Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

QT Imaging’s Breast Acoustic CT™ Scanner Used in Study for Early Identification of Response of Breast Cancer Patients to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Research, Medical Devices, Women, Engineering, Manufacturing, Radiology, Consumer, Health, Science, Oncology, ACT, NAC, Partnership, Patient, Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Biomarker, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Cancer, University, Doctor of Philosophy, Electricity, MD, Computer engineering, Risk, Woman, Breast cancer, Safety, Radiation, Bangladesh Technical Education Board, Radiation therapy, Grainger College of Engineering, Medical imaging

This collaboration is part of a five-year research grant from National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute to develop an inexpensive, portable, safe, and repeatable imaging approach capable of accurate and early identification of response of breast cancer patients to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Key Points: 
  • This collaboration is part of a five-year research grant from National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute to develop an inexpensive, portable, safe, and repeatable imaging approach capable of accurate and early identification of response of breast cancer patients to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).
  • As part of this grant, Breast Acoustic CT™ (ACT) quantitative images with independent biomarkers known to be sensitive to cancer will be collected, and the response of cancer to therapy, will be derived from quantitative ultrasound based on backscatter analysis.
  • This collaboration also addresses the ongoing clinical need in breast cancer therapy for the development of an inexpensive, robust, and accurate technique to identify the response, within weeks, of breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
  • The early identification of non-responders to NAC or any cancer treatment remains a highly significant medical problem and necessary for adaptive precision medicine.

Biotech's Role in Addressing the Pancreatic Cancer Emergency

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Ovarian cancer, Immunotherapy, Patient, History, Lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide, IND, Cancer, NVS, NUVB, NCI, Novartis, Science, Colorectal cancer, Risk, American Cancer Society, FOLFIRINOX, PDAC, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Safety, Immune system, Interim, University, Translational research, Survival rate, Disease, Clinical professor, Associate, Tumor microenvironment, Death, TSX, Pancreatic cancer, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, ACRS, FDA, DCP, Diagnosis, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Physician, Triple-negative breast cancer, Mortality, News, PROC, DDC, Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, Optimism, ONC, Pharmaceutical industry

VANCOUVER, BC, March 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- USA News Group - Known as one of the most deadly forms of cancer, pancreatic cancer still has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers today. However, researchers and the biotech sector are working diligently to improve the chances of those who receive this dire diagnosis. Recently, in late 2023, researchers at the Mayo Clinic made a discovery that advances knowledge of how pancreatic cancer spreads and identified a new potential therapeutic target along the way. With the American Cancer Society projecting a record year for new cancer cases in 2024, and Europe facing a pancreatic cancer emergency, it's important to focus on the advances being made in the biotech sector that are giving hope to patients and their families. Among the developers making gains include Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS), ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBRX), Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS), and Nuvation Bio Inc. (NYSE: NUVB). 

Key Points: 
  • There is a point of optimism to build upon, as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) has stated the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer has increased to 13% .
  • "Combining pelareorep with mFOLFIRINOX represents an expansion of our existing pancreatic cancer program and maximizes the potential of pelareorep-based combination therapies to benefit pancreatic cancer patients."
  • It will focus on patients with pancreatic cancer, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC).
  • Nuvation is already undergoing dosing in the Phase 1 monotherapy study of NUV-868 in solid tumors in patients with pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), triple-negative breast cancer and other solid tumors.

Biotech's Role in Addressing the Pancreatic Cancer Emergency

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Ovarian cancer, Immunotherapy, Patient, History, Lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide, IND, Cancer, NVS, NUVB, NCI, Novartis, Science, Colorectal cancer, Risk, American Cancer Society, FOLFIRINOX, PDAC, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Safety, Immune system, Interim, University, Translational research, Survival rate, Disease, Clinical professor, Associate, Tumor microenvironment, Death, TSX, Pancreatic cancer, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, ACRS, FDA, DCP, Diagnosis, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Physician, Triple-negative breast cancer, Mortality, News, PROC, DDC, Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, Optimism, ONC, Pharmaceutical industry

VANCOUVER, BC, March 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- USA News Group - Known as one of the most deadly forms of cancer, pancreatic cancer still has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers today. However, researchers and the biotech sector are working diligently to improve the chances of those who receive this dire diagnosis. Recently, in late 2023, researchers at the Mayo Clinic made a discovery that advances knowledge of how pancreatic cancer spreads and identified a new potential therapeutic target along the way. With the American Cancer Society projecting a record year for new cancer cases in 2024, and Europe facing a pancreatic cancer emergency, it's important to focus on the advances being made in the biotech sector that are giving hope to patients and their families. Among the developers making gains include Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS), ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBRX), Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS), and Nuvation Bio Inc. (NYSE: NUVB). 

