Therapy

Kate Therapeutics Debuts With $51 Million Series A to Develop Next-Generation Genetic Medicines to Treat Muscle and Heart Diseases

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 8, 2023

SAN DIEGO, June 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kate Therapeutics Inc. ("KateTx"), a next-generation gene therapy company, today emerged from stealth mode with a $51 million Series A financing co-led by founding investor Westlake Village BioPartners and Versant Ventures, with participation from Osage University Partners and UF Innovate | Ventures. In addition, the company has granted Astellas Pharma Inc. an exclusive, worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize KT430 to treat X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM), the details of which are described in a separate press release issued today.

Key Points: 
  • "We are excited to announce KateTx's launch and what this means for patients suffering from muscle and heart diseases," said Kevin Forrest, Ph.D., president, CEO and a director of KateTx.
  • "KateTx is applying novel capsid and cargo technology platforms to enable skeletal and cardiac muscle targeting and liver de-targeting.
  • KateTx's current focus is identifying and advancing clinical candidates for DM1 and FSHD, as well as for other genetic muscle and heart diseases.
  • "With this Series A financing and licensing agreement, KateTx will be able to progress its deep pipeline of internal programs."

Legislation Introduced to Permanently Allow Access to Physical Therapist Services via Telehealth

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Physical Therapy Association supports new bipartisan legislation that would permanently allow physical therapist services delivered via telehealth to be covered under Medicare. The Expanded Telehealth Access Act (H.R. 3875), adds physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and other therapy providers in private practice, as well as facility-based outpatient therapy providers under Medicare Part B, as permanently authorized providers of telehealth under Medicare. The bill is endorsed by APTA, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Alliance for Connected Care, and the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Key Points: 
  • ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Physical Therapy Association supports new bipartisan legislation that would permanently allow physical therapist services delivered via telehealth to be covered under Medicare.
  • 3875), adds physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and other therapy providers in private practice, as well as facility-based outpatient therapy providers under Medicare Part B, as permanently authorized providers of telehealth under Medicare.
  • "The use of telehealth during the pandemic helped ensure patient access to physical therapist services and provided an option for therapy clinics and their patients," said APTA President Roger Herr, PT, MPA.
  • The American Physical Therapy Association represents more than 100,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and physical therapy students nationwide.

CU Anschutz Medical Campus Receives $50 Million Gift from The Anschutz Foundation to Accelerate Breakthroughs in Medicine

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

AURORA, Colo., June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus today announced the Anschutz Acceleration Initiative, a program to advance cutting edge healthcare innovations that are poised to reach patients within the next three to five years.

Key Points: 
  • The initiative, which will provide funding to help accelerate the development of promising advancements in the medical field at CU Anschutz, was made possible by a $50 million gift from The Anschutz Foundation .
  • "We share a vision with CU Anschutz to address the most complex medical problems and move them forward as quickly as possible," said Christian P. Anschutz, President of The Anschutz Foundation.
  • The Anschutz Foundation has been an integral partner in the growth and development of the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.
  • The Anschutz Acceleration Initiative will award grants to CU Anschutz faculty in January 2024.

CHOP's Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

PHILADELPHIA, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center (HTC) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is proudly celebrating 50 years of providing comprehensive care to children and adolescents with hemophilia and other inherited bleeding or clotting disorders. The Center was founded in 1973 and was one of the first HTCs established in the country and is considered a Center of Excellence for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of bleeding and clotting disorders, serving as a national resource for other institutions.

Key Points: 
  • PHILADELPHIA, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center (HTC) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is proudly celebrating 50 years of providing comprehensive care to children and adolescents with hemophilia and other inherited bleeding or clotting disorders.
  • "What started at CHOP as caring for 48 patients a year with hemophilia has grown into providing care for over 1,000 children with all types of bleeding and clotting disorders at our Center," says Leslie Raffini, MD, Director of the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
  • Hemophilia is an X-linked inherited bleeding disorder that is caused by a clotting factor deficiency that can cause frequent, painful joint bleeds and disability.
  • During this time, donated blood was the only treatment available for hemophilia patients, which led to many of them becoming infected with HIV.

BOLDEN THERAPEUTICS TO PRESENT AT THE 3RD ANNUAL OLIGONUCLEOTIDES FOR CNS SUMMIT

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

PROVIDENCE, R.I. and BOSTON, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bolden Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing first-in-class therapeutics to promote neurogenesis for the potential treatment of CNS illnesses, today announced their upcoming presentation at the BIO International Convention during Jun 5th-8th in Boston, MA.

