University of Pennsylvania

Autolus Therapeutics Announces Changes to its Board of Directors

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 22, 2023
Senior, Fortress Biotech, Food, DSM-IV codes, AstraZeneca, FDA, Hearing loss, Neuroscience, M.B.A, Inflammation, Complexa, Senior management, Biologics license application, Therapy, University, University of Pennsylvania, Patient, Corporate development, ALL, Bluebird bio, Corporation, BLA, Pharmaceutical industry

LONDON, Dec. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autolus Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: AUTL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation programmed T cell therapies, today announced the appointment of Elisabeth Leiderman, M.D. to the Board of Directors. Additionally, the Company announced that Kapil Dhingra M.D., who has served on Autolus’ Board of Directors since May 2015, has advised the Board of his intent to step down from his role as a member of the Board and chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, effective December 31, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • LONDON, Dec. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autolus Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: AUTL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation programmed T cell therapies, today announced the appointment of Elisabeth Leiderman, M.D.
  • Additionally, the Company announced that Kapil Dhingra M.D., who has served on Autolus’ Board of Directors since May 2015, has advised the Board of his intent to step down from his role as a member of the Board and chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, effective December 31, 2023.
  • “The Autolus Board and Management Team would like to welcome Lis Leiderman to the Board of Directors.
  • Dr. Leiderman is a member of the board of directors of bluebird bio, Inc. She holds an M.D.

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) awards $100,000 in support of cardiac sarcoidosis

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 18, 2023
School, Faculty, Duke University Hospital, Partnership, Prognosis, Research, Pathology, Inflammation, Disease, Johns Hopkins University, Doctor of Philosophy, Sarcoidosis, Transplant, Duke University, University, 3D, University of Pennsylvania, Assistant, Diagnosis, Public health, JHU, FSR, Medical device

CHICAGO, Dec. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) announces $100,000 in funding for support of research aimed at improving diagnosis, management, and treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis.

Key Points: 
  • CHICAGO, Dec. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) announces $100,000 in funding for support of research aimed at improving diagnosis, management, and treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis.
  • With this grant, we aim to improve the specificity of cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosis with FDG-PET using a novel strategy incorporating combined SGLT1/2 inhibition with sotagliflozin.
  • “The 2023 FSR Sarcoidosis Cardiac Grant award will allow us to use the novel 3D multi-omic pathology to determine unique properties of vasculature surrounding cardiac sarcoidosis granulomas and find new potential biomarker targets and histological criteria for cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosis.
  • FSR is dedicated to accelerating sarcoidosis research through fellowships, small grants, large grants, and disease specific grants to advance sarcoidosis research and advance care for those living with sarcoidosis.

Wistar Scientists Identify Esophageal Cancer Biomarkers

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
RNA, Wistar Institute, Ferroptosis, Collaborative writing, RNA-Seq, National Cancer Institute, Biomedical Research, Culture, Mechanics, Tumor microenvironment, Ellen, Virus, ESCA, Messenger, Prognosis, Health, Ageing, Incidence, Neoplasm, Cancer, International Society, University, University of Pennsylvania, Ecology, Gene expression, Gene, Biomarker, Machine learning, Cell, Patient, Qi, Iron, NCI, Bacteriophage, Esophageal cancer, Carnegie Mellon University

Philadelphia, PA, Dec. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wistar scientists have developed a new tool that can help identify cancer-associated microbes by using machine learning technology.

Key Points: 
  • Philadelphia, PA, Dec. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wistar scientists have developed a new tool that can help identify cancer-associated microbes by using machine learning technology.
  • Under the leadership of Dr. Noam Auslander — assistant professor in the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center’s Molecular & Cellular Oncogenesis Program — the group has analyzed short read RNA-sequencing data to detect biomarkers for esophageal carcinoma, or ESCA.
  • Since 1972, the Institute has held National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center status.
  • Wistar scientists are dedicated to solving some of the world’s most challenging problems in the field of cancer and immunology, advancing human health through early-stage discovery and training the next generation of biomedical researchers.

