun, Ph.D. is a co-founder of Silicon Therapeutics and an associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Dr. Sun earned a doctor of philosophy degree in organic chemistry from Emory University in Atlanta and completed postdoctoral training in biomaterial research at Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta.

ABOUT SILICON THERAPEUTICS

Silicon Therapeutics is a privately held, fully integrated drug design and development company focused on small molecule therapeutics. The Silicon Therapeutics proprietary physics-driven drug design platform combines quantum physics, statistical thermodynamics, molecular simulations, a dedicated HPC super-computing cluster, purpose-built software, in-house laboratories and clinical development capabilities. The platform was built from the ground up to address difficult targets using physics-based simulations and experiments to pioneer a new path for drug design with the prime goal of delivering novel medicines to improve the lives of patients.

Silicon Therapeutics is currently the only company that owns the entire spectrum of proprietary physics-driven drug discovery from chip-to-clinic. The companys lead program is a highly differentiated small molecule Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) agonist for the treatment of cancer, which entered the clinic in November 2020. The companys headquarters are located in Boston. To learn more about Silicon Therapeutics, please visit our website at http://www.silicontx.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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Silicon Therapeutics Announces Members of Scientific Advisory Board - Business Wire

Immunology

New Asthma Guidelines Published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, an Official Journal of the AAAAI – Yahoo Finance

December 6, 2020 medical

New Asthma Guidelines Published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, an Official Journal of the AAAAI

PR Newswire

MILWAUKEE, Dec. 3, 2020

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Coordinating Committee, coordinated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, has updated its asthma guidelines.

MILWAUKEE, Dec. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- For the first time since 2007, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) Coordinating Committee, coordinated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has updated its asthma guidelines.

The full document, 2020 Focused Updates to the Asthma Management Guidelines: A Report from the NAEPP Coordinating Committee Expert Panel Working Group, was published in the December issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), an official journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

"The publication of the 2020 Focused Updates to the Asthma Management Guidelines represents a significant advance in asthma care. Inclusion of implementation guidance and shared decision making will enable providers to assure optimal care for their patients with asthma. I would like to thank Dr. Giselle Mosnaim for her work as the AAAAI representative to the NAEPP Coordinating Committee. In addition, a special thanks to AAAAI members Drs. Robert Lemanske, Michael Schatz, Alan Baptist, Kathryn Blake, and Edward Brooks who served on the NAEPP Coordinating Committee Expert Panel Working Group," said AAAAI President Mary Beth Fasano, MD, MSPH, FAAAAI.

The newly published asthma guidelines contain updated recommendations that cover the following six different topics:

Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) Test

The document lists four recommendations when it comes to FeNO testing. A FeNO test is a way to determine how much lung inflammation is present and how well inhaled steroids are suppressing this inflammation.

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FeNO testing is not recommended for children aged 0-4 who experience recurrent wheezing to predict the future development of asthma.

For anyone 5 years and older, FeNO testing recommendations are somewhat different. It is not recommended to use FeNO as the only measurement for asthma control. It is recommended for individuals with asthma symptoms if a diagnosis is uncertain using other testing methods such as spirometry and clinical history. Additionally, for those with persistent allergic asthma, if there is uncertainty in choosing, monitoring, or adjusting asthma treatment therapies based on other methods, the Expert Panel conditionally recommends adding FeNO measurement to help monitor and manage asthma.

Allergen Mitigation

Another four recommendations were made regarding allergen mitigation as it relates to asthma. Allergen mitigation interventions are not recommended for individuals with asthma who lack sensitization to specific indoor allergens or who don't have any indoor allergen symptoms. For those who do have confirmed allergies to indoor allergens, multicomponent allergen-specific interventions are recommended.

The Expert Panel recommends the use of pest management alone or as part of a multicomponent allergen-specific mitigation intervention for individuals with asthma who are exposed and have symptoms related to exposure to pests such as cockroaches and rodents. For those with allergies to dust mites, the new recommendations do not support impermeable pillow/mattress covers alone but only as part of a multicomponent allergen-specific intervention.

Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS)

ICS are medications used to treat asthma and were the subject of five recommendations. Low-dose ICS is recommended for individuals 12 and older with mild persistent asthma, either daily or as needed along with short-acting beta-agonists (SABA). For those 4 years and older with mild to moderate persistent asthma who adhere to daily ICS treatment, it is recommended that healthcare workers do not increase ICS doses in the short-term due to increased symptoms.

