The chronic brain disease that causes seizures currently affects around 600,000 people living in the UK The NHS has announced that it will be rolling out a new laser beam therapy this June to help prevent seizures in patients living with epilepsy. The new fibre optic laser therapy called laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) works to target the part of the brain that causes seizures without the need for invasive surgery. Affecting around 600,000 people in the UK, epilepsy is a chronic brain disease that causes seizures, which lead to involuntary movement. Around one in three people living with the condition are unable to control their seizures using anti-seizure drugs and may need invasive neurosurgery to remove the epilepsy-causing part of the brain. Being offered at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Walton Centre in Liverpool, the treatment involves drilling a small hole to allow a 1.5mm-wide probe ...
Shanghai, China, May 6, 2024-Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. (2696.HK) announced that the investigational new drug application (IND) for phase 3 international multicenter clinical study of Henlius’ novel anti-HER2 mAb, HLX22, in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As of now, no similar dual HER2 blockade therapy for the treatment of HER2-positive gastric cancer has received approval for commercialization globally. Until now, gastric/gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer still constitutes a major global health problem. Globally, there were around 1 million cases in 2022. G/GEJ cancer generally carries a poor prognosis since it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, with a 5-year relative survival rate of only 6%. The reported rates of HER2 positivity in patients with gastric cancer range from 12% to 23%, and the prognosis for patients with HER2-positive disease ...
Don Tracy, Associate Editor Deal includes a number of radioligand therapies targeting solid tumors, such as breast, prostate, and lung cancers. Novartis announced that it has acquired Mariana Oncology, a biotech specializing in developing radioligand therapies (RLTs) for cancer treatment. According to the company, the acquisition is expected to enhance Novartis’ existing RLT pipeline and add major research capabilities. These programs target breast, prostate, and lung cancers, and features a leading developmental candidate, MC-339, for small cell lung cancer. As per terms of the agreement, Novartis is expected to make an upfront payment of $1 billion, with further potential payments of up to $750 million upon the completion of pre-specified milestones.1 “The acquisition of Mariana Oncology reflects our commitment to radioligand therapy as one of our company’s key technology platforms and strengthens our leadership in this field,” said Fiona Marshall, president, biomedical research, Novartis, in a press release. “We are ...
BY SEAN WHOOLEY The ClearPoint Prism neuro laser therapy system. [Image courtesy of ClearPoint Neuro] ClearPoint Neuro (Nasdaq:CLPT) announced today that the FDA granted 510(k) clearance for its Prism bone anchor accessory. It marks the second new product introduction in 2024 for the company, with its stereotactic guidance system garnering clearance in January. The Prism system features the only non-cooled laser applicator on the market, the company said. Its next-generation laser applicator technology eliminates the need for external cooling. This simplifies setup, reduces power and ablation time and lessens imaging artifact for more efficient workflows. ClearPoint Neuro designed its Prism bone anchor accessory for use with commercially available stereotactic systems. These systems work for intracranial and neurosurgical procedures. Such procedures require accurate positioning of compatible small surgical instruments or accessories in the cranium, brain or nervous systems. The anchor provides short-term fixation and positioning of those instruments or accessories under image guidance. Chris Osswald, director, ...
The FDA approved X4 Pharmaceuticals drug Xolremdi for treating WHIM syndrome. The molecule, which addresses the underlying cause of this rare immunodeficiency, was licensed from Sanofi’s Genzyme subsidiary. By Frank Vinluan A primary immunodeficiency whose rarity means it can go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in a patient for years now has its first drug. The FDA has approved a once-daily therapy that addresses the underlying genetic problem driving the inherited disorder, known as WHIM syndrome. The regulatory decision announced Monday for the X4 Pharmaceuticals drug covers WHIM patients age 12 and older. The daily capsule, known in development as mavorixafor, will be commercialized under the brand name Xolremdi (pronounced “zohl-REM-dee”). The name WHIM is an acronym for warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis, which are the four common clinical presentations of the disease. But the disease is not limited to those symptoms and it presents differently from one patient to another. There is no standard ...