Medicenna Announces Compelling Survival Benefit from Phase 2b Study of Bizaxofusp in Recurrent Glioblastoma at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Society for NeuroOncology

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 17, 2023
Annual general meeting, Hope, Medical director, University of Pennsylvania, Toxin, Glioblastoma, Neurology, Patient, ECA, Radiation, MDNA, Pakistan Society of Neuro-Oncology, Convection, University, Survival, Administration, IL4R, Recurrence, TSX, Poster, OTC, Decompression (diving), Society, SNO, Pharmaceutical industry

TORONTO and HOUSTON, Nov. 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. (“Medicenna” or the “Company”) (TSX: MDNA, OTC: MDNAF), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on the development of Superkines, today announced that a poster presentation and an oral summary highlighting longer term follow up results from the Phase 2b clinical trial of bizaxofusp (formerly known as MDNA55), the Company’s first-in-class IL-4R targeted therapy for the treatment of patients with recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM), will be presented by Dr. Steven Brem, M.D. (Medical Director, Centre for Precision Surgery, Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania) at the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) 2023 Annual Meeting, taking place from November 15-19, 2023, in Vancouver, Canada.

Key Points: 
  • “Bizaxofusp represents an exciting new approach by demonstrating a dose-dependent effect on the receptor of IL-4, an immuno-suppressive cytokine.
  • The data offers new hope for patients with glioblastoma who have few treatment options at recurrence,” said Dr. Steven Brem.
  • The data demonstrated that a single treatment with bizaxofusp increased median overall survival (mOS) by 72% compared to the ECA (12.4 months vs. 7.2 months).
  • Overall survival (OS) for bizaxofusp-treated patients increased 370% at Year 1 and increased more than 50% at Year 2.

Sotera Health Appoints Karen Flynn to Board of Directors

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 13, 2023
CTLT, WST, NYSE, Senior, Audit committee, Interim, University of Pennsylvania, West Pharmaceutical Services, Strategic planning, Compensation, Committee, Boston University, Catalent, Business administration, Biopharmaceutical, SHC, Compensated emancipation, University, Engineering, Management, Science

CLEVELAND, Nov. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sotera Health Company (Nasdaq: SHC), a leading global provider of mission-critical end-to-end sterilization solutions and lab testing and advisory services for the healthcare industry, announced today it has appointed Karen Flynn as a new independent director to its Board.

Key Points: 
  • CLEVELAND, Nov. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sotera Health Company (Nasdaq: SHC), a leading global provider of mission-critical end-to-end sterilization solutions and lab testing and advisory services for the healthcare industry, announced today it has appointed Karen Flynn as a new independent director to its Board.
  • Ms. Flynn is an accomplished healthcare leader with over 35 years of commercial, operations and general management experience in the pharmaceutical services industry.
  • “We are excited to welcome Karen to our Board of Directors,” said Michael B. Petras, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sotera Health.
  • Additionally, her strong Board leadership and governance experience will be valuable as we advance as a public company.”
    Ms. Flynn currently serves on the Board of Directors of Quanterix Corporation (Nasdaq: QTRX), where she is a member of the Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees and on the Board of Directors of Catalent.

Theriva™ Biologics Reports Third Quarter 2023 Operational Highlights and Financial Results

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 13, 2023
Durvalumab, Neck, Research, NYSE, Shield, GMP, Safety, Telephone, Head, Conference call, Clinical trial, ESMO, HCT, Patient, FDA, Cancer, VCN, Therapy, Conference, University, SITC, Survival, Congress, CPS, KOL, ICO, Travel, University of Pennsylvania, Pharmaceutical industry, Cryptocurrency, PDAC

ET -

Key Points: 
  • ET -
    ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Theriva™ Biologics (NYSE American: TOVX), a diversified clinical-stage company developing therapeutics designed to treat cancer and related diseases in areas of high unmet need, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, and provided a corporate update.
  • Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2023 Financial Results
    General and administrative expenses decreased to $212,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022.
  • Theriva Biologics will host a conference call on Monday, November 13, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.
  • ET to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and provide a corporate update.