For moderate to severe persistent asthma, it is recommended to use ICS-formoterol in a single inhaler for daily asthma control and as reliever therapy. That recommendation varies slightly depending on the age group. In patients 4 to 11 years, the single inhaler is recommended compared to using a higher-dose ICS for daily controller therapy and SABA for quick-relief. It is also recommended over same-dose ICS-long-acting beta agonists (LABA) as a daily therapy with SABA for quick relief. For those 12 and older, the single inhaler is recommended compared to a higher-dose ICS-LABA for daily therapy and SABA for quick relief.

For children aged 0-4 who have recurrent wheezing due to respiratory tract infections but no wheezing between infections, a short course of daily ICS and as-needed SABA for quick-relief is recommended compared to SABA as-needed only.

Long-acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA)

The document lists three recommendations when it comes to LAMA, which is a class of medications used for COPD that sometimes may be used for asthma.

It is not recommended to add LAMA to ICS therapy, compared to adding LABA to ICS therapy in children 12 and over with persistent, uncontrolled asthma. In the same population, LAMA is recommended to be added to ICS controller therapy if LABA is not used, compared to continuing the same dose of ICS alone. Adding LAMA to ICS-LABA is recommended in this population compared to continuing the same dose of ICS-LABA for uncontrolled asthma.

Immunotherapy

Two recommendations were released regarding immunotherapy and allergic asthma. The first recommends the use of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) for individuals 5 years and up as an additional treatment to standard medications in individuals whose asthma is controlled at the initiation, build-up and maintenance phases of immunotherapy.

For those with persistent allergic asthma, the use of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in asthma treatment is not recommended.

Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT)

One recommendation was released regarding BT, a non-drug outpatient procedure developed to treat severe, persistent asthma. This treatment is not recommended for individuals 18 and older with persistent asthma. For those over 18 who are less concerned about potential harms and more concerned with potential benefits, they may consider BT.

Dr. Robert Lemanske, who as previously mentioned is a member of the Expert Panel Working Group that authored the guidelines, provided some context on how they were updated. "The updates were developed using some new approaches compared to those used previously. First, it was not a complete revision but rather a focus on six topic areas that were decided upon initially by a needs assessment committee. Second, it used a new technique of evaluating clinical data called GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation). Third, was the inclusion of an Implementation Guidance (IG) section for each recommendation. The IG section provides further clarification of the population to which the recommendation applies, exceptions, and practical aspects of how to use the recommendation in patient care. At the end of each IG section is a list of issues suggested by the Expert Panel to communicate to patients as part of shared decision making about whether to use the therapy or intervention presented in the recommendation."

"From the beginning, the 2020 Focused Updates to the Asthma Management Guidelines was designed to help primary care providers, specialists, and patients work together to make decisions about asthma care," said James P. Kiley, PhD, director of the Division of Lung Diseases at the NHLBI, a part of the NIH. "Our goal was to provide clear summaries about each of the new recommendations, information to share with patients, and updated treatment diagrams."

You can learn more about asthma on the AAAAI website, aaaai.org.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 7,100 members in the United States, Canada and 72 other countries. The AAAAI's Find an Allergist/Immunologist service is a trusted resource to help you find a specialist close to home.

Media Contact

April Presnell, The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 414-272-6071, apresnell@aaaai.org

SOURCE The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

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New Asthma Guidelines Published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, an Official Journal of the AAAAI - Yahoo Finance

Immunology

I-Mab Appoints Leading Immunology and Hematology Experts to Its Scientific Advisory Board – PRNewswire

December 6, 2020 medical

"We are honored and delighted to welcome Dr. Dong and Dr. Ma to our scientific advisory board," said Dr. Jingwu Zang, Founder, Honorary Chairman and Director of I-Mab. "Dr. Dong is a globally recognized leader in the field of immunology and Dr. Ma is a distinguished pioneer in hematology and oncology. I-Mab will greatly benefit from their experience and expertise in their respective fields as we advance our mission to bring transformational medicines to patients around the world through innovation."

"I-Mab has built a leading position in immuno-oncology and I have been impressed with what this company has been able to accomplish in research and clinical development. I look forward to bringing my expertise to the advisory board and contributing to I-Mab's rapid growth, in China and globally," said Dr. Chen Dong.

