University College London

Dr. Christian Brander and Dr. Mala Maini Join World-class Scientific Advisory Board of AstriVax

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Together with the other distinguished vaccine development experts on the company’s scientific advisory board, they will support AstriVax in advancing its innovative plug-and-play vaccine platform.

Key Points: 
  • Together with the other distinguished vaccine development experts on the company’s scientific advisory board, they will support AstriVax in advancing its innovative plug-and-play vaccine platform.
  • Leuven, Belgium, August 21, 2023 – AstriVax is pleased to announce that Dr. Christian Brander and Dr. Mala Maini have agreed to join the company’s scientific advisory board.
  • Hanne Callewaert, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of AstriVax, said: “I am grateful that Christian and Mala have agreed to join our scientific advisory board.
  • I’m also thrilled to have award-winning viral immunologist Mala Maini on board, as her work on hepatitis B and her expertise on improving immunotherapeutic outcomes are invaluable to AstriVax.

Qualigen Therapeutics Partners with TD2 for Phase 1 Clinical Development of QN-302 for the Treatment of Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 17, 2023

Qualigen received US FDA IND clearance earlier this month to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of QN-302, a small molecule G-Quadruplex (G4)-selective transcription inhibitor, for the treatment of advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

Key Points: 
  • Qualigen received US FDA IND clearance earlier this month to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of QN-302, a small molecule G-Quadruplex (G4)-selective transcription inhibitor, for the treatment of advanced or metastatic solid tumors.
  • Tariq Arshad, M.D., M.B.A., Chief Medical Officer, stated: “I am delighted that the FDA has cleared QN-302 to enter the clinic for the proposed Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced or metastatic patients with solid tumors.
  • TD2, our CRO partner, has been instrumental in bringing us to this point.
  • Qualigen will enroll patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors who have failed prior therapy.

Vector Space Biosciences Files for Registration for Space Launch of Biological CubeSats

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Vector Space Biosciences announces it has begun filing for licensing and registration for the design, development and launching of biological CubeSats, enabling biotechnology, pharmaceutical and advanced materials companies to generate unique and powerful datasets to advance the space industry.

Key Points: 
  • Vector Space Biosciences announces it has begun filing for licensing and registration for the design, development and launching of biological CubeSats, enabling biotechnology, pharmaceutical and advanced materials companies to generate unique and powerful datasets to advance the space industry.
  • Customers are invited to pre-register now and during the Vector Space Biosciences talk at Oracle Health Conference on September 20th, 2023.
  • Vector Space Biosciences maintains three divisions: a biosciences lab, AI, Language Modeling & Discovery lab, and hardware lab.
  • Revenue streams result from packages and services offered by the Biological CubeSat Launch Platform (BCLP) along with datasets subscription services.

DIGITAL HEALTH PLATFORM IMPROVES ASTHMA AND DEPRESSION OUTCOMES IN TWO CLINICAL TRIALS

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 10, 2023

BOSTON, Aug. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In two large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted with patients diagnosed with two different chronic conditions, the digital health app juli demonstrated efficacy by improving outcomes in people with either asthma or depression compared to participants using an active control app, the company reported today.

Key Points: 
  • They were conducted in collaboration with University College London (UCL), ranked among the top 10 universities for life sciences and medicine globally.
  • juli joins a small group of digital health apps to have completed RCTs, considered the gold standard for the evaluation of medical interventions.
  • In both studies, the primary endpoint of statistically significant improvements compared to control was achieved, with p=0.020 in the asthma RCT and p=0.045 in the depression RCT.
  • "The fact that they've now demonstrated efficacy across two conditions as diverse as asthma and depression validates their approach and is very encouraging."

World University Presidents Forum: Discuss the Changes of the Times and the Mission of Universities

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, August 6, 2023

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Education of China, co-hosted by the China Association of Higher Education, Peking University, and Tsinghua University, and supported by the People's Government of Huairou District, Beijing, the World University Presidents Forum was held in Beijing, China.

Key Points: 
  • Under the guidance of the Ministry of Education of China, co-hosted by the China Association of Higher Education, Peking University, and Tsinghua University, and supported by the People's Government of Huairou District, Beijing, the World University Presidents Forum was held in Beijing, China.
  • Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, hopes to use this forum as an opportunity to promote inclusive, equitable and high-quality development of education.
  • At the conference, Du Yubo, President of China Association of Higher Education, delivered a keynote speech on "Adapt to the Era of Transformation and Share the Mission of Universities".
  • More than 60 presidents of prestigious universities gave presentations on the theme of "Changes of the Times and the Mission of Universities," including University College London, New York University, The Australian National University, Peking University, National University of Singapore, Heidelberg University, Tsinghua University, University of Ottawa, and Osaka University.

Achilles Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Recent Business Highlights

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 4, 2023

LONDON, Aug. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achilles Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ACHL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing AI-powered precision T cell therapies targeting clonal neoantigens to treat solid tumors, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, and recent business highlights.