Key Points: 
  • PROVIDENCE, R.I. and BOSTON, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bolden Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing first-in-class therapeutics to promote neurogenesis for the potential treatment of CNS illnesses, today announced their upcoming presentation at the BIO International Convention during Jun 5th-8th in Boston, MA.
  • "I am extremely excited to be at BIO this year to meet with potential partners and interface with the broader biotech ecosystem," said Johnny Page, Sc.M., Co-Founder and CEO of Bolden Therapeutics.
  • "We have made significant progress with our development program and now have active candidate compounds in hand," he continued.
  • Johnny Page, Co-Founder and CEO, will present today, June 7th, at 4PM in Room 104C at the BIO International Convention at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

MEKanistic Therapeutics ™ announces the appointment of Dr. Patricia LoRusso to its Scientific Advisory Board

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MEKanistic Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company redefining the future of kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer, announces the addition of Dr. Patricia LoRusso to its Scientific Advisory Board.

Key Points: 
  • MINNEAPOLIS, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MEKanistic Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company redefining the future of kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer, announces the addition of Dr. Patricia LoRusso to its Scientific Advisory Board.
  • "We are thrilled to welcome Dr. LoRusso to our Scientific Advisory Board," said Danny Cunagin, CEO of MEKanistic Therapeutics.
  • We are humbled by the exceptional talent on our Scientific Advisory Team and the enthusiasm within the scientific community for our work."
  • MEKanistic Therapeutics' Scientific Advisory Board is composed of leading clinical oncology experts who provide strategic guidance and counsel to the company's scientific and management teams.

Amarna Therapeutics announces appointment of Dr Henk Streefkerk as new CEO

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

LEIDEN, Netherlands, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarna Therapeutics , a privately-held biotechnology company developing transformative gene therapies in a range of rare and prevalent diseases, including Hemophilia B, today announces the appointment of Dr Henk Streefkerk as the Company's new Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director.

Key Points: 
  • LEIDEN, Netherlands, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarna Therapeutics , a privately-held biotechnology company developing transformative gene therapies in a range of rare and prevalent diseases, including Hemophilia B, today announces the appointment of Dr Henk Streefkerk as the Company's new Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director.
  • Dr Streefkerk has a distinguished career as CMO of several biotechs, including PIQUR Therapeutics, Cellprotera and Rivia, and brings over a decade of experience working in big pharma including Novartis, Actelion and Organon.
  • "We are very pleased to introduce Henk Streefkerk as our new CEO.
  • Henk will be instrumental in leading Amarna towards the first in human clinical trial," said Thomas Eldered, Chairman of Amarna's supervisory board.

Amarna Therapeutics announces appointment of Dr Henk Streefkerk as new CEO

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

LEIDEN, Netherlands, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarna Therapeutics , a privately-held biotechnology company developing transformative gene therapies in a range of rare and prevalent diseases, including Hemophilia B, today announces the appointment of Dr Henk Streefkerk as the Company's new Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director.

Key Points: 
  • LEIDEN, Netherlands, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarna Therapeutics , a privately-held biotechnology company developing transformative gene therapies in a range of rare and prevalent diseases, including Hemophilia B, today announces the appointment of Dr Henk Streefkerk as the Company's new Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director.
  • Dr Streefkerk has a distinguished career as CMO of several biotechs, including PIQUR Therapeutics, Cellprotera and Rivia, and brings over a decade of experience working in big pharma including Novartis, Actelion and Organon.
  • "We are very pleased to introduce Henk Streefkerk as our new CEO.
  • Henk will be instrumental in leading Amarna towards the first in human clinical trial," said Thomas Eldered, Chairman of Amarna's supervisory board.

Mozart Therapeutics Raises $25 Million in Expanded Series A Financing to Support Clinical Development of First-in-Class CD8 Treg Modulators for the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

SEATTLE, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mozart Therapeutics, a leading developer of CD8 Treg Modulators for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today announced it has raised $25 million from new investors in a Series A extension, bringing the total raise to $80 million. The proceeds will be used to advance the company's lead candidate, MTX-101, into first-in-human clinical trials and to support pipeline expansion.

Key Points: 
  • The proceeds will be used to advance the company's lead candidate, MTX-101, into first-in-human clinical trials and to support pipeline expansion.
  • New investors Pfizer Ventures, AbbVie Ventures, Ono Venture Investment and UPMC Enterprises participated in the round.
  • Mozart is developing a portfolio of CD8 Treg Modulators including MTX-101, a bispecific autoimmune checkpoint inhibitor, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
  • "We look forward to the company's emerging data demonstrating the promise to bring forward novel CD8 Treg modulators with broad therapeutic potential."

XNK Therapeutics appoints Hugo Petit as Chief Financial Officer

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

HUDDINGE, Sweden, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- XNK Therapeutics today announced the appointment of Hugo Petit as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and member of the company's leadership team.

Key Points: 
  • HUDDINGE, Sweden, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- XNK Therapeutics today announced the appointment of Hugo Petit as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and member of the company's leadership team.
  • Hugo Petit has extensive experience in the life sciences sector and has served as CFO in both public and privately held companies.
  • His wealth of financial experience, particularly in the life sciences sector, will strengthen the organization as we continue to grow the company," said Johan Liwing, CEO of XNK Therapeutics.
  • I really look forward to supporting XNK in all possible ways on its exciting journey," said Hugo Petit.