Dr. Dong is currently Professor and Director of the Institute for Immunology at Tsinghua University, and a principal investigator at Shanghai Renji Hospital. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dr. Dong specializes in immunology, and his transformative research has led to ground-breaking discoveries in the field of T cell biology and interleukin (IL)-17 family cytokines. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms whereby immune and inflammatory responses are normally regulated, and to apply this knowledge to the understanding and treatment of autoimmunity and allergy disorders as well as cancer. With over 200 publications, Dr. Dong has been rated a highly cited researcher for seven consecutive years from 2014 to 2020. He is the recipient of several distinguished awards, including the 2009 American Association of Immunologists-BD Bioscience Investigator Award and the 2019 International Cytokine and Interferon Society Biolegend-William E. Paul Award.

"I-Mab is developing advanced and innovative programs in novel anti-cancer therapies. The company is well-positioned to bring to patients target therapies in areas of significant unmet need, and I am pleased to be joining at such an exciting stage in its growth," said Dr. Jun Ma.

Dr. Ma is currently Director of the Harbin Institute of Hematology & Oncology, and Chief Supervisor of Supervisory Committee at the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology. He started his studies in the University of Tokyo Hospital and, over the decades, his research focused on treatments for leukemia and lymphoma. He was the first to establish a culture system for multiple hematopoietic progenitor cells in vitro in China. Since 1983, he has used sequential therapy of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) for about 1200 cases. Dr. Ma has published about 200 articles and conducted 8 China's National R&D Programs and 25 provincial or municipal-level projects. He is highly recognized as the leader in hematology in China.

Dr. Dong and Dr. Ma join existing SAB members Patricia LoRusso, Eric K. Rowinsky, Howard L. Weiner, Yilong Wu, Timothy A. Yap and Roy S. Herbst.

About I-Mab

I-Mab (Nasdaq:IMAB) is a dynamic, global biotech company exclusively focused on discovery, development and soon commercialization of novel or highly differentiated biologics in the therapeutic areas of immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. The Company's mission is to bring transformational medicines to patients around the world through innovation. I-Mab's innovative pipeline of more than 10 clinical and pre-clinical stage drug candidates is driven by the Company's Fast-to-PoC (Proof-of-Concept) and Fast-to-Market development strategies through internal R&D and global partnerships. The Company is on track to transitioning from a clinical stage biotech company toward a fully integrated global biopharmaceutical company with cutting-edge R&D capabilities, world-class GMP manufacturing facility and commercial capability. I-Mab has offices inBeijing,Shanghai,Hangzhou,Hong KongandMaryland,United States. For more information, please visithttp://ir.i-mabbiopharma.comand follow I-Mab on LinkedIn, Twitterand WeChat.

For more information, please contact:

I-Mab

Jielun Zhu, Chief Financial OfficerE-mail: [emailprotected] Office line: +86 21 6057 8000

Gigi Feng, Chief Communications OfficerE-mail: [emailprotected] Office line: +86 21 6057 5785

Investor Inquiries:

Burns McClellan, Inc. (Americas and Europe)

Steve KlassE-mail: [emailprotected]Office line: +1 212 213 0006

The Piacente Group, Inc. (Asia)

Emilie WuE-mail: [emailprotected]Office line: + 86 21 6039 8363

SOURCE I-Mab

http://www.i-mabbiopharma.com

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I-Mab Appoints Leading Immunology and Hematology Experts to Its Scientific Advisory Board - PRNewswire

Immunology

Vaccines Against SARS-CoV-2 Will Have Side Effects That’s A Good Thing – Global Biodefense

December 6, 2020 medical

Takeaways

In 2021 hundreds of millions of people will be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. The success of that COVID-19 vaccination campaign will heavily depend on public trust that the vaccines are not only effective, but also safe. To build that trust, the medical and scientific communities have a responsibility to engage in difficult discussions with the public about the significant fraction of people who will experience temporary side effects from these vaccines.

I am an immunologist who studies the fundamentals of immune responses to vaccination, so part of that responsibility falls on me.

Simply put, receiving these vaccines will likely make a whole lot of people feel crappy for a few days. Thats probably a good thing, and its a far better prospect than long-term illness or death.

In 1989, immunologist Charles Janeway published an article summarizing the state of the field of immunology. Until that point, immunologists had accepted that immune responses were initiated when encountering something foreign bacteria, viruses, and parasites that was non-self.

Janeway suspected that there was more to the story, and famously laid out what he referred to as the immunologists dirty little secret: Your immune system doesnt just respond just to foreign things. It responds to foreign things that it perceives to be dangerous.

Now, 30 years later, immunologists know that your immune system uses a complex set of sensors to understand not only whether or not something is foreign, but also what kind of threat, if any, a microbe might pose. It can tell the difference between viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and parasites, like tapeworms, and activate specialized arms of your immune system to deal with those specific threats accordingly. It can even monitor the level of tissue damage caused by an invader, and ramp up your immune response to match.