Key Points: 
  • There is a point of optimism to build upon, as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) has stated the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer has increased to 13% .
  • "Combining pelareorep with mFOLFIRINOX represents an expansion of our existing pancreatic cancer program and maximizes the potential of pelareorep-based combination therapies to benefit pancreatic cancer patients."
  • It will focus on patients with pancreatic cancer, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC).
  • Nuvation is already undergoing dosing in the Phase 1 monotherapy study of NUV-868 in solid tumors in patients with pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), triple-negative breast cancer and other solid tumors.

Microbix Unveils Test Controls for Head and Neck Cancer

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 11, 2024
Woman, EQA, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, QAP, TSX, Cancer, Throat, Exhibition, Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center, IHC, Quality control, Mouth, Diagnosis, Tongue, Accreditation, Histology, Palate, Papillomaviridae, HPV, OTCQX, PCR, QC, Laboratory, Research, Nose, Head and neck cancer, Medical imaging

While HPV is best known for causing cancers of the cervix in women, this virus family also causes cancer in other bodily tissues.

Key Points: 
  • While HPV is best known for causing cancers of the cervix in women, this virus family also causes cancer in other bodily tissues.
  • Such further types of HPV-driven cancer include those of the “Head and Neck,” collectively tumours inside and behind the nose, throughout the mouth (including the tongue, gums, and palate), all sections of the throat, and the voice box.
  • Unfortunately, a lack of standardized and reproducible reference samples makes it challenging to control the recommended test workflows for diagnosing such cancers.
  • These standardized and reproducible tissue-oriented test controls will then be added to Microbix’s catalogue of QAPs, expanding its activities into support of oncology workflows alongside its wide range of infectious disease test controls.

ALS community calls on the Ontario government to invest $6.6 million in Budget 2024 to address urgent disparities in access to ALS services and care

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Caregiver, ALS, Terminal, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Community service, Physician, Quality of life, Data collection, Risk, Safety, Patient, Disease, Hospital

“The progressive nature of ALS is relentless, resulting in an increased amount of care and equipment required over time.

Key Points: 
  • “The progressive nature of ALS is relentless, resulting in an increased amount of care and equipment required over time.
  • This includes critical areas such as providing essential patient equipment and community-based support services,” says Tammy Moore, CEO of ALS Canada.
  • Formation of a secretariat to oversee and coordinate ALS care and facilitate comprehensive data collection, efficient knowledge dissemination, and strategic system planning.
  • Develop a regional strategy to provide equitable and accessible ALS care in northern and rural Ontario, ensuring that people living with ALS receive timely care regardless of their geographic location.

Qu Biologics Receives Accelerating Clinical Trial (ACT) Funding for PERIOP-06 Clinical Trial

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
ACT, SSI, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Research, Principal investigator, CIHR, Immune system, Consortium, Clinical trial, Irish Hospitality Institute, CAD, Patient, The Ottawa Hospital, Christianity in Singapore, Health, Committee, Partnership, Survival, Site, News, Public, Government, Oncology, Pharmaceutical industry, Vaccine

ACT was founded in 2022 and is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Clinical Trials Fund to support clinical trials across Canada.

Key Points: 
  • ACT was founded in 2022 and is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Clinical Trials Fund to support clinical trials across Canada.
  • ACT brings together hundreds of researchers from 28 networks, 11 trial units, patient-partners, the biotechnology industry, government, and research ethics experts from across Canada.
  • It was one of only three clinical trials in Canada anticipated to receive this funding in a very competitive process.
  • Please subscribe here to receive future news and updates from Qu Biologics.

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America Spotlights ALS Research at the XXVI World Congress of Neurology

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 16, 2023
Congress, ALS, FRCP, MBA, McGill University Health Centre, Abstract, Edaravone, MHA, Safety, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Hospital, IV, Database, MTPA, Data mart, EDT, Virtual machine, XXVI, WCN, CDM, Research, Pharmaceutical industry, Neurology, Optum, Patient

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) today announced the presentation of five abstracts in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the XXVI World Congress of Neurology (WCN), being held virtually and in-person in Montreal, Quebec, October 15-19.