Lilian Zhou Appointed to STAAR Surgical Board of Directors

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 4, 2023
Biotechnology, Surgery, Medical Devices, Health, Optical, Citadel, Ophthalmology, STAAR, University of Pennsylvania, Astigmatism, Near-sightedness, CFA, Presbyopia, Credit Suisse, MBA, University, Poly Implant Prothèse, EVO, Columbia University, Economics, Bear Stearns, ICL, Management

STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ: STAA), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of the EVO family of Implantable Collamer® Lenses (ICL) for myopia, astigmatism and presbyopia, today announced the appointment of Lilian Zhou to its Board of Directors, effective December 4, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ: STAA), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of the EVO family of Implantable Collamer® Lenses (ICL) for myopia, astigmatism and presbyopia, today announced the appointment of Lilian Zhou to its Board of Directors, effective December 4, 2023.
  • “We welcome Lilian Zhou as a new member to our Board of Directors.
  • Lilian is an accomplished investment portfolio manager who worked at highly regarded Wall Street investment institutions before founding her own firm a decade ago,” said Aimee Weisner, Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee of STAAR Surgical’s Board of Directors.
  • Lilian Zhou brings more than two decades of capital markets and investment experience to STAAR.

Cretostimogene Grenadenorepvec Monotherapy First Results Show 75.7% Complete Response Rate at Any Time in Patients With High-Risk BCG-Unresponsive Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Research, Clinical Trials, Biotechnology, Other Health, Health, Pharmaceutical, Other Science, Science, Oncology, BCG, Safety, NMIBC, University of Pennsylvania, Carcinoma, Aes, Risk, Disease, Clinical trial, Bladder cancer, Patient, Abstract, FDA, Therapy, University, Mayo Clinic, Recurrence, SUO, Society, Pharmaceutical industry, Urology

The fully-enrolled trial of 116 patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC is taking place across North America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Key Points: 
  • The fully-enrolled trial of 116 patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC is taking place across North America and the Asia-Pacific region.
  • The primary endpoint of the study is CR at any time, with duration of response measured as a secondary endpoint.
  • No grade 3 or higher AEs related to cretostimogene grenadenorepvec were observed and there were no treatment discontinuations due to AEs.
  • “Our goal is to transform the treatment landscape for patients with bladder cancer, and these results reinforce our commitment to developing bladder-sparing therapeutics to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.”

Affini-T Therapeutics Appoints Healthcare Capital Markets Veteran Kathy Bergsteinsson, MBA, as Chief Financial Officer

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 13, 2023
Oncology, Health, Research, Pharmaceutical, Science, Biotechnology, Engineering, Therapy, University, Morgan Stanley, Patient, Strategic planning, Stanford University, Business administration, MBA, Cancer, Growth, University of Pennsylvania, Financial services

Affini-T Therapeutics, Inc. , a precision immunotherapy company unlocking the power of T cells against oncogenic driver mutations, today announced the appointment of Kathy Bergsteinsson, MBA, as Chief Financial Officer.

Key Points: 
  • Affini-T Therapeutics, Inc. , a precision immunotherapy company unlocking the power of T cells against oncogenic driver mutations, today announced the appointment of Kathy Bergsteinsson, MBA, as Chief Financial Officer.
  • Bergsteinsson brings more than two decades of financial markets and strategic advisory experience, most recently as Managing Director and Head of Healthcare Equity Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley where she raised over $100 billion in equity financing for clients to help drive growth and innovation.
  • “Kathy’s broad financing, strategic planning and leadership expertise will be instrumental for us as we continue to grow our organization and transition our KRAS-targeting therapies into clinical investigation,” said Jak Knowles, M.D., Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, Affini-T Therapeutics.
  • I am looking forward to guiding the company through its next phase of progress and clinical milestones.”

Dismal Communication on The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: New Research Shows CEOs Need a "Do-Over"

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Harvard University, Research, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, The Harris Poll, Hatred, Genocide, University, Partnership, Communication, Jews, Congress, Empathy, Arabs, Management

For many employees, even the communication they did receive missed the mark.

Key Points: 
  • For many employees, even the communication they did receive missed the mark.
  • Rather, it is about understanding the importance of employee well-being and responding, which is suffering today in our state of permacrisis.
  • Communicators identified 12 essential components of effective communication and rated concern, empathy, and authenticity as the most important.
  • "We know better now, given our research results, and thus we must do better as leaders going forward."