Sensing the type of threat posed by a microbe, and the level of intensity of that threat, allows your immune system to select the right set of responses, wield them precisely, and avoid the very real danger of immune overreaction.

Vaccines work by introducing a safe version of a pathogen to a patients immune system. Your immune system remembers its past encounters and responds more efficiently if it sees the same pathogen again. However, it generates memory only if the vaccine packs enough danger signals to kick off a solid immune response.

As a result, your immune systems need to sense danger before responding is at once extremely important (imagine if it started attacking the thousands of species of friendly bacteria in your gut!) and highly problematic. The requirement for danger means that your immune system is programmed not to respond unless a clear threat is identified. It also means that if Im developing a vaccine, I have to convince your immune system that the vaccine itself is a threat worth taking seriously.

This can be accomplished in a number of ways. One is to inject a weakened what immunologists call attenuated or even killed version of a pathogen. This approach has the benefit of looking almost identical to the real pathogen, triggering many of the same danger signals and often resulting in strong, long-term immunity, as is seen in polio vaccination. It can also be risky if you havent weakened the pathogen enough and roll out the vaccine too fast, there is a possibility of unintentionally infecting a large number of vaccine recipients. In addition to this unacceptable human cost, the resulting loss of trust in vaccines could lead to additional suffering as fewer people take other, safer vaccines.

A safer approach is to use individual components of the pathogen, harmless by themselves but capable of training your immune system to recognize the real thing. However, these pieces of the pathogen dont often contain the danger signals necessary to stimulate a strong memory response. As a result, they need to be supplemented with synthetic danger signals, which immunologists refer to as adjuvants.

To make vaccines more effective, whole labs have been dedicated to the testing and development of new adjuvants. All are designed with the same basic purpose to kick the immune system into action in a way that maximizes the effectiveness and longevity of the response. In doing so, we maximize the number of people that will benefit from the vaccine and the length of time those people are protected.

To do this, we take advantage of the same sensors that your immune system uses to sense damage in an active infection. That means that while they will stimulate an effective immune response, they will do so by producing temporary inflammatory effects. At a cellular level, the vaccine triggers inflammation at the injection site. Blood vessels in the area become a little more leaky to help recruit immune cells into the muscle tissue, causing the area to become red and swell. All of this kicks off a full-blown immune response in a lymph node somewhere nearby that will play out over the course of weeks.

In terms of symptoms, this can result in redness and swelling at the injection site, stiffness and soreness in the muscle, tenderness and swelling of the local lymph nodes and, if the vaccine is potent enough, even fever (and that associated generally crappy feeling).

This is the balance of vaccine design maximizing protection and benefits while minimizing their uncomfortable, but necessary, side effects. Thats not to say that serious side effects dont occur they do but they are exceedingly rare. Two of the most discussed serious side effects, anaphalaxis (a severe allergic reaction) and Guillain-Barr Syndrome (nerve damage due to inflammation), occur at a frequency of less than 1 in 500,000 doses.

Early data suggest that the mRNA vaccines in development against SARS-CoV-2 are highly effective upwards of 90%. That means they are capable of stimulating robust immune responses, complete with sufficient danger signaling, in greater than nine out of 10 patients. Thats a high number under any circumstances, and suggests that these vaccines are potent.

So lets be clear here. You should expect to feel sore at the injection site the day after you get vaccinated. You should expect some redness and swelling, and you might even expect to feel generally run down for a day or two post-vaccination. All of these things are normal, anticipated and even intended.

While the data arent finalized, more than 2% of the Moderna vaccine recipients experienced what they categorized as severe temporary side effects such as fatigue and headache. The percentage of people who experience any side effects will be higher. These are signs that the vaccine is doing what it was designed to do train your immune system to respond against something it might otherwise ignore so that youll be protected later. It does not mean that the vaccine gave you COVID-19.

It all comes down to this: Some time in the coming months, you will be given a simple choice to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community from a highly transmissible and deadly disease that results in long-term health consequences for a significant number of otherwise healthy people. It may cost you a few days of feeling sick.

