In a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, researchers investigated whether a meticulously crafted meal plan for children in kindergarten aged five to six years could effectively increase their regular intake of vegetables, whole grains, and nuts. The preschool years are a time of rapid growth and development and a vital age for forming lifelong food habits. In pre-primary schools, students receive at least three meals (breakfast, lunch, and snack), which are frequently complemented by an additional snack. The relationships between foods, nutrients, and dietary patterns have significant health consequences, particularly for preventing and developing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. According to studies, preschoolers do not eat enough nutritional foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. About the study In the present cross-sectional study, researchers evaluated the impact of carefully designed kindergarten meals on the regular consumption of healthy foods among kindergarteners. ...
A Novavax Covid-19 vaccine developed for the fall vaccination season now has the FDA green light, bringing an alternative to the messenger RNA shots that are already rolling out to pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and other locations throughout the country. The FDA decision announced Tuesday afternoon is not an approval. Last year’s emergency authorization for the Novavax vaccine is now amended to include an updated formula, which reflects currently circulating variants. The initial Novavax vaccine was authorized for those 18 and older. For the updated shot, the FDA expanded the age range to 12 and older. The regulatory decision for the latest version of the Novavax vaccine means the company’s initial vaccine, developed for the original SARS-CoV-2 strain, is no longer authorized for use in the U.S. Gaithersburg, Maryland-based Novavax makes its protein-based vaccines with nanoparticle technology that engineers proteins that mimic antigens found on natural pathogens. For its Covid-19 vaccine, ...
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is also the leading cause of cervical cancer. Over 1,400 Canadian women are affected yearly, with almost 400 deaths, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. It is completely preventable with the HPV vaccine, and yet, unfortunately, many people are unvaccinated. University of Waterloo researchers have found a possible solution to this on-going issues. Using an electronic questionnaire at the time of appointment scheduling for seasonal influenza or COVID-19 vaccines, researchers have found, is a quick and efficient way to identify people in Ontario willing to receive additional life-saving vaccines. Dr. Wasem Alsabbagh, associate professor, University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, said, “This is a massive opportunity for policymakers to focus on vaccine campaigns to reach more patients.” Questions were embedded into MedEssist, a platform many pharmacists use for scheduling vaccination appointments, to reveal if individuals booking for their ...
Dive Brief The Food and Drug Administration is expanding a program for accelerating device development to cover neurological and physical medicine technologies. Initially, the voluntary total product life cycle advisory program (TAP) pilot was limited to cardiovascular devices. This week, the FDA Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices also began accepting enrollment requests. Expanding the program to cover cardiovascular, neurological and physical medicine devices is part of a scaling up of the pilot, which enrolled 12 products in its first year. The FDA could enroll up to 45 additional devices over the coming year. Dive Insight The FDA and industry agreed to the TAP pilot in MDUFA V. While the industry initially opposed the advisory program, the FDA secured a chance to show it can “spur more rapid development and more rapid and widespread patient access” by facilitating early engagement and coordination with external stakeholders. A year ago, the ...
The device, Maverick, utilizes Raman spectroscopy for bioprocess control. 908 Devices Inc. launched Maverick, an optical in-line analyzer that provides real-time monitoring for multiple bioprocess controls. The device also provides control of glucose, lactate, and total biomass in mammalian cell cultures. According to a press release from 908 Devices, this is the first turn-key device that utilizes Raman spectroscopy for bioprocess control without also requiring modeling or development. Christopher D. Brown, chief product officer and co-founder of 908 Devices, said in a press release, “As the biopharmaceutical industry adopts Process Analytical Technologies to drive the advancement of Biopharma 4.0, scientists need an array of tools that enable them to monitor and control their process in real time.” He continued, “We are addressing this need with our full complement of devices. With MAVERICK, we are introducing a new platform that offers easy-to-integrate in-line analysis and control without the need for substantial ...