Key Points: 
  • LONDON, Aug. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achilles Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ACHL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing AI-powered precision T cell therapies targeting clonal neoantigens to treat solid tumors, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, and recent business highlights.
  • Research and development (R&D) expenses: R&D expenses were $13.8 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, a decrease of $1.0 million compared to $14.8 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
  • General and administrative (G&A) expenses: G&A expenses were $4.3 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, a decrease of $1.5 million compared to $5.8 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
  • Net loss: Net loss for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023 was $16.8 million or $0.42 per share compared to $17.3 million or $0.44 per share for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Pfizer Announces Executive Leadership to Advance Oncology Research and Development Strategy

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 27, 2023

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced changes to its executive leadership team to further advance its aspirations to discover and develop new medicines and vaccines, with an emphasis on oncology.

Key Points: 
  • Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced changes to its executive leadership team to further advance its aspirations to discover and develop new medicines and vaccines, with an emphasis on oncology.
  • Effective today, Chris Boshoff, M.D., PhD, will join Pfizer’s Executive Leadership Team as Chief Oncology Research and Development Officer and Executive Vice President reporting to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Albert Bourla.
  • Under his leadership, Pfizer will continue to invest in its fight against cancer and Dr. Boshoff will be the single point of accountability for the entire oncology pipeline – from discovery to early and late-phase clinical development.
  • Mikael Dolsten, M.D., PhD, currently Chief Scientific Officer & President, Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, will now expand his role to lead all discovery, early- and late-stage clinical development, for all non-oncology therapeutic areas as Chief Scientific Officer, President, Pfizer Research & Development.

It's not just tax. How PwC, KPMG and other consultants risk influencing public health too

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 24, 2023

Until now, much media interest has centred on PwC’s advisory role to the Australian Tax Office while also advising private clients on tax matters.

Key Points: 
  • Until now, much media interest has centred on PwC’s advisory role to the Australian Tax Office while also advising private clients on tax matters.
  • Read more:
    My 3-point plan to untangle the public service from consultants such as PwC

How do these firms consult on health?

    • These include contracts about electronic health systems, policy, taxation, program design and evaluation, improving hospital performance, and health sector restructuring.
    • Firms also develop major public and private health-care initiatives.
    • There might be an argument for engaging external consultants when that expertise does not already exist in the public service.
    • Read more:
      Blacklisting PwC won't stop outsourcing: here are 3 reasons it has become embedded in the Australian public service

What are the concerns?

    • There’s the risk consultants give answers government wants to hear, instead of the “frank and fearless” advice from public servants.
    • Then there’s the issue of whether that advice, or contracted service, provides value for money.
    • University College London economist Mariana Mazzucato refers to the extensive use of commercial consultants to government in her book Big Con.
    • She says neither theory nor evidence show private sector consultancy is more efficient and cost effective than what the public sector can provide.
    • Read more:
      After robodebt, here's how Australia can have a truly 'frank and fearless' public service again

How can we fix this?


    These firms hold power due to their expert knowledge and insufficient regulation. So we need strong commitment by the major political parties to:

    Read more:
    PwC scandal shows consultants, like church officials, are best kept out of state affairs

In a nutshell

    • While commercial firms can make a positive contribution to society, they can potentially increase ill health, inequity, and harm to the planet via the advice or services they provide.
    • For as long as consulting firms act a “shadow public service” in Australia, health and equity will continue to be undermined.

China National Silk Museum Holds 2nd Silk Road Online Curating Competition Award Ceremony with Maritime Silk Road Theme

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 17, 2023

HANGZHOU, China, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The China National Silk Museum held the Award Ceremony for the 2nd Silk Road Online Curating Competition on the evening of July 12, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • HANGZHOU, China, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The China National Silk Museum held the Award Ceremony for the 2nd Silk Road Online Curating Competition on the evening of July 12, 2023.
  • Contrasting with the inaugural competition in 2022, this year has a Maritime Silk Road theme and museums with related collections including Guangzhou Maritime Museum, Quanzhou Maritime Museum, Zhangzhou Museum, China Port Museum in Ningbo, and Wenzhou Museum were all invited to contribute resources from their online collections.
  • The competitions are powered by the Silk Road Online Museum (SROM) platform, a platform with main concepts focusing on digital collaboration and 3D online curating.
  • During the Award Ceremony, competition winners also enjoyed performances and lectures themed on the keywords of 2023 Silk Road Week, Dunhuang and Hungary.

Azitra, Inc. Appoints Travis Whitfill as Chief Operating Officer

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 11, 2023

BRANFORD, Conn., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Azitra, Inc. (NYSE American: AZTR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for precision dermatology, today announced the appointment of Travis Whitfill as Chief Operating Officer.

Key Points: 
  • BRANFORD, Conn., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Azitra, Inc. (NYSE American: AZTR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for precision dermatology, today announced the appointment of Travis Whitfill as Chief Operating Officer.
  • Mr. Whitfill is the cofounder of Azitra and joins from Bios Partners, a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage biopharmaceutical companies.
  • "Travis brings a wealth of knowledge in biotech, synthetic biology, and drug development.
  • The company is at an exciting juncture as it begins clinical trials in Netherton syndrome," said Mr. Whitfill.