Please choose wisely.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Matthew Woodruff is an Instructor at the Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Emory University. Woodruff received a BS in biotechnology in 2008 from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Immediately following, he attended Harvard University as a doctoral candidate in immunology, graduating in 2014 with a thesis describing the earliest phases of immune response following influenza vaccination. In 2014 Woodruff pursued a postodoctoral fellowship at Emory University, again studying the early phases of immune response (specifically antibody selection). He published that work in 2018, and transitioned into a human immunology lab under Dr. Iaki Sanz, specializing in the study of autoimmune diseases. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Woodruff has refocused almost entirely on studying the immune responses in patients with severe COVID-19. Woodruff is a member of the Scholars Strategy Network, and has a strong interest in public outreach.

This article is courtesy of The Conversation.

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Vaccines Against SARS-CoV-2 Will Have Side Effects That's A Good Thing - Global Biodefense

Immunology

Vaccines Against COVID-19 Will Have Side Effects, But That’s A Good Thing, Expert Says – LevittownNow.com

December 6, 2020 medical

By Matthew Woodruff, Instructor, Lowance Center for Human Immunology at Emory University

In 2021 hundreds of millions of people will be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, which is commonly known as COVID-19. The success of that COVID-19 vaccination campaign will heavily depend on public trust that the vaccines are not only effective, but also safe. To build that trust, the medical and scientific communities have a responsibility to engage in difficult discussions with the public about the significant fraction of people who will experiencetemporary side effectsfrom these vaccines.

I am an immunologistwho studiesthe fundamentals of immune responses to vaccination, so part of that responsibility falls on me.

Simply put, receiving these vaccines will likely make a whole lot of people feel crappy for a few days. Thats probably a good thing, and its a far better prospect than long-term illness or death.

In 1989, immunologistCharles Janewaypublished an articlesummarizing the state of the field of immunology. Until that point, immunologists had accepted that immune responses were initiated when encountering something foreign bacteria, viruses, and parasites that was non-self.

Now, 30 years later, immunologists know that your immune system uses a complex set of sensors to understand not only whether or not something is foreign, but alsowhat kind of threat, if any, a microbe might pose. It can tell the difference between viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and parasites, like tapeworms, and activate specialized arms of your immune system to deal withthose specific threats accordingly.It can evenmonitor the level of tissue damagecaused by an invader, and ramp up your immune response to match.

Vaccines work by introducing asafe version of a pathogen to a patients immune system. Your immune system remembers its past encounters and responds more efficiently if it sees the same pathogen again. However, it generates memory only if the vaccine packs enough danger signals to kick off a solid immune response.

This can be accomplishedin a number of ways. One is to inject a weakened what immunologists call attenuated or even killed version of a pathogen. This approach has the benefit of looking almost identical to the real pathogen, triggering many of the same danger signals and often resulting in strong, long-term immunity, as is seen in polio vaccination. It can also be risky if you havent weakened the pathogen enough and roll out the vaccine too fast, there is a possibility of unintentionally infecting a large number of vaccine recipients. In addition to this unacceptable human cost, the resulting loss of trust in vaccines could lead to additional suffering as fewer people take other, safer vaccines.

To make vaccines more effective,whole labs have been dedicated to the testing and developmentof newadjuvants. All are designed with the same basic purpose to kick the immune system into action in a way that maximizes the effectiveness and longevity of the response. In doing so, we maximize the number of people that will benefit from the vaccine and the length of time those people are protected.

This is the balance of vaccine design maximizing protection and benefits while minimizing theiruncomfortable, but necessary, side effects. Thats not to say that serious side effects dont occur they do but they are exceedingly rare. Two of the most discussed serious side effects,anaphalaxis(a severe allergic reaction) andGuillain-Barr Syndrome(nerve damage due to inflammation), occur at a frequency of less than 1 in 500,000 doses.

Early data suggest that themRNA vaccines in development against SARS-CoV-2 are highly effective upwards of 90 percent. That means they are capable of stimulating robust immune responses, complete with sufficient danger signaling, in greater than nine out of 10 patients. Thats a high number under any circumstances, and suggests that these vaccines are potent.

While the data arent finalized,more than 2 percent of the Moderna vaccine recipientsexperienced what they categorized as severe temporary side effects such as fatigue and headache. The percentage of people who experience any side effects will be higher. These are signs that the vaccine is doing what it was designed to do train your immune system to respond against something it might otherwise ignore so that youll be protected later. It does not mean that the vaccine gave you COVID-19.

It all comes down to this: Some time in the coming months, you will be given a simple choice to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community from a highly transmissible anddeadly diseasethat results inlong-term health consequencesfor a significant number of otherwise healthy people. It may cost you a few days of feeling sick.

Please choose wisely.

Read the original post:
Vaccines Against COVID-19 Will Have Side Effects, But That's A Good Thing, Expert Says - LevittownNow.com