Zocdoc launched a new suite of tools to compete with the solutions sold by Phreesia, NexHealth and Solutionreach. The product suite, which is free for any provider to use, includes tools to streamline the patient intake process, facilitate online scheduling and enable video visits. By KATIE ADAMS Zocdoc launched a new suite of tools on Tuesday — one that takes aim at the solutions sold by Phreesia, NexHealth and Solutionreach. The product suite, called Zocdoc Practice Solutions, includes tools to streamline the patient intake process, facilitate online scheduling and enable video visits. The suite is available free of charge to any practice or provider, regardless of whether they are a Zocdoc marketplace customer. Providers can use these tools for all their patients — not just the ones who book appointments through Zocdoc. Zocdoc’s decision to launch its new product suite was based on conversations the company has had with its ...
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Krystal Biotech’s Investigational New Drug (IND) for a Phase I clinical trial of the investigational alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) treatment KB408. Earlier this month, the FDA granted orphan-drug status for KB408 in AATD. The first patient in the planned Phase I trial is expected to receive treatment in Q1 2024. The Phase I trial, involving adult patients with AATD and the PI*ZZ genotype, will assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy at three planned dose levels. AATD is a rare genetic disorder that occurs when there is insufficient production or impaired functionality of the alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein. Low AAT levels result in damage to lung tissue, leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). KB408 is a gene therapy consisting of a modified herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) derived vector, which delivers two full-length copies of the SERPINA1 gene to enable AAT expression. ...
The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and Merck KGaA have announced a renewal of their strategic alliance to discover and develop new small-molecule cancer drugs. Throughout the multi-year, multi-target collaboration, both organisations will contribute their expertise in drug discovery to the partnership. As part of the agreement, significant financial and staff commitments from both organisations will be made, including the funding of nine full-time research posts at the ICR by Merck. Scientists at the ICR’s Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery will cooperate with researchers at German science and technology company Merck on a variety of projects that aim to discover and develop new small-molecule inhibitors of a new class of cancer targets. In 2021, the ICR opened a new building worth £70m as part of its site in Sutton, South London, which houses around 300 scientists working across a range of disciplines in cancer drug discovery. Earlier this month, ICR ...
By divesting 75% of its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) business, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has finally resolved its debt problem, described by an Indian news outlet as a “decade-long troubled affair.”The buyer is Nirma Limited, which will pay 615 Indian rupees per share, which comes to Rs 5,651 crore ($681 million) in total. Based in Ahmedabad, Nirma specializes in cosmetics, detergents, salt and injectables. In a press conference, Glenmark’s chairman and managing director Glenn Saldanha said the company was facing a gross debut of approximately Rs 4,600 crore ($555 million). “The total debt gets extinguished after the deal,” he added. In revealing (PDF) the sale, Glenmark said the deal allows it to become an innovative and brand-led company, focusing on its core therapeutic areas of dermatology, respiratory and oncology. The sale leaves the company with a 7.8% share in the API subsidiary, named Glenmark Life Sciences, which will continue to operate as ...
As Seagen prepares for its takeover by Pfizer, the company’s Astellas-partnered cancer drug Padcev has chalked up a key trial win—in combination with Merck’s Keytruda—in previously untreated metastatic bladder cancer. In the study, Seagen and Astellas’ antibody-drug conjugate Padcev and Merck’s PD-1 superstar Keytruda scored on both overall survival and progression-free survival compared with chemotherapy. An independent data monitoring committee found that the combo’s life extension benefit surpassed the pre-specified efficacy boundary at an interim analysis, the companies said in a Friday release. The results could open the combo up to patients who are eligible for platinum-based chemotherapies cisplatin or carboplatin, regardless of their PD-L1 status. “This study has the potential to be practice changing and offer a new standard of care for first-line metastatic bladder cancer,” Seagen’s R&D head Roger Dansey, M.D., said in the release. “We look forward to presenting the results at an upcoming medical conference and ...
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