Key Points: 
  • JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) today announced the presentation of five abstracts in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the XXVI World Congress of Neurology (WCN), being held virtually and in-person in Montreal, Quebec, October 15-19.
  • "These presentations reflect the importance of combining insights from clinical and real-world settings to better understand the potential of our current treatment options and their impact on ALS."
  • MTPA's posters will be viewable in the Virtual Platform and onsite throughout the conference.
  • Additionally, 48-week safety results from the global Phase 3 multi-center, open-label clinical trial ( MT-1186-A01 ) evaluating RADICAVA ORS in people with ALS will be presented.

MITSUBISHI TANABE PHARMA CANADA ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION WITH THE CNDR ON FIRST CANADIAN REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE STUDY OF RADICAVA® IV (EDARAVONE) SURVIVAL BENEFITS IN ALS

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Medical Affairs Bureau, University, Edaravone, ALS, Neurodegenerative disease, Survival, ALS Society of Canada, Brain, Research, Congress, Patient, Frontotemporal dementia, C9ORF72, Diagnosis, Rare, News, Caregiver, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Disease, Pharmaceutical industry, Dentistry

"The objective of this study is to describe real-world survival effectiveness over a longer timeframe."

Key Points: 
  • "The objective of this study is to describe real-world survival effectiveness over a longer timeframe."
  • "Access to innovative therapies is an urgent issue for people living with ALS," said Tammy Moore, President, ALS Canada.
  • The retrospective cohort study includes patients with ALS across Canada with a minimum six-month RADICAVA® IV exposure between 2017 and 2022.
  • The impact of edaravone on survival in patients with ALS has not been established and is the subject of the real-world evidence collaboration with CNDR.

MITSUBISHI TANABE PHARMA CANADA ANNOUNCES THAT COMPANY'S ORAL TREATMENT FORMULATION FOR AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS) HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE PROVINCIAL DRUG PLAN IN ONTARIO

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Indigenous Services Canada, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, ALS Society of Canada, Edaravone, PCPA, Spinal cord, Eating, MTP, Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, Brain, Government, Brain cell, MTPA, Walking, Physician, Veterans Affairs Canada, Diagnosis, FRCPC, Health Canada, ALS, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, News, Community Access Program, Health insurance, Dentistry

RADICAVA® Oral Suspension was authorized by Health Canada on November 8, 2022.

Key Points: 
  • RADICAVA® Oral Suspension was authorized by Health Canada on November 8, 2022.
  • To date, it is estimated that the majority of private insurance plans in the country cover RADICAVA® Oral Suspension.
  • MTP-CA continues to have discussions with other provinces, territories and federal agencies regarding the listing of RADICAVA® Oral Suspension under additional publicly funded drug programs.
  • The reimbursement criteria for RADICAVA® Oral Suspension are the same as for RADICAVA® IV, which can be found on the Ontario Ministry of Health's Exceptional Access Program webpage.

Swinging for Hope – Bunzl Raises Record Funds for Revolutionary Pediatric Brain Tumour Treatment

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 13, 2023
Canada, Brainstem, Partnership, Arthur, Clinical trial, Traffic barrier, Research, Golf, Hygiene, Brain, Diffusion, DIPG, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Hospital, Hospital for Sick Children, Disease, Safety, Medical imaging

Participants enjoyed a day of golf, fundraised and increased awareness for Toronto SickKids’ advanced pediatric brain tumour research initiatives.

Key Points: 
  • Participants enjoyed a day of golf, fundraised and increased awareness for Toronto SickKids’ advanced pediatric brain tumour research initiatives.
  • Over the last two decades, Bunzl Canada and its supporters have raised over $1.75 million to fund the revolutionary work at SickKids Hospital to combat life-threatening pediatric neurosurgical conditions.
  • This revolutionary breakthrough offers a less intrusive way to deliver targeted chemotherapy to aggressive and terminal Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) pediatric brain tumour.
  • MRI-guided focused ultrasound technology allows doctors to bypass the blood-brain barrier and directly target aggressive tumours within the brain stem.