The FDA has approved Beqvez, a Pfizer gene therapy developed for moderate-to-severe hemophilia B. The one-time treatment carries a $3.5 million price tag, the same as a CSL Behring gene therapy already available for treating the inherited bleeding disorder. By Frank Vinluan Pfizer’s first FDA-approved gene therapy is the second such treatment for the inherited bleeding disorder hemophilia B, introducing some competition to a therapeutic area that now has two of the most expensive medicines in the world. The FDA approval announced Friday covers the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe hemophilia B. Known in development as fidanacogene elaparvovec, the Pfizer therapy will be marketed under the brand name Beqvez. The company expects this therapy will become available to patients later in the current quarter. Hemophilias stem from genetic mutations that lead to abnormally low levels of clotting proteins. These disorders mainly affect males and make patients susceptible to bleeding events ...
ImmunityBio therapy Anktiva is now FDA approved for treating patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The novel immunotherapy works by sparking activity from three types of immune cells. By Frank Vinluan Immunotherapy is already a treatment option for bladder cancer, but in many cases, these therapies fail or the cancer comes back. When it returns, the next option is removing the bladder. FDA approval of a novel immunotherapy gives bladder cancer patients an alternative to surgical removal of the organ. The FDA has approved ImmunityBio’s therapy, Anktivo, for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), which is cancer found only on the inner layer of the bladder wall. The regulatory decision announced late Monday covers adults whose disease is unresponsive to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a standard of care immunotherapy for bladder cancer. BCG is a benign type of bacteria. Delivered to the bladder via a catheter, the bacteria induce an immune ...
Pfizer will offer a warranty program for its first FDA-approved gene therapy. The hemophilia B treatment will go for $3.5M, matching the price tag on CSL and uniQure’s hemophilia B gene therapy Hemgenix. (Pfizer) Ten years after dipping its toes into the gene therapy pool in a licensing deal with Spark Therapeutics, Pfizer has gained FDA approval for the acquired treatment. The U.S. regulator has endorsed Beqvez (fidanacogene elaparvovec-dzkt) for adults with the bleeding disorder hemophilia B. It becomes the first FDA-approved gene therapy for Pfizer and the second in the indication following CSL and uniQure’s hemophilia B treatment Hemgenix, which became the world’s most expensive drug at $3.5 million when it was approved in 2022. Pfizer had the chance to undercut its rival on price but decided to charge the same $3.5 million for Beqvez. The therapy will be available to patients this quarter, a spokesperson confirmed on Friday ...
ImmunityBio therapy Anktiva is now FDA approved for treating patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The novel immunotherapy works by sparking activity from three types of immune cells. By Frank Vinluan Immunotherapy is already a treatment option for bladder cancer, but in many cases, these therapies fail or the cancer comes back. When it returns, the next option is removing the bladder. FDA approval of a novel immunotherapy gives bladder cancer patients an alternative to surgical removal of the organ. The FDA has approved ImmunityBio’s therapy, Anktivo, for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), which is cancer found only on the inner layer of the bladder wall. The regulatory decision announced late Monday covers adults whose disease is unresponsive to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a standard of care immunotherapy for bladder cancer. BCG is a benign type of bacteria. Delivered to the bladder via a catheter, the bacteria induce ...
SHANGHAI, April 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — GenFleet Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on cutting-edge therapies in oncology and immunology, announced US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the clinical trial approval for GFH925 (KRAS G12C inhibitor) in a multi-center, open-label, randomized and controlled phase III study treating refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. It is the first phase III trial of KRAS G12C inhibitor monotherapy targeting CRC patients worldwide, with GFH925 being the first G12C inhibitor that received Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for previously treated advanced CRC. GFH925 was also granted BTD and New Drug Application acceptance with Priority Review Designation by NMPA for previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)patients with G12C mutation. The trial (GFH925X0301) will enroll refractory metastatic CRC patients harboring KRAS G12C mutation who have progressed or experienced disease recurrence on or after at least two